Gitter review
A free Matrix-based chat option for public and private community rooms.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Gitter is a chat and networking platform for software communities and teams, with public and private conversation rooms at its center. It is built on Matrix and presents a Gitter-branded Element/Matrix experience, making it a fit for open-source projects, technical groups, and communities that want decentralized communication. Users can access it on the web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, or through compatible Matrix clients. GitHub, GitLab, and Twitter sign-in support can also reduce friction for users already connected to those services.
Pricing is straightforward: the Free plan includes public and private conversations. The plan structure suits communities that need room-based discussion without a paid tier or complex packaging. Gitter also includes Markdown and LaTeX message formatting, end-to-end encrypted messaging, historical message room migration, and Matrix API access. These features give technical groups useful options for structured posts, mathematical notation, private discussions, and programmatic access.
The main trade-off is ecosystem breadth. Gitter lists matrix-hookshot and go-neb as integrations, while its broader collaboration and integration set is more limited than that of full team-chat suites. Its Matrix foundation is a clear advantage for communities that value federation, compatible clients, and API access, but it may be a less suitable choice for organizations seeking a wide range of workplace tools in one product. Choose Gitter for open Matrix-based community rooms and focused technical conversations; consider a broader team-chat suite when extensive integrations and collaboration features are priorities.
Gitter pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Public and private conversation rooms are available on the Free plan.
- Matrix federation supports decentralized communication and compatible clients.
- Markdown, LaTeX, encryption, and API access support technical communities.
- Where it doesn't
- The integration set is limited to matrix-hookshot and go-neb.
- Collaboration features are narrower than full team-chat suites.
- Its strongest fit is niche communities rather than broad workplace chat.
Gitter fact sheet, pricing and score →
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