Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Discourse VS Discord

Compare Discourse VS Discord and see what are their differences

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Discourse logo Discourse

Discourse is an open source discussion platform built for the next decade of the Internet.

Discord logo Discord

Step up your game with a modern voice & text chat app. Crystal clear voice, multiple server and channel support, mobile apps, and more.
  • Discourse Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-13
  • Discord Homepage
    Homepage //
    2024-03-13

Discord

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
Release Date
2015 May

Discourse features and specs

  • Modern Interface
    Discourse provides a clean, intuitive, and responsive user interface that works well on both desktops and mobile devices.
  • Open Source
    Discourse is open source software, allowing for customization, self-hosting, and community contributions, which can reduce costs and increase flexibility.
  • Rich Features
    The platform includes a variety of built-in features such as threaded replies, real-time notifications, and community moderation tools.
  • Scalability
    Discourse is designed to handle small communities as well as large, active forums, making it suitable for a variety of use cases.
  • Security
    Regular updates and a dedicated security team help keep the software secure against vulnerabilities.
  • Integration and APIs
    Discourse offers extensive APIs and integrates well with various other services and plugins, facilitating seamless extensions and automation.

Possible disadvantages of Discourse

  • Resource Intensive
    Discourse can be resource-heavy, which may require significant server capacity and maintenance, especially for large communities.
  • Hosting Costs
    While you can self-host Discourse, the server and maintenance costs can be high. Managed hosting plans provided by Discourse can also be expensive.
  • Complex Setup
    Installing and configuring Discourse can be complex, particularly for those without technical expertise in server management and Ruby on Rails.
  • Learning Curve
    Users and administrators might face a steeper learning curve compared to more traditional forum software due to its modern interface and extensive features.
  • Limited Built-in Themes
    The default theme options are somewhat limited, and extensive customization requires knowledge of front-end development.
  • Dependency on PostgreSQL and Redis
    Discourse relies on PostgreSQL for its database and Redis for caching, which might complicate setup and maintenance compared to solutions that use simpler database architectures.

Discord features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Discord offers a clean, intuitive design that is easy to navigate, making it accessible for users of all skill levels.
  • Free-to-Use
    The core features of Discord are available for free, making it an affordable option for communication.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Discord is available on various platforms including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and web browsers, ensuring widespread compatibility.
  • Voice and Video Chat
    Discord offers high-quality voice and video chat capabilities, allowing for seamless communication among users.
  • Customizable Servers
    Users can create and customize their own servers, including various channels, roles, and permissions.
  • Community Building
    Discord is ideal for building and managing online communities, thanks to its various tools for moderation and engagement.
  • Rich Media Integration
    Discord supports the integration of various media types such as images, videos, and links, which can be embedded directly into conversations.
  • Bots and Integrations
    The platform supports a wide range of bots and integrations that can automate tasks, entertain, and provide information.

Possible disadvantages of Discord

  • Privacy Concerns
    Some users have raised concerns about data privacy and the level of access Discord has to personal information.
  • Freemium Model Limitations
    While the basic version is free, some advanced features require a Nitro subscription, which can be a drawback for some users.
  • Learning Curve for New Users
    Despite its user-friendly interface, the plethora of features and settings can be overwhelming for newcomers.
  • Server Downtime
    Like any online service, Discord can experience outages or downtime, disrupting communication.
  • Security Risks
    There have been instances of security breaches and malicious activities facilitated through Discord, posing risks to users.
  • Voice Quality Variability
    Although generally good, voice and video quality can sometimes be inconsistent, particularly for users with slower internet connections.
  • Resource Intensive
    Discord can be resource-intensive, particularly on less powerful systems, potentially affecting performance.
  • Limited Search Functionality
    The search functionality within servers can be limited, making it difficult to find older messages or specific content.

Analysis of Discord

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Discord is a highly versatile and powerful tool for communication and community building. Its wide range of features and active development make it a strong contender in the space of online communication platforms.

