Free, open-source alternatives to Microsoft Teams
Microsoft's chat and meeting app. 6 apps you can run yourself instead of Microsoft Teams, sorted by how well they replace it. Each one is open source, so your data stays with you.
Rocket.ChatBest match
Communications platform that puts data protection first (alternative to Gitter.im and Slack).
Mattermost
Platform for secure collaboration across the entire software development lifecycle, can be integrated with Gitlab (alternative to Slack).
Zulip
Zulip is a powerful, open source group chat application.
Element
Fully-featured Matrix client for Web, iOS & Android.
Jitsi Meet
WebRTC application that uses Jitsi Videobridge to provide high quality, scalable video conferences.
Nextcloud
Access and share your files, calendars, contacts, mail and more from any device, on your terms.
Side by side
| App | Stars | License | Activity | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocket.Chat | 46,248 | MIT | Node.js, Docker, Kubernetes | |
| Mattermost | 39,322 | ⊘ Proprietary | Go, Docker, Kubernetes | |
| Zulip | 26,033 | Apache-2.0 | Python | |
| Element | 13,561 | Apache-2.0 | Node.js | |
| Jitsi Meet | 30,074 | Apache-2.0 | Node.js, Docker, Debian packages | |
| Nextcloud | 37,081 | AGPL-3.0 | PHP, Debian packages |
Why replace Microsoft Teams?
Microsoft Teams works, but your data lives in someone else's account, the price can change at any time, and features can disappear. An open-source app you run yourself is yours: you choose where it runs, who can see the data, and when to update.
Questions
What is the best free alternative to Microsoft Teams?
Rocket.Chat is the closest open-source replacement for Microsoft Teams in our list. Mattermost and Zulip are worth a look too, depending on what you need.
Can I self-host an alternative to Microsoft Teams?
Yes. All 6 apps on this page are open source and can run on your own server, usually with Docker, or on a managed host that installs them for you.