GathervsMattermost
Unbiased side-by-side comparison of verified reviews, user ratings, features, and pros/cons to help you decide which software fits your business needs.
Quick answer: Gather vs Mattermost
In our 2026 comparison of Gather and Mattermost, the products are too closely matched to name a clear overall winner. Gather is rated 4.6/5 from 81 user reviews; Mattermost is rated 4.5/5 from 4 user reviews. Gather has a free plan; Mattermost has a free plan.
Last updated
| At a glance | Gather | Mattermost |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Team Chat & Messaging | Team Chat & Messaging |
| User rating | 4.6/5 (81 reviews) | 4.5/5 (4 reviews) |
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Free trial | Not listed | Yes |
| Listed features | 15 | 19 |
| Integrations | 3 | 6 |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Android (limited), iOS (limited), Web | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS |
| Ease of use | 4.1/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Customer support | 4.5/5 | 5.0/5 |
Gather
Starting Price
Free, Paid plans based on usage
Community Pulse
Advanced Ratings
Pros
- Unique 2D virtual office environment where team members move their avatars through customizable spaces (offices, meeting rooms, break areas) to interact naturally.
- Spatial audio creates organic conversations; you can only hear people near your avatar, mimicking real office dynamics and reducing digital meeting fatigue.
- Built-in video conferencing, screen sharing, and collaborative whiteboards activate when avatars enter the same virtual room.
Cons
- Requires more powerful hardware than traditional collaboration tools; some users report performance issues on older laptops or integrated graphics.
- Public spaces can feel chaotic without clear rules; large gatherings may become disorganized without experienced moderation.
- Free tier limits custom world creation and concurrent user count; larger teams require paid plans at 5−10 per user per month.
Mattermost
Starting Price
Free self-hosted edition available; Professional and Enterprise plans available through annual subscriptions
Community Pulse
Advanced Ratings
Pros
- Self-hosted, open-source messaging platform offering true data sovereignty through air-gapped deployment with no internet connectivity or vendor telemetry .
- Community Edition is completely free with unlimited message history, file sharing, and comprehensive audit logging for compliance.
- Strong security architecture with open-source code allowing independent security verification and penetration testing by government agencies .
Cons
- Recent versions have removed some features and introduced confusing licensing changes, alienating parts of the community.
- Lacks native end-to-end encryption without requiring plugins or workarounds, unlike some competitors like Rocket.Chat .
- Setup and ongoing maintenance require technical expertise for self-hosted deployment, including server management and updates.
Product Overview
What each platform does and who it's for
Primary Category
The main classification for each product
Editorial Quality Rating
Independent expert panel ratings and quality validations
Gather
Expert Score
Mattermost
Expert Score
Integration Ecosystem
Compare supported third-party apps and services
Gather Integrations
Mattermost Integrations
Platform Support
Supported platforms across each product
Gather
Mattermost
Sentiment & Feedback
Real-world pros and cons from verified users
Gather Feedback
User sentiment analysis
- Unique 2D virtual office environment where team members move their avatars through customizable spaces (offices, meeting rooms, break areas) to interact naturally.
- Spatial audio creates organic conversations; you can only hear people near your avatar, mimicking real office dynamics and reducing digital meeting fatigue.
- Built-in video conferencing, screen sharing, and collaborative whiteboards activate when avatars enter the same virtual room.
- Supports custom world creation with object placement, interactive elements (TV screens, whiteboards, games), and embeddable web content.
- Requires more powerful hardware than traditional collaboration tools; some users report performance issues on older laptops or integrated graphics.
- Public spaces can feel chaotic without clear rules; large gatherings may become disorganized without experienced moderation.
- Free tier limits custom world creation and concurrent user count; larger teams require paid plans at 5−10 per user per month.
Mattermost Feedback
User sentiment analysis
- Self-hosted, open-source messaging platform offering true data sovereignty through air-gapped deployment with no internet connectivity or vendor telemetry .
- Community Edition is completely free with unlimited message history, file sharing, and comprehensive audit logging for compliance.
- Strong security architecture with open-source code allowing independent security verification and penetration testing by government agencies .
- Transparent per-user licensing model avoids vendor lock-in and unexpected price escalations common with proprietary platforms.
- Recent versions have removed some features and introduced confusing licensing changes, alienating parts of the community.
- Lacks native end-to-end encryption without requiring plugins or workarounds, unlike some competitors like Rocket.Chat .
- Setup and ongoing maintenance require technical expertise for self-hosted deployment, including server management and updates.
