US-based service - Your data may be subject to US CLOUD Act and accessed by US authorities

EU Alternative to Discord

Name: Discord
Brand: Discord

🇺🇸US Company

by Discord

Discord is a communication platform based in the United States, designed to facilitate voice, video, and text interactions among users. Originally popular among gaming communities, it has expanded to serve a wide range of groups and organizations. Key features include customizable server roles and permissions, which allow for tailored user experiences within communities, and integrated game overlay, enabling seamless communication during gameplay. Discord also offers text and voice channels for structured communication, screen sharing for collaborative activities, and bots for automation and moderation tasks. The platform supports rich presence integration with games, enhancing user interaction by displaying game activity. Community server discovery and promotion are also available, allowing users to find and join servers of interest. Discord operates under US jurisdiction, meaning user data is stored in the US and subject to US data laws, such as the CLOUD Act and FISA 702. The platform is free to use, with optional paid features available through Discord Nitro, which offers enhanced functionalities. Discord's target audience includes gamers, educators, and various online communities seeking organized communication tools.

💬Messaging Apps

Best European Alternatives to Discord

2 privacy-focused, GDPR-compliant alternatives

Stoat

🇬🇧

by Stoat

Stoat (formerly Revolt, rebranded in October 2025) is an open-source, privacy-focused messaging platform built in the UK. It provides a familiar Discord-like experience with servers, channels, voice chat, and rich media sharing — but with full GDPR compliance and EU data hosting. Stoat is fully self-hostable, giving communities and teams complete control over their data. It features fine-grained role-based permissions, end-to-end encryption, and does not require a phone number or real name to register. Ideal for privacy-conscious communities looking for a feature-rich alternative to Discord.

GDPR CompliantEU-hostedSelf-HostableOpen Source

freemiumMigration:●●●Several weeks, including the wait time for data export

Why switch?

Fully open-source codebase allows community security auditing and transparency.
Self-hosting option gives communities complete control over their data and infrastructure.
No phone number or real name required to register — strong privacy by default.

Consider

Much smaller user base than Discord — convincing your community to switch is the main challenge.
No direct import of Discord chat history, server structure, or roles.

View Details Compare Switch Guide

Visit Stoat

Element

🇬🇧

by Element

Element is a secure messenger and collaboration platform built on the Matrix open protocol, developed by Element (formerly New Vector) in London, UK. It provides end-to-end encrypted messaging, voice/video calls, and bridging to other platforms (Slack, Teams, WhatsApp). Element is used by the French government, German military (Bundeswehr), and NATO for secure communications. Organizations can self-host for complete data sovereignty, or use Element's managed hosting.

Open SourceSelf-HostableISO 27001EU-hostedGDPR Compliant

freemiumMigration:●●●Several days to a few weeks, depending on the complexity of your Discord setup

Why switch?

End-to-end encryption is enabled by default for all chats.
Self-hosting allows full control over data and server location.
GDPR compliance ensures strict data protection for EU users.

Consider

Migration from Discord may require manual transfer of chats and files.
Element lacks integrated game overlay for real-time gaming support.

View Details Compare Switch Guide

Visit Element

Why switch from Discord?

US CLOUD Act

US authorities can access your data stored by US companies, even if stored in Europe.

Privacy Concerns

US companies may collect and use your data in ways not compliant with EU standards.

EU Alternatives

EU-based services must comply with GDPR, giving you stronger privacy protections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there European alternatives to Discord?

Yes, there are several GDPR-compliant European alternatives to Discord. These EU-based services offer similar functionality while ensuring your data stays within EU jurisdiction and is protected under strict European privacy laws.

Why should I switch from Discord to an EU alternative?

Switching to an EU alternative gives you better data protection under GDPR, keeps your data in European data centers, and ensures you're not subject to US surveillance laws like the CLOUD Act. Many EU alternatives offer comparable features with stronger privacy guarantees.

Is Discord GDPR compliant?

As a US-based company, Discord may transfer and process your data in the United States. While they may have GDPR compliance measures, your data could still be subject to US laws including the CLOUD Act.

How do I migrate from Discord to an EU alternative?

We provide detailed migration guides to help you switch from Discord to European alternatives. These guides include step-by-step instructions, data export procedures, and tips for a smooth transition.

Other Messaging Apps you might want to replace

Ready to switch to a privacy-focused alternative?

Protect your data by moving to an EU-based service. Our migration guides make switching easy.

Complete Switching Guide Migration Guide

Resources

Last updated: January 26, 2026