The Rock Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Rock in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Rock
The Insider’s Guide
Team chat with tasks, notes and files in every project space
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among team communication apps, read from Rock’s own pages.
Made by Shiny Inc. · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Rock’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Rock’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 8 of the 33 other team communication apps we grade
Rock combines messaging with light project management. Each project or client gets a space that holds its own chat, task board, notes and files, and outside guests can be invited to a single space. The paid plan is a flat monthly price for unlimited users rather than a per-seat fee.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Rock, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for chat and tasks together, at one flat price
Rock gives every project or client its own space, with a chat, a task board, notes and files inside it, and the paid plan is one flat $899 a year for any number of users, so with four of you that's nearly $19 a head.
- 2
Paid plans start at $74.92 a month for each person
As its pricing page puts it: $74.92 per month for unlimited users, billed yearly ($899 per year).
- 3
There is a free plan
Unlimited 1:1 spaces and messages, 3 group spaces, 5 members per space, 50 tasks and 50 notes per space, 250 MB of storage per space and 1 workspace.
- 4
It runs on 6 platforms
Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android.
- 5
Spaces for each project or client
A space is a project room with its own chat, tasks, notes, files and meetings. 1:1 spaces are unlimited on both plans; the Free plan allows 3 group spaces.
- 6
Messaging
Real-time chat in every space with threads, reactions, mentions, voice messages and polls. Scheduled messages and the pinboard are part of the Unlimited plan.
- 7
Tasks in board, list and calendar views
Tasks take assignees, due dates, labels and checklists. Sprints, recurring tasks, custom fields and the time tracker need the Unlimited plan.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 8 of 33
That is against the other team communication apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Rock you would be making chat that a whole team counts on staying up. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Rock at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $74.92 per month for unlimited users, billed yearly ($899 per year)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial of the Unlimited plan, cancel anytime
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Shiny Inc., since 2018
- Category
- Team Communication
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for chat and tasks together, at one flat price
Rock gives every project or client its own space, with a chat, a task board, notes and files inside it, and the paid plan is one flat $899 a year for any number of users, so with four of you that's nearly $19 a head. The free plan stops at 3 group spaces of 5 people, Rock hosts no calls itself, sprints, time tracking and Zapier need Unlimited, and there are no refunds.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Unlimited is $74.92 a month flat, billed yearly at $899, for any number of users. Do the sums: with ten of you that's $7.49 each, the going rate for team chat, and with four it's nearly $19 a head. The cost per head falls as the team grows and is high while it's small. |
| Free plan and trial | C | The free plan gives you unlimited 1:1 spaces and messages, then draws the lines hard: 3 group spaces, 5 members in each, 50 tasks and 50 notes per space and 250 MB of uploads per space. A 14-day trial of Unlimited shows you the rest. |
| Features | C | A space per project holds its chat, a task board in three views, notes and files, and the MCP server works on both plans. But Rock doesn't host calls at all: video and audio go out to Zoom, Google Meet or Jitsi, and sprints, custom fields, time tracking and webhooks need Unlimited. |
| Ease of use | C | No App Store rating on record. Each project needs its space set up, with members invited, tasks written and notes started, and the tasks side brings boards, labels, checklists and due dates to learn alongside the chat. |
| Platforms and integrations | A | Web, Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Android. Zoom, Google Meet, Jitsi, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive and Figma connect, the MCP server is on both plans for Claude, Codex and Cursor, and the custom API, webhooks and Zapier come with Unlimited. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Rock is for
- Fits if you're an agency or freelancer who wants a space per client holding its chat, tasks and files
- Works for teams of ten or more, where the flat $74.92 a month comes to about $7.49 a head
Who it is not for
- Tight if you're staying free, with 3 group spaces, 5 members in each and 50 tasks and 50 notes per space
- Pricey if there are only three or four of you, since $74.92 a month is the same for any team
- Skip it if you want video calls hosted in the app, as they go out to Zoom, Meet or Jitsi
- Not for you if you need sprints, recurring tasks, custom fields, time tracking or webhooks without paying for Unlimited
- Watch out: Rock gives no refunds, so a canceled plan just runs to the end of the billing period
Good to know
Good for
- Agencies and freelancers who bring clients into project spaces as guests
- Growing teams that want a flat bill instead of per-seat pricing
- Small teams replacing a separate chat app and task board
Worth knowing
- The Free plan stops at 3 group spaces, 5 members per space, and 50 tasks and 50 notes per space.
