Comparison

Element X vs Root

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

Head to head
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.

About

Root

Connect with communities through text, voice, and video chat. Customize your profile and server with free themes and animated elements. Enhance your experience with integrated apps for collaborative activities.

Highlights
  • Text, voice, and video chat
  • Screen sharing
  • Free profile and theme customization
  • Integrated community apps
  • Server template import
  • Community discovery
Read full description

Root is community chat with voice and video calls, screen share, themes, and apps, all in one place. Chat in channels, hop into a call with your group, and add apps to enhance your community experience. FREE PROFILE AND THEME CUSTOMIZATION No paywalls on personality. Animated profile pictures, animated banners, custom emoji and themes are all free. Pick a theme or build your own. VOICE, VIDEO AND SCREEN SHARE Talk in voice channels, turn on video, and share your screen with sound. Move a call from your computer to your phone without hanging up. APPS IN YOUR COMMUNITY Add apps to your community. Draw together on one canvas, track tasks, or plan your next raid. BRING YOUR SERVER Import a server template and Root sets up your channels, categories and roles. FIND YOUR PEOPLE Browse Community Discovery to find a new group chat, or list your own community.

Screenshots

Element X4 screens
Root4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Root at 4.3 against Element X's 3.5. Root also leads on review sentiment (70% vs 39%) and chart position (#192 vs unranked). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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

Root holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 168 and 152 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of Element X's written reviews are positive against 70% of Root's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Element X ships an update fortnightly, Root weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Element X versus Root: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterElement XRoot
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (168 ratings)4.3 (152 ratings) — better
Positive reviews38.8% of reviews69.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings168 — better152
Update frequencyFortnightlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank—#192 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.516.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size341 MB178 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperVector Creations LimitedRoot Communications, Inc

Customer experience

Element X

All ratings162 ratings
Positive56.8%
Neutral13.6%
Negative29.6%
Written reviews188 reviews
Positive38.8%
Neutral19.7%
Negative41.5%

Root

All ratings146 ratings
Positive81.5%
Neutral4.8%
Negative13.7%
Written reviews113 reviews
Positive69.9%
Neutral9.7%
Negative20.4%

In-app purchases

None

Element X

No in-app purchases

None

Root

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Element X free?
Element X is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Root free?
Root is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Element X or Root?
Root is rated higher. Element X averages 3.5 out of 5 from 168 ratings, while Root averages 4.3 from 152 ratings.
Do Element X or Root have ads?
Neither Element X nor Root shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Element X or Root?
Element X ships an update fortnightly, and Root weekly. Most recently, Element X was updated on November 3, 2026 and Root on November 4, 2026.

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