Softwr

Communication · head to head

Microsoft Teams vs Rocket.Chat

Microsoft Teams logo

Microsoft Teams

Communication

Meet, chat, call, and collaborate in just one place

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Rocket.Chat logo

Rocket.Chat

Communication

Deployment flexibility and compliance across regulatory frameworks

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Microsoft Teams has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Microsoft Teams resource-heavy application; slow to load and consumes significant CPU/memory compared to alternatives; Rocket.Chat all enterprise plan tiers use custom quote-based pricing
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft Teams and Rocket.Chat actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft Teams and Rocket.Chat differ
AttributeMicrosoft TeamsRocket.Chat
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, AndroidWeb
Founded1975Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Communication).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Microsoft Teams

  • Chat & channels
  • Video conferencing
  • Screen sharing
  • File collaboration
  • Office integration
  • Live events
  • Phone system
  • Apps & workflows

Only in Rocket.Chat

Nothing recorded that Microsoft Teams does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Microsoft Teams

  • Remote meetingsnot Rocket.Chat
  • Team collaborationnot Rocket.Chat
  • Document sharingnot Rocket.Chat
  • Project managementnot Rocket.Chat
  • Webinarsnot Rocket.Chat

Rocket.Chat

  • Deploying HIPAA-compliant messaging for healthcare team communicationnot Microsoft Teams
  • Meeting data sovereignty requirements for government and defense agenciesnot Microsoft Teams
  • Federating secure channels with external partners without shared infrastructurenot Microsoft Teams
  • Maintaining FINRA and MiFID II compliance for financial servicesnot Microsoft Teams
  • Supporting classified network communications in air-gapped environmentsnot Microsoft Teams

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Microsoft Teams

  • Resource-heavy application; slow to load and consumes significant CPU/memory compared to alternatives
  • Limited channel structure; maximum of 200 public and 30 private channels per team
  • Cannot invite guest users to specific channels; guest access grants full team visibility
  • Unable to chat during screen sharing; limits real-time collaborative communication
  • Limited customization options for branding and interface; cluttered UX compared to Slack
  • Channels cannot be moved between teams; requires manual replication for reorganization

Rocket.Chat

  • All enterprise plan tiers use custom quote-based pricing
  • No published pricing for Commercial, Government, or Defense tiers
  • Starter plan link provided but pricing details not included on pricing page

Pricing, plan by plan

Microsoft Teams

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited chat
    • 100 participants in meetings
    • 5GB file storage
  • Microsoft Teams Essentials$4/month
    • 300 participants in meetings
    • 10GB cloud storage
    • Phone & web support
  • Microsoft 365 Business Basic$6/month
    • Everything in Essentials
    • 1TB OneDrive storage
    • Web & mobile Office apps
  • Microsoft 365 Business Standard$12.5/month
    • Everything in Basic
    • Desktop Office apps
    • Webinar hosting

Rocket.Chat

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Rocket.Chat review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Microsoft Teams if

  • You need chat & channels.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
  • You also want video conferencing.
Microsoft Teams review

Choose Rocket.Chat if

Nothing in the data separates Rocket.Chat from Microsoft Teams on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Rocket.Chat review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Teams or Rocket.Chat better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Teams starts at Free and Rocket.Chat at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Teams or Rocket.Chat?
Microsoft Teams has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Microsoft Teams and On request for Rocket.Chat.
Does Microsoft Teams or Rocket.Chat run on more platforms?
Microsoft Teams runs on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. Rocket.Chat runs on Web.
Can I use Microsoft Teams for free?
Yes. Microsoft Teams has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Rocket.Chat starts at On request.
What is Microsoft Teams best used for?
Microsoft Teams is most often used for remote meetings, team collaboration, document sharing, project management. Of those, remote meetings and team collaboration are not what Rocket.Chat is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Teams do that Rocket.Chat cannot?
Microsoft Teams covers Chat & channels, Video conferencing, Screen sharing, File collaboration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Microsoft Teams: Does Microsoft Teams have a free tier?

Yes. Microsoft Teams offers a free Home tier with unlimited chat, 60-minute group meetings for up to 100 people, 5GB cloud storage, and basic file sharing, though limits are restrictive for growing teams.

Source
Rocket.Chat: How much does Rocket.Chat cost?

Rocket.Chat does not publish pricing. Commercial, Government, and Defense plans require contacting sales for custom quotes. A Starter plan is available for technical evaluation and small businesses but pricing is not shown.

Source
Microsoft Teams: What are Microsoft Teams' paid plans?

Microsoft Teams Essentials costs $4/user/month (chat, calling, meetings, 10GB storage). Microsoft 365 Business Basic costs $7/user/month (includes desktop Office apps, 1TB storage). Premium plans with Copilot start at $23.50/user/month.

Source
Rocket.Chat: What is the pricing model for Rocket.Chat?

Enterprise plans use a custom quote model. Pricing is determined based on deployment type, regulatory requirements, and specific organizational needs.

Source
Microsoft Teams: What are Microsoft Teams' primary features?

Teams provides real-time chat, video and voice calling, meetings with up to 300 participants, file sharing and storage integration with OneDrive, recording and transcripts, and deep integration with Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Rocket.Chat: Is there a free plan available?

A Starter plan is mentioned for technical evaluation and small businesses, but no pricing or feature details are published on the pricing page.

Source
Microsoft Teams: What integrations does Teams support?

Microsoft Teams integrates with calendar apps (Outlook, Google Calendar), project management tools (Trello), and works with Zapier for custom workflow automation. Teams also has native connectors to many Microsoft 365 apps and third-party services.

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Related pages

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