Discord Alternatives

What is Discord?

Discord is a widely popular communication platform designed primarily for gamers but has expanded to include communities from various niches. It provides users with voice, video, and text communication services, allowing them to create or join servers where they can chat, collaborate, and share media in private or group channels. Some key features that have contributed to its popularity include its user-friendly interface, robust server management tools, integration capabilities, and high-quality communication.

In this article, we will delve into the features of Discord and compare them with those of several alternatives. We aim to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of these alternatives to give you a comprehensive understanding of what each platform offers and how they stack up against Discord.

1. Guilded

Guilded often regarded as a direct competitor to Discord. Guilded offers many similar functionalities but with additional features catered towards gamers, such as built-in tournament organization and team calendars.

Benefits of Guilded

Guilded is often seen as a strong alternative to Discord, especially for gamers. Here are some benefits of using Guilded compared to Discord:

• Advanced Team Features: Guilded has special tools for gaming teams like scheduling tournaments, setting up team calendars, and tracking game results. These features help teams organize and communicate more easily.

• Better Communication Tools: Both platforms offer voice, video, and text chat, but Guilded also has threaded conversations. This makes it easier to follow discussions in busy chat rooms.

• Calendar Channels: Guilded includes calendar channels that integrate directly with its event planning features, making it easier to schedule and track events within the community.

• Task Management: Guilded includes tools for managing tasks. Teams can assign tasks, set deadlines, and check progress, all in one place.

• Customizable Server Setup: Guilded allows you to customize your server with templates designed for different types of gaming groups. This helps keep everything organized and tailored to your group's needs.

• Streaming and Media Sharing: Guilded integrates well with streaming platforms and offers better options for sharing media. This is great for content creators who want to share their gaming streams with their community.

• Game Integration: Guilded connects directly with popular games, which helps with organizing matches, tracking stats, and more. This feature enhances the gaming experience by making it easier to keep track of how you and your team are doing.

• Free Premium Features: Many users highlight that Guilded offers what Discord charges for (through Discord Nitro) for free. This includes larger file uploads, high-quality media sharing, and other premium functionalities.

• Subservers: Guilded allows the creation of subservers within a main server. This feature is particularly useful for large communities or organizations that need to segment their discussions and manage multiple groups under one umbrella.

• Nested Voice Channels: Users can create nested voice channels in Guilded, which helps in organizing voice chats better, especially for large gaming groups or events.

• Media Channels: Entire channels dedicated to media make it easier for users to share and organize images, videos, and other files within the community.

• Bot Builder: Guilded offers an integrated bot builder, allowing users to create custom bots for their servers without needing extensive programming knowledge.

• Forums and Real Feeds with Comments: Guilded includes built-in forums and real feeds with comment capabilities, enhancing the way communities engage and communicate.

• Official Game Communities: Guilded hosts many official game communities, which can be a big draw for gamers looking to connect directly with fellow fans and receive updates or participate in events related to their favorite games.

Drawbacks of Guilded

While Guilded offers many advantages, especially for gamers and large community managers, there are also some drawbacks when comparing it to Discord. These include:

• Smaller User Base: Guilded is less popular than Discord, which has a much larger and more established user base. This can make it challenging to convince friends or community members to switch platforms, as many people are already comfortable and familiar with Discord.

• Brand Recognition and Network Effect: Because Discord is more widely recognized, it benefits from the network effect—more people use it simply because more people use it. This can limit the growth of newer or smaller platforms like Guilded, especially when trying to attract new users who are not specifically looking for gaming-focused features.

• Community Migration Challenges: For existing communities, migrating to Guilded from Discord can be difficult. Transferring data, adjusting to new layouts, and re-establishing community norms and settings on a new platform can be a cumbersome process for moderators and members alike.

• Performance Issues: Some users have reported performance issues with Guilded, especially when using more resource-intensive features or during updates. While the developers are responsive, maintaining a smooth performance level is crucial for user retention and satisfaction.

• Design and Interface: Although Guilded offers many advanced features, some users find its interface less intuitive or clean compared to Discord. This can affect the overall user experience, especially for new members who are not as tech-savvy.

