Mattermost alternatives
9 products compared · Updated October 17, 2026
The short answer
For teams that need sovereign, air-gapped communications with native federation to partner networks, Rocket.Chat is the strongest alternative. For distributed engineering teams that want structured async conversations and full data ownership through self-hosting, Zulip is the best fit. For government and public sector teams that need interoperable, sovereign communications across separate organizations, Element is the top choice.
Your shortlist, at a glance
Read the comparisons ↓
SlackNot publishedTeams that want a fast-to-set-up, cloud-hosted chat tool with strong third-party app integrations and AI-powered summaries.Microsoft Azure CycleCloudPay for resources usedResearch and engineering teams that need to spin up and manage HPC clusters on Azure for compute-heavy jobs.
Rocket.ChatCustom quoteDefense, intelligence, and critical infrastructure teams that need sovereign, air-gapped communications with native federation to partner networks.
ZulipFrom $4/user/moDistributed engineering and open-source teams that want structured async conversations and full data ownership through self-hosting.
ElementNot publishedGovernment and public sector teams that need interoperable, sovereign communications across separate organizations or nations.
MetricWireNot publishedResearch teams running clinical trials or behavioral studies that need real-world, in-the-moment data collection from participants.- CCisco WebexSee websiteEnterprise collaboration platform by Cisco
- RRecordBookNot publishedSmall and medium businesses that want a lightweight Airtable-style database on their phones
DiscordNot publishedGaming communities, fan servers, and small teams that want free voice and text chat with low setup effort
About Mattermost and its alternatives
Mattermost is a secure collaboration platform for technical teams, built for national security, critical infrastructure, and regulated enterprises. It offers zero-trust messaging, workflow automation, sovereign AI, and flexible deployment options including self-hosted, private cloud, and air-gapped environments.
When comparing alternatives, weigh pricing structure, deployment options, regions supported, integrations, support, and contract terms. Some tools are cloud-only, others self-hosted. Some publish pricing, others require a sales call. Consider whether you need federation, compliance certifications, or air-gapped operation.
Explore the alternatives
- Not published
1.Slack
Best for: Teams that want a fast-to-set-up, cloud-hosted chat tool with strong third-party app integrations and AI-powered summaries.
- Pricing
- Not published
- Category
- Communication & Collaboration
Slack is a cloud-based team messaging platform with AI features, workflow automation, and integrations. Choose it over Mattermost when you want a hosted service with no infrastructure to manage and a large ecosystem of third-party apps, rather than a self-hosted, air-gapped deployment.
Where it is strong
- Easy cloud setup with no servers to run
- Large app directory and integrations
- Built-in AI summaries and workflow automation
Where it falls short
- No self-hosted or air-gapped deployment option
- Message history limited to 90 days on the Free plan
- Pricing:
- Pricing is not published on the site. The page lists Free, Pro, Business+, and Enterprise+ plans but no prices.
- Pay for resources used
2.Microsoft Azure CycleCloud
Best for: Research and engineering teams that need to spin up and manage HPC clusters on Azure for compute-heavy jobs.
- Pricing
- Pay for resources used
- Category
- Developer Tools
Azure CycleCloud is a cloud service for orchestrating high-performance computing (HPC) clusters on Azure. You would choose it instead of Mattermost if your team needs to manage compute-intensive workloads like simulations or rendering, not team chat.
Where it is strong
- Orchestrates HPC clusters on Azure with templates for common schedulers.
- Integrates with Azure services like storage, networking, and monitoring.
- Supports autoscaling to match cluster size to workload demand.
Where it falls short
- Requires Azure expertise and is tied to the Azure ecosystem.
- No built-in collaboration or messaging features like Mattermost.
- Pricing:
- Azure pricing is consumption-based, so you pay only for the cloud resources you use. There is no separate license fee for CycleCloud, but you pay for the underlying compute, storage, and networking.
- Custom quote
3.Rocket.Chat
Best for: Defense, intelligence, and critical infrastructure teams that need sovereign, air-gapped communications with native federation to partner networks.
- Pricing
- Custom quote
- Category
- Communication & Collaboration
Rocket.Chat is a self-hosted team messaging platform with native Matrix and XMPP federation, so you can collaborate with partners who run different systems without forcing them to switch. Choose it over Mattermost if you need direct federation with Matrix or XMPP networks, or if you want a platform that also serves as a Matrix homeserver and XMPP server in one.
Where it is strong
- Native Matrix and XMPP federation, server to server, with no bridge to deploy
- Self-hosted, air-gapped, or sovereign cloud deployment with post-quantum encryption
- Built-in voice, video, screen sharing, and sovereign AI that runs inside your perimeter
Where it falls short
- Pricing is not public, so you must contact sales for a quote
- No mention of Mattermost-style playbooks or SLA timers for incident response
- Pricing:
- Pricing is not published on the site. Plans are labeled Commercial, Government, and Defense, with features listed per tier.
- From $4/user/mo
4.Zulip
Best for: Distributed engineering and open-source teams that want structured async conversations and full data ownership through self-hosting.
- Pricing
- From $4/user/mo
- Category
- Communication & Collaboration
Zulip is an open-source team chat built around topic-based conversations, which keeps long-running async discussions organized and easy to follow. Choose it over Mattermost when your team works across time zones and needs a self-hosted option with a strong free tier, without the heavy security and compliance focus Mattermost targets.
