Beyond the walled garden: why some Discord communities move to WorkAdventure
The “Great Discord Migration” has begun.
Between mandatory age verification and the growing concerns over data privacy, many communities are realizing that “free” platforms often come with a hidden cost: control. For years, Discord has been the default home for gamers, developers, and hobbyists. But as the platform evolves away from its user-centric roots, it’s time to look at alternatives that offer more than just a chat box.
Enter WorkAdventure.
If your community is looking for alternatives, it helps to say this clearly upfront: WorkAdventure is not a clone of Discord.
It is a real time virtual world designed for presence, spontaneous conversations, and live community moments.
A Map, Not Just a List
Discord users love the platform’s “vibe,” but at the end of the day, it’s still just a list of names and channels. WorkAdventure turns your community into a living world.
With its 16-bit RPG aesthetic, it feels like a video game. Instead of clicking a voice channel name, you walk your avatar over to a campfire to join a group. It replaces the static nature of Discord with Spatial Presence. You can see where the “cool kids” are hanging out, find a quiet corner for a 1-on-1, or organize a massive town hall in a custom-built auditorium. You have the power to customize absolutely everything. But beware! This comes at a cost: you’ll need to spend some time designing your world.
Privacy by Design (and by Choice)
The biggest pain point for Discord users right now is the loss of anonymity. WorkAdventure flips the script:
- Self-Hostable: You can host your own instance. This means you own the data. No corporate entity is scanning your messages or demanding your ID to prove your age.
- Matrix Integration: The chat isn’t a black box. WorkAdventure is built on Matrix, an open-source, end-to-end encrypted protocol. You get the security of a government-grade messaging app with the fun of a PokĂ©mon-style world.
A natural replacement for voice channels
Instead of picking a voice channel, you walk up to people and talk in a proximity bubble, or you join a meeting room when you want a bigger conversation. This is especially strong for communities that are voice first and real time.
Live events are a first class feature
If your community runs meetups, workshops, talks, onboarding sessions, or office hours, WorkAdventure is built for that style of gathering.
Customization is deeper than themes
Discord customization is powerful, but it is mostly about channels and bots.
In WorkAdventure, customization is spatial and social. You’ll need to choose where you put your stage, if you want a lounge for casual hangouts, whether you want your design to be futuristic, medieval or something else… You are not just customizing a UI, you are designing a place.
Self hosting is an option when you want maximum control
If you want to remain the master of your data and hosting choices, WorkAdventure can be self hosted. The self hosted version is distributed under AGPL v3 modified by the Commons Clause, with source code available.
Self hosting does not remove legal responsibilities, but it does let you decide your own access policy and infrastructure choices.
When WorkAdventure is not the right fit
You want text first communication above all else
WorkAdventure can do text, thanks to its Matrix integration, but it is built around voice and presence. If your community is mostly long asynchronous discussions, you will likely be happier with a Matrix client like Element or Discourse as the primary hub.
You need a huge always free SaaS for big communities
Discord’s free model is hard to match.
WorkAdventure’s SaaS free tier (10 concurrent users) is designed for getting started, not for hosting a very large always on community for free.
If you need large scale without platform limits and have limited resources, self hosting is the way to do it, but it comes with operational responsibility.
Your community is mobile first
WorkAdventure supports mobile via PWA, but the best experience for real time voice communities is still typically desktop. Most users typically use Element on the phone (a Matrix client) to keep messaging on mobile while WorkAdventure users that are typically on desktop.
If most of your users are on mobile, you’d be better at using Element / Matrix directly as an alternative to Discord.
Final Thoughts: Beyond the Chat Box
WorkAdventure isn’t for every community—especially those that are mobile-first or purely text-based. But if you value spatial presence, data ownership, and organic interaction, it offers something a static list of channels never can: a sense of “place.”
By choosing an open, self-hostable alternative, you aren’t just moving your members to a new app—you’re reclaiming your community’s home. Don’t just manage a list of users; build a world that actually belongs to them.