The best Discord alternatives are Slack, Guilded, Element, Telegram, Revolt, Circle, and Mighty Networks. Discord is still massive, with about 200 million monthly active users, so it makes sense that many groups want the same magic with fewer headaches [source: Business of Apps].
TLDR: If you want a Discord-style space, pick Guilded for gaming, Slack for work, and Circle for paid communities. A 300-member fan club might use Telegram for quick updates, then Circle for courses and member perks. If privacy matters, try Element or Revolt. Most groups should test two tools for one week before moving everyone.
Discord is great. Until it is not. Maybe the server gets messy. Maybe roles feel like a puzzle. Maybe someone asks, “Where is the pinned message?” for the 19th time.
Good news. You have options.
1. Slack
Best for: teams, clubs, startups, school groups.
Slack is like Discord wearing a work shirt. It has channels, threads, files, voice huddles, and apps. It is clean and easy to learn. You can make spaces for projects, events, or random chat.
The annoying bit? The free plan limits message history. That can sting when someone needs a note from last month. Still, Slack is great for groups that want less chaos and more structure.
2. Guilded
Best for: gamers, esports teams, streamers.
Guilded feels very close to Discord. It has voice chat, video, roles, calendars, forums, and tournament tools. If your community runs raids, matches, or weekly game nights, Guilded feels built for that.
It also gives you more planning tools out of the box. That is a big win. Discord can do it too, but you often need bots. And bots can be fussy little gremlins.
3. Element
Best for: privacy fans, tech groups, open source communities.
Element runs on Matrix. That means your chats are not locked to one company in the same way. You can use public rooms, private rooms, direct messages, and encrypted chats.
It may feel less glossy than Discord at first. Honestly, it feels like it takes three extra clicks to understand what is going on. But once set up, it is strong. It is a smart pick for groups that care about control and privacy.
4. Telegram
Best for: fast updates, creator groups, fan communities.
Telegram is simple. That is its superpower. You can make groups, channels, polls, voice chats, and broadcast lists. It works well for big communities that need quick posts.
Use a channel for announcements. Use a group for chat. Easy. The search is solid too. The weak spot is community structure. It can turn into a giant scrolling river of noise if nobody sets rules.
5. Revolt
Best for: people who want a Discord-like tool with an open source feel.
Revolt looks and feels familiar. You get servers, channels, roles, voice features, and a layout that Discord users will understand fast. That makes switching less painful.
It is still smaller than Discord. So do not expect the same ocean of bots and plugins. But smaller can be nice. Less clutter. Less drama. Fewer mystery settings hiding in dark corners.
6. Circle
Best for: course creators, coaches, paid groups, member clubs.
Circle is not a Discord clone. It is more like a neat community hub. You can create spaces, events, posts, live streams, and member areas. It works well for paid communities.
If you sell a course, run a mastermind, or host a private club, Circle feels polished. Members can find content without digging through endless chat. The downside is price. It is not the best fit for a casual friend group.
7. Mighty Networks
Best for: branded communities, creators, learning groups.
Mighty Networks helps you build a full community site. You can post updates, host events, sell courses, and create member spaces. It feels more like a home base than a chat room.
This is useful if your group is part community, part business. Think fitness trainer, hobby club, writing group, or paid fan space. It may be too much for a tiny server. But for serious community building, it has muscle.
Quick Pick Guide
- Want the closest Discord feel? Try Guilded or Revolt.
- Need work chat? Choose Slack.
- Care about privacy? Try Element.
- Need fast public updates? Use Telegram.
- Building a paid group? Pick Circle or Mighty Networks.
How to Choose Without Losing Your Mind
Do not pick a tool because it looks cool for five minutes. Match it to your group.
- For 10 friends: keep it simple. Telegram or Revolt works.
- For 100 gamers: use Guilded.
- For 500 students or members: Circle may save time.
- For a work team: Slack is the safe bet.
The best community tool is the one people will actually use. Fancy features do not matter if your members hate opening the app. Start small. Invite a test group. Watch where people get stuck. Then move the rest.