Element
Miro
| Feature | Element | Miro |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $5/mo | Free / from $8/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | open-source-teams, governments, privacy-focused-orgs, developers | designers, product-teams, remote-teams, facilitators |
| Founded | 2017 | 2011 |
| Encrypted Messaging | ✓ | ✗ |
| Voice Video Calls | ✓ | ✗ |
| Spaces | ✓ | ✗ |
| Bridges | ✓ | ✗ |
| Self Hosting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Federation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Whiteboard | ✗ | ✓ |
| Templates | ✗ | ✓ |
| Voting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Timer | ✗ | ✓ |
| Integrations | ✗ | ✓ |
| Video Chat | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Miro Pros
- Infinite canvas
- Great for workshops
- Templates
- Integrations
✗ Miro Cons
- Can be slow with large boards
- Free plan limited
- Learning curve
The Verdict
Element is built for open source teams and governments, with a focus on encrypted-messaging and voice-video-calls. Miro targets designers and product teams and leads with whiteboard and templates.
Pricing is close: Element starts at $5/mo versus $8/mo for Miro — not a deciding factor on its own.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Bottom line: Miro has a slight overall edge — but if decentralized architecture matters most to you, Element may still be the right call.
