Comparison

Jami vs Element X

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

Head to head
About

Jami

This is a free communication platform prioritizing privacy through end-to-end encryption. It offers secure instant messaging, audio/video calls, and file sharing. The app supports multi-device usage and can function as a SIP client.

Highlights
  • Instant messaging
  • Audio and video calls
  • Photo and file sharing
  • Group conversations
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Multi-device support
  • SIP client functionality
Features
Read full description

Jami is a free, unified communication platform that puts privacy first. Built on end-to-end encryption, Jami keeps your conversations secure and your personal data private. Features: - Instant messaging - Audio and video calls - Photo and file sharing - Group conversations and video conferences - End-to-end encrypted communications Multi-device support: - Use Jami on multiple devices - Sync your conversations seamlessly - Link devices to your account Additional capabilities: - Works as a SIP client For more information, visit https://jami.net Jami is published under the GPL license, version 3 or higher. Copyright © Savoir-faire Linux Inc.

About

Element X

Communicate securely and privately with instant messaging and video calls. This app offers robust features for individuals and communities, allowing you to own your data and choose where it's hosted. Enjoy real-time communication with synchronized history across all your devices.

Highlights
  • Real-time messaging
  • Video calls
  • Public and private rooms
  • Rich messaging features
  • Cross-device synchronization
  • Data ownership and server choice
Features
Read full description

Freedom to communicate on your own terms For individuals and communities - private communication between family, friends, hobby groups, clubs, etc. Element X gives you fast, secure and private instant messaging and video calls built on Matrix, the open standard for real-time communication. This is a free and open-source app maintained at https://github.com/element-hq/element-x-ios Stay in touch with friends, family and communities with: • Real time messaging & video calls • Public rooms for open group communication • Private rooms for closed group communication • Rich messaging features: emoji reactions, replies, polls, pinned messages and more. • Video calling while browsing messages. • Interoperability with other Matrix-based apps such as FluffyChat, Cinny and many more. Privacy-first Unlike some other messengers from Big Tech companies, we don’t mine your data or monitor your communications. Own your conversations Choose where to host your data - from any public server (the largest free server is matrix.org, but there are plenty of others to choose from) to creating your own personal server and hosting it on your own domain. This ability to choose a server is a large part of what differentiates us from other real time communication apps. However you host, you have ownership; it’s your data. You’re not the product. You’re in control. Communicate in real time, all the time Use Element everywhere. Stay in touch wherever you are with fully synchronised message history across all your devices, including on the web at https://app.element.io Element X is our next-generation app If you’re using the previous-generation Element Classic app, it’s time to try Element X! It’s faster, easier to use, and more powerful than the classic app. It’s better in every way and we’re adding new features all the time.

Screenshots

Jami4 screens
Element X4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Jami at 3.7 against Element X's 3.4. Jami also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.5). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Jami holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 90 and 152 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 41% and 40% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Jami ships an update every 3 weeks, Element X fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Jami versus Element X: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJamiElement X
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (90 ratings) — better3.4 (152 ratings)
Positive reviews40.8% of reviews — better40.2% of reviews
Number of ratings90152 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.5
Further details — not scored
Size112 MB313 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperSavoir-faire LinuxVector Creations Limited

Customer experience

Jami

All ratings90 ratings
Positive64.4%
Neutral10.0%
Negative25.6%
Written reviews120 reviews
Positive40.8%
Neutral14.2%
Negative45.0%

Element X

All ratings152 ratings
Positive57.2%
Neutral11.8%
Negative30.9%
Written reviews174 reviews
Positive40.2%
Neutral19.5%
Negative40.2%

In-app purchases

None

Jami

No in-app purchases

None

Element X

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Jami free?
Jami is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Element X free?
Element X is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Jami or Element X?
Jami is rated higher. Jami averages 3.7 out of 5 from 90 ratings, while Element X averages 3.4 from 152 ratings.
Do Jami or Element X have ads?
Neither Jami nor Element X shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Jami or Element X?
Jami ships an update every 3 weeks, and Element X fortnightly. Most recently, Jami was updated on September 16, 2026 and Element X on September 24, 2026.

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