this post was submitted on 04 Sep 2023
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Hi all, I'm looking for some Discord alternatives. All I really need is the ability to do voice calls and screen shares. It can be either via DM or channels, I only need to it be able to speak with a few friends that'd be open to moving over. I've tried Matrix/Element but there doesn't seem to be a screen share function. There's Teamspeak but I don't think that's FOSS nor does it support screen shares as well. Any other options? Basically just voice calls and screen shares is all I need, I couldn't care about channels or servers or whatever other functionalities Discord has put into their app. Thanks!

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[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (4 children)

The Matrix network is the closest you're likely to get to Discord's features.

Nheko is a Matrix client that I believe can do screen sharing.

Eventually, whatever Matrix clients support Element Call might be what you want, but it's in beta for now.

Jitsi Meet might also be worth a look, although its (optional) end-to-end encryption was too demanding for some laptops last time I tried it.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Jitsi now needs a MS or Goog account

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Only for the main instance. Its selfhostable as well.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

i can't believe so many people didn't get that part

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Are there any limitations with the screen sharing for these alternatives? Audio support or resolution adjustment? I thought I've seen mentions of lack of something but I may be thinking of Discord on linux

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

discord doesn't do audio on Linux

matrix clients that support pipewire should do fine

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What? I haven't had any audio issues with discord on Linux (browser or app).

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

screenshare audio, it just doesn't on Linux. not the voice chat part

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Is there at this point such a thing as managed hosting of Matrix? Like i pay somebody to install, keep upgraded and in general maintain a Matrix server with bridges to all the major things, then i just use it along with my small pool of users? Even further, would that be advisable?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yes, managed hosting is available.

Element Matrix Services is the one that directly supports development of the project. There are others, too.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

EMS doesn't support bridges unless you pay for the highest tier, but the list you linked is good.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago

Jitsi has screen sharing and can be tied directly into Matrix

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago

All I really need is the ability to do voice calls and screen shares.

Have you looked into Jitsi?

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I would recommend using Matrix. But if you really want the "Discord experience" than I would suggest Revolt.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I've never had revolt come close to working; it always felt really buggy. ~~It also seems abandoned looking at their GitHub, there's been no activity in over 7 months.~~

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Where did you look at? The backend had a commit 2 days ago, the frontend rewrite 2 weeks ago. Looks active.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I was looking at https://github.com/revoltchat/revolt/commits/master though it's been pointed out to me that's an incomplete view.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Well yeah, that's only a meta repository pointing to all the other repositories.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I don't really understand Revolt, most people don't want to self host an entire Discord (as in, a server full of servers), most people want to self host one server.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

Element for Matrix

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Since everyone is only recommending self hostable options and no hoster, here is a new candidate:

OpenTalk on tchncs.de

https://talk.tchncs.de/

It is also free and open source and the server is hosted by a german who takes donations.

The also have a mumble (like Teamspeak but as you said without screenshare) and matrix instance running, which are great but not for your needs.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Signal. Works both on mobile and linked to desktop.

It should also work on Element Web, but not desktop clients.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Here to second the signal recommendation. Screen share and voice chat work without problems. No need to selfhost either. Secure and privacy friendly.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Jitsi, for sure

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Matrix using element for the client and element call or jitsi should do the trick