Best Self Hosted Alternatives to Skype

Mattermost is an open-source, self-hosted collaboration platform designed for secure team communication and real-time collaboration in high-stakes environments. It supports flexible deployment options, including on-premises or private cloud setups, with enterprise-grade security, governance, and integration capabilities.

Key Features

• Self-hosted deployment with high availability for mission-critical use
• Native audio calls and screen sharing within channels
• Interoperability with external tools (MS Teams, GitLab, Atlassian) and native playbooks
• Open-source Team Edition licensed under MIT
• Data control, granular admin and deployment flexibility (air-gapped networks, on-prem/private cloud)
• Real-time DevSecOps collaboration with integrated playbooks and automation

Use Cases

• Integrated Security Operations and incident response coordination
• Real-time DevSecOps collaboration to accelerate software delivery
• Self-sovereign collaboration and data governance for regulated environments

Limitations and Considerations

• Team Edition is intended for small teams and is not recommended for government or sensitive workloads

Conclusion: Mattermost offers a secure, self-hosted collaboration platform with deployment flexibility and strong integration capabilities, making it suitable for organizations needing data control and mission-critical workflows.

Jitsi Meet is an open source video conferencing application built on WebRTC, designed for secure, scalable meetings in the browser and on mobile devices. It can be used as a standalone meeting app or embedded into other products via SDKs.

Key Features

• Browser-based video meetings with modern WebRTC support
• Mobile applications for Android and iOS
• Screen/content sharing for presentations and collaboration
• In-meeting chat including private conversations
• Meeting controls such as raise hand, reactions, and polls
• Virtual backgrounds and common conferencing UX features
• Integration options via web and native SDKs

Use Cases

• Team video meetings with screen sharing and chat
• Hosting community calls, workshops, and webinars
• Embedding video meetings into an existing web or mobile application

Limitations and Considerations

• End-to-end encryption is available but may limit some features depending on configuration and client support

Jitsi Meet is a strong choice for organizations that want full control over video conferencing while keeping an easy, browser-first user experience. Its ecosystem and SDK support also make it well-suited for product teams building custom video experiences.

Zulip is an open-source team chat platform designed for both real-time and asynchronous communication. Its distinctive topic-based threading keeps conversations organized, making it easier to follow multiple discussions without losing context.

Key Features

• Topic-based threading within channels (streams) to keep discussions focused
• Inbox-style view to prioritize unread conversations
• Real-time messaging with searchable history
• Powerful integrations and bots, including webhook-based workflows
• Granular permissions and administration for organizations and communities
• Multi-platform clients, including web, desktop, and mobile apps

Use Cases

• Team communication for engineering, product, and operations groups
• Open source or community collaboration with many parallel discussions
• Async-first coordination across time zones while preserving context

Zulip is a strong fit for teams that want the immediacy of chat without sacrificing long-term clarity. Its conversation organization model scales well as the number of channels and active threads grows.

Tinode is a full-stack instant messaging platform designed for building modern chat applications. It provides a Go-based server, official clients for web and mobile, and APIs that support custom integrations such as chatbots and automated agents.

Key Features

• One-to-one messaging, group chats, and broadcast-style channels with read-only subscribers
• Real-time delivery, read receipts, typing indicators, and presence notifications
• Rich message content: markdown-style formatting, inline media, and file attachments
• Voice and video calls, plus voice messages
• Granular per-topic access control and server-side blocking controls
• Extensible architecture with plugins for features like moderation and chatbots
• JSON over WebSocket (with optional long polling) and Protobuf over gRPC
• Pluggable database layer with support for PostgreSQL, MySQL/MariaDB, and MongoDB
• Media/file handling via local filesystem or S3-compatible storage backends

Use Cases

• Building a custom consumer or community chat app (mobile + web)
• Adding in-app messaging, support chat, or anonymous chat to a product
• Developing bot-driven workflows and integrations using the messaging APIs

Limitations and Considerations

• Federation and end-to-end encryption are listed as planned features and may not be available
• Some advanced capabilities (for example, full-text message search) are planned rather than included by default

Tinode fits teams that want an embeddable messaging backend with strong real-time features and multiple official clients. Its API options and extensibility make it suitable for both standalone chat products and messaging features inside existing applications.

