Let’s take a look at some of the best Discord alternatives

Social media platform Discord plans to ask users to verify their age and gender second half of 2026and users are concerned about the privacy of Upload a government ID or scan your face to the network. Although users can access information without verification, many are not comfortable providing information to a company that has experienced a problem to break last year that exposed the IDs of about 70,000 users.

For some users, this is enough motivation to look for alternatives that prioritize security, privacy, or simply provide something else. Here’s a look at some of Discord’s most trusted alternatives, from open and secure content to voice-starting platforms built for hardcore gamers.

Stoat

Stoat (formerly Revolt) is known as Discord’s closest alternative in terms of design and functionality. As an open source project, it gives users more control over their data and appeals to those who value privacy and transparency. Overall, the platform is easy for Discord users to pick up, offering voice-matched content and community servers.

However, Stoat is a new platform (launched in 2021), and is still experiencing pain. Recently, it happened server problems and temporary delays during user experience. Feature support is not as good as Discord’s, and loading can be slow at times, especially when the platform’s popularity rises. For those willing to trade a little stability for more privacy, however, Stoat is worth a try.

A thing

For users who prioritize privacy and control above all else, A thing provides an alternative to forcing. Built on the established Matrix protocol, Element enables users to create their own servers, maintain end-to-end encryption, and integrate with other Matrix services. This ensures that no single company manages your data.

Although the setup and interface require more technical skills than Discord’s, Element is a good choice for users who value a secure, stable connection.

TeamSpeak

If your main need is high-quality, low-cost chat, TeamSpeak it’s the best option for Discord. While it remains popular among competitive gamers for its high-quality audio and private servers, its social media and media sharing capabilities are key. It also lacks built-in video calls and emojis and gifs. So if you don’t mind having a lot of features, it’s great for groups that talk a lot that don’t need all the bells and whistles.

Like Stoat, TeamSpeak has met a the number of new usersand enable the platform to increase its performance. In February, TeamSpeak launched two new community-building regions: “Frankfurt 3” and “Toronto 1.”

Mumble

Mumble is a free, open source audio program. Like TeamSpeak, it offers high-quality, low-fidelity audio and allows users to host and manage their own servers. However, its interface is primitive and lacks some of the features found in Discord, making it ideal for hardcore gamers who focus on voice chat rather than community building through video calls, video sharing, or photo sharing.

Story

Those who prefer long, well-structured conversations to quick chats can find it Story very beautiful. As an open-source platform, the Forum supports threaded discussions, making it ideal for academic groups, professional groups, and communities that require in-depth discussion. However, users looking for instant messaging, voice, and group chat may find it less popular than Discord.

Slack, Microsoft Groups, Signal, or WhatsApp

Some of the more popular ones include Slack and Microsoft Teams, which work well for informal and informal conversations. A symbol It is also a top choice for those who want an end-to-end solution encryption and privacy. Currently, WhatsApp also offers free messaging and group calls, although they are not designed for play or large groups.

What you need to know about age verification on Discord

Discord recently announced that it will implement age verification measures aimed at creating a safer environment, especially for younger users. This is designed to ensure that users meet the age requirements to be able to access certain features and areas on the platform. Users may be required to verify their age using a variety of methods, which may include submitting an ID, completing a facial age estimate, or using a credit card.

By default, all users will have “teenage preferences”, and only those who have been verified as adults will be able to change other settings or access age-restricted content. Seniors will need to verify their status to resolve their issue and to be able to access channels and servers designed for seniors.

After a recent recovery, Discord delayed the official implementation until the last half of 2026, adding that 90% of users do not need to verify age and can continue to use the platform without changing, because most users do not engage in age-restricted activities. The platform planned to start age verification in March.