I tried 7 Discord alternatives to find the best community platform in 2025

Let's be honest, if you spend any real time online, you've probably found yourself in a Discord server. It has become the default online hangout for everything from planning a gaming night with friends to running huge fan communities. It’s familiar, it’s free, and for a while, it’s all you really need.

But then your community starts to grow. Suddenly, you're not just chatting; you're trying to welcome new people, answer the same questions for the tenth time this week, and maybe even figure out how to make a little money from all your hard work. That's when you start bumping up against Discord's limits. The search for better moderation tools, real ways to make money, and a support system that isn't just chaos is why so many of us are on the hunt for Discord alternatives.

If that sounds familiar, you’ve come to the right place. We've spent time with the top contenders to find the 7 best platforms that do things a little differently, helping you find a better home for your community in 2025.

What are community chat platforms?

At their heart, community chat platforms are just dedicated online clubhouses. They’re spaces built for real-time conversation, mixing text, voice, and video to connect groups of people who share a hobby, game, or project.

Unlike a simple group chat on your phone, these platforms are made for lots of people talking at once. They use "servers" or "workspaces" as the main building, which are then broken down into different "channels" for specific topics. This setup stops conversations from becoming one giant, messy stream of messages. They usually come with features like user roles (so you can have admins, mods, and members) and the ability to plug in other apps to get more done.

Why Discord doesn't always cut it: The need for Discord alternatives

Looking for an alternative doesn't mean Discord is bad. It just means your community might be outgrowing what it was originally designed for. It’s like trying to run a small business out of a garage, eventually, you're going to need a proper office. Here are the most common reasons people start looking around.

Making money is tough Discord's main monetization tools, Nitro subscriptions and server boosts, mostly benefit Discord itself, not the people actually building the communities. If you’re trying to build something sustainable, you need more direct ways to earn an income from your work.

Support feels like shouting into the void In a busy server, a new member's important question can get completely buried in a matter of minutes. There isn't a good system for tracking problems or making sure everyone gets a reliable answer. It’s a frustrating experience for members and a massive headache for moderators.

Privacy is a growing question mark People are becoming more and more aware of how online platforms track and use their data. For communities that discuss sensitive topics, or just for members who value their privacy, Discord's data policies can be a good reason to seek out a more private or even self-hosted option.

It’s getting a little cluttered in there Discord is trying to be the one app for everything, which means it’s packed with features. For groups that just want a straightforward place to talk, the interface can feel busy and a little cluttered in there. Sometimes, simpler is better.

How we picked the best Discord alternatives

So, how did we land on these seven? We didn't just look for Discord clones. We had a pretty specific checklist to make sure we were recommending tools that actually solve real problems for community builders.

First, we looked at the core features. Does it handle text, voice, and video chat well? Is it reliable and simple to use? The basics have to be solid. Then, we dug into the community management tools. We wanted to see good moderation features, flexible user roles, and intuitive ways to keep the community organized.

We also considered who each platform is really built for. Is it for gamers, businesses, or people who prioritize privacy? And since no tool exists in a vacuum, we checked out its integrations to see how well it plays with other software you might be using. Finally, we looked at price. Is it affordable? Does the pricing model make sense as you grow? A good platform should be able to scale with your community without costing a fortune.

At a glance: The best Discord alternatives in 2025

For those who want to skip right to the good stuff, here’s a quick summary of our top picks.

Platform	Best For	Key Feature	Pricing Model	AI Support Ready?
Slack	Businesses & Professional Communities	Powerful Integrations & Workflows	Freemium, Per-User/Month	Yes (with eesel AI)
Microsoft Teams	Organizations in the Microsoft Ecosystem	Deep Office 365 Integration	Freemium, Per-User/Month	Yes
Guilded	Gaming Communities	Advanced Tournament & Calendar Tools	Free	No
Element	Privacy-Conscious Users & Teams	End-to-End Encryption & Decentralization	Freemium, Per-User/Month	No
TeamSpeak	High-Fidelity Voice Chat	Low-Latency VoIP & Reliability	Free, Server Licensing	No
Rocket.Chat	Teams Needing Control & Customization	Open-Source & Self-Hosting	Freemium, Per-User/Month	Yes
Google Chat	Teams in the Google Workspace	Seamless Google App Integration	Freemium, Per-User/Month	Yes

The 7 best Discord alternatives for communities and support in 2025

Alright, let's get into the details. Each of these platforms brings something different to the table, and one of them might just be the perfect fit for your community's needs.