- Video and audio calls run through Zoom, Google Meet or Jitsi; Rock does not host calls itself.
- Sprints, recurring tasks, custom fields, time tracking, webhooks and Zapier are limited to the Unlimited plan.
- Rock does not offer refunds; a canceled plan stays active until the end of the billing period.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$74.92
A month to start, for each person. There is a free plan too
Rock has a free plan. Paid plans start at $74.92 per month for unlimited users, billed yearly ($899 per year).
The cost per head falls as the team grows and is high while it's small.
Free
$0
Unlimited 1:1 spaces and messages, 3 group spaces, 5 members per space, 50 tasks and 50 notes per space, and 250 MB of storage per space.
Unlimited
$74.92
per month flat, billed yearly at $899 ($89 billed monthly)
One price for any number of users: unlimited group spaces, tasks, notes and storage, 500 members per space, 50 workspaces, sprints, time tracker and Zapier.
The free plan
Unlimited 1:1 spaces and messages, 3 group spaces, 5 members per space, 50 tasks and 50 notes per space, 250 MB of storage per space and 1 workspace.
Trying it first
14-day free trial of the Unlimited plan, cancel anytime
Read from rock.so on Oct 6, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Save 16% with yearly billing
Unlimited is $899 billed yearly instead of $89 a month, which the pricing page puts at a 16% saving, or $169 a year.
Stated on rock.soEducation
Discounts for students and educators
Rock's pricing FAQ says it offers discounts to students and educators on request. The amount and the requirements are not published.
Stated on rock.soNonprofit
Discounts for nonprofits
The same pricing FAQ extends the discount program to nonprofits, on request by contacting Rock. The amount is not published.
Stated on rock.so
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
6
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android
Team chat with tasks, notes and files in every project space. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, notes, tasks, kanban boards, time tracking, team chat, file sharing.
A space per project holds its chat, a task board in three views, notes and files, and the MCP server works on both plans.
- Spaces for each project or client
- A space is a project room with its own chat, tasks, notes, files and meetings. 1:1 spaces are unlimited on both plans; the Free plan allows 3 group spaces.
- Messaging
- Real-time chat in every space with threads, reactions, mentions, voice messages and polls. Scheduled messages and the pinboard are part of the Unlimited plan.
- Tasks in board, list and calendar views
- Tasks take assignees, due dates, labels and checklists. Sprints, recurring tasks, custom fields and the time tracker need the Unlimited plan.
- Notes and files
- Write briefs and meeting notes inside a space, and keep uploads next to linked folders from Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive. Free spaces hold 250 MB of uploads each.
- Meetings through Zoom, Meet and Jitsi
- Start a Zoom, Google Meet or Jitsi call from the message bar and the join link is posted to the space. All three integrations are included on the Free plan.
- Rock MCP and custom API
- An MCP server lets assistants such as Claude, Codex and Cursor read spaces and create tasks, notes and messages on both plans. The custom API, webhooks and Zapier need Unlimited.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Zoom
- Google Meet
- Jitsi
- Google Drive
- Dropbox
- OneDrive
- Figma
- Zapier
Rock is made by Shiny Inc., and has been around since 2018.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
8/33
Other team communication apps it is graded above
Rock's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 8 of the 33 other team communication apps we grade, and level with 11.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (A, above 15 of 33) and worst on free plan and trial (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $74.92 a month for each person, against a middle price of $7 for the category: 28 of the 28 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 12 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 34 team communication apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Rock’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 2 of 33
- CFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 33
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 33
- CEase of useAbove 6 of 33
- APlatforms and integrationsAbove 15 of 33
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 31 team communication apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Rock is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Rock you would be making chat that a whole team counts on staying up. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 14 of the 33 other team communication apps grade higher. It costs $899.04 a year.
