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Comparison · Comms
Element vs Threema
A side-by-side editorial comparison of Element and Threema — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Element vs Threema: at a glance
What is Element?
Element 1.12.35 follows the call picture-in-picture release with one desktop storage fix.
Element Web spent October on crypto UX: mandatory device verification, removal of guest tokens and NEB links, and a shorter recovery-key flow in 1.12.33. 1.12.34 shipped OS-level picture-in-picture for Element Call, a module switch that disables public rooms, recovery-key generation when logging out of the last device and fixes for two security advisories. 1.12.35, a day later, backports a single fallback to synchronous safeStorage.
What is Threema?
Threema ships a rare app change: spam reports for any chat on Android and iOS
On 13 November Threema improved spam reporting so users can flag single and group chats as spam on all mobile platforms, a change it credits to feedback from its in-app survey feed. It is the first app-level change in this window; the rest of the feed since July is security commentary, an August DDoS incident post and two Threema Work admin features.
Element vs Threema: editorial side-by-side
Element
5.0COMMS
Element 1.12.35 follows the call picture-in-picture release with one desktop storage fix.
◆ Current state
Element Web spent October on crypto UX: mandatory device verification, removal of guest tokens and NEB links, and a shorter recovery-key flow in 1.12.33. 1.12.34 shipped OS-level picture-in-picture for Element Call, a module switch that disables public rooms, recovery-key generation when logging out of the last device and fixes for two security advisories. 1.12.35, a day later, backports a single fallback to synchronous safeStorage.
◆ Where it's heading
Two tracks run in parallel: reducing key-loss failures in encryption, and giving deployers more control through the Module API. The public-room switch and timezone config point at managed and institutional deployments, while the new timeline in labs is slowly gaining parity features.
◆ Prediction
1.12.34 should ship stable within about a week, following the RC-to-release pattern of recent versions; read receipts suggest the new timeline is getting closer to replacing the old one.
Threema
5.0COMMS
Threema ships a rare app change: spam reports for any chat on Android and iOS
◆ Current state
On 13 November Threema improved spam reporting so users can flag single and group chats as spam on all mobile platforms, a change it credits to feedback from its in-app survey feed. It is the first app-level change in this window; the rest of the feed since July is security commentary, an August DDoS incident post and two Threema Work admin features.
◆ Where it's heading
Product news is starting to surface in the consumer app as well as in Threema Work administration, but at a slow pace and in small steps. The editorial line stays on security and resilience, with recent posts pitching Threema as the fallback channel during cyberattacks.
◆ Prediction
Expect further small, feedback-driven app changes alongside security commentary; the entries do not show when the larger items teased in July's roadmap post will ship.
Alternatives to Element and Threema
Other Comms products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either Element or Threema.
Rspamd
Rspamd 4.3 fixes SPF evaluation order and rejects weak DKIM keys, with results that change.
Twilio
Twilio's voice AI stops cutting callers off mid-sentence, using its own turn-taking model.
Salesmsg
Salesmsg adds call-back requests and a one-click Emergency Stop for all outbound texts.
Krisp
Krisp moves call transcripts and live captions to cloud transcription in KrispCX 2.84.4.
Misskey
Misskey 2026.11 ships: a leaner start script, and Node.js 22 no longer boots.
See all Element alternatives → · See all Threema alternatives →
Recent activity from Element and Threema
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 1d agoThreemaImproved Spam Reporting for Android and iOS
- 1d agoElementElement 1.12.35 backports a safeStorage fallback fix
- 3d agoElementElement 1.12.34: call picture-in-picture, two security fixes
- 7d agoElement1.12.34 RC.1 adds labs read receipts and configurable timezone
- 11d agoElement1.12.34 RC: call picture-in-picture, module switch for public rooms
- 12d agoThreemaWhen Systems Go Silent: Staying Connected During a Cyberattack
- 17d agoElementElement 1.12.33 ships simpler recovery keys, ends libolm migration
- 26d agoElement1.12.33 RC simplifies recovery keys, drops libolm migration
- 26d agoThreemaWhat’s behind the current wave of cyberattacks?
- 3mo agoThreemaDDoS Attacks on Threema
- 3mo agoThreemaMessenger Interoperability: Well-Intended, but Bad for Data Privacy
- 3mo agoThreemaEasier Tag Management in the Management Cockpit
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Element and Threema?
They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. Element and Threema are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 5.0 vs 5.0, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.
Is Element better than Threema?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Element and Threema are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 5.0 vs 5.0, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Comms products to evaluate alongside.
What are the best alternatives to Element?
Top Element alternatives in Comms are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Element alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/element-web for the full list with editorial commentary on each.
What are the best alternatives to Threema?
Top Threema alternatives in Comms are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Threema alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/threema for the full list with editorial commentary on each.