Discord alternatives: The main pros and cons

TeamSpeak is an app like Discord, as it is a free Voice-over-IP (VoIP) software. Just like Discord, the focus is on voice chats parallel to online gaming – perfect as a Discord alternative. In the gaming community, TeamSpeak has been one of the most popular voice chat apps for team players for years. Many gamers use the software as a communication tool for digital guilds or clans with their own Teamspeak server. It should be noted that it works as a voice app. For video chats, an add-on or plug-in is required (as of TeamSpeak version 3).

Just like TeamSpeak, the free VoIP software Mumble is an app like Discord, but appeared ten years before it. Its main focus is parallel voice chat while gaming. Its target group is primarily the gamer community. Of course, Mumble is also suitable for small teams as a communication and collaboration tool when agreements are to be made without video chat. Mumble also requires a client on the PC to connect to one of the many Mumble servers or its own server.

One strength that sets Mumble apart is its strong encryption of conversations using TLS, UDP, and AES. New Mumble versions even use ECDHE and AES-GCM encryption for perfect forward secrecy. Another argument is the low latency (delay) and thus the excellent clear sound quality. Since Mumble requires little processor power, it runs flawlessly even during intense gaming. A handy setup wizard is available to assist you making it a great Discord alternative.

Microsoft Teams is familiar to most Office 365 users – and might come as a surprise contender in our overview of apps like Discord. The video conferencing software from Microsoft enables video and voice chats with any number of users and supports all known Microsoft apps such as Word and Excel with an Office 365 license. Collaboration and efficient project management is easily possible with Microsoft Teams as a digital office. The composition of teams and sub-teams is flexible. Meetings and ideas can be recorded for everyone in OneNote, files can be stored and planning can be structured in the shared scheduler. Although there is a free license, Teams only really shines with a Microsoft 365 subscription.

Troop Messenger is closer to the collaboration tool Slack than to the Discord app, but also combines chat features like instant messaging, video calls for conferences, and screen sharing. The user interface is reminiscent of classic messenger apps like WhatsApp, which can take some getting used to at first. However, it is precisely this simplicity that suits users who need the most straightforward communication and collaboration tools possible for small to medium-sized teams. Chats take place in real time and are documented for later message searches via search filters. Recent versions offer features such as:

• Burnout: Closed, private chat with selected team members
• Respond Later: Mark messages for later response
• Forkout: Group messages to selected team members
• Jumper: Select group members for a private chat
• Shoutout: Group message to any number of group members

Most office workers probably know Slack as video conferencing and collaboration software – not least since working from home became more commonplace. Its focus is on business project and teamwork. To this end, it offers helpful features such as private messaging, group messaging, search filters, screen sharing, and file sharing. In the free license, Slack includes documentation of chat histories for past 10,000 messages. Since large companies need significantly more, the paid version is recommended in any case.

A central event feed keeps teams up to date, while files can be stored centrally for team members. A particularly practical feature is that third-party apps and business tools can be easily integrated into Slack. The @ function also allows users to be directly mentioned even when they are offline. Although Slack supports text chats as well as video and audio chats, the free version only offers 1-to-1 calls. In the paid version, up to 15 users can participate in the audio/video chat.

As a simple and intuitive software for video chats, Skype is not only a classic, but keeps up with the competition. Skype forgoes gaming features and focuses on essential free features like 1-to-1 video chats, group video chats for up to 100 participants, file and screen sharing, instant messaging, and support for calls to landlines and mobiles.

The Wire chat app supports video and audio chats, group calls, instant messaging, file sharing, a ping function, and reliable end-to-end encryption for files and conversations. Data is not sold to third-party providers, giving Wire users high privacy protection. Although there is a free app for personal use, Wire considers itself a collaboration app and is designed for business teamwork with paid licenses for companies. The software is open source, supports use via its own servers, allows cross-platform synchronisation, and only requires a valid email address (no phone number) to register.

As a team and collaboration software, Flock supports collaboration in groups and offers features for project management, group messaging, project/team-related chats, video, and audio conferencing as well as the uncomplicated exchange of files and information. Data can be synchronised across devices, making Flock particularly flexible to use. The free version already includes the main features, but limits message searches to the past 10,000 messages. The creation of private group channels is unlimited, while public channels accessible to all members are limited to ten.

Since the focus of Discord alternatives lies in finding alternative chat software for online gaming, Steam Chat must also be mentioned. For Steam users, Steam’s integrated voice and video chat is particularly practical, since no third-party application is necessary. The similarity to Discord is already evident in the user interface, which makes it easy to get used to for former Discord users. Steam Chat makes it possible to create new group chats via drag-and-drop and invite other participants in this way. There is also a Steam Messenger app for Android and iOS that offers instant messaging and group chats with Steam contacts.