Element is a Matrix-based collaboration and messaging client for web and desktop, designed for interoperable real-time communication across the federated Matrix network. It supports deployments where organizations want control over their communication stack while remaining compatible with other Matrix services.

Key Features

• Matrix client for rooms, direct messages, and community-style spaces
• End-to-end encryption for private conversations (Matrix E2EE)
• Cross-organization interoperability via Matrix federation
• Audio/video calling capabilities via the Matrix ecosystem
• Configurable deployment via a static web build and a JSON configuration file
• Optional desktop app packaging (Electron wrapper)

Use Cases

• Secure team chat for companies, communities, and public-sector organizations
• Federated collaboration between multiple organizations using different Matrix servers
• Self-hosted communication front-end paired with a Matrix homeserver

Limitations and Considerations

• Requires a compatible Matrix homeserver (such as Synapse) to function
• Recommended to host the client on a different domain than the homeserver to reduce XSS risk

Element is a widely used Matrix client that emphasizes interoperability, encryption, and deployment flexibility. It is a strong choice for organizations that want modern real-time collaboration without vendor lock-in.

SimpleX Chat is an open-source, privacy-first messaging network designed to operate without any user identifiers. It provides mobile, desktop and terminal clients built on a Haskell core, delivering end-to-end encrypted messaging and group/community features while letting operators run their own servers.

Key Features

• Messaging without user identifiers: the network is designed to deliver messages and form connections without persistent numeric or textual user IDs.
• Strong encryption: double-ratchet end-to-end encryption with an additional encryption layer and local database encryption (SQLCipher/SQLite for device storage).
• Haskell core with native UI bridges: a Haskell-based core library exposed to client UIs via FFI, used by Kotlin Multiplatform (Android/desktop) and native iOS (Swift) apps.
• Multiple clients and runtimes: Android (Kotlin Multiplatform), iOS (Swift), desktop builds and a terminal/CLI client for Linux/macOS/Windows.
• Flexible storage backends: SQLite (default for mobile/desktop) and PostgreSQL support for server-side deployments; storage abstraction via a unified store interface.
• Extensible platform: bots API, SDKs and a directory service for discoverable communities and group moderation tools.
• Cross-platform build tooling: builds and cross-compilation support using Cabal/Nix and Docker-based build scripts, with prebuilt packages distributed via Play Store, F‑Droid, TestFlight and direct APKs.

Use Cases

• Private one-to-one messaging and group conversations where participants do not want persistent user identifiers.
• Community-run groups and moderated communities using the SimpleX directory and community voucher model for server funding.
• Developers building bots, automations or integrations using the provided bots API and client SDKs.

Limitations and Considerations

• Platform/build complexity: the Haskell core and cross-compilation workflow make local builds more involved than typical native apps; building from source normally requires Haskell tooling, Nix or Docker images.
• Mobile support constraints: historically builds targeted newer Android versions and specific CPU architectures; current official builds require modern mobile OS versions (Android 8+ minimum is documented) and some legacy devices may need experimental APKs.

SimpleX Chat is focused on strong privacy guarantees, decentralization and developer extensibility. It is suited for users and communities that require encrypted messaging without traditional identifiers and for developers who want to build bots or host community servers.

Screego is an open-source, self-hosted screen sharing tool designed for developers. It delivers high-quality, low-latency screen sharing via WebRTC and runs as a Docker container or a single binary.

Key Features

• Multi-user screen sharing
• Secure transfer via WebRTC
• Low latency and high-resolution streaming
• Easy deployment via Docker or a single binary
• Integrated TURN server for NAT traversal
• GPL-3.0 open-source and actively maintained
• Browser-based client (no dedicated desktop client)

Use Cases

• Developer code reviews, pair programming, and technical demos
• Remote debugging and collaborative troubleshooting
• Live training and technical presentations

Conclusion

Screego provides a focused, self-hosted alternative for teams needing private, high-quality screen sharing. It is built with Go and TypeScript, and a public demo instance is available for quick evaluation.

BigBlueButton is an open-source virtual classroom and web conferencing system designed primarily for online teaching and learning. It provides real-time collaboration tools for instructors and learners, with features tailored to classroom workflows.

