Mattermost vs Element
Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of The 11 Best Team Communication Tools. Last verified June 17, 2026.
The short answer
Mattermost ranks higher on Top 11 (#6 vs #11) for Remote and hybrid teams choosing a messaging and collaboration platform. Top open-source platform for teams needing total data control.
At a glance
| Mattermost | Element | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #6 / The 11 Best Team Communication Tools | #11 / The 11 Best Team Communication Tools |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 8 | 7 |
| Best for | High-security and self-hosted needs | Privacy-first teams needing decentralization |
| Pricing | $$ ($10/user/mo) | $ ($2 to $5/user/mo) |
| HQ | Palo Alto, USA | London, UK |
| Founded | 2016 | 2017 |
Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.