Element vs Rocket.Chat: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Element and Rocket.Chat side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Element
Secure communications platform
Best for you if:
- • You want open source
Rocket.Chat
Open-source team communication platform
Best for you if:
- • You want open source team chat
| At a Glance | Element | Rocket.Chat |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $5/user/mo, billed monthly Pro plan | Free plan, paid from $8/user/mo, billed yearly Pro plan |
Category | Communication Team Chat | Communication Team Chat |
Rating | 4.2/5 G2 4.2 43 reviews | 4.2/5 G2 4.2 · Capterra 4.3 530 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Support limited to 50 users on Starter |
Choose Element or Rocket.Chat?
Choose Element if
- You want open source
- You want end-to-end encryption
Choose Rocket.Chat if
- You want open source team chat
- You want self-hostable
In-Depth Analysis
Element
Secure communications platform
Element's pricing is very fair and generous, especially with a robust free tier offering unlimited messages and E2EE.
Strengths
- Pro: Open source
- Pro: End-to-end encryption
- Pro: Self-hostable
Weaknesses
- Con: Less polished UX
- Con: Smaller community
Key features
Rocket.Chat
Open-source team communication platform
Rocket.Chat's pricing is quite fair, especially for its open-source nature.
Watch out
Support limited to 50 users on Starter
Strengths
- Pro: Open source team chat
- Pro: Self-hostable
- Pro: Customizable
- Pro: Federation support
- Pro: Free for self-hosted
Weaknesses
- Con: Less polished
- Con: Setup complex
- Con: Smaller community
- Con: Limited integrations
- Con: Performance varies
Key features
Plans and prices: Element vs Rocket.Chat
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Element |
| element.io/pricing read Oct 5, 2026 |
| Rocket.Chat |
| rocket.chat/pricing read Oct 3, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Element pricing and Rocket.Chat pricing.
Key Takeaways
Element
- Choose if you want secure communications platform
Rocket.Chat
- Choose if you want open-source team communication platform
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.2/5 from 43 reviews for Element, 4.2/5 from 530 reviews for Rocket.Chat).
- Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Element $5/user/mo, billed monthly; Rocket.Chat $8/user/mo, billed yearly.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Element and Rocket.Chat compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.2/5 from 43 reviews for Element, 4.2/5 from 530 reviews for Rocket.Chat). Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Element $5/user/mo, billed monthly; Rocket.Chat $8/user/mo, billed yearly. Both have a free plan.
What are Element and Rocket.Chat used for?
Element: Secure communications platform. Rocket.Chat: Open-source team communication platform.
What does Element cost vs Rocket.Chat?
Element's cheapest paid plan is Pro at $5/user/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Rocket.Chat's cheapest paid plan is Pro at $8/user/mo, billed yearly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 5, 2026.
What's the main difference between Element and Rocket.Chat?
Element's main strength: open source. Rocket.Chat's main strength: open source team chat.