Microsoft Teams vs Element
Side-by-side feature comparison and pricing breakdown.
End-to-End Encryption Element has E2EE by default; Teams E2EE is limited
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M365 Integration Teams is tightly integrated with Microsoft 365
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Decentralization Element uses the federated Matrix protocol
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Self-Hosting Element can be fully self-hosted
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Video Conferencing Both offer video calls; Teams is more feature-rich
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Cross-Platform Bridges Element bridges to Slack, Teams, Discord, IRC
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Resource Usage Element is lighter than the Teams desktop app
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Pricing
$4/mo
Free Open Source
Save 100% — Save $4/user/mo by self-hosting (100% savings)
Verdict
Element provides encrypted, decentralized messaging without Microsoft 365 lock-in. Teams is better integrated with Office apps, but Element is the go-to for organizations that prioritize data sovereignty over convenience.
Best for: Organizations that need sovereign, encrypted communications independent of Microsoft's ecosystem
Last updated: 2026-03-01