Stoat

Stoat provides a self‑hosted chat service that includes a back‑end, web front‑end, file server, and metadata/image proxy, all deployable via Docker. The platform supports servers, channels, voice chat, file sharing, markdown rendering, and role‑based permissions, with moderation tools and bot integration. It is designed to scale from small friend groups to large communities, handling tens to thousands of users.

The software is released under the AGPL‑3.0 license, is free, open‑source, and does not require a subscription. It can be run on a modest VPS (minimum 2 vCPUs and 2 GB RAM) and includes documentation for securing the server, configuring domains, and updating installations. Users may host their own instance or use a hosted version, and the code is publicly available for inspection.

Stoat emphasizes privacy and data protection, with no ads, data mining, or third‑party partnerships. It offers cross‑platform access on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and the web, and includes customizable theming, custom emojis, and larger file upload limits without a paid tier.