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Add to SafariWhen comparing Email + PGP vs Element (formerly Riot), the Slant community recommends Email + PGP for most people. In the question“What are the best ways to transmit sensitive information over the Internet?” Email + PGP is ranked 1st while Element (formerly Riot) is ranked 2nd. The most important reason people chose Email + PGP is:
The original version of PGP is no longer freeware since it was aquired by Symantec, but the source code can still be [downloaded](http://www.symantec.com/connect/downloads/symantec-pgp-desktop-peer-review-source-code) for peer review.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Code available for audit
The original version of PGP is no longer freeware since it was aquired by Symantec, but the source code can still be downloaded for peer review.
Pro Many implementations available
PGP is a protocol and not an application per se. It offers a standard on which applications can implement to offer full encryption.
Pro No need to exchange private keys
PGP uses asymmetric encryption. One user generates 2 keys - private and public. Another user uses the public key to encrypt the message that can then be decrypted only using first users's private key.
Pro Can be integrated with multiple email clients
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
Cons
Con Can be daunting to set up
If your email client doesn't support PGP encryption, decrypting e-mails ca be dauting, especially if you want to stay away from command line.
Con Your contacts also need PGP
It's difficult to make all your contacts use PGP. Not everyone is 'privacy focused' and willing to learn/implement PGP.
Con less secure than Matrix
