Mattermost vs Rocket.Chat
Mattermost is open-source, self-hosted team messaging platform for organizations that need data sovereignty, while Rocket.Chat is open-source communication platform with team chat, video, and omnichannel customer engagement. Mattermost is built for teams that need self-hosted, privacy-first messaging, whereas Rocket.Chat targets teams that want self-hosted chat with customer-facing features.
Free
| Feature | Mattermost | Rocket.Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bots | — | ✓ |
| Channels | ✓ | — |
| Compliance | ✓ | — |
| Federation | — | ✓ |
| Integrations | ✓ | — |
| Omnichannel | — | ✓ |
| Playbooks | ✓ | — |
| Self-Hosted | ✓ | ✓ |
| Video Calls | — | ✓ |
Pricing: Both Mattermost and Rocket.Chat are free, so this decision comes down to features and philosophy rather than budget.
Feature gaps: Mattermost offers Channels, Compliance and Integrations that Rocket.Chat lacks. Rocket.Chat brings Bots, Federation and Omnichannel that Mattermost does not have. Both share Self-Hosted.
Team fit: Both tools target mid-size teams teams, so the decision hinges on features and workflow fit rather than scale.
Open source: Both Mattermost and Rocket.Chat are open source, so self-hosting and code audits are on the table with either choice.
Where each tool shines: Mattermost's biggest strengths are: self-hosted — full control over your data. open source with active community. Rocket.Chat's biggest strengths are: self-hosted with full data ownership. combines internal chat and customer-facing messaging.
Watch out for: With Mattermost, users commonly note that requires server management if self-hosting. With Rocket.Chat, the main complaint is that ui feels dated compared to slack.
choose Mattermost if
- Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams that need self-hosted, privacy-first messaging
- You specifically need Channels and Compliance
- You care about open source with active community
choose Rocket.Chat if
- Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams that want self-hosted chat with customer-facing features
- You specifically need Bots and Federation
- You care about combines internal chat and customer-facing messaging
frequently asked
What is the difference between Mattermost and Rocket.Chat?
Mattermost is open-source, self-hosted team messaging platform for organizations that need data sovereignty, while Rocket.Chat is open-source communication platform with team chat, video, and omnichannel customer engagement. Mattermost is built for teams that need self-hosted, privacy-first messaging, whereas Rocket.Chat targets teams that want self-hosted chat with customer-facing features.
Should I use Mattermost or Rocket.Chat?
Mattermost is built for teams that need self-hosted, privacy-first messaging. Rocket.Chat is built for teams that want self-hosted chat with customer-facing features. Pick the one that fits.
When should I choose Mattermost over Rocket.Chat?
Choose Mattermost if Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams that need self-hosted, privacy-first messaging; You specifically need Channels and Compliance; You care about open source with active community.
When should I choose Rocket.Chat over Mattermost?
Choose Rocket.Chat if Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams that want self-hosted chat with customer-facing features; You specifically need Bots and Federation; You care about combines internal chat and customer-facing messaging.
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