Frequently asked questions
Monky has channels, voice, roles and invites, so it's easy to assume it works like Discord. But it doesn't work like Discord: there is no Monky cloud. The server runs on the computer of someone in your group or on a VPS you control. Read these answers before creating yours.
Does Monky work like Discord?
No. It looks similar, but your group keeps the server running, not a company.
| Situation | Discord | Monky |
|---|---|---|
| Where the server runs | On the company's infrastructure | On the creator's computer or on a VPS |
| The owner turns off their computer | Nothing changes | The server goes offline |
| Friends from another home join | The invite is enough | Invite and a route to the server: an open port, a VPN or a VPS |
| Account | Sign-up with email and password | Identity stored on your device, no sign-up |
| I lost my computer | Recover it by email | Only with your identity backup |
| Channel history | On the company's servers | On the host's server |
Creating a server
Do I need to create a server to use Monky?
No. If someone in your group already hosts one, just join their server. To try the app, join Monky Community, the open community server. Only create a server if you will be the one hosting for your group.
I created a server, but my friends can't join. Why?
When you click Create and Start Server, Monky starts a server on your computer. People on your network join right away. People on another internet connection need a route to your machine, and your router blocks that by default. Pick one option:
| Option | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Open the port on your router (port forwarding) | You can access your router and have your own public IP |
| A VPN such as Radmin VPN, Hamachi, ZeroTier or Tailscale | You don't want to or can't change your router; everyone joins the same VPN |
| Host on a VPS | You want the server online all the time |
The invite carries the address and port, but it doesn't open ports or set up the VPN. See Open access over the internet. If your ISP uses CGNAT, opening the port isn't enough; check how to know if you're behind CGNAT. New to these terms? See what a VPN, a VPS and opening a port mean.
Does the server stay online when I close Monky?
It depends on how you close it:
- Closing the window: by default, Monky stays in the system tray and the server stays online. Change this in Settings › About and Updates › Minimize to system tray on close.
- Quitting Monky: the server stops and everyone is disconnected.
- Shutting down, restarting or putting the computer to sleep: the server goes offline.
When you open Monky again, the server doesn't come back on its own: right-click its icon on the rail and choose Start. For a server that is always available, use a VPS.
Should I host on my computer or on a VPS?
| Aspect | In the app | On a VPS |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | While your computer and Monky are running | 24 hours a day |
| Cost | Nothing beyond your internet and power | Whatever your provider charges |
| Setup | In the app, plus an open port or a VPN | With the Monky CLI, on Linux |
Where are my server's messages and channels stored?
On the machine that hosts the server. There is no copy in a Monky cloud: if that machine loses its data, the server's history is lost with it.
P2P or SFU: which should I choose?
Start with P2P Mesh, the default: voice and video go directly between people and the server uses almost no bandwidth. SFU helps with large calls and heavy streams, but it needs more open ports and more bandwidth from the host. See P2P and SFU.
Don't know what a VPN or a VPS is?
They are the two most common ways to let your friends in without depending on your router. Pick one; you don't need both.
What is a VPN?
A VPN creates a private network over the internet: computers in different homes see each other as if they were on the same local network. Everyone in the group installs the same program, such as Radmin VPN, Hamachi, ZeroTier or Tailscale, and joins the same network inside it. Then your friends connect to Monky using the address the VPN shows for your computer.
It's free and doesn't require changing your router. The server is still on your computer, so it still goes offline when you quit Monky.
Privacy VPNs won't work
Services that hide your IP while browsing, like the ones advertised for watching content from other countries, don't put you and your friends on the same network. Use one of the programs listed above.
What is a VPS?
A VPS is a computer you rent in a data center, running 24 hours a day with a public address on the internet. You install the Monky server on it with the Monky CLI, and the server stays online even with your computer turned off.
It is usually paid monthly and set up from the command line, on Linux. The step-by-step guide is in Host on a VPS.
What does opening a port mean?
It means setting up your router to forward to your computer the connections that arrive from the internet on a port, 3000 by default. The option is in your router's settings page, under names like Port Forwarding or Virtual Server. Some ISPs use CGNAT and don't allow this forwarding; in that case, use a VPN or a VPS.
Account and identity
Do I need to create an account or give an email?
No. The first time you open Monky, it creates an identity stored on your device. There is no sign-up, email or central password.
I changed or reformatted my computer. How do I recover my account?
Only with an identity backup exported beforehand. Without it, there is no way to recover it: no company keeps your account. A new identity is a new person to servers, and the roles and friends of the old one don't come back.
Can I use Monky on more than one computer?
Yes. Import the same identity on each computer. You can be connected to the same server from up to 3 devices at once. See Several devices at once.
Conversations and privacy
Can the server host read the messages?
Channel messages are stored on the server, so whoever hosts it has access to that data. In SFU mode, voice and video also pass through the server. Direct messages are end-to-end encrypted, and the server only relays them without storing them. See Where data travels.
Why is my direct message semi-transparent?
It hasn't been delivered yet. A direct message is only sent when you are both online on at least one shared server; until then, it stays on your computer. See Friends and direct messages.
Other questions
Is Monky free?
Yes. The app is free and open source. Hosting on a VPS may cost whatever your chosen provider charges.
Which systems does Monky run on?
The app is available for Windows and macOS. See Download.
There is also the web version, at monkyweb.vercel.app, which runs in the browser with nothing to install. It only joins servers with a secure connection (wss://), such as those that turned on the automatic secure connection. Creating your own server, the overlay, push-to-talk, global shortcuts and local network servers stay in the app.
Where can I get help or report a problem?
- Check Troubleshooting.
- Ask on Monky Community.
- Report bugs in Discussions › Bug Reports and suggest ideas in Discussions › Ideas.