• Limited Third-Party Integrations: While Guilded does offer some integrations, Discord boasts a wider range of third-party integrations and bots that can greatly enhance the functionality of communities and servers.

• Market Perception as a "Gaming" Platform: Guilded is heavily branded as a platform for gamers, which might deter non-gaming groups from adopting it, despite its robust features that could benefit a wide range of communities.

• Mobile App Experience: Some users have noted that Guilded's mobile app doesn't always offer the same level of functionality or smooth user experience as its desktop counterpart, which can be a drawback for users who primarily interact via mobile devices.

• Acquisition by Roblox: Guilded was acquired by Roblox Corporation, which might require users to have a Roblox account to access some features or integrations. This could be inconvenient for users who are not interested in Roblox or who prefer not to link their gaming and communication platforms.

• Concerns Over Data Privacy: Some users are wary of the fact that Tencent, a major investor in Roblox, is a Chinese company. By Chinese law, companies like Tencent might be required to make user data accessible to the Chinese government and its agencies without notifying the users. This raises significant data privacy concerns, especially for users who are sensitive about their online privacy and data security.

Guilded Pricing

Guilded is free to use, which includes access to most of its features without any cost. This includes unlimited chat, voice and video communication, server customization, and advanced community management tools. Guilded does not charge for features such as server boosts or advanced emojis, which are similar to what Discord offers through its paid Nitro subscription.

Discord, on the other hand, also offers a free version with basic features, but it includes a premium subscription called Discord Nitro. Discord Nitro enhances the user experience with benefits such as higher quality video during streaming, larger file upload limits, and access to a vast library of emojis. As of the last update, Discord Nitro is priced at:

• Nitro Classic: Approximately $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year, which includes some enhancements like animated avatars and higher quality screen sharing.
• Nitro: Approximately $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year, which includes additional features such as server boosts and increased upload limits.

Therefore, Guilded can be a more cost-effective option for users looking for a comprehensive set of communication and community management tools without the additional cost.

2. Element

Element operates on the Matrix protocol, offering high levels of customization and privacy. It's decentralized, which means users can host their own servers, enhancing control and security.

Benefits of Element

Element offers several benefits compared to Discord, particularly in areas related to privacy, security, and control over data:

• Enhanced Privacy and Security: Element's most significant advantage is its commitment to privacy and security through end-to-end encryption. This means that only the people in the conversation can read the messages, protecting against potential eavesdroppers, including the server administrators. This is a crucial feature for users who need to ensure that their communications remain confidential.

• Decentralization: Unlike Discord, which operates on servers controlled by a single company, Element is based on the Matrix protocol, allowing users to run their own servers. This decentralization means users have more control over their data and are not reliant on a single entity's policies or the stability of their service.

• Interoperability: Element users can communicate with users on other Matrix-based services, thanks to the open Matrix protocol. This cross-platform interoperability is a significant advantage for users looking for a more open and connected ecosystem, unlike Discord, which is a closed system.

• Open Source: The open-source nature of Element allows for transparency and community-driven development. Users who prefer open-source software for ethical, security, or customization reasons might find Element more appealing than Discord, which is proprietary software.

• Data Sovereignty: With Element, organizations and individuals can host their own servers, giving them full control over their data and how it is stored and used. This can be particularly important for businesses, educational institutions, or government organizations that require data to be stored in specific jurisdictions or under specific conditions.

• Professional Use: Element's design and feature set are geared more towards professional and organizational use, offering a more subdued, business-like interface and focusing on features like secure file sharing, collaboration tools, and extensive administrative controls.

These benefits make Element particularly suited to users who prioritize security, privacy, and data control. While Discord offers a more feature-rich environment tailored towards community engagement and gaming, Element appeals to those who need a secure, professional communication tool.

Drawbacks of Element

Element, while strong in privacy and security, has some drawbacks compared to Discord, especially in terms of user experience and community features:

• User Interface and Ease of Use: Element's interface, while functional, is generally considered less user-friendly and less visually appealing than Discord's. Discord has a very polished, intuitive interface that is particularly tailored to enhance user engagement and community interaction.