Key Features

• Real-time audio and webcam video with selectable quality levels
• Screen sharing for presenters
• Slide and document presentation with whiteboard annotations
• Multi-user whiteboards for collaborative activities
• Public and private chat
• Breakout rooms for small-group work
• Polling and in-session feedback tools (such as hand raise)
• Shared notes for group collaboration
• Session recording and playback
• Learning analytics visible to moderators via a Learning Analytics Dashboard

Use Cases

• Live online classes, lectures, and seminars
• One-to-one tutoring and office hours
• Group collaboration sessions using breakout rooms and shared whiteboards

BigBlueButton is a feature-rich, education-focused conferencing platform that goes beyond general-purpose video meetings by emphasizing engagement, facilitation, and classroom-oriented tooling. It is widely used and commonly integrated into learning management systems for delivering virtual instruction at scale.

Mumble is an open-source voice chat platform focused on low-latency, high-quality audio for groups and communities. It consists of a desktop client (Mumble) and a server component (mumble-server, formerly Murmur) to host your own voice infrastructure.

Key Features

• Low-latency, high-quality voice communication using the Opus codec
• Encrypted communication with certificate-based (public/private key) authentication support
• Channels and an extensive permission system (ACL) for complex community setups
• In-game overlay and positional audio features for supported games and setups
• Extensibility via plugins and server integration APIs (including Ice-based tooling)
• Cross-platform client support (Windows, macOS, and Linux; server runs on many platforms)

Use Cases

• Private voice servers for gaming groups, clans, and large online communities
• Team voice communication for organizations that need control over privacy and access
• Audio collaboration and recording scenarios such as podcasts and multi-user sessions

Mumble is a mature, widely used VoIP solution that prioritizes responsiveness, sound quality, and administrative control. It is well-suited for anyone needing reliable hosted voice chat with fine-grained permissions and strong encryption.

Spacebar is a free and open source communication platform that reimplements Discord’s core user experience as a self-hostable, full-stack system. It aims for compatibility with Discord clients and bots while providing control over configuration, theming, and deployment.

Key Features

• Discord-compatible API behavior to reuse many existing clients and bots with minimal changes
• Real-time text chat with gateway-style events
• Voice and video calling via WebRTC
• Built-in content delivery (CDN-style) for media and attachments
• Admin dashboard and configurable limits for communities and deployments
• Theme system and design customization
• Plugin/extension approach for adding functionality
• Decentralization-oriented design goals to reduce single points of failure

Use Cases

• Host a Discord-like community server for a company, school, or gaming group
• Run a private collaboration chat with full control over data retention and policies
• Provide a compatible backend for custom clients, integrations, or bots

Limitations and Considerations

• Compatibility with all Discord features and third-party clients/bots may vary due to ongoing reimplementation work

Spacebar is a strong option for teams and communities that want a familiar Discord-style experience while retaining control over hosting, customization, and platform behavior. It is especially appealing when Discord API compatibility and real-time communication features are key requirements.

Synapse is a Matrix homeserver implementation that powers federated, end-to-end encrypted real-time communication using the open Matrix protocol. It provides the core server-side APIs needed for Matrix clients and for federation with other Matrix servers.

Key Features

• Matrix Client-Server API for chat, rooms, presence, and device management
• Server-to-Server federation to communicate with other Matrix homeservers
• End-to-end encryption support via Matrix encryption primitives and device tracking
• Moderation and administration capabilities for users, rooms, and server policy
• Pluggable authentication options (commonly used with SSO/OIDC deployments)
• Scales from small communities to large deployments with supported production setups

Use Cases

• Running a private or community Matrix chat server with federation support
• Operating an enterprise messaging backend for Matrix clients (including Element)
• Hosting regulated or controlled-communication deployments with central administration

Limitations and Considerations

• Requires careful operational tuning for larger instances (database, caching, and workers)
• Feature completeness can depend on Matrix spec evolution and enabled server modules

Synapse is widely used in the Matrix ecosystem and is actively maintained, providing a stable foundation for self-managed, interoperable real-time communications. It is typically deployed alongside a reverse proxy and other Matrix components depending on the desired feature set.

