Slack vs Element
type: Article
description: Slack is a proprietary, cloud-hosted team communication platform with 750,000+ organizations using it, while Element is an open-source, decentralized messaging platform built on the Matrix protocol. Slack dominates enterprise adoption with superior integrations, while Element prioritizes privacy and self-hosting capabilities.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-07-08T00:30:06.631Z
date created: 2026-07-08T00:30:06.631Z
date modified: 2026-07-08T00:30:06.679Z
content reference time: 2026-07-08T00:30:06.679Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Slack
about: Element
abstract: Slack is a proprietary, cloud-hosted team communication platform with 750,000+ organizations using it, while Element is an open-source, decentralized messaging platform built on the Matrix protocol. Slack dominates enterprise adoption with superior integrations, while Element prioritizes privacy and self-hosting capabilities.
text: Hosting Model. Active Users (Worldwide). Enterprise Integrations. End-to-End Encryption. Message Search Retention. Starting Cost. Data Ownership & Privacy
conclusion text: Choose Slack if your organization prioritizes seamless integrations, enterprise features, and don't require self-hosting or maximum privacy control—it dominates the market with 750,000 organizations and superior workflow automation. Choose Element if you need end-to-end encryption by default, data ownership, self-hosting capabilities, or operate in privacy-sensitive industries; it's ideal for organizations that value decentralization and open-source infrastructure.
additional property: App Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: 2,600+ | Element: N/A
additional property: Paid Starting Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: $7.25 | Element: N/A
additional property: Standalone Monthly Pricing (Pro Tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: $7.25 | Element: N/A
additional property: Annual Cost per User (Pro Tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: $87 (billed yearly) | Element: N/A
additional property: Third-Party App Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: 2,400+ | Element: N/A
additional property: Video Meeting Capacity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: Up to 2,000 (with paid plan) | Element: N/A
additional property: Native Office Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: Limited (third-party connectors) | Element: N/A
additional property: AI Copilot Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: Slack AI (summarization, search, assisted writing) | Element: N/A
additional property: Message Search Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: Excellent - optimized search indexing | Element: 1-5 seconds
additional property: Mobile App Feature Parity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: 95% | Element: N/A
additional property: Monthly Cost per 20-Person Team
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: $3,600 (Pro plan at $15/user) | Element: N/A
additional property: Global Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: 65% | Element: N/A
additional property: Free Trial Duration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: 7 days | Element: N/A
additional property: Daily Active Users Worldwide
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: 20+ million | Element: N/A
additional property: Message History Retention on Free Plan
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: 10,000 most recent | Element: N/A
additional property: Self-Hosting Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: No | Element: N/A
additional property: Base Monthly Cost Per User
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: $8.25 (Pro plan, min 3 users) | Element: N/A
additional property: Free Tier Meeting Participant Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: Unlimited (Slack Huddles for video limited to 50 participants) | Element: N/A
additional property: Native Video Conferencing
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: Huddles for brief video, limited to 50 participants; requires external tool for full conferencing | Element: N/A
additional property: Meeting Recording & Auto-Transcription
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: Not native; requires integration with Otter.ai or similar third-party services | Element: N/A
additional property: Asynchronous Communication Strength
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: 5 out of 5 (core feature with channels, threads, and history) | Element: N/A
additional property: Google Workspace Integration Level
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: 2 out of 5 (available via integration, not native) | Element: N/A
additional property: AI Features Count (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: 30+ (CRM tools, meeting summaries, automation, SlackBot enhancements) | Element: N/A
additional property: Base Monthly Cost Per User
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: $7.25 | Element: N/A
additional property: Business+ Tier Monthly Cost Per User
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: $12.50 | Element: N/A
additional property: Available Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: 2000+ | Element: N/A
additional property: Deployment Options
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: Cloud-based SaaS only | Element: N/A
additional property: GDPR & Data Sovereignty Compliance
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: Compliant but data on Salesforce servers | Element: N/A
additional property: Price Stability (2024-2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: No increases for 33 months | Element: N/A
additional property: Free Tier Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: Free | Element: N/A
additional property: Pro/Standard Monthly Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: $7.25 | Element: N/A
additional property: Maximum Meeting Participants
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: Unlimited group chats | Element: N/A
additional property: Third-party Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: 2000+ | Element: N/A
additional property: AI Features (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: Workflow automation, search enhancement | Element: N/A
additional property: Real-Time Translation
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: Not available | Element: N/A
additional property: Asynchronous Communication
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: Optimized with threads and archives | Element: N/A
additional property: Zoom Rooms Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: N/A | Element: N/A
additional property: Minimum Monthly Cost Per User
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: $7.25 | Element: N/A
additional property: Third-Party Integrations Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: 2,000+ | Element: N/A
additional property: AI Assistant Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: Slack AI (optional on paid plans) | Element: N/A
additional property: Google Workspace Native Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: Limited (requires custom setup) | Element: N/A
additional property: Workflow Automation Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: Advanced with conditional logic | Element: N/A
additional property: Storage Per User (Standard Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: Variable by plan | Element: N/A
additional property: Years Price Stable (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: 33+ months | Element: N/A
additional property: Open Source
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: No, proprietary | Element: N/A
additional property: Enterprise AI Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: Advanced AI assistant, smart summaries, automation | Element: N/A
additional property: Maximum Video Length (Free Tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: N/A | Element: N/A
additional property: Maximum Video Resolution
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: Requires 3rd party | Element: N/A
additional property: Native Integrations Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Slack: 2200+ | Element: N/A
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/slack
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/slack
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/element
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/element
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/slack-vs-element)
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/slack-vs-element)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/slack-vs-element
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/slack-vs-microsoft-teams
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/google-meet-vs-slack
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/slack-vs-zoom
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/google-chat-vs-slack
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/mattermost-vs-slack
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/loom-vs-slack
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/webex-vs-slack
teaches: How to choose between Slack and Element
genre: Software

