Element Alternative: Howl vs Matrix, an easier path to E2EE community chat

Matrix, through the Element app, is the most mature end-to-end encrypted community platform in this category, and the only Discord alternative we’ve compared with E2EE across text, groups, and calls. Howl is a different bet: one product you install rather than a federated protocol you assemble. You get Discord-style voice channels, stages, and screen share out of the box, plus end-to-end encrypted DMs and calls, and the self-host is a single Docker deploy.

If you need federation today, the longest track record, or native mobile apps, Matrix is the better choice.

What each product encrypts

Matrix rooms are end-to-end encrypted by default for DMs and group chats, and Element supports encrypted voice and video calls too, per Element’s documentation as of July 2026.

We encrypt direct messages, group DMs, DM file attachments, and every voice, video, and stage call. DMs use MLS (RFC 9420), a modern open encryption standard, with post-quantum protection layered in. And if a call can’t be encrypted, it doesn’t connect at all: you see a red shield instead of a call that gave up its privacy.

Server text channels are not end-to-end encrypted on Howl (they are encrypted in transit and at rest). Like Discord, Stoat, and Fluxer, server channels stay readable by the server so moderation, search, and backups work.

The one choice you make yourself is account recovery. By default you hold your own keys (Self recovery). You can opt into Server recovery, which stores a server-readable copy of your vault key so we can restore a lost account, and for those accounts the server could then read DM content.

Protocol you assemble vs product you install

Matrix is a protocol, which is its strength and also the source of its learning curve. You pick a server to run or join, pick one of many apps (Element is the main one), and encrypted calls can need extra pieces depending on your setup. Federation lets your community talk to every other Matrix server, and different apps support different features to different degrees.

Howl is a single product. One backend, one official app for web and desktop, one feature set. Voice channels, stages, screen share, threads, forums, polls, and events are all built in. The tradeoff runs the other way: no federation. For now, your instance is an island.

Where Matrix is ahead

Where Howl is ahead for a Discord-style community

Voice comes out of the box: always-on voice rooms, stages with host and speaker roles, screen share with viewer counts, and encrypted DM calls, all first-party. There’s no separate call service to figure out on the hosted version, and self-hosted voice is one optional extra service.

Self-hosting is one Docker deploy, with setup documentation in the repo, automatic HTTPS, and every Pro feature unlocked free with no phone-home. One app, one feature surface, no picking a client.

Self-hosting: the practical difference

Both are self-hostable and open source. Self-hosting Matrix with encrypted calls means running several pieces of infrastructure and connecting them. Self-hosting Howl is a Docker deploy with setup documentation in the repo; voice is one optional extra service, and the first account registered becomes the admin. You trade federation for that single deploy.

FAQ

Is Matrix or Howl more private? Both encrypt DMs and calls end-to-end; Matrix has the longer public track record, and Howl adds post-quantum protection to DMs. Neither end-to-end encrypts large server channels that need moderation and search.

Can Howl federate with Matrix or other Howl instances? No. Howl instances are isolated, with no bridging to other networks, and federation is a long-term goal rather than active work. If federation matters today, Matrix is the right call.

Does Howl have a native mobile app like Element X? Not yet. Howl is mobile-friendly in the browser, with native apps on the way; Element has native iOS and Android apps as of July 2026.

Why would I pick Howl over Element for a gaming or hobby community? Discord-style always-on voice channels, stages, and screen share are built in, in one app. Sign up on the web app, or self-host it yourself with a single Docker deploy. You trade federation and native mobile for that.

Is Howl’s encryption audited? Not by a third party yet; our reviews so far are internal, though the code is open source, so anyone can read it. Matrix’s encryption has had more outside eyes over more years.

How much does Howl cost, and is self-hosting free? Self-hosting unlocks all Pro features free with no phone-home. Hosted tiers (Free, Essential, Pro) are on the pricing page; for reference, Element’s hosted Business plan was reported around $5/user/month as of July 2026.

Competitor details change; verify with each vendor before relying on them. Matrix/Element claims reflect Element’s public documentation as of July 2026.

Last verified: 2026-07-10