Element
Internxt
| Feature | Element | Internxt |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $5/mo | Free / from $4.49/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Best For | open-source-teams, governments, privacy-focused-orgs, developers | privacy-advocates, european-users, open-source-supporters, individuals |
| Founded | 2017 | 2020 |
| Encrypted Messaging | ✓ | ✗ |
| Voice Video Calls | ✓ | ✗ |
| Spaces | ✓ | ✗ |
| Bridges | ✓ | ✗ |
| Self Hosting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Federation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Encrypted Storage | ✗ | ✓ |
| File Sharing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Photo Backup | ✗ | ✓ |
| Secure Send | ✗ | ✓ |
| Password Checker | ✗ | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Internxt Pros
- Open-source and auditable
- Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption
- EU-based (GDPR native)
- Affordable pricing for large storage
✗ Internxt Cons
- Smaller ecosystem than Google/Dropbox
- Desktop app less polished
- Limited third-party integrations
The Verdict
Element is built for open source teams and governments, with a focus on encrypted-messaging and voice-video-calls. Internxt targets privacy advocates and european users and leads with encrypted-storage and file-sharing.
Both tools come in at similar price points ($5/mo for Element, $4.49/mo for Internxt), 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.
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.