Organizations adapting to the global trend of working remotely or in hybrid settings must maintain data privacy by adhering to local or industry-specific regulations. This can be achieved almost effortlessly with the help of self-hosted chat apps without compromising the organization's ease of usage and smooth communication.
Self-hosted chat apps are open-source software that one can download, modify, and deploy in their organization as needed. This removes the need for relying on a third party to deploy the software and manage the organization’s data.
With self-hosted apps, one can have total control over the safety measures and other protocols in their organization, which can also be cost-effective.
This article includes some of the best self-hosted chat apps and their main features.
1. Rocket.Chat
One of the largest open-source communications platforms, Rocket.Chat enables smooth collaboration between team members, customers, partners, and vendors while complying with data sovereignty laws and ensuring data security.
Most notable features:
1. End-to-end (E2E) encryption
2. Single sign-on or SSO
3. Two-factor authentication
4. Highly customizable
5. Audio and video conferencing
6. Multiple third-party integrations supported
7. File and media sharing
What makes Rocket.Chat stand out from others?
Rocket.Chat offers the highest security levels with username restriction and administrator transparency. It is an ideal self-hosted chat app for organizations that operate in highly regulated industries, including military and government organizations.
It can be deployed as a self-standing app or added to an app or website as an in-app chat or live chat.
Pricing
1. Community: $0/user/month
2. Enterprise:
- Minimum of 25 team collaboration users: $7/user/month
- Minimum of 5 omnichannel agents: $35/user/month
How can you deploy Rocket.Chat?
You can easily install Rocket.Chat directly from the official website or by using Docket, Snap, Helm, Raspberry Pi, etc. Here's how to deploy the latest version.
Get started with Rocket.Chat’s secure collaboration platform
Talk to sales
2. Mirrorfly
Mirrorfly is one of the most efficient self-hosted chat apps allowing in-app chat moderation to securely maximize productivity.
Most notable features
1. Latency less than 100 Ms
2. E2E encryption
3. HIPAA compatibility and GDPR compliance
4. Easy-to-use APIs
What makes it stand out from others?
Mirrorfly provides a software development kit that is extremely helpful for users who don't have a technical background.
Pricing:
A one-time cost of license available on a quote for self-hosting
How can you deploy it?
Mirrorfly can be deployed on the cloud or a private server.
3. Wire
Wire is an instant messaging open-source chat app that provides its users with strong security features. Users don’t need to register with their phone numbers to use the solution. Also, the app is audited independently.
Most notable features
1. E2E encryption
2. Text, voice, and video chats
3. Cross-platform availability
4. Meets ISO, CCPA, GDPR, and SOX compliance standards
5. Option to use self-destructing messages
6. Supports anonymous communication
What makes it stand out from others?
It offers different deployment options for the user’s needs and various compliance standards. Wire received 4.3/5 stars on G2 with comments like “specially designed to perform voice calls in a quick.”
Pricing
One can learn about different pricing models—Wire Basic, Wire for Enterprise, and Wire for Government—by contacting their sales team.
How can you deploy it?
This self-hosted chat app can be deployed through a private cloud server, public cloud, or a private client on-premises backend.
4. Let’s Chat
A quickly deployable self-hosted chat app, Let’s Chat is ideal for small and intimate teams. This is one of the best options for developers and enterprises to converse quickly and easily regarding projects.
Most notable features
1. LDAP/Kerberos authentication
2. XMPP support
3. Multiple chat rooms
4. MIT licensed
5. Mentions with @, e.g. Hello @Daniel
What makes it stand out from others?
Let’s Chat offers chat history transcripts and image embeds. This app can be used for free.
Pricing
Free
How can you deploy it?
One can deploy this open-source chat app with ease on-premises or cloud.
5. Troop Messenger
Troop Messenger enables the user to get customizations with detailed guides. Troop GRIT is the secure self-hosting edition of Troop Messenger that works well on air-gapped networks.
Most notable features
1. File previews
2. Screen share
3. Custom app and APIs
What makes it stand out from others?
Troop Messenger’s seamless UI and UX enable uninterrupted workflows to address varied domain requirements. This secure communication app got a 4.8/5 star rating on Capterra with comments like “fully functional & a stand-alone remote working platform!”
Pricing
Available on quote with a free 15-day trial
How can you deploy it?
One can deploy this secure messenger easily on their private server, public cloud, or private cloud.
6. Zulip
Zulip is an open-source chat app that supports tagging and filtering messages that can help an organization communicate efficiently and securely.
Most notable features:
1. Video previews and inline images
2. Topic-based threading
3. LDAP integration
What makes it stand out from others?
