Best Open-Source Microsoft Teams Alternatives (2026)

Our picks at a glance

Project	Stars	Self-host	Deploy	Managed	License	Updated
Rocket.Chat TypeScript	46k ★	3/5 Moderate	One-Click Docker +3		MIT	4 days ago	Repo
Novu Docker	39k ★	3/5 Moderate	Docker Docker Compose		MIT	4 days ago	Repo
Mattermost Go	39k ★	3/5 Moderate	One-Click Docker +3		MIT	4 days ago	Repo
ntfy Go	32k ★	2/5 Easy	Docker Docker Compose +1		Apache-2.0	6 days ago	Repo
Jitsi Meet TypeScript	30k ★	4/5 Involved	Docker Docker Compose +1		Apache-2.0	4 days ago	Repo
Zulip Python	26k ★	3/5 Moderate	Docker Compose Manual		Apache-2.0	5 days ago	Repo
neko Go	22k ★	2/5 Easy	Docker Docker Compose		Apache-2.0	1 month ago	Repo
SimpleX Chat Haskell	19k ★	4/5 Involved	Docker Manual		AGPL-3.0	4 days ago	Repo
Apprise Python	17k ★	2/5 Easy	Docker Docker Compose +1		MIT	4 days ago	Repo
Gotify Go	15k ★	2/5 Easy	Docker Docker Compose +1		MIT	5 days ago	Repo
Element (Web) TypeScript	13k ★	4/5 Involved	Docker Manual		AGPL-3.0	4 days ago	Repo
Centrifugo Go	11k ★	3/5 Moderate	Docker Docker Compose +2		MIT	5 days ago	Repo
Screego Docker	10k ★	2/5 Easy	Docker Docker Compose +1		GPL-3.0	2 months ago	Repo
Mumble C++	8.2k ★	3/5 Moderate	Docker Manual		BSD-3-Clause	6 days ago	Repo
WorkAdventure Docker	5.7k ★	4/5 Involved	Docker Docker Compose		AGPL-3.0	4 days ago	Repo
Synapse (Matrix Homeserver) Python	4.5k ★	4/5 Involved	Docker Docker Compose +2		AGPL-3.0	4 days ago	Repo
Conduit Rust	3.2k ★	2/5 Easy	Docker Manual		Apache-2.0	2 months ago	Repo
One Time Secret Docker	2.9k ★	2/5 Easy	Docker Manual		MIT	4 days ago	Repo
Tox C	2.7k ★	4/5 Involved	Manual		GPL-3.0	12 days ago	Repo
WBO Nodejs	2.6k ★	2/5 Easy	Docker Manual		AGPL-3.0	7 days ago	Repo
Stoat Rust	2.6k ★	3/5 Moderate	Docker Docker Compose +1		AGPL-3.0	6 days ago	Repo
Chitchatter Nodejs	2.3k ★	1/5 Effortless	One-Click Manual		GPL-2.0	6 days ago	Repo
Nextcloud Talk JavaScript	2.2k ★	3/5 Moderate	Docker Docker Compose +1		AGPL-3.0	4 days ago	Repo
Jam JavaScript	1.3k ★	2/5 Easy	Docker Docker Compose		AGPL-3.0	2 years ago	Repo
Stalwart XMPP Rust	800 ★	2/5 Easy	Docker Manual		AGPL-3.0	2 months ago	Repo
Snikket Lua	437 ★	1/5 Effortless	Docker Docker Compose		Apache-2.0	8 days ago	Repo

What to look for: Decide whether you need chat plus video in one product or are happy to pair a chat server with a dedicated meetings tool, since that shapes the choice. Check SSO, mobile and desktop clients, and the operational weight, as several strong options here are difficulty 4/5.

The alternatives, reviewed

1. #1

   Rocket.Chat

   Self-host: Moderate

   Fully customizable open-source communications platform and Slack alternative

   46k TypeScript MIT 4 days ago

   How it compares to Microsoft Teams

   • Resource-heavy (Node.js + MongoDB) and can be slow at scale on modest hardware
   • Some enterprise features (engagement dashboard, scalability, advanced auth) require a paid plan
   • UI can feel cluttered compared to Slack
   • Mobile apps have historically lagged the web client in polish

   RepoDetails & deploy →
2. #2

   Novu

   Self-host: Moderate

   Open-source notification infrastructure for multi-channel developer alerts

   39k Docker MIT 4 days ago

   How it compares to Microsoft Teams

   • Not a real-time team chat; it is a notification delivery layer, not a conversation platform.
   • Self-hosted setup requires Postgres, MongoDB, Redis, and S3-compatible storage, adding operational burden.
   • Managed cloud features (advanced analytics, SLA guarantees) are not available in the open-source edition.
   • Mobile SDK for in-app notifications has fewer features than commercial equivalents like OneSignal.

