SpacebarChat

Open source alternative to Discord, Slack, Microsoft Teams and Google Chat

2.2K stars
AGPL-3.0
Active this week
Last commit 2 days ago

Last verified Oct 20, 2026

Host Discord-style chat on your own infrastructure with an AGPL-licensed backend that works with many existing bots, apps, and clients.

Visit website GitHub2.2K Deploy on Hostinger

Read the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs and the FAQ

who it's for

Who SpacebarChat is for#

Communities replacing Discord with infrastructure they control

SpacebarChat fits communities that want Discord-style channels, bots, and moderation patterns but need the service to run on infrastructure they choose and manage.

Skip if:

You want a fully managed hosted chat product with no responsibility for deployment, security, or upgrades.

Internal teams building self-hosted real-time communication

SpacebarChat works for internal teams that need a chat backend with familiar client behavior, room for customization, and direct control over security posture and data location.

Skip if:

Your team prefers a paid commercial suite like Slack or Microsoft Teams specifically to avoid running chat infrastructure.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Hosted chat products can make community communication depend on one vendor account, one moderation surface, and one deployment model. Teams that want Discord-style channels, bots, and client familiarity often still need control over data location, security posture, upgrade timing, and custom integrations. SpacebarChat exists for operators who want that familiar model on infrastructure they control instead of being locked into a proprietary hosted service.

how SpacebarChat solves it

How it solves it#

Discord-compatible backend services

The server repository includes the HTTP API, WebSocket gateway, CDN service, WebRTC service, utility models, and admin tooling needed to run a Discord-style communication backend.

Self-hosted deployment documentation

The official docs cover server setup, client setup, bot setup, configuration, and security, which gives operators a documented path to run SpacebarChat on their own infrastructure.

Backward-compatibility goal for clients and bots

The maintainers explicitly aim for backward compatibility with existing bots, applications, and many Discord-style clients so teams can reuse familiar workflows instead of retraining everyone from scratch.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Keeps deployment and data control with the operatorSpacebarChat gives communities and teams a way to run real-time communication on infrastructure they control, which is the main advantage over hosted proprietary chat products.
Preserves a familiar Discord-like workflowBecause the project targets the Discord backend model and aims for compatibility with existing bots, applications, and clients, it can be easier to evaluate than a totally different chat stack.

Trade-offs

-Self-hosting and compatibility still require operational workSpacebarChat is strongest for teams that can own deployment, security hardening, upgrades, and troubleshooting. The project also notes that some client incompatibilities still exist, so operators should test their required workflows before committing.

tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages: C#JavaScriptTypeScript
Frameworks: Express
Databases: PostgreSQL
Messaging: RabbitMQ

frequently asked

FAQ#

Is SpacebarChat open source?

Yes. The SpacebarChat server repository is published under AGPL-3.0, and the project positions itself as a free open source self-hostable chat, voice, and video platform.

Can SpacebarChat work with existing Discord bots and clients?

The maintainers say they aim for backward compatibility with existing bots, applications, and many Discord-style clients. They also note that some incompatibilities still exist, so production teams should test the exact clients and bot workflows they rely on.

What do operators need to run SpacebarChat?

The official docs describe a setup centered on API, gateway, and CDN services, plus configuration and security guidance. SpacebarChat is intended for operators with terminal access and real self-hosting ownership rather than a one-click hosted deployment.

Looking for more

Other ways to replace Discord, Slack, Microsoft Teams and Google Chat#

Buzz

Featuredfor Slack

Self-hosted team chat where people and AI agents work together

36,174Visit

Mattermost

#1 in the Slack guide

Closest drop-in Slack replacement for self-hosted teams

39,388

Rocket.Chat

#2 in the Slack guide

Teams needing internal chat and customer omnichannel in one tool

46,298

Zulip

#3 in the Slack guide

Async-first teams that need organized, low-noise conversations

26,085

All 17 Slack alternatives 8 open source Slack alternatives, ranked

by category

Open source tools in these categories#

126

Hostinger

Run SpacebarChat on your own server

Self-host SpacebarChat on a Hostinger VPS.