• Community Features: Discord excels with its range of features designed for community building and real-time interaction, such as custom emojis, rich media support, and extensive bot integrations that enhance user experience. Element is more straightforward and lacks many of these engaging, fun features.

• Performance and Optimization: Users often report that Discord performs smoother in terms of voice and video quality, especially during large group calls. Element can sometimes struggle with larger groups or in areas with less stable internet connections.

• Popularity and Network Effect: Discord benefits from a large, established user base, particularly among gamers and online communities. This popularity creates a network effect where new users are likely to join Discord simply because their friends and communities are already there. Element, being newer and less known outside of tech and privacy-focused circles, does not enjoy the same level of widespread adoption.

• Integration and Plugins: Discord offers a wide array of integrations and plugins that cater especially to gamers but also to a broader audience, enhancing its functionality. While Element supports integrations, the range and ease of integration are currently more limited compared to Discord.

• Learning Curve: Due to its focus on security and privacy, some of Element's features, like setting up and managing encryption or running a personal server, might present a steeper learning curve for non-technical users compared to Discord's relatively straightforward setup.

These drawbacks mean that while Element is a strong contender for those prioritizing security and data sovereignty, it might not be the first choice for users looking for a more casual, feature-rich platform for community engagement and social interaction.

Element Pricing

Element and Discord have different pricing models that reflect their intended uses and features. Here's a brief overview of their pricing structures:

Element offers both free and paid options:

• Free: The basic version of Element is free to use. You can join an existing server or create your own using the Matrix open-source protocol. However, self-hosting requires you to manage your infrastructure, which can incur costs depending on your setup.

• Hosted Plans: Element provides hosted solutions which include additional features like higher security guarantees, backups, and priority support. The pricing for these services can vary based on the specific needs such as the number of users, data usage, and any custom integrations required. As of the last update, pricing for Element's hosted services starts at £1.50 per user per month for small teams and scales up for larger organizations or those needing advanced features.

As we mentioned earlier, Discord also offers free usage, with optional premium subscriptions.

Comparing Discord and Element pricing the following conclusion can be made:

• Cost-Effectiveness: Both platforms offer robust free versions. Discord’s free version is particularly rich in features compared to many other platforms, including Element.
• For Individual Users: Discord's premium features are more about enhancing personal user experience rather than extending fundamental business functionalities, which might be more appealing to casual communities rather than professional settings.
• For Organizations: Element's paid options are geared more towards businesses and professional communities who need secure and reliable communication solutions, especially those who are concerned with data privacy and control.

3. Revolt

Revolt is a chat platform that positions itself as an open-source alternative to Discord, focusing on minimalistic design and user privacy.

Similarities

• Messaging and Communication: Both platforms offer text messaging, voice calls, and video calls.

• Servers and Channels: Users can create dedicated servers (or communities) and organize them into channels for different discussions or topics.

Benefits of Revolt

Revolt can be seen as better than Discord for some users, especially those who care a lot about privacy. Here are a few reasons why:

• Privacy: Revolt collects less personal information about its users compared to Discord. This makes it a good choice for people who don't want their data shared or used without their permission.

• Open-Source: Revolt is open-source, which means anyone can check how it's built and suggest improvements. This transparency helps ensure that there are no hidden tricks or unwanted features and allows for deeper customization at a code level, which is beneficial for users with technical skills who want to tailor their experience or add new features.

• Free: Revolt is entirely free to use. There are no subscription fees or premium versions. Being open-source, it relies on community support and contributions.

Drawbacks of Revolt

• Features and Integrations: Discord offers a broader range of features and integrations. For example, Discord supports streaming, advanced moderation tools, bot integrations, and rich media support, which are robust and well-developed due to its larger user base and more extensive development.

• User Interface and Experience: Discord generally has a more polished user interface with extensive support and constant updates, making it user-friendly, especially for new users.

• Smaller Community: Discord has a massive user base, which makes it easier to find and connect with people who share similar interests. A larger community also means more resources, such as user-created content, guides, and support from other users. Revolt's smaller community might make it less vibrant and harder to find support.

