For background, Discord is a centralized U.S.-based platform working below U.S. regulation, with customary compliance and data-handling realities. Discord doesn’t present end-to-end encryption for textual content messages. It shouldn’t be stunning that it responds to lawful authorities knowledge requests via a devoted portal[1][2]. In 2026, it’s increasing age-verification necessities globally — customers could also be requested to finish a facial age estimation or submit a government-issued picture ID to entry sure options and settings[3][4]. In October 2025, roughly 70,000 authorities ID photos had been uncovered in a breach involving a third-party vendor Discord used for age-related verification appeals[5][6].
At Software program for Good, core to our Digital Resilience work helps mission-driven organizations consider platform publicity earlier than a disaster forces the difficulty. And with the upcoming adjustments to Discord’s privateness posture, we determined to guage some open-source options. We reviewed 9 different instruments, together with their vendor documentation, safety disclosures, and public vulnerability data, to floor the comparability in verifiable claims.
Right here’s what we discovered.
The Quick Model
There’s no excellent possibility. Each device on this listing requires tradeoffs between encryption and ease of use, resilience and setup effort, and price and functionality. The proper selection will depend on what your group truly wants and what threats you’re going through.
In case your greatest concern is getting shut down
Matrix/Component is the one possibility right here with each built-in end-to-end encryption and open federation. Meaning no single firm or server controls whether or not your group can speak to one another. In case your organizing has been disrupted by platforms pulling entry earlier than, this issues.
It’s not with out points. Metadata leaks throughout federation, server admins can see who’s speaking to whom and when, even when they will’t learn the messages. Group encryption has restricted ahead secrecy. The guardian entities are UK-based. And the setup studying curve is steeper than many of the different choices right here.
If encryption high quality is what issues most
Wire has the strongest cryptography we checked out. It’s the primary messenger to ship a full implementation of Messaging Layer Safety (MLS), the IETF customary that Wire helped write. Swiss and German jurisdiction. Independently audited by Kudelski Safety and X41 D-Sec. The German Chancellery and over 30 federal ministries use it for categorized communications.
It’s centralized although, so that you don’t get the deplatforming resilience of Matrix. The free tier is fairly restricted. And it shops extra metadata than Sign does (usernames, machine IDs, connection graphs) to assist multi-device sync and enterprise options. In case your group can deal with a paid plan and your major fear is somebody studying your messages relatively than somebody shutting down your platform, Wire is value a severe look.
In the event you simply must get folks moved rapidly
Mattermost and Rocket.Chat are the closest to what persons are used to from Discord and Slack. Each are open supply and self-hostable. Neither has native end-to-end encryption, which suggests your server admin and anybody who compromises the server can learn messages.
Each have giant US Division of Protection buyer bases. Relying in your group, that’s both reassuring (the software program is battle-tested) or a pink flag. Your name.
Rocket.Chat feels extra like Discord. Mattermost is extra steady for long-term use.
If essential issues preserve getting misplaced in chat
Zulip takes a essentially completely different strategy to group communication. As an alternative of channels the place the whole lot scrolls by, each dialog is threaded by subject. In case your group’s precise drawback is that choices and essential info disappear into chat noise, Zulip may matter greater than encryption. It’s open supply below the Apache license, they usually give free internet hosting to grassroots communities, open-source initiatives, and small nonprofits. No E2EE although.
Discourse is primarily a discussion board platform with structured discussions, although it now contains real-time chat options. It really works finest as a complement to chat-heavy instruments relatively than a direct substitute for Discord-style communication.
Not fairly the precise match
Sign is the most effective personal messenger accessible, and your organizers ought to most likely already be utilizing it. Finish-to-end encrypted by default, open supply, run by a nonprofit, collects virtually no metadata. If subpoenaed, Sign can solely produce your cellphone quantity, account creation date, and final connection date. But it surely’s a messenger, not a workspace. No channels, no servers, no threading, no persistent group areas. Teams cap at 1,000 with fundamental admin controls. It’s an awesome device your organizers use for personal conversations, however it’s not perfect for rising a big group.