Converse.js is a modern, feature-rich XMPP (Jabber) chat client that runs entirely in the web browser. It can be deployed as a full-page web app or embedded into existing websites as an overlay or inline widget.

Key Features

• Multiple UI modes: full-page app, overlay chat boxes, or embedded components
• Direct messages and multi-user chat rooms (MUC)
• OMEMO end-to-end encryption (server support required)
• Message features such as corrections, retractions, moderation, reactions, and styling
• HTTP File Upload support for file sharing (server support required)
• Desktop notifications and presence/status indicators
• Extensive XMPP protocol support (wide range of XEPs)
• Plugin-based architecture for customization and extensions
• Internationalization with many community translations

Use Cases

• Add an embeddable chat widget to a community or support website backed by an XMPP server
• Provide a browser-based client for an organization’s existing XMPP/Jabber infrastructure
• Host secure group chat rooms with moderation features for teams or public communities

Limitations and Considerations

• Feature availability depends on the connected XMPP server and enabled XEP support (for example, OMEMO, file upload, URL previews)

Converse.js is a strong option for anyone needing a standards-based web chat client with flexible embedding options. Its broad XMPP support and extensibility make it suitable for both simple deployments and deep integrations.

Jitsi Videobridge is an open-source WebRTC Selective Forwarding Unit (SFU) that routes media streams between participants to enable scalable multiparty video conferencing. It is a core backend component of the Jitsi Meet stack and is designed for high scalability and low CPU overhead. (jitsi.org)

Key Features

• Selective Forwarding Unit (SFU) architecture: forwards participant streams rather than mixing, improving quality and scalability for many-participant conferences. (jitsi.org)
• WebRTC-native media support: handles RTP/RTCP streams, common codecs, and NAT traversal (ICE/STUN/TURN) with secure transport via DTLS/SRTP. (jitsi.org)
• Control APIs: supports Colibri XMPP control as well as HTTPS/REST control endpoints for orchestration, load balancing, and automation. (jitsi.org)
• Observability: exports operational statistics and Prometheus-format metrics (private HTTP /metrics endpoint) plus JSON and XMPP-stat reports for monitoring and autoscaling. (forger.sitiv.fr)
• Implementation & build: primarily Kotlin and Java codebase, built with Maven and running on the JVM. (github.com)
• Deployment options: packaged for Debian/Ubuntu, runnable locally via Maven, and commonly deployed in containerized or multi-node topologies for capacity. (github.com)

Use Cases

• Powering large-scale multiparty video conferencing (used by Jitsi Meet) where many participants join without per-stream server mixing. (jitsi.github.io)
• Backend media routing for webinar platforms, remote education, telehealth, and enterprise meeting services requiring scalable, low-latency forwarding.
• Integrating into custom WebRTC applications that need a flexible SFU with XMPP or REST control and observability hooks. (jitsi.org)

Limitations and Considerations

• No server-side mixing/transcoding: Videobridge forwards streams (SFU) rather than acting as an MCU; server-side transcoding requires separate components or external transcoders. (jitsi.org)
• Prometheus coverage is substantial but not every internal metric is exposed in Prometheus format; some monitoring workflows rely on auxiliary exporters or the JSON/stats endpoints. (forger.sitiv.fr)
• Performance and capacity depend on network, codec choices, and server sizing; achieving maximum concurrent streams requires tuning (heap, GC, networking) and appropriate deployment topologies. (github.com)

Jitsi Videobridge is a mature, open-source SFU for teams and developers who need scalable WebRTC media routing with XMPP/REST control and production monitoring. It is widely used in the Jitsi ecosystem and can be integrated into custom conferencing solutions or deployed as part of a larger real-time communications stack. (jitsi.org)

Tox is a peer-to-peer (serverless) communication network and protocol used by messaging clients to provide private conversations without relying on central servers. It focuses on end-to-end encrypted chat and real-time audio/video features while keeping user identities based on cryptographic keys.

