What AI assistants actually recommend when buyers ask about open-source team communication tools — measured weekly across 3 engines, published as open data.
Updated 2026-08-02 · 49 sampled answers · rolling 4-week window · methodology
Rankings are measured from sampled AI answers — never editorial, never paid. Orbator builds AI-visibility tooling; when Orbator itself appears in any category, it is measured by the same rules as everyone else.
Sample: 49 AI answers · Window: Jul 5, 2026 – Aug 2, 2026 (4-week rolling) · trend vs prior 4 weeks (44 answers)
Across 49 sampled AI answers from 3 engines, Mattermost is recommended most often — appearing in 83.7% of recommendations, followed by Rocket.Chat (83.7%) and Element (63.3%).
This is a measurement of share of voice across 3 AI engines — not an editorial pick. See the full ranking below.
| # | Product | Share | Trend | Engines | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mattermost mattermost.com Best for: AI recommends Mattermost most when buyers ask “best open-source team messaging platform I can self-host for my company” (100% of those answers) | 83.7% 95% CI 71–91.5% 41 mentions · avg pos 2.7 first pick 46.3% | — | GEMINI 85.7%CLAUDE 71.4%PERPLEXITY 85.7% | Claim |
| 2 | Rocket.Chat rocket.chat Best for: AI recommends Rocket.Chat most when buyers ask “best open-source team messaging platform I can self-host for my company” (100% of those answers) | 83.7% 95% CI 71–91.5% 41 mentions · avg pos 4.2 first pick 17.1% | — | GEMINI 85.7%CLAUDE 57.1%PERPLEXITY 90.5% | Claim |
| 3 | Element element.io Best for: AI recommends Element most when buyers ask “best self-hosted Slack alternative that my team can run on our own infrastructure” (100% of those answers) | 63.3% 95% CI 49.3–75.3% 31 mentions · avg pos 4.7 first pick 3.2% | — | GEMINI 71.4%CLAUDE 57.1%PERPLEXITY 57.1% | Claim |
| 4 | Matrix matrix.org Best for: AI recommends Matrix most when buyers ask “best self-hosted Slack alternative that my team can run on our own infrastructure” (100% of those answers) | 63.3% 95% CI 49.3–75.3% 31 mentions · avg pos 6.3 first pick 6.5% | — | GEMINI 71.4%CLAUDE 42.9%PERPLEXITY 61.9% | Claim |
| 5 | Slack slack.com Best for: AI recommends Slack most when buyers ask “best self-hosted Slack alternative that my team can run on our own infrastructure” (100% of those answers) | 59.2% 95% CI 45.2–71.8% 29 mentions · avg pos 3.5 first pick 41.4% | — | GEMINI 52.4%CLAUDE 57.1%PERPLEXITY 66.7% | Claim |
| 6 | Zulip zulip.com Best for: AI recommends Zulip most when buyers ask “best open-source team messaging platform I can self-host for my company” (100% of those answers) | 59.2% 95% CI 45.2–71.8% 29 mentions · avg pos 6.5 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 66.7%CLAUDE 28.6%PERPLEXITY 61.9% | Claim |
| 7 | Conversations conversations.im Best for: AI recommends Conversations most when buyers ask “best self-hosted Slack alternative that my team can run on our own infrastructure” (77.8% of those answers) | 46.9% 95% CI 33.7–60.6% 23 mentions · avg pos 5.6 first pick 13% | — | GEMINI 61.9%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 42.9% | Claim |
| 8 | Wire wire.com Best for: AI recommends Wire most when buyers ask “open-source alternatives to mainstream hosted team chat platforms” (77.8% of those answers) | 26.5% 95% CI 16.2–40.3% 13 mentions · avg pos 5.8 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 42.9%PERPLEXITY 19% | Claim |
| 9 | Docker docker.com Best for: AI recommends Docker most when buyers ask “how do I self-host a team communication tool with channels, threads, and file sharing” (100% of those answers) | 24.5% 95% CI 14.6–38.1% 12 mentions · avg pos 3.3 first pick 25% | — | GEMINI 28.6%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 23.8% | Claim |
| 10 | Nextcloud nextcloud.com Best for: AI recommends Nextcloud most when buyers ask “best open-source team messaging platform I can self-host for my company” (55.6% of those answers) | 24.5% 95% CI 14.6–38.1% 12 mentions · avg pos 5.6 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 42.9%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 11 | LDAP Best for: AI recommends LDAP most when buyers ask “what open-source team chat should I use for a security-conscious enterprise that bans cloud messaging” (66.7% of those answers) | 22.4% 95% CI 13–35.9% 11 mentions · avg pos 6.4 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 28.6%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 19% | Claim |