Why this product is good

  • Discord is a popular communication platform that offers a comprehensive set of features including voice, video, and text chat, making it ideal for communities, gaming groups, and teams. It offers server customization with various roles and permissions, seamless integration with other applications, and strong moderation tools. Additionally, its user-friendly interface and large number of active users make it an attractive choice for both casual and professional use.

Recommended for

  • Gamers looking for a reliable platform to coordinate and communicate during gameplay.
  • Communities and clubs seeking to organize group activities, discussions, and events.
  • Teams needing an efficient way to communicate in real-time and manage projects.
  • Individuals who want to connect with others who share similar interests through various community servers.

Discourse videos

Why We Chose The Discourse Platform For Our Forums

More videos:

  • Review - Why Discourse is the Best Forum Software Out There (No, Really) | Location Rebel
  • Review - A Grammar Review for Discourse Analysis

Discord videos

IS DISCORD REALLY THE BEST? - Voice Chat Platform Showdown

More videos:

  • Review - The Discord App Review
  • Tutorial - How to Use Discord App - EASY Discord Tutorial

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Discourse and Discord)
Forums And Forum Software
Communication
0 0%
100% 100
Forums
100 100%
0% 0
Group Chat & Notifications

User comments

Share your experience with using Discourse and Discord. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Discourse and Discord

Discourse Reviews

20 Telegram Alternatives to Chat With in 2024
Discourse is a basic forum function that could be an alternative to Telegram if you want to stick to text discussions. It's pretty analog, missing both video and livestreaming tools. Instead, Discourse is a basic community that lets you organize discussions--it feels a bit like having your own reddit or Quora.
18 Best Discord Alternatives 2020 | Expert Reviews
Discourse comes in a couple of flavours. You can self-host it yourself in which case the software is free, and you simply need to sign up for server space, or you can pay Discourse for a hosted-for-you option, though self-hosting is a lot cheaper the premium option takes care of the technical side.
IndieHackers: Best forum software
I used Flarum when trying to get a community set up for my product (ended up abandoning it to revisit when we have a larger customer base). It worked fairly well and I enjoyed it but it's definitely beta and unless you're fairly tech savvy it's not quite worth the setup / maintenance. Lots of config changes, crashes, huge issues with plugins, and some features missing. I'd...

Discord Reviews

  1. Rohan77
    · co at Youtube vanced ·

    At present, there’s no better platform for bringing together a global audience with shared interests. However, server admins must invest significant time in moderation to balance community engagement. While it’s important to remove problematic members, it’s equally crucial to allow lively discussions without excessive moderation. Additionally, Discord’s support for communities dedicated to serving their users could be improved to better support these efforts.

  2. Great way to gather communities

    Currently there is no better platform to gather a worldwide audience of people that share a common interest. Server admins just need to invest a lot of time to ensure the community receives the right amount of moderation. Bad apples need to go while folks are still allowed to engage in a spirited conversation that isn’t stifled by over-moderation. Discord support itself could be better in assisting communities that exist to serve their user base in good faith.

    🏁 Competitors: Twitter Ads, Facebook
  3. Absolutely love this app.

    There used to be bugs every update or so, but they've managed it well. I like chatting with my friends, having a server as my personal calender and task list as well as playing games.


20 Telegram Alternatives to Chat With in 2024
You probably know about Discord. It’s a forum-builder with a mix of live streaming tools built in. Created for gamers to share about the games they love plus show off their skills, Discord has some good features. You can chat with other members, create channels, and grow a community.
The 7 best Zoom alternatives in 2024
Discord pricing: Free to use; starts at $2.99/user/month for Nitro Basic, which lets you share larger files—up to 50 MB—and offers cosmetic upgrades like animated avatars and custom video backgrounds.
Source: zapier.com
Top 10 Zoom Alternatives in 2024 — Better Video Conferencing Software
Overall, Discord is your best Zoom alternative if you’re looking for great audio performance. I believe voice communication is where Discord shines. The online lessons I had over Zoom can’t compare to Discord in terms of impeccable audio quality, mostly thanks to the Krisp noise suppression, which made all the difference for me.
Source: pumble.com
The 10 Best Twitter Alternatives if You’re Thinking of Quitting X
Discord presents a unique opportunity to build community, tailor audience experiences with roles, and host live events. Its infrastructure supports the spontaneous creation of sub-communities, allowing for targeted, engaged interactions.
4 Twitter alternatives for brands considering leaving Twitter in 2024
At Unwinnable, we use Discord to connect with our digital magazine subscribers. Since it's limited to subscribers only, there are fewer people to reach out to than on our other channels, but it also has our most dedicated readers. I actually turned to them to figure out what social media channels they use to follow sites like ours.
Source: zapier.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Discord should be more popular than Discourse. It has been mentiond 137 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Discourse mentions (23)

