Updated June 2026
Not all open-source chat platforms are trying to do the same thing. Some optimize for federation, some for voice, some for self-hosting. We cut through the noise and compared 6 real options — so you can pick the right one without reading 20 generic listicles.
TL;DR
| Platform | Open-source | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Stoat (formerly Revolt) | ✅ Yes | Best for Discord-like communities |
| Matrix / Element | ✅ Yes | Best for federated/technical users |
| Spacebar | ✅ Yes | Best for self-hosted experiments |
| Mumble | ✅ Yes | Best for low-latency voice only |
| Rocket.Chat | ✅ Yes | Best for business/enterprise teams |
Most listicles bundle together completely different tools: Slack (workplace), Discord (gaming/community), Zoom (video), and random forum software. That's not useful if you're looking for something that actually replaces Discord for a community context.
The honest answer in 2026: if you want a community platform with servers and channels, Stoat is the most direct alternative. If you want a federated protocol, Matrix. If you want a business tool, Rocket.Chat. They're not competing for the same use case.
Interest in Discord alternatives spiked significantly in 2026 after Discord announced age-verification changes and new teen-safety defaults that frustrated many community owners. Stoat (previously known as Revolt) saw a notable uptick in new servers and users during this period, making it one of the most-searched alternatives alongside Matrix.
Stoat (formerly Revolt) has the most active public server ecosystem discoverable via directories like StoatBoard. It closely mirrors Discord's server-and-channel model, making it the most natural destination for Discord communities looking to migrate.
Yes. Stoat's client and server code is open-source and available on GitHub. The hosted version at stoat.chat is run by the developers, but anyone can self-host the platform. This is different from Discord, which is fully proprietary.
Revolt rebranded to Stoat in 2025/2026. The platform, codebase, and community are the same — only the name changed. Users searching for 'Revolt servers' or 'Revolt chat alternative' will find the same product under the Stoat name.
Matrix and Element are excellent for technical users who value decentralization and protocol-level interoperability. However, for typical Discord communities, the onboarding complexity and unfamiliar UX model makes it harder to migrate members. Stoat is usually more accessible for community owners.
Yes. Several open-source Discord alternatives support self-hosting including Stoat (formerly Revolt), Matrix/Element, Spacebar, and Rocket.Chat. Self-hosting gives you full data control but requires server maintenance. Most community owners use the hosted versions instead.
If Stoat is the right pick for your use case, the next step is to see the actual communities already active on the platform — not just read about it.
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