Feb 10, 2026, 3:29 AMAlso, given recent events: I know that Matrix is far from perfect but please fedi for a brief moment can we stop constantly hating it publicly???
While every (open) option for a platform to move to is a mess, Matrix is probably the least terrible option for people who have been using Discord.
Feb 10, 2026, 4:01 AM@noisytoot From my experience, the issues haven't even been with Matrix but rather the official implementations. I don't use Element anymore, nor do I use Synapse anymore... and the problems just went away for me.
@hexaheximal I use Nheko and Conduit and I have had plenty of problems. For instance:
[crypto] [critical] failed to restore olm account: unpickle: BAD_ACCOUNT_KEY and loses its OLM keysFeb 10, 2026, 4:18 AM@noisytoot That's honestly quite odd. I use a lot of the same things but just don't have those issues.
Although, notable exception: Joining rooms being broken and getting stuck on loading. That is a problem that I have been *constantly* dealing with. Invites are also similarly broken.
Feb 10, 2026, 4:20 AM@noisytoot Despite that though, from what I have seen I do believe that continuwuity is doing a really good job of making Matrix at least slightly less of a mess - it's *certainly* better than Synapse.
Feb 10, 2026, 4:21 AM@noisytoot I also remember trying out Dendrite years ago, but it seems to be basically dead now. :(
@hexaheximal Dendrite apparently does not work over IPv6 in its default configuration so I cannot take it seriously
@noisytoot @hexaheximal Well, Conduit has barely been maintained for a couple of years now. Tuwunel is the official successor (at least that's what they claim on their website). I'm having a better experience with it than conduit, that's for sure.
Tuwunel is the official successor
It is not, you are confusing Conduit with Conduwuit. Conduit is still maintained.
I would like to switch to Continuwuity (the other Conduwuit fork) but neither that nor Tuwunel is currently an option anyway because the database is incompatible with the latest version of Conduit and there is currently no way to migrate.
@noisytoot @hexaheximal You're right, I thought it was a successor to Conduit, my bad!
Conduit's been getting some sporadic commits here and there but hasn't received any big changes for a long time. Not surprising that the experience is pretty bad given the room upgrades and other new Matrix MSCs that were implemented on other servers.
As for the lack of migration path, I agree, it sucks.
Feb 10, 2026, 7:41 AM@hexaheximal @noisytoot I think the main issue is people comparing the UX in encrypted rooms with other messaging app in clear text.
I have often seen "I have problems to decrypt stuff with matrix, I think it is better to use [insert unencrypted IM app]". But they are 2 different use cases
Honestly, I find that matrix for public rooms (so, like discord) works well
Feb 10, 2026, 7:43 AM@hexaheximal @noisytoot Recent versions of the official apps have finally fix most of decryption failure. I haven't seen one for a moment now. But that meme will be hard to forget 😅
🔒 Unable to decrypt message
How's matrix's moderation tools?
There's someone who likes posting gore to public matrix and xmpp channels, some of the most maintained xmpp clients implemented some moderation tools where an admin can delete individual posts or everything from some account.
It unfortunately only works with some clients, but I pretty quickly learned to switch to the clients that do support moderation.
I thought matrix uses a blockchain/git like synchronization algorithm, so I think deleting messages is harder to do.
(Though on the plus side, If you want the message history it does get synced between servers and rooms can stay up if one server goes down.)
For what it's worth, I kind of think from the xmpp space the client that's got the best chance to be called discord like is movim.
And to make things more confusing apparently someone figured out how to add voice chat to IRC.
@hexaheximal my friends seem to be leaning towards https://stoat.chat/ (formerly revolt chat)
they are heavy discord users and basically want feature parity with discord and are specifically interested in the “servers”, roles, and channels that discord has. seems like txt, voice, and video arent enough
recommended jami and signal too, but nope. at least they are technically inclined and willing to self host
couldnt recommend matrix, irc, or xmpp because usability issues
@Logical_Error @hexaheximal but their app is very much don't allow stuff to be done until you login into the browser for now. What is not there in xmpp?
@methuselah @hexaheximal iirc last i checked the app ecosystem was fragmented, but looking now theres dino which looks neat
any you would recommend as a discord alternative? best if it closely resembles discord in functionality. ill toss it over as a suggestion to them and see what they think
@Logical_Error @hexaheximal xmpp apps do lack features that you are looking in the apps like conversations! Though what you are looking currently can be provided by riot
@Logical_Error @hexaheximal but overall conversations have everything you need for stable server and usage
@methuselah @hexaheximal thanks! will check it out and let my friends know
@Logical_Error @hexaheximal conversation is android app and default sever*
in addition to https://stoat.chat/, these look like good alternatives too
https://github.com/fluxerapp/fluxer
https://github.com/spacebarchat + https://fermi.chat