  • Qilin: A Starter Project Template For Every Open Source Project
    GitHub Discussions can also be a great place for support as long as these are regularly monitored. Another option along the same lines is Discourse and the Open Source Matrix which is used by quite a few Open Source and community-based projects. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: How to run an old-school mailing list?
    A lot of communities use [Discourse ](https://discourse.org). [LPSF](https://forum lpsf.org) migrated to it when Yahoo Groups was discontinued. Some of the advantages are that it's open source, self-hostable, and can be configured to work as both a traditional mailing list and modern forum. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • My Fediverse use – I'm hosting everything myself – PeerTube, Mastodon and Lemmy
    More like https://discourse.org/. You can run it yourself, but I can also just have them ding a credit card every month and not think about it again (I do this for a community). - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Reddit faces content quality concerns after its Great Mod Purge
    Discourse perhaps? I've seen it in use in a few places; it has a modern look and feel to it at least. https://discourse.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • So Long, Twitter and Reddit
    I fully agree with you see my comment here[0] -- I think you may have misread my comment, it says "Discourse" (as in the forum software[1]), not Discord. [0]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37245220. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
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Discord mentions (137)

  • Enable End Task in Taskbar by Right-click on Windows 11?
    Enable End Task in Taskbar by Right-click : When we are using applications on Windows 11, when our work is done, we close the application by clicking on the Close Button (X) in the Top bar of the application. We can also close an application using the ALT + F4 key combination. Either way, the system will ensure the application is shut down properly, saving the data before exiting. Certain Applications, like... - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Getting Started with Programming: A Beginner's Guide
    Joining programming communities like Stack Overflow, Reddit, and Discord. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Financial Sustainability in Open Source Projects: A Guide to Thriving
    An engaged community is a cornerstone of financial sustainability. Active community members can provide resources, spread the word, and attract potential sponsors. Utilize platforms like Discord or GitHub Discussions to maintain regular communication and foster collaboration. For more on community strategies, check out community engagement strategies. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Mastering Crowdfunding for Open Source Projects
    Before launching a crowdfunding campaign, it's crucial to build an active community. Platforms like GitHub, Twitter, and Discord are excellent for fostering relationships and trust with your project's users. An engaged community can serve as your initial group of backers and help spread the word about your campaign. For more insights on community engagement, explore community-driven projects. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Empowering Open Source: The Role of Funding Workshops
    A thriving community is intertwined with sustainable funding. Workshops emphasize effective communication through platforms like Slack and Discord, as well as recognizing contributors to maintain engagement. For more strategies on building a sustainable community, consider exploring open source project sponsorship tips. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Discourse and Discord, you can also consider the following products

Flarum - Flarum is the next-generation forum software that makes online discussion fun. It's simple, fast, and free.

Slack - A messaging app for teams who see through the Earth!

phpBB - Raspberry Pi. The Raspberry Pi is a cheap, credit-card sized computer. The official website uses phpBB for their discussion forums. phpBB is not affiliated with nor responsible for any of the sites listed on the showcase.

Telegram - Telegram is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security. It’s superfast, simple and free.

Vanilla Forums - Build an engaging community forum using Vanilla's modern cloud forum software.

Element.io - Secure messaging app with strong end-to-end encryption, advanced group chat privacy settings, secure video calls for teams, encrypted communication using Matrix open network. Riot.im is now Element.