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Status vs Element: catalog facts
Status	Element
Free Free to download and use.	Freemium The client is free and open source under the AGPL 3.0. Element Matrix Services sells…
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web, Self-hosted
Decentralised messaging with self-custodial keys Built-in crypto wallet and web3 browser	End-to-end encryption with cross-signed device verification Federated, so you can run your own server and still reach everyone
Crypto wallet and token features add complexity for people who only want chat Communities depend on members running the desktop app	Encryption key management confuses people the first time they log in on a new device Heavy on memory for a chat app, and slow with many large rooms
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License: AGPL-3.0
Not stated if an account is needed	Account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 21, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.