Best self-hosted Communication - Custom Communication Systems software in 2026

Communication software used to provide remote access to systems and exchange files and messages in text, audio and/or video formats between different computers or users, using their own custom protocols.

We track 46 open-source, self-hosted Communication - Custom Communication Systems apps. 38 of them had commits in the last 90 days, 23 can run with Docker, and the most common licenses are MIT (12), Apache-2.0 (10), AGPL-3.0 (7). The most-used languages are Go, Nodejs, Python. Below are the top picks by GitHub stars, followed by every app ranked by stars weighted by maintenance health.

Alternatives to SlackAlternatives to DiscordAlternatives to IntercomAlternatives to PushoverAlternatives to Microsoft TeamsAlternatives to WhatsAppAlternatives to TelegramAlternatives to Google ChatAlternatives to Facebook MessengerAlternatives to SkypeAlternatives to TeamSpeakAlternatives to LucidchartAlternatives to Microsoft VisioAlternatives to MiroAlternatives to Tawk.toAlternatives to LiveChatAlternatives to CrispAlternatives to MattermostAlternatives to Rocket.Chat

Top 5 by GitHub stars

#AppStarsHealthLast activityLicenseLanguageDocker
1Rocket.Chat46.5kActive2026-11-10MITNodejs, Docker✓
2Novu40.3kActive2026-11-09MITDocker, Nodejs✓
3Chatwoot39.9kActive2026-11-10⊘ ProprietaryRuby, Docker✓
4Mattermost39.6kActive2026-11-10⊘ ProprietaryGo, Docker✓
5ntfy35.6kActive2026-11-04Apache-2.0, GPL-2.0Go, Docker✓
  1. Rocket.Chat — Communications platform that puts data protection first (alternative to Gitter.im and Slack).
  2. Novu — Notification infrastructure for developers.
  3. Chatwoot — Customer communication platform (alternative to Intercom and Zendesk).
  4. Mattermost — Platform for secure collaboration across the entire software development lifecycle, can be integrated with Gitlab (alternative to Slack).
  5. ntfy — Push notifications to phone or desktop using HTTP PUT/POST, with Android app, CLI and web app, similar to Pushover and Gotify.

Head-to-head comparisons

Novu vs Rocket.ChatChatwoot vs Rocket.ChatMattermost vs Rocket.ChatChatwoot vs NovuMattermost vs NovuChatwoot vs Mattermost

All 46 self-hosted Communication - Custom Communication Systems apps

Ranked by GitHub stars weighted by maintenance health.

Rocket.Chat

Communications platform that puts data protection first (alternative to Gitter.im and Slack).

Active ★ 46.5k MIT 🐳 Docker~$10/mo

Novu

Notification infrastructure for developers.

Active ★ 40.3k MIT 🐳 Docker~$10/mo

Chatwoot

Customer communication platform (alternative to Intercom and Zendesk).

Active ★ 39.9k ⊘ Proprietary 🐳 Docker~$10/mo

Mattermost

Platform for secure collaboration across the entire software development lifecycle, can be integrated with Gitlab (alternative to Slack).

Active ★ 39.6k ⊘ Proprietary 🐳 Docker~$10/mo

ntfy

Push notifications to phone or desktop using HTTP PUT/POST, with Android app, CLI and web app, similar to Pushover and Gotify.

Active ★ 35.6k Apache-2.0, GPL-2.0 🐳 Docker~$10/mo

Zulip

Powerful group chat application.

Active ★ 26.2k Apache-2.0 ~$10/mo

SimpleX Chat

Most private and secure chat and applications platform - now with double ratchet E2E encryption.

Active ★ 19.7k AGPL-3.0 ~$10/mo

Apprise

Apprise allows you to send a notification to almost all of the most popular notification services available to us today such as: Telegram, Discord, Slack, Amazon SNS, Gotify, etc.

Active ★ 17.7k MIT 🐳 Docker~$10/mo

OpenWA

WhatsApp API gateway exposing messaging as REST endpoints, with a web dashboard, multi-account sessions, and webhook events (alternative to WhatsApp Business API providers).

Active ★ 16.7k MIT 🐳 Docker~$10/mo

Gotify

Notification server with Android and CLI clients (alternative to PushBullet).

Active ★ 16.2k MIT 🐳 Docker~$10/mo

Element

Fully-featured Matrix client for Web, iOS & Android.

Active ★ 13.6k Apache-2.0 ~$10/mo

Tinode

Instant messaging platform. Backend in Go. Clients: Swift iOS, Java Android, JS webapp, scriptable command line; chatbots.

Active ★ 13.6k GPL-3.0 ~$10/mo

Centrifugo

Language-agnostic real-time messaging (Websocket or SockJS) server.

Active ★ 11k MIT 🐳 Docker~$10/mo

Fluxer

Instant messaging and VoIP platform built for friends, groups, and communities (alternative to Discord).

Active ★ 10.8k AGPL-3.0 🐳 Docker~$10/mo

Screego

Simple tool to quickly share your screen to one or multiple people via web browser.

Active ★ 10.7k GPL-3.0 🐳 Docker~$10/mo

Typebot

Conversational app builder (alternative to Typeform and Landbot).

Active ★ 10.6k AGPL-3.0 🐳 Docker~$10/mo

Mumble

Low-latency, high quality voice/text chat software.

Active ★ 8.4k BSD-3-Clause ~$10/mo

WorkAdventure

Virtual office / virtual conference application presented as a 16-bit RPG video game.

Active ★ 5.9k AGPL-3.0, Commons-Clause 🐳 Docker~$10/mo

Synapse

Server for Matrix, an open standard for decentralized persistent communication.

Active ★ 4.8k Apache-2.0 ~$10/mo

One Time Secret

Share sensitive information securely with self-destructing links that are only viewable once.

