[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":412},["ShallowReactive",2],{"navigation-docs_en":3,"/en/blog/microsoft-teams-alternative-posts_en":51,"/en/blog/microsoft-teams-alternative-surround-posts_en":401},[4],{"title":5,"path":6,"stem":7,"children":8,"page":25},"En","/en","en",[9],{"title":10,"path":11,"stem":12,"children":13,"page":25},"Docs","/en/docs","en/1.docs",[14,26],{"title":15,"path":16,"stem":17,"children":18,"icon":25},"Getting Started","/en/docs/getting-started","en/1.docs/1.getting-started/1.index",[19,21],{"title":20,"path":16,"stem":17,"children":-1},"Introduction",{"title":22,"path":23,"stem":24,"children":-1},"Migration Roadmap","/en/docs/getting-started/migration-fahrplan","en/1.docs/1.getting-started/2.migration-fahrplan",false,{"title":27,"path":28,"stem":29,"children":30,"page":25},"Technologies","/en/docs/technologies","en/1.docs/2.technologies",[31,35,39,43,47],{"title":32,"path":33,"stem":34,"children":-1},"Nextcloud","/en/docs/technologies/nextcloud","en/1.docs/2.technologies/1.nextcloud",{"title":36,"path":37,"stem":38,"children":-1},"Matrix / Element","/en/docs/technologies/matrix","en/1.docs/2.technologies/2.matrix",{"title":40,"path":41,"stem":42,"children":-1},"ONLYOFFICE","/en/docs/technologies/onlyoffice","en/1.docs/2.technologies/3.onlyoffice",{"title":44,"path":45,"stem":46,"children":-1},"Ubuntu Linux","/en/docs/technologies/ubuntu","en/1.docs/2.technologies/4.ubuntu",{"title":48,"path":49,"stem":50,"children":-1},"Keycloak","/en/docs/technologies/keycloak","en/1.docs/2.technologies/5.keycloak",{"id":52,"title":53,"authors":54,"badge":60,"body":62,"date":389,"description":390,"extension":391,"faq":392,"howto":392,"image":393,"meta":395,"navigation":396,"path":397,"seo":398,"stem":399,"__hash__":400},"posts_en/en/3.blog/6.microsoft-teams-alternative.md","An Alternative to Microsoft Teams – Introducing Element and Matrix",[55],{"name":56,"to":57,"avatar":58},"Michael Wolf","https://snowblue.de/about",{"src":59},"/michael.webp",{"label":61},"Practical Tip",{"type":63,"value":64,"toc":371},"minimark",[65,69,82,87,95,98,126,130,133,137,247,250,254,259,262,266,269,273,276,280,283,287,290,294,300,306,312,316,342,346,364],[66,67,53],"h1",{"id":68},"an-alternative-to-microsoft-teams-introducing-element-and-matrix",[70,71,72,73,77,78,81],"p",{},"Microsoft Teams is the standard for chat and video calls in many offices. If you look around for an open-source alternative, sooner or later you'll come across ",[74,75,76],"strong",{},"Element"," – an app built on the open standard ",[74,79,80],{},"Matrix",". Here's what Element can do and who it's a good fit for.",[83,84,86],"h2",{"id":85},"what-are-matrix-and-element","What are Matrix and Element?",[70,88,89,91,92,94],{},[74,90,80],{}," is an open communication protocol. Think of it like email, but for chat: anyone can run their own server, and all servers can talk to each other. ",[74,93,76],{}," is the best-known app for it – available in the browser and for Windows, macOS, Linux, iPhone and Android.",[70,96,97],{},"The key points at a glance:",[99,100,101,108,114,120],"ul",{},[102,103,104,107],"li",{},[74,105,106],{},"End-to-end encryption"," is on by default, including for video calls",[102,109,110,113],{},[74,111,112],{},"Federation:"," You can chat with other organisations, even if they run their own server",[102,115,116,119],{},[74,117,118],{},"Your server, your choice:"," in a German data centre or on your own premises",[102,121,122,125],{},[74,123,124],{},"Open source:"," The code is open for anyone to inspect",[83,127,129],{"id":128},"who-already-uses-matrix","Who already uses Matrix?",[70,131,132],{},"Matrix is used by large organisations, for example the German armed forces (BwMessenger), German healthcare (TI-Messenger) and the French public administration (Tchap). Many universities also run their own servers. That shows: the technology is mature.",[83,134,136],{"id":135},"element-and-teams-compared","Element and Teams compared",[138,139,140,156],"table",{},[141,142,143],"thead",{},[144,145,146,150,153],"tr",{},[147,148,149],"th",{},"Feature",[147,151,152],{},"Element (Matrix)",[147,154,155],{},"Microsoft Teams",[157,158,159,170,179,188,198,209,219,229,238],"tbody",{},[144,160,161,165,168],{},[162,163,164],"td",{},"Chat (1:1, groups, rooms)",[162,166,167],{},"✅",[162,169,167],{},[144,171,172,175,177],{},[162,173,174],{},"Audio and video calls",[162,176,167],{},[162,178,167],{},[144,180,181,184,186],{},[162,182,183],{},"Screen sharing",[162,185,167],{},[162,187,167],{},[144,189,190,193,196],{},[162,191,192],{},"File sharing",[162,194,195],{},"✅ (pairs well with Nextcloud)",[162,197,167],{},[144,199,200,203,206],{},[162,201,202],{},"Chatting with other organisations",[162,204,205],{},"✅ via federation",[162,207,208],{},"✅ via guest access",[144,210,211,213,216],{},[162,212,106],{},[162,214,215],{},"✅ by default",[162,217,218],{},"partly",[144,220,221,224,226],{},[162,222,223],{},"Run your own