# Hazel: Free Open Source Alternative to Discord, Slack

Canonical: https://caniforkit.com/fork/hazel
Last updated: 2026-11-07

Hazel (Open Source, Open Source) replaces Discord, Slack. Team chat for developers with threads, full-text search, keyboard-first navigation, GitHub and Linear previews, desktop apps, and message sync with Slack and Discord.

## Tool Specifications
- **Tool Name**: Hazel
- **Type**: Open Source Project
- **License**: Open Source
- **Official Website**: https://hazel.sh
- **GitHub Repository**: https://github.com/MapleTechLabs/hazel
- **GitHub Stars**: ★ 733
- **Runs On**: Self-host
- **Maintenance Status**: nov 2026
- **Platforms**: web, self-hosted, docker to self-host
- **Data Storage**: All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- **Installation**: Clone https://github.com/MapleTechLabs/hazel or deploy with Docker Compose
- **Setup Requirements**: Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- **The Catch / Limitation**: Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Discord.

## Paid SaaS Applications Replaced (2)
Replacing these paid tools with Hazel saves up to $30/mo ($360/yr) in software subscriptions:

| Replaced Software | Category | SaaS Price | Comparison Guide |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Discord](https://caniforkit.com/discord) | [community](https://caniforkit.com/category/community) | $15/mo | [Compare Discord vs Hazel](https://caniforkit.com/vs/discord-vs-hazel) |
| [Slack](https://caniforkit.com/slack) | [community](https://caniforkit.com/category/community) | $15/mo | [Compare Slack vs Hazel](https://caniforkit.com/vs/slack-vs-hazel) |

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is Hazel free and open source?
Hazel is an open source tool licensed under Open Source that runs on self-host. Team chat for developers with threads, full-text search, keyboard-first navigation, GitHub and Linear previews, desktop apps, and message sync with Slack and Discord.

### What is the trade-off or limitation of using Hazel?
Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Discord.

## Related

- [Self-Hosted Open Source Directory](https://caniforkit.com/self-hosted)
- [All Paid SaaS Alternatives Index](https://caniforkit.com/alternatives)
- [Software Categories Directory](https://caniforkit.com/categories)
- [Homepage](https://caniforkit.com)