Rocket.Chat vs Slack

Slack is a hosted SaaS; Rocket.Chat can be self-hosted.

Rocket.ChatOpen-source team chat you can self-host

SlackTeam chat with channels, threads and integrations

Which to pick

Pick Rocket.Chat if you want…

Mission-critical, zero-trust team collaboration
Self-hosted team chat with omnichannel support
Open-source code (RocketChat/Rocket.Chat on GitHub)
Integrations with Active Directory, LDAP or SAML 2.0 (on Rocket.Chat's list, not Slack's)

Pick Slack if you want…

AI-enhanced team collaboration
Hosted team chat
Integrations with Salesforce, Jira or Google Drive (on Slack's list, not Rocket.Chat's)

Rocket.Chat is open source and can run on your own infrastructure; Slack is hosted only.

Side by side

What it is: Rocket.Chat:Rocket.Chat is an open-source, self-hosted team chat platform for secure messaging, voice, video and collaboration.; Slack:Slack is a collaborative workspace that combines chat, AI assistants, and integrations for team communication and workflow automation.
Best for: Rocket.Chat:Mission-critical, zero-trust team collaboration; Slack:AI-enhanced team collaboration
Who it’s for: Rocket.Chat:Enterprises, government agencies, defense organizations and any team needing sovereign, compliant communications.; Slack:Teams and organizations that need unified messaging, AI assistance, and app integrations.
Pricing: Rocket.Chat:Freemium; Slack:Freemium
Plans: Rocket.Chat:Starter Free; Slack:Free $0USD · Pro $8.75 per user / month (monthly) · Business+ $18 per user / month (monthly)
Open source: Rocket.Chat:Yes, 46,213 GitHub stars; Slack:—
Works with: Rocket.Chat:Active Directory, LDAP, SAML 2.0, OpenID Connect, Matrix protocol, XMPP; Slack:Salesforce, Jira, Google Drive, ChatGPT, Atlassian, Zoom, Box, Asana

Rocket.Chat features

Zero-trust security model. Supports air-gapped, on-prem, sovereign cloud and DoD IL6 deployments with end-to-end encryption.
Unified communications. Combines messaging, voice, video, screen sharing and AI-powered search in one platform.
Granular access controls. Role-based and attribute-based access control, ABAC, MFA and integration with AD/LDAP/SAML.
Compliance & audit. Built-in audit logs, tamper-evident records and certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, FINRA, NIS2, GDPR).
Extensible architecture. Open API, custom apps, Matrix federation, XMPP bridge and plugin ecosystem for tailored workflows.
Mobile & field support. Secure iOS/Android apps with device-level enforcement and remote-wipe capabilities.

Slack features

Channels & Threads. Organize conversations by project, topic, or team with flexible, searchable channels.
AI-powered Slackbot. Personal AI agent that answers questions, summarizes conversations, and generates workflows.
Workflow Builder. Create automated workflows without code, using AI steps and conditional branching.
Slack Connect. Secure real-time chat with external partners, vendors, and clients.
Huddles & Video. Built-in audio/video meetings with automatic meeting notes and transcripts.
App Directory. Access over 2,600 integrations, including Salesforce, Jira, Google Drive, and ChatGPT.
Enterprise Search. Search across messages, files, and connected apps with AI-enhanced relevance.
Security & Compliance. Data encryption, SSO, SCIM, DLP, and audit logs to meet enterprise security standards.

Rocket.Chat vs Slack FAQ

Is Rocket.Chat or Slack free?+

Rocket.Chat has a free plan (Starter) and paid plans. Slack has a free plan and paid plans.

Is Rocket.Chat or Slack open source?+

Rocket.Chat is open source (RocketChat/Rocket.Chat on GitHub). DevHunt has no public source repository on record for Slack.

Do Rocket.Chat and Slack integrate with the same tools?+

Their integration lists don't overlap: Rocket.Chat lists Active Directory, LDAP, SAML 2.0, OpenID Connect and 2 more; Slack lists Salesforce, Jira, Google Drive, ChatGPT and 5 more.

On DevHunt

Rocket.Chat

Listed by DevHunt

Rocket.Chat on DevHunt →Rocket.Chat alternatives

Slack