Feature Comparison
Detailed side-by-side capability checklist
Gather
15/26 features
- AI integration
- Automation
- Integrations
- Workflow Automation
- Gather AI meeting notes
- Proximity audio and video
- Screen Sharing
- Team collaboration
- Team messaging
- Virtual spaces
- Virtual workspaces
- Security
- Security controls
- Voice calls
- Spatial audio
- Chat features
- Direct messaging and group chats
- Group chat
- Live Chat
- Real-time Chat
- Team chat
- Video chat
- Event hosting
- Hosting
- Self-hosting
- Collaboration
Mattermost
19/26 features
- AI integration
- Automation
- Integrations
- Workflow Automation
- Gather AI meeting notes
- Proximity audio and video
- Screen Sharing
- Team collaboration
- Team messaging
- Virtual spaces
- Virtual workspaces
- Security
- Security controls
- Voice calls
- Spatial audio
- Chat features
- Direct messaging and group chats
- Group chat
- Live Chat
- Real-time Chat
- Team chat
- Video chat
- Event hosting
- Hosting
- Self-hosting
- Collaboration
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Pricing & Plans
Compare plans, features, and starting points side-by-side
Gather Pricing
FreemiumEssential access for personal or light use.
Advanced capabilities for professionals.
Dedicated support and custom security compliance.
Mattermost Pricing
PaidPer user per month.
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Community Intelligence
Real-time crowdsourced comparison feedback and buyer signals.
Community Matchup Voting
Real-time crowdsourced buyer signals
Community vs. Editorial Alignment
Agreement between algorithmic rating & user voting
Draw
Calculated by features, pricing, support & ratings.
Awaiting Votes
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Head-to-Head Winner Analysis
Data-backed performance comparisons across pricing, features, usability, and support
Matchup Scoreboard
At-a-glance scorecard results
Weighted Overall Scorecard
Normalized composite performance scores
Smart Recommendation Matrix
Head-to-head decision matrix based on your business workflow
- Budget-conscious teams seeking competitive entry pricing ($7/mo)
- Teams looking for native integration with core workflow tools
- Buyers relying on extensive peer validation and battle-tested industry adoption
- Organizations requiring enterprise SLA support, governance, and custom security
- Teams prioritizing intuitive, zero-learning-curve UX and fast onboarding
- Teams looking for native integration with core workflow tools
Gather
Dimension scorecard
Multi-Dimension Performance
Winner Breakdown & Analysis
Tied for overall winner with a composite score of 85%.
Pricing: $7/mo (No Free Trial), a less accessible entry point than the leader.
Offers 15 features (fewer than the category leader).
Satisfactory usability with a user rating of 4.1/5 stars.
Decent support with a user rating of 4.5/5 stars.
Tied on platform availability (5 Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android (limited), iOS (limited) +1 more).
Mattermost
Dimension scorecard
Multi-Dimension Performance
Winner Breakdown & Analysis
Tied for overall winner with a composite score of 86%.
Mattermost has the most accessible pricing ($10/mo (Free Trial)).
Mattermost lists the most features (19 features).
Ranked #1 for usability with a user rating of 4.5/5 stars.
Ranked #1 for support with a user rating of 5.0/5 stars.
Tied on platform availability (6 Platforms: Web, Windows, macOS, Linux +2 more).
⚖️ Virtually Tied
Mattermost and Gather are extremely well-matched overall. If User Satisfaction is your priority, Gather has the edge — otherwise, your specific workflow requirements should be the deciding factor.
Composite Score Breakdown
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Frequently asked questions: Gather vs Mattermost
Which is better: Gather or Mattermost?
Mattermost and Gather are extremely well-matched overall. If User Satisfaction is your priority, Gather has the edge — otherwise, your specific workflow requirements should be the deciding factor. Neither product has a decisive overall lead, so the best choice depends on your workflow, budget and required integrations.
How do users rate Gather and Mattermost?
Gather is rated 4.6/5 from 81 user reviews. Mattermost is rated 4.5/5 from 4 user reviews. Ratings come from approved user reviews on SoftwareHope.
How much do Gather and Mattermost cost?
Gather has a free plan. Mattermost has a free plan. Gather has the lower entry price. Always confirm current pricing on the vendor's site, as plans change.
Do Gather and Mattermost offer a free plan or free trial?
Gather offers a free plan; Mattermost offers a free plan and a free trial.
Which platforms do Gather and Mattermost support?
Gather supports Windows, macOS, Android (limited), iOS (limited) and Web; Mattermost supports Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
Which is easier to use, Gather or Mattermost?
Gather has an ease-of-use rating of 4.1/5, Mattermost has an ease-of-use rating of 4.5/5. Mattermost is rated easier to use by reviewers.
Most Helpful Reviews
Community-voted helpful feedback from verified users
Multi-screen sharing in Gather Private Spaces facilitates side-by-side technical reviews. Dual screen streams render clearly. Switching focus between secondary screen feeds takes clicking preview thumbnails.
Gather virtual poster sessions are fantastic for research expos. Setting up 20 interactive poster booths allowed attendees to stroll around the hall, view research graphics, and chat with presenters naturally.
Launching our virtual company office using Gather pre-built space templates took under 10 minutes. Selecting a modern office template gave us fully furnished desks, meeting rooms, and lounges out of the box.
Avatar dance animations in Gather bring joy to team celebrations. Pressing 'z' to make avatars dance or popping confetti emotes during product launch victories makes remote work feel playful and connected.
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