   RepoDetails & deploy →
3. #3

   Mattermost

   Self-host: Moderate

   Open-source, self-hostable Slack alternative for secure team messaging and collaboration

   39k Go MIT 4 days ago

   How it compares to Microsoft Teams

   • Many advanced features (LDAP/AD, SAML/SSO, compliance exports, high availability) are gated behind paid Enterprise tiers
   • Search and message UX feel less polished than Slack
   • Voice/video calling is more limited than Teams' full meetings stack
   • Smaller third-party app/integration marketplace than Slack

   RepoDetails & deploy →
4. #4

   ntfy

   Self-host: Easy

   Simple HTTP-based push notifications to phone and desktop, no account needed

   32k Go Apache-2.0 6 days ago

   How it compares to Microsoft Teams

   • No team chat, threading, or message history browsing; designed for one-way push alerts only.
   • No rich message formatting, file sharing, or reactions.
   • Rate limiting and attachment storage on the free public server are intentionally restrictive.
   • iOS push requires routing through ntfy's own APNs proxy unless you self-compile the app.

   RepoDetails & deploy →
5. #5

   Jitsi Meet

   Self-host: Involved

   Self-hostable open-source video conferencing alternative to Teams meetings

   30k TypeScript Apache-2.0 4 days ago

   How it compares to Microsoft Teams

   • Primarily video meetings; it is not a persistent team-chat workspace with channels
   • Self-hosting the full stack (Jicofo, JVB, Prosody, TURN) for scale is non-trivial
   • Large meetings require careful videobridge tuning and bandwidth provisioning
   • Lacks the broader collaboration suite (files, tabs, apps) of Microsoft Teams

   RepoDetails & deploy →
6. #6

   Zulip

   Self-host: Moderate

   Open-source team chat with a unique topic-based threading model

   26k Python Apache-2.0 5 days ago

   How it compares to Microsoft Teams

   • Native voice/video calling is limited and usually relies on third-party integrations (Jitsi, Zoom)
   • The topic-threading model has a learning curve and can feel unfamiliar to Slack users
   • Production installs effectively want a dedicated server; multi-host scaling is involved
   • Smaller app/integration ecosystem than Slack

   RepoDetails & deploy →
7. #7

   neko

   Self-host: Easy

   Self-hosted virtual browser and screen share room for remote collaboration

   22k Go Apache-2.0 1 month ago

   How it compares to Microsoft Teams

   • Primarily a screen-sharing tool; lacks persistent text chat or channels
   • WebRTC requires open UDP ports, complicating setups behind strict firewalls
   • No persistent user accounts or roles beyond admin/participant

   RepoDetails & deploy →
8. #8

   SimpleX Chat

   Self-host: Involved

   The most private chat platform — no user IDs, double ratchet E2E encryption

   19k Haskell AGPL-3.0 4 days ago

   How it compares to Microsoft Teams

   • No web client; primarily mobile-focused with a desktop CLI and early-stage desktop app.
   • Self-hosting the SMP server requires manual Haskell build or Docker and knowledge of relay configuration.
   • No workspace/org structure, channels, or administrative tooling suitable for business teams.
   • Integrations and bots ecosystem is minimal compared to Slack or Discord.

   RepoDetails & deploy →
9. #9

   Apprise

   Self-host: Easy

   Python library and CLI to send notifications to 70+ services via one unified API

   17k Python MIT 4 days ago

   How it compares to Microsoft Teams

   • Not a chat platform; Apprise only dispatches notifications, it has no UI for reading or replying to messages.
   • The optional apprise-api REST service is minimal and not production-hardened with auth by default.
   • No scheduling, retry queuing, or delivery tracking beyond what the target service provides.
   • Configuration is URL-string based, which can be verbose and error-prone for complex setups.

   RepoDetails & deploy →
10. #10

    Gotify

    Self-host: Easy

    Self-hosted push notification server with Android app and REST API

    15k Go MIT 5 days ago

    How it compares to Microsoft Teams

    • Android-only official mobile client; no native iOS app.
    • No team or group channels, threading, or conversation history beyond a simple message list.
    • No file attachments, rich formatting, or reactions.
    • Development has slowed; the project receives infrequent updates compared to alternatives like ntfy.

    RepoDetails & deploy →
11. #11

    Element (Web)

    Self-host: Involved

    Matrix-based secure messenger and Slack alternative with end-to-end encryption

    13k TypeScript AGPL-3.0 4 days ago

    How it compares to Microsoft Teams

    • Requires running and maintaining a separate Matrix homeserver (e.g. Synapse) for a full deployment
    • End-to-end encryption key management and device verification can confuse non-technical users
    • Performance and load times lag native Slack/Teams clients in large rooms
    • Threads and search are less refined than Slack

    RepoDetails & deploy →
12. #12

    Centrifugo

    Self-host: Moderate

    Language-agnostic real-time messaging server over WebSocket and SSE

    11k Go MIT 5 days ago

    How it compares to Microsoft Teams

    • Developer-facing infrastructure component, not an end-user chat application; requires custom UI.
    • Managed hosting (Centrifugal Cloud) is still early and not yet a full Pusher replacement in pricing.
    • Persistent message storage requires an external database; Centrifugo only provides a short-term history buffer.
    • No built-in admin UI for channel management or user monitoring beyond basic metrics.

    RepoDetails & deploy →
13. #13

    Screego

    Self-host: Easy

    Browser-based screen sharing for one or many viewers using WebRTC

    10k Docker GPL-3.0 2 months ago

    How it compares to Microsoft Teams

    • Screen sharing only; no video/audio conferencing, chat, or file transfer features.
    • No persistent rooms, user accounts, or scheduling; sessions are ephemeral.
    • No recording capability.
    • TURN server must be open to the internet for external users, requiring firewall configuration.

    RepoDetails & deploy →
14. #14

    Mumble

    Self-host: Moderate

    Low-latency, high-quality open-source voice and text chat for gaming and teams

    8.2k C++ BSD-3-Clause 6 days ago

    How it compares to Microsoft Teams

    • Desktop client only; no official mobile apps with full feature parity (third-party clients exist but are limited).
    • No text channel persistence, message history search, or file sharing beyond basic in-channel text.
    • UI is dated and less polished compared to Discord or Teams.
    • No video calling, screen sharing, or integrations with productivity tools.

    RepoDetails & deploy →
15. #15

    WorkAdventure

    Self-host: Involved

    Virtual office and conference as an interactive 16-bit RPG world in the browser

    5.7k Docker AGPL-3.0 4 days ago

    How it compares to Microsoft Teams

    • Self-hosting requires managing 6+ Docker services (pusher, back, front, map-storage, Jitsi, etc.) with non-trivial coordination.
    • Not a general-purpose team chat tool; lacks threaded messaging, async communication, and integrations found in Slack.
    • Video quality and reliability depend on the separately self-hosted Jitsi instance.
    • Map creation requires proficiency with the Tiled map editor; onboarding is steep for non-technical teams.

    RepoDetails & deploy →
16. #16

    Synapse (Matrix Homeserver)

    Self-host: Involved

    Reference Matrix homeserver powering decentralized, federated team chat

    4.5k Python AGPL-3.0 4 days ago

    How it compares to Microsoft Teams

    • It is a backend only; you must pair it with a client (Element) for a usable product
    • Federation and database (PostgreSQL) tuning is required for scale and can be resource-intensive
    • Setup involves reverse proxy, TLS, well-known config, and federation ports
    • AGPL license and commercial relicensing have caused community friction

    RepoDetails & deploy →
17. #17

    Conduit

    Self-host: Easy

    Blazing fast Matrix homeserver written in Rust for small communities

    3.2k Rust Apache-2.0 2 months ago

    How it compares to Microsoft Teams

    • Does not yet support all Matrix room versions or advanced federation features
    • No built-in web client; needs Element or another client
    • Bridges to other networks (Slack, Discord) require separate bridge services

