Choose Discourse if...
You need organized discussions + chat in one platform, a searchable knowledge base, discoverability on the web, and full data ownership.
Choose Discord if...
You want gaming-focused features, native voice/video channels, and a platform built primarily for synchronous social hangouts.
Bottom line
Discord is a chat platform with some organizational features; Discourse is a discussion platform with chat included.
TL;DR Comparison Table
| Your Priority |
Choose Discourse if...
|
Choose Discord if...
|
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge preservation | You need searchable, permanent discussions | Conversations can be ephemeral |
| Communication options | You want threaded discussions AND chat | Real-time chat and voice are primary |
| Discoverability | Public SEO and search engine indexing matter | Private, invite-only is preferred |
| Professionalism | You need a professional community space | Gaming-style casual atmosphere works |
| Ownership | Full data control and self-hosting matter | SaaS convenience is priority |
| Platform integration | All-in-one discussions + chat + knowledge | Chat-first with basic forum threads |
We built Discourse for conversations that stick around - organized into topics, fully searchable, and accessible to anyone who joins later. Think of it as a library that keeps building over time, not a whiteboard that gets erased every day. We’re designed for substance over speed. If your community needs to preserve knowledge, onboard new members without constant repetition, or build something people can reference months later, that structure matters.
Discord is an app for real-time chat - rapid-fire messages, voice calls, and live collaboration. It offers immediate connection but it doesn’t offer permanence. Conversations disappear into endless scrolls, search is limited, and if you weren’t there when it happened, you probably missed it.
The Key Difference
Discourse is fundamentally a threaded discussion platform that includes chat. It's designed for knowledge-building conversations and communities that last, with chat available when you need real-time interaction.
Discord is fundamentally a chat platform that added some organizational features (threads, forums). It's designed for real-time conversation with voice/video built in.
Core Philosophies
Discourse's core strength
- Threaded discussions that build knowledge
- Chat included and complementary
- Knowledge preservation and searchability
- Built for asynchronous thoughtfulness
Discord's core strength
- Real-time chat with excellent voice/video
- Discussion threads are secondary (forum channels added later)
- Gaming integrations and social features
- Built for synchronous presence
Discourse assumes asynchronous participation + chat when needed
- Discussions unfold over time, chat for quick exchanges
- Topics remain accessible and valuable
- No FOMO - threads wait for you
- Old discussions remain discoverable
Discord assumes synchronous presence
- Conversations happen in real-time
- Voice channels for hanging out
- FOMO is part of the experience
- Recent activity is what matters
Discourse optimizes for knowledge + community
- Topics become searchable resources
- Chat for quick questions, forums for lasting answers
- Wiki posts for documentation
- Community feels like a smart library that talks back
Discord optimizes for social connection
- Voice channels for hanging out
- Screen sharing and streaming
- Gaming integration
- Community feels like a social space
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
| Feature |
Discourse
|
Discord
|
|---|---|---|
| Real-time chat | Included, excellent | Primary feature, excellent |
| Voice/video | Not native (integrate Zoom/etc) | Built-in, excellent quality |
| Threaded discussions | Core feature, sophisticated | Forum channels (added recently) |
| Screen sharing | Via integration | Native, works great |
| Direct messages | Yes, with threading | Yes |
| Mentions | @user notifications | @user notifications |
| Reactions | Likes and emoji reactions | Emoji reactions |
| Topic organization | Advanced categories, tags, search | Basic forum channels |
| Chat channels | Complementary to forums | Primary interface |
| Feature |
Discourse
|
Discord
|
|---|---|---|
| Search | Powerful full-text across all content | Limited, chat-focused |
| SEO/Public access | Yes, excellent Google indexing | No (private by default) |
| Tags | Comprehensive tagging | No |
| Wiki functionality | Built-in wiki posts | No |
| Archive value | Designed for long-term value | Difficult to navigate history |
| Related content | Related topics suggested | No automatic linking |
| Feature |
Discourse
|
Discord
|
|---|---|---|
| Auto-moderation | Trust levels + AI spam detection | Basic + bots required |
| Spam prevention | Akismet + AI built-in | Rate limits + bots |
| User progression | Trust level system (automatic) | Role-based |
| Flag queue | Comprehensive moderation queue | Basic reporting |
| Content filtering | Built-in watched words | Via bots |
| Feature |
Discourse
|
Discord
|
|---|---|---|
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Self-hosting | Yes | No |
| Custom domain | Yes, your domain | No (discord.gg/...) |
| Theming | Full CSS, custom themes | Limited colors/banner |
| Plugins | 50+ official plugins | Bots only |
| API access | Full REST API | Limited, bot-focused |
| Data ownership | Complete ownership | Discord's servers |
| White-label | Your brand only | Discord branding required |
When Discourse is the Better Choice
Customer support communities
Searchable Q&A, public Google indexing, and knowledge that persists make Discourse essential.
