Discord vs Element
type: Article
description: Discord is a closed-source, feature-rich communication platform optimized for gaming and communities with 150M+ monthly users, while Element is an open-source, privacy-focused messenger built on the decentralized Matrix protocol for users prioritizing end-to-end encryption and data sovereignty.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-07-09T08:29:23.028Z
date created: 2026-07-09T08:29:23.028Z
date modified: 2026-07-09T08:29:23.074Z
content reference time: 2026-07-09T08:29:23.074Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Discord
about: Element
abstract: Discord is a closed-source, feature-rich communication platform optimized for gaming and communities with 150M+ monthly users, while Element is an open-source, privacy-focused messenger built on the decentralized Matrix protocol for users prioritizing end-to-end encryption and data sovereignty.
text: Source Code Availability. Monthly Active Users. Data Storage Location. Default Encryption. Free Tier File Upload Limit. Voice Channel Capacity. Self-hosting Option
conclusion text: Choose Discord if you prioritize a polished user experience, massive community ecosystem, superior voice quality for gaming, and don't mind closed-source infrastructure with moderate privacy constraints. Choose Element if you require maximum privacy, end-to-end encrypted conversations by default, open-source transparency, self-hosting capabilities, and value decentralization over convenience.
additional property: Free Tier Participant Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Unlimited | Element: N/A
additional property: Free Tier Video Call Duration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Unlimited | Element: N/A
additional property: Audio Latency
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: 50-100ms with spatial audio | Element: N/A
additional property: Free Audio Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: 128 kbps | Element: N/A
additional property: Video Meeting Notes with AI
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: No | Element: N/A
additional property: Enterprise SSO Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Limited/Third-party only | Element: N/A
additional property: Developer API for Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Comprehensive API with bot framework (GDC 2026) | Element: N/A
additional property: Calendar Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Limited third-party apps | Element: N/A
additional property: Base Pricing (Monthly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Free (with Nitro at $9.99) | Element: N/A
additional property: Maximum Video Meeting Participants
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: 25 participants | Element: N/A
additional property: Voice Chat Quality Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Outstanding (advanced codecs) | Element: N/A
additional property: Video Resolution Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: 1080p (1920x1080) | Element: N/A
additional property: Language Translation Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: 0 (no native support) | Element: N/A
additional property: User Learning Curve
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Minimal (intuitive design) | Element: N/A
additional property: Registered Users Globally
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: 500+ million registered users | Element: N/A
additional property: Enterprise Security Compliance
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: SOC 2, GDPR (limited enterprise focus) | Element: N/A
additional property: Free Tier Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Completely free | Element: N/A
additional property: Paid Plan Cost (Single User/Month)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Discord Nitro $9.99-99.99/year | Element: N/A
additional property: Group Video Call Duration Limit (Free)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: 1440 (24 hours) | Element: N/A
additional property: Maximum Meeting Participants
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Up to 50 (voice channel) | Element: N/A
additional property: Real-Time Translation Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Limited, experimental | Element: N/A
additional property: Message History Retention
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Permanent (searchable) | Element: N/A
additional property: AI Assistant Capabilities
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Basic moderation bots | Element: N/A
additional property: SOC 2 Compliance
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Yes, SOC 2 Type II | Element: N/A
additional property: Max File Upload Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: 100 MB | Element: N/A
additional property: Mobile App Size (iOS)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: ~150 MB | Element: N/A
additional property: Voice Channel Participant Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Unlimited | Element: N/A
additional property: Screen Share Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: 1080p @ 60fps | Element: N/A
additional property: Bot/Integration Ecosystem Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: 10,000+ bots | Element: N/A
additional property: Cost for Personal Use
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Free (with Nitro at $9.99/mo optional) | Element: N/A
additional property: Public Bot Library Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: 500,000+ | Element: N/A
additional property: Monthly Cost (Basic Premium)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: $9.99 | Element: N/A
additional property: Voice Codec Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Opus (optimized, 128kbps default) | Element: N/A
additional property: Maximum Video Resolution
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: 1080p (premium servers) | Element: N/A
additional property: Message History Scanning for AI Training
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Yes (Discord trains AI on content) | Element: N/A
additional property: Monthly Cost (Pro Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: $9.99 per server/month | Element: N/A
additional property: Free Message History
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Unlimited | Element: N/A
additional property: Voice Audio Codec Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: 48 kHz | Element: N/A
additional property: Maximum Video Call Participants
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: 50+ participants | Element: N/A
additional property: SOC 2 Type II Certified
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: No | Element: N/A
additional property: Custom Workflow Automation
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Basic (bots only) | Element: N/A
additional property: Users Per Workspace
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Unlimited | Element: N/A
additional property: Voice Chat Bitrate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: 128 kbps optimized | Element: Variable (48-128 kbps)
  value reference: Discord
additional property: Default End-to-End Encryption
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: No (opt-in only) | Element: Yes (all chats)
additional property: Third-Party Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: 400+ | Element: 200-300
  value reference: Discord
additional property: Message Search Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: 0.1-0.3 seconds | Element: 1-5 seconds
  value reference: Discord
additional property: Self-Hosting Option
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: No | Element: Yes (fully)
additional property: Source Code Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: Proprietary/Closed | Element: Open-source (GPLv3)
additional property: Monthly Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Discord: 150+ million (2024) | Element: 2-3 million (estimated 2024)
  value reference: Discord
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/discord
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/discord
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/element
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/element
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/discord-vs-element)
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/discord-vs-element)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/discord-vs-element
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/google-meet-vs-discord
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/discord-vs-zoom
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/discord-vs-telegram
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/discord-vs-guilded
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/discord-vs-revolt
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/slack-vs-element
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/reddit-vs-discord
teaches: How to choose between Discord and Element
genre: Software

