HardChat is a self-hosted group-chat platform with real-time messaging, WebRTC voice, rich text formatting, and role-based effects — no third-party data, no subscriptions.
Built for communities that want full control over their data without sacrificing features.
Instant delivery via WebSocket with support for channels, direct messages, mentions, and message threads.
Peer-to-peer encrypted voice with push-to-talk, mic locking, mute controls, and auto-join on channel switch.
Upload images, videos, and files directly in chat. Inline previews with automatic thumbnail generation.
Granular permission system per channel and server. Admins can control who can read, write, speak, or moderate.
Interface available in English, Spanish, French, German, Russian, and Chinese — with runtime language switching.
Casual games like Flappy Bird are embedded directly in the platform for community fun between conversations.
Multiple built-in themes plus a fully customizable color system. Apply visual effects like CRT scanlines or neon glows.
Browser push notifications for mentions and direct messages, even when the app isn't in focus.
Run on your own server. No data leaves your infrastructure. SQLite-based — easy to back up, migrate, and own outright.
Markdown-inspired syntax that feels natural and renders beautifully in every message.
Bold, italic, strikethrough, and inline code.
inline code.@mention any user; URLs auto-link.
Hide sensitive content; quote messages with context.
This is a quoted message
spanning multiple lines.
Fenced code blocks with language label.
function hello() {
console.log("Hello, World!");
}Structure long messages with headings and bullets.
Upload and share with automatic inline preview.

Admins can assign animated effects to roles — usernames and messages glow, pulse, and shift colors in real time.
Create an account in seconds. No credit card, no email required — just pick a username and start chatting.