Your squad.
Your server.
End-to-end encrypted. Not even you can read your own database.
Discord meets Instagram — for your closest friends. Every message, call, and file is encrypted on-device before it ever hits your server. Self-hosted with a single command.
Fun fact: a group of squid is called a squad. That's us.
Chat. Share. Hang out.
The private social platform where Discord-style servers meet Instagram-style sharing.
Stories
Share moments with your friend groups. Post photos and videos that disappear in 24 hours, just like Instagram.
Social Feed
An Instagram-style feed across all your servers. See what your different friend groups are up to in one place.
Servers = Friend Groups
Each server is a different circle. College friends, coworkers, the group chat — all in one app, all separate.
Rich Media Sharing
Share photos, videos, audio clips, and files. Drop a voice memo, a playlist, or a clip from your day.
End-to-End Encrypted
Messages are encrypted on your device before they leave. Not even the server can read them.
Voice & Video
Crystal-clear voice channels and video calls powered by LiveKit. Low latency, high quality.
Self-Hosted
Run it on your own hardware. One command sets up everything with Docker. Your data stays yours.
Open Source
Fully open source under MIT. Audit the code, contribute features, or fork it for your own use.
Cross-Platform
Web, desktop (macOS, Windows, Linux), and mobile (iOS, Android). Same experience everywhere.
Simple pricing.
Free on Mac and self-hosted. $3.99/mo for the mobile apps. No ads, no data mining — the server can't read your messages either way.
Desktop & Self-Hosted
The native macOS app, and run your own server with one command. No account required, no cost.
- Native macOS app
- One-command self-hosting
- Unlimited messages, voice & video
- End-to-end encrypted (post-quantum)
- Community support
Mobile
Native iOS & Android apps. Subscribe on the web, then just sign in on your phone.
- Native iOS & Android apps
- Hardware-backed key security
- End-to-end encrypted, always
- Voice & video with E2EE media
- Priority support
Frequently asked questions.
Everything you need to know about skwod.
skwod is a private Discord-like communication platform designed for small groups. It includes text chat, voice and video channels, file sharing, stories, and end-to-end encryption — all self-hosted on your own infrastructure.
Yes. The self-hosted version is completely free and open source. You get unlimited messages, voice & video, E2EE, and all features at no cost. The optional mobile app is a one-time purchase, and managed hosting is available for those who don't want to run their own server.
You can deploy skwod with Docker Compose on any VPS (DigitalOcean, Hetzner, Linode), on Unraid via a Community Apps template, or on any machine that runs Docker. You'll need a Supabase project and LiveKit Cloud keys. Check the docs for a full setup guide.
skwod uses a Signal-protocol-inspired encryption system. Messages and attachments are encrypted on your device before being sent, and only the intended recipients can decrypt them. The server never has access to your plaintext data. Voice and video calls also support E2EE via LiveKit.
You can invite people via a join code, QR code, or a shareable invite link. Members need to create an account and enter the invite to join your server — no public discovery or search.
Yes. skwod has a native iOS and Android app built with Expo and React Native. It connects to your self-hosted instance and supports push notifications, background audio for voice channels, and all the same features as the web app.
Yes. Voice and video channels are powered by LiveKit Cloud, providing low-latency, high-quality calls. You can create persistent voice channels that members can join and leave freely, with optional end-to-end encryption.
Yes. skwod has an Electron-based desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux. It wraps the web app with native features like system notifications, a menu bar presence, and auto-updates.