Aircall
Free plan available
Cloud-based business phone and VoIP solution for sales and support teams
Try Aircall freeFree plan availableBest Mattermost Alternatives (2026)
Exploring alternatives to Mattermost? We tracked 40 other Communication tools with full pricing breakdowns so you can compare costs before switching.
Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin, Founder & Lead Analyst
Overview
Mattermost is an open-source Slack alternative, with self-hosted and cloud options. Self-hosted is free (open source). Cloud starts at $35/month per deployment (not per user).
The Mattermost pitch is data ownership and control. Instead of Slack hosting your conversations on Slack's servers, you host Mattermost on your own infrastructure.
For teams worried about data privacy, regulatory compliance, or wanting complete control, Mattermost's self-hosted option is compelling. For teams that don't have infrastructure expertise, self-hosting is expensive (DevOps time).
Slack is simpler to adopt (sign up, add users, done). Mattermost requires installation, configuration, and ongoing maintenance. The cost difference is not just licensing-it's engineering time.
Mattermost makes sense for highly regulated industries (healthcare, finance) or large enterprises where data sovereignty is non-negotiable. For startups and SMBs, Slack's simplicity usually wins despite the data privacy concern.
Top picks
CloudTalk
Free plan available
AI-powered business communication software for sales and support teams with VoIP calling, IVR, and CRM integrations.
Try CloudTalk freeFree plan available
Around
Lightweight video calling designed for remote collaboration
View Around pricing40 Communication Alternatives to Mattermost
Compare with Mattermost
Compare with Mattermost
Compare with Mattermost
Compare with Mattermost
Discord
Voice, video, and text communication platform for communities
Communicationfreemium
From$5/mo
2 tiersCompare with Mattermost
Element (Matrix)
Secure decentralized messaging built on the Matrix protocol
Communicationopen-source
Free
3 tiers
Fathom
Free AI meeting assistant that records and summarizes calls
Communicationfreemium
From$0/mo
3 tiers
Fireflies.ai
AI meeting assistant that records and transcribes meetings
Communicationfreemium
From$0/mo
4 tiers
Compare with Mattermost
Google Meet
Free video conferencing by Google for meetings and calls
Communicationfreemium
From$3/mo
4 tiersCompare with Mattermost
Compare with Mattermost
Compare with Mattermost
Microsoft Teams
Team collaboration hub with chat, meetings, and file sharing
Communicationper-seat
From$4/mo
3 tiersCompare with Mattermost
Compare with Mattermost
Rocket.Chat
Open-source team communication platform you can self-host
Communicationopen-source
Free
3 tiersCompare with Mattermost
Tandem
Virtual office for remote teams with instant collaboration
Communicationfreemium
From$0/mo
4 tiersCompare with Mattermost
Compare with Mattermost
Vidyard
Video hosting and analytics platform for sales and marketing teams
Communicationper-seat
From$0/mo
4 tiersCompare with Mattermost
Compare with Mattermost
Compare with Mattermost
Compare with Mattermost
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Frequently Asked Questions: Mattermost Alternatives
What's the real cost of Mattermost self-hosted?
Free software, but you pay for infrastructure (servers, DevOps time). If you have a capable DevOps team, total cost is $500-1000/month. If you don't, you're outsourcing or building that team.
Is Mattermost really open source?
Yes. You can inspect the code, contribute improvements, and run it however you want. But you're responsible for security, updates, and maintenance.
When should you choose Mattermost over Slack?
Only if data privacy or regulatory requirements mandate it. For general team communication, Slack is simpler and cheaper even at $7.99+/month per user.
How many alternatives to Mattermost are there?
As of July 2026, there are 40 alternatives to Mattermost in the Communication category with full pricing data.
What is the cheapest alternative to Mattermost?
CloudTalk is the most affordable alternative at €0.15/mo. However, the best choice depends on your specific feature needs. Compare pricing and feature lists to find the right balance of cost and functionality for your use case.
Are there free alternatives to Mattermost?
Yes, Aircall, CloudTalk, Cal.com, and others offer free plans. Free tiers are a great way to evaluate solutions before upgrading to a paid plan. Keep in mind that free tiers often have feature or usage limitations compared to paid plans.