the seven best apps for chat communities

Let’s tell you what they are the main alternatives to Discordso that if you want to change this platform you know which are the best destinations. In the middle of the debate about anonymity on the internet, Discord will begin to request the DNI to verify the age of users.

Therefore, let’s look for alternatives focusing on those that are most privateoffering you open source and decentralized. Even so, there will also be some other private alternative for you to consider.

Matrix

Let’s start with a decentralized and open source alternative. That decentralized means believing that each group of people or community can create their own Discord on their own servers, something similar to what happens with MastodonPixelfed and other elements of the fediversebut with a Matrix protocol.

Here, there is no central server that accumulates all the data, and identity verification methods depend on each server. Within each server there are different rooms, just like Discord, with emojis, reactions, search options, and even video conferences.

Rocket.Chat

This is an alternative more like Slack than Discord, although it is similar. It is open source and you can use it in two ways: hosting it on your own server or paying to use it on the servers of the company that develops it. Before it was fully compatible with Matrix to federate, but now it is looking for its own federation scheme.

Otherwise, this tool supports end-to-end encryption, and since it is focused on the business world, administrators can review messages, something that may not be convenient if you are looking for privacy. As for options, you can make calls, share files, write private messages, everything you can do in Slack.

Sloat

Formerly known as Revolt, it is an open source alternative to Discord. You have all the options, plus others such as community votes to ban or expel members.

It is very customizable and both secure and private. It has applications for computers and several in beta for mobile devices. The negative part is that it’s still a little greenso it may not be the best option for large teams.

Pumble

Not everything will be open source to promise maximum privacy and transparency. There are also good alternatives from private companies like Pumble. It will allow you to have group or personal chats, channels, discussion threads, and share files.

There’s also voice and video calling, screen sharing, pretty much everything you could ask for. Of course, advanced functions such as those dedicated to meetings and videoconferences are paid only, and the amount is paid per user.

elements

An alternative to Discord created in Germany and compatible with Matrixthe communication protocol of the Matrix app. This application can be free to host on your own server or paid to pay for each user. Companies also have a self-hosted paid version.

Zulip

A mix of forum and chat platform, a duality that allows you to use it in real time when you want to chat or in a more relaxed way when you don’t. You can host it on your own serveralthough whether you opt for this or a Zulip-hosted option, if you want all the features you will have to pay.

It is much more expensive than other alternativesso it is not available to many, although in exchange you have a large repertoire of functions. Another negative point is that it does not have native end-to-end encryption.

signal

And we’re going to finish with Signal. Is the best alternative to WhatsApp and Telegramand therefore also a good alternative for communities where you simply want to create a group where everyone can talk.

Signal is built on privacyand although it does not have as many functions or the possibility of having a channel scheme to chat thematically, in the event that this is not necessary it is the best option you have.

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