Active ★ 3k MIT 🐳 Docker~$10/mo

Tuwunel

High-performance and feature-rich chat server for Matrix, and the successor to conduwuit (fork of Conduit).

Active ★ 2.8k Apache-2.0 🐳 Docker~$10/mo

Tox

Distributed, secure messenger with audio and video chat capabilities.

Active ★ 2.7k GPL-3.0 ~$10/mo

Stoat

User-first chat platform built with modern web technologies.

Active ★ 2.7k AGPL-3.0, MIT ~$10/mo

WBO

Web Whiteboard to collaborate in real-time on schemas, drawings, and notes.

Active ★ 2.7k AGPL-3.0 🐳 Docker~$10/mo

AnyCable

Realtime server for reliable two-way communication over WebSockets, Server-sent events, etc.

Active ★ 2.4k MIT 🐳 Docker~$10/mo

Chitchatter

Peer-to-peer chat app that is serverless, decentralized, and ephemeral.

Active ★ 2.3k GPL-2.0 ~$10/mo

Live Helper Chat

Live Support chat for your website.

Active ★ 2.3k Apache-2.0 ~$10/mo

RetroShare

Secured and decentralized communication system. Offers decentralized chat, forums, messaging, file transfer.

Active ★ 2k GPL-2.0 ~$10/mo

GlobaLeaks

Whistleblowing software enabling anyone to easily set up and maintain a secure reporting platform.

Active ★ 1.5k AGPL-3.0 🐳 Docker~$10/mo

Hyphanet

Anonymously share files, browse and publish freesites (web sites accessible only through Hyphanet) and chat on forums.

Active ★ 1.2k GPL-2.0 ~$10/mo

Conduit

Simple, fast, and reliable chat server powered by Matrix.

Active ★ 962 Apache-2.0 ~$10/mo

Notifo

Multichannel notification server with support for Email, Mobile Push, Web Push, SMS, messaging and a javascript plugin.

Active ★ 885 MIT ~$10/mo

OTS

One-Time-Secret sharing platform with a symmetric 256bit AES encryption in the browser.

Active ★ 811 Apache-2.0 ~$10/mo

Spectrum 2

Instant messaging transport. It allows users to chat together even when they are using different IM networks.

Active ★ 421 GPL-3.0 ~$10/mo

Shhh

Keep secrets out of emails or chat logs, share them using secure links with passphrase and expiration dates.

Active ★ 420 MIT ~$10/mo

Databag

Federated, end-to-end encrypted messaging service for the web, iOS, and Android, supporting text, photos, video, and WebRTC video and audio calls.

Maintained ★ 1.5k Apache-2.0 🐳 Docker~$10/mo

Tiledesk

All-in-one customer engagement platform from lead-gen to post-sales, from WhatsApp to your website. With omni-channel live agents and AI-powered chatbots (alternative to Intercom, Zendesk, Tawk.to).

Active ★ 328 MIT 🐳 Docker~$10/mo

SAMA

Next-Gen self-hosted chat server and clients.

Active ★ 161 GPL-3.0 🐳 Docker~$10/mo

Continuwuity

Community-driven Matrix homeserver, the continuation of conduwuit focusing on user experience and new features (fork of Conduit).

Active ★ 117 Apache-2.0 🐳 Docker~$10/mo

PushBits

Notification server for relaying push notifications via Matrix, similar to PushBullet and Gotify.

Maintained ★ 371 ISC ~$10/mo

GNUnet

Software framework for decentralized, peer-to-peer networking.

Unknown GPL-3.0 ~$10/mo

Groupboard

Online whiteboard, audio/video conferencing, screen sharing, shared code editing and optional session recording/playback.

Unknown ⊘ Proprietary ~$10/mo

Jami

Universal communication platform which preserves the user's privacy and freedoms.

Unknown GPL-3.0 ~$10/mo

PrivMX WebMail

Web-based, end-to-end encrypted email platform that uses an independent PKI.

Unknown ⊘ Proprietary ~$10/mo

TrueConf

Platform for your corporate communications, based on the advanced architecture, with support for UltraHD video conferencing, built-in messenger with personal and group chats, and a free version for up to 1,000 users.

Unknown ⊘ Proprietary 🐳 Docker~$20/mo

Virola Messenger

Instant messaging and collaboration tool with private and group chat rooms, continuous voice and video meetings, files sharing, issue tracking with integrated task board (alternative to Slack).

Unknown ⊘ Proprietary ~$10/mo

Frequently asked questions

What is the best self-hosted Communication - Custom Communication Systems software in 2026?

By GitHub stars, the most popular self-hosted Communication - Custom Communication Systems apps are Rocket.Chat (46,508 stars), Novu (40,341 stars), Chatwoot (39,906 stars). Popularity is only one signal: also check maintenance health, license and whether it fits your setup.

How many self-hosted Communication - Custom Communication Systems apps are actively maintained?

38 of the 46 apps listed had commits in the last 90 days and 2 more in the last 12 months; for 6 we have no repository activity data.

Which self-hosted Communication - Custom Communication Systems apps can I run with Docker?

23 of the 46 apps can run with Docker; 4 publish an image on Docker Hub, including Chatwoot, ntfy, Apprise and Databag.

Which licenses do self-hosted Communication - Custom Communication Systems apps use?

The most common licenses in this category are MIT (12 apps), Apache-2.0 (10 apps), AGPL-3.0 (7 apps).

How much does it cost to self-host Communication - Custom Communication Systems software?

The software itself is free to download. Based on our rough hardware estimates, the cheapest suitable VPS plan starts at about $10/month (median $10/month across apps in this category). Several light apps can share one server.

Figures from GitHub and Docker Hub as of 2026-11-15; hosting costs are rough estimates.