What you could make
- Tasks, kanban boards, notes and time tracking: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Chat that a whole team counts on staying up.
- Storing and serving files for other people.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- It is priced for each person, which means accounts and billing for a team.
- It plugs into other products, Zoom, Google Meet and Jitsi among them, and has an API.
What this rests on. Rock’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Slack, Chanty, Ryver, Flock and Basecamp
The 5 tools Rock is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Slack
Free plan · from $7.25/mo
Channel-based team messaging with huddles, workflows and AI.
- Rock also covers notes, tasks, kanban boards and time tracking.
- Slack also covers workflow automation, documents and video calls.
- 2.8GPA
Chanty
Free plan · from $3/mo
Team chat with built-in tasks, calls and AI agents.
- Rock also covers notes and time tracking.
- Chanty also covers AI agents and video calls.
- 2.4GPA
Ryver
Free trial · from $69/mo
Team chat, task boards and voice calls in one app.
- Rock has a free plan. Ryver does not, though it has a free trial.
- Rock also covers notes, kanban boards and time tracking.
- Ryver also covers video calls.
- 2.4GPA
Flock
Free plan · from $4.50/mo
Team messenger with channels, video calls and shared to-dos.
- Rock also covers notes, kanban boards and time tracking.
- Flock also covers video calls.
- 2.8GPA
Basecamp
Free plan · from $25/mo
Flat-priced project management with chat, to-dos and files.
- Only Rock lists a Linux app.
- Rock also covers notes, team chat and file sharing.
- Basecamp also covers templates and calendar.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Rock free?
Rock has a free plan. Unlimited 1:1 spaces and messages, 3 group spaces, 5 members per space, 50 tasks and 50 notes per space, 250 MB of storage per space and 1 workspace.
How much does Rock cost?
Rock lists 2 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Rock work on?
Rock is available on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android.
Does Rock offer any discounts?
Rock publicly lists the following: Save 16% with yearly billing; Discounts for students and educators; Discounts for nonprofits.
Is Rock open source?
Rock is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
Does Rock have an API?
Yes. Rock offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Rock integrate with?
Rock's listing names Zoom, Google Meet, Jitsi, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Figma and Zapier.
Does Rock have a student discount?
Discounts for students and educators. Rock's pricing FAQ says it offers discounts to students and educators on request.
Does Rock have a free trial?
Yes. 14-day free trial of the Unlimited plan, cancel anytime.
Who makes Rock?
Rock is made by Shiny Inc. It dates from 2018.
What are the alternatives to Rock?
The closest alternatives to Rock in our directory are Slack, Chanty, Ryver, Flock and Basecamp.
How does Rock compare with other team communication apps?
Rock's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 8 of the 33 other team communication apps we grade, and level with 11.
Is Rock good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Rock C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $74.92 a month for each person, against a middle price of $7 for the category: 28 of the 28 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Rock?
To replace Rock you would be making chat that a whole team counts on staying up.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Rock’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Rock's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-05-05.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Shiny Inc. Prices change, so check rock.so before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Rock, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/rock
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Rock: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/rock
Know someone choosing between team communication apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/rock/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded team communication apps after Rock, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Team Communication Insider's GuideEvery one of the 34 team communication apps we grade, compared
- Discord Insider's GuideFree text, voice and video chat built around servers3.6 GPA
- Pumble Insider's GuideTeam chat with unlimited message history on the free plan3.6 GPA
- Zoho Cliq Insider's GuideTeam chat, calls and meetings from the Zoho suite3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Rock’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Rock is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Shiny Inc. Prices and plans change: check rock.so before you buy.