20 Apps like Discord for Better Gaming Sessions and Communities

Ever feel like you're drowning in notifications and endless chat threads? Discord has become incredibly popular, with over 150 million monthly active users globally. However, many users find themselves buried under a mountain of messages. 

Between multiple servers and constant alerts, what started as a way to connect can quickly become unmanageable. This is the reason why more people are exploring alternatives that offer cleaner, more focused experiences. Here's what's driving the shift:

1. Server overload: Too many channels make it difficult to find the relevant info.

2. Too many notifications: Constant alerts are disruptive; they shift your focus and lower productivity.

3. Lost conversations: Important discussions easily get lost in channels.

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Top five apps like Discord: Quick comparison table

Looking for more Discord alternatives? Below you'll find 20 apps broken down by what they do best.

20 apps like Discord for gaming, chatting, and communities

Here's a closer look at the best Discord alternatives, organized by category, to help keep you and your team connected and organized.

Best team collaboration and productivity tools

1. Slack

Slack is a collaboration and messaging platform designed primarily for workplace communication. Users can organize conversations into channels, send direct messages, and connect with various productivity tools like Google Drive and Trello. Over 18 million people use it daily for their team members across businesses of all sizes.

Why do people use Slack?

• Team organization: The channels keep different projects and discussions separate.

• Integration: It works with over 2,000 apps to manage your work tools.

• Searchable history: Find old conversations and files easily.

Slack offers premium plans with extra features like advanced integrations, better security, and admin controls. Remote teams and startups around the world rely on it for daily communication.

2. Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a collaboration platform that combines chat, video meetings, file storage, and app integration. It works especially well for companies already using Microsoft Office 365, and has over 250 million monthly users.

Why do people use Microsoft Teams?

• Office 365 Integration: Seamlessly works with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft tools.

• Video calls: High-quality video calls, a great choice for remote teams.

• Security: Microsoft Teams offers top-notch security features that are ideal for improving the workspace for businesses.

Teams is generally free, while the paid version offers more features, like advanced security options and storage. Corporate teams favor it for its smooth integration with Microsoft products. It also serves as a Zoom and Google Meet Alternative.

3. Chanty

Chanty is a team chat platform with a purpose to streamline communication within small and medium-sized teams. It combines group chats, task management, and file sharing in a straightforward package that thousands of teams use as an alternative to Slack and Microsoft Teams.

Why do people use Chanty?

• Easy to use: Clean and simple design (minimalists will love it!).

• Task management: Create and assign tasks directly in chat rooms.

• Affordable: It offers a more budget-friendly option compared to other team tools. 

Chanty is a go-to app for startups and small businesses. The free plan covers essential features for small teams, while the affordable pricing of the premium plan adds advanced tools for more complex workflows.

4. Flock

Flock is a team communication and collaboration tool aimed at improving productivity. It brings together chats, file sharing, and project management in one place. Over 20,000 teams use it, most of them being small to medium-sized businesses.

Why do people use Flock?

• Team collaboration: Combines messaging, file sharing, and tasks in one app.

• App Integrations: Works with popular tools like Google Drive and Trello.

• Searchable conversations: Users can easily find past messages and files.

Flock is aimed at streamlining business communications and making it easier to manage teams. It offers both free and premium plans, depending on team size and features needed.

5. Basecamp

Basecamp is a team collaboration and project management tool designed to help teams stay organized, communicate, and manage tasks in one place. It includes to-do lists, file sharing, messaging, and calendar integration to streamline workflows and keep everyone on the same page.

Why do people use Basecamp?

• Centralized communication: All team discussions, files, and tasks in one place.

• Task management: Easy-to-use to-do lists and project management tools.

• Simplicity: A clean, intuitive interface that minimizes complexity.

Small to medium teams love Basecamp for its simplicity and all-in-one approach. It works well for businesses that want a straightforward solution to managing projects and streamlining communications without unnecessary complexity.

6. Wire

Wire is a secure communication app that focuses on team collaboration, with features like group chats, file sharing, and video calls. It offers end-to-end encryption and is open-source, making it a trusted choice for both businesses and individuals.

Why do people use Wire?

• End-to-end encryption: Protects every message, call, and file shared.

• Open-source: Fully transparent and customizable.

• Team collaboration: Offers tools that enhance productivity for groups and businesses.

Wire is perfect for teams that need secure, real-time communication. It's also a great option for individuals who prioritize security in both professional and personal contexts.

7. Rocket.Chat

Rocket.Chat is an open-source collaboration tool for team communication. Many enterprises use it for messaging, video conferencing, and integrations with products like Jira and Github. The number of people using Rocket.Chat is continuing to rise, especially in large organizations.

Why do people use Rocket.Chat?

• Open-source: Free to use and customizable.

• Integration: Seamless integration with enterprise tools.

• Self-hosting: Can host the platform on your own servers.

