Social neighborhood platform Discord is getting ready to require customers to confirm their age by the second half of 2026, and customers are involved in regards to the privateness of importing a authorities ID or face scan to the community. Whereas customers can nonetheless entry most options with out verification, many stay uneasy giving extra data to an organization that suffered a breach final 12 months that uncovered the IDs of round 70,000 customers.
For some customers, that is motivation sufficient to hunt out various platforms that prioritize security, privateness, or just provide a special expertise. Right here’s a take a look at essentially the most promising Discord alternate options, from open-source and safe choices to voice-first platforms constructed for hardcore players.
Stoat
Stoat (previously Revolt) stands out because the closest Discord various in each design and value. As an open-source challenge, it offers customers extra management over their knowledge and appeals to those that worth privateness and transparency. General, the platform is pretty straightforward for Discord customers to choose up, providing comparable textual content and voice channels in addition to neighborhood servers.
Nonetheless, Stoat is a comparatively new platform (launched in 2021), and nonetheless faces rising pains. Not too long ago, it skilled server capability points and the occasional lag throughout person surges. Function assist isn’t but on par with Discord’s, and onboarding could be sluggish at occasions, particularly when the platform’s recognition spikes. For these keen to commerce a little bit of stability for elevated privateness, although, Stoat could possibly be price a strive.
Ingredient
For customers who prioritize privateness and management above all else, Ingredient affords a compelling various. Constructed on the decentralized Matrix protocol, Ingredient allows customers to self-host servers, keep end-to-end encryption, and federate with different Matrix-based providers. This ensures that no single firm controls your knowledge.
Whereas the setup and interface require a bit extra technical savvy than Discord’s, Ingredient is an efficient alternative for customers who worth safe, decentralized communication.
TeamSpeak
In case your major want is high-quality, low-latency voice chat, TeamSpeak is the very best various to Discord. Whereas it stays widespread amongst aggressive players for its superior audio and personal server internet hosting, its textual content chat and media sharing are fairly fundamental. It’s additionally lacking built-in video calls in addition to emojis and gifs. So for those who don’t thoughts not having as many options, it’s nice for voice-centric teams that don’t want all of the bells and whistles.
Techcrunch occasion
San Francisco, CA
|
October 13-15, 2026
Much like Stoat, TeamSpeak has skilled a surge in new customers, prompting the platform to develop its internet hosting capability. In February, TeamSpeak launched two new areas for neighborhood creation: “Frankfurt 3” and “Toronto 1.”
Mumble
Mumble is a free, open-source voice chat software. Like TeamSpeak, it offers high-quality, low-latency audio and permits customers to host and customise their very own servers. Nonetheless, its interface is outdated and lacks among the options present in Discord, making it extra ultimate for hardcore players targeted on voice chat somewhat than neighborhood constructing by way of video calls, media sharing, or display screen sharing.
Discourse
Those that want long-form, organized discussions over rapid-fire chat could discover Discourse extra interesting. As an open-source discussion board platform, Discourse helps threaded discussions, making it ultimate for academic teams, skilled groups, and communities that worth in-depth dialog. Nonetheless, customers in search of on the spot messaging, voice, and informal group chats could discover it much less acquainted than Discord.
Slack, Microsoft Groups, Sign, or WhatsApp
Different notable mentions embody Slack and Microsoft Groups, which serve effectively for skilled and productivity-focused communication. Sign can be a best choice for many who need end-to-end encryption and privateness. In the meantime, WhatsApp additionally affords free messaging and group voice calls, although it’s not designed for gaming or giant communities.
What to learn about age verification on Discord
Discord lately introduced that it’s going to quickly implement age verification measures geared toward making a safer surroundings, notably for its youthful customers. This initiative is designed to make sure customers meet the mandatory age necessities to entry sure options and communities on the platform. Customers could also be required to confirm their age by way of varied strategies, which might contain submitting an ID, finishing a facial age estimation, or utilizing a bank card.
By default, all customers will expertise a “teen-appropriate” setting, and solely these verified as adults can have the power to switch sure settings or entry age-restricted content material. Adults might be required to confirm their standing to unblur delicate content material and to entry channels and servers designated for an older viewers.
After current backlash, Discord postponed the official launch to the latter half of 2026, including that 90% of customers won’t require age verification and may proceed utilizing the platform with out modifications, as many customers don’t have interaction with age-restricted content material. The platform initially deliberate to roll out age verification in March.