| 12 | Jitsi jitsi.org Best for: AI recommends Jitsi most when buyers ask “open-source alternatives to mainstream hosted team chat platforms” (44.4% of those answers) | 20.4% 95% CI 11.5–33.6% 10 mentions · avg pos 5.8 first pick 10% | — | GEMINI 38.1%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 13 | PostgreSQL postgresql.org Best for: AI recommends PostgreSQL most when buyers ask “how do I self-host a team communication tool with channels, threads, and file sharing” (100% of those answers) | 14.3% 95% CI 7.1–26.7% 7 mentions · avg pos 5.3 first pick 14.3% | — | GEMINI 19%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 14 | TrueConf Server trueconf.com Best for: AI recommends TrueConf Server most when buyers ask “self-hosted team communication for a government agency that can't use commercial cloud tools” (55.6% of those answers) | 12.2% 95% CI 5.7–24.2% 6 mentions · avg pos 4 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8%PERPLEXITY 23.8% | Claim |
| 15 | Twake twake.app Best for: AI recommends Twake most when buyers ask “open-source alternatives to mainstream hosted team chat platforms” (66.7% of those answers) | 12.2% 95% CI 5.7–24.2% 6 mentions · avg pos 8.5 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 19%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 16 | NGINX nginx.org Best for: AI recommends NGINX most when buyers ask “how do I self-host a team communication tool with channels, threads, and file sharing” (55.6% of those answers) | 12.2% 95% CI 5.7–24.2% 6 mentions · avg pos 12.3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 19%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 17 | Traefik traefik.io Best for: AI recommends Traefik most when buyers ask “how do I self-host a team communication tool with channels, threads, and file sharing” (44.4% of those answers) | 10.2% 95% CI 4.4–21.8% 5 mentions · avg pos 9.4 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 9.5%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 18 | Matrix/Element | 8.2% 95% CI 3.2–19.2% 4 mentions · avg pos 2.3 first pick 25% | — | CLAUDE 28.6%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 19 | Discord discord.com Best for: AI recommends Discord most when buyers ask “open-source alternatives to mainstream hosted team chat platforms” (55.6% of those answers) | 8.2% 95% CI 3.2–19.2% 4 mentions · avg pos 2.5 first pick 25% | — | CLAUDE 28.6%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 20 | Hazel Best for: AI recommends Hazel most when buyers ask “open-source alternatives to mainstream hosted team chat platforms” (33.3% of those answers) | 8.2% 95% CI 3.2–19.2% 4 mentions · avg pos 7 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 19% | Claim |
| 21 | Synapse | 8.2% 95% CI 3.2–19.2% 4 mentions · avg pos 28 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 22 | Node.js nodejs.org | 6.1% 95% CI 2.1–16.5% 3 mentions · avg pos 3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 23 | IRC Best for: AI recommends IRC most when buyers ask “open-source alternatives to mainstream hosted team chat platforms” (44.4% of those answers) | 6.1% 95% CI 2.1–16.5% 3 mentions · avg pos 3.7 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3% | Claim |
| 24 | Let's Chat | 6.1% 95% CI 2.1–16.5% 3 mentions · avg pos 5 first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 25 | Let's Encrypt letsencrypt.org Best for: AI recommends Let's Encrypt most when buyers ask “how do I self-host a team communication tool with channels, threads, and file sharing” (33.3% of those answers) | 6.1% 95% CI 2.1–16.5% 3 mentions · avg pos 13.3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3% | Claim |
