Discord vs Mattermost: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Discord and Mattermost comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Discord is our overall pick for communication workflows. Pick Mattermost if you need a free tier to start with.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Discord
Your place to talk and hang out
Best for you if:
- • Community communication platform
- • Voice, video, and text
Mattermost
Open-source team collaboration platform
Best for you if:
- • Mattermost is an open-source messaging platform for secure team collaboration
- • It provides channels, threads, and integrations with self-hosting options
| At a Glance |  Discord |  Mattermost |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Communication | Communication |
Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.3/5 |
Choose Discord or Mattermost?
Choose Discord if
Your place to talk and hang out
- Completely free for most features
- Excellent voice quality and low latency
- Highly customizable with bots
Choose Mattermost if
Open-source team collaboration platform
- Open source Slack alternative
- Self-hostable
- Good for compliance
| Feature | Discord | Mattermost |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.4/5 1,730 reviews | ★4.3/5 596 reviews |
| Categories | CommunicationCommunity Platforms | CommunicationTeam Chat |
In-Depth Analysis
Discord
Your place to talk and hang out
Strengths
- +Completely free for most features
- +Excellent voice quality and low latency
- +Highly customizable with bots
- +Strong community building tools
- +Cross-platform availability
Weaknesses
- -Can be overwhelming for new users
- -Nitro subscription needed for some features
- -Privacy concerns with data collection
- -Server moderation can be challenging
- -Not ideal for formal business communication
Key features
Mattermost
Open-source team collaboration platform
Strengths
- +Open source Slack alternative
- +Self-hostable
- +Good for compliance
- +No per-user cloud cost
- +Customizable
Weaknesses
- -Less polished than Slack
- -Smaller integration library
- -Self-hosting required for best value
- -Learning curve
- -Community smaller
Key features
Pricing: Discord vs Mattermost
| Plan | Discord | Mattermost |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | 2.99/month Nitro Basic | $10 Professional |
| Tier 3 | 9.99/month Nitro | Custom Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Discord pricing and Mattermost pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Discord
Want the highest-rated option?
Discord: 4.4/5 (1,730 reviews). Mattermost: 4.3/5 (596 reviews).
Go with: Discord
Value user reviews?
Discord: 1,730 reviews (4.4/5). Mattermost: 596 reviews (4.3/5).
Go with: Discord
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Both are communication tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Discord is rated higher: 4.4/5 vs 4.3/5.
Key Takeaways
Discord
- Higher user rating: 4.4/5 vs 4.3/5
- Larger review base (1,730 reviews)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Mattermost
- Choose if you want open-source team collaboration platform
The Bottom Line
Discord is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Discord or Mattermost better?
Discord is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Discord and Mattermost used for?
Discord: Your place to talk and hang out. Mattermost: Open-source team collaboration platform.
What does Discord cost vs Mattermost?
Discord is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Mattermost is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.