Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to RelayBeam – A new way of messaging using Ports

Hi HN! I am developing RelayBeam, to overcome the challenges faced by existing messaging platforms. I've introduced Ports based feature for contextual communication. It organizes conversations based on context through the user-defined ports. I've explained in detail about it with some examples at https://relaybeam.com/about Do try and suggest any more features you'd like to use!

RelayBeam is a messaging platform designed to address limitations in existing communication apps. It introduces a Ports feature that organizes conversations based on user-defined contexts, allowing people to separate… Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. RelayBeam – A new way of messaging using Ports launched in 2024; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Relay▲430

   An extension that adds Discord-style chat to every website

   2020 · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Twist 1.0▲413

   More productive messaging for teams

   2017 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

3. 3
   SpatialChat 3.0▲505

   All-in-one space for collaboration, all-hands and networking

   2022 · spatial.chat · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Thread Messaging on Slack▲710

   Keep conversations organized and easy to follow with Threads

   2017 · slack.com · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Stream Chat▲327

   Build, code and ship in app messaging in a few hours

   2019 · getstream.io · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Dashly.io (ex. Carrrot.io)▲300

   Turn visitors into customers with data driven conversation

   2018 · dashly.io · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Relay▲428

   A diverse, context-rich second brain for SaaS startups

   2022 · gorelay.co · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Slack Shared Channels▲480

   Work with anyone in Slack

   2017 · slack.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Dock – Slack minus the bloat, tax, and 90-day memory loss▲177

   Hey HN – I built Dock after years of team chat frustrations as a founder. Free forever for teams up to 5. Unlimited search, unlimited history. No "upgrade to see messages older than 90 days" nonsense. Built for teams who work both async and sync/real-time when it matters. runs on SOC 2 infra, compliant, secure and in-transit and at-rest encryption, runs on Cloudflare. Early stage – would love feedback from anyone who's felt the same pain.

   Jan 2026 · getdock.io · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Telegram Bot Platform 2.0▲474

    A new era of messaging

    2016 · telegram.org · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Relay▲92

    One-tap customer experience for the service industry

    2020 · its alternatives →

12. 12
    lightbeam▲85

    Cross-platform mobile screen sharing 🤯

    2019 · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Layer Platform API▲202

    Build rich application-to-user messaging

    2015 · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Beams Virtual Event Platform▲379

    Host engaging and profitable virtual conferences and more

    2022 · beams.pro · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Relay▲180

    Design communication synced with Slack

    2015 · relaypayments.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Hyperbeam API▲304

    Multiplayer embeds of any website

    2022 · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Buzz▲161

    Your people, your agents, your project — all in one place

    Jul 2026 · buzz.xyz · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Message.io▲296

    Bots that work everywhere

    2016 · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Relay – I built a modern web-based IRC/Discord replacement▲11

    Feb 2026 · relay.moltic.dev · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Waves Insights▲148

    Consumer Insights SDK for Messaging Platforms

    2018 · waves.ai · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Wire▲301

    Great conversations. Built for mobile, tablets, & desktop.

    2014 · wire.com · its alternatives →

22. 22
    BeamCall▲75

    Phone 2.0 app that texts everything you speak!

    2018 · its alternatives →

23. 23
    Teamhub.com▲237

    Hey HN, We've just launched our team collaboration platform where we're bringing together all the important tools under one app. We've been frustrated in the past with tools which had a huge disconnect between projects and chat. It always inevitably leads to teams using external chat apps for "project management" and then abandoning the main tools altogether. We're creating tools we hope teams will stick with. Super integrated Chat. Convert comments to tasks and have them auto added to project boards. Automations to help massively reduce burden on the team. Workflows, Time-Off and so much…

    2024 · teamhub.com · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Threads▲274

    Share ideas & trends with text

    2023 · threads.net · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →