Are there any privacy friendly Discord clients or frontends?

I have the impression it’s against their TOS to use an alternative client, so is it worth it to even use one?

  • Madbrad200@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    You won’t get banned for using a 3rd-party client or client mod, unless you abuse the API in doing so (which you’re not likely to do accidentally).

    Anyway, the short answer is: yes.

    I think all of the major client mods on PC have anti-tracking plugins. I use Vencord which comes with a “NoTrack” plugin by default (it disables Discord telemetry, metrics, and crash reporting). It also has a “ClearURLs” plugin that removes tracking elements from URLs. BetterDiscord also has similar plugins.

    You can couple these with OpenAsar (it’s compatible with all client mods - I use it alongside Vencord). Along with speeding up your Discord, it also comes with a “DoNotTrack” plugin that disables discord telemetry.


    On Android, you can use Vendetta which, again, has a “NoTrack” Plugin you can add that disables discord telemetry and tracking.

    • Vexz@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      You won’t get banned for using a 3rd-party client or client mod

      That is not true. A few people have been banned because they used BetterDiscord. It’s rare but it happened before. That’s why I stopped using it.

          • Madbrad200@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            I’ve used them since 2016. I really doubt anyone has gotten banned for anything other than using plugins that spam the API or access experimental features you’re not meant to have.

            The risk is yours to take though so, fair enough.

    • miss_brainfart@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      Did they recently reevaluate their stance on banning 3rd party clients? Because I’m pretty sure I was banned for exactly that, about two years ago.

  • Deluxeparrot
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    1 year ago

    What exactly would you gain privacy wise from a 3rd party client? All communication goes through their servers anyway. I believe even voice calls go through their server and aren’t p2p.

  • Cistello@reddthat.com
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    1 year ago

    Sidebar on my Browser and Aliucord I don’t use Discord frequently however and you need to be aware of what you type there

  • Azzy@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    I use Asahi Linux on M2 - Armcord works great for me! Also, I’m pretty sure it’s still fully compatible with amd64/x86_64, for others though you might have to modify source, not sure.

    Edit: additionally, I don’t think anyone’s been banned from discord just for using a client, the app uses the discord api under-the-hood anyway, but I think those who make the clients are more at risk if they use them, since they’re more likely to be noticed (repeated testing/debugging and such)

    • sprl@lemm.eeOP
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      1 year ago

      There are existing communities which I don’t intend to leave and will not move.

      • pimeys@lemmy.nauk.io
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        1 year ago

        You can use Discord through Matrix. You just need a server with the corresponding bridge installed.

        For example Beeper.

        • sprl@lemm.eeOP
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          1 year ago

          Oh, very interesting. I didn’t know this was a possibility. What would be the advantage of doing this?

      • wildbus8979@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        I get that, but one of your requirement was privacy. As others have explained that is diametrically opposed to the core architecture of Discord, so if you want that requirement then that is your answer.