    RepoDetails & deploy →
18. #18

    One Time Secret

    Self-host: Easy

    Share sensitive data via self-destructing links viewable only once

    2.9k Docker MIT 4 days ago

    How it compares to Microsoft Teams

    • No real-time team chat; purpose-built only for one-shot secret sharing, not general messaging
    • No user accounts or team management UI out of the box
    • Lacks audit logs, access controls, or an admin dashboard found in enterprise chat platforms
    • No integrations with CI/CD or ticketing systems without custom development

    RepoDetails & deploy →
19. #19

    Tox

    Self-host: Involved

    Distributed, serverless messenger with encrypted audio and video calls

    2.7k C GPL-3.0 12 days ago

    How it compares to Microsoft Teams

    • No web or mobile app; all official clients are desktop-only with varying levels of polish
    • No persistent message history server-side; messages are lost if the recipient is offline at delivery time
    • No team workspaces, channels, or role-based permissions
    • Bootstrap node setup and NAT traversal can be unreliable behind strict firewalls

    RepoDetails & deploy →
20. #20

    WBO

    Self-host: Easy

    Real-time collaborative whiteboard for drawings, diagrams, and notes

    2.6k Nodejs AGPL-3.0 7 days ago

    How it compares to Microsoft Teams

    • No authentication or access control; any board URL is publicly accessible by default
    • No user management, versioning, or export to common vector formats (SVG/PDF)
    • No sticky-note templates, voting, or structured retrospective tooling
    • Boards stored as flat JSON files; no database means limited scalability for large teams

    RepoDetails & deploy →
21. #21

    Stoat

    Self-host: Moderate

    User-first self-hosted team chat platform built with Rust

    2.6k Rust AGPL-3.0 6 days ago

    How it compares to Microsoft Teams

    • Relatively new project; ecosystem of integrations and bots is minimal compared to Slack
    • No voice or video calling built in
    • Mobile apps not yet as mature as established competitors
    • Plugin/app marketplace does not exist yet

    RepoDetails & deploy →
22. #22

    Chitchatter

    Self-host: Effortless

    Serverless peer-to-peer ephemeral chat with no accounts required

    2.3k Nodejs GPL-2.0 6 days ago

    How it compares to Microsoft Teams

    • No message history; all chats are ephemeral and disappear on page close
    • No file sharing, threads, reactions, or integrations
    • WebRTC NAT traversal can fail on restrictive corporate networks
    • No moderation, authentication, or access control features

    RepoDetails & deploy →
23. #23

    Nextcloud Talk

    Self-host: Moderate

    Self-hosted chat, video calls, and conferencing integrated into Nextcloud

    2.2k JavaScript AGPL-3.0 4 days ago

    How it compares to Microsoft Teams

    • Requires a running Nextcloud installation as a prerequisite
    • Larger group video calls need a separate High Performance Backend (Janus/signaling server) to scale
    • Chat features are less rich than dedicated platforms like Slack
    • Fewer third-party app integrations focused on messaging

    RepoDetails & deploy →
24. #24

    Jam

    Self-host: Easy

    Open-source audio/video room server with no account required

    1.3k JavaScript AGPL-3.0 2 years ago

    How it compares to Microsoft Teams

    • No persistent channels, history, or message storage
    • No authentication or access control by default
    • Limited scalability beyond small groups without custom TURN/SFU configuration

    RepoDetails & deploy →
25. #25

    Stalwart XMPP

    Self-host: Easy

    Modern all-in-one XMPP server with web admin panel written in Rust

    800 Rust AGPL-3.0 2 months ago

    How it compares to Microsoft Teams

    • Younger project with a smaller community and less battle-tested than Prosody or Ejabberd
    • No native web chat client included; users need a third-party XMPP app
    • Clustering and high-availability support is still maturing

    RepoDetails & deploy →
26. #26

    Snikket

    Self-host: Effortless

    XMPP-based private messenger server with easy one-command setup

    437 Lua Apache-2.0 8 days ago

    How it compares to Microsoft Teams

    • No public channels or community servers; designed for private groups only
    • Federation with other XMPP servers has occasional compatibility edge cases
    • Limited bot or integration support compared to Slack or Matrix

    RepoDetails & deploy →

Microsoft Teams alternatives — frequently asked questions