Deploy on Hostinger

Featured

Omnara

Alternative toClaude Managed Agents

Open-source agent deployment API. Self-host or use Omnara Cloud.

2,957 GitHub stars
Licence Apache-2.0
#AI Agents

rakazo

Alternative toGrok Bot

AI teammates you own: your keys, your model, your machine.

4,904 GitHub stars
Licence Apache-2.0
#AI Agents

Inbox Zero

Alternative toSuperhuman

AI email assistant that drafts replies and clears your inbox

12,712 GitHub stars
Licence AGPL-3.0
#Email

Feature your project

The projects we add and every new guide. Free, unsubscribe any time.

Find open source alternatives to paid software

Who SpacebarChat is for#

Communities replacing Discord with infrastructure they control

SpacebarChat fits communities that want Discord-style channels, bots, and moderation patterns but need the service to run on infrastructure they choose and manage.

Skip if:

You want a fully managed hosted chat product with no responsibility for deployment, security, or upgrades.

Internal teams building self-hosted real-time communication

SpacebarChat works for internal teams that need a chat backend with familiar client behavior, room for customization, and direct control over security posture and data location.

Skip if:

Your team prefers a paid commercial suite like Slack or Microsoft Teams specifically to avoid running chat infrastructure.

The problem it solves#

How it solves it#

Discord-compatible backend services

The server repository includes the HTTP API, WebSocket gateway, CDN service, WebRTC service, utility models, and admin tooling needed to run a Discord-style communication backend.

Self-hosted deployment documentation

The official docs cover server setup, client setup, bot setup, configuration, and security, which gives operators a documented path to run SpacebarChat on their own infrastructure.

Backward-compatibility goal for clients and bots

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Keeps deployment and data control with the operatorSpacebarChat gives communities and teams a way to run real-time communication on infrastructure they control, which is the main advantage over hosted proprietary chat products.
Preserves a familiar Discord-like workflowBecause the project targets the Discord backend model and aims for compatibility with existing bots, applications, and clients, it can be easier to evaluate than a totally different chat stack.

Trade-offs

-Self-hosting and compatibility still require operational workSpacebarChat is strongest for teams that can own deployment, security hardening, upgrades, and troubleshooting. The project also notes that some client incompatibilities still exist, so operators should test their required workflows before committing.

FAQ#

Is SpacebarChat open source?

Yes. The SpacebarChat server repository is published under AGPL-3.0, and the project positions itself as a free open source self-hostable chat, voice, and video platform.

Can SpacebarChat work with existing Discord bots and clients?

What do operators need to run SpacebarChat?

Other ways to replace Discord, Slack, Microsoft Teams and Google Chat#

Buzz

Featuredfor Slack

Self-hosted team chat where people and AI agents work together

36,174Visit

Mattermost

#1 in the Slack guide

Closest drop-in Slack replacement for self-hosted teams

39,388

Rocket.Chat

#2 in the Slack guide

Teams needing internal chat and customer omnichannel in one tool

46,298

Zulip

#3 in the Slack guide

Async-first teams that need organized, low-noise conversations

26,085

All 17 Slack alternatives 8 open source Slack alternatives, ranked

Who SpacebarChat is for#

Communities replacing Discord with infrastructure they control

Skip if:

Internal teams building self-hosted real-time communication

Skip if:

The problem it solves#

How it solves it#

Discord-compatible backend services

Self-hosted deployment documentation

Backward-compatibility goal for clients and bots

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Trade-offs

What it's built on#

FAQ#

Other ways to replace Discord, Slack, Microsoft Teams and Google Chat#

Open source tools in these categories#

Communication & Collaboration

IT Management

Web Development

Find open source alternatives to paid software

Who SpacebarChat is for#

Communities replacing Discord with infrastructure they control

Skip if:

Internal teams building self-hosted real-time communication

Skip if:

The problem it solves#

How it solves it#

Discord-compatible backend services

Self-hosted deployment documentation

Backward-compatibility goal for clients and bots

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Trade-offs

What it's built on#

FAQ#

Other ways to replace Discord, Slack, Microsoft Teams and Google Chat#

Open source tools in these categories#

Communication & Collaboration

IT Management

Web Development

Find open source alternatives to paid software