MattermostvsSession
Unbiased side-by-side comparison of verified reviews, user ratings, features, and pros/cons to help you decide which software fits your business needs.
Quick answer: Mattermost vs Session
In our 2026 comparison of Mattermost and Session, Mattermost comes out ahead overall (weighted score 89% vs 83% for Session). Mattermost is rated 4.5/5 from 4 user reviews; Session is rated 4.5/5 from 5 user reviews. Mattermost has a free plan; Session has a free plan.
Last updated
| At a glance | Mattermost | Session |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Team Chat & Messaging | Team Chat & Messaging |
| User rating | 4.5/5 (4 reviews) | 4.5/5 (5 reviews) |
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Free trial | Yes | Not listed |
| Listed features | 19 | 15 |
| Integrations | 6 | — |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Ease of use | 4.5/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Customer support | 5.0/5 | 4.8/5 |
Mattermost
Starting Price
Free self-hosted edition available; Professional and Enterprise plans available through annual subscriptions
Community Pulse
Advanced Ratings
Pros
- Self-hosted, open-source messaging platform offering true data sovereignty through air-gapped deployment with no internet connectivity or vendor telemetry .
- Community Edition is completely free with unlimited message history, file sharing, and comprehensive audit logging for compliance.
- Strong security architecture with open-source code allowing independent security verification and penetration testing by government agencies .
Cons
- Recent versions have removed some features and introduced confusing licensing changes, alienating parts of the community.
- Lacks native end-to-end encryption without requiring plugins or workarounds, unlike some competitors like Rocket.Chat .
- Setup and ongoing maintenance require technical expertise for self-hosted deployment, including server management and updates.
Session
Starting Price
Free
Community Pulse
Advanced Ratings
Pros
- The app does not require any personal information (email, phone number, name) to sign up, ensuring high anonymity for users .
- It uses end-to-end encryption (E2EE) by default and onion routing to obscure connection details, providing strong security and privacy .
- It is decentralized, open-source, and backed by the not-for-profit Oxen Privacy Tech Foundation, building trust with privacy-conscious users .
Cons
- Its decentralized and anonymous nature makes it less practical for discovering new people to chat with, as it lacks the community features of other messaging apps .
- Some users report inconsistent call quality and slow text messaging .
- Screenshot alerts are inconsistent across different platforms .
Product Overview
What each platform does and who it's for
Primary Category
The main classification for each product
Editorial Quality Rating
Independent expert panel ratings and quality validations
Mattermost
Expert Score
Session
Expert Score
Integration Ecosystem
Compare supported third-party apps and services
Mattermost Integrations
Session Integrations
No top integrations listed
Platform Support
Supported platforms across each product
Mattermost
Session
Sentiment & Feedback
Real-world pros and cons from verified users
Mattermost Feedback
User sentiment analysis
- Self-hosted, open-source messaging platform offering true data sovereignty through air-gapped deployment with no internet connectivity or vendor telemetry .
- Community Edition is completely free with unlimited message history, file sharing, and comprehensive audit logging for compliance.
- Strong security architecture with open-source code allowing independent security verification and penetration testing by government agencies .
- Transparent per-user licensing model avoids vendor lock-in and unexpected price escalations common with proprietary platforms.
- Recent versions have removed some features and introduced confusing licensing changes, alienating parts of the community.
- Lacks native end-to-end encryption without requiring plugins or workarounds, unlike some competitors like Rocket.Chat .
- Setup and ongoing maintenance require technical expertise for self-hosted deployment, including server management and updates.
Session Feedback
User sentiment analysis
- The app does not require any personal information (email, phone number, name) to sign up, ensuring high anonymity for users .
- It uses end-to-end encryption (E2EE) by default and onion routing to obscure connection details, providing strong security and privacy .
- It is decentralized, open-source, and backed by the not-for-profit Oxen Privacy Tech Foundation, building trust with privacy-conscious users .
- The app is completely free to use .
- Its decentralized and anonymous nature makes it less practical for discovering new people to chat with, as it lacks the community features of other messaging apps .
- Some users report inconsistent call quality and slow text messaging .
- Screenshot alerts are inconsistent across different platforms .
