Discord servers crashed just five minutes before your community event was supposed to start? Yes, we’ve all had this experience.
Discord is undoubtedly popular. Millions of people use it every day, but there are plenty of problems. Sometimes server outages, sometimes privacy concerns, and sometimes new features need to be included.
But the good news is there’s no shortage of Discord Alternatives for Online Communities. There are some excellent options worth considering.
Today, we’ll talk about 7 alternatives. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. There’s no such thing as a perfect platform, to be honest.
But, you’re sure to find one that works best for your community. Switching platforms isn’t easy, but knowing your options makes the decision easier.
7 Discord Alternative Platforms
Let’s take a look at which platforms actually work well. Each has its own features.
1. Slack
Slack is primarily designed for professional communities like Offices and work teams. It works great in these professional places. It has the threading feature, which means the pricing can be quite steep for large teams.
The free version has a limited message history, which is annoying. But if you want a professional setup, Slack has fewer alternatives. There are also plenty of integration options. Just keep your budget in mind.
Best for: Professional groups, corporate teams and project management.
2. Guilded
Made for the gaming community. It looks almost like Discord. Calendar and scheduling features are built in here, which is separate from the bot on Discord.
Interestingly, Roblox now owns it. The free features are really generous. You get almost everything without paying.
This is a good option for gamers looking to move away from Discord. The interface will feel familiar, and the voice quality is also good.
Best for: Gaming community, people looking for an interface like Discord.
3. Revolt
Revolt is an open-source platform (good news for privacy lovers!). Looks exactly like Discord, but it’s still growing and developing.
So, you have to accept that you’ll get bugs from time to time. There is a self-hosting option, which is a favorite of techies.
You can rule the whole thing on your own server. Data control will be in your hands. Tech enthusiasts must try it with their eyes closed.
Best for: Privacy-conscious community, tech enthusiasts and developers.
4. Matrix/Element
Decentralized platform (meaning the network runs without relying on any company’s servers). End-to-end encryption and top-notch security.
The learning curve is a bit steep. It can be confusing for beginners at first. But it can bridge with other platforms, which is a powerful feature. Ideal for large organizations or groups serious about security. Great if you can take the time to learn.
Best for: Security-focused groups, large organizations and privacy-first people.
5. Telegram
Telegram is one of the most popular community platforms, with 200,000 members! It has a super-fast and clean interface.
Mobile experince is great, but there are no threaded conversations. It can get a little chaotic in large groups, and there is a fear of losing messages.
Great for international communities, works well in all countries. Channel feature is also powerful—perfect for broadcasting. Telegram is a great option for large-scale communities.
Best for: Huge community, international groups and fast communication.
6. Mighty NetWorks
It’s not just for chat—it has courses,events and payments. You could say it’s a whole community ecosystem. It is built for professional community building. You can create your own branded experience, which is unique.
Sell memberships and run courses—all in one place. It will be a great option if you are an educator or content creator. Want more than just chat? Mighty Networks is here!
Best for: Creators, teachers, and people running paid communities.
7. Rocket. Chat
Self-hosted or cloud, both options are available. You can also have customization options, so do as much as you like. Plenty of business-friendly features.
However, some technical knowledge is required: you have to accept that. Setup can be a bit challenging for non-techines.
But if you want full control, this is the perfect solution. Organizations can customize everything. There is also a white-label option, which is good for enterprises.
Best for: Businesses, organizations, teams that want full control.
Which one should you choose?
If you are looking for the Discord for Online Communities, there is no such thing as a perfect option. Every platform has its strengths and weaknesses.
Gaming community? Try Guided or Revolt. Professional setup? Go for Slack. Paranoid about privacy (good thing!)?
Check out Matrix. Large audience? Telegram is hard to beat. So understand the nature of your community first, then decide.
Conclusion
The right platform depends on the needs of your community. Everyone has different needs. You can choose according to your preferred budget, features and audience. So while choosing, keep all these factors in your mind.
You can also try two or three at a time. Most have free trials or free tiers. Test them out first before committing. Get feedback from community members, then decide.
Discord is a great platform, no doubt about it. But it’s not the only option; Maybe someting better is waiting for you.