Microsoft Teams Essentials alternatives
Killing $4/user/mo (~$48/yr) — here are 3 verified escapes, honest trade-offs included.
Federated chat with end-to-end encryption and bridges to everything.
you stop paying $4/user/mo → keep ~$48/yr
head-to-head
| Microsoft Teams Essentials | Element + Matrix | |
|---|---|---|
| price | $4/user/mo | Free / self-host free |
| self-hostable | no | yes |
| license | proprietary | AGPL-3.0 |
| verified | — | 2026-08 |
| migration | — | medium effort |
free & open source (3)
Federated chat with end-to-end encryption and bridges to everything.
trade-offs: Setup for federation adds complexity
github →Chat + video calls inside your own Nextcloud instance.
trade-offs: Video quality depends on your TURN server
github →Instant video meetings, free public instance or self-hosted.
trade-offs: Large meetings need self-host tuning
github →faq
What is the best free alternative to Microsoft Teams Essentials?
Element + Matrix is the top free option — Federated chat with end-to-end encryption and bridges to everything.
How much can I save by switching from Microsoft Teams Essentials?
Microsoft Teams Essentials costs $4/user/mo, so switching to a free alternative saves roughly $48/year per seat.
Can Microsoft Teams Essentials be self-hosted?
Yes — Element + Matrix and Nextcloud Talk and Jitsi Meet can be self-hosted for free.