Matterbridge is a free, open-source tool for Windows that relays messages between chat platforms. It is aimed at community moderators, server admins and anyone who wants one conversation to reach several apps at once. The project was built for bridging Ergo community chats such as Discord and Telegram, but the same approach works for any group that lives on more than one service. Instead of asking members to move to a single app, it carries messages across so each person can stay where they already are.
The program is written in Go and also runs on Linux and Docker. The most recent code update dates to August 2024, so before you depend on it for a busy community, check current activity on its GitHub page. The sections below cover what the program does, how to install it, how to set up a first bridge, and what to weigh before you start.
What Is Matterbridge and How Does It Work?
Matterbridge runs as a relay process. It connects to each chat platform through a bot account or an API token, reads messages in the channels you assign, and posts them to the linked channels on the other side. A message typed in a Discord channel can appear in a Telegram group within moments, and the reverse works too.
The program does not store your conversations as a messenger does. It forwards messages and attachments between existing services, and each platform keeps its own history. That means the bridge is only as useful as the accounts behind it. If the bot loses access to a channel, the relay stops for that route until you restore permissions.
Because the work happens on a machine you control, many admins run Matterbridge on a Windows PC for testing and on a Linux server or Docker container for long-term operation. The same configuration idea applies in both cases, so a test setup on Windows can help you learn the logic before you move to a permanent host.
Who Needs a Chat Bridge for a Multi-Platform Community?
Chat bridges make the most sense when a community has already split across apps. Some members live in Discord voice and text channels, while others prefer Telegram for quick updates on their phones. Without a bridge, moderators end up posting the same announcement twice, and newcomers miss half the conversation.
Open-source projects, hobby groups and regional communities often run into this problem. A project might keep technical discussion on one platform and community chat on another. Matterbridge is designed for that situation, where the goal is to keep people in the loop rather than to force everyone onto one app.
It is less suited to a single small group that is happy on one platform. In that case, a bridge adds moving parts without solving a real problem. Start with a clear reason, such as a shared announcement channel or a support room that serves two communities, and build from there.
Real-World Scenarios for Relaying Messages
Here are a few situations where a relay setup can save time:
- Announcements: a release note posted in a Discord announcements channel also reaches a Telegram group that many members read on mobile.
- Cross-community support: a helper in one community can answer a question that started in another, with the original sender's name shown.
- Shared events: a live event chat can run in one room while relayed copies appear in partner communities.
- File sharing: screenshots and logs posted during troubleshooting reach everyone who needs them without repeated uploads.
Each scenario depends on sensible channel choices. Linking a busy channel to a quiet one can flood the quiet room, so start with a narrow route and widen it once you see how traffic behaves.
Common Pitfalls When Bridging Chats
The most common problem is a relay loop, where a message bounces between two linked channels. Good configuration avoids this by making sure each route has a clear direction and that bridged messages are not sent back to their origin. Test with a private channel before opening a route to a public community.
Another issue is duplicate content. If a community already cross-posts manually, the bridge will add a second copy of every message. Agree on one method before you start, and tell members which channel is the source of truth.
Resource use also matters. The project notes that if you build from source without the optional Microsoft Teams bridge, the memory requirement can be reduced to about 0.5 GB of RAM. This is a build-time option, so it applies mainly to people compiling their own version rather than installing a ready-made program.
Key features
Bridging Across Protocols
Multiple Gateways
Message Edits and Deletes
Preserved Threading
Attachments and Files
Username and Avatar Spoofing
Private Groups
Supported coins
Matterbridge is organized around chat protocols rather than cryptocurrencies or blockchain networks. The community it was built for bridges Discord and Telegram, and the project describes support for a growing number of protocols. Check the project wiki for current protocol details before planning a setup.
How to install Matterbridge on Windows
- 1
Get the program from the right place
Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page at github.com/42wim/matterbridge. Avoid mirrors, forum links and file-sharing sites, since these can carry modified copies of the program.
- 2
Verify the download
Check the SHA-256 checksum or digital signature if the release page provides one. Compare the hash with the value listed for your exact file. If the values do not match, delete the file and download it again from the official source.
- 3
Install or extract the Windows build
Run the Windows installer or extract the Windows build to a folder you control, such as a dedicated tools directory. Keep it out of shared or temporary folders so that configuration files and logs stay in one predictable location.
- 4
Prepare your configuration
Read the project wiki and FAQ before you edit any settings. Gather the bot accounts or API tokens you need for each platform, and decide which channels will form each gateway. Write the plan down so you can check it later.