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

A Versus B
type: Organization

Slack
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Cloud-based team messaging platform with deep enterprise integrations and 21 million daily active users.
subject of: Slack vs Element

Element
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Open-source, decentralized messaging platform built on the Matrix protocol with emphasis on privacy and data ownership.
subject of: Slack vs Element

Slack vs Element — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Slack vs Element. Contains 159 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: App Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Paid Starting Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Value
variable measured: Standalone Monthly Pricing (Pro Tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Annual Cost per User (Pro Tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Third-Party App Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Video Meeting Capacity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Native Office Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: AI Copilot Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Message Search Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Mobile App Feature Parity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Mobile
variable measured: Monthly Cost per 20-Person Team
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Global Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Position
variable measured: Free Trial Duration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Trial Period
variable measured: Daily Active Users Worldwide
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usage
variable measured: Message History Retention on Free Plan
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Self-Hosting Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Deployment
variable measured: Base Monthly Cost Per User
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Free Tier Meeting Participant Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Native Video Conferencing
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Meeting Recording & Auto-Transcription
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Asynchronous Communication Strength
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Google Workspace Integration Level
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration Capability
variable measured: AI Features Count (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Artificial Intelligence
variable measured: Base Monthly Cost Per User
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Business+ Tier Monthly Cost Per User
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Available Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Deployment Options
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Infrastructure
variable measured: GDPR & Data Sovereignty Compliance
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Price Stability (2024-2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Free Tier Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Pro/Standard Monthly Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Maximum Meeting Participants
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Functionality
variable measured: Third-party Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integrations
variable measured: AI Features (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI
variable measured: Real-Time Translation
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Language Support
variable measured: Asynchronous Communication
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Communication Type
variable measured: Zoom Rooms Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Enterprise Pricing
variable measured: Minimum Monthly Cost Per User
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Third-Party Integrations Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: AI Assistant Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI Features
variable measured: Google Workspace Native Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Workflow Automation Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Automation
variable measured: Storage Per User (Standard Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Storage
variable measured: Years Price Stable (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Open Source
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security & Transparency
variable measured: Enterprise AI Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Maximum Video Length (Free Tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Core Functionality
variable measured: Maximum Video Resolution
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Video Quality
variable measured: Native Integrations Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Pro Plan Annual Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Free Tier Message History Retention
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Retention
variable measured: AI Transcription Languages Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI Features
variable measured: Enterprise Uptime SLA
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Reliability
variable measured: User Workspace Limit (Free Tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Account Management
variable measured: Maximum Meeting Participants (Free)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Capabilities
variable measured: Maximum Meeting Participants (Paid)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Capabilities
variable measured: Free Plan Message History
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing & Limits
variable measured: Pro Plan Monthly Cost (Annual Billing)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Available Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integrations
variable measured: End-to-End Encryption Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: AI Meeting Assistant
variable measured: FedRAMP Authorization
variable measured: Monthly Cost (Pro Plan)
variable measured: Free Message History
variable measured: Voice Audio Codec Quality
variable measured: Third-Party Integrations
variable measured: Maximum Video Call Participants
variable measured: SOC 2 Type II Certified
variable measured: Custom Workflow Automation
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/slack-vs-element)

Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Slack vs Element.
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Value
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Mobile
has defined term: Market Position
has defined term: Trial Period
has defined term: Usage
has defined term: Deployment
has defined term: Integration Capability
has defined term: Artificial Intelligence
has defined term: Infrastructure
has defined term: Security
has defined term: Functionality
has defined term: Integrations
has defined term: AI
has defined term: Language Support
has defined term: Communication Type
has defined term: Enterprise Pricing
has defined term: AI Features
has defined term: Integration
has defined term: Automation
has defined term: Storage
has defined term: Security & Transparency
has defined term: Core Functionality
has defined term: Video Quality
has defined term: Data Retention
has defined term: Reliability
has defined term: Account Management
has defined term: Capabilities
has defined term: Pricing & Limits
has defined term: Compliance
has defined term: Security & Compliance
has defined term: Enterprise Features
has defined term: Scalability
has defined term: Scale
has defined term: Content
has defined term: Adoption
has defined term: Architecture
has defined term: Licensing
has defined term: Communication Features
has defined term: Integration Ecosystem
has defined term: Market Adoption
has defined term: Transparency
has defined term: Ease of Use
has defined term: Audio
has defined term: Time to Value
has defined term: Developer Experience
has defined term: Audience Size
has defined term: User Experience
has defined term: Video Conferencing
has defined term: Extensibility
has defined term: Market Reach
has defined term: Search & Discovery
has defined term: Adoption & Scale
has defined term: Security & Privacy
has defined term: Data & Storage
has defined term: Deployment & Control
has defined term: Enterprise Adoption
has defined term: Compliance & Regulation

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

Value
type: DefinedTerm
term code: value
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

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

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

Mobile
type: DefinedTerm
term code: mobile
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Position
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-position
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Trial Period
type: DefinedTerm
term code: trial-period
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Usage
type: DefinedTerm
term code: usage
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

Integration Capability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integration-capability
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Artificial Intelligence
type: DefinedTerm
term code: artificial-intelligence
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Infrastructure
type: DefinedTerm
term code: infrastructure
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

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

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

AI
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Language Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: language-support
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Communication Type
type: DefinedTerm
term code: communication-type
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Enterprise Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: enterprise-pricing
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai-features
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

Automation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: automation
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

Security & Transparency
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security-&-transparency
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Core Functionality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: core-functionality
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

Data Retention
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data-retention
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

Account Management
type: DefinedTerm
term code: account-management
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Capabilities
type: DefinedTerm
term code: capabilities
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

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

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

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

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

Scale
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scale
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

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

Architecture
type: DefinedTerm
term code: architecture
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Licensing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: licensing
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

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

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

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

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

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

Time to Value
type: DefinedTerm
term code: time-to-value
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Developer Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: developer-experience
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Audience Size
type: DefinedTerm
term code: audience-size
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

