# Alternatives to Element Call E2E encrypted calls on Matrix. Element Call ranks #12 of 12 in Video conferencing, with an Alt Score of 32. It is licensed under AGPL-3.0, free and available on the web. 4 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source. Source: https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/element-call/ Category: Video conferencing ## Where Element Call stands out - **E2E encryption** — 5 of 11 apps with a verified answer have this ## Overview - **Who it's for**: Teams, organizations, and individuals who need private group voice or video calls without depending on a centralized calling provider, particularly those already using or adopting the Matrix protocol for federated, self-hostable communications. - **What you get**: End-to-end encrypted group video and voice calls with no participant limit imposed by a central server, built on the open MatrixRTC standard and a LiveKit SFU backend for scalable multi-party meetings. It works entirely in the browser via WebRTC with no app install required, and includes basics like screen sharing, raise-hand, and reactions. It can run as a standalone web app or as an embedded widget inside Element and other Matrix clients. - **How it works**: You join a call either by opening call.element.io directly and signing in with a Matrix account, or by starting/joining a call from within a Matrix room in Element (web, desktop, or mobile), where Element Call runs as an embedded widget. Call signaling happens over Matrix rooms, so participants can be on different homeservers, and media is encrypted end-to-end between clients. ## Profile - **License**: AGPL-3.0 (verified 2026-07-11) - **Pricing model**: Free (verified 2026-07-11) - **Starts at**: ? - **Platforms**: Web - **Status**: active (verified 2026-07-11) ## Ranked alternatives | # | App | Alt Score | Licence | Platforms | |---|-----|-----------|---------|-----------| | 1 | [Webex](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/webex.md) | 100 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS, Web, iOS | | 2 | [Zoom](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/zoom.md) | 100 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS | | 3 | [GoTo Meeting](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/goto-meeting.md) | 89 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS, Web, iOS | | 4 | [Zoho Meeting](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/zoho-meeting.md) | 85 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS | | 5 | [Google Meet](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/google-meet.md) | 74 | Proprietary | Web, iOS, Android | | 6 | [Whereby](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/whereby.md) | 74 | Proprietary | Web | | 7 | [Livestorm](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/livestorm.md) | 70 | Proprietary | Web | | 8 | [Jitsi Meet](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/jitsi-meet.md) | 66 | Apache-2.0 | Web, iOS, Android | | 9 | [Gather](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/gather.md) | 62 | ? | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS | | 10 | [MiroTalk](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/mirotalk.md) | 48 | AGPL-3.0 | Web | | 11 | [BigBlueButton](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/bigbluebutton.md) | 40 | LGPL-3.0 | Web | Alt Score = Verified coverage (90%) + Visibility (10%). See https://altcatalog.com/how-alt-score-works/ ## Feature comparison Legend: Yes / No / Partial / ? (not verified). | Video conferencing checklist | Element Call | Webex | Zoom | GoTo Meeting | Zoho Meeting | Google Meet | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Pricing model | Free | Freemium | Freemium | Subscription | Freemium | Freemium | | Starts at | ? | ? | ? | ? | $1/host/month | €6.80/user/month | | License | AGPL-3.0 | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary | | Platforms | Web | Windows, macOS, Web, iOS, Android | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web | Windows, macOS, Web, iOS, Android | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web | Web, iOS, Android | | Max participants (free / paid) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Meeting duration limit (free) | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | | Recording (local / cloud) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Partial | | Transcription & captions | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | | Breakout rooms | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Partial | | Virtual backgrounds | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Browser join without app | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | E2E encryption | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Partial | Partial | | Webinar mode | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | | Calendar integrations | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Whiteboard | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | | Dial-in numbers | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | ## Sources Sources for Element Call. Each alternative is sourced on its own page. - **Platforms**: Web — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “WebRTC-based – No additional software required.” - **License**: AGPL-3.0 — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “for free under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License” - **Pricing model**: Free — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “Element made a free MatrixRTC backend available for the good of the community at large.” - **Status**: active — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “What remains to be worked on before getting Element Call out of beta is:” - **Self hostable**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “Self-Hosting Element Call” - **Max participants (free / paid)**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “Performance testing shows that a single standard VPS machine can host up to 500 participants, and horizontal scaling is possible with standard Kubernetes setups.” - **Recording (local / cloud)**: No — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “I would like a convenient and reliable way to record calls.” - **Browser join without app**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “Using a Single Page Application (SPA) that is easy to share, including guest access for participants without a Matrix account” - **E2E encryption**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-11) - Quote: “End-to-end encryption is built in by default, safeguarding user privacy” --- Ranked by verified data, never by who paid. https://altcatalog.com/trust/