Top 20 Discord Alternatives in 2025 (Free, Open-Source & Gamer-Friendly)

Full List of the 20 Best Discord Alternatives in 2025

Why Look for Discord Alternatives and What to Look For

So what makes a good Discord alternative? It depends on your needs, but here are the key criteria to consider:

1. 🎮 Gaming Features – Low-latency voice chat, overlay support, and community tools.
2. 🔐 Privacy and Encryption – End-to-end encryption, decentralized options, or anonymous usage.
3. 🖥️ Screen Sharing and Video Conferencing – Essential for streamers and remote teams.
4. 🛠️ Open Source and Self-Hosted Options – For users who want full control or enhanced privacy.
5. 📞 Voice- or Text-Centric – Some platforms specialize in voice (like TeamSpeak), others in messaging (like Slack).
6. 💬 Team Collaboration Support – Tools for workspaces, task management, or productivity.

In the rest of this article, we'll explore 20 best alternatives to Discord, breaking them down by category so you can find the right fit—whether you're a gamer, a privacy advocate, or part of a distributed team.

#1. Best Open Source & Self-Hosted Discord Alternatives

Ideal for developers, privacy advocates, and communities looking to build or host their own servers

If you value data privacy, customization, or complete control over your communication platform, open source and self-hosted Discord alternatives are your best bet. These tools allow you to host your own servers, modify code to fit your needs, and avoid centralized data handling.

While platforms like Telegram and TeamSpeak support certain self-hosted components (e.g., bots or private servers), their primary use cases center around casual messaging or voice chat for gamers. If you want to choose Telegram or TeamSpeak as your Discord alternative, skip to Part #2 for details.

Below are some of the most notable self-hosted or open source Discord alternatives:

Revolt (https://revolt.chat)

Revolt, as one of free Discord alternatives​, is a modern open-source chat platform designed to be a drop-in replacement for Discord. It offers a familiar UI, end-to-end encryption (in development), and no tracking. You can self-host it or use the official instance. Revolt is the best open source Discord alternative for users who want a Discord-like experience with more privacy and control.

Available for: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Web

Pricing: Free

Ease of Use: High – intuitive for Discord users

Community & Support: Community-driven via GitHub and forums; no official customer support

Best for: Privacy-focused users, developers, and open-source enthusiasts

Matrix + Element (https://matrix.org)

Matrix is a Discord open source alternative​. It's a decentralized, open standard protocol for real-time communication. This free Discord alternative supports text, voice, and video chat, along with federation between servers. With strong encryption and community-driven development, Matrix is ideal for tech-savvy users who want to fully own their communications. While Matrix itself is the protocol, Element is the most popular client built on it. It offers end-to-end encryption, bridging with other platforms (Slack, Discord, Telegram), and supports full self-hosting.

Available for: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web (via clients like Element)

Pricing: Free

Ease of Use: Moderate – depends on the client used (e.g., Element is more user-friendly)

Community & Support: Large open-source community with extensive documentation and IRC-style help

Best for: Developers, privacy advocates, users seeking decentralized, federated chat systems

Mumble (https://www.mumble.info)

Mumble is a free, low-latency, high-quality voice chat platform, popular among gamers and open-source enthusiasts. Unlike Discord, it's entirely open source and allows full control over server hosting, making it ideal for private gaming servers or LAN events. While it doesn't offer rich media or text features like Discord, its simplicity, self-hosting capability, and superior voice quality make it a favorite for focused group communication.

Available for: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

Pricing: Free

Ease of Use: Moderate – simple once set up, but initial configuration may be tricky

Community & Support: Active forums, GitHub presence, community servers

Best for: Gamers and teams seeking lightweight, voice-centric communication

Rocket.Chat (https://www.rocket.chat)

Rocket.Chat is an open-source team communication platform that rivals Slack and Microsoft Teams. It's open source and highly customizable. It can replicate many of Discord's community features but shines more in organizational or enterprise settings where privacy, integrations, and compliance are essential. It includes powerful integrations, role management, and the ability to fully self-host. It's especially suitable for businesses or developer teams that want an all-in-one collaboration tool under their own roof.