server",[162,225,167],{},[162,227,228],{},"❌",[144,230,231,234,236],{},[162,232,233],{},"Open source",[162,235,167],{},[162,237,228],{},[144,239,240,243,245],{},[162,241,242],{},"Per-person licence",[162,244,228],{},[162,246,167],{},[70,248,249],{},"Teams is strong if you're deeply invested in the Microsoft world. Element shines if encryption, independence and your own server matter to you.",[83,251,253],{"id":252},"switching-in-five-steps","Switching in five steps",[255,256,258],"h3",{"id":257},"_1-take-stock","1. Take stock",[70,260,261],{},"Which Teams features do you actually use? Usually it's chat, calls and files.",[255,263,265],{"id":264},"_2-set-up-the-server","2. Set up the server",[70,267,268],{},"Your own Matrix server is set up, including video calls.",[255,270,272],{"id":271},"_3-sort-out-logins","3. Sort out logins",[70,274,275],{},"Everyone gets an account. If you like, logins can go through a single sign-on for all services.",[255,277,279],{"id":278},"_4-a-quick-introduction","4. A quick introduction",[70,281,282],{},"Element feels familiar. A short walkthrough is usually enough.",[255,284,286],{"id":285},"_5-run-both-in-parallel","5. Run both in parallel",[70,288,289],{},"Use both for a few weeks, then decide. That way there's no hard cut.",[83,291,293],{"id":292},"frequently-asked-questions","Frequently asked questions",[70,295,296,299],{},[74,297,298],{},"Can I chat with people who still use Teams?","\nThere are bridges to other services for the transition period. Often it's easier, though, to send external contacts a link to the video call – it works in the browser without installing anything.",[70,301,302,305],{},[74,303,304],{},"How many people fit into a video call?","\nFor typical team meetings, Element Call works well. For very large events there are specialised open-source tools like BigBlueButton or Jitsi.",[70,307,308,311],{},[74,309,310],{},"Do I need a server in my office?","\nNo. The server can also run in a data centre in Germany. Both are possible.",[83,313,315],{"id":314},"tips-for-a-good-start","Tips for a good start",[99,317,318,324,330,336],{},[102,319,320,323],{},[74,321,322],{},"Set up rooms sensibly:"," Better a few clearly named rooms than lots of small ones. For example \"Team\", \"Projects\" and \"Coffee corner\".",[102,325,326,329],{},[74,327,328],{},"Save your recovery key:"," Set it up right at the start and store it in your password manager. Then you can get back to old messages on new devices.",[102,331,332,335],{},[74,333,334],{},"Adjust notifications:"," All messages for important rooms, only mentions for the rest – it saves your nerves.",[102,337,338,341],{},[74,339,340],{},"Use the desktop app:"," In the office, the app for Windows, macOS or Linux is often more pleasant than the browser.",[83,343,345],{"id":344},"conclusion","Conclusion",[70,347,348,349,352,353,358,359,363],{},"Element is a friendly, mature alternative to Teams – especially for small teams, law firms and practices that value confidentiality. I offer exactly that as ",[74,350,351],{},"Chat",". More under ",[354,355,357],"a",{"href":356},"/en/pricing","Pricing",", and you'll find an overview of other alternatives under ",[354,360,362],{"href":361},"/en/alternativen","Alternatives",".",[70,365,366,367,363],{},"If you'd like to give it a try, I'm happy to help – ",[354,368,370],{"href":369},"/en/contact","just drop me a line",{"title":372,"searchDepth":373,"depth":373,"links":374},"",2,[375,376,377,378,386,387,388],{"id":85,"depth":373,"text":86},{"id":128,"depth":373,"text":129},{"id":135,"depth":373,"text":136},{"id":252,"depth":373,"text":253,"children":379},[380,382,383,384,385],{"id":257,"depth":381,"text":258},3,{"id":264,"depth":381,"text":265},{"id":271,"depth":381,"text":272},{"id":278,"depth":381,"text":279},{"id":285,"depth":381,"text":286},{"id":292,"depth":373,"text":293},{"id":314,"depth":373,"text":315},{"id":344,"depth":373,"text":345},"2026-03-18T00:00:00.000Z","Chat, video calls and screen sharing – with open source. Here's how Element works as a Teams alternative, even for small teams.","md",null,{"src":394},"/img/blog/photo-1573497019940-1c28c88b4f3e.webp",{},true,"/en/blog/microsoft-teams-alternative",{"title":53,"description":390},"en/3.blog/6.microsoft-teams-alternative","CjI0UdpbA8SVNtOWNkyHOKCx4p-MTggDWrOk6O2hZg0",[402,407],{"title":403,"path":404,"stem":405,"description":406,"children":-1},"EuroStack, Simply Explained – European Building Blocks for Your IT","/en/blog/eurostack-digital-sovereignty","en/3.blog/5.eurostack-digital-sovereignty","What's behind the idea of \"EuroStack\"? A friendly overview of European and open-source building blocks you can already use today.",{"title":408,"path":409,"stem":410,"description":411,"children":-1},"Nextcloud, OneDrive or SharePoint? A Friendly Comparison","/en/blog/nextcloud-vs-onedrive-sharepoint","en/3.blog/7.nextcloud-vs-onedrive-sharepoint","Three ways to share files as a team. What OneDrive, SharePoint and Nextcloud each do well and which one suits whom.",1792720370754]