Side by side
| Discord | IronCircles | |
|---|---|---|
| Text messages and DMs | Not end-to-end encrypted | End-to-end encrypted |
| Voice and video calls | End-to-end encrypted (DAVE) | End-to-end encrypted, with per-call keys exchanged over ML-KEM-1024 |
| Photos and files | Not end-to-end encrypted | End-to-end encrypted |
| Signup | Email, sometimes phone verification | Username and password only |
| Discovery | Public servers and invite links | Invite-only; members vote newcomers in |
| Games | Activities in voice channels | Daily puzzles, solo games with circle leaderboards, multiplayer chess, checkers, poker and more |
Facts about Discord are as of October 2026.
What Discord encrypts
Discord moved voice and video calls to end-to-end encryption with its DAVE protocol. Text channels, DMs and uploads are not end-to-end encrypted: Discord can read them, which is how its content moderation works.
In IronCircles, messages, photos, video and files are encrypted on your device in every circle, so there is nothing readable on our servers.
Community vs circle
Discord servers are designed to grow: public listings, invite links, roles and bots. IronCircles circles are designed to stay small and trusted. Nobody joins without the members’ permission, and there are no public lobbies or strangers.
Gaming with your people
IronCircles has a Game Center inside your private network: the same daily puzzle for the whole circle, solo arcade and card games with shared leaderboards, and multiplayer chess, checkers, Texas Hold’em and more, with chat over the board.
Questions
Are Discord messages end-to-end encrypted?
No. As of October 2026, Discord encrypts voice and video calls end to end, but text channels, DMs and uploads are not end-to-end encrypted.
What is a private alternative to Discord for friend groups?
IronCircles gives a friend group an invite-only, end-to-end encrypted circle with chat, full-resolution media, events, votes and multiplayer games.