One chat app.

Yes, you need existing accounts with WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram if you want to message friends in those apps.

The bridging services within Element One support an unlimited number of contacts and messages. Fair usage applies, but it’s a generous allowance (we guard against vast volumes of automated traffic).

Yes. Invites, images and attachments can be sent in either direction across the bridging service.

Yes of course - that’s what Matrix is all about because it’s an open standard for everyone!

You have unlimited voice and video with other Element users, and any other Matrix-based apps that support voice and video. You can’t call WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram users from within Element as yet.

Encrypted messages from WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram are decrypted as they pass across the bridge. The bridge operates in EMS’ trusted environment, with no content scanning or datamining. Bridges will be end-to-end encrypted in the future, but aren’t today.

All your Element One messages are hosted by EMS. Conversations with friends in WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram will still be captured by those apps and subject to those providers’ T&Cs.

Element is built on an open standard called Matrix. To preserve your independence and privacy, Matrix lets you choose where your data is kept. This place is called a homeserver.

A Matrix homeserver can be your own hardware that you run yourself. Or you can choose a Matrix host (similar to how email works). EMS is the Matrix hosting service from Element.

Yes, it’s awesome! EMS is run by the people that created both Matrix and Element. It’s the largest Matrix hosting provider in the world. It gives you privacy and fast performance.

No, your $5 a month is a subscription for an account on the one.ems.host homeserver built specifically for Element One.

Your account will be deactivated. However you can migrate your messages to another homeserver (using the EMS Matrix -> Matrix migration tool).