Element

Element gives you encrypted group messaging without handing control to a single company. It runs on the Matrix protocol, an open standard that lets different servers talk to each other. That means you can pick who hosts your data or run a server yourself.

The free plan covers personal use on the public matrix.org server. Paid plans start at $5 per user per month and add team features like an admin console, priority support, and the option to host in Element's EU cloud or on your own infrastructure. Both options include voice and video calls, file sharing, and read receipts.

Bridges let you connect to people on Slack, WhatsApp, Signal, and other platforms without leaving Element. Apps are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and the web. Governments in over 25 countries already use Matrix for secure internal communications, including NATO and the French government.

Worth knowing

Element is built for people comfortable with a bit of setup. The decentralized model is powerful but means more choices up front than a typical chat app. If you want a drop-in replacement for WhatsApp or Slack with zero configuration, the learning curve might slow you down. Self-hosting requires technical know-how, and the public matrix.org server can feel slower during peak times.