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Discord vs Rocket.Chat
Discord vs Rocket.Chat
A side-by-side look at Discord (the paid SaaS) and Rocket.Chat (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.
| Discord | Rocket.Chat | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Voice, video and text chat — popular with gamers and communities. | Open source team and community chat with video and voice. |
| License | Proprietary SaaS | MIT (community); proprietary modules available |
| Pricing | Free with Nitro upgrades. | Free to self-host · optional paid hosted plan |
| Self-host option | No | Yes — difficulty 3/5 |
| Hosted cloud available | Yes (only option) | Yes |
| Desktop apps | Varies by product | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Mobile apps | Official apps typically available | iOS, Android |
Ad slot — between tables
Best for
Communities mixing voice, chat and admin controls.
Rocket.Chat strengths
- Federation support (via Matrix bridge).
- {'Large feature set': 'channels, threads, omnichannel.'}
- Strong customization options.
Rocket.Chat weaknesses
- Can feel heavy for small teams.
- Past performance issues on large deployments.
- Resource footprint is higher than competitors.
What's the catch with Discord?
- Closed ecosystem — you do not own your community data.
- Ads and promoted servers are growing.
- Moderation tooling can be limited for large communities.
Still unsure?
Check the full list of alternatives to Discord: see Discord alternatives, or learn more about Rocket.Chat on its project page.