Technical/developer communities
Code formatting, search, wiki posts, and organized discussions matter for technical content.
Professional communities
Clean, professional appearance suitable for business use without gaming culture aesthetic.
Content that needs SEO
If you want community discussions indexed by Google, only Discourse offers this.
Data ownership requirements
Self-hosting option, complete data export, open source code give you control Discord can't match.
Knowledge-building focus
When past discussions should be as valuable as current ones.
Both chat AND forums
If you need real-time chat but also want organized, searchable discussions in one platform.
What Discourse Chat Includes
Included
- Real-time messaging (like Discord)
- Chat channels for different topics
- Direct messages between users
- Thread support within chat
- File uploads and media sharing
- Emoji reactions
- Mentions and notifications
- Mobile support (native apps)
- Integration with forum discussions
What Discourse chat doesn't have
- Voice channels (use integrations)
- Video calls (use integrations)
- Screen sharing (use integrations)
- Gaming integrations
Using Discord and Discourse Together
You don't necessarily have to choose one over the other. Many communities successfully run both platforms with integrations that use each platform's strengths.
Common hybrid strategies
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
Knowledge baseDiscourse for searchable documentation and support |
Social HangoutsUse Discord for real-time voice chat and casual conversation |
|
Public communityMaintain public Discourse forum for SEO and broader reach |
MembersKeep Discord private for engaged members |
|
Game updatesDiscourse for patch notes and community feedback |
GamingUse Discord for in-game coordination |
|
Deep discussionsDetailed troubleshooting and feature requests in Discourse |
Quick ChatCasual questions in Discord |
Available Integrations
Discord Login for Discourse
Configure Discord as an authentication method so users can log into your Discourse forum with their Discord credentials. This creates a unified identity across both platforms without requiring separate accounts.
Check it out →Discord Notification Integration Plugin
Automatically push new Discourse topics or important forum discussions to specific Discord channels. This keeps your Discord community informed about forum activity without requiring them to check both platforms constantly.
Check it out →Common Questions
Does Discourse chat work as well as Discord?
For text chat, yes. Discourse chat is solid and improving. It lacks voice/video, which Discord excels at, but for text-based real-time communication it's beautifully built.
Can I use Discourse for gaming communities?
You could, but Discord is purpose-built for gaming with voice channels, streaming, and integrations that matter to gamers. Unless you need forum features Discord doesn't offer well, stick with Discord for gaming.
Why would I choose Discourse over Discord if both have chat?
- You need discoverability on the web and Google indexing
- You want one platform for chat AND organized forums
- Data ownership and self-hosting matter
- Professional appearance is important
- Knowledge preservation is as important as real-time chat
- You need robust search across all content
Can I migrate between them?
Both directions are possible but imperfect:
- Discord to Discourse: Chat history can import as forum posts (awkward)
- Discourse to Discord: Forum discussions become chat channels (loses organization)
Reality: These platforms serve different enough purposes that migration often means changing your community model.
Which has better mobile apps?
Both have excellent mobile apps. Discord's is more polished for real-time chat and voice. Discourse handles both forums and chat well, with better support for reading/responding to longer discussions.
Decision Framework
Choose Discourse if...
- You need organized, searchable discussions
- Discoverability on the web and Google indexing are important
- You want chat AND forums in one platform
- Professional appearance matters
- Knowledge preservation is as important as real-time chat
- Data ownership and self-hosting option matter
- You need robust moderation without complex bots
- Open source values are important
Choose Discord if...
- Voice and video channels are essential to your community
- Gaming integrations matter
- Real-time chat is 90%+ of your activity
- Your community doesn't need discoverability on the web
- Past conversations don't need to be easily searchable
- Gaming/casual culture fits your vibe
- You want zero setup and maintenance
You might want both separate platforms if:
- You have complex needs requiring both strengths
- Gaming community (Discord) + customer support (Discourse)
- Social hangout space (Discord) + knowledge base (Discourse)
- Resources to manage two platforms
Bottom Line
The real question isn't "Discord or Discourse?"
Both are excellent at what they're designed for. Choose based on your primary use case, not feature checklists.
Is knowledge preservation critical?
Do you want chat + forums integrated?
Do you need discoverability on the web?
Discourse
Best platform for knowledge-building communities that also need chat, with the option for self-hosting and full data ownership.
Do you need voice/video channels?
Is real-time social connection the primary goal?
Discord
Best platform for voice-based, gaming-focused, synchronous social communities.
