Armadaencrypted,
open-source,
discord alternative
- Unbannable communities
- Private by default
- Built on the open web
Voice and video calls, custom emojis, GIFs, and more.
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Discord bridge & server import
Mirror a channel both ways, or import your whole server. Nobody has to move all at once.
More than a dozen presets, from lantern to bubblegum, or build your own palette.
Custom emojis
Install whole emoji packs or upload your community's own, then react with anything.
Nobody can read your chats,
NSI QPxt EDW
Locked on your device before sending, even the sender and community name. It uses the open Concord protocol, so anyone can verify it.
Apps belong to whoever runs the servers...
Armada is spread across free public servers.
Self-hostable at every level.
Communities are decentralized by default. When you want more independence, every piece runs on your own hardware. Take one piece or all three; the self-hosting guide walks through each one.
Self-host the client
Serve the web app from your own domain. armada →
Self-host a relay
Keep encrypted messages on a relay you run. ditto-relay →
Self-host voice
Route calls through your own LiveKit box. armada-av →
Open protocol · no lock-in
Interoperable with other Nostr apps.
Armada is built on Nostr and supports multiple formats including Concord, NIP-29, and Buzz communities. One key logs you in across the ecosystem, and where clients share protocols, your communities and DMs come with you.
Latest on Armada.
August 4, 2026 · M. K. Fain
How to Migrate Your Discord Server to Armada
Migrate your Discord server to Armada in minutes: channels, roles, emoji, and up to 10,000 messages of history per channel, plus an optional live two-way bridge.
July 30, 2026 · Derek Ross
How to Self-host Armada: Open Source Discord Alternative
Armada communities already run without a host. Here is how to own the rest: the app you load, the relay your messages travel over, and the server your calls go through.
July 30, 2026 · M. K. Fain
The Best Discord Alternatives in 2026, Compared
Discord's IPO, ID scans, and 2025 data breach have people leaving. We compare the top Discord alternatives on encryption, privacy, and who can shut you down.
Frequently asked questions
Is Armada a good Discord alternative?
If you have used Discord, you already know the layout: communities, channels, threads, voice, and moderation. The difference is underneath. Every community is end-to-end encrypted, your account is a key instead of an email, and communities live on many relays at once, so no company can ban you or delete your server. Read the full comparison.
Is Armada free?
Yes. Armada is free and open source under the AGPL-3.0 license, with no ads and no paid tier.
Can I be banned from Armada?
There is no company account to ban. Community owners moderate their own spaces, but no one can delete your identity or take your community down across all of its relays.
Do I need a phone number or email to sign up?
No. Signing up generates a cryptographic key, and that key is your whole account, on Armada and across every other Nostr app. How to store your key.
Does Armada work on iPhone?
There is no iOS app yet. The web app at armada.buzz works on iPhone, and native apps exist for Android, Linux, and Windows.
Is Armada ready to use?
Armada is in open beta ahead of its v1.0 release. Communities, encrypted DMs, and voice and video calls all work today, with new releases landing almost daily. Expect occasional rough edges while it matures.
chat like nobody's watching.
$ Community owned and operated._
On the way · iOS
Get notified when Armada lands on iOS.
Armada runs on the web, Android, Linux, and Windows today, and the iPhone app is coming. Drop your email and we will tell you the day it ships. No spam, just the release.