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: Discord vs Element — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

Discord
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Proprietary VoIP and instant messaging platform with 150M+ monthly users focused on gaming, communities, and real-time communication.
image: ImageObject
  caption: Discord
subject of: Discord vs Element
image: ImageObject
  caption: Discord

Element
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Open-source, privacy-focused messaging client built on the Matrix protocol with end-to-end encryption and full decentralization support.
subject of: Discord vs Element

Discord vs Element — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Discord vs Element. Contains 116 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: Free Tier Participant Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Capacity
variable measured: Free Tier Video Call Duration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Capacity
variable measured: Audio Latency
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Free Audio Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Quality
variable measured: Video Meeting Notes with AI
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Enterprise SSO Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Enterprise Security
variable measured: Developer API for Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Extensibility
variable measured: Calendar Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Base Pricing (Monthly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Maximum Video Meeting Participants
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Voice Chat Quality Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Audio
variable measured: Video Resolution Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Video
variable measured: Language Translation Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: User Learning Curve
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
variable measured: Registered Users Globally
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Enterprise Security Compliance
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Free Tier Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Paid Plan Cost (Single User/Month)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Group Video Call Duration Limit (Free)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Maximum Meeting Participants
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Functionality
variable measured: Real-Time Translation Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Message History Retention
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: AI Assistant Capabilities
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: SOC 2 Compliance
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Max File Upload Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Mobile App Size (iOS)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Voice Channel Participant Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Screen Share Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Bot/Integration Ecosystem Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Extensibility
variable measured: Cost for Personal Use
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Public Bot Library Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integrations & Extensions
variable measured: Monthly Cost (Basic Premium)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Voice Codec Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Audio Performance
variable measured: Maximum Video Resolution
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Video Quality
variable measured: Message History Scanning for AI Training
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Privacy
variable measured: Monthly Cost (Pro Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Free Message History
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Voice Audio Codec Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Maximum Video Call Participants
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: SOC 2 Type II Certified
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security & Compliance
variable measured: Custom Workflow Automation
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Enterprise Features
variable measured: Users Per Workspace
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Voice Chat Bitrate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Default End-to-End Encryption
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Third-Party Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Message Search Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Self-Hosting Option
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Deployment
variable measured: Source Code Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security & Control
variable measured: Monthly Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Size
variable measured: Paid Plan Starting Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Max Video Conference Participants
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Message History (Free Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data & Storage
variable measured: Voice Codec Quality Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Audio
variable measured: Enterprise Security Certifications
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security & Compliance
variable measured: Time to Deploy
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Learning Curve
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Uptime Guarantee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Reliability
variable measured: Free Tier Call Duration Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Monthly Cost (1 Pro User)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Screen Sharing Maximum FPS
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: HIPAA Compliance Certified
variable measured: Supported Language Captions
variable measured: Maximum Free Server Categories
variable measured: Enterprise Fortune 500 Adoption Rate
variable measured: Free Video Call Duration Limit
variable measured: Maximum Simultaneous Video Participants (Free)
variable measured: Audio Sampling Rate
variable measured: Message History Retention (Free)
variable measured: Google Calendar Integration
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/discord-vs-element)

Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Discord vs Element.
has defined term: Capacity
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Quality
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Enterprise Security
has defined term: Extensibility
has defined term: Integration
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Audio
has defined term: Video
has defined term: Usability
has defined term: Adoption
has defined term: Security
has defined term: Functionality
has defined term: Integrations & Extensions
has defined term: Audio Performance
has defined term: Video Quality
has defined term: Data Privacy
has defined term: Security & Compliance
has defined term: Enterprise Features
has defined term: Scalability
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: Deployment
has defined term: Security & Control
has defined term: Market Size
has defined term: Data & Storage
has defined term: Ease of Use
has defined term: Reliability
has defined term: Compliance
has defined term: Customization
has defined term: Market
has defined term: Pricing & Limits
has defined term: Video Conferencing
has defined term: Audio Quality
has defined term: Storage
has defined term: Business Features
has defined term: Accessibility
has defined term: Engagement
has defined term: Content
has defined term: User Experience
has defined term: Cost
has defined term: Limitations
has defined term: Pricing & Access
has defined term: Transparency
has defined term: Control
has defined term: Privacy
has defined term: Integration Ecosystem
has defined term: Market Adoption
has defined term: Communication Features
has defined term: User Base
has defined term: Integrations
has defined term: Enterprise Adoption
has defined term: Compliance & Regulation

Capacity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: capacity
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Quality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: quality
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: features
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Enterprise Security
type: DefinedTerm
term code: enterprise-security
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Extensibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: extensibility
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integration
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Audio
type: DefinedTerm
term code: audio
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Video
type: DefinedTerm
term code: video
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Usability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: usability
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Functionality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: functionality
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integrations & Extensions
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integrations-&-extensions
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Audio Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: audio-performance
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Video Quality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: video-quality
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Data Privacy
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data-privacy
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security & Compliance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security-&-compliance
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Enterprise Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: enterprise-features
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scalability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scalability
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Deployment
type: DefinedTerm
term code: deployment
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security & Control
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security-&-control
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Size
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-size
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Data & Storage
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data-&-storage
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ease of Use
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ease-of-use
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Reliability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: reliability
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Compliance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: compliance
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Customization
type: DefinedTerm
term code: customization
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing & Limits
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing-&-limits
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Video Conferencing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: video-conferencing
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Audio Quality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: audio-quality
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Storage
type: DefinedTerm
term code: storage
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Business Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: business-features
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Accessibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: accessibility
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Engagement
type: DefinedTerm
term code: engagement
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Content
type: DefinedTerm
term code: content
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

User Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: user-experience
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Cost
type: DefinedTerm
term code: cost
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Limitations
type: DefinedTerm
term code: limitations
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing & Access
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing-&-access
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Transparency
type: DefinedTerm
term code: transparency
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Control
type: DefinedTerm
term code: control
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Privacy
type: DefinedTerm
term code: privacy
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integration Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integration-ecosystem
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-adoption
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Communication Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: communication-features
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

