Element vs Rocket.Chat

Element9.1Visit Rocket.Chat8.8Visit

Higher score Element #3 in Business Instant Messaging - Enterprise Software 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Element

vs

Rocket.Chat #5 in Business Instant Messaging - Enterprise Software 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Rocket.Chat

• Element fits best

  Security-focused teams needing deployment control

• Rocket.Chat fits best

  Teams wanting flexible open-source deployment

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Side by side

Feature	Element 9.1/10 Visit ↗	Rocket.Chat 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.1	8.8
Ranking	#3 in Business Instant Messaging - Enterprise Software	#5 in Business Instant Messaging - Enterprise Software
Best for	Security-focused teams needing deployment control	Teams wanting flexible open-source deployment
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	—	—
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile	Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Support	Email, Community, Docs	Community, Docs
Compliance	ISO 27001	SOC 2, GDPR, SSO/SAML, 2FA
Integrations	13 integrations	5,000+ integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Element 1/4 · Rocket.Chat 1/4
Guest access	✓	✓
Single sign-on	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Retention controls	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Mobile apps	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Message history	Unlimited	Unlimited
Group size limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	End-to-end encrypted messaging with cross-signed device verification Self-hosted and air-gapped deployment options Unlimited history, broad clients, and third-party bridges	Self-managed Starter supports up to 50 users at no charge. Channels, direct messages, threads, searchable history, and guest access. Commercial and specialist plans cover private, sovereign, and air-gapped deployments.
Cons	Uses rooms and spaces rather than conventional channels Enterprise and Sovereign pricing requires contacting sales The Community plan is self-hosted, not a managed deployment	Commercial, Government, and Defense pricing is not publicly numeric. Community is limited to 100 concurrent users. Advanced deployment and security options sit in higher-tier plans.
Our verdict	Element combines messaging and collaboration on the Matrix open standard, with end-to-end encryption, rooms and spaces, direct messages, and voice and video calls. It suits organizations that want control over where messaging… Read the review →	Rocket.Chat is an open-source communications platform for teams that need channels, direct messages, threaded discussions, file sharing, searchable conversations, and integrations. It suits organizations that want to manage their own… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Element — where it wins

  • End-to-end encrypted messaging with cross-signed device verification
  • Self-hosted and air-gapped deployment options
  • Unlimited history, broad clients, and third-party bridges

  Where it doesn't

  • Uses rooms and spaces rather than conventional channels
  • Enterprise and Sovereign pricing requires contacting sales
  • The Community plan is self-hosted, not a managed deployment

• Rocket.Chat — where it wins

  • Self-managed Starter supports up to 50 users at no charge.
  • Channels, direct messages, threads, searchable history, and guest access.
  • Commercial and specialist plans cover private, sovereign, and air-gapped deployments.

  Where it doesn't

  • Commercial, Government, and Defense pricing is not publicly numeric.
  • Community is limited to 100 concurrent users.
  • Advanced deployment and security options sit in higher-tier plans.

• Element9.1/10 · Free plan

  A Matrix-based messenger for teams that need encryption and deployment control.

  Visit ElementFull verdict →
• Rocket.Chat8.8/10 · Free plan

  Open-source team messaging with free entry points and deployment options from cloud to air-gapped.

  Visit Rocket.ChatFull verdict →