1. Slack

Chances are, if you’ve worked an office job in the last decade, you've used Slack. It’s the standard for workplace communication, and for good reason. The clean interface, threaded conversations that keep discussions organized, and a fantastic search function make it a great choice for professional communities where productivity is important.

People love it for its massive library of integrations and mature automation features. The whole environment feels polished and professional, and many of your members will probably already know how to use it. The downside? The per-user pricing can add up fast as your community gets bigger, and it wasn't really built for managing large public groups or handling member support.

This support gap is a big one. Member questions can easily get lost in channels, and there’s no way to track them. This is where something like eesel AI comes in handy. It connects to your Slack and acts like an automated support agent, learning from your help docs or wikis to answer questions for you. It basically turns Slack from just a chat app into a smart support center, without you needing to switch to a whole new platform.

Pricing: Slack has a free plan, but it only keeps 90 days of message history.

• Pro: $8.75 per user/month.

• Business+: $18 per user/month.

• Enterprise Grid: Custom pricing.

Best For: Businesses and professional groups that need a clean communication hub and want to add some serious AI support power.

2. Microsoft Teams

If your organization already lives and breathes Microsoft 365, then Microsoft Teams is the obvious pick. It’s more than just a chat app; it’s a central hub that’s woven into everything from Outlook and SharePoint to Word and Excel. This connection makes working on documents and projects together incredibly smooth.

The integration with the Microsoft suite is its biggest selling point, along with some really solid video conferencing features and enterprise-level security. On the other hand, the interface can feel a bit clunky if you're not already used to Microsoft's way of doing things. It’s also geared more toward internal teams than building communities for the public.

Pricing: There's a free version of Teams available. For all the features, it's included with Microsoft 365 plans.

• Teams Essentials: $4.00 per user/month.

• Microsoft 356 Business Basic: $6.00 per user/month.

• Microsoft 365 Business Standard: $12.50 per user/month.

Best For: Big companies and teams that are already all-in on Microsoft products for their work.

3. Guilded

Guilded feels like it was designed by gamers who made a long list of every little thing they wished Discord did better. It's a direct competitor that zeroes in on the needs of gaming communities. It comes with built-in tools like calendars for scheduling raids and events, forum sections for deeper discussions, and even features for organizing tournaments.

The organizational tools are a big step up for gaming guilds, and the server structure is better for handling different kinds of content. Plus, it's completely free. The main drawback is that it has a much smaller user base, so getting people to join a new platform can be tough. It's also so focused on gaming that it's not a great fit for other types of communities.

Pricing: Guilded is totally free. One weird quirk is that you need a Roblox account to sign up, which might be a strange barrier for some.

Best For: Serious gaming communities and esports teams who need more organization than Discord can offer.

4. Element

If privacy and owning your own data are at the very top of your list, Element is the one to look at. It runs on the decentralized Matrix protocol, which means you have total control over your information. Every conversation is end-to-end encrypted from the start, making it one of the most secure platforms out there.

Being open-source and having the option to host your own server for complete data control are huge pluses. The trade-off is that it's a bit more complex to get started with compared to other apps. The user base is smaller, and the overall experience might feel a bit less polished than its bigger, centralized competitors.

Pricing: Using Element on public servers is free. For professional use or private hosting, you'll need a paid plan.

• Enterprise: Custom quote based on seats.

• Sovereign: Custom quote for completely isolated networks.