User Base
type: DefinedTerm
term code: user-base
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integrations
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integrations
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Enterprise Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: enterprise-adoption
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Compliance & Regulation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: compliance-&-regulation
in defined term set: Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-07-09T08:29:23.074Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: discord-vs-element)
main entity: Is Discord encrypted? Can Discord read my messages?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Discord uses TLS encryption for messages in transit but does not enable end-to-end encryption by default. Only 1-on-1 direct messages support optional E2EE. This means Discord's servers can technically access and read message content. Element encrypts all messages end-to-end by default, preventing even Element's developers from reading message content.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can I self-host Discord or Element?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Discord does not offer any self-hosting option; all communication routes through Discord's centralized infrastructure. Element fully supports self-hosting via the Matrix protocol—you can run your own homeserver and maintain complete control over your data. This is a major distinction for organizations requiring data sovereignty.
    language: en-US
main entity: Why is Discord so much more popular than Element?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Discord launched in 2015 with a superior user experience optimized for gaming, reaching 150M+ monthly users by 2024. Its network effect, polished interface, superior voice optimization, and mainstream adoption create strong lock-in. Element (launched 2019) prioritizes privacy and decentralization over UX polish, resulting in 2-3M users. Discord's 50-75x larger user base makes switching costly despite Element's privacy advantages.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which platform is better for gaming communities?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Discord dominates gaming with superior voice latency (under 100ms), unlimited concurrent voice users, integrated streaming/Go Live features, and 150M+ gamers already on the platform. Element is not optimized for gaming and lacks Discord's voice quality, making it unsuitable for competitive gaming or large gaming communities.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can Element and Discord users communicate with each other?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Not natively. However, Element supports Matrix bridges that allow connections to Discord servers, enabling Element users to view and participate in Discord channels indirectly through a bridge bot. This is a workaround, not true interoperability. Direct messaging between Discord and Element accounts is not possible.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Discord and Element
type: HowTo
description: Discord is a closed-source, feature-rich communication platform optimized for gaming and communities with 150M+ monthly users, while Element is an open-source, privacy-focused messenger built on the decentralized Matrix protocol for users prioritizing end-to-end encryption and data sovereignty.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Source Code Availability
step: Consider: Monthly Active Users
step: Consider: Data Storage Location
step: Consider: Default Encryption
step: Consider: Free Tier File Upload Limit
step: Consider: Voice Channel Capacity
step: Consider: Self-hosting Option
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose Discord if you prioritize a polished user experience, massive community ecosystem, superior voice quality for gaming, and don't mind closed-source infrastructure with moderate privacy constraints. Choose Element if you require maximum privacy, end-to-end encrypted conversations by default, open-source transparency, self-hosting capabilities, and value decentralization over convenience.

Consider: Source Code Availability
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Source Code Availability: Discord has Proprietary/Closed-source, while Element has Open-source (Apache 2.0).

Consider: Monthly Active Users
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Monthly Active Users: Discord has 150+ million (2024), while Element has 2-3 million estimated.

Consider: Data Storage Location
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Data Storage Location: Discord has Discord's centralized servers, while Element has Decentralized across Matrix homeservers.

Consider: Default Encryption
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Default Encryption: Discord has Transit encryption only (TLS), while Element has End-to-end encryption (E2EE) enabled by default.

Consider: Free Tier File Upload Limit
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Free Tier File Upload Limit: Discord has 8 MB per file, while Element has No hard limit (depends on server).

Consider: Voice Channel Capacity
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Voice Channel Capacity: Discord has Unlimited concurrent users, while Element has Typically 50-100+ (server-dependent).

