Alternatives · Team Chat
Openfire alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded Openfire alternative is Matrix (3.0 GPA). It's also the best free one.
Openfire compared with 6 alternatives: ejabberd, Mattermost, Rocket.Chat, Zulip, Matrix and 1 more.
Openfire is free to use. All 6 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenfireThis tool | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| ejabberd | Free plan · from €200/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Mattermost | Free plan | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Rocket.Chat | Free plan | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Zulip | Free plan · from $3.50/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Matrix | Free | Free | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Pidgin | Free | Free | Windows, Linux |
Price against what you get
Openfire has no paid plan and scores 1.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 4 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
Zulip, Matrix and Pidgin score higher without starting lower.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Openfire
ejabberd
Erlang messaging server for XMPP, MQTT, SIP and Matrix
- ejabberd starts at €200 per month (Fluux managed cloud).
Suits: Developers building chat or messaging into a product
Mattermost
Self-hosted team messaging with playbooks, calls and boards
- Mattermost also lists a web app and iOS and Android apps.
- Mattermost also covers kanban boards, workflow automation and AI agents.
Suits: Organizations that must keep chat on their own servers or air-gapped networks
Rocket.Chat
Open-source, self-managed chat for security-focused teams
- Rocket.Chat also lists a web app and iOS and Android apps.
- Rocket.Chat is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Rocket.Chat also covers file sharing.
Suits: Organizations that must host chat themselves for data sovereignty
Zulip
Open-source team chat that organizes channels by topic
- Zulip starts at $3.50 per user / month self-hosted (billed monthly); Cloud from $6.67 billed annually.
- Zulip also lists a web app and iOS and Android apps.
- Zulip also covers file sharing.
Suits: Distributed teams that prefer asynchronous, topic-organized conversations
Matrix
Open, decentralized network for chat and calls
- Matrix is free.
- Matrix also lists a web app and iOS and Android apps.
- Matrix is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
Suits: Organizations that want to own their chat data on their own domain
Pidgin
Desktop chat client that connects to many chat networks at once
- Pidgin is free.
- Pidgin lists no macOS app, which Openfire has.
- Pidgin also covers file sharing.
Suits: People who already use XMPP or IRC and want one client
Limits worth knowing in Openfire
- It is server software: you install and maintain it yourself. Releases from 4.7.0 on no longer bundle a Java runtime, so you install one separately.
- Installers are listed for Windows, macOS (dmg), Debian and RPM packages, and a Unix tarball. No hosted version is offered on the pages read.
- The Spark desktop client download listed was last updated in March 2023.
- Support comes from the community through the project's forums and issue tracker; the pages read list no paid support.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Openfire?
The alternatives to Openfire in this directory are ejabberd, Mattermost, Rocket.Chat, Zulip, Matrix and Pidgin. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Openfire.
Is there a free alternative to Openfire?
Yes. Matrix and Pidgin are free to use. ejabberd, Mattermost, Rocket.Chat and Zulip have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Openfire alternatives work on Android?
The Openfire listing does not include an Android app. Mattermost, Rocket.Chat, Zulip and Matrix list one.
Which Openfire alternatives work on iOS?
The Openfire listing does not include an iOS app. Mattermost, Rocket.Chat, Zulip and Matrix list one.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.