Key Features

• Peer-to-peer networking without central servers for message routing
• End-to-end encryption and authentication implemented via libsodium/NaCl primitives
• Instant messaging with friend requests and contact-style identities (public-key based)
• Encrypted voice and video calls (A/V support depends on client build)
• Screen sharing and file sharing support in Tox clients
• Group chats supported by the protocol and ecosystem clients

Use Cases

• Private one-to-one messaging and calls without a hosted backend
• Building custom bots or automation around the Toxcore client library API
• Secure team or community group chats in environments where central servers are undesirable

Limitations and Considerations

• The core library and network have historically been described as experimental and not formally audited as a complete system
• Bootstrapping into the network requires known bootstrap nodes and proper client configuration

Tox is best viewed as the underlying protocol and core library (Toxcore) powering multiple desktop and mobile clients. It is a strong fit for users who want decentralized communications with modern encryption and a client ecosystem rather than a single hosted service.

Chitchatter is an open-source, browser-first communication tool that enables private, peer-to-peer chat and media streaming directly between participants without requiring an API server. It emphasizes end-to-end encryption, ephemeral messaging, and decentralized connectivity for private conversations. (github.com)

Key Features

• Peer-to-peer browser communication with TURN fallback for reliable connectivity. (github.com)
• End-to-end encrypted text, audio, and video using WebRTC-based peer connections. (github.com)
• Ephemeral message handling: message content is not persisted to disk and is cleared when leaving a room. (github.com)
• File sharing with client-side encryption; transfers are encrypted and the room name functions as the key. (github.com)
• Screen sharing, multi-peer rooms (limited by browser peer capacity), direct messaging, and conversation backfilling for late joiners. (github.com)
• Embeddable via iframe and implemented as a modern web app (Vite + TypeScript + React tooling indicated in the repository). (github.com)

Use Cases

• Secure ad-hoc conversations between individuals or small groups where no server-side message history is desired (private calls, sensitive discussions). (github.com)
• Temporary collaboration with screen sharing and file exchange without creating accounts or storing data long-term. (github.com)
• Embedding private chat functionality into other web apps via iframe for ephemeral support or short-lived group sessions. (github.com)

Limitations and Considerations

• Multi-peer scalability is constrained by browser peer-connection limits; performance and reliability may degrade with many simultaneous direct connections. (github.com)
• Connectivity relies on public WebTorrent and TURN relay servers when direct peer connections fail; availability or trust in those relays can affect reliability. (github.com)
• There is no built-in persistent message history or centralized moderation/identity system; features like persistent archives, long-term user identity, or enterprise-grade moderation are not provided by default. (github.com)

Chitchatter is a lightweight option for users seeking browser-native, ephemeral, and encrypted peer communication with media and file-transfer capabilities, designed for privacy-focused ad-hoc use. It is distributed as a client-side web application with optional server components for enhanced connectivity and integration. (github.com)

Nextcloud Talk is a privacy-respecting, self-hosted communication platform that combines chat, video conferencing, and webinars in a single Nextcloud app. It supports on-premises deployment and federated collaboration across Nextcloud servers, with end-to-end encrypted calls and deep integration with other Nextcloud apps.

Key Features

• Threaded conversations with AI chat and call summaries
• End-to-end encrypted calls for private communication
• Federated chat and video calls across Nextcloud hubs and servers
• Webinars and presentations with screen sharing and participant controls
• Private, group and public calls with external participants via shareable links
• Tight integration with Nextcloud Files, Calendar and other apps for unified workflows
• Bridging with other networks via Nextcloud Bridging (e.g., IRC, Slack, Teams, Matrix)

Use Cases

• Hybrid teams needing private, on-premises collaboration across chat, calls and webinars
• Environments requiring GDPR/compliance and air-gap/self-hosted deployment
• Organizations collaborating across multiple Nextcloud servers or bridged networks

Limitations and Considerations

• NAT traversal often requires a TURN server for reliable media in restricted networks; behind symmetric NATs this becomes more critical
• Large-scale deployments usually need High Performance Backend (HPB) for thousands of participants; private setups typically handle dozens of calls depending on capacity
• Some advanced features depend on specific server components or configurations and may require additional infrastructure

Conclusion: Nextcloud Talk offers a privacy-first, self-hosted alternative for integrated chat, calls and webinars within the Nextcloud ecosystem. It emphasizes data control, security and federated collaboration, with deployment paths suitable for small teams up to large enterprises.

RetroShare is a cross-platform, decentralized friend-to-friend (F2F) communication suite designed for private and secure collaboration and sharing. It combines messaging, community features, and file distribution, with strong cryptography and optional anonymity layers.

