When comparing Element (formerly Riot) vs Threema, the Slant community recommends Element (formerly Riot) for most people. In the question“What are the best messaging apps for Android?” Element (formerly Riot) is ranked 2nd while Threema is ranked 6th. The most important reason people chose Element (formerly Riot) is:
You're not confined within Element's or even Matrix garden, and you don't have to make users of other networks switch to Matrix.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Bridges to other networks
You're not confined within Element's or even Matrix garden, and you don't have to make users of other networks switch to Matrix.
Pro Markdown support
Code snippets in chats can be highlighted with Markdown.
Pro Simple interface
Element has a very simple interface, adding the ability for more inexperienced users to use it.
Pro VOIP and Videoconferencing
Pro Supports encryption
Element allows for fully encrypted text, voice, and video chatting.
Pro Widgets support
Want to watch that flick at YouTube and discuss it at the same time? Have Grafana graphs stacked above your DevOps team chat? Collaboratively edit Google Docs and chat over without switching applications? This is possible with Element.
Pro Decentralized
An open network for secure, decentralized communication.
Pro Self-hosting and federated network
Pro Libre/open source
Pro Search
Search messages in your current room, or all the rooms you're in. Not subject to a message history limit like Slack.
Pro Cross platform
Web browser
Linux
OS X
Windows
Android
iOS
Pro Large existing community
With public rooms for many people, and you can create your own and let people from the community join.
Pro Etherpad real-time document collaboration
An easy to activate integration that allows multiple authors to edit a document simultaneously.
Pro File Sharing
Pro Supports text, voice, video
Pro Registration without phone number
Registration is handled by random generated IDs. No phone number needed.
Pro Encrypted communication
Provides complete end-to-end encryption.
Pro Company behind Threema is based in Switzerland
Pro Servers in Switzerland
Privacy laws protect the data Threema has.
Pro Supports encrypted group chats
Pro Provides a web client
You can control and message with friends via Threema Web, the official web client for Threema.
Pro Ability to send pics and videos
Threema supports sending media messages such as video, pics and even voice messages.
Pro Group chat polls
Pro Allows verification of contacts identity via QR Code
Cons
Con Not free
Unlike many other options Threema is not free as it costs $1.99 for the app.
Con Single device only
You cannot use multiple devices to send messages. However, it does have message mirroring on a web client.
Con No cloud sync
E2E encryption means no cloud syncing of messages.