Where it is strong
- Topic-based threading keeps multiple conversations readable and reduces noise
- 100% open-source with easy self-hosting and no vendor lock-in
- Free plan is generous for small teams, with discounts for nonprofits and communities
Where it falls short
- Cloud Plus and self-hosted Business require minimum user counts (10 and 25 respectively)
- Lacks the advanced security certifications and air-gapped deployment options Mattermost offers
- Pricing:
- Cloud plans start free with 10,000 messages of search history, then Standard at $4/user/month billed annually or $8 billed monthly, and Plus at $6/user/month billed annually or $12 billed monthly. Self-hosted Basic is $2/user/month billed monthly, with Busines
- Switching from Mattermost:
- Zulip provides import tools for Slack, Mattermost, and other chat platforms, so moving existing message history is straightforward.
- Not published
5.Element
Best for: Government and public sector teams that need interoperable, sovereign communications across separate organizations or nations.
- Pricing
- Not published
- Category
- Communication & Collaboration
Element is a secure messaging platform built on the Matrix open standard, giving you full control over your data and the ability to federate with other organizations. Choose it over Mattermost if you need interoperable, sovereign communications across government agencies or coalition partners, especially in air-gapped or isolated environments.
Where it is strong
- Built on the open Matrix standard, avoiding vendor lock-in
- Supports air-gapped and isolated deployments with no internet
- Federation lets different organizations communicate securely
Where it falls short
- Pricing details are not publicly listed
- Community edition is not for production use
- Pricing:
- Pricing is not published on the site. Plans are Community (free), Enterprise, and Sovereign with custom quotes.
- Not published
6.MetricWire
Best for: Research teams running clinical trials or behavioral studies that need real-world, in-the-moment data collection from participants.
- Pricing
- Not published
- Category
- Analytics & Data
MetricWire is a mobile survey and data collection platform for research studies. It captures in-the-moment responses, passive sensor data, and geolocation, with adaptive protocols. Choose it over Mattermost when you need to run clinical trials, behavioral studies, or experience sampling, not team chat.
Where it is strong
- Captures passive sensor and geolocation data alongside survey responses
- Adaptive protocols trigger questions based on context like location or previous answers
- Works on mobile and web, including offline environments
Where it falls short
- No team messaging or channel-based collaboration features
- Pricing is not published, so you must contact sales for a quote
- Pricing:
- Pricing is not published on the site.
- CSee website
7.Cisco Webex
Communication & Collaboration
Cisco Webex combines messaging with enterprise-grade video and calling. It targets large organizations needing compliance and security certifications. Compared to Mattermost, Webex is stronger in video but weaker in flexible self-hosted deployment and deep open-source extensibility for custom mission workflows.
- RNot published
8.RecordBook
Best for: Small and medium businesses that want a lightweight Airtable-style database on their phones
- Pricing
- Not published
- Category
- Productivity & Project Management
RecordBook is a mobile-first database app that lets small businesses build custom tables and forms without code. Choose it over Mattermost when your team needs structured data management and simple workflows rather than secure team messaging and incident response.
Where it is strong
- Mobile-first design for on-the-go data entry
- Custom tables and forms without coding
- Simple for non-technical team members
Where it falls short
- No team messaging or real-time chat features
- No self-hosting or air-gapped deployment options
- Pricing:
- Pricing is not published on the site.
- Not published
9.Discord
Best for: Gaming communities, fan servers, and small teams that want free voice and text chat with low setup effort
- Pricing
- Not published
- Category
- Communication & Collaboration
Discord is a consumer-friendly group chat platform built around voice, video, and text channels. It is a good fit for communities, gaming teams, or small groups that want a free, low-friction chat tool, not for regulated industries that need self-hosting or compliance controls.
Where it is strong
- Free tier with unlimited messages and voice channels
- Easy to set up and invite people
- Built-in streaming and screen share with low latency
Where it falls short
- No self-hosting or air-gapped deployment
- Limited admin and compliance features compared to Mattermost
- Pricing:
- Pricing is not published on the site.
See more comparisons in Communication & Collaboration alternatives.
FAQ
Questions about Mattermost alternatives
Which alternative is best for air-gapped or classified environments?
Rocket.Chat and Element both support air-gapped deployments. Rocket.Chat offers post-quantum encryption and native Matrix and XMPP federation. Element is built on the Matrix standard and supports isolated deployments with no internet.
Which alternative has the most generous free tier?
Zulip offers a free cloud plan with 10,000 messages of search history. Discord also has a free tier with unlimited messages and voice channels. Slack's free plan limits message history to 90 days.
Which alternative is easiest to set up without IT help?
Slack and Discord are cloud-hosted with no servers to run. Slack has a large app directory and built-in AI summaries. Discord is free and low-friction for small groups. Both are faster to start than self-hosted options.
Which alternative supports federation with partner organizations?
Rocket.Chat and Element both support federation. Rocket.Chat has native Matrix and XMPP federation with no bridge to deploy. Element uses the open Matrix standard so different organizations can communicate securely.
Which alternative is best for structured data collection rather than chat?
MetricWire is for research teams that need mobile surveys, passive sensor data, and geolocation. RecordBook is a mobile-first database for custom tables and forms. Neither offers team messaging, so choose them only if data collection is your primary need.
Last updated October 17, 2026.