OpenIM vs Rocket.Chat (2026): which should you pick?

Pick OpenIM if

• Fits if you are a developer who wants chat inside your own product
• Works for companies that will host their own messaging server

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you want a ready chat app, as the open-source part is for building one
• Watch out: Business and Enterprise prices are not published
• Watch out: voice and video are separate modules bought as needed
• Skip it if you do not want to self-host, since Kubernetes deployment is an Enterprise feature
• Too light for production without the commercial clients, as the site says Enterprise is for that

Pick Rocket.Chat if

• Fits if your organization must host its own chat on its own servers
• Works for teams of up to 50 with someone who can run a server

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you've nobody to install and maintain a server, since the free options are self-managed
• Not for you if you need a price before you talk to sales, as none is published
• Tight if you're past 50 users and hoped to stay on Starter, which stops there and can't run air-gapped
• Watch out: Starter has community support only, and the free Community edition caps 100 concurrent users and isn't meant for production
• Too light for teams that want calls built in, as Rocket.Chat routes them through Pexip, Jitsi, Meet or Zoom

OpenIM

• OpenIM is not a single chat app. Open Source is meant for development and custom clients, and the site says Enterprise is for production.
• Business and Enterprise have no published prices; they are bought through a request-a-trial and contract process.
• Voice and video and video meetings are separate modules purchased as needed on the commercial editions.
• The open-source GitHub page lists an Electron demo app for Windows, Mac and Linux, but the site presents these as demos.

Rocket.Chat

• Paid plan prices are not published; Commercial, Government and Defense are quoted by sales.
• Starter stops at 50 users, cannot be deployed air-gapped and has community support only, with no option to buy support.
• The Community edition has core messaging only and 100 concurrent users, and the vendor says it is not suited to business-critical production use.
• The free options are self-managed, so the team installs and maintains the server; Rocket.Chat-run hosting comes with paid plans.

OpenIM

Chat and messaging

One-to-one chat, groups, large groups, message history, offline messages, receipts, search and multi-device sync.

Voice and video

Voice calls, video calls, group calls, video meetings and screen sharing, sold as separate modules for the commercial editions.

Client SDKs

SDKs for iOS, Android, web (JavaScript), Flutter and React Native, and the site says it covers 10+ client platforms.

Server API and webhooks

Server APIs and webhook callbacks connect accounts, permissions and events to your own backend.

Self-hosted deployment

OpenIM Server runs in your own cloud or private network, and Enterprise adds Kubernetes and a high-availability cluster.

Rocket.Chat

Channels, direct messages and threads

Channels, groups, direct messages and threaded discussions with multimedia and file sharing, searchable message history, read receipts and an interface in 64 languages.

Deployment on your own terms

Workspaces run on-premises, in a private or sovereign cloud, or on Rocket.Chat's dedicated hosting. Air-gapped deployment is available on paid plans only.

Identity and access controls

Active Directory and LDAP authentication, single sign-on, multi-factor authentication and role-based access control are included from the free Starter plan.

Encryption and data policies

End-to-end encryption can be switched on for messages and files, alongside data retention policies, data loss prevention and content moderation.

Video through integrations

Calls connect through Pexip, Jitsi, BigBlueButton, Google Meet or Zoom on Starter. The Community edition supports Jitsi and BigBlueButton only.

Federation, apps and API

Matrix protocol federation links separate organizations in shared channels, and the Marketplace, Apps Engine and open API cover custom apps and integrations.

OpenIM

• Open Source$0

  OpenIM Server and IM SDK for development and custom client integration; you host it yourself.

• BusinessCustom

  Production-ready client UI on multiple platforms under a commercial license. No price is published.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Everything in Business plus advanced messaging, Kubernetes deployment and high availability. No price is published.

Rocket.Chat

• Starter$0

  Self-managed workspace for up to 50 users with SSO, LDAP, multi-factor authentication, end-to-end encryption and community-only support.

• Community$0

  Open-source (MIT) edition with core messaging only, up to 100 concurrent users and push notifications capped at 10,000 a month.

• CommercialCustom

  For commercial enterprises: on-premises, private cloud or dedicated cloud hosting, high availability and regulatory compliance features.

• GovernmentCustom

  For public sector agencies: on-premises or sovereign cloud deployment, tamper-evident audit logs, retention policies and Matrix federation.

• DefenseCustom

  For defense and intelligence: air-gapped deployment, DoD ATO up to IL6, FIPS 140-3 validated cryptography and clearance-based access control.