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Element

✓ Verified by EU Alts

Secure, decentralised messaging built on Matrix — a UK alternative to Slack and Microsoft Teams.

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Overview

Element builds collaboration, messaging, and open source software since 2017 and is listed with a London, United Kingdom base. Its recorded ownership is based in United Kingdom, so EU jurisdiction is not assumed. EU Alts has not independently confirmed its exposure to the US CLOUD Act — the ownership and hosting facts recorded for it do not establish that it is outside the Act's reach — see the Details section below for what's known so far.

Why European teams pick Element

Teams in Europe consider Element when they want a collaboration provider that bills in EUR, operating since 2017. EU Alts has not independently verified Element's exposure to the US CLOUD Act — check the Details section for the recorded facts.

See more EU collaboration tools or browse other startups from United Kingdom.

About

Element is a UK-based open-source messaging platform built on the Matrix decentralised protocol, developed by New Vector Ltd. Because Matrix is federated, organisations can run their own Element server (Synapse or Dendrite) on EU infrastructure and communicate with any other Matrix server globally, without routing messages through a central provider. Element offers end-to-end encryption via the Matrix Olm/Megolm protocol, cross-signing for device verification, spaces for channel organisation, and bridges to Slack, Teams, Discord, IRC, and other networks. Element is used by the French government (Tchap), German public sector, and many EU government agencies as a sovereign alternative to Microsoft Teams. The server component is open-source under Apache 2.0.

Details

Founded
2017
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom
Ownership
Independently owned (United Kingdom)
Verified
2026-09-03
Last checked
2026-09-03
Company size
51–200 employees

Categories

Compare with the US product you may be replacing

Element is listed in a category that our US-product comparison pages cover. See every EU option side by side:

Other EU startups like Element

  • Nextcloud ✓ Verified by EU AltsGermany — Self-hosted productivity platform for files, calendar and collaboration — a European alternative to Google Workspace.
  • Wire ✓ Verified by EU AltsSwitzerland — Secure end-to-end encrypted messaging and collaboration — a European alternative to Slack and Microsoft Teams.
  • Budibase ✓ Verified by EU AltsUnited Kingdom — Open-source low-code platform for building internal tools — a UK alternative to Retool.
  • Meilisearch ✓ Verified by EU AltsFrance — Open-source, lightning-fast search engine — a French alternative to Algolia.
  • PrestaShop ✓ Verified by EU AltsFrance — Open-source e-commerce platform powering 300,000+ shops — a French alternative to WooCommerce.
  • GoatCounter ✓ Verified by EU AltsNorway — Lightweight open-source web analytics that doesn't track personal data.

Frequently asked questions

What does Element do?

Element is secure, decentralised messaging built on matrix — a uk alternative to slack and microsoft teams. It is listed under collaboration, messaging, and open source on EU Alts because its core functionality serves teams looking for a European collaboration tool with EU data residency, typically as a switch away from Slack.

Is Element GDPR compliant?

Element is listed in London, United Kingdom, but its recorded ownership is based in United Kingdom, so EU jurisdiction is not assumed. EU Alts has not independently verified Element's exposure to the US CLOUD Act; check the recorded ownership and hosting facts below before relying on it for Schrems II purposes.

How do teams switch from Slack to Element?

Teams considering a move from Slack to Element are usually drawn by its collaboration workflow fit. EU Alts has not independently verified Element's exposure to the US CLOUD Act, so treat any CLOUD Act or Schrems II conclusions as provisional. Plan a migration in stages regardless: export your data from the US incumbent, pilot Element with a small team, then move the rest once integration coverage is confirmed.

Where is Element based?

Element is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The company was founded in 2017. Its main website is https://element.io.