Frequently asked questions

What is Valour?

Valour is an open-source community platform and an alternative to Discord. Communities live on planets, with channels, roles and permissions, voice and video, and optional threads, wikis, calendars and villages. Every chat message is end-to-end encrypted.

How do I use Valour?

Open app.valour.gg in any modern browser, download the Windows, macOS or Linux app, or get the Android app on Google Play. Your account works everywhere.

Is Valour on Google Play?

Yes. Search for Valour on Google Play or open play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gg.valour.app. To install without the store, download the signed APK from the Download section.

How do I install Valour on Linux?

Download the Flatpak from the Download section and run flatpak install --user with the downloaded file. It needs Flatpak with the Flathub repository, which provides the GNOME runtime the app uses. There are builds for x86_64 and ARM64. The Linux app does not update itself yet, so install new releases the same way.

Can I use Valour on Mac or iPhone?

Yes. The Mac app runs on macOS 14 or later, on Apple silicon and Intel Macs. Download it from the Download section, open the disk image and drag Valour into Applications. There is no iOS app yet, so on iPhone and iPad use app.valour.gg in the browser.

Is Valour free?

Yes. Valour is free to use. Optional Stargazer subscriptions cost $4.99, $9.99 or $14.99 a month. They add larger uploads and profile extras, and they pay for the servers, since Valour has no ads.

Do I need to show ID or a phone number?

No. Sign up with an email address, or with Google or Discord, and enter your birth date. You must be at least 13. We never ask for a government ID, a face scan or a phone number. Sign-ups from Texas are paused because Texas is pushing apps toward identity checks.

Can I sign in with Discord or Google?

Yes. You can sign up and sign in with either, and link them to an existing account in your settings.

Can I bring my existing community?

Yes. When you create a planet, paste a Discord server template link to copy its channels, categories, roles and permissions. Messages and members are not copied, so your members join again with an invite link.

How is Valour different from Discord?

Valour covers what a Discord server does, and adds end-to-end encryption for every message, threads and wikis that search engines can find, a workspace with several conversations side by side, villages, and the option to run it yourself. It has no ads and never asks for ID.

Are my messages encrypted?

Yes. Messages in direct chats, group chats and planet channels are encrypted on your devices before they are sent, so Valour stores text it cannot read. Uploaded files and images are not end-to-end encrypted. Threads and wiki pages are public on purpose, so they are not encrypted and can appear on the web.

What does open source mean for Valour?

The client and server are published on GitHub under the AGPL. Anyone can read how Valour works, contribute improvements, or run their own instance.

Can I host Valour myself?

Yes. The repository includes a Docker Compose setup with automatic HTTPS. You fill in a short settings file first, and voice runs as an optional add-on. Planets on the official service can also use their own storage and voice server, or move to an independently run community node.

Can I build bots and integrations?

Yes. Bots are built with the Valour .NET SDK, which handles encryption for them. Incoming webhooks let any tool that can send a web request post into a channel, and bots can send interactive embeds with buttons and forms.

How do you protect my privacy?

We don't sell your data and we don't run ads. A few services we rely on handle limited data to do their jobs, such as email delivery, voice and video, payments and Android notifications. The Privacy Policy has the details.