Instead of Discord

Voice, video and text for communities and friend groups.

Partly

You can host the text. Voice is where it gets expensive, because the thing you are really replacing is a global voice network.

You lose: Effortless voice channels, screen share and the community discovery.

Start here

Element

AGPL-3.0a weekendactive

Voice rooms exist but need a TURN server and patience.

github.com/element-hq/element-web element.io

A database, object storage or mail config, plus backups.

Also worth a look

RevoltAGPL-3.0a weekendactive
The closest thing to Discord's shape, and much smaller. Moderation tools are thinner.
github.com/stoatchat/stoatchat developers.revolt.chat/api
MumbleBSD-3-Clausean eveningactive
Voice is excellent. Text is a 2009 forum.
github.com/mumble-voip/mumble www.mumble.info

Facts checked 8 November 2026. Licences, activity and archive status come from each project's own repository; the verdict and the cost lines are the desk's.