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Team chat · 12 alternatives

Instead of Matrix, try one of these 12.

Every alternative is lined up against Matrix on what people actually switch for: price, open source, self-hosting, offline use and platforms. Matrix sits in the first row, so you can see what you give up.

Show onlySorted by likes · 12 of 12
Alternative
Price
Open source
Self-host
Offline
Platforms
MatrixWhat you have now
Open federated protocol powering decentralized chat and calls.
PriceFree
Open sourceYes
Self-hostYes
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
WhatsApp#1
The world’s default messaging app, tied to a phone number.
PriceFree
Open sourceNo
Self-hostNo
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Telegram#2
Cloud chat with channels, bots and large group support.
PriceFree
premium $5/mo
Open sourceNo
Self-hostNo
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Signal#3
End-to-end encrypted messaging from a nonprofit.
PriceFree
Open sourceYes
Self-hostNo
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Discord#4
Voice, video and text chat for communities and friends.
PriceFreemium
Nitro $10/mo
Open sourceNo
Self-hostNo
OfflineNo
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Element#5
Decentralised, encrypted chat built on the Matrix protocol.
PriceFree
hosting from $5
Open sourceYes
Self-hostYes
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Mattermost#6
Secure, self-hostable collaboration for technical teams.
PriceFreemium
from $10/seat
Open sourceYes
Self-hostYes
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Rocket.Chat#7
Open-source communications platform with omnichannel support.
PriceFreemium
from $4/seat
Open sourceYes
Self-hostYes
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Pidgin#8
Desktop client that connects many chat networks at once.
PriceFree
Open sourceYes
Self-hostNo
OfflineYes
Platforms
Win · Mac · Linux
Zulip#9
Threaded team chat that keeps busy conversations organised.
PriceFreemium
from $7/seat
Open sourceYes
Self-hostYes
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Briar#10
Peer-to-peer messaging that works even without the internet.
PriceFree
Open sourceYes
Self-hostNo
OfflineYes
Platforms
Android
Stoat Chat#11
Open-source community chat app with voice and video.
PriceFree
Open sourceYes
Self-hostNo
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · Android
XMPP#12
Open federated messaging standard powering many chat servers.
PriceFree
Open sourceYes
Self-hostYes
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · Android · iOS

How to read this. “Yes” means fully supported by the maker. “Partial” means it works with caveats. Likes reflect community popularity; vendors can’t pay for them or for placement. How we compare.

Matrix alternatives at a glance

Matrix is a free team chat app. We compared 12 alternatives: 9 are open source, 8 are completely free, 5 can be self-hosted and 2 work fully offline. The most popular is WhatsApp, with 4.2k likes.

Most liked overallWhatsApp

The world’s default messaging app, tied to a phone number.

Free
Best free optionTelegram

Cloud chat with channels, bots and large group support.

Free
Best open-source optionSignal

End-to-end encrypted messaging from a nonprofit.

Free · Open source
Best to self-hostElement

Decentralised, encrypted chat built on the Matrix protocol.

Free · Open source · Self‑hostable

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