| 26 | Secumeet Server secumeet.com Best for: AI recommends Secumeet Server most when buyers ask “self-hosted team communication for a government agency that can't use commercial cloud tools” (44.4% of those answers) | 6.1% 95% CI 2.1–16.5% 3 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 27 | Discourse discourse.org Best for: AI recommends Discourse most when buyers ask “best open-source team messaging platform I can self-host for my company” (33.3% of those answers) | 4.1% 95% CI 1.1–13.7% 2 mentions · avg pos 3 first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 28 | Apache Hop apache.org | 4.1% 95% CI 1.1–13.7% 2 mentions · avg pos 4 first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 29 | Element / Matrix | 4.1% 95% CI 1.1–13.7% 2 mentions · avg pos 4 first pick 0% | — | CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 30 | Pexip pexip.com Best for: AI recommends Pexip most when buyers ask “self-hosted team communication for a government agency that can't use commercial cloud tools” (33.3% of those answers) | 4.1% 95% CI 1.1–13.7% 2 mentions · avg pos 4.5 first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 31 | Troop Messenger troopmessenger.com Best for: AI recommends Troop Messenger most when buyers ask “self-hosted team communication for a government agency that can't use commercial cloud tools” (33.3% of those answers) | 4.1% 95% CI 1.1–13.7% 2 mentions · avg pos 7 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 32 | AWS aws.amazon.com | 4.1% 95% CI 1.1–13.7% 2 mentions · avg pos 14 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 33 | MySQL mysql.com | 4.1% 95% CI 1.1–13.7% 2 mentions · avg pos 17 first pick 50% | — | GEMINI 9.5% | Claim |
| 34 | DigitalOcean digitalocean.com | 4.1% 95% CI 1.1–13.7% 2 mentions · avg pos 24.5 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 9.5% | Claim |
| 35 | BridgeApp bridgeapp.ai Best for: AI recommends BridgeApp most when buyers ask “open-source self-hosted team chat vs hosted communication SaaS — security trade-offs” (33.3% of those answers) | 4.1% 95% CI 1.1–13.7% 2 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 36 | Fluxer | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 11 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 37 | Buzz | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 12 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 38 | Caddy caddyserver.com | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 13 first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 39 | Certbot certbot.eff.org | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 21 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 40 | F6S f6s.com | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 41 | Google Play Console play.google.com | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 42 | MirrorFly's AI Chatbot Solution mirrorfly.com Best for: AI recommends MirrorFly's AI Chatbot Solution most when buyers ask “best self-hosted Slack alternative that my team can run on our own infrastructure” (33.3% of those answers) | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 43 | Trillian Server trillian.im | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 44 | Wickr | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 45 | Zapier AI zapier.com Best for: AI recommends Zapier AI most when buyers ask “open-source alternatives to mainstream hosted team chat platforms” (33.3% of those answers) | 2% 95% CI 0.4–10.7% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
Reading the numbers: Share is a point estimate on 49 sampled answers, so each row also shows its 95% CI — the Wilson score interval around that share. When two products' intervals overlap, the gap between them isn't statistically meaningful at this sample size. First pick is the share of a product's recommending answers where it was named first, which separates “always mentioned” from “usually the top recommendation”. Full methodology.
Independence: Orbator customers are badged for disclosure. Customer status does not affect prompts, sampling, extraction, or ranking — see the methodology. Your product on this list? Claim it to see the prompts behind your rank and track it weekly.
What AI recommends in adjacent categories — same method, fresh weekly.
Not in the answer? That's fixable.
Check Your AI Visibility →© 2026 Orbator. All rights reserved.