Rocket.Chat is ideal for businesses that want full control over their communication infrastructure. It's a powerful, flexible tool for large teams or organizations requiring custom solutions.

A quick tip: Identifying the common challenges that prevent teams from working effectively can help you build a stronger and more productive community, whether for gaming or work. Check out the summary of 'The Five Dysfunctions of a Team' to learn more.

Best gaming and community communication platforms

8. TeamSpeak

TeamSpeak is a voice communication app used by gamers. It's the best fit for real-time conversations during gameplay. Known for its low-latency and high-quality features, TeamSpeak has built a loyal following of millions of users worldwide.

Why do people use TeamSpeak?

• Low-latency voice chat: Ideal for gamers who need to communicate clearly in real-time.

• Customizability: Users can create custom servers and manage them.

• Security: Offers encrypted voice communications.

Though TeamSpeak is popular in gaming communities, it's also used by businesses and organizations for high-quality voice chat. It requires the setup of a server, but it offers more control over the environment.

9. Razer Cortex

Razer Cortex is a gaming platform designed to optimize your gaming experience. It provides game management, performance enhancement, and in-game features. The platform also includes a community feature where users can connect with fellow gamers.

Why do people use Razer Cortex?

• Game optimization: By adjusting system settings, you can improve game performance.

• Gaming community: Brings gamers together to share and discover new titles alongside each other.

• Rewards system: Offers discounts, promotions, and other benefits.

Razer Cortex is more than just a platform for gaming; it offers a whole ecosystem aimed at enhancing gameplay. It's ideal for gamers who want an all-in-one solution to optimize their gaming experience while connecting with others.

10. Guilded

Guilded is a team and community communication platform for gamers that offers features such as voice chat, calendars for events, and rich media sharing. It is widely used across gaming communities and esports teams, as it has over 100k active groups.

Why do people use Guilded?

• Gaming-focused features: Offers tools like calendar event management and game integration.

• Customizable servers: Users can create highly customized servers for their needs.

• Free and paid plans: Guilded offers a solid free plan with additional premium features.

Guilded is ideal for gamers who want more control over their chat servers. It's growing in popularity, especially among competitive gaming teams and hobbyist gaming groups.

11. Steam Chat

Steam Chat is part of the Steam platform, designed for gamers to communicate when playing. It allows text and voice chats, group conversations, and game-specific features. Steam Chat remains a staple in the gaming community with millions of active users.

Why do people use Steam Chat?

• Integrated with Steam: Directly connects with Steam's gaming platform.

• Voice and text chat: Offers seamless communication while gaming.

• Friend lists: Easily connect with friends on Steam for group gaming.

Steam Chat is free to use and built specifically for gamers. It allows users to socialize without leaving the gaming environment.

12. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks is a community platform designed for creators and entrepreneurs to build branded spaces for content sharing, networking, and collaboration. It allows users to create private communities, offer courses, and host discussions in one place.

Why do people use Mighty Networks?

• Branded communities: Build a community around your brand or content.

• Content creation: Share courses, articles, and media directly with your audience.

• Network growth: Easily grow and manage a dedicated community of like-minded people.

Mighty Networks is great for creators and influencers who want to connect with their audience in a more controlled, interactive space. Its focus on building communities around shared interests makes it a top choice for creators looking to foster deeper connections.

13. Ventrilo

Ventrilo is another voice chat program that most often allows gamers to communicate while playing multiplayer games. It delivers excellent quality voice chats with very low latency. While it does not enjoy the same user base or popularity as Discord, it is still popular with a dedicated user group.

Why do people use Ventrilo?

• Low-latency voice communication: Known for its real-time, high-quality voice chat.

• Customizable: Users can tweak sound quality and configure servers.

• Lightweight: Ventrilo is lightweight, making it an excellent option for low-resource systems.

Because of its stability and simplicity, Ventrilo is still used by some older gaming communities. However, it lacks the broader features of Discord, such as text chat or direct integration with gaming platforms.

A quick tip: Adaptability and teamwork are essential for success in complex environments. Check out the 'Team of Teams' summary — see how these principles can boost your community's coordination and interaction.

Best messaging and privacy-focused apps

14. Telegram

Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app known for its speed, security, and flexibility. With over 700 million active users, Telegram supports text messaging, media sharing, and voice calls. It's become a popular alternative to WhatsApp for those seeking more privacy features.

Why do people use Telegram?

• Privacy: Offers end-to-end encrypted chats and secret conversations.

• Large group capacity: Users can create groups of up to 200,000 members.

• Bots and customization: Telegram supports bots and channels, which provide unique services.

Telegram is a free-to-use Android and iOS app that offers many features, including file sharing up to 2GB and public channels. It's growing in popularity for both personal and professional use.

15. Mumble

Mumble is a voice chat software originally developed for gaming and is known for its high quality. It is open-source and focused on low-latency communication, providing fast and reliable voice channels for gamers, streamers, and anyone in need of it. It has a certain level of popularity compared to other similar chat options, but it shows good performance.

