Automate Basics

Rocket.Chat: pricing, features and alternatives

Self-hostable secure messaging platform with Matrix and XMPP federation

Team chatFree plan

Visit websitePricing page

What is Rocket.Chat?

Rocket.Chat is a secure communications platform for organizations that run their own infrastructure, covering messaging, voice, video and file sharing. It deploys on-premises, in a secure cloud or air-gapped, and federates natively with Matrix and XMPP. A free self-managed Starter workspace is offered for evaluation, small businesses and non-profits, while commercial pricing is quote-based.

Good for

  • Public sector and defense teams that need to host chat themselves
  • Organizations that want to federate with Matrix or XMPP users
  • Teams replacing an older on-premises chat system

Key features

  • Messaging, voice, video, screen and file sharing in one platform
  • On-premises, secure cloud or air-gapped deployment
  • Native Matrix and XMPP federation
  • Role-based and attribute-based access control with audit and retention
  • Custom apps, workflows, REST APIs and SDKs
  • Rocket.Chat AI with summarization, translation and bring-your-own-model support

Limitations to know about

  • Commercial pricing is not published
  • The home page markets mainly to defense, government and critical infrastructure
  • Licence terms were not stated on the pages read

Rocket.Chat pricing

Rocket.Chat has a free plan. Its plans are Starter, Commercial and Government. Commercial and Government are priced on request.

PlanPriceWhat you get
StarterFreeFree self-managed workspace for evaluation, small businesses and non-profits
CommercialContact for pricingPricing hidden behind a Get pricing button
GovernmentCustom quoteQuote through sales

Free plan limits: Starter is described as a free self-managed workspace for technical evaluation, small businesses and non-profits; its user and feature limits were not shown on the pages read

We could not verify a current price on Rocket.Chat's own pages, so none is quoted here. Current prices

Rocket.Chat alternatives

Mattermost

Self-hosted team messaging and workflow platform for security-sensitive organizations

Team chatContact sales

Element

Secure messaging and calls built on the decentralised Matrix standard

Team chatFree plan

Slack

Team messaging built around channels, with huddles, canvases and workflow automation

Team chatFree plan · from $7.25/user/mo

Pumble

Team chat with a free plan that keeps unlimited users and message history

Team chatFree plan · from $2.49/seat/mo

Google Chat

Direct messages and spaces inside Google Workspace, with Meet and Gemini built in

Team chatFree trial · from €6.80/user/mo

Discord

Group chat with text, voice and video, built around gaming and community servers

Team chatSee pricing

Compare Rocket.Chat with these side by side

Frequently asked questions

Is Rocket.Chat free?

Rocket.Chat has a free plan. Starter is described as a free self-managed workspace for technical evaluation, small businesses and non-profits; its user and feature limits were not shown on the pages read.

How much does Rocket.Chat cost?

Rocket.Chat does not publish a starting price we could verify, so check its own pricing page for current rates.

What is Rocket.Chat used for?

Rocket.Chat is a secure communications platform for organizations that run their own infrastructure, covering messaging, voice, video and file sharing. People use it for public sector and defense teams that need to host chat themselves, organizations that want to federate with Matrix or XMPP users and teams replacing an older on-premises chat system.

What are the alternatives to Rocket.Chat?

Tools that do a similar job include Mattermost, Element, Slack, Pumble and Google Chat. Each has its own page here with its plans, limits and prices.

Who makes Rocket.Chat?

Rocket.Chat is made by Rocket.Chat. The company was founded in 2015.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from the pages below, read on the dates shown: Rocket.Chat's own pages first, and a named public reference where they are silent.

  1. rocket.chat/pricing (pricing page: plan names, quote-based pricing; no prices published) read 7 November 2026
  2. rocket.chat/ (features, deployment, federation, audience) read 7 November 2026
  3. docs.rocket.chat/ (description, deployment options) read 7 November 2026
  4. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket.Chat (founding year; incorporated in Delaware with engineering in Brazil, no headquarters named) read 7 November 2026

Compiled by from the sources above. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

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