This article will show you the best Discord alternatives that you should try in 2021.
Gamers and professionals worldwide extensively use voice and text chat apps since they help streamline workflow by allowing all team members to stay connected in real-time. A solid chat program may significantly impact a team’s collaborative efforts, which is why so many people use Discord.
However, some users find Discord’s user interface unprofessional, and the lack of End-to-End encryption is alarming. So, to assist you in finding an excellent app for you and your team, I’ve put up a list of the finest Discord alternatives (both free and premium) available. Check out the apps below to see if you can discover one that exactly suits your needs.
Best Discord Alternatives
I have made a list of the best apps similar to Discord regarding functionality and feature set. While we focused on gamers, I also included some more enterprise-oriented apps yet may be used for private communities and instant chat. Tap on the link below to discover more about the apps in depth.
Why Use an Alternative to Discord?
While Discord is well-known for its user-friendly interface, ease of use, private servers, and gaming-related features, several flaws are rarely discussed. Discord, for example, does not offer end-to-end encryption (even for private chats), which is disappointing given that many of its competitors have done so for a long time.
Apart from that, the file upload limit for free users is only 8MB, and for paid users, it is 50MB, which is much less than its competitors. Finally, stories of intruders spamming private servers have surfaced, raising serious security concerns. That is why you should hunt for a Discord alternatives.
List of Top Apps Like Discord
1. Steam Chat
Steam Chat, Valve’s message and voice chat service for gamers, is another Discord option worth checking out if you don’t want to use Discord. You can establish your groups with friends and communicate with them via text or voice chat using Steam’s chat feature, which is free to use.
Steam also enables users to share unique URLs (like Discord) that can be clicked to instantly join a pre-made group, making it easy for anyone to join your group. Steam also allows group administrators to assign members roles that grant them various privileges, such as kicking out other members, managing group information, and imposing chat limitations.
While a single user can only have one role in a Discord server, Steam group users can have many roles to help moderate the group and its contents. Like Discord and Overtone, Steam chat features a web client, which means you may use it without installing Steam on your computer.
Top Features
Auto-moderation
Best for gamers
Create groups and chat
Voice call
Free to use
Supported Platforms: Windows, Linux, macOS
Price: Free
Download Steam
2. Slack
Check out Slack, a team chat tool that looks a lot like Discord app, if you’re seeking the best alternative to Discord for professional use. The service has the same clean & straightforward UI as Discord, but it’s intended in a more professional setting, so there aren’t any gaming-related features.
Instead, you’ll find a variety of useful features aimed at increasing your workplace efficiency; however, if you’re seeking lag-free phone communications, you should look into some of the other possibilities. Slack distinguishes itself from Discord by offering connectors with over 800 third-party business apps.
It also allows you to receive notifications through your software without having to launch the app. Slack makes file sharing more straightforward and more convenient because uploads are limited to 1GB, but Discord only allows files up to 8MB in size to be shared.
Slack is worth a look if you’re searching for chat software for your business rather than playing games with your buddies.
Top Features
1GB upload limit
Best for enterprise users
Neat UI
Integration with third-party apps
Chat, voice, and video call
Supported Platforms: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS
Price: Free with limited functionality, Paid plan starts at $2.67 per month.
Download Slack
3. Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams was not designed with gamers in mind, but anyone can use it. You can talk with your teammates in real-time and map out a strategy similar to Discord. Voice and video calls are now supported for both individuals and groups.
Not to mention that you may send files utilizing MS Teams, with a massive upload capacity of 100GB. Discord pales, in contrast, as the free plan allows for only 8MB of file transmission and the premium Nitro plan allows for 50MB. In addition, Microsoft Teams now has a free plan with decent features.
However, the only disadvantage of Microsoft Teams is that you can’t host public or private communities, which can be a pain point for gamers and most Discord users. Nonetheless, MS Teams is a solid choice if you’re seeking a free tool similar to Discord for real-time collaboration with your peers.
