Revolt vs Discord

Self-host swap-in for Discord. · Self-host Discord · Revolt on os-alt

Revolt is one of the open-source self-host replacements for Discord — license AGPL-3.0, 20min docker-compose to stand up, and $10 vps for a small server — mongo + several rust services. Compare against Discord's Free; Nitro at $9.99/user/mo for power-user perks below.

	Revoltopen-source	Discordpaid SaaS
Category	Community / voice chat	Community / voice chat
License / pricing	`AGPL-3.0`	Free; Nitro at $9.99/user/mo for power-user perks
Starting price	$0 self-host	$9.99/user/mo
GitHub	revoltchat/self-hosted ★ 2.43k · last commit 3w agoalive	closed source
Setup time	20min docker-compose	SaaS — sign up + bill
Monthly cost	$10 VPS for a small server — Mongo + several Rust services.	from $9.99/user/mo (Free; Nitro at $9.99/user/mo for power-user perks)

Switching from Discord to Revolt

No Discord importer (different data model). Communities migrate by announcing the move + inviting users; Revolt mirrors Discord's UX closely so onboarding is fast. Bots have to be rewritten against Revolt's API.

Good fit for: Open-source projects and communities that want a Discord-shaped tool with no Trust & Safety surprises.
Weak at: Voice quality is good but the bot ecosystem is tiny.

Other open-source self-host alternatives to Discord

Mattermost
AGPL-3.0 (Team Edition)15min docker-compose$5 VPS for ~50 daily-active users.
Matrix (Synapse)
AGPL-3.030-60min (Synapse + Element web client + reverse proxy)$10 VPS for a small homeserver.

In a terminal? npx os-alt discord prints Discord's self-host options — how the CLI works →

FAQ

Is Revolt a free alternative to Discord?

Yes — Revolt is open source under AGPL-3.0. Self-host cost: $10 VPS for a small server — Mongo + several Rust services.. Discord starts at $9.99/user/mo (Free; Nitro at $9.99/user/mo for power-user perks).

How long does Revolt take to set up vs Discord?

Self-hosting Revolt: 20min docker-compose. Discord is a hosted SaaS — sign up and you're in.

What is Revolt good at, and what is it weak at?

Good fit for: Open-source projects and communities that want a Discord-shaped tool with no Trust & Safety surprises.. Weak at: Voice quality is good but the bot ecosystem is tiny..