S
SElement vs Threema
Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.
E
Choose Element if…
- you want a lower entry price ($0.00 vs $6.99)
- you need free to use
- you're in its core audience: government and public sector, defence organisations
T
Choose Threema if…
- you need e2EE by default
- you're in its core audience: privacy-conscious individuals, enterprises
Side by side
Feature Element Threema
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux, Self-hostedWeb, Self-hosted
CompanyElement Creations LtdThreema AG · since 2012
Full feature lists
E Element
- End-to-end encrypted messaging by default
- E2EE voice and video calls via Element Call
- Federation with any Matrix-based system
- Self-hosted and air-gapped deployment
- LDAP/AD, SCIM and OIDC single sign-on
- Retention policies, auditing and data export
- Helm charts for Kubernetes and OpenShift support
- Whitelabelled mobile app and custom domains
T Threema
- End-to-end encrypted chats, voice and video calls, and files
- Perfect Forward Secrecy
- Anonymous use via Threema ID, no phone number needed
- Messages deleted from servers after delivery
- Central management cockpit for business users
- Threema Broadcast for one-to-many messaging
- Self-hosted OnPrem with air-gapped operation
- Open source code with reproducible builds
Their home pages
What each vendor shows first: the pitch, the plans and the sign-up.
Element · element.io
Threema · threema.comWhat you'd pay
The cheapest plan that fits, per month, billed yearly where the plan offers it.
| Team size | Element | Threema |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | no published plan | $3 Work Core |
| 5 people | no published plan | $15 Work Core |
| 20 people | no published plan | $60 Work Core |
All plans and prices
Element
CommunityFree
EnterprisePriced per seat/month
SovereignPriced per deployment
Threema
Private$6.00 one-time
Work Core$3.00/user/mo billed annually
Work Professional$5.00/user/mo billed annually
OnPremCustom
Strengths and limitations
Element
- Open source under AGPL with a free self-hosted edition
- No personal phone number required
- Certified to ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and Cyber Essentials Plus
- Supports air-gapped deployments
- Enterprise and Sovereign pricing only through sales
- Community Synapse is not meant for production use
- Whitelabelled app and cross domain gateway are paid add-ons
Threema
- No phone number or email required to sign up
- Open source code with external audits and reproducible builds
- 30-day Work trial for 30 users without payment details
- Servers and development based in Switzerland
- Private app is a paid one-time purchase, with no free tier
- Work Core plan is limited to 200 users
- API access and Broadcast require the Professional plan
More comparisons
Other options to consider
SS
Free
S
Free end-to-end encrypted messenger for chats, calls and groups
Encrypted messengersFree planOpen source
Facts from each vendor's public pages, prices checked Nov 8, 2026. Editorial policy