Mattermost is an open-source team communication and collaboration platform designed for organizations that require secure, centralized, and flexible communication. It combines real-time messaging, file sharing, voice and video communication, workflow automation, and integrations with business tools in a single platform.
Unlike many cloud-only communication services, Mattermost can be self-hosted on private servers, giving organizations full control over their data, security, and infrastructure.
Table of Contents
How Does Mattermost Work?
Mattermost organizes communication into teams and channels.
Channels can be created for:
- Departments
- Projects
- Customers
- Internal support
- Technical discussions
- Announcements
This structure helps teams keep conversations organized and makes information easier to find.
Users can participate in public channels, private channels, group discussions, and direct messages.
Key Features of Mattermost
Real-Time Messaging
Mattermost enables instant communication between team members through:
- Private messages
- Group chats
- Team channels
- Threaded conversations
Real-time communication helps teams collaborate efficiently and reduce dependence on email.
File Sharing
Users can upload and share:
- Documents
- Images
- Presentations
- PDFs
- Spreadsheets
Files remain searchable and accessible within conversations, improving collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Voice and Video Calls
Mattermost supports voice and video communication, allowing teams to:
- Hold meetings
- Conduct remote discussions
- Share screens
- Collaborate in real time
This reduces the need for separate communication platforms.
Advanced Search
The platform includes powerful search functionality that allows users to quickly locate:
- Messages
- Files
- Links
- Project discussions
- Historical conversations
This is particularly valuable for organizations that generate large volumes of communication.
Self-Hosting and Data Control
One of Mattermost’s biggest advantages is the ability to host it on your own infrastructure.
Self-hosting provides:
- Full ownership of company data
- Greater privacy
- Compliance with internal policies
- Control over backups and retention
- Reduced reliance on third-party providers
This makes Mattermost especially popular in industries where data security and regulatory compliance are critical.
Security and Privacy
Mattermost is designed with security in mind and includes features such as:
- User authentication
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Role-based access control
- Data encryption
- Audit logs
- Single Sign-On (SSO) support
Organizations can implement additional security controls depending on their infrastructure requirements.
Integrations with Other Tools
Mattermost integrates with many business applications and services, including:
- GitHub
- GitLab
- Jira
- Jenkins
- Kubernetes
- CI/CD platforms
- Monitoring tools
- Helpdesk systems
These integrations allow teams to centralize notifications and workflows in one place.
Benefits of Using Mattermost
Centralized Communication
All conversations, files, and notifications are available within a single platform, reducing information fragmentation.
Improved Productivity
Teams spend less time searching for information and switching between applications.
Greater Security
Self-hosting and advanced security controls provide a higher level of data protection.
Customization
As an open-source platform, Mattermost can be customized and extended to meet specific business requirements.
Support for Remote Work
Mattermost allows teams to collaborate effectively regardless of location.
Common Use Cases
Mattermost is commonly used by:
- Software development teams
- DevOps teams
- Government organizations
- Healthcare institutions
- Financial companies
- Educational institutions
- Enterprise businesses
It is particularly popular among organizations that require private communication infrastructure.
Mattermost vs. Traditional Email
Compared to email, Mattermost offers:
- Instant communication
- Organized discussions
- Easier collaboration
- Faster decision-making
- Better file sharing
- Searchable communication history
While email remains useful for formal communication and external contacts, Mattermost significantly improves internal collaboration.
Advantages of Mattermost
- Open-source platform
- Self-hosting capability
- Strong security features
- Extensive integrations
- Flexible deployment options
- Customizable workflows
- Centralized communication
Potential Drawbacks
While Mattermost offers many benefits, there are some considerations:
- Self-hosted deployments require server administration knowledge.
- Initial setup may be more complex than cloud-only alternatives.
- Large deployments may require dedicated infrastructure resources.
- Some advanced enterprise features may require commercial licensing.
Summary
Mattermost is a secure and flexible team communication platform that combines messaging, file sharing, voice and video communication, integrations, and workflow automation in a single solution. Its open-source nature and self-hosting capabilities make it particularly attractive for organizations that require complete control over their data and communication infrastructure.
For businesses seeking a modern alternative to traditional internal communication methods, Mattermost provides a scalable, secure, and highly customizable collaboration platform.