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.
Discord vs Element — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Proprietary VoIP and instant messaging platform with 150M+ monthly users focused on gaming, communities, and real-time communication.
Open-source, privacy-focused messaging client built on the Matrix protocol with end-to-end encryption and full decentralization support.
Source Code Availability. Monthly Active Users. Data Storage Location. Default Encryption. Free Tier File Upload Limit. Voice Channel Capacity. Self-hosting Option
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.
Discord: 50-100ms with spatial audio | Element: N/A
Discord: Limited/Third-party only | Element: N/A
Discord: Comprehensive API with bot framework (GDC 2026) | Element: N/A
Discord: Limited third-party apps | Element: N/A
Discord: Free (with Nitro at $9.99) | Element: N/A
Discord: Outstanding (advanced codecs) | Element: N/A
Discord: 1080p (1920x1080) | Element: N/A
Discord: 0 (no native support) | Element: N/A
Discord: Minimal (intuitive design) | Element: N/A
Discord: 500+ million registered users | Element: N/A
Discord: SOC 2, GDPR (limited enterprise focus) | Element: N/A
Discord: Discord Nitro $9.99-99.99/year | Element: N/A
Discord: Up to 50 (voice channel) | Element: N/A
Discord: Limited, experimental | Element: N/A
Discord: Permanent (searchable) | Element: N/A
Discord: Basic moderation bots | Element: N/A
Discord: Yes, SOC 2 Type II | Element: N/A
Discord: Free (with Nitro at $9.99/mo optional) | Element: N/A
Discord: Opus (optimized, 128kbps default) | Element: N/A
Discord: 1080p (premium servers) | Element: N/A
Message History Scanning for AI Training
Discord: Yes (Discord trains AI on content) | Element: N/A
Discord: $9.99 per server/month | Element: N/A
Discord: 50+ participants | Element: N/A
Discord: Basic (bots only) | Element: N/A
Discord: 128 kbps optimized | Element: Variable (48-128 kbps)
Discord: No (opt-in only) | Element: Yes (all chats)
Discord: 0.1-0.3 seconds | Element: 1-5 seconds
Discord: Proprietary/Closed | Element: Open-source (GPLv3)
Discord: 150+ million (2024) | Element: 2-3 million (estimated 2024)
Discord: Free (Nitro $9.99/year) | Element: N/A
Discord: unlimited | Element: Unlimited (self-hosted)
Discord: Encryption, limited certifications | Element: N/A
Maximum Simultaneous Video Participants (Free)
Discord: 50 with Nitro ($99.99/year) | Element: N/A
Discord: No direct integration | Element: N/A
Discord: Not HIPAA certified | Element: N/A
Discord: Speech-to-text via integrations only | Element: N/A
Discord: $9.99 (Discord Nitro) | Element: N/A
Discord: ~8,000 public servers (estimated) | Element: N/A
Discord: 4.3 stars (3.8M reviews) | Element: N/A
Discord: 50-80ms | Element: 100-200ms avg
Discord: No native integration | Element: N/A
Discord: 8 video participants | Element: N/A
Discord: Free (unlimited) | Element: N/A
Free Tier Group Video Call Duration Limit
Maximum Group Call Participants (Free Tier)
Discord: No (bot-dependent) | Element: N/A
Maximum Webinar Participants (Paid Plan)
Discord: Not enabled by default (optional for 1-on-1 only) | Element: Enabled by default on all chats
Discord: Proprietary/Closed-source | Element: Open-source (Apache 2.0 license)
Discord: Under 100ms optimized | Element: 50-200ms (varies by server)
Discord: 8 MB per file | Element: Server-dependent (typically 100+ MB)
Discord: Not supported; Discord-only infrastructure | Element: Full self-hosting with multiple homeservers
Maximum Concurrent Voice Users (Free Tier)
Discord: Unlimited | Element: 50-100 (server-dependent)
Discord: Limited control; Discord retains indefinitely | Element: Full user control over local/server retention
Discord: N/A | Element: ~150 via bridges
Discord: N/A | Element: Yes, default in all rooms
Discord: N/A | Element: $0-1,500/month (self-hosted varies)
Discord: N/A | Element: Unlimited with self-hosting
Discord: N/A | Element: Yes (full open-source support)
Paid Workspaces/Users (Enterprise Adoption)
Discord: N/A | Element: ~100,000 public servers
Discord: N/A | Element: Via Jitsi integration (not native)
Discord: N/A | Element: 2-3 million (estimated)
Cost Per User (Annual, Lowest Paid Tier)
Discord: N/A | Element: $0 (open-source) or $9/month (managed)
Discord: N/A | Element: 50,000+ (estimated)
Discord: N/A | Element: Compliant by architecture (user data control)
How to choose between Discord and Element
Discord vs Element — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Discord vs Element. Contains 116 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Discord vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Discord vs Element.
Is Discord encrypted? Can Discord read my messages?
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.
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.
Why is Discord so much more popular than Element?
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.
Which platform is better for gaming communities?
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.
Can Element and Discord users communicate with each other?
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.
How to Choose Between Discord and Element
Source Code Availability: Discord has Proprietary/Closed-source, while Element has Open-source (Apache 2.0).
Monthly Active Users: Discord has 150+ million (2024), while Element has 2-3 million estimated.
Data Storage Location: Discord has Discord's centralized servers, while Element has Decentralized across Matrix homeservers.
Default Encryption: Discord has Transit encryption only (TLS), while Element has End-to-end encryption (E2EE) enabled by default.
Free Tier File Upload Limit: Discord has 8 MB per file, while Element has No hard limit (depends on server).
Voice Channel Capacity: Discord has Unlimited concurrent users, while Element has Typically 50-100+ (server-dependent).
Self-hosting Option: Discord has Not available, while Element has Full self-hosting supported.