Tool Replacement Guide
Replace Microsoft Teams with Element
Why professionals are switching from Microsoft Teams to Element in 2026, and how to make the transition.
Savings
$72/yr per user
Difficulty
medium
Category
communication
Why Switch from Microsoft Teams?
Microsoft Teams ties you to the Microsoft 365 ecosystem and collects extensive telemetry data. Element is built on the Matrix protocol, offering decentralized, end-to-end encrypted communication. It provides messaging, voice, and video calls with bridges to other platforms. Teams seeking data sovereignty and interoperability benefit from Element's open architecture.
Element Pros
- ✓End-to-end encryption by default on the Matrix protocol
- ✓Decentralized architecture with no single point of failure
- ✓Bridges allow communication with Slack, IRC, and more
- ✓Self-hosting gives complete data sovereignty
- ✓Free for personal use with affordable team plans
Element Cons
- ✗Smaller user base means less familiarity for new users
- ✗Integration with Microsoft Office tools is limited
- ✗Setup for self-hosted instances can be complex
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