What it does
Raven provides public and private channels, direct messages, workspaces, files, search, and threads for side discussions. The Frappe product page describes integrations with business records, alerts, and workflow actions. Its AGPL-3.0 source is available publicly and the vendor says it does not charge per user; self-hosted deployments run on a Frappe site, while Frappe Cloud costs depend on infrastructure resources.
Raven suits teams already using Frappe or willing to operate a Frappe site. Channels organize team and project conversations; direct messages cover one-to-one exchanges, while threads keep side discussions attached to the original post. Its open-source code and no-per-user pricing remove seat-cost growth, but they do not make hosting or administration free: self-hosting requires Frappe infrastructure, and Frappe Cloud bills for site resources. The project also connects chat to Frappe business records, alerts, and workflow actions, so it is more valuable within that ecosystem than as a drop-in standalone messenger.
Strengths
- Supports channels, direct messages, threads, file search, and Frappe app integrations.
- AGPL-licensed source is available without per-user licensing fees.
Watch out for
- Self-hosting requires a Frappe site and ongoing server administration.
- Frappe Cloud infrastructure charges are separate from the software’s no-seat-cost model.
Best for
- Teams already running Frappe apps that want chat integrated with business records
- Organizations comfortable self-hosting an open-source team messenger
Sources
- Raven: A simple chat app for teams | Frappe (Oct 25, 2026)
- A simple chat app for teams (Oct 25, 2026)
- Pricing (Oct 25, 2026)