[category: community][verified alternatives][no votes, no pay-to-list]
Free and open source alternatives for Community
19 free or open source projects taken from the pages of 13 paid apps in this category. For each one: how many it replaces, how much subscription it cancels, what it costs to run.
- free alternatives
- 19
- $/month replaceable
- 348
- already self-hosted
- 10
- apps covered
- 13
19 alternatives
No alternative matches these filters. Try dropping the set or the category.
The value is the sum of the prices of the apps that project replaces — including outside this category, because a good alternative rarely serves only one.
475 $ /mese
Moodle open source ★ 7,3k active [ops] web · self-hosted · iOS · Android
Hosts authored activities, quizzes and progress, although the actual interactive pedagogy still has to come from you.
the 15 apps it replaces · 475 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (475 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
57 $ /mese
Discourse open source ★ 47,6k active [ops] web · self-hosted · iOS · Android
Paid groups, posts and chat with Stripe built in; there is no Patreon discovery feed to bring strangers.
the 3 apps it replaces · 57 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (57 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
49 $ /mese
HumHub open source ★ 6,7k active [ops] web · self-hosted
Spaces, profiles, streams and events on your server; payments and courses are not hiding in a submenu.
the 2 apps it replaces · 49 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (49 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
49 $ /mese
Flarum open source ★ 6,7k active [ops] web · self-hosted
The least baroque forum here; extensions arrive before courses, events or payments.
the 1 app it replaces · 49 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (49 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
49 $ /mese
Forem open source ★ 22,8k active [ops] web · self-hosted
A branded publishing community with profiles, feeds and discussion; deployment is considerably less friendly than the members.
the 1 app it replaces · 49 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (49 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
49 $ /mese
NodeBB open source ★ 15,2k active [ops] web · self-hosted
A fast modern forum with profiles and real-time chat; MongoDB, Redis or Postgres becomes your problem.
the 1 app it replaces · 49 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (49 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
32 $ /mese
Element open source ★ 13,3k active [hosted] web · self-hosted · macOS · Windows · Linux · iOS · Android
Encrypted Matrix rooms with real apps and a free public homeserver; running your own server is optional suffering.
the 5 apps it replaces · 32 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (32 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
32 $ /mese
Rocket.Chat Community open source ★ 45,9k active [ops] web · self-hosted · macOS · Windows · Linux · iOS · Android
Discord without the public friend graph: channels, threads and files for up to a hundred concurrent users.
the 4 apps it replaces · 32 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (32 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
30 $ /mese
Mattermost Team Edition open source ★ 38,7k active [ops] web · self-hosted · macOS · Windows · Linux · iOS · Android
Slack-shaped chat below 250 users, self-hosted; the subscription disappears and the pager appears.
the 4 apps it replaces · 30 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (30 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
30 $ /mese
Pumble Free free [hosted] web · macOS · Windows · Linux · iOS · Android
Unlimited users, channels and history with ten gigabytes total; group meetings and serious integrations still cost money.
the 4 apps it replaces · 30 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (30 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
30 $ /mese
Zulip open source ★ 25,6k active [ops] web · self-hosted · macOS · Windows · Linux · iOS · Android
Topic-first team chat with full history and excellent search; fewer drive-by messages survive.
the 4 apps it replaces · 30 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (30 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
23 $ /mese
Cosmos Free free [hosted] web · macOS · Windows · iOS · Android
A persistent spatial office for four people with no call timer; the fifth person remains outdoors.
the 2 apps it replaces · 23 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (23 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
23 $ /mese
flat.social Free free [hosted] web
Five people, unlimited sessions and custom rooms; small, simple and refreshingly uninterested in seat arithmetic.
the 2 apps it replaces · 23 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (23 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
23 $ /mese
Kumospace Free free [hosted] web · macOS · Windows · iOS · Android
Five registered members get customizable spatial rooms and basic chat; the sixth seat costs money.
the 2 apps it replaces · 23 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (23 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
23 $ /mese
SpatialChat Free free [hosted] web
Twelve people and four rooms for two hours a day; the office closes itself at lunch.
the 2 apps it replaces · 23 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (23 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
23 $ /mese
WorkAdventure Free free [hosted] web
A pixel office for ten simultaneous people; the eleventh gets bounced.
the 2 apps it replaces · 23 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (23 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
12 $ /mese
Chanty Free free [hosted] web · macOS · Windows · Linux · iOS · Android
Five users get unlimited history, files, tasks and one-to-one calls; larger teams meet the paywall.
the 2 apps it replaces · 12 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (12 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
10 $ /mese
Discord Free free [hosted] web · macOS · Windows · Linux · iOS · Android
The same servers, channels and friend graph; you lose large uploads, HD streaming and decorative peacocking.
the 2 apps it replaces · 10 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (10 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
10 $ /mese
Stoat open source ★ 2,6k active [ops] web · self-hosted
Discord-shaped chat on your server; the web client works, while most official native clients still do not.
the 1 app it replaces · 10 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (10 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
Checked by hand: no votes, no buyable positions. Prices in dollars.