Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Element.io VS Mattermost

Compare Element.io VS Mattermost and see what are their differences

Element.io logo Element.io

Secure messaging app with strong end-to-end encryption, advanced group chat privacy settings, secure video calls for teams, encrypted communication using Matrix open network. Riot.im is now Element.

Mattermost logo Mattermost

Mattermost is an open source alternative to Slack.
  • Element.io Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-20
  • Mattermost Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-21

Element.io features and specs

  • Open Source
    Element.io is open-source, meaning the code is freely accessible and can be modified by anyone. This allows for transparency, security audits, and customization.
  • Privacy and Security
    Element.io offers end-to-end encryption for secure communication, ensuring that only the intended recipients can read the messages.
  • Interoperability
    It supports the Matrix protocol, which allows for communication across different platforms and services, facilitating greater connectivity.
  • Rich Feature Set
    Element.io provides features such as voice and video calls, file sharing, and integrations with other services, making it suitable for both personal and team use.
  • Cross-Platform
    Available on various platforms including web, desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux), and mobile (iOS, Android), ensuring accessibility from any device.
  • Customizability
    Users can personalize their experience through various settings and even set up their own server for full control over their data.

Possible disadvantages of Element.io

  • Complexity
    The extensive feature set and customization options can be overwhelming for new users, leading to a steeper learning curve.
  • Performance Issues
    Users have reported occasional performance issues such as slow response times and lag, particularly in larger rooms or with heavy media use.
  • User Interface
    While functional, the user interface may not be as polished or intuitive as other more mainstream messaging apps, which could impact usability.
  • Server Setup
    Setting up your own server for complete data control requires technical expertise and can be time-consuming, posing a barrier for non-technical users.
  • Limited Network Effect
    Despite its capabilities, Element.io has a smaller user base compared to giants like WhatsApp or Slack, which may limit its usefulness for some users.
  • Resource Intensive
    The application can be resource-intensive, particularly on older hardware, which may result in slower performance or increased battery consumption on mobile devices.

Mattermost features and specs

  • Open Source
    Mattermost is open-source, which allows organizations to customize and extend the platform to fit their specific needs. This also means that the community can contribute to the development and improvement of the software.
  • Security
    Being self-hosted or hosted in a private cloud, Mattermost offers strong security controls, making it suitable for industries with stringent compliance requirements.
  • Flexibility
    Mattermost supports a wide range of plugins and integrations with other tools and services, providing a high degree of flexibility in customization.
  • Team Collaboration
    The platform provides comprehensive team collaboration features, including direct messages, group chats, and file sharing, which streamline communication and project management.
  • Scalability
    Mattermost is designed to handle large-scale deployments, making it suitable for enterprises with significant user bases.

Possible disadvantages of Mattermost

  • Complex Setup
    Setting up Mattermost can be complex and may require considerable time and technical expertise, particularly for self-hosted deployments.
  • Cost
    While the basic version is free, advanced features and enterprise-grade support come at a cost which can be expensive for smaller organizations.
  • Maintenance
    Self-hosting Mattermost requires ongoing maintenance, including updates and security patches, which can be resource-intensive.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may experience a learning curve due to the platform's comprehensive set of features and customization options.
  • Mobile Experience
    The mobile app, while functional, is often considered less polished and feature-rich compared to the desktop version, which might affect user experience on the go.

Analysis of Element.io

Overall verdict

  • Element.io is a good choice for those looking for a secure and privacy-focused communication platform with rich features and high customizability. Its open-source nature and ability to integrate with other services enhance its appeal to a wide range of users.

Why this product is good

  • Element.io, previously known as Riot.im, is considered a good platform due to its focus on security and privacy, offering end-to-end encryption for conversations. It is built on the Matrix protocol, which supports decentralized communication, making it a versatile and open-source choice for both individual and group communication. It is designed for interoperability and can integrate with other messaging and collaboration platforms. Additionally, it offers extensive customization options and support for both text and voice/video communications.

Recommended for

    Element.io is highly recommended for privacy-conscious users, open-source enthusiasts, tech-savvy individuals, organizations seeking secure internal communication channels, and communities needing decentralized and customizable messaging solutions.

Analysis of Mattermost

Overall verdict

  • Mattermost is a strong choice for teams and organizations looking for a secure, customizable, and self-hosted collaboration tool. While it may require more setup than some cloud-based alternatives, the customization and control it offers can be a significant benefit.

Why this product is good

  • Mattermost is considered a good platform for its open-source nature, which provides flexibility and control over data, making it a popular choice for organizations with specific security and compliance needs. It offers robust features for team collaboration, including messaging, file sharing, and integrations with other services. The ability to customize and extend the platform to fit unique organizational workflows is another advantage.

Recommended for

    Mattermost is recommended for organizations that prioritize data privacy and security, need extensive customization options, or are looking to integrate a collaboration tool into existing systems. It is also suitable for teams in regulated industries requiring on-premises solutions.

Element.io videos

RIOT : Riot.im : A New World Of Open Communication!

