Comparison

Element Classic vs Microsoft Teams

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Element Classic

This app is a legacy version of a communication platform, offering secure messaging and collaboration. It will receive security updates until the end of 2025 but no new features.

Highlights
  • Secure messaging
  • Collaboration
  • Legacy version
  • Security updates
Features
Read full description

Element Classic is the previous-generation of Element mobile app. Friends, family and communities should use the free and open source Element X app which is faster, easier to use, and more powerful. New users of public sector organisations, enterprises and professional teams users should use the Element Pro app that is built for work and organizations. Element Classic is available at least until the end of 2025 and will receive critical security updates but no further enhancements or new features.

About

Microsoft Teams

This app brings people together for community activities or work projects. It offers integrated chat, events, meetings, storage, and task management. Connect, collaborate, and get things done securely in one place.

Highlights
  • Community and team organization
  • 1-on-1 and group chat
  • Secure audio and video calls
  • Document collaboration
  • Cloud file storage
  • Task management
  • Calendar integration
Features
Read full description

Whether you’re connecting with your community for an upcoming activity or working with teammates on a project, Microsoft Teams helps bring people together so that they can get things done. It’s the only app that has communities, events, chats, channels, meetings, storage, tasks, and calendars in one place—so you can easily connect and manage access to information. Get your community, family, friends, or workmates together to accomplish tasks, share ideas, and make plans. Join audio and video calls in a secure setting, collaborate in documents, and store files and photos with built-in cloud storage. You can do it all in Microsoft Teams. Easily connect with anyone: • Skype is now part of Teams. Continue where you left off with your chats, calls and contacts in Microsoft Teams Free. • Meet securely with communities, teammates, family, or friends. • Set up a meeting within seconds and invite anyone by sharing a link or calendar invite. • Chat 1-1 or to your entire community, @mention people in chats to get their attention. • Create a dedicated community to discuss specific topics and make plans*. • Work closely and collaborate by keeping conversations organized by specific topics and projects with teams and channels. • Video or audio call anyone directly in Teams or instantly convert a group chat to a call. • Use GIFs, emojis, and message animations to express yourself when words aren’t enough. Accomplish plans and projects together: • Send photos and videos in chats to quickly and easily share important moments. • Use cloud storage to access shared documents and files on the go. • Organize shared content in a community — events, photos, links, files —so you don’t have to waste time searching*. • Get the most out of your meetings by using screen share, whiteboard, or breakout in virtual rooms. • Manage access to information and ensure the right people have access to the right info, even when people join and leave projects. • Use task lists to stay on top of projects and plans - assign tasks, set due dates, and cross off items to keep everyone on the same page. Designed to give you peace of mind: • Securely collaborate with others while maintaining control over your data. • Keep communities safe by allowing owners to remove inappropriate content or members*. • Enterprise-level security and compliance you expect from Microsoft 365**. *Available when using Microsoft Teams with your Microsoft account. **Commercial features of this app require a paid Microsoft 365 commercial subscription or a trial subscription of Microsoft Teams for work. If you’re not sure about your company’s subscription or the services you have access to, visit Office.com/Teams to learn more or contact your IT department. By downloading Teams, you agree to the license (see aka.ms/eulateamsmobile) and privacy terms (see aka.ms/privacy). For support or feedback, email us at mtiosapp@microsoft.com. EU Contract Summary: aka.ms/EUContractSummary Consumer Health Data Privacy Policy   https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2259814

Screenshots

Element Classic4 screens
Microsoft Teams4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Microsoft Teams at 4.8 against Element Classic's 3.3. Microsoft Teams also leads on ratings volume (3.4M vs 578) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). Element Classic's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (44% vs 24%). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Microsoft Teams sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Element Classic asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Microsoft Teams holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Microsoft Teams has 3.4M ratings behind it against 578, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 44% of Element Classic's written reviews are positive against 24% of Microsoft Teams's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Element Classic ships an update monthly, Microsoft Teams weekly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Element Classic versus Microsoft Teams: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterElement ClassicMicrosoft Teams
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.3 (578 ratings)4.8 (3.4M ratings) — better
Positive reviews43.7% of reviews — better24.1% of reviews
Number of ratings5783.4M — better
Update frequencyMonthlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#1 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Vision Pro
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size172 MB522 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperVector Creations LimitedMicrosoft Corporation

Customer experience

Element Classic

All ratings578 ratings
Positive53.3%
Neutral10.0%
Negative36.7%
Written reviews286 reviews
Positive43.7%
Neutral14.3%
Negative42.0%

Microsoft Teams

All ratings3,375,603 ratings
Positive97.0%
Neutral1.8%
Negative1.2%
Written reviews2,483 reviews
Positive24.1%
Neutral9.8%
Negative66.1%

User reviews

Element Classic

From 578 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and efficient
  • 🔒 Secure and private
  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • 💡 Innovative features
  • 🌐 Decentralized and open-source

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and unstable
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 📚 Steep learning curve
  • 🤔 Confusing user experience
  • 🚫 Lack of key features

Microsoft Teams

From 3.4M App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent for video calls and screen sharing
  • 👍 Seamless integration with Office 365
  • 🚀 Smooth switching between devices
  • 👍 Helpful for remote work and collaboration
  • 👍 Good file sharing and organization features

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and glitchy at times
  • 🔋 Drains battery quickly on mobile devices
  • 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find features
  • 👎 Lack of customization options
  • 🔒 Concerns over privacy and data usage

Bugs and requests

Element Classic

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Constant crashes and freezes
  • Issues with message decryption and verification
  • Unreliable notifications and sync issues
  • Inability to leave or delete empty rooms
  • Problems with image and video sharing

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to pause notifications
  • Option to set messages to disappear after a certain time
  • Improved search functionality
  • Better integration with other apps and services
  • Customizable font size and notification sounds

Microsoft Teams

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Frequent call disconnections and audio issues
  • Inconsistent notification behavior across devices
  • Profile picture changes not syncing properly
  • Crashes when trying to join meetings or access certain features
  • Difficulty sharing screens and files during calls

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to delete chat messages
  • More notification control options
  • Improved multi-tasking and split-screen support on mobile
  • Better integration with other communication apps
  • Easier way to view and manage all assignments/tasks

In-app purchases

None

Element Classic

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Microsoft Teams

Subscriptions2
  • Microsoft 365 Personal Monthly1 Month trial$9.991 Month
  • Microsoft 365 Family (Monthly)1 Month trial$12.991 Month
One-time1
  • Microsoft 365 Personal Monthly$9.99

Questions

Is Element Classic free?
Element Classic is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Microsoft Teams free?
Microsoft Teams is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Element Classic or Microsoft Teams?
Microsoft Teams is rated higher. Element Classic averages 3.3 out of 5 from 578 ratings, while Microsoft Teams averages 4.8 from 3.4M ratings.
Do Element Classic or Microsoft Teams have ads?
Neither Element Classic nor Microsoft Teams shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Element Classic or Microsoft Teams?
Element Classic ships an update monthly, and Microsoft Teams weekly. Most recently, Element Classic was updated on September 24, 2026 and Microsoft Teams on September 24, 2026.

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