Rocket.Chat vs Slack
Rocket.Chat and Slack are both team communication tools. Rocket.Chat is aimed at enterprise and developers, while Slack is aimed at small businesses and enterprise. Both have a free plan.
Open-source team chat and omnichannel
Channel-based team messaging
| Pricing | Open source | Freemium · $9 |
| Starting price | Not published | $8.75/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Built for | Enterprise, Developers | Small businesses, Enterprise |
| Platforms | web, macos, windows, ios, android | web, macos, windows, linux, ios, android |
| Country | BR · 2015 | US · 2013 |
| Rating | — | — |
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.
Choose Slack if
Teams of any size that are not already standardized on Microsoft Teams and value integrations.
- Best-in-class UX for team chat
- Huge integration ecosystem
- Slack Connect for working with partners
Look elsewhere if: Microsoft 365-centric organizations (Teams is included) or teams preferring async-first tools (Twist).
Rocket.Chat vs Slack pricing
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
Slack
- Free$090-day message history, 1:1 huddles
- Pro$8.75/user/mo$7.25/mo billed annually; unlimited history and apps, group huddles
- Business+$18/user/mo$15/mo billed annually; Slack AI, SAML SSO, data exports
- Enterprise+CustomEnterprise search, DLP, advanced security; contact sales
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
Slack · Key features
- Channels, threads, DMs and shared channels across companies (Slack Connect)
- Huddles with screen sharing and canvases for docs
- Workflow Builder and 2,600+ app integrations
- Slack AI: summaries, search answers, recaps
- Lists for lightweight task tracking
- Enterprise security: SSO, DLP, EKM, compliance exports
Cons
- Expensive per seat for large teams
- Free plan's 90-day history limit
- Notification overload without discipline
Rocket.Chat vs Slack: FAQ
Do Rocket.Chat and Slack have a free plan?
Yes, both Rocket.Chat and Slack have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.
Which is better for small businesses, Rocket.Chat or Slack?
Slack lists small businesses as a core audience, while Rocket.Chat is aimed more at enterprise and developers.