this post was submitted on 22 Jul 2023

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Privacy

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Alternative Discord client? (lemm.ee)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Are there any privacy friendly Discord clients or frontends?

I have the impression it's against their TOS to use an alternative client, so is it worth it to even use one?

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[–] [email protected] 43 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

You won't get banned for using a 3rd-party client or client mod, unless you abuse the API in doing so (which you're not likely to do accidentally).

Anyway, the short answer is: yes.

I think all of the major client mods on PC have anti-tracking plugins. I use Vencord which comes with a "NoTrack" plugin by default (it disables Discord telemetry, metrics, and crash reporting). It also has a "ClearURLs" plugin that removes tracking elements from URLs. BetterDiscord also has similar plugins.

You can couple these with OpenAsar (it's compatible with all client mods - I use it alongside Vencord). Along with speeding up your Discord, it also comes with a "DoNotTrack" plugin that disables discord telemetry.

On Android, you can use Vendetta which, again, has a "NoTrack" Plugin you can add that disables discord telemetry and tracking.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Thanks for OpenAsar, I'd love to resize discord.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

You won’t get banned for using a 3rd-party client or client mod

That is not true. A few people have been banned because they used BetterDiscord. It's rare but it happened before. That's why I stopped using it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This has only ever happened because of plugins that hammer the api

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

But still I wouldn't risk it because it's against the TOS. It can happen and nobody knows if they ever take stronger action.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I've used them since 2016. I really doubt anyone has gotten banned for anything other than using plugins that spam the API or access experimental features you're not meant to have.

The risk is yours to take though so, fair enough.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Did they recently reevaluate their stance on banning 3rd party clients? Because I'm pretty sure I was banned for exactly that, about two years ago.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It would've been because you used a plugin that spammed the api

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

But still I wouldn't risk it because it's against the TOS. It can happen and nobody knows if they ever take stronger action.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Not to my knowledge, but oh well. Turns out I much prefer life without Discord anyway, but it's still annoying that they never actually told me what the ban was for.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago (2 children)

What exactly would you gain privacy wise from a 3rd party client? All communication goes through their servers anyway. I believe even voice calls go through their server and aren't p2p.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Telemetry and other user identification but yeah the data runs through the server.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

https://cancel.fm/ripcord/

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I use WebCord on Desktop and Aliucord on Mobile.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Worth noting that Aliucord relies on a very outdated version of Discord. Vendetta is worth using if you want the newer features to work well

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Thanks, I'll check it out.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I just use betterdiscord with the do not track extension

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Same. I also use Invisible Typing.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Sidebar on my Browser and Aliucord I don't use Discord frequently however and you need to be aware of what you type there

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

i use webcord. youre better using revolt though

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Not really your question but Revolt is basically a 1to1 copy of discord in terms of UI.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I use WebCord on Linux, which has permission settings as well

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I use Asahi Linux on M2 - Armcord works great for me! Also, I’m pretty sure it’s still fully compatible with amd64/x86_64, for others though you might have to modify source, not sure.

Edit: additionally, I don’t think anyone’s been banned from discord just for using a client, the app uses the discord api under-the-hood anyway, but I think those who make the clients are more at risk if they use them, since they’re more likely to be noticed (repeated testing/debugging and such)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

WebCord

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Matrix? (Not discord but it can be bridged)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

No. I strictly use browser for discord.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Matrix, or IRC.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

There are existing communities which I don't intend to leave and will not move.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You can use Discord through Matrix. You just need a server with the corresponding bridge installed.

For example Beeper.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Oh, very interesting. I didn't know this was a possibility. What would be the advantage of doing this?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

The advantage is you get to use Matrix.

But most servers are not going to install a bridge, so.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

You can use one client for Signal, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Matrix, IRC, Facebook, Twitter, iMessage etc.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I get that, but one of your requirement was privacy. As others have explained that is diametrically opposed to the core architecture of Discord, so if you want that requirement then that is your answer.

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