When comparing IM+ vs Element (formerly Riot), the Slant community recommends Element (formerly Riot) for most people. In the question“What are the best unified messenger apps for Android?” Element (formerly Riot) is ranked 2nd while IM+ is ranked 5th. 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 Can send encrypted messages
IM+ has the most extensive client support out of any of its competition and is the only app with the ability to send secure, off-the-record messages.
Pro Simple user interface
IM+ does the core IM experience incredibly well. The layout is intuitive to use and the very high app store reviews indicate how stable and user friendly the app is.
Pro Advanced chat history
Access your messaging history in the app or on the web
Pro View Twitter feed
Pro Off-the-Record Messaging (As a paid upgrade)
Pro Group Chats
Skype, MSN, AIM, and ICQ only
Pro Photo, voice, video and IM messaging
Pro Web application to chat from your desktop or laptop
Pro Extensive client support
IM+ has the most extensive client support out of any of its competition:
- Skype
- MSN/Live Messenger
- GTalk
- Yahoo!
- AIM/iChat
- ICQ
- Jabber
- Renren
- VKontakte
- Odnoklassniki.Ru
- Mail.Ru Agent
- Gadu-Gadu
- MeinVZ
- SINA Weibo
- mig33
- Fetion
- Mamba
- Yandex IM.
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.