This self-hosted chat app is one of the most flexible third-party integrations platforms specially designed for live and asynchronous conversations. With comments like “an excellent slack replacement,” Zulip received a whopping 4.9/5 stars on Capterra.
Pricing
Free for self-hosting and primarily for cloud deployment with a Standard pricing model with special features for $6.67/user/month.
How can you deploy it?
Zulip supports both cloud and on-premise deployment.
7. Element
Element is essentially a group of apps built on top of the Matrix that offers a collaborative experience for teams using other platforms based on the Matrix.
Most notable features:
1. Integration with Slack, Discord, Jitsi, etc.
2. Anti-spam options
3. Private and public chat rooms
4. File sharing and emojis for interactive chat
5. E2E encryption
What makes it stand out from others?
Element allows organizations to manage their community with moderation tools. This open-source chat app received 4.6/5 stars on Capterra from users with comments like “secure and easy chat.”
Pricing:
1. Enterprise: $10/user/month
2. Sovereign: on a quote
How can you deploy it?
Using a public server, one can deploy Element on-premise or on the cloud.
8. Mattermost
Mattermost is one of the most easy-to-use and rapidly deployable self-hosted chat apps. One can ensure secure communication with smooth file/link/media sharing by using this app.
Most notable features:
1. Feature expansion with multiple integrations and plugins
2. File and media sharing
3. E2E encryption
4. Management of private and group chats in large enterprises
5. Contact directories
What makes it stand out from others?
Mattermost offers migration support and allows users to build custom (and DevOps) workflows. Users rated this open-source chat platform 4.4 out of 5 stars on Capterra.
Pricing:
1. Free for small teams
2. Professional: $10/user/month
3. Enterprise: on a quote
How can you deploy it?
Mattermost can be deployed to private, public, or hybrid clouds.
9. Threema OnPrem
This self-hosted chat app offers total data ownership and enables a confident and independent chat environment.
Most notable features
1. E2E encryption
2. Poll and off-hours policy
3. All types of files can be shared
What makes it stand out from others?
Offering maximum protection against cybercrime, Threema OnPrem is ideal for industrial companies, public authorities, law enforcement, and police departments. When talking about this self-hosted chat app on G2, a user said it is the “perfect self-hosted messaging service.”
Pricing
Available on quote.
How can you deploy it?
Threema OnPrem can be deployed on a private server easily.
10. Chatwoot
Chatwoot can be described as a self-hosted chat app for customer engagement and messaging.
Most notable features
1. Omnichannel communication with customers
2. Canned responses
3. Supports tagging teammates, e.g. @Betsy please take a look
4. Various auto-generated reports
What makes it stand out from others?
Organizations can manage their customer’s data and communicate with them through one platform irrespective of which medium the customer uses. Users consider Chatwoot “a very useful live-chat system.”
Pricing
Free for up to 2 agents.
How can you deploy it?
This self-hosted chat app offers several one-click install guides for deployment on premises.
11. Nextcloud Talk
Nextcloud Talk is a completely on-premise solution for organizations to ensure safe communication between teammates, vendors, and customers.
Most notable features
1. Highly customizable messaging features
2. In-built calendars and contacts
3. Supports third-party integration
What makes it stand out from others?
This open-source chat app prevents metadata from leaking with its robust security features. While reviewing the app, users gave this app 4.3/5 stars with comments like “a flexible and secure cloud storage solution.”
Pricing
Available on quote
How can you deploy it?
Nextcloud talk can be deployed on-premises and on public clouds.
How do you choose the right self-hosted chat for your team?
Review these highlights of each self-hosted chat app's key features with its different features. The best way to find the right self-hosted chat app for your team is by analyzing your team’s requirements and comparing different apps against those needs.
By choosing an open-source chat platform like Rocket.Chat, you can ensure utmost data protection and security while enjoying great flexibility and smooth communication.
Learn more about the world’s largest open-source communication platform here.
Frequently asked questions about <anything>
- Digital sovereignty
- Federation capabilities
- Scalable and white-labeled
- Highly scalable and secure
- Full patient conversation history
- HIPAA-ready
- Secure data governance and digital sovereignty
- Trusted by State, Local, and Federal agencies across the world
- Matrix federation capabilities for cross-agency communication
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- Open source code
- Highly secure and scalable
- Unmatched flexibility
- End-to-end encryption
- Cloud or on-prem deployment
- Supports compliance with HIPAA, GDPR, FINRA, and more
- Supports compliance with HIPAA, GDPR, FINRA, and more
- Highly secure and flexible
- On-prem or cloud deployment