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

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

Market Reach
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-reach
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Search & Discovery
type: DefinedTerm
term code: search-&-discovery
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Adoption & Scale
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption-&-scale
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security & Privacy
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security-&-privacy
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

Deployment & Control
type: DefinedTerm
term code: deployment-&-control
in defined term set: Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

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

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-07-08T00:30:06.679Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: slack-vs-element)
main entity: Which platform is more secure for sensitive communications?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Element has stronger security by default with end-to-end encryption enabled for all messages using the Olm protocol. Slack only encrypts direct messages and has it as a beta feature. However, Slack has SOC 2 Type II certification and undergoes regular security audits. For healthcare (HIPAA), government, or financial services, Element's default encryption is typically preferred.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can I switch from Slack to Element without losing data?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Switching is possible but not seamless. Element supports message migration tools and the open-source community has created importers. However, Slack's integrations (2,400+) won't directly transfer. You'll need to reconfigure workflows, bots, and third-party tools. Most organizations run both platforms in parallel during transition.
    language: en-US
main entity: Is Element suitable for large enterprises?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Yes, but with considerations. Element is used by organizations like the UK NHS (national health service) and German government agencies, proving enterprise viability. However, it requires either technical expertise for self-hosting or managed service costs ($9-30/user/month). Slack is more out-of-the-box enterprise-ready with dedicated support and 750,000 organizations already using it.
    language: en-US
main entity: What's the hidden cost of using Slack's free plan?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: The free plan limits message history to 90 days, forcing paid upgrade ($8/user/month minimum) for compliance and knowledge retention. For a 50-person team, this is $400/month ($4,800/year). Organizations can't access conversations older than 90 days, creating information silos. Element's open-source version has unlimited history at zero cost.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which platform has better mobile apps?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Slack's mobile app (iOS/Android) is more polished with superior performance, offline support, and 21 million daily active users testing it continuously. Element's mobile apps are functional but have slower sync, less intuitive notifications, and smaller user base. For field teams and frequent mobile users, Slack provides a better experience.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Slack and Element
type: HowTo
description: Slack is a proprietary, cloud-hosted team communication platform with 750,000+ organizations using it, while Element is an open-source, decentralized messaging platform built on the Matrix protocol. Slack dominates enterprise adoption with superior integrations, while Element prioritizes privacy and self-hosting capabilities.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Hosting Model
step: Consider: Active Users (Worldwide)
step: Consider: Enterprise Integrations
step: Consider: End-to-End Encryption
step: Consider: Message Search Retention
step: Consider: Starting Cost
step: Consider: Data Ownership & Privacy
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose Slack if your organization prioritizes seamless integrations, enterprise features, and don't require self-hosting or maximum privacy control—it dominates the market with 750,000 organizations and superior workflow automation. Choose Element if you need end-to-end encryption by default, data ownership, self-hosting capabilities, or operate in privacy-sensitive industries; it's ideal for organizations that value decentralization and open-source infrastructure.

Consider: Hosting Model
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Hosting Model: Slack has Cloud-only (proprietary SaaS), while Element has Self-hosted or cloud-hosted (open-source).

Consider: Active Users (Worldwide)
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Active Users (Worldwide): Slack has 21 million daily active users, while Element has 2-3 million estimated users.

Consider: Enterprise Integrations
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Enterprise Integrations: Slack has 2,400+ native integrations, while Element has 200+ integrations.

Consider: End-to-End Encryption
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: End-to-End Encryption: Slack has Partial (direct messages only, beta), while Element has Full by default with Olm protocol.

Consider: Message Search Retention
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Message Search Retention: Slack has Unlimited (Pro plan) / 90 days (Free), while Element has Unlimited (self-hosted) / depends on plan.

Consider: Starting Cost
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Starting Cost: Slack has $8/user/month (Pro plan annual), while Element has $0 (open-source) / $9-30/user/month (managed).

