Microsoft Teams costs $19/mo.
These cost $0.
5 free alternatives to Microsoft Teams, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
Microsoft Teams vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $19/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocket.Chat Community | open source | MIT | Self-host | ★ 46.4k | Microsoft Teams vs Rocket.Chat Community → |
| Zulip | open source | — | — | ★ 26.2k | Microsoft Teams vs Zulip → |
| Mattermost | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 39.5k | Microsoft Teams vs Mattermost → |
| Element | open source | AGPL-3.0-or later OR GPL-3.0+ | Local or hosted | ★ 13.6k | Microsoft Teams vs Element → |
| Cinny | open source | cm0zftngg00pz94snxajamc81 | Self-host | ★ 4.0k | Microsoft Teams vs Cinny → |
The picks
5 open source · ranked by fit
- 01
Rocket.Chat Community
open sourceMITSelf-host46.4kaug 2026Discord without the public friend graph: channels, threads and files for up to a hundred concurrent users.
The catch vs Microsoft TeamsRocket.Chat Community provides channels, threads, and files, but it has no Discord-wide social network, requires MongoDB administration, and caps the Community workspace at 100 concurrent users.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopmobilewebself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Deploy the Community workspace with Docker Compose, Podman, or Kubernetes
- setup
- A production installation requires MongoDB, DNS/TLS, email, backups, upgrades, and enough capacity planning to stay within the Community plan's 100-concurrent-user limit.
- your data
- Users, rooms, messages, and most metadata live in MongoDB; uploads live on local storage or a configured object-storage backend.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 02
Zulip
open source26.2kaug 2026Email-shaped topics inside team chat; excellent for async work and merciless about naming conversations.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopmobilewebself-hostedself-host, real ops
- 03
Mattermost
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host39.5knov 2026Open-source platform for secure, mission-critical collaboration.
The catch vs Microsoft TeamsRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Microsoft Teams.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/mattermost/mattermost-server or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-04
- 04
Element
open sourceAGPL-3.0-or later OR GPL-3.0+Local or hosted13.6kjul 2026Encrypted Matrix rooms with real apps and a free public homeserver; running your own server is optional suffering.
The catch vs Microsoft TeamsElement offers encrypted rooms and proper clients, but it lacks Discord's public friend graph, enormous bot/community ecosystem, and familiar gaming-centric social layer.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopmobilewebself-hostedthey host it
- install
- Use a free Matrix account in Element Web/mobile/desktop, or deploy Element Server Suite on your own infrastructure
- setup
- The clean hosted path is easy, but self-hosting the current Element Server Suite means operating a Matrix homeserver and its Kubernetes/Helm-based stack.
- your data
- Rooms, event history, account data, and media live on the selected Matrix homeserver; encrypted-room keys remain on clients and can be backed up through Matrix's key-backup system.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 05
Cinny
open sourcecm0zftngg00pz94snxajamc81Self-host4.0knov 2026Elegant, secure Matrix client with e2ee.
The catch vs Microsoft TeamsRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Microsoft Teams.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/cinnyapp/cinny or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-04
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Microsoft Teams open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Microsoft Teams?+
The top free alternative to Microsoft Teams is Rocket.Chat Community (open source, MIT). Discord without the public friend graph: channels, threads and files for up to a hundred concurrent users. Other popular Microsoft Teams replacements include Zulip, Mattermost, Element.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Microsoft Teams?+
Yes. Of the 5 free alternatives to Microsoft Teams, 5 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Rocket.Chat Community (MIT), Zulip (free), Mattermost (Open Source), Element (AGPL-3.0-or later OR GPL-3.0+), Cinny (cm0zftngg00pz94snxajamc81).
How much does switching from Microsoft Teams to a free alternative save?+
Microsoft Teams starts at $19/month per seat ($228/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Rocket.Chat Community saves $1,140 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Microsoft Teams clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Microsoft Teams is NOT REALLY (use a free alternative, save the tokens). Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for Microsoft Teams or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 5 battle-tested open-source alternatives like Rocket.Chat Community or Zulip.
What is the catch when switching from Microsoft Teams to Rocket.Chat Community?+
Rocket.Chat Community provides channels, threads, and files, but it has no Discord-wide social network, requires MongoDB administration, and caps the Community workspace at 100 concurrent users.
