Element
FigJam
| Feature | Element | FigJam |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $5/mo | Free / from $5/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | open-source-teams, governments, privacy-focused-orgs, developers | design-teams, product-teams, workshop-facilitators, remote-teams |
| Founded | 2017 | 2021 |
| Encrypted Messaging | ✓ | ✗ |
| Voice Video Calls | ✓ | ✗ |
| Spaces | ✓ | ✗ |
| Bridges | ✓ | ✗ |
| Self Hosting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Federation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Sticky Notes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Drawing Tools | ✗ | ✓ |
| Stamps Reactions | ✗ | ✓ |
| Templates | ✗ | ✓ |
| Figma Integration | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ai Features | ✗ | ✓ |
| Voting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Timers | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ FigJam Pros
- Seamless integration with Figma design files
- Generous free tier with unlimited files
- Fun and engaging collaboration features (stamps, emotes)
- AI-powered features for summarizing and organizing
- Templates for common workshop activities
✗ FigJam Cons
- Less powerful than dedicated diagramming tools
- Requires Figma account to use
- Limited offline functionality
The Verdict
Element is built for open source teams and governments, with a focus on encrypted-messaging and voice-video-calls. FigJam targets design teams and product teams and leads with sticky-notes and drawing-tools.
Both tools come in at similar price points ($5/mo for Element, $5/mo for FigJam), so pricing won't make the decision for you.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Feature-wise, FigJam offers broader built-in capabilities (8 features vs 6), while Element takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: FigJam has a slight overall edge — but if decentralized architecture matters most to you, Element may still be the right call.
