Element Call
Decentralized, end-to-end encrypted calls on the Matrix network.
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sovereigntyElement Call is a native Matrix video-conferencing app: end-to-end encrypted by default, federated across Matrix homeservers, and free to use or self-host. It is the best fit for teams that want secure, decentralized calls with no single company controlling the infrastructure — calls can even happen between users on different homeservers.
OPEN SOURCEAGPL-3.0SELF-HOSTLOCAL-FIRST
LicenseAGPL-3.0
PricingFree / open-source (use element.io or self-host with a Matrix homeserver)
Open sourceYes
Self-hostableYes
Local-first dataYes
What it does well
- +End-to-end encrypted and decentralized (Matrix + LiveKit)
- +Federated — call across different homeservers
- +Use free online or self-host for full control
- +No account lock-in to a single provider
Where it falls short
- −Self-hosting means running a Matrix homeserver and LiveKit backend
- −Younger and less turnkey than Jitsi for large calls
- −Ecosystem is smaller than mainstream conferencing tools
Element Call as an alternative to
Where Element Call shows up in our comparisons, and how it ranked.
Element Call head-to-head
Straight comparisons against the tools people weigh it against.