Element vs. Mattermost
Side by side, with sources. Checked Oct 3, 2026.
Element
Open source
Mattermost
Open sourcePrice
The app is free and open source and works with a free matrix.org account. Organisations can buy Element Server Suite Pro, priced per seat through sales.Source: element.io
Free self-hosted Team Edition (open source) and Entry (free, limited). Professional and Enterprise are annual per-seat plans with no public price.Source: mattermost.com
Pricing model
Open source · Free plan available
Open source · Free plan available
License
Open source · AGPL-3.0-only OR GPL-3.0-onlyAvailable under AGPL-3.0 or GPL-3.0, or a paid Element Commercial License.
Open core · AGPL-3.0-onlyMattermost-built binaries are MIT, the source is AGPL-3.0 or commercial, and enterprise features are commercial. The desktop app is Apache-2.0.
Works on
- ✓ Windows
- ✓ Mac
- ✓ Linux
- ✓ iPhone & iPad
- ✓ Android
- ✓ Web browser
- ✓ Your own server
- ✓ Windows
- ✓ Mac
- ✓ Linux
- ✓ iPhone & iPad
- ✓ Android
- ✓ Web browser
- ✓ Your own server
Where your data lives
On the Matrix server where your account is — matrix.org by default, or your organisation’s or your own.
On the server your organisation runs, on its own premises or cloud.
Getting started
Difficulty: Easy Create a free account on matrix.org straight from the browser or the official installers; no server needed.
Difficulty: Advanced There is no public sign-up: either you join a server your organisation already runs, or someone has to run a Linux server for you.
Hosted version
app.element.io with a free matrix.org accountThe free matrix.org server is run by the Matrix.org Foundation, not Element, and limits uploads (10 MB per file).
NoneThe only hosted option, Mattermost Cloud Enterprise, is sold to enterprises through sales.