Consider: Data Ownership & Privacy
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Data Ownership & Privacy: Slack has Slack owns data, compliance certifications (SOC 2, GDPR), while Element has You own data (self-hosted), Matrix protocol federation.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Slack vs Element
review body: Slack is a proprietary, cloud-hosted team communication platform with 750,000+ organizations using it, while Element is an open-source, decentralized messaging platform built on the Matrix protocol. Slack dominates enterprise adoption with superior integrations, while Element prioritizes privacy and self-hosting capabilities.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: Slack vs Element

Pro Plan Annual Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: $150 (billed monthly) | Element: N/A

Free Tier Message History Retention
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 90 days | Element: N/A

AI Transcription Languages Supported
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 0 (not native feature) | Element: N/A

Enterprise Uptime SLA
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 99.99% | Element: N/A

User Workspace Limit (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 1 workspace | Element: N/A

Maximum Meeting Participants (Free)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 3 participants | Element: N/A

Maximum Meeting Participants (Paid)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: Unlimited (slide deck view only) | Element: N/A

Free Plan Message History
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 90 days | Element: N/A

Pro Plan Monthly Cost (Annual Billing)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: $8.75 | Element: N/A

Available Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 2,400+ | Element: 200+
value reference: Slack

End-to-End Encryption Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: DMs only, Enterprise+ plan | Element: N/A

AI Meeting Assistant
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: Slack AI (search, summarization, drafting) | Element: N/A

FedRAMP Authorization
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: No | Element: N/A

Monthly Cost (Pro Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: $12.50 per user/month | Element: N/A

Free Message History
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 90 days maximum | Element: N/A

Voice Audio Codec Quality
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 16 kHz | Element: N/A

Third-Party Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 2000+ integrations | Element: 200-300
value reference: Slack

Maximum Video Call Participants
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 15 participants | Element: N/A

SOC 2 Type II Certified
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: Yes | Element: N/A

Custom Workflow Automation
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: Advanced (Workflow Builder, automations) | Element: N/A

Users Per Workspace
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: Unlimited | Element: N/A

Total Registered Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 750 million | Element: N/A

Enterprise Plan Monthly Cost Per User
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: $12.50 | Element: N/A

Free Plan Message History Retention
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 90 days | Element: N/A

Third-Party Integrations Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 2,300+ integrations | Element: N/A

Daily Posts Published (Organic)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: N/A | Element: N/A

Free Plan External Guest Collaboration
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: Unlimited external guests via workspace invite | Element: N/A

Paid Plan Starting Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: $7.25 | Element: N/A

Email Service Included
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: No | Element: N/A

Cloud Storage (Base Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 10 GB | Element: N/A

Monthly Cost Per User
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: $8-12.50 (Pro/Business+) | Element: N/A

Active Workspaces
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 750,000+ | Element: N/A

Native Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 2,300+ | Element: N/A

Message History Searchable
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 10 years standard | Element: N/A

Threading Model
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: Channel-based threads (contextual loss in active channels) | Element: N/A

Open Source
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: Proprietary (closed-source) | Element: N/A

Mobile App Type
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: Native iOS/Android with feature-parity | Element: N/A

Workflow Automation Steps
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 50+ | Element: N/A

Native Video/Audio Calls
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: Yes (Slack Huddles) | Element: Via Jitsi integration (not native)

Native App Integrations Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 2,400+ apps | Element: ~150 via bridges
value reference: Slack

End-to-End Encryption Default
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: Not available | Element: Yes, default in all rooms

Monthly Cost (Pro Plan, 50 users)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: $412.50/month | Element: $0-1,500/month (self-hosted varies)
value reference: Element

Paid Workspaces/Users (Enterprise Adoption)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 750,000+ paid workspaces | Element: ~100,000 public servers
value reference: Slack

Source Code Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: Proprietary/closed | Element: Open-source (GPLv3)