Feature Comparison
Detailed side-by-side capability checklist
Mattermost
19/26 features
- AI integration
- Automation
- Integrations
- Workflow Automation
- Cross-device sync
- End-to-End Encryption
- Security
- Security controls
- No phone number required
- Voice calls
- Reporting & Analytics
- Screen Sharing
- Team collaboration
- Team messaging
- Decentralized messaging
- Open-source client
- Chat features
- Direct messaging and group chats
- Group chat
- Live Chat
- Multi-platform support
- Real-time Chat
- Team chat
- Hosting
- Self-hosting
- Collaboration
Session
15/26 features
- AI integration
- Automation
- Integrations
- Workflow Automation
- Cross-device sync
- End-to-End Encryption
- Security
- Security controls
- No phone number required
- Voice calls
- Reporting & Analytics
- Screen Sharing
- Team collaboration
- Team messaging
- Decentralized messaging
- Open-source client
- Chat features
- Direct messaging and group chats
- Group chat
- Live Chat
- Multi-platform support
- Real-time Chat
- Team chat
- Hosting
- Self-hosting
- Collaboration
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Pricing & Plans
Compare plans, features, and starting points side-by-side
Mattermost Pricing
PaidPer user per month.
Session Pricing
FREEFree to use. No credit card required.
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Community Intelligence
Real-time crowdsourced comparison feedback and buyer signals.
Community Matchup Voting
Real-time crowdsourced buyer signals
Community vs. Editorial Alignment
Agreement between algorithmic rating & user voting
Mattermost
Calculated by features, pricing, support & ratings.
Awaiting Votes
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Head-to-Head Winner Analysis
Data-backed performance comparisons across pricing, features, usability, and support
Matchup Scoreboard
At-a-glance scorecard results
Weighted Overall Scorecard
Normalized composite performance scores
Smart Recommendation Matrix
Head-to-head decision matrix based on your business workflow
- Organizations requiring enterprise SLA support, governance, and custom security
- Users wanting a streamlined, user-friendly workspace interface
- Teams looking for native integration with core workflow tools
- Users wanting a streamlined, user-friendly workspace interface
- Fast-moving teams needing fluid channel huddles, app bots, and external channel sharing
Mattermost
Dimension scorecard
Multi-Dimension Performance
Winner Breakdown & Analysis
Mattermost wins overall with a weighted score of 89% based on user rating, pricing, features, usability, and support.
Mattermost has the most accessible pricing ($10/mo (Free Trial)).
Mattermost lists the most features (19 features).
Strong usability with a user rating of 4.5/5 stars.
Reliable support with a user rating of 5.0/5 stars.
Tied on platform availability (6 Platforms: Web, Windows, macOS, Linux +2 more).
Session
Dimension scorecard
Multi-Dimension Performance
Winner Breakdown & Analysis
Session is a runner-up with a composite score of 83%.
Pricing: $0/mo (No Free Trial), a less accessible entry point than the leader.
Offers 15 features (fewer than the category leader).
Strong usability with a user rating of 4.4/5 stars.
Reliable support with a user rating of 4.8/5 stars.
Tied on platform availability (5 Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS +1 more).
Final Verdict:Mattermost
Mattermost scores higher across 2 of 11 key dimensions with a 6-point lead in our weighted analysis.
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Frequently asked questions: Mattermost vs Session
Which is better: Mattermost or Session?
Mattermost scores higher across 2 of 11 key dimensions with a 6-point lead in our weighted analysis. The best choice still depends on your team's workflow, budget and required integrations — use the side-by-side sections above to check the details that matter to you.
How do users rate Mattermost and Session?
Mattermost is rated 4.5/5 from 4 user reviews. Session is rated 4.5/5 from 5 user reviews. Ratings come from approved user reviews on SoftwareHope.
How much do Mattermost and Session cost?
Mattermost has a free plan. Session has a free plan. Always confirm current pricing on the vendor's site, as plans change.
Do Mattermost and Session offer a free plan or free trial?
Mattermost offers a free plan and a free trial; Session offers a free plan.
Which platforms do Mattermost and Session support?
Mattermost supports Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android; Session supports Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
Which is easier to use, Mattermost or Session?
Mattermost has an ease-of-use rating of 4.5/5, Session has an ease-of-use rating of 4.4/5. The difference is small, so both are similarly easy to adopt.
Most Helpful Reviews
Community-voted helpful feedback from verified users
Mattermost provides a straightforward, dependable solution that integrated smoothly into our operational stack. Uptime is consistent and user adoption across the team was immediate.
We have been using Mattermost across our departments and appreciate the simplicity and stability of the system. It handles core workflows without unnecessary bloat.
The platform has streamlined our daily operations, providing reliable tools and responsive support. Configuration was quick and the feature set aligns well with our requirements.
A well-built tool that delivers consistent value. The interface is clean, performance is snappy, and our operational workflows run smoothly.
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