Why do people use Mumble?

• Low-latency voice chat: Offers real-time communication with high sound quality.

• Customization: Server admins can tweak settings to suit their needs.

• Free and open-source: Mumble is completely free to use.

Mumble is popular for its open-source nature and its dedicated community of users who contribute to its development. It's great for people who prefer to host their servers for full control.

16. Skype

Skype is one of the oldest and arguably most popular communication tools. Users can make video and voice calls, send messages, and share files. While it's been overshadowed by newer apps, Skype still boasts over 300 million active users globally.

Why do people use Skype?

• Cross-platform support: Available on desktop, mobile, and web.

• Video calls: High-quality video and voice calls with group calling features.

• International calling: Offers affordable international calling rates.

On May 25, 2025, Skype was retired and integrated with Microsoft Teams. However, it remains widely used for personal and business communications and still has strong international call features.

17. WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a messaging app that allows instant messaging, voice, and video calls over the internet. With over 2 billion users, it's one of the most popular apps for personal communication. The app is famous for its simplicity and privacy-focused features.

Why do people use WhatsApp?

• End-to-end encryption: Messages are fully encrypted, providing strong privacy.

• Group chats: Up to 256 members can join a group chat.

• Easy media sharing: Send images, documents, and videos with ease.

WhatsApp is completely free and available across all major platforms. It's widely used for personal and professional communication (freelance), especially in Europe and India.

18. Matrix

Matrix is an open-source communication protocol focusing on decentralization and security. It's popular among users who prioritize privacy and control over their data, with a growing user base in the millions.

Why do people use Matrix?

• Decentralized: Users can host their own servers for full control.

• Cross-platform: Works on mobile, desktop, and web, making it accessible everywhere.

• End-to-end encryption: Focuses on secure communication.

Matrix could be an excellent option for tech-savvy people and those who want more control over their data. It still works as a decentralized alternative to many mainstream apps.

19. Signal

Signal is a free messaging app with proper security and privacy measures. It offers end-to-end encrypted voice and video calls, as well as text messaging and media sharing, ensuring that conversations remain private. Many journalists and activists use and trust this app because it values confidentiality.

Why do people use Signal?

• Privacy-focused: All messages and calls are encrypted end-to-end.

• Open-source: The code is open for review, which makes it a trusted platform.

• Minimal data collection: Collects very little data, ensuring more privacy.

Signal has a reputation for encryption and privacy, so it's a top choice for many. For those who want a privacy-first messaging app, Signal is a strong recommendation.

20. Tox

Tox is an open-source messaging app with a focus on privacy and security. Its features include voice and video calls, file sharing, and text messaging, and it does not store data on servers. As such, it's popular among users seeking a secure alternative to mainstream messaging apps.

Why do people use Tox?

• Privacy: No data is stored on centralized servers.

• End-to-end encryption: Strong security for all types of communication.

• Free and open-source: Available for anyone to use and modify.

Tox is designed for users who prioritize privacy over convenience. It's not as mainstream as other apps, but it has a niche following among security-conscious users.

While exploring secure messaging apps, it's also helpful to build habits that support leadership and personal growth. 

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How to choose the best app like Discord for your needs

Picking the right app comes down to what's most important for your communication and community goals. Here's a quick guide to help you choose which ones suit you the most:

• If privacy is your top priority ➡️ Element. 

It's a secure, open-source application focused on encrypted communication.

• If you need a platform for work with lots of integrations ➡️ Slack. 

It's ideal for teams who rely on tools like Google Drive and Trello.

• If you want high-quality voice chat for gaming ➡️TeamSpeak. 

It's known for its low-latency voice chat, making it ideal for gaming.

• If you're building a community with media sharing and events ➡️Guilded. 

Great for gamers and communities looking to share content and organize events.

• If you like simple, secure messaging with a lot of customization ➡️Telegram.

 It's easy to use, with plenty of options for personalizing your experience.

• If you want a straightforward app with chat and task management ➡️Chanty. 

A perfect choice for small teams or businesses needing a mix of communication and task tracking.

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Where are online communities headed? The future of Discord alternatives 

Online communities are changing fast, and apps like Discord adapt to meet new needs and trends. Here's what we can expect in the future:

• AI moderation: As communities grow, safety and positivity are priorities, and AI moderation will help auto-manage the harmful content. This advancement can help make everything smoother and limit the moderators' workload. 

• Decentralized platforms: Users feel empowered in platforms like Towns by taking more control of their own data and allowing for more privacy. This shift is about creating more freedom and security for everyone online.

• Community monetization: More communities are finding ways to make money. From offering premium content to exclusive memberships, monetization is becoming a way for creators to turn their communities into sustainable income sources.

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As online communities continue to evolve, the Headway app will help users connect and grow in a way that feels personal and impactful.

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