Software Alternatives & Startups

Vesktop VS Datcord

Compare Vesktop VS Datcord and see what are their differences

Vesktop

Vesktop is a custom Discord App aiming to give you better performance and improve linux support - Vencord/Vesktop

Rating
0 reviews
Datcord

An open-source Discord client that uses Firefox and Neutron - gamingdoom/datcord

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Communication popularity
67% vs 33%
alternatives listed
23 vs 17

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Vesktop
Datcord
Website github.com github.com
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Vesktop 5 features
Datcord 5 features
  • Enhanced Privacy and Performance
    Vesktop is a standalone desktop application that doesn't rely on the official Discord Electron client. It uses a more lightweight approach, often resulting in better performance and reduced resource usage compared to the standard Discord desktop app.
  • Built-in Vencord Integration
    Vesktop comes with Vencord pre-installed, giving users immediate access to a rich ecosystem of plugins, themes, and customization options without needing to manually patch the Discord client.
  • Screen Sharing with Audio on Linux
    One of Vesktop's standout features is native support for screen sharing with audio on Linux, which is a long-standing limitation of the official Discord client on that platform. This makes it especially valuable for Linux users.
  • Open Source and Transparent
    Vesktop is fully open source, allowing the community to audit the code, contribute improvements, and verify that no malicious or unwanted behavior is present. This fosters trust and community-driven development.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Vesktop supports Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing a consistent and enhanced Discord experience across all major desktop operating systems.

Possible disadvantages

  • Violation of Discord's Terms of Service
    Using Vesktop and Vencord involves client modification, which is against Discord's Terms of Service. This means users risk account suspension or termination, although enforcement has historically been rare.
  • Potential Stability Issues
    Since Vesktop is an unofficial third-party client, it may experience bugs, crashes, or compatibility issues that don't exist in the official Discord app, especially after Discord pushes updates that change their internal APIs.
  • Delayed Feature Parity
    When Discord introduces new features or UI changes, Vesktop may take time to catch up or adapt, leaving users temporarily without access to the latest official functionality.
  • Smaller Community and Support
    Compared to the official Discord client, Vesktop has a much smaller user base and support network. Users may find it harder to get help with issues, and documentation may be less comprehensive.
  • Security Risks from Third-Party Plugins
    While Vencord's core plugins are reviewed, the ecosystem of community plugins can introduce security risks. Users who install unvetted plugins could potentially expose their accounts or systems to vulnerabilities.
  • Open-source and free
    Datcord is an open-source, free alternative Discord client, allowing users to avoid the official client while still accessing Discord services without any cost.
  • Lightweight
    Built using a minimal approach, Datcord can be lighter on system resources compared to the official Electron-based Discord client, which is known for high memory usage.
  • Privacy-focused
    As an unofficial client, Datcord can offer users more control over their data and telemetry, reducing the amount of tracking and analytics that the official Discord client sends.
  • Customizability
    Being open-source, users and developers can modify, extend, and customize the client to suit their specific needs and preferences, something not easily possible with the official client.
  • Linux-friendly
    Datcord is designed with Linux users in mind, providing a potentially better-integrated experience on Linux distributions compared to the official Discord client.

Possible disadvantages

  • Terms of Service violation risk
    Using third-party clients like Datcord violates Discord's Terms of Service, which means users risk having their accounts suspended or banned by Discord.
  • Limited features and compatibility
    Datcord may not support all of Discord's features, especially newer ones, since it relies on reverse-engineered or unofficial APIs that may not cover the full functionality of the platform.
  • Small community and limited support
    Datcord has a very small user base and development community compared to mainstream Discord clients, meaning bugs may go unresolved and support resources are limited.
  • Potential stability issues
    As an unofficial and less mature project, Datcord may experience crashes, bugs, and instability more frequently than the official Discord client.
  • Maintenance uncertainty
    The project may become abandoned or fall behind Discord's API changes at any time, as it depends on a small number of volunteer contributors to keep it updated and functional.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Vesktop
Datcord

Overall verdict

  • Vesktop is a well-regarded, community-built alternative Discord desktop client that combines Vencord's client-side mods with better performance and Linux support, making it a solid choice for users seeking a lighter, more customizable experience.

Why this product is good

  • It's a lightweight, faster alternative to the official Discord client, using less memory and resources.
  • It comes with Vencord preinstalled, offering built-in plugins, themes, and quality-of-life customizations.
  • It has significantly better Linux support, including proper screen sharing with audio (a common pain point with official Discord on Linux).
  • It's free and open source, giving transparency and community-driven development.
  • It respects privacy better by stripping out some of Discord's telemetry through Vencord.

Recommended for

  • Linux users who want reliable screen sharing with audio
  • Users who want a lighter, more performant Discord client
  • People who enjoy customizing their Discord experience with themes and plugins
  • Privacy-conscious users looking to reduce telemetry
  • Open-source enthusiasts who prefer community-maintained software

Overall verdict

  • Datcord appears to be an open-source, community-driven project available on GitHub, which makes it a transparent and potentially useful option for developers looking for a customizable Discord-related tool or client. However, as with many independent GitHub projects, its quality, maintenance level, and security should be evaluated carefully before relying on it.

Why this product is good

  • Open-source code allows you to inspect, audit, and modify it to fit your needs
  • Free to use, with no licensing costs typical of proprietary alternatives
  • Community involvement can bring rapid feature additions and bug fixes
  • Transparency in development helps build trust and enables self-hosting or forking

Recommended for

  • Developers comfortable reviewing and building from source code
  • Hobbyists and tinkerers who want a customizable Discord experience
  • Users who prioritize open-source and self-hosted solutions
  • Contributors interested in participating in an open-source community

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Vesktop 1 video + Add
Datcord 0 videos + Add

HOW to INSTALL VENCORD CLIENT | Vesktop: BetterDiscord Alternative

No Datcord videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Vesktop
Datcord
67% 67%
33% 33%
67% 67%
33% 33%
67% 67%
33% 33%
50% 50%
50% 50%

User comments

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Alternatives to Vesktop and Datcord

When comparing Vesktop and Datcord, you can also consider the following products.