Stoat
What Stoat is
Stoat is an open-source group chat app for friends and communities, with instant messaging, voice and video calls. Chat is organized into servers and channels, with file sharing and Markdown support. Communities can use role-based permissions, moderation tools, and moderation bots. Group direct messages support up to 50 members, and bots work there too. Stoat includes themes, offers additional options through its Discover section, and lets users create their own themes. Its public API is used by the official apps and can be used to make bots or custom clients. People can use Stoat without hosting a server or choose to self-host; the site describes self-hosting as free and open. Listed platforms include web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, though iPhone and iPad instructions install the web app through Safari. The free plan includes custom emojis, 20MB file uploads, server profile pictures, animated avatars, and profile banners. Stoat says it began in 2021 as an open-source chat app without ads.
Who it suits
Stoat may suit friends and communities seeking group messaging, voice and video calls, and moderation tools. Developers can also use its public API to build bots or custom clients, while people who prefer self-hosting can run their own instance.
What it does well
- Free plan includes custom emojis and animated avatars.
- Group DMs support up to 50 members.
- Offers roles, moderation tools, and bots.
- Public API supports bots and custom clients.
- Can be used without hosting or self-hosted.
What to know first
- Free plan file uploads are limited to 20MB.
- Self-hosted instances are outside Stoat's policy enforcement.
- iPhone and iPad instructions install the web app through Safari.
- Privacy supplement lists IP addresses and message content among collected data.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Custom emojis · 20MB file uploads · server profile pictures · animated avatars · profile banners | Free |
As stoat.chat lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Stoat combines community chat and moderation features with web, desktop, and mobile platform listings, plus an option to self-host. Readers should consider the stated data collection and the limits of privacy-policy enforcement on self-hosted instances.
Facts from Stoat's own pages
- API
- Stoat has a public API used by the official apps, and the site says developers can use it to build bots or custom clients. · stoat.chat, 11 Oct 2026
- Channels
- Yes · stoat.chat, 23 Sept 2026
- Chat features
- The service lists servers, channels, voice chat, file sharing, and Markdown support. · stoat.chat, 11 Oct 2026
- Community management
- Communities can use role-based permissions, moderation tools, and moderation bots. · stoat.chat, 11 Oct 2026
- Data collected
- The Stoat privacy supplement says it collects account details, server names, user messages and content, date of birth, IP address, and session device descriptions. · stoat.chat, 11 Oct 2026
- Founded
- Stoat says it started in 2021 as an open-source chat app without ads. · stoat.chat, 11 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · stoat.chat, 23 Sept 2026
- Group DMs
- Group DMs support up to 50 members, and bots work in them. · stoat.chat, 11 Oct 2026
- Hosting
- Users can use Stoat without hosting a server or self-host it; the site describes self-hosting as free and open. · stoat.chat, 11 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- GitHub (via webhook); bots; external services via webhooks · stoat.chat, 23 Sept 2026
- Maker
- The service is provided by Revolt Platforms Ltd, registered in England and Wales, with a listed address in London, United Kingdom. · stoat.chat, 11 Oct 2026
- Supported platforms
- Web,Windows,macOS,Linux,Android,iOS · stoat.chat, 23 Sept 2026
- Privacy
- The shared privacy policy says the company will not sell user data and primarily stores information on cloud servers in the EU, with some storage in the UK. · stoat.chat, 11 Oct 2026
- Product
- Stoat is an open-source group chat app for friends and communities, with instant messaging, voice and video calls. · stoat.chat, 11 Oct 2026
- Self-hosting caveat
- The privacy supplement says Stoat cannot enforce its privacy policy, community guidelines, or terms on self-hosted instances. · stoat.chat, 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- Stoat directs users to its support center, which has account, interface, safety, server management, and troubleshooting categories, plus a contact option. · support.stoat.chat, 11 Oct 2026
- Supported devices
- The site lists Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and web; its iPhone and iPad instructions install the web app from Safari. · stoat.chat, 11 Oct 2026
- Themes
- Stoat includes themes, offers more through its Discover section, and lets users create their own. · stoat.chat, 11 Oct 2026
Where Stoat stands on Freedom251
- Team chat apps#29 of 63