• User Familiarity and Comfort: Many users are already familiar with Discord’s interface and features. Transitioning to a new platform like Revolt can require a learning curve and adjustment, which might discourage some users.

• Technical Support and Development: Discord, backed by a well-established company, offers robust support and frequent updates that improve functionality and security. Revolt, relying on a community-driven development model, might experience slower update cycles and less predictable support.

• Integration and Compatibility: Discord offers better integration with other platforms and services, which is crucial for users who use their chat application in conjunction with other tools for gaming, work, or social interaction.

4. Zulip

Zulip is known for its unique threading model that helps keep conversations organized, Zulip is another excellent option for both open-source enthusiasts and enterprise users.

Zulip can be an alternative to Discord, especially in contexts where conversation organization and detailed discussions are crucial. For example, in academic or professional settings where discussions are more topic-focused, Zulip's threading can be extremely beneficial.

Here's how they compare:

Zulip:

• Target Audience: Primarily aimed at professionals, developers, and academic communities.
• Organization: Uses a unique topic-based threading model which helps keep conversations organized and easy to follow.
• Features: Includes features like file sharing, integrations with various tools, and code syntax highlighting, which are beneficial for technical and professional environments.

Discord:

• Target Audience: Originally designed for gamers but has expanded to a broader audience including hobbyists and informal communities.
• Organization: Uses a channel-based structure without threaded conversations, which can make following specific discussions more challenging in active communities.
• Features: Strong in voice and video communication, live streaming, and community engagement features like emojis and server boosts.

Benefits of Zulip:

• Better Organization: The threading model is excellent for keeping track of complex discussions and for archival purposes.
• Focused Discussions: More conducive to detailed and sustained discussions on specific topics.
• Professional Environment: Lacks gaming-centric features, which might be more suitable for professional or academic settings.

Drawbacks of Zulip:

• Less Intuitive for Casual Users: The threading model might be overwhelming or unnecessary for casual conversations, which can be a hindrance for communities used to Discord.
• Limited Multimedia Communication: Does not emphasize voice and video communication as much as Discord, which can be a disadvantage for communities that rely on these features.
• Less Engaging for Non-Professional Use: The professional layout and feature set might not appeal to non-professional communities looking for a more relaxed and multimedia-rich interaction.

In summary, whether Zulip can be a suitable alternative to Discord depends on the specific needs of the community. If the priority is on maintaining structured, topic-specific discussions, Zulip offers distinct advantages. However, for communities focused on multimedia communication and more casual interactions, Discord might be the better choice.

Zulip Pricing

• Free Plan: Zulip offers a free version that is quite robust, suitable for small teams or communities. It includes most of the core features but with some limitations in terms of data storage and history.
• Standard Plan: Zulip’s standard plan is priced per active user per month and includes unlimited message history, increased storage, and priority support. This plan is targeted at businesses or larger communities needing more comprehensive features and support.
• Self-hosting: For organizations that want full control over their data and customization, Zulip can be self-hosted. The software itself is open source, so there is no direct cost for the software, but organizations will need to manage their own server infrastructure and maintenance.

Pricing Comparison:

• Cost for Basic Use: Both platforms are free for basic use, with Zulip focusing more on unlimited users and Discord on rich multimedia communication.
• Business Use: Zulip’s paid plans are structured around business use and offer features like increased storage and support, which are crucial for professional settings. Discord’s business utility is less about formal business features and more about creating a rich, engaging community space.
• Flexibility: Zulip’s open-source nature and self-hosting option provide flexibility for businesses wanting control over their communication tools, potentially leading to cost savings at scale. Discord’s model, while less flexible in terms of self-hosting, offers incremental upgrades through user subscriptions and boosts, which can be more accessible for non-business communities.

In conclusion, Zulip might be more cost-effective for professional or organizational use, especially where structured communication and data control are priorities. Discord, on the other hand, may be more appealing and cost-effective for communities focused on gaming, social interactions, and multimedia communication, where server boosts and Nitro subscriptions enhance the user experience.