Available for: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web

Pricing: Free for self-hosted; paid cloud options

Ease of Use: High for end-users; moderate for setup

Community & Support: Large dev community, active GitHub, enterprise support options

Best for: Business teams, tech communities, internal collaboration

Tox (https://tox.chat)

Tox is a decentralized, peer-to-peer (P2P) messaging platform with built-in support for secure voice, video, and text chat. Since it doesn't rely on central servers, it's incredibly privacy-friendly. While not as polished as Discord, Tox is great for secure and censorship-resistant communication.

Available for: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android (via Antox), iOS (via third-party apps)

Pricing: Free

Ease of use: Moderate (simple client, but limited UI)

Community & Support: Niche but active dev contributors

Best for: One-on-one secure communication, privacy-focused users

Spy.pet

Spy.pet is an experimental, minimalistic, privacy-oriented alternative that's more niche.

Spy.pet is a radical transparency project that scrapes and indexes Discord server data, turning public conversations into searchable archives. Though controversial and not a direct replacement for Discord, it's a self-hosted tool that flips Discord's privacy model on its head—making it notable in this category. It focuses on anti-surveillance communication, giving power back to users. It's best suited for users who prioritize data autonomy above all else.

Available for: Web-based (self-hosted deployment)

Pricing: Free (open source)

Ease of Use: Low – intended for developers or researchers

Community & Support: Very niche, minimal documentation

Best for: Researchers, transparency advocates, Discord analysts

Ventrilo (https://www.ventrilo.com)

Ventrilo is one of the oldest VoIP tools still in use today. Although Ventrilo is closed-source, it deserves mention for its self-hosted nature and long-standing use in gaming communities. Though surpassed by modern platforms like Discord, It offers lightweight voice communication with minimal system impact, which is useful for private group chats. It's the best Discrod alternative for those wanting to self-host low-bandwidth voice servers.

#2. Best Discord Alternatives for Gamers

Ideal for gamers looking for low-latency voice chat, team coordination, and gaming communication

In the world of multiplayer online gaming, low-latency voice communication, effective team coordination, and stable connections are essential. Discord is the most popular choice for many, but there are other platforms that cater specifically to gaming needs.

While Revolt (introduced in Part #1) is also working toward building a gamer-focused social platform, it's still in its early stages. It shows promise with an open-source model and Discord-like layout, but lacks the gaming-specific optimizations currently offered by more mature tools like TeamSpeak and Mumble.

Below are some of the best alternatives to Discord for gamers, each offering unique features that enhance gaming and communication experiences.

TeamSpeak (https://www.teamspeak.com)

TeamSpeak is a classic tool designed for gamers who require low-latency and high-performance voice communication. Widely loved by competitive gamers and esports teams, it provides exceptional customization options and low bandwidth usage, making it perfect for players who demand stable and reliable connections.

Available for: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

Pricing: Free for the client, paid server licenses

Ease of Use: Moderately difficult

Community & Support: Large user community and official support

Best for: Esports teams, large LAN parties

Steam Chat (https://steamcommunity.com/chat/)

Steam Chat, the native chat system built into the world's largest gaming platform, Steam, offers an integrated solution for voice and text communication. While it doesn't match Discord's voice quality, it is perfect for casual communication and quick chats while gaming.

Available for: Windows, macOS

Pricing: Free

Ease of Use: Very easy, especially for Steam users

Community & Support: Supported by Valve

Best for: Casual voice chats, Steam social gamers

Telegram (https://telegram.org)

While Telegram is known for its encryption and privacy features, it also offers useful instant messaging and voice call functionality. Telegram is great for gamers who prioritize privacy and seamless cross-platform use.

Available for: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux

Pricing: Free

Ease of Use: Extremely user-friendly

Community & Support: Large global community

Best for: Privacy-focused gamers

WhatsApp (https://www.whatsapp.com)

WhatsApp is one of the most popular instant messaging apps globally and offers a simple and convenient voice call feature. While it's mainly used for personal communication, some gamers use it for casual chatting during gameplay, especially on mobile devices.