Top Features
Chat, voice, and video calls
Collaborate with teammates
File upload limit 100GB
Free tier available
Third-party app integration
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, Linux, iOS, Web
Price: Free, Paid plan starts at $5 per month
Download Microsoft Teams
4. Skype
If you do not need all of the bells & whistles that the programs mentioned above have to offer and want a simple, familiar service that gets the job done, you should use Skype for in-game chat.
The famous text and voice chat service is relatively easy to use and provides all of the essential features you’d need to interact with a group of pals. It is among the top Discord alternatives, allows users to share files in a chat and video chat feature, which may not be beneficial when gaming but may be helpful in a professional context.
It’s worth noting that Skype uses many system resources, which could affect your game experience depending on your system setup.
Top Features
Free to use
Simple and easy to use
Chat, audio, and video calls
Share files up to 300MB
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Price: Free
Download Skype
5. Element
While Discord is a fantastic gaming tool, it lacks end-to-end encryption, which means your interactions aren’t as secure as you’d like them to be. If you are concerned about your privacy & wondering for the finest Discord replacement, Element — a text and audio chat software with end-to-end encryption – is a must-try.
Element is designed mainly for team collaborations, and as a result, it comes with several tools to assist you in streamlining your team’s workflow. Based on the Matrix open communications protocol, Element allows you to communicate with anyone in the Matrix.org ecosystem.
It’s handy if you wish to communicate with someone who uses Matrix-based software. While not specifically built for gaming, gamers can use Element and let users communicate any message, image, video, or file with groups of any size. There is now support for group video and phone calls as well.
Top Features
Offers E2E
Low-latency calls
Clean UI
Matrix protocol
Transfer all kinds of files
Supported Platforms: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, Web
Price: Free, Pro plan starts at $2 per month.
Download Element
6. Mumble
Mumble is one of the popular Discord alternatives and an open-source VoIP technology with excellent low-latency audio calling capabilities. It, like TeamSpeak 3, requires a standalone client to function and does not support browsers, which is something that many Discord users like.
Mumble, like Discord, is entirely free to use and is available on a variety of platforms. It also provides chat encryption, which is helpful for people concerned about their privacy. Its authentication feature prevents random people from entering your chat room; however, unlike Discord, it lacks DDoS defense.
Furthermore, Mumble is also very efficient, requiring just up to 20kbps of your capacity to run normally, something Discord may not achieve. It’s voice quality is comparable to Discord’s, and it also offers a spatial sound feature that distinguishes it from other VoIP apps.
Top Features
Create your server
Open-source
Low-latency audio calling
Chat encryption
Supported Platforms: Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, macOS
Price: Free, Paid plan starts at $7.50 per month for 15 users
Download Mumble
7. Telegram
It is often referred to be a WhatsApp competitor, but the popular messaging app is much more than that. Telegram, in my opinion, competes more directly with Discord than WhatsApp. It includes many features, including instant messaging, hosting communities (both private and public), public channels, and a lot more.
The best part is that it offers video calling and the service is free, which can be used for one-on-one or group calls. You may also construct bots to handle large groups, integrate scripts, automate searches, and so on, similar to Discord. On the other hand, it differs from Discord in that it provides End-to-End optional encryption for private messaging.
Discord, on the other hand, falls short in this area. So, if you’re seeking software similar to Discord but with more security, it’s a good choice.
To summarise, it offers a slew of features similar to Discord, including End-to-End encryption, and you should give it a shot.
Top Features
Free to use
Create public and private channels
Optional E2E support
Tons of features
Manage channels with bots
2GB upload limit
Supported Platforms: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, Web
Price: Free
Download Telegram
8. TeamSpeak
Many gamers used TeamSpeak for in-game communication long before Discord existed, and there are still a few devoted enthusiasts.
TeamSpeak, like Discord, uses the Opus codec for low-latency voice communications, and as a long-time user, I can vouch for its qualities as a beautiful voice and text chat tool. In addition, TeamSpeak’s UI has been revamped, and it now resembles Discord.
