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

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

Pick Stoat if

• Fits if you run a hobby or gaming community and want it free
• Works for people who want an open-source alternative to Discord-style servers

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you need workplace controls, as there is no admin console, SSO or compliance features
• Tight if you share big files, as uploads stop at 20MB and group DMs at 50 members
• Watch out: the Android app is Early Access, and iPhone and iPad use is through the web app
• Watch out: the legal entity is Revolt Platforms Ltd, and the product appears to have been called Revolt before

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.

Stoat

• The Android app is labeled Early Access, and iPhone and iPad use is through installing the web app to the home screen.
• Built for communities rather than workplaces: the site lists no admin console, SSO or compliance features.
• Uploads are capped at 20MB per file, and group DMs at 50 members.
• The site and legal entity (Revolt Platforms Ltd) suggest this product was formerly called Revolt.

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.

Stoat

Servers and channels

Communities are organized into servers with text channels and voice chat, plus file sharing and markdown formatting in messages.

Roles and moderation

A role-based permissions system and moderation tools manage who can do what, and moderation bots work with it.

Group DMs

Group direct messages hold up to 50 members, and bots work inside them as well.

Themes and profile options

Built-in themes can be swapped for ones from the Discover section or your own, and profile banners and animated avatars need no subscription.

Public API for bots and clients

The company says its official apps use the same public API that developers get, for building bots or custom clients.

Self-hosting

You can run your own server if you prefer; the site describes this as free and open.

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.

Stoat

• Free$0

  Everything is free: servers, channels, voice chat, custom emojis, 20MB uploads and group DMs of up to 50 members.