Available for: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS

Pricing: Free

Ease of use: Extremely easy

Community & Support: One of the largest user bases worldwide

Best for: Casual gamers, mobile gamers

#3. Best Discord Alternatives for Screen Sharing and Streaming

Ideal for streaming, teaching, and collaborative presentations that require robust video and screen-sharing features

For content creators, educators, or teams who need to share their screens or stream high-quality video, Discord alternatives with reliable screen-sharing capabilities are crucial. The following platforms excel at providing seamless screen-sharing and streaming functionality, offering an improved experience for presentations, webinars, or game streaming.

If you need additional features such as larger audience streaming or advanced collaboration tools, platforms like WhatsApp (introduced in Part #2), Slack, and Microsoft Teams (introduced in Part #4) can also be considered for screen sharing.

Element (based on Matrix) + Jitsi (https://element.io)

(Emphasis on integration with Jitsi for enhanced streaming and screen sharing)

Element, a Discord alternative for streaming​, is a decentralized, open-source messaging platform built on the Matrix protocol, designed for secure and private communication. While it is primarily a messaging and collaboration tool, its integration with Jitsi allows users to conduct high-quality video calls and share screens, making it an excellent Discord alternative with screen share for virtual meetings, collaborative sessions, or streaming.

Available for: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

Pricing: Free, paid plans for advanced features

Ease of Use: Moderate (requires some setup)

Community & Support: Large, active community; official support channels available

Best for: Secure group meetings, collaborative team discussions, private streaming setups

Google Chat (https://chat.google.com)

Google Chat, part of the Google Workspace suite, is a robust platform for business communications, but it also provides excellent screen-sharing features. Integrated with Google Meet, it allows users to seamlessly share their screens during video calls, making it an ideal tool for presentations, virtual classrooms, and small-scale streaming needs.

Available for: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS

Pricing: Free for personal use; included in Google Workspace subscriptions for businesses

Ease of use: Very easy for those familiar with Google products

Community & Support: Excellent support through Google Workspace

Best for: Business presentations, small team collaboration, educational use

Viber (https://www.viber.com)

Viber, widely known as a messaging app, also supports video calls and screen sharing, making it a strong alternative to Discord for users who need to share content with friends or colleagues. While Viber is typically used for personal communication, it's a solid choice for those needing quick, efficient screen-sharing functionality for casual streaming or online demonstrations.

Available for: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

Pricing: Free

Ease of Use: Very easy, with a straightforward interface

Community & Support: Decent community, with support available through the app

Best for: Casual screen sharing, mobile communication, personal live streaming

#4. Best Discord Alternatives for Team Communication and Work Collaboration

Perfect for businesses, project teams, and remote work environments

While Discord can serve small teams, it often lacks the structure, integrations, and compliance standards required for professional collaboration. The following platforms are designed to enhance productivity, streamline communication, and support remote or hybrid workflows across organizations of all sizes.

Also Worth Mentioning: While not covered in detail here, Google Chat (mentioned in Part #3) is often used by startups and G Suite teams for lightweight internal communication. Telegram (see Part #2) is also favored by small teams and remote-first projects for its simplicity, group management, and bot support, though it lacks enterprise-grade collaboration tools. Navigate to the related part if you want to use Google Chat or Telegram as Discord alternative.

Microsoft Teams (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/group-chat-software)

Microsoft Teams is a powerhouse collaboration tool widely adopted in enterprise environments. Seamlessly integrated with Microsoft 365, it offers chat, video conferencing, file sharing, and robust project management capabilities.

Available for: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Web

Pricing: Free plan available; Paid plans start with Microsoft 365 subscriptions

Ease of Use: Moderate to High (depends on organization size and user familiarity)

Community & Support: Extensive enterprise support, large knowledge base

Best for: Medium to large teams, corporations, Microsoft 365 users

Slack (https://slack.com)

Slack is one of the most popular work chat platforms, known for its polished UI, flexible integrations, and real-time communication. It's ideal for fast-paced teams and startups needing a balance of formality and fun.

