Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Volatile messaging (self hosted and open source) launched in 2014; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Total.js Messenger▲181

   A small, open-source alternative to Slack

   2017 · totaljs.com · its alternatives →

2. 2
   HiveFlux + Slack▲93

   Real-time task management meets real-time communication

   2015 · blog.hiveflux.com · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Node.js Messenger▲140

   A small alternative to Slack

   2017 · totaljs.com · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Boundary Free▲74

   Server and App Monitoring

   2014 · domaineasy.com · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Speedback▲119

   Anonymous peer feedback via Slack

   2016 · speedback.co · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Sandstorm.io▲101

   A better way to run a personal server

   2015 · sandstorm.io · its alternatives →

7. 7OA
   Outkit – an abstraction layer for outbound messaging▲7

   2018 · outkit.io · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Ring▲83

   A free software for distributed and secured communication

   2015 · its alternatives →

9. 9
   RancherOS▲59

   A minimalist distribution of Linux

   2015 · rancher.com · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Selective Share▲68

    Host-proof applications made easy

    2015 · selectiveshare.com · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Samba▲57

    Reactive video messaging

    2014 · supersurvey.me · its alternatives →

12. 12
    VoCore▲75

    A coin-sized Linux computer with wifi

    2014 · indiegogo.com · its alternatives →

13. 13AA
    Android and iOS SDKs for building messaging with self-hosted server▲5

    2015 · actorapp.ghost.io · its alternatives →

14. 14
    bawkterm: an open-source SSH/sFTP client▲66

    A desktop client for SSH, SFTP, Docker over SSH

    22d ago · github.com · its alternatives →

15. 15EO
    EMP – Open Source Encrypted Messaging▲7

    2014 · emp.jar.st · its alternatives →

16. 16PA
    Postways, a Message Management System for Transactional Messages▲5

    2016 · postways.com · its alternatives →

17. 17SA
    Simple app-to-app messaging with a hosted server and common interface▲6

    2014 · dropfrog.io · its alternatives →

18. 18BI
    Bloop: Information-theoretically secure, expiring messages▲9

    2014 · bloop.mit.edu · its alternatives →

19. 19AD
    A Decentralized Chat Using JavaScript and Rust (WebAssembly)▲6

    2019 · perlin-network.github.io · its alternatives →

20. 20OS
    Open-source customer support on Telegram▲5

    2021 · telebooth.kanthi.io · its alternatives →

21. 21SA
    Sorcia – a Federated Git hosting engine▲7

    2020 · sorcia.org · its alternatives →

22. 22ES
    Etherpoke – scriptable network session monitor▲9

    2015 · codeward.org · its alternatives →

23. 23PF
    PubStorm – Free CLI-based static web hosting with Let's Encrypt support▲9

    2016 · pubstorm.com · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Smokesignal – chat via apache logs like xkcd1810▲7

    2017 · github.com · 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 →