Stoat Guide
What Is Stoat?
Reviewed August 11, 2026 · By StoatBoard Editorial
Stoat is a free, open-source chat platform for communities. It offers servers, channels, roles, messaging, and voice — much like Discord — and was previously known as Revolt before rebranding in October 2025. The entire codebase is public and can be self-hosted.
Stoat is an open-source chat platform built for communities. If you are searching for what Stoat is, how it compares with Discord, or where to find Stoat servers, this page gives you the short version first and then points you to the right next step.
Open-source
Stoat is positioned as an open-source platform rather than a closed ecosystem.
Community-based
Users join servers and channels built around shared topics, interests, and projects.
Discovery matters
A directory helps users find active communities faster than searching through scattered invite links.
Stoat in plain English
Stoat is a chat and community platform where people create servers, organize channels, talk in real time, and build niche communities. Many people searching for Stoat are really trying to answer one of three questions: what the platform is, whether it is a real Discord alternative, and how to find active communities once they arrive. For the head-to-head version, read our Stoat vs Discord comparison, and for the practical side our guide on how to find and join Stoat servers.
Why the name Stoat appears next to Revolt
A lot of people still associate the platform with its earlier name, Revolt. That is why searches often mix both names. A focused page like this helps explain that continuity clearly instead of forcing users into a broader brand page that may not directly answer the question they typed into Google or Bing.
What people usually want after learning what Stoat is
Most users want to find real communities quickly. That means the next useful step is not another abstract explanation, but a clear path into categories and active server pages where they can browse topics like gaming, programming, art, education, and community.
Frequently asked questions
What is Stoat?
Stoat is a free and open-source chat platform for communities. It offers servers, channels, messaging, voice, bots, and customization in a product many users see as an alternative to Discord.
Is Stoat free?
Yes. Stoat is free to use — creating an account, joining servers, and running your own community costs nothing. Because the platform is open-source, you can also self-host it instead of relying on the official instance.
Is Stoat safe?
Stoat publishes its source code and privacy policies, but no chat platform is risk-free. Safety inside individual servers depends on their moderation, so use well-moderated communities, review server rules, and avoid sharing sensitive personal information.
How is Stoat different from Discord?
Stoat keeps Discord's familiar model of servers, channels, and roles, but its client and server code are public and the platform can be self-hosted. Discord has a much larger ecosystem; Stoat is aimed at users who value open source, transparency, and control over hosting.
What happened to Revolt?
Revolt rebranded to Stoat in October 2025. It was a name change, not a shutdown — same open-source project, same team, and all existing accounts and communities carried over. Many users still search for both names, which is why clear explanations help them find the right communities and resources.
Why are people searching for Stoat now?
Interest in Stoat increased because users wanted an open-source, privacy-oriented place to host communities, and many were actively comparing it with Discord and other chat platforms.
How do I find Stoat servers?
You can browse server categories, explore active communities, and open individual server pages on StoatBoard to discover Stoat servers by topic and interest.
Official sources
Feature, privacy, and self-hosting claims on this page are checked against Stoat's own current pages and source repositories.
Where to go next
If you already know Stoat is relevant for you, jump straight into the directory. That is the fastest way to see how the ecosystem actually looks in practice.