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.
Slack vs Element — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
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.
Cloud-based team messaging platform with deep enterprise integrations and 21 million daily active users.
Open-source, decentralized messaging platform built on the Matrix protocol with emphasis on privacy and data ownership.
Structured comparison data for Slack vs Element with 159 attributes.
Paid Workspaces/Users (Enterprise Adoption)
Annual Subscription Cost (Pro, 100 users)
Maximum video call participants (free tier)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Pro/Standard)
Maximum Video Conference Participants (Free)
Cost Per User (Annual, Lowest Paid Tier)
Slack vs Element — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Slack vs Element.
Which platform is more secure for sensitive communications?
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.
Can I switch from Slack to Element without losing data?
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.
Is Element suitable for large enterprises?
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.
What's the hidden cost of using Slack's free plan?
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.
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.