Best For: Privacy-focused users, journalists, activists, and tech teams who need a communication platform they can fully control and trust.

5. TeamSpeak

Long before Discord came along, there was TeamSpeak. It built its entire reputation on one thing: amazing audio quality. For groups where crystal-clear, low-lag voice chat is the most important thing, it's still a top contender.

The voice performance is second to none, and it gives you a ton of control over your server with a detailed permissions system. But let's be real, the interface looks like it’s straight out of 2005. The text chat and other features are very basic, making it feel more like a utility than a modern community hub.

Pricing: The TeamSpeak app is free. You just need a license to host a server.

• Gamer License: Free for one server with up to 32 people. Paid licenses for more slots start at $30/year.

Best For: Gaming groups where voice chat quality is the number-one priority, period.

6. Rocket.Chat

Rocket.Chat is a powerful, open-source platform that gives you a Slack-like experience but with one huge advantage: you can host it yourself. This gives you complete control over your data, security, and customizations. It's a favorite for companies and tech communities that have strict privacy or compliance rules to follow.

The full data control and customization options are fantastic, and it has strong security features built-in. The main challenge is that setting up and running your own server requires some technical know-how. The free version also has a few limitations compared to the paid plans.

Pricing:

• Starter: Free for small teams (up to 50 users) if you host it yourself.

• Pro: $8 per user/month for teams that need more scale and support.

• Enterprise: Custom quote for larger operations.

Best For: Companies and tech-savvy communities that want total control, security, and the ability to customize their chat platform.

7. Google Chat

As part of Google Workspace, Google Chat is a simple and clean messaging tool for teams that are already using Google's other apps. Its real power comes from how smoothly it works with Gmail, Drive, Calendar, and Meet. You can share files and schedule meetings without ever having to switch tabs.

The tight integration with other Google apps is a huge win for productivity, and the interface is incredibly simple. However, it's missing the more advanced community management features you'd find elsewhere. It's built for internal teams, not for hosting big, public communities.

Pricing: Google Chat comes with Google Workspace plans.

• Business Starter: $7 per user/month.

• Business Standard: $14 per user/month.

• Business Plus: $22 per user/month.

Best For: Small teams and businesses that already rely on the Google Workspace ecosystem to get things done.

How to choose the right Discord alternatives for you

Okay, that's a lot of options. If you're not sure where to start, let's walk through a few questions to help you figure out what you actually need.

First off, what's the main goal of your community? If you're building a competitive gaming guild, a specialized tool like Guilded is probably your best bet. If it's a professional network for people in your industry, the organized nature of Slack is likely a better fit. Your primary goal will point you in the right direction.

Next, how much do you care about privacy? If end-to-end encryption and owning your data are must-haves for you or your members, then you should be looking closely at decentralized, open-source options like Element or Rocket.Chat.

Also, think about support. Do you expect to get a lot of questions from your members, like for a product or service? A regular chat app can turn into a support nightmare. Choosing a platform that works with an AI tool, like Slack paired with eesel AI, can automate answers and save your moderators a ton of time.

This video provides an overview of the best Discord alternatives to consider for your community in 2025.

Finally, what’s your budget? A free tool is tempting, but a platform that charges per user can get very expensive as you grow. It's worth planning for success from the beginning so you don't get hit with a surprise bill down the road.

Supercharge your community support, no matter where it lives

Look, there's no single "best" platform that works for everyone. The best of these Discord alternatives is simply the one that fits what you're trying to build. Whether you’re running a small gaming clan, a bustling professional network, or a fan club, the right tool can make all the difference in creating a space that people actually want to be a part of.

But one thing every community manager deals with is answering questions. No matter which platform you land on (even if you stick with Discord), giving people quick and accurate help is tough.

That’s where adding a layer of smart automation can make a huge difference, giving you your time back to actually, you know, build the community. If that sounds good to you, check out how eesel AI can automate Q&A in tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams. It's designed to get up and running fast.