Microsoft Teams vs Rocket.Chat
Microsoft Teams and Rocket.Chat are both team communication tools. Microsoft Teams is aimed at enterprise and small businesses, while Rocket.Chat is aimed at enterprise and developers. Both have a free plan.
Microsoft's chat, meetings and calling hub inside Microsoft 365
Open-source team chat and omnichannel
| Pricing | Freemium · $4 | Open source |
| Starting price | $4/mo | Not published |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | 30 days | — |
| Built for | Enterprise, Small businesses | Enterprise, Developers |
| Platforms | web, macos, windows, ios, android | web, macos, windows, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2017 | BR · 2015 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Microsoft Teams if
Organisations already standardised on Microsoft 365 that want chat, meetings and files in one governed platform.
- Included in most Microsoft 365 business plans at no extra cost
- Deep integration with Outlook, SharePoint, OneDrive and Office
- Strong security, compliance and identity management via Entra ID
Look elsewhere if: Startups and developer teams that prefer fast chat and a large third-party app ecosystem, or Google Workspace users (Slack, Google Meet).
Choose Rocket.Chat if
Organizations wanting open-source chat plus omnichannel.
- Open source
- Omnichannel built in
- Data control
Look elsewhere if: Teams wanting turnkey polish.
Microsoft Teams vs Rocket.Chat pricing
Microsoft Teams
- Teams (free)$0Personal use; 60-minute group calls, up to 100 people
- Teams Essentials$4/user/moAnnual commitment; standalone meetings and chat
- M365 Business Basic$7/user/moAnnual commitment; Teams plus web Office, email, 1 TB
- M365 Business Standard$14/user/moAnnual commitment; adds desktop Office apps, webinars
- M365 Business Premium$22/user/moAnnual commitment; adds Intune and advanced security
Rocket.Chat
- Community$0Free self-managed open source workspace
- Starter$0Free premium features for up to 50 users (docs.rocket.chat)
- CommercialCustomGet pricing from sales
- GovernmentCustomCustom quote
- DefenseCustomContact us
Microsoft Teams · Key features
- Persistent channels, group chats and threaded conversations
- Video meetings with recording, transcription and live captions
- Webinars and town halls for large internal and external audiences
- Microsoft 365 Copilot recaps, chat summaries and drafting
- Real-time co-editing of Word, Excel and PowerPoint files in chats
- Teams Phone add-on for cloud PBX calling
Cons
- Heavier and slower than Slack for fast chat
- File and permission model follows SharePoint and can confuse users
- Best features such as Copilot and Premium cost extra
Rocket.Chat · Key features
- Team chat and video
- Omnichannel customer service
- Federation
- Self-hosting
- E2E encryption
- Marketplace apps
Cons
- UX less polished
- Self-hosting upkeep
- Fewer integrations
Microsoft Teams vs Rocket.Chat: FAQ
Do Microsoft Teams and Rocket.Chat have a free plan?
Yes, both Microsoft Teams and Rocket.Chat have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.
Which is better for small businesses, Microsoft Teams or Rocket.Chat?
Microsoft Teams lists small businesses as a core audience, while Rocket.Chat is aimed more at enterprise and developers.