Is Element Safe? Security Review
5/5
Overall Safety Score
★
★
★
★
★
Verdict: Element/Matrix is one of the most secure and private messaging platforms available. Its decentralized, self-hostable design gives users maximum control. It is used by the French and German governments for secure communication.
Element is the flagship client for the Matrix protocol, an open-source, decentralized communication network. It offers end-to-end encryption, self-hosting options, and is used by governments and organizations requiring high security.
Worried about your Element data? Apps like this feed data brokers who resell your name, address and phone number. DeleteMe covers 976 broker sites, with human reviewers handling each removal.
Get DeleteMe Deal →Security Ratings Breakdown
| Category | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | 5/5 | |
| Privacy | 5/5 | |
| Track Record | 4/5 |
Security Features
- End-to-end encryption via Megolm/Olm (based on Signal Protocol concepts)
- Decentralized architecture (no single point of failure)
- Self-hosting option for complete data sovereignty
- Cross-signed device verification
- Open-source and independently auditable
- Used by French government and German military
Privacy Concerns
- Metadata visible to homeserver operators (mitigated by self-hosting)
- Federation means messages traverse multiple servers
- Complexity of setup may lead to misconfiguration
Past Security Incidents
- 2019 breach of Matrix.org homeserver exposed unencrypted messages and password hashes (encrypted messages were not compromised)
- Response was transparent and led to significant security improvements
How to Stay Safe Using Element
- Verify devices using cross-signing
- Use a trusted or self-hosted homeserver
- Enable encryption for all rooms
- Back up your encryption keys securely
Safer Alternatives
- Signal (simpler to use)
- Session (onion-routed, no phone number)
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Apps like Element share your details with data brokers who resell them. DeleteMe covers 976 broker sites and puts a human privacy advisor on every removal, rather than firing off automated requests and hoping.
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Last updated: February 10, 2026