Mattermost videos

Mattermost - An Open Source, Self Hosted, Slack Chat Alternative

More videos:

  • Review - Demo of Mattermost Basics | Features end users love
  • Review - Getting Started with Mattermost

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Element.io and Mattermost)
Communication
77 77%
23% 23
Group Chat & Notifications
Messaging
87 87%
13% 13
Team Collaboration
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Element.io and Mattermost

Element.io Reviews

7 best Mattermost alternatives for secure business messaging
Element is a secure messaging and communication software that operates based on the Matrix protocol. It has advanced features that promote internal collaboration and boost team productivity. It offers end-to-end encryption and supports communication through messages, voice, and video calls.
Source: www.rocket.chat
10 Best Secure Messaging Apps to Keep Your Conversation Private
Element.io, which was earlier known as Riot, is a secure chat app that is built around protecting user privacy. It offers end-to-end encryption out of the box, which means that your conversations are fully encrypted and only the sender and receiver can read the messages. After the transition from Rio to Element, the secure messaging app has become more enterprise-friendly.
Source: beebom.com
18 Best Discord Alternatives 2020 | Expert Reviews
Element, formerly known as Riot, is a great alternative to Discord with many of the same features and functions. What sets Element apart is that it was created using open-source software, which allows for customization and flexibility. Element is based on a reaction-based software called Matrix, which allows you to bring other communication channels into the app as well as...
5 best secure private messengers
Neither Riot nor Matrix have been fully audited, although Olm and Megolm have been. Riot.im has been criticized the past for its rather basic user interface, but this no longer true. It still lags behind the futuristic flashiness of Wire, but Riot is now a highly capable messenger with functionality often compared to the corporate messaging workhorse, Slack.
Source: proprivacy.com
11 Alternatives to Whatsapp that Actually Respect Your Privacy
Formerly Riot.im, Element uses Matrix as a back end, and is an excellent chat app for those who like open source from end to end. Everything from the chat client, the chat protocol, and the video conferencing software are all open source, which is an important part of why Element is so respectful of your privacy. In the open source community, people are generally very...

Mattermost Reviews

7 best Mattermost alternatives for secure business messaging
Mattermost uses monolithic architecture, which is tightly coupled and complex to understand. It restricts the scalability of the collaboration tool, which is a limitation for growing businesses. In that case, businesses explore Mattermost alternatives that support scalability.
Source: www.rocket.chat
12 Best Self-hosted Chat Platforms For Team Communication
Below is a curated list of the 12 best self-hosted messaging apps like MirrorFly, Mattermost, Zulio, Nextcloud, and Rocket.chat that offer unique collaboration features and lets you take full control of your data.
10 Best Telegram Alternatives in 2024
Mattermost is the most widely used Social platforms for any companies specially IT sectors, and it serves as one of the top Telegram alternatives. Provides easy-to-setup interface with fast performance. This app is designed for file sharing, searching options and also to allow user internal chat facility. Mattermost is the alternative for telegram and microsoft teams apps.
Top 5 Voice Messaging Apps To Keep Teams Connected
Some business conversations are private and cannot be discussed on third-party servers. If you are looking for a secure app to use for your conversations, consider using Mattermost. The app is open-source where you will need to have it downloaded and installed on the servers of your company. This is one of the video messaging apps that are self-hosted. With this app, you can...
Why we switched to Mattermost
Just dialing that down a notch – both our Mattermost clients (usually browsers) and Mattermost servers are now invisible to the Internet and invisible to any network. If a user session is properly identified (dive deeper here if strong identification (no, IP addresses don’t count!) is important to you), authenticated and authorized then it can open a Zero trust application...
Source: netfoundry.io

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Mattermost seems to be a lot more popular than Element.io. While we know about 69 links to Mattermost, we've tracked only 1 mention of Element.io. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Element.io mentions (1)

Mattermost mentions (69)

  • Indie Hacking with Open Source Tools: Innovating on a Budget
    Indie hackers also leverage collaboration tools like Nextcloud for file sharing and team projects, and Mattermost or Rocket.Chat as self-hosted alternatives to Slack. These tools empower remote teams and foster efficient communication across diverse development projects. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Indie Hacking with Open Source Tools: Innovating on a Budget
    Communication tools such as Mattermost and Rocket.Chat support team collaboration. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Indie Hacking Success Stories with Open Source Licenses
    Mattermost: For teams seeking a secure, self-hosted communication solution, Mattermost stands as a beacon of open source excellence. With a foundation built on the MIT License, Mattermost caters to organizations that prioritize data security and customization. Its growth not only reflects a need for privacy in digital communication but also showcases how open source frameworks support tailored solutions. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Campsite/Campsite: The Campsite Monorepo
    Is there an 'open source Slack' type thing anywhere? This is the closest I've found- https://mattermost.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • A Surprise from Mattermost!
    Turned out it was a gift from Mattermost! It was a custom-made mug with a special thank you message at the back, which was really cool! - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Element.io and Mattermost, you can also consider the following products

Matrix.org - Matrix is an open standard for decentralized persistent communication over IP.

Slack - A messaging app for teams who see through the Earth!

Telegram - Telegram is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security. It’s superfast, simple and free.

Rocket.Chat - Rocket.Chat is a Web Chat Server, developed in JavaScript, using the Meteor fullstack framework.

Signal - Fast, simple & secure messaging. Privacy that fits in your pocket.

Tox - Send messages, files, create groups and make Tox to Tox audio and video calls. Securely.