Google Chat vs Rocket.Chat (2026 comparison)
Google Chat and Rocket.Chat are both team chat apps. Google Chat is best for chat tied to Google Workspace (free with a Google account; more via Google Workspace). Rocket.Chat is best for open-source, customisable team chat (free Starter edition (self-hosted, up to 50 users); paid cloud-hosted plans from about $4 per user per month, Enterprise quote-based).
Pricing and features verified against each vendor's published information on 2026-09-03. Sources linked below.
At a glance
| Feature | Google Chat | Rocket.Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing from | Free with a Google account; more via Google Workspace | Free Starter edition (self-hosted, up to 50 users); paid cloud-hosted plans from about $4 per user per month, Enterprise quote-based |
| Best for | chat tied to Google Workspace | open-source, customisable team chat |
| Founded | 2017 | 2015 |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux |
Quick verdict
Choose Google Chat for chat tied to Google Workspace. Choose Rocket.Chat for open-source, customisable team chat. Both are compared on published information only, so confirm current pricing at each source below.
More options
Sources
FAQ
- Is Google Chat or Rocket.Chat cheaper?
- As published, Google Chat starts at Free with a Google account; more via Google Workspace and Rocket.Chat starts at Free Starter edition (self-hosted, up to 50 users); paid cloud-hosted plans from about $4 per user per month, Enterprise quote-based. Verify current pricing at each vendor.
- Does Google Chat have a free plan?
- Yes, Google Chat has a free plan as of 2026-09-03.