What is the main difference between Macro Chat and Stoat?

Macro Chat and Stoat are both team chat & messaging tools but differ in their approach, features, and target audience. Compare their GitHub stats, technology stack, and community adoption to make the best choice.

Which is better: Macro Chat or Stoat?

The choice between Macro Chat and Stoat depends on your specific needs, technical requirements, and team preferences. Both are quality open source solutions with active communities.

Can I migrate from Macro Chat to Stoat?

Migration between Macro Chat and Stoat is possible but requires careful planning. Consider data export/import capabilities, feature parity, and potential workflow changes.

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Macro Chat vs Stoat

Learn how Macro Chat and Stoat differ in their key features, development activity, technology stack and community adoption, so you can decide which of these team chat & messaging tools is best for you.

Macro Chat

Team chat app with inline threads, mention-based sharing, a unified inbox for chat and email, and an AI agent that works across your full workspace.

Visit Macro Chat Read more

4,175stars+3,460(+484%)

Last 30 days

Last commit
8 hours ago
Repository age
10 months
Version
v2026.9.1.0
License
AGPL-3.0
Repository
macro-inc/macro

Stoat

Self-hostable group chat with servers, channels, voice, and moderation tools. No ads, no data mining, built under EU privacy law.

Visit Stoat Read more

3,273stars+84(+2.6%)

Last 30 days

Last commit
2 days ago
Repository age
5 years
Version
v0.15.4
Self-hosted
Yes
Repository
stoatchat/stoatchat

Sponsor Stoat onko-fi.com

Detailed Comparison

Both Macro Chat and Stoat have their unique strengths and serve similar purposes effectively. Consider your specific needs regarding popularity, growth, activity, technology, maturity, licensing and features when making your decision.

Comparable

Community & Popularity

Both tools have similar popularity levels, with Macro Chat having 4,175 stars and Stoat having 3,273 stars on GitHub. In terms of developer contributions, Macro Chat has 408 forks, indicating moderate developer engagement.

Macro Chat wins

Growth Momentum

Macro Chat is growing faster, adding 3,460 stars in the last 30 days (+484%) against adding 84 stars for Stoat (+2.6%). Macro Chat is both larger and pulling further ahead.

Comparable

Development Activity

Both projects show recent activity, with Macro Chat last updated 8 hours ago and Stoat 2 days ago.

Comparable

Technology Stack

Both tools share common technology foundations, being built with Bash, Python, Rust. However, they differ in their additional technology choices: Macro Chat uses JavaScript, CSS, Typescript, JSX, C, Objective-C, Swift, Kotlin, Tauri.

Stoat wins

Project Maturity

Stoat has been in development longer, starting 5 years ago, compared to Macro Chat which began 10 months ago. This 4.5-year head start suggests Stoat may have more mature features and established processes.

Macro Chat wins

Licensing

Macro Chat is licensed under AGPL-3.0, while Stoat's license terms are not publicly specified.

Comparable

Use Cases & Features

Both tools serve similar use cases in Team Chat & Messaging. However, they also have distinct specializations: Stoat extends into Encrypted Communication.

Stoat wins

Hosting & Deployment

Stoat provides self-hosting options for complete data control and customization, while Macro Chat may be primarily cloud-based or require different deployment approaches.