Consider: Self-hosting Option
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Self-hosting Option: Discord has Not available, while Element has Full self-hosting supported.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Discord vs Element
review body: Discord is a closed-source, feature-rich communication platform optimized for gaming and communities with 150M+ monthly users, while Element is an open-source, privacy-focused messenger built on the decentralized Matrix protocol for users prioritizing end-to-end encryption and data sovereignty.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: Discord vs Element

Paid Plan Starting Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Free (Nitro $9.99/year) | Element: N/A

Max Video Conference Participants
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 50 | Element: N/A

Message History (Free Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: unlimited | Element: Unlimited (self-hosted)

Voice Codec Quality Rating
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 9.5 | Element: N/A

Enterprise Security Certifications
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Encryption, limited certifications | Element: N/A

Time to Deploy
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 1 | Element: N/A

Learning Curve
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 1.5 | Element: N/A

Uptime Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 99.99% | Element: N/A

Free Tier Call Duration Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Unlimited | Element: N/A

Monthly Cost (1 Pro User)
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: $0 (free tier) | Element: N/A

Screen Sharing Maximum FPS
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 60fps | Element: N/A

HIPAA Compliance Certified
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: No | Element: N/A

Supported Language Captions
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 15 languages | Element: N/A

Maximum Free Server Categories
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Unlimited | Element: N/A

Enterprise Fortune 500 Adoption Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Less than 5% | Element: N/A

Free Video Call Duration Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Unlimited | Element: N/A

Maximum Simultaneous Video Participants (Free)
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 50 with Nitro ($99.99/year) | Element: N/A

Audio Sampling Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 48kHz premium | Element: N/A

Message History Retention (Free)
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Unlimited | Element: N/A

Google Calendar Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: No direct integration | Element: N/A

HIPAA Compliance
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Not HIPAA certified | Element: N/A

Real-Time Auto-Transcription Languages
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Speech-to-text via integrations only | Element: N/A

Average Daily Time Spent
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 195 minutes | Element: N/A

Maximum Voice Call Participants
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 50 participants | Element: N/A

Content Retention Period (Free)
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 30 days | Element: N/A

Premium Subscription Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: $9.99 (Discord Nitro) | Element: N/A

Number of Public Communities
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: ~8,000 public servers (estimated) | Element: N/A

Mobile App Store Rating
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 4.3 stars (3.8M reviews) | Element: N/A

Maximum Free Storage Per Upload
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 100 MB | Element: N/A

Voice Latency
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 50-80ms | Element: 100-200ms avg
value reference: Discord

Free Tier Message History
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Unlimited | Element: N/A

Microsoft 365 Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: No native integration | Element: N/A

HIPAA Compliance Certification
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Not certified | Element: N/A

Third-Party Bot Integrations Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 10,000+ bots | Element: N/A

Base Pricing (Team/Workspace)
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Free | Element: N/A

Voice Latency (Lower is Better)
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 20-30ms | Element: N/A

Free Tier Monthly Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 150 million | Element: N/A

Free Group Video Call Duration Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Unlimited | Element: N/A

SOC 2 Type II Compliance
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Yes | Element: N/A

Video Participants (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 8 video participants | Element: N/A

Workspace/Server Creation Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Free (unlimited) | Element: N/A

Free Tier Group Video Call Duration Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Unlimited | Element: N/A

Monthly Cost (Pro/Premium Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: $9.99 | Element: N/A

Maximum Group Call Participants (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 100 | Element: N/A

Screen Share FPS (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 60 | Element: N/A

Native Meeting Recording
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: No (bot-dependent) | Element: N/A

Persistent Message History
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Yes (unlimited) | Element: N/A

Maximum Webinar Participants (Paid Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 100 | Element: N/A

End-to-End Encryption
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Not enabled by default (optional for 1-on-1 only) | Element: Enabled by default on all chats

Source Code Accessibility
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Proprietary/Closed-source | Element: Open-source (Apache 2.0 license)

Average Voice Latency
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Under 100ms optimized | Element: 50-200ms (varies by server)
value reference: Discord

