Features

A complete messenger, fully in your control

Everything your team expects from a modern chat app — delivered privately on your own server, with nothing sent to outside services.

Real-time messaging

Fast, reliable conversations for individuals and groups, powered by WebSockets.

1:1 and group chats
Typing indicators, presence & read receipts
Reply, forward, edit and delete
Emoji reactions
Full-text search across conversations

Voice & video calls

Talk face to face without a third-party calling service.

1:1 voice and video over WebRTC
Peer-to-peer connection
Works on any modern browser
No external SFU or gateway required

Files, images & voice notes

Share anything, find it later.

Documents and images with instant thumbnails
Record and send voice messages
In-app file download (works on any certificate)
Clickable links in messages

Powerful admin panel

Run your workspace with confidence.

Create, activate, deactivate and delete users
Manage groups and members
Usage stats, message charts and disk usage
Full audit log of security actions
Content review for compliance

Security & privacy

Secure by default, private by design.

Runs as a locked-down non-root user
Per-install secrets generated automatically
Passwords hashed (bcrypt) with a strong policy
Captcha + rate limiting on registration
No trackers, analytics or third-party calls

White-label branding

Make it unmistakably yours.

Set your workspace name, logo and app icon
Changes apply instantly
PWA manifest updates automatically
No code changes needed

Mobile & installable

Reach your team wherever they are.

Add to Home Screen (PWA) on phone & desktop
Native Android app option
Web push notifications (self-hosted VAPID)
Deep links open the right conversation

Easy to run

Built to install once and forget.

One-command Ubuntu installer
Automatic HTTPS via Let’s Encrypt
Docker option included
Daily backup script
Auto-restart on crash or reboot

Try every feature right now

A live copy is running for you to explore.

Try the live demo Get Chatstead