Discord Analogs: Overview of Alternatives in Case of Blocking

As of 9 October 2024, the Discord messenger is officially blocked in Russia. [Updated.]

Discord may be blocked in Russia. This information was announced in several news sources at the end of September. According to hi-tech, Discord has been experiencing malfunctions lately, and Roskomnadzor has already issued 5 new decisions against the site for violating Russian law. If blocking does happen, it will be useful to know about existing alternatives.

Discord features

Discord is a communication platform that provides users with the ability to exchange text and voice messages, as well as hold video meetings. It was created in 2015 and quickly gained the trust of gamers. Today Discord is far from being just an app for gamers, it is used by large companies, startups, educational projects, crypto-enthusiasts, and various IT teams. The audience of the platform is quite wide, as the platform covers all the main communication tasks.

Let's take a look at Discord's functionality, which has become a defining factor for communication in a business environment:

• The platform features chats, voice messages and video calls.
• Users can create their own servers and set up different channels and groups for communication.
• There is support for various files and sharing capabilities.
• Users can organise events, broadcast and share the screen.
• The platform is available on a variety of devices, allowing users to stay connected anytime, anywhere.

How to replace Discord

Let's take a look at what alternative platforms there are on the Russian market that can replace the familiar Discord for businesses. Let's look at a few alternatives with similar functions:

• eXpress 
• Amo 
• VK Teams 
• Compass 
• TrueConf 
• Пачка 
• Контур.Толк 
• РосЧат

eXpress

eXpress is a platform that combines video conferencing, messenger, mail, smartapps in one application.

Functionality: 

• Comfortable and intuitive interface.
• Support for various communication formats: text, voice and video, file sharing.
• Videoconferencing for 250+ participants with call recording, screen sharing and reactions.
• The ability to create group chats and communities of interest.
• Federation (you can chat with both corporate eXpress users and users outside your organisation).
• The eXpress SmartApps technology allows you to integrate the platform with different company applications and systems to solve work tasks within the same ecosystem.

eXpress works without restrictions in Russia and is not subject to sanctions, which makes it an attractive alternative to Discord. It is available on all platforms - iOS, Android, Web, Desktop. You can deploy eXpress either on the company's own servers or in a secure cloud.

The eXpress platform is characterised by a high level of data protection. The security of the entire platform is confirmed by FSTEC certificate No. 4232. Messages, calls, conferences and files are fully encrypted. 

The application is completely free for public use, and various paid licence purchase options are available for enterprise versions.

Amo

Corporate messenger from amoCRM, which is created for companies and solving working tasks. The platform has a rather clear and convenient interface. Users can communicate in personal and group chats, add participants from the contact list, put reactions. It is also possible to use bots within the platform to automate various work processes.

Amo supports integration with other systems through an open API. The application is available on various platforms: Web, desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux) and mobile devices (iOS and Android).

VK Teams

VK Teams is a service from Mail.ru Group that offers solutions for teamwork and communication:

• Group and private chats.
• Videoconferencing with screen sharing capability.
• Guest access to video conferences.
• The ability to create tasks, schedule meetings, and organise workflow.
• Users can use their VKontakte account to log in to the service.

The service is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and Sailfish operating systems. There is a free version with limited functionality and number of users.

Compass

Compass is a team collaboration platform that is suitable for both small and large organisations. It supports text, voice messaging and video calls. There are tools for collaborative document editing and note taking, a calendar for planning meetings and managing schedules, and analytical tools for tracking team performance.

Compass is available in both a web version and as a mobile app for iOS and Android. Users can count on prompt technical support.

For small teams of up to 10 people, Compass offers a free rate.

TrueConf

TrueConf is a platform for corporate communications, which is focused on video conferencing. However, the service also provides an opportunity to use corporate messenger both with a link to conferences and outside of them. The messenger supports personal and group chats, exchange of documents, links and media materials.

Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile versions for iOS and Android.

In the free version, the service supports 50 users, chats and one-on-one video calls.

Пачка

A corporate messenger that is suitable for communication and collaboration between large and small teams:

• Audio and video calls with up to 100 participants within the messenger.
• The ability to invite external users.
• Call recording, screen sharing.
• Task Manager.
• Chats (private dialogues, channels: private and public, group conversations).
• You can connect a special module for creating training courses or materials for the knowledge base of the company.

The developer offers a free plan for 2,000 messages per month with limited functionality, as well as paid options for larger companies.

Контур.Толк 

Contur.Tolk is a service focused on video conferencing and online meetings in a secure space. But the developers have recently added a messenger to Contur.Tolk. Now users can communicate in chats, create both open and closed channels. Integrated functions allow sharing files, videos and images, mentioning colleagues and putting reactions to messages.

Only employees of the organisation can access the service, the platform is designed for distributed and remote teams. 

RosChat

RosChat is a corporate messenger that was developed specifically for the Russian market. It allows communication in group and private chats, as well as video calls with up to 200 participants. RosChat is installed on the company's servers, which ensures data security, and can only be used by corporate users. 

Messenger features: 

• Private and group chats 
• Information channels up to 500 users 
• Chat polls and voting
• Videoconferencing up to 200 participants

The messenger is installed on the company's servers, which makes it a secure solution. You can use the desktop version of the service or install a mobile application on iOS or Android.