Free Tier File Upload Size Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: 8 MB per file | Element: Server-dependent (typically 100+ MB)
value reference: Element

Self-Hosting Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Not supported; Discord-only infrastructure | Element: Full self-hosting with multiple homeservers

Maximum Concurrent Voice Users (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Unlimited | Element: 50-100 (server-dependent)

User Data Retention Control
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: Limited control; Discord retains indefinitely | Element: Full user control over local/server retention

Native App Integrations Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: N/A | Element: ~150 via bridges

End-to-End Encryption Default
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: N/A | Element: Yes, default in all rooms

Monthly Cost (Pro Plan, 50 users)
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: N/A | Element: $0-1,500/month (self-hosted varies)

Message history retention (free plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: N/A | Element: Unlimited with self-hosting

Self-Hosting Capability
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: N/A | Element: Yes (full open-source support)

Paid Workspaces/Users (Enterprise Adoption)
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: N/A | Element: ~100,000 public servers

Native Video/Audio Calls
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: N/A | Element: Via Jitsi integration (not native)

Daily Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: N/A | Element: 2-3 million (estimated)

Available Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: N/A | Element: 200+

Cost Per User (Annual, Lowest Paid Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: N/A | Element: $0 (open-source) or $9/month (managed)

Organizations Using Platform
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: N/A | Element: 50,000+ (estimated)

GDPR Compliance
type: PropertyValue
value: Discord: N/A | Element: Compliant by architecture (user data control)

SpeakableSpecification
css selector: #short-answer
css selector: #verdict
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xpath: //*[@id='short-answer']
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Discord — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Element — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare Discord vs Element
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/discord-vs-element)
object: Discord
object: Element

HIPAA Compliance Certified
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Compliance

Supported Language Captions
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Maximum Free Server Categories
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Customization

Enterprise Fortune 500 Adoption Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market

Free Video Call Duration Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing & Limits

Maximum Simultaneous Video Participants (Free)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Video Conferencing

Audio Sampling Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Audio Quality

Message History Retention (Free)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Storage

Google Calendar Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Business Features

HIPAA Compliance
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Compliance

Real-Time Auto-Transcription Languages
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Accessibility

Average Daily Time Spent
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Engagement

Maximum Voice Call Participants
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Content Retention Period (Free)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Premium Subscription Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Number of Public Communities
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Content

Mobile App Store Rating
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Maximum Free Storage Per Upload
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Voice Latency
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Free Tier Message History
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Microsoft 365 Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

HIPAA Compliance Certification
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security & Compliance

Third-Party Bot Integrations Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Extensibility

Base Pricing (Team/Workspace)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Cost

Voice Latency (Lower is Better)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Free Tier Monthly Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

Free Group Video Call Duration Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Limitations

SOC 2 Type II Compliance
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Compliance

Video Participants (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Workspace/Server Creation Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Free Tier Group Video Call Duration Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing & Access

Monthly Cost (Pro/Premium Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing & Access

Maximum Group Call Participants (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Capacity

Screen Share FPS (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Video Quality

Native Meeting Recording
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Persistent Message History
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Maximum Webinar Participants (Paid Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Capacity

End-to-End Encryption
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Source Code Accessibility
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Transparency

Average Voice Latency
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Free Tier File Upload Size Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Self-Hosting Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Control

Maximum Concurrent Voice Users (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Capacity

User Data Retention Control
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Privacy

Native App Integrations Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration Ecosystem

End-to-End Encryption Default
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Monthly Cost (Pro Plan, 50 users)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Message history retention (free plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Storage

Self-Hosting Capability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Paid Workspaces/Users (Enterprise Adoption)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Adoption

Native Video/Audio Calls
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Communication Features

Daily Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Base

Available Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integrations

Cost Per User (Annual, Lowest Paid Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Organizations Using Platform
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Enterprise Adoption

GDPR Compliance
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Compliance & Regulation