Key Features

• Friend-to-friend network model with secure connections between trusted peers
• Encrypted chat (including chat rooms) and encrypted mail-style messaging with offline delivery
• Secure file sharing with search and swarming transfers similar to BitTorrent
• Decentralized forums, channels, and boards that can sync when peers come online
• Optional operation over Tor or I2P to hide IP addresses (including builds that manage Tor)
• Experimental VoIP and video calling via plugin

Use Cases

• Private group communication and sharing for communities that prefer decentralized infrastructure
• Secure file distribution to friends and wider network participants with reduced metadata exposure
• Offline-capable discussions via decentralized forums that sync automatically when connected

Limitations and Considerations

• The network is primarily trust-based (friend-to-friend); discovery and reach depend on peer connections
• Some features (notably VoIP/video) are experimental and may be less mature than core messaging and sharing

RetroShare fits users who want an encrypted, peer-to-peer alternative to centralized chat and sharing platforms. Its combination of F2F trust, offline messaging, and optional Tor/I2P support makes it suitable for privacy-focused collaboration.

Movim is a federated blogging and messaging platform that acts as a web frontend for the XMPP protocol. It combines social posting features with real-time chat and group conversations in a responsive, cross-platform web interface.

Key Features

• Web-based XMPP client with real-time 1:1 and group chat
• Federated social network features: posts, comments, likes, mentions, and communities
• Search across posts, chatrooms, communities, tags, and people
• Push notifications for social interactions and mentions
• Public chatrooms and private group chats with member invitations
• Account connectivity features to integrate other chat accounts
• Personalization options such as dark mode and accent color
• Multilingual interface with extensive translation coverage

Use Cases

• Run a community hub that blends XMPP chatrooms with social posting
• Provide a modern web client for an existing XMPP server deployment
• Host private group collaboration spaces backed by XMPP

Movim is a strong fit when you want XMPP-based messaging paired with a lightweight, federated social experience accessible from any modern browser.

Briefing is a privacy-focused video group chat application built on open web technologies. It enables secure, direct video conferencing in modern browsers without requiring additional software installation.

Key Features

• Browser-based video group chat using WebRTC
• End-to-end encrypted communication (E2EE)
• Simple invitation links to create and join rooms
• Text chat alongside video calls
• Desktop/screen sharing
• Includes core components needed to run (UI, signaling, and STUN support)
• Designed for customization and white-label deployments

Use Cases

• Private team or community video calls where minimizing data exposure matters
• Embedded video chat rooms for websites, events, or customer sessions
• Self-hosted video meetings for organizations with stricter privacy requirements

Limitations and Considerations

• Real-world reliability and media quality can depend heavily on network conditions and NAT traversal; TURN infrastructure may be required for some environments

Briefing provides a practical, secure foundation for WebRTC conferencing with an emphasis on privacy and simplicity. It is well-suited for both quick ad-hoc meetings and teams looking to customize or embed a video chat experience.

Databag is a fast, lightweight self-hosted messenger designed to run on minimal hardware while still supporting modern messaging features. It is federated, allowing users on different independently hosted nodes to communicate directly with strong cryptographic identities and end-to-end encryption.

Key Features

• Federated messaging between accounts on different nodes
• Public/private key based identity that is not tied to a hosting domain
• End-to-end encryption for sealed topics so the server admin cannot read content
• Topic-based threads to organize conversations by subject
• Unlimited participants in group threads
• Low-latency push using WebSockets (avoids polling)
• Optional audio and video calls using WebRTC (requires STUN/TURN for NAT traversal)
• Multi-factor authentication via TOTP
• Mobile push notifications (UnifiedPush, FCM, APN)

Use Cases

• Private family or small-community messaging on a personal server or low-power device
• Federated messaging between multiple organizations without a central provider
• Secure group threads for projects where message privacy is required

Limitations and Considerations

• WebRTC calls typically require configuring a STUN/TURN relay to work reliably behind NAT

Databag focuses on efficiency and decentralization while keeping the deployment simple enough for home servers. It fits best for users who want federated communication, end-to-end encryption, and optional calling without heavy infrastructure.