-
Start the bridge and test it
Launch Matterbridge from a terminal or a command prompt so you can read its output. Send a test message in each linked channel and confirm it arrives on the other side. Then try an edit, a deletion and a file upload to confirm that each feature behaves as expected.
How to use Matterbridge
Using Matterbridge is mostly a matter of preparing accounts on each platform and describing the routes you want. Once the configuration is written, the program does the rest. Work in small steps, and test each route before adding more.
- Create a bot account or API token on each platform you plan to connect, and keep the credentials private.
- Add the bot to every channel or group it needs to read and post in, and confirm that it has permission to send messages and attachments.
- List the channels you want to link and group them into gateways, one gateway for each community or purpose.
- Write the configuration for each gateway, naming the platform, the channel and the bot credentials for each side.
- Start Matterbridge from a command prompt and watch the output for connection errors.
- Send a plain text message from each side and confirm it appears on the other side with the correct sender name.
- Test an edit and a deletion to confirm that changes are mirrored as expected.
- Upload a small image or document and check that it arrives on the linked channel.
- Add a reply or thread on a platform that supports it, and see whether the structure is preserved.
- Once everything works, widen the bridge gradually and tell your community how messages are being relayed.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, so you can read the code and follow its development
- Handles any supported protocols, which keeps the setup flexible as communities change
- Supports multiple gateways from one installation
- Carries edits, deletions and attachments across linked channels
- Keeps threading where the destination platform allows it
- Available for Windows, Linux and Docker, so a test setup and a server setup can share the same logic
- Written in Go, a language common in server software
- Setup is technical and requires creating bot accounts and editing configuration
- The most recent code update dates to August 2024, so check activity before relying on it
- Features depend on what each platform allows bots to do, so behavior varies
- Including the optional Microsoft Teams bridge would change the project's license to GPL, so check the license of any build you use
- No single setup works for every community, so expect some trial and error
Is Matterbridge safe?
Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page at github.com/42wim/matterbridge. Check the SHA-256 checksum or signature when the release provides one, and skip copies from forums or file mirrors. Bot tokens and API credentials grant access to your channels, so keep them private, store them carefully, and never paste them into third-party websites. A chat bridge should never need a seed phrase or wallet key, so leave any site that asks for one. The most recent code update dates to August 2024, so review open issues and release notes before going live. Check the latest version on the official website before you install.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/42wim/matterbridge. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Matterbridge is not a messenger. It does not give you a new place to chat, and it does not replace the apps your community already uses. Instead, it links existing platforms so the same conversation reaches several audiences. This is the key difference from the programs in the similar list.
Session Desktop and Iris Chat are encrypted messengers where people chat directly in the app. Quorum Desktop is a group messenger built around private, decentralized rooms. Loquaz is a desktop app for direct encrypted chat. If your goal is to move a community onto one private app, one of these may fit better. If your goal is to keep people on the platforms they already use, Matterbridge is the tool built for that job.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v1.26.0
- Last update
- 27 Aug 2024
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/42wim/matterbridge
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Matterbridge is free and open source. You can download it from the official website or the GitHub Releases page without paying a fee. Because it is open source, the code is public, which lets technically minded users review how it works before they run it.
It can be, if you download it only from the official source and verify the file. Check the SHA-256 checksum or signature when one is published. Keep bot tokens private, since they control access to your channels. The latest code update dates to August 2024, so review recent activity before you rely on it.
Yes, connecting Discord and Telegram is one of the main reasons people use the project. You create bot accounts on each platform, add them to the channels you want to link, and define a gateway in the configuration. Test a plain message first, then add edits, deletions and file sharing.
No. The project notes that Mattermost is not required to run Matterbridge. The program is a relay that works between chat platforms, so you can use it without installing a Mattermost server.
Yes, it can mirror message edits and deletions between linked channels. How closely this matches the original depends on what each platform permits the bot to do. Run a short test in a private channel to see how your chosen platforms behave before going live.
Yes, the program supports bridging private groups. This lets a closed community share updates with a wider network without making its room public. Review the rules of each platform first, because bot access to private rooms can differ between services.
Download the program from the official source, verify the file, and install it. Prepare bot accounts for each platform, then write a configuration with one gateway. Start the program from a command prompt, send test messages in both directions, and widen the setup once everything works.
Verdict
Matterbridge suits community managers, moderators and technically comfortable admins who need one conversation to reach several chat platforms. It is free, open source and flexible, with useful features such as edits, deletions, attachments and threading. It is less suited to people who want a ready-made app with a simple setup. Because the latest code update dates to August 2024, check its activity and release notes before building a community workflow around it.