Zulip
Open-source team chat where every conversation has a topic, so threads stay readable.
Web AppFree planWeb, macOS
4.5Visit
Web App
Discord
Free voice, video and text chat for communities, friends and small teams.
Built with love by Shushant Lakhyani. Building bestproductivityresources.com
What is Discord?
Discord organises conversations into servers with text channels, voice channels, video calls and screen sharing. It is free to use; the optional Nitro subscription adds perks such as bigger file uploads, HD video streaming and custom emoji. It is popular for communities, creator groups and small teams that want always-on voice rooms.
Pros
- Free unlimited text, voice and video chat
- Drop-in voice channels feel like a shared office
- Apps for every desktop and phone platform
Cons
- Built for communities, so admin and compliance tools are thin for businesses
- Busy servers can get noisy without careful channel setup
Who should use Discord
Communities, creators and small teams that want free voice and text chat.
Who may not need it
Companies that need formal admin controls and data retention.
Discord alternatives
Similar resources to Discord, picked from the directory.
Mattermost
Self-hosted, open-source team chat with a free edition for small teams.
Web AppFree planWeb, Windows
4.4Visit
Element
Open-source, Matrix-based messaging you can self-host for free.
Web AppFree planWeb, Windows
4.3Visit
Slack
Team communication organised into channels.
Web AppFree planWeb, macOS
4.2Visit
Microsoft Teams (free)
Microsoft's free chat and video meetings for personal use.
Web AppFreeWeb, Windows
4.0Visit
Loom
Replace meetings with quick async video.
Web AppFree planWeb, macOS
4.5Visit
Free alternatives to Discord
Free resources that cover similar ground.
Jitsi Meet
Free, open-source video meetings with no account needed.
Web AppFreeWeb, Android
4.3Visit
OpenVidu
Self-hosted real-time video and audio for your apps.
FrameworkFreeCross-Platform
4.4Visit
Founder.page
Discover and follow the best founders on 𝕏 and see what they're building.
WebsiteFreeWeb
4.7Visit
ChatCLI
A terminal chat application that brings Anthropic, OpenAI and other LLMs into your command line.
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.3Visit
listmonk
Free, open-source, self-hosted newsletter and mailing list manager in a single binary.
Web AppFreeCross-Platform, Linux
4.6Visit
Google Forms
Free surveys, quizzes and sign-up forms with answers flowing into Google Sheets.
Web AppFreeWeb
4.5Visit
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