Revolt appears like Discord and the mission has good power behind it, however it’s not prepared for communities going through threats. No E2EE, no safety audit. It was concerned in a breach tied to Andrew Tate’s “Actual World” platform in late 2024.
Mumble is voice-only and the server can hear the whole lot (it decrypts and re-encrypts audio). Tremendous for informal voice chat, not a Discord substitute.
The Full Comparability
| Device | Operate | Actual-time? | Open Src? | Self-Host? | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matrix / Component | Decentralized federated chat with E2EE, voice/video | Sure | Sure (AGPL) | Sure | Excessive |
| Key Threats: Federation exposes metadata to collaborating servers; UK-based core entities; group encryption design tradeoffs (Megolm) | |||||
| Wire | Safe workforce chat with voice/video | Sure | Sure (GPLv3 purchasers, AGPL server) | Sure | Excessive |
| Key Threats: Centralized service mannequin; metadata retained at service layer; restricted federation; enterprise-focused pricing | |||||
| Mattermost | Slack/Discord-style workforce chat | Sure | Sure (AGPL) | Sure | Medium |
| Key Threats: No native E2EE; message content material accessible at server/database stage; US jurisdiction; important U.S. federal buyer base | |||||
| Rocket.Chat | Crew communication with channels, threading, voice/video | Sure | Sure (MIT) | Sure | Medium |
| Key Threats: E2EE non-compulsory and never default in most deployments; U.S./Brazil jurisdiction; notable authorities buyer base | |||||
| Zulip | Subject-based threaded workforce chat | Sure | Sure (Apache) | Sure | Medium |
| Key Threats: No native E2EE; primarily server-trust mannequin; U.S.-based internet hosting for cloud tier | |||||
| Discourse | Trendy discussion board platform with built-in chat | Partial | Sure (GPL) | Sure | Medium |
| Key Threats: No native E2EE; designed for persistent forum-style discussions; customary net software vulnerability floor | |||||
| Sign | Encrypted messenger with group chat, voice/video | Sure | Sure (AGPL) | No (successfully) | Excessive |
| Key Threats: Messenger, not a workspace — no channels, servers, or threading; 1,000-member group cap; US jurisdiction (however minimal knowledge to supply); cellphone quantity required to register; centralized, no federation | |||||
| Revolt | Discord-style servers, channels, voice | Sure | Sure (AGPL) | Sure | Medium-Excessive |
| Key Threats: No native E2EE; restricted formal safety auditing; maturing ecosystem; prior safety incidents in associated deployments | |||||
| Mumble | Low-latency voice chat (VoIP) | Sure | Sure (BSD) | Sure | Low |
| Key Threats: Server-mediated encryption (not end-to-end); voice-only; restricted maintained cell assist | |||||
Truly making the transfer
The toughest a part of leaving Discord isn’t selecting the device. It’s getting folks to return with you. Of us are comfy. The interface is acquainted. “It’s positive for now” is difficult to argue with till it isn’t.
However the level of serious about digital resilience is to make these choices earlier than they’re made for you; earlier than the subpoena, earlier than the breach, earlier than the coverage change that cuts off your group in a single day. Who can learn your messages at this time? Who decides whether or not your group can talk tomorrow? What occurs to your knowledge if this platform will get acquired?
We can assist with this
That is a part of what we do at Software program for Good. Our Digital Resilience observe helps nonprofits, advocacy organizations, and group teams work out the place their digital infrastructure is susceptible and what to do about it.
In case your group wants to maneuver off Discord, or if this submit has you serious about different platform dependencies you haven’t addressed but, attain out. We do Danger & Resilience Audits, Safety & Privateness Technique, Know-how Independence, and Coaching/Capability Constructing.
P.S. In the event you’d like a sensible framework for evaluating your communications danger, our Digital Resilience Toolkit is obtainable to obtain.
Sources
[1] How Discord Works with Legislation Enforcement — Discord
[2] Transparency Hub — Discord Security
[3] A Safer Discord by Default: New Teen Security Updates — Discord
[5] Replace on a Safety Incident Involving Third-Celebration Buyer Service — Discord
[6] 70,000 Authorities ID Pictures Uncovered in Discord Consumer Hack — NBC Information
