8x8
Element
| Feature | 8x8 | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $28/mo | Free / from $5/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | international-businesses, contact-centers, healthcare, financial-services | open-source-teams, governments, privacy-focused-orgs, developers |
| Founded | 1987 | 2017 |
| Unlimited Calling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Video Conferencing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Team Chat | ✓ | ✗ |
| Contact Center | ✓ | ✗ |
| Analytics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Call Recording | ✓ | ✗ |
| Encrypted Messaging | ✗ | ✓ |
| Voice Video Calls | ✗ | ✓ |
| Spaces | ✗ | ✓ |
| Bridges | ✗ | ✓ |
| Self Hosting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Federation | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 8x8 Pros
- Unlimited international calling
- Strong contact center features
- Good uptime and reliability
- Compliant for healthcare and finance
✗ 8x8 Cons
- Interface feels dated
- Support can be slow
- Pricing not transparent
✓ Element Pros
- Decentralized architecture
- End-to-end encryption
- Self-hosting option
- Bridges to other platforms
✗ Element Cons
- Complex setup for non-technical users
- Smaller ecosystem
- Performance can lag on large rooms
The Verdict
8x8 is built for international businesses and contact centers, with a focus on unlimited-calling and video-conferencing. Element targets open source teams and governments and leads with encrypted-messaging and voice-video-calls.
On pricing, Element is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $5/mo compared to $28/mo for 8x8. That $23/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Element has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. 8x8 requires a paid subscription from day one.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.