Monthly Cost (10 Users, Annual)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: $150/month ($1,800/year) | Element: N/A

Pre-built Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 2,400+ integrations | Element: N/A

Message History on Free Plan
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 90-day limited access | Element: N/A

Active Global Workspaces/Deployments
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 750,000+ active workspaces | Element: N/A

Self-Hosted/On-Premises Option
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: No (cloud-only) | Element: N/A

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

HIPAA Compliance Certified
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: Yes (Business+ plan required) | Element: N/A

Price Per User Per Month (Pro/Standard)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: $12.50/user (Pro plan) | Element: N/A

Base Monthly Cost (10-person team)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: $80-150 | Element: N/A

Cost for 50-person team
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: $400-750 | Element: N/A

Message History Retention
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 10,000 messages (free); unlimited (paid) | Element: N/A

Built-in Project Management
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: No (requires integrations) | Element: N/A

Real-time Messaging Speed
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 50-100ms (instant) | Element: N/A

File Storage Included
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 5GB (Free), varies by plan | Element: N/A

Setup Time for New Team
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 0.5-1 hour | Element: N/A

Max Video Conference Participants
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 1000 | Element: N/A

Voice Codec Quality Rating
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 7.5 | Element: N/A

Enterprise Security Certifications
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: SOC 2, HIPAA, FedRAMP, GDPR | Element: N/A

Time to Deploy
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 3-7 | Element: N/A

Learning Curve
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 2 | Element: N/A

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

Monthly Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 0.75 million | Element: 2-3 million
value reference: Element

Pro Plan Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: $8.75 | Element: N/A

Video Conference Max Participants
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 150 | Element: N/A

Free Tier File Storage
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 1 GB shared workspace | Element: N/A

Message Search History (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 90 days | Element: N/A

Annual Subscription Cost (Pro, 100 users)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: $10,500 | Element: N/A

Desktop App Memory Usage
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 280 MB | Element: N/A

Monthly subscription cost (Pro plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: $12.50 | Element: N/A

Native third-party integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 100+ | Element: N/A

Message Search Response Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 2-4 seconds | Element: N/A

User interface satisfaction rating
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 9.2/10 | Element: N/A

Maximum video call participants (free tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 100 participants | Element: N/A

Service uptime SLA guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 99.99% | Element: N/A

Message history retention (free plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 90 days searchable | Element: Unlimited with self-hosting

Enterprise app marketplace size
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 2,000+ apps (Slack App Directory) | Element: N/A

Team Size Cost Efficiency Threshold
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: Cost-effective until ~12 users | Element: N/A

Built-in Task Management
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: No: messaging-only, requires integrations | Element: N/A

Message History Searchability
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 90 days (Free/Pro), unlimited with Enterprise | Element: N/A

Average User Adoption Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 1-3 days | Element: N/A

Global Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 750+ million messages daily across 750k+ organizations | Element: N/A

Monthly Subscription Cost (Pro/Standard)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: $8.25 | Element: N/A

Message Delivery Latency
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: <100ms | Element: N/A

Message Search Speed (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: All messages indexed instantly | Element: N/A

File Upload Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 20GB | Element: N/A

Message History Retention (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 90 days | Element: N/A

Native Microsoft 365 Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: API-based (basic) | Element: N/A

G2 Ease of Use Rating (2024)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 4.5/5 | Element: N/A

Video Meeting Participant Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 2000 | Element: N/A

Pro Plan Monthly Cost Per User
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: $12.50 | Element: N/A

File Storage Per User
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 100 (workspace) | Element: N/A

Free Group Video Call Duration Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 40 | Element: N/A

Maximum Video Conference Participants (Free)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: Limited (typically 3-4) | Element: N/A

G2 User Interface Rating
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 4.6/5 (12,400 reviews) | Element: N/A

Message Search Capability
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: Full-text indexed across all messages | Element: N/A

Daily Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 21 million | Element: 2-3 million (estimated)
value reference: Slack

