Rocket.Chat: Open Source Alternative to Slack

Rocket.Chat is a secure team communication platform with 42k+ GitHub stars — a Slack alternative with omnichannel and federation support.

Compare Rocket.Chat with Zulip and Microsoft Teams before you choose your stack.

Key features

Communication

• Channels, DMs, and threads
• Audio and video conferencing
• Screen sharing
• End-to-end encryption

Omnichannel

• Live chat widget
• SMS, email, social media integration
• Chat routing and assignments
• Customer satisfaction surveys

Federation

• Connect to other Rocket.Chat servers
• Matrix protocol support
• Cross-server communication
• ActivityPub integration

Rocket.Chat vs Slack

	Rocket.Chat	Slack
License	MIT (open source)	Proprietary
Deployment	Self-hosted available	Cloud SaaS
Data control	Your infrastructure	Vendor infrastructure
Customization	Full source access	Limited to vendor features
Cost	Free open-source software	Subscription or usage fees

Choose Rocket.Chat if you want open-source code, self-hosting options, and full control over your data and deployment.

Choose Slack if you prefer a managed proprietary product with vendor support and minimal setup.

Browse more open-source alternatives to Slack, or explore other tools in Collaboration.

At a glance

License	MIT
Stack	TypeScript, Node.js
Self-hosted	Yes
Cloud	rocket.chat
Database	MongoDB

Self-hosting

docker run -d -p 3000:3000 -e ROOT_URL=http://localhost rocketchat/rocket.chat

Scaling guides available for high availability.

FAQ

Is Rocket.Chat a free alternative to Slack?

Yes. Rocket.Chat is open source under MIT. You can self-host it at no software cost — you only pay for infrastructure or optional managed services.

How does Rocket.Chat compare to Slack?

Rocket.Chat gives you source code access, self-hosting, and data ownership. Slack is a proprietary product focused on managed convenience. See the comparison table above for a side-by-side breakdown.

Can I self-host Rocket.Chat?

Yes. Rocket.Chat supports self-hosted deployment, which is a core reason teams choose it over Slack. Check the Getting started or Self-hosting section for install commands.

Is Rocket.Chat suitable for production?

Rocket.Chat is actively maintained with a strong open-source community. Many teams run it in production as a Collaboration alternative to Slack. Review the At a glance table for license and stack details.

What are alternatives to Rocket.Chat and Slack?

Browse alternatives to Slack for more open-source options, including tools compared to Zulip. Explore the full Collaboration category for related projects.