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Slack vs Rocket.Chat
Slack vs Rocket.Chat
A side-by-side look at Slack (the paid SaaS) and Rocket.Chat (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.
| Slack | Rocket.Chat | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Team messaging with channels, threads and integrations. | Open source team and community chat with video and voice. |
| License | Proprietary SaaS | MIT (community); proprietary modules available |
| Pricing | Free tier limited to 90 days of history; Pro from $7.25/user/month. | Free to self-host · optional paid hosted plan |
| Self-host option | No | Yes — difficulty 3/5 |
| Hosted cloud available | Yes (only option) | Yes |
| Desktop apps | Varies by product | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Mobile apps | Official apps typically available | iOS, Android |
Ad slot — between tables
Best for
Large teams that want omnichannel and federation.
Rocket.Chat strengths
- Federation support (via Matrix bridge).
- {'Large feature set': 'channels, threads, omnichannel.'}
- Strong customization options.
Rocket.Chat weaknesses
- Can feel heavy for small teams.
- Past performance issues on large deployments.
- Resource footprint is higher than competitors.
What's the catch with Slack?
- Free tier message history cap makes it unusable for serious teams.
- Data residency concerns for EU and regulated industries.
- Per-seat pricing scales expensively.
Still unsure?
Check the full list of alternatives to Slack: see Slack alternatives, or learn more about Rocket.Chat on its project page.