Gitter

Free plan AndroidAPIiPhoneWeb

What Gitter is

Gitter is a free chat and networking platform for communities, offering public and private conversations through messaging, content sharing and discovery. It is presented for engineering teams, open-source projects and conference organizers. Gitter runs on Matrix, so users can connect a Matrix client to the gitter.im homeserver. Sign-in is available with GitHub, GitLab or Twitter, and messages support Markdown and LaTeX formatting. Gitter describes messaging as end-to-end encrypted, while private-room encryption must be enabled after access. The service is available on the web, with Element’s desktop, Android and iOS apps recommended for connecting to gitter.im. Developers can use the Matrix API through gitter.ems.host. Existing rooms and message history remain available, with historical messages imported into separate Matrix rooms. Rooms are public or private and membership is synced, although offboarded team members must be removed manually. Multiple accounts are not yet supported.

Who it suits

Gitter suits communities and teams that need public or private conversations, Matrix connectivity and formatted messages. It may fit open-source projects, engineering groups and conference organizers.

What it does well

Free public and private conversations
Runs on the Matrix network
Markdown and LaTeX message formatting
Matrix API available
Web, desktop, Android and iOS access

What to know first

Multiple accounts are not yet supported
Private-room encryption must be enabled after access
Offboarded members require manual removal
Historical messages import into separate Matrix rooms

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Free	Public and private conversations	Free

As gitter.im lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Verdict

Gitter provides free community conversations with Matrix support, familiar sign-in options and developer access through an API. Teams should note the account limit, manual offboarding step and private-room encryption setting.

Facts from Gitter's own pages

API: The documentation says developers can use the Matrix API with Gitter’s homeserver at gitter.ems.host. · gitter.im, 11 Oct 2026
Audience: Gitter describes itself as a platform for communities and showcases use by engineering teams, open-source projects, and conference organizers. · gitter.im, 11 Oct 2026
Channels: Yes · gitter.im, 20 Sept 2026
Encryption: The homepage describes end-to-end encrypted messaging; the migration announcement says encryption for private rooms must be turned on after access. · gitter.im, 11 Oct 2026
Free plan: Yes · gitter.im, 20 Sept 2026
History: The migration announcement says existing rooms and message history remain available, with historical messages imported into separate Matrix rooms. · blog.gitter.im, 11 Oct 2026
Integrations: The migration announcement points users to bots or bridges such as matrix-hookshot and go-neb for integration and activity feeds. · blog.gitter.im, 11 Oct 2026
Matrix network: Gitter runs on Matrix, and users can connect a Matrix client to the gitter.im homeserver. · gitter.im, 11 Oct 2026
Message formatting: Gitter supports Markdown and LaTeX message formatting. · gitter.im, 11 Oct 2026
Mobile apps: Gitter recommends Element’s native desktop, Android, and iOS apps, configured to use gitter.im as the homeserver. · gitter.im, 11 Oct 2026
Notable limit: The documentation says multiple accounts are not yet supported. · gitter.im, 11 Oct 2026
Permissions: The migration announcement says rooms are now private or public and membership is synced; team members must be manually removed from Matrix rooms when offboarded. · blog.gitter.im, 11 Oct 2026
Supported platforms: web,desktop,Android,iOS · gitter.im, 20 Sept 2026
Purpose: Gitter is a chat and networking platform for managing, growing, and connecting communities through messaging, content, and discovery. · gitter.im, 11 Oct 2026
Sign-in: The homepage says users can sign in with GitHub, GitLab, or Twitter. · gitter.im, 11 Oct 2026
Support: The documentation directs public support questions to the gitter/gitter room and private inquiries to [email protected]. · gitter.im, 11 Oct 2026

Where Gitter stands on Freedom251

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