Users can construct dedicated servers for their requirements in TeamSpeak, and other users can join these servers to speak with one another about a shared topic, such as games or productivity. TeamSpeak uses AES encryption to keep your chats secure and confidential. It assures that no one can listen in on your conversations.
You’ll need to download the TeamSpeak client to utilize it on your smartphone, unlike Discord, because it doesn’t support browsers. While TeamSpeak is available for free on various platforms, you will have to pay to set up a new server.
Top Features
Create dedicated servers
Best for gamers
AES encryption
Brand new UI in beta
Chat and calls
Cross-platform
Supported Platforms: Windows, Android, Linux, macOS, iOS
Price: Free on Windows, macOS, and Linux; $0.99 on Android; $0.99 on iOS
Download TeamSpeak
9. Overtone
Overtone is among the best Discord alternatives that looks and feels similar to its opponent. Based on Vivox, one of the best-integrated voice chat platforms is utilized by significant games such as Fortnite, PUBG, and League of Legends. Overtone’s mission is to deliver cutting-edge technology to gamers all around the world.
The straightforward and lightweight app consumes minimal system resources and is simple to set up. Overtone, like Discord, is free to use and contains most of the essential voice and text chat capabilities, including support for text messages, voice chat, and group conversations.
Furthermore, Overtone includes a few social elements that will allow you to interact with individuals who share your interests and locate teams playing the same game. You can use Overtone in your web browser, just like Discord, so you don’t have to download separate software for your communication needs.
Top Features
Best app for gamers
Integrates well with game publishers
Chat, voice, and video call
No client needed, run on a browser
Free to use
Supported Platforms: Windows, Web
Price: Free
Download Overtone
10. Tox
If you’ve been using Discord for anything other than gaming and need a platform that’s a little more private, Tox is a good choice. Tox employs military-grade encryption, ensuring that all of your platform chats are secure from prying eyes.
Tox is also relatively easy to use, with a clean but dated-looking design that you can pick up in minutes. There’s text, voice, and video chat capabilities, as well as a helpful screen sharing tool that comes in handy if you want to show your team something on your computer.
There’s also a file-sharing capability, which is a nice touch that makes Tox suitable for professional use. Tox has no central servers, and the entire network is made up of its users, making it truly unique. It means you won’t have to worry about any server outages disrupting your operation.
Top Features
Simple interface
Powerful encryption
Decentralized servers
No outage
Chat, audio, and video calls
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Price: Free
Download Tox
Frequently Asked Questions
What Can I Use Instead of Discord?
Instead of Discord, you can use Telegram, TeamSpeak3, or Overtone. With the capacity to host communities, conversations, voice and video conferencing, file sharing, and more, these apps are incredibly comparable to Discord.
Is Discord Going to Shut Down in 2020?
No. There have been no such reports. That said, Discord often takes down servers that incite violence.
Is TeamSpeak Better Than Discord?
In a way, yes. It offers enhanced security, and now TeamSpeak has revamped its client and website with dark mode, channel support, multi-window chat, and more.
Is Mumble Better Than Discord?
I wouldn’t choose Mumble over Discord as a whole, although it has some distinct advantages. It’s free and open-source, with a low-latency audio chat option and the ability to set up your private server.
Can I get Hacked Through Discord?
Yes, there have been instances where hackers have gained access to private servers. They spam the server and modify the privileges of the server’s manager. Aside from that, there have been numerous concerning reports about Discord being used to steal account credentials.
Find the Best Apps Similar to Discord
That concludes our list of the top Discord alternatives available. As you can see, there are other similar apps available on the market, each with its own set of capabilities that you may use for gaming or in a business context.
While some of these apps are primarily designed for gamers (Discord), others contain useful productivity features that might aid your office workflow.
I use Telegram the most out of the bunch because I’ve been using it for a long and am familiar with the interface. However, if Telegram does not meet your needs, you can try one of the numerous Discord alternatives listed here.