Discord Alternatives
Gamers and communities weigh their options after Discord's age verification plans sparked privacy fears worldwide. Wikimedia Commons

Discord just bought itself more time. But users aren't waiting around.

The company announced on 24 February that it would delay its global age verification rollout until the second half of 2026. The reason? Backlash. Lots of it. Chief Technology Officer Stanislav Vishnevskiy admitted the company 'missed the mark' in explaining how the system would work.

That explanation came too late for many. TeamSpeak, the veteran voice chat platform, reported an 'incredible surge of new users' that maxed out its hosting capacity in the US. Other alternatives saw similar spikes.

The Money Problem Behind the Delay

Here's what Discord isn't saying outright. The platform has over 200 million monthly active users. A significant chunk of them are under 18. Strict age verification would shrink that number. And shrinking user numbers right before an IPO? That's a nightmare.

Discord filed confidential IPO paperwork with the US Securities and Exchange Commission in January 2026. Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are leading the deal. The company was last valued at $15 billion (£11.8 billion) in 2021, though secondary market trading now puts the figure closer to $6.8 billion (£5 billion).

A smaller user base means weaker metrics. Weaker metrics mean a lower valuation. The math isn't complicated.

Still, the pressure isn't going away. The UK's Online Safety Act and similar EU regulations demand stricter age checks. Discord can delay, but it can't dodge forever.

A Breach That Changed Everything

Trust took a hit long before the delay announcement.

In September 2025, hackers targeted Discord's third-party customer support provider, 5CA. The attack exposed roughly 70,000 government ID images uploaded for age verification. Discord cut ties with that vendor. But the damage was done.

Then came Persona. Discord tested this verification partner in the UK. Researchers found Persona's code sitting on US government servers. They also discovered the software ran 269 distinct verification checks, including screening users against politically exposed persons lists. Persona is partially funded by Peter Thiel's Founders Fund.

Discord dropped Persona, too. But for privacy-conscious users, two breached or controversial partners in under a year is two too many.

Your Options If You Want Out

Discord says over 90% of users won't need to verify their age. Checks will only apply to those accessing age-restricted content or changing certain safety settings. But if you'd rather not hand over biometric data or a government ID at all, here's where people are going.

  • TeamSpeak remains the go-to for gamers who care about voice quality. It offers self-hosted servers, low latency, and no biometric requirements. The interface looks dated compared to Discord. It works.
  • Signal encrypts everything end-to-end. Voice, video, text. It runs on donations, so no ads, no data harvesting. It lacks Discord's server structure, but for smaller groups focused on privacy, it's hard to beat.
  • Element runs on the Matrix protocol. Users can host their own servers while still connecting to the wider network. No single company controls it. Setup takes more effort. The payoff is full control.
  • Revolt and Stoat are open-source projects trying to replicate Discord without corporate oversight. Both are still maturing. Both offer transparency that Discord can't match.
  • Mumble has served competitive gamers for years. Voice quality and positional audio are its strengths. Everything else is barebones.

What Happens Next

Discord promised enhanced teen safety features. It launched a Teen Council to bring younger voices into policy decisions. The company insists facial scans stay on-device and IDs get deleted after verification.

Maybe that's true. But 70,000 leaked government IDs make promises harder to believe.

For parents, teachers, and community managers who built their groups on Discord, the coming months will force some hard choices. The platform isn't going anywhere. The question is whether you still want to be on it.

Discord bought itself time. Whether it earned back trust is entirely a different question.

Writer's pick