Chanty vs Rocket.Chat: Complete Comparison (2026)

Updated: March 12, 20268 min read

Choosing between Chanty and Rocket.Chat is a common decision for team communication buyers in 2026. Both Chanty and Rocket.Chat are established players, founded in 2017 and 2015 respectively. Chanty serves 50K+ users while Rocket.Chat has 25M+ users globally. Chanty differentiates with messaging and task management, while Rocket.Chat leads with self-hosted option and omnichannel inbox. In this head-to-head comparison, Chanty earns a higher hiltonsoftware.co score of 86/100 — but the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and team size.

🎵
Chanty
Team Communication
86
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED
VS
🚀
Rocket.Chat
Team Communication
84
hiltonsoftware.co Score

Quick Comparison

Chanty
Rocket.Chat
Starting Price
$3/user/mo
$7/user/mo (cloud)
Free Plan
Yes
Yes
Users
50K+
25M+
Founded
2017
2015
Rating
4.3/5
4.2/5
Best For
Small teams wanting affordable, simple team chat.
Teams wanting open-source Slack alternative with s...

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

ChantyRocket.Chat
89Ease of Use85
90Features87
85Value for Money93
86Customer Support78
90Integrations83
86Scalability82
85Learning Curve89

Pros & Cons at a Glance

Chanty
+Very affordable pricing
+Simple and quick to adopt
-Limited integrations
-Basic feature set
Rocket.Chat
+Open source and free self-hosted
+Omnichannel customer support
-Needs DevOps for self-hosting
-Less polished UI
AI Verdict

After comparing Chanty and Rocket.Chat across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, Chanty takes the lead with a score of 86/100 versus Rocket.Chat's 84/100. Chanty's key advantages include "very affordable pricing" and "simple and quick to adopt". That said, Rocket.Chat has its own strengths — particularly "open source and free self-hosted" — making it a viable alternative for specific use cases.

Both Chanty and Rocket.Chat offer free plans, lowering the barrier to entry. Chanty's paid plans start at $3/user/mo while Rocket.Chat begins at $7/user/mo (cloud). Evaluate which paid features — Video calls, Voice messages (Chanty) vs Video conferencing, Federation (Rocket.Chat) — justify upgrading for your team.

Bottom line: Choose Chanty if you need small teams wanting affordable, simple team chat. Go with Rocket.Chat if your priority is teams wanting open-source slack alternative with self-hosting. Both are strong team communication tools — we recommend trying the free plan of each before committing.

CHOOSE CHANTY IF:

Small teams wanting affordable, simple team chat.

CHOOSE ROCKET.CHAT IF:

Teams wanting open-source Slack alternative with self-hosting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chanty better than Rocket.Chat in 2026?
Chanty scores 86/100 on hiltonsoftware.co compared to Rocket.Chat's 84/100. Chanty stands out for "very affordable pricing" and is best for Small teams wanting affordable, simple team chat. Rocket.Chat is known for "open source and free self-hosted" and suits Teams wanting open-source Slack alternative with self-hosting. Your specific workflow and team size should guide the decision.
What is the pricing difference between Chanty and Rocket.Chat?
Both offer free plans. Chanty starts at $3/user/mo and Rocket.Chat at $7/user/mo (cloud). When comparing value, consider that Chanty (founded 2017, 50K+ users) includes features like Messaging, Task management, Video calls. Rocket.Chat (founded 2015, 25M+ users) offers Self-hosted option, Omnichannel inbox, Video conferencing. The right choice depends on which features matter most to your team.
What are the main differences between Chanty and Rocket.Chat?
The key differences come down to focus and approach. Chanty excels at Messaging, Task management, Video calls, while Rocket.Chat focuses on Self-hosted option, Omnichannel inbox, Video conferencing. Chanty's main advantage is "very affordable pricing", though some users note "limited integrations". Rocket.Chat's strength is "open source and free self-hosted", but "needs devops for self-hosting" can be a drawback. Both serve the Team Communication market but target different user profiles.
Can I switch from Chanty to Rocket.Chat?
Switching between Chanty and Rocket.Chat is possible since both operate in the Team Communication space. Before migrating, export your data from Chanty and check Rocket.Chat's import capabilities. Key features to verify compatibility: Messaging, Task management, Video calls (Chanty) vs Self-hosted option, Omnichannel inbox, Video conferencing (Rocket.Chat). Consider running both tools in parallel during a trial period to ensure a smooth transition.
Which is better for small teams: Chanty or Rocket.Chat?
Both tools offer free plans, so evaluate based on features. Chanty is ideal for Small teams wanting affordable, simple team chat, while Rocket.Chat fits Teams wanting open-source Slack alternative with self-hosting. Try both during their trial periods to see which fits your team's workflow.

Explore More Comparisons & Tools