Element Deals, Discounts & Free Trial (2026)

Find the latest Element deals, discount codes, and free trial offers for 2026. Compare pricing plans and see how much your team can save.

Element pricing

Element: Matrix Web Client Built with Matrix React SDK

Free Usage for Community

Step 1: Accessing Element

Visit the hosted copy of Element at https://app.element.io. This provides an easy way to test Element without any setup.

Step 2: Hosting Your Own Instance

For greater control and customization options, consider hosting your own instance of Element. Follow the instructions provided in the "Installing Element Web" section of the documentation.
Ensure you adhere to security best practices, especially regarding domain separation to mitigate XSS vulnerabilities.

Step 3: Installing Element as a Desktop Application

If you prefer a desktop application, Element can be installed and run as a desktop app. Refer to the "Running as a Desktop App" section for instructions.
You can either download a pre-built version or build it yourself following the provided instructions.

Step 4: Building Element From Source

For developers or those who want to customize Element further, building from source is an option.
Ensure you have Node.js installed and use Yarn for managing dependencies.
Clone the Element repository from GitHub and navigate to the element-web directory.
Install prerequisites and configure the app by copying the sample configuration file.
Depending on your platform, use yarn dist or yarn build to build Element. Follow platform-specific instructions for deployment.

Step 5: Setting Up a Development Environment

Before contributing to Element, set up a development environment following the provided guidelines.
This involves cloning and building the matrix-js-sdk and matrix-react-sdk repositories, then configuring and building Element itself.
Ensure you read the developer guide and familiarize yourself with the codebase and contribution guidelines.

Step 6: Running Tests and Triage

Element includes application-level tests that can be run with Jest and JSDOM. Execute yarn test to run these tests.
For end-to-end tests, refer to the matrix-react-sdk documentation.
Triaging issues is an essential part of contributing to Element. Follow the provided triage process and use issue labels effectively.

Step 7: Exploring Additional Features and Resources

Element offers various features like labs features, translations, and developer guides.
Explore the provided resources and documentation to understand and utilize Element's capabilities fully.

Step 8: Getting Support and Engaging with the Community

If you encounter any issues or have questions, engage with the Element community for support.
Join relevant Matrix rooms or forums to connect with other users and developers, share experiences, and contribute to the project's growth and improvement.