Mattermost alternatives

01Why people leave Mattermost

02The alternatives, ranked by fit

1. Self-hosted federation

   ElementElement

   Element is the closest fit here if you want to leave Mattermost without giving up deployment control. It supports self-hosting, cross-organization federation, and air-gapped deployments, according to the published product summary. That makes it worth evaluating for organizations that need communications across separate environments, rather than a straightforward hosted-chat replacement.

   Trade-off: Paid costs and support details are not published on the vendor's site.

   Element review
   6.5/10

   from
   Freefree plan
2. Async self-hosted chat

   ZulipZulip

   Zulip fits teams that want self-hosting but prefer organized async conversations over a more conventional channel-first setup. It also targets open-source and software communities. The pricing page shows a free plan and a starting price of $3.5, so it gives budget-conscious teams a concrete price point to compare with Mattermost's paid option.

   Trade-off: Topics have a learning curve, and the published information does not specify plan limits.

   Zulip reviewMattermost vs Zulip
   7.8/10

   from
   $3.50/mofree plan
3. Channels and integrations

   SlackSlack

   Slack is a practical switch for teams that want channels, integrations, and collaboration with external partners. Its the pricing page starts at $7.25 and includes a free plan. A Mattermost commenter compares a cited $10 per-user monthly price with Slack, but check current plan details rather than treating that Reddit comparison as a quote.

   Trade-off: The free plan is limited; advanced AI costs more.

   Slack reviewMattermost vs Slack
   6.8/10

   from
   $7.25/mofree plan
4. All-in-one collaboration

   LarkLark

   Lark is worth comparing if your team wants chat alongside docs, meetings, and workflows, rather than replacing Mattermost with chat alone. The pricing page includes a free plan and a $6 starting price. It may suit small teams consolidating collaboration tools, but check the plan limits and add-on costs against your actual use.

   Trade-off: Plan limits and add-ons can change the attractive starting price.

   Lark review
   7.3/10

   from
   $6/mofree plan
5. Budget team chat

   PumblePumble

   Pumble gives budget-conscious teams another core-chat option to price against Mattermost. Its the pricing page has a free plan and starts at $2.49. It is positioned for teams that need message history and meetings, so compare those needs with the limits on the plan you would actually use before moving a whole team.

   Trade-off: Check storage, integration, and meeting limits before switching.

   Pumble review
   7.1/10

   from
   $2.49/mofree plan
6. Secure deployments

   WireWire

   Wire is a candidate if your Mattermost setup is driven by security requirements rather than workflow features. The pricing page highlights encrypted chat, SSO, SCIM, and on-premises deployment, with a free plan and a $7.45 starting price. That makes it relevant to organizations that need deployment options and identity controls in their shortlist.

   Trade-off: Pricing for larger deployments and support is not published.

   Wire review
   7.5/10

   from
   €7.45/mofree plan
7. Notes and to-dos

   FlockFlock

   Flock is a lower-cost option to consider if your team wants chat plus shared notes and to-dos. The pricing page includes a free plan and a $4.5 starting price. It may work for smaller teams looking to replace everyday collaboration, but verify the Starter caps against your users and workflows before committing.

   Trade-off: Starter caps may not fit; PRO billing is annual.

   Flock review
   7.1/10

   from
   $4.50/mofree plan

03Side by side

Tool	Score	From	Free plan	Best for
Mattermost Mattermost (current)	6.0	Free	Yes	Teams needing self-hosted collaboration
Element Element	6.5	Free	Yes	Organizations that need self-hosting
Zulip Zulip	7.8	$3.50/mo	Yes	Teams that prefer async conversations
Slack Slack	6.8	$7.25/mo	Yes	Teams that rely on channels and integrations
Lark Lark	7.3	$6/mo	Yes	Teams consolidating chat and collaboration
Pumble Pumble	7.1	$2.49/mo	Yes	Small teams wanting free chat
Wire Wire	7.5	€7.45/mo	Yes	Small teams prioritizing encrypted chat
Flock Flock	7.1	$4.50/mo	Yes	Small teams wanting free team chat

Prices from each vendor's pricing page, checked Nov 6, 2026.