Rocket.Chat vs Element
A detailed comparison of Rocket.Chat and Element to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
💰 Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Rocket.Chat | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ Free (self-hosted) | ✓ Free (self-hosted or matrix.org) |
| Lowest Paid | $4/user/mo | $5/user/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Custom pricing |
⚡ Feature Comparison
| Feature | Rocket.Chat | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | ✓ | — |
| Video conferencing | ✓ | — |
| File sharing | ✓ | — |
| Livechat | ✓ | — |
| Bots | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apps marketplace | ✓ | — |
| Self-hosting | ✓ | ✓ |
| E2E encryption | ✓ | — |
| Federation | ✓ | ✓ |
| API | ✓ | — |
| End-to-end encryption | — | ✓ |
| Voice & video calls | — | ✓ |
| Bridges | — | ✓ |
| Spaces | — | ✓ |
| Threads | — | ✓ |
| SSO | — | ✓ |
| Widgets | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4 | ⭐ 3.9 |
Pros & Cons
Rocket.Chat
Pros
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Self-hosted option
- ✓ Feature rich
- ✓ Good for compliance
Cons
- ✗ Resource heavy
- ✗ Complex setup
- ✗ Performance issues
- ✗ UI not as polished
Element
Pros
- ✓ End-to-end encrypted
- ✓ Open protocol
- ✓ Bridges to other apps
- ✓ Self-hostable
Cons
- ✗ Complex setup
- ✗ Smaller user base
- ✗ UI needs work
- ✗ Performance issues
🏆 The Verdict
Choose Rocket.Chat if: You need organizations needing open-source, compliant chat. Rocket.Chat excels with its open source and self-hosted option.
Choose Element if: You need privacy-focused organizations. Element stands out with its end-to-end encrypted and open protocol.
Best free option: Both Rocket.Chat and Element offer free tiers. Rocket.Chat offers "Free (self-hosted)" while Element offers "Free (self-hosted or matrix.org)".
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rocket.Chat better than Element?
It depends on your needs. Rocket.Chat is better for organizations needing open-source, compliant chat, while Element is better for privacy-focused organizations. Both are excellent tools rated 4 and 3.9 respectively.
Which is cheaper, Rocket.Chat or Element?
Rocket.Chat starts at $4/user/mo while Element starts at $5/user/mo. Both offer free tiers.
Can I switch from Rocket.Chat to Element?
Most tools offer import/export features to help you migrate. We recommend trying Element's free tier before fully committing to a switch.
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