
Rocket.Chat
Self-hosted secure team chat with voice, video, and omnichannel
46k stars 13.8k forks last commit first released
Actively maintained
Last commit 27 Aug 2026.

Rocket.Chat is an open-source communications platform designed for secure, mission-critical messaging and collaboration. It provides real-time team chat plus optional omnichannel engagement features for communicating with external users through multiple channels.
Key Features
- Public and private channels, direct messages, threads, mentions, and reactions
- Role-based access control and administrative controls for organizations
- Voice and video calling support (WebRTC)
- Omnichannel capabilities for customer/citizen support workflows
- Extensible apps and integrations ecosystem (Marketplace and custom apps)
- Federation options for connecting multiple Rocket.Chat servers
Use Cases
- Private Slack-like team chat for companies and regulated environments
- Secure internal and cross-organization coordination for operations teams
- Customer support or citizen engagement via an omnichannel inbox