Available for: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web

Pricing: Free tier; Paid plans from $7.25/user/month

Ease of Use: High

Community & Support: Large user community, responsive support

Best for: Agile teams, startups, cross-functional collaboration

Chanty (https://www.chanty.com)

Chanty is a lightweight and budget-friendly collaboration tool designed for small to medium-sized teams. It combines messaging, task management, and voice/video calls into a simple interface.

Available for: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Web

Pricing: Free for up to 10 members; Paid plan from $3/user/month

Ease of Use: Very high

Community & Support: Responsive support; smaller community

Best for: Startups, freelancers, small remote teams

Flock (https://www.flock.com)

Flock is another team communication tool that blends messaging with productivity features such as to-do lists, polls, and file sharing. It's a solid alternative for teams seeking a Slack-style tool with a different UX flavor.

Available for: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web

Pricing: Free plan available; Paid from $4.50/user/month

Ease of Use: High

Community & Support: Limited community; email and chat support

Best for: SMBs, internal team communication, cross-department coordination

Troop Messenger (https://www.troopmessenger.com)

Troop Messenger is a secure team collaboration tool with features tailored to government, defense, and enterprise sectors. It emphasizes privacy, access control, and on-premise deployment.

Available for: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web

Pricing: Paid plans start from $2.50/user/month

Ease of Use: Moderate (requires onboarding)

Community & Support: Enterprise-level support with SLAs

Best for: Government, healthcare, enterprise-grade collaboration

#5. Best for Casual or Mobile Chatting

Great for light conversations, social groups, and on-the-go voice or text messaging

While Discord thrives among communities and gamers, not everyone needs threaded channels, advanced moderation tools, or desktop-heavy features. These alternatives are more suitable for everyday users looking for simple, mobile-friendly chat tools with group capabilities.

Aside from Facebook Groups (that will be mentioned below), Telegram, WhatsApp, and Viber remain popular choices for casual users seeking simple, mobile-first chat apps with voice capabilities. But I've explain them in eariler sections. If you're interested, you can look for them in the previous content.

Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups offer a familiar platform for community-driven communication. While not a dedicated messaging app, they support posts, comments, polls, events, and now real-time chats via Messenger integration.

Available for: Android, iOS, Web

Pricing: Free

Ease of Use: Very high

Community & Support: Massive user base; support through Facebook Help

Best for: Casual interest groups, hobby communities, social event organizing

Bonus: Best Discord Voice Changer for Gamers

Whether you're roleplaying, streaming, or just goofing around with friends, a voice changer can take your Discord (or Discord alternative) experience to the next level. If you're looking for a tool that's easy to use, real-time, and works across multiple platforms, EaseUS VoiceWave is a standout option.

EaseUS VoiceWave is designed for gamers and streamers who want to customize their voice or change voice on Discord or other platforms during live chats or recordings. It integrates smoothly with Discord and most of its alternatives, offering a variety of voice effects ranging from deep tones to fun characters like robots, anime voices, or aliens.

✅Pros:

• Real-time voice modulation
• Works with Discord, Zoom, Skype, OBS, and more
• Lightweight and low-latency for gaming
• Dozens of preset voices and custom voice settings

⛔Cons:

• Currently available only on Windows
• Free version has limited voice packs

Available for: Windows

Pricing: Free basic version; Premium plans available

Ease of Use: Very high – plug and play setup

Community & Support: Active development with frequent updates; online tutorials and support team

Best for: Streamers, gamers, VTubers, or anyone who wants to personalize their voice online

Final Thoughts

Whether you're a developer looking for full control, a gamer needing low-latency voice chat, or just someone who wants a simpler way to stay in touch, These free Discord alternatives​ can fullfill your requirements. Open-source and self-hosted platforms like Revolt and Matrix offer customization and privacy. Gamers may prefer TeamSpeak or Mumble for superior audio performance, while teams might gravitate toward Slack, Chanty, or Microsoft Teams for collaboration tools. For everyday chatting, apps like Telegram, Viber, and Facebook Groups keep things lightweight and mobile-friendly.