Where it fits
Teams willing to adopt topic-based discussion and operate their own messaging service.
Trade-offs and limitations
Slack apps, calls and workflow automation are separate fit-gap questions. Export access at the source affects migration completeness.
Deployment and technology
Python/Django server and PostgreSQL; follow the supported deployment guide. Self-hosting requires a supported deployment, capacity planning and a named maintainer. Consult the official installation guide for the current version.
Portability and integration
| API | REST API, bots and integrations |
|---|---|
| Authentication | Multiple authentication methods; validate chosen SSO and mobile access |
| Data export | Organisation export and documented backup processes; check coverage and permissions |
Migration considerations
Trial a permitted workspace export; inspect threads, users, private content and attachments with the intended audience.
Security and ongoing costs
Budget for infrastructure, implementation, monitoring, patching, backups, restore tests and user support. Check the supported release and current advisories with the project. An open licence is not a security guarantee.
Freedom score and exit difficulty
A complete, evidence-backed assessment of all 15 criteria is required before publishing a score. Exit difficulty depends on your customisations, data model, integrations and operating documentation. This profile does not claim a hands-on benchmark or a complete security assessment.
Primary sources
Profile reviewed 2026-09-13. Verify the exact release, edition and extensions before implementation.