Rocket.Chat review

Rocket.Chat is a self-hosted chat platform for organizations that must keep messages on their own infrastructure. Two free editions cover small groups: Starter allows up to 50 users and includes LDAP, SAML and custom OAuth sign-in with unlimited push notifications, while Community allows up to 100 concurrent users with core messaging and up to 10,000 push notifications a month. Video calls run through Jitsi or BigBlueButton on both, and Starter adds Pexip, Google Meet and Zoom. The paid Commercial, Government and Defense plans add on-premises, sovereign cloud and air-gapped deployment, with optional Rocket.Chat AI and VoIP add-ons, priced through sales. For a hobby community it is more than you need: someone has to run and update the server, the free editions only come with community support, and there is nothing like Discord's server discovery. It belongs on the list for clubs, schools and companies that want Discord-style chat under IT control.

Who it is for

Organizations and IT-run communities that must keep chat on their own servers.

Price

Free Starter for up to 50 users and free Community edition; paid plans priced by sales.

Two free entry points, Starter and Community
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• Self-managed Starter edition for up to 50 users
• Community edition for up to 100 concurrent users
• LDAP, SAML and custom OAuth on Starter
• Video calls through Jitsi, BigBlueButton, Pexip, Google Meet or Zoom
• On-premises, private cloud and air-gapped deployment on paid plans

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Free self-hosted editions with data under your control
• Strength: Wide choice of video call providers
• Strength: Paid plans built for strict compliance needs
• Weakness: Needs server administration skills
• Weakness: Paid pricing is only available from sales
• Weakness: Focused on organizations, with no community discovery

Key facts

• Starter: Free, up to 50 users
• Community: Free, up to 100 concurrent users
• Paid plans: Commercial, Government, Defense
• Push notifications: Unlimited on Starter, 10,000 a month on Community
• Support on free plans: Community docs and forums

Where it ranks

Rocket.Chat is No. 9 in our Best Discord Alternatives verdict.