End-to-End Encryption
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: Partial (DMs only, beta feature) | Element: Full by default (Olm protocol)

Message History (Free Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 90 days | Element: Unlimited (self-hosted)

Cost Per User (Annual, Lowest Paid Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: $8/month | Element: $0 (open-source) or $9/month (managed)
value reference: Slack

Self-Hosting Capability
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: Not available | Element: Yes (full open-source support)

Organizations Using Platform
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: 750,000+ | Element: 50,000+ (estimated)
value reference: Slack

GDPR Compliance
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: Certified (SOC 2 Type II, GDPR) | Element: Compliant by architecture (user data control)

Voice Chat Bitrate
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: N/A | Element: Variable (48-128 kbps)

Voice Latency
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: N/A | Element: 100-200ms avg

Default End-to-End Encryption
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: N/A | Element: Yes (all chats)

Self-Hosting Option
type: PropertyValue
value: Slack: N/A | Element: Yes (fully)

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

Element — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

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

AI Meeting Assistant
type: PropertyValue
value reference: AI Features

FedRAMP Authorization
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Compliance

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

Free Message History
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Voice Audio Codec Quality
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Third-Party Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Maximum Video Call Participants
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

SOC 2 Type II Certified
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security & Compliance

Custom Workflow Automation
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Enterprise Features

Users Per Workspace
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability

Total Registered Users
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scale

Enterprise Plan Monthly Cost Per User
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Free Plan Message History Retention
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

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

Daily Posts Published (Organic)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Content

Free Plan External Guest Collaboration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Paid Plan Starting Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Email Service Included
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Cloud Storage (Base Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Storage

Monthly Cost Per User
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Active Workspaces
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

Native Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Message History Searchable
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Threading Model
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Architecture

Open Source
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Licensing

Mobile App Type
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Mobile

Workflow Automation Steps
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

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

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

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

Source Code Availability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Transparency

Monthly Cost (10 Users, Annual)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Pre-built Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Message History on Free Plan
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Active Global Workspaces/Deployments
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Adoption

Self-Hosted/On-Premises Option
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Deployment

Uptime SLA Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Reliability

HIPAA Compliance Certified
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Compliance

Price Per User Per Month (Pro/Standard)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Base Monthly Cost (10-person team)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Cost for 50-person team
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Message History Retention
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Built-in Project Management
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Real-time Messaging Speed
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

File Storage Included
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Storage

Setup Time for New Team
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Max Video Conference Participants
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Voice Codec Quality Rating
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Audio

Enterprise Security Certifications
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Time to Deploy
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Time to Value

Learning Curve
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Experience

Uptime Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Reliability

Monthly Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Audience Size

Pro Plan Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Video Conference Max Participants
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Free Tier File Storage
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Storage

Message Search History (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Annual Subscription Cost (Pro, 100 users)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Desktop App Memory Usage
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Monthly subscription cost (Pro plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Native third-party integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Message Search Response Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

User interface satisfaction rating
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Maximum video call participants (free tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Video Conferencing

Service uptime SLA guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Reliability

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

Enterprise app marketplace size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Extensibility

Team Size Cost Efficiency Threshold
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Built-in Task Management
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Functionality

Message History Searchability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Functionality

Average User Adoption Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Global Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Reach

Monthly Subscription Cost (Pro/Standard)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Message Delivery Latency
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Message Search Speed (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

File Upload Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Storage

Message History Retention (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Native Microsoft 365 Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

G2 Ease of Use Rating (2024)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Video Meeting Participant Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Pro Plan Monthly Cost Per User
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

File Storage Per User
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Storage

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

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

G2 User Interface Rating
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Message Search Capability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Search & Discovery

Daily Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption & Scale

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

Message History (Free Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Data & Storage

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

Self-Hosting Capability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Deployment & Control

Organizations Using Platform
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Enterprise Adoption

GDPR Compliance
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Compliance & Regulation

Voice Chat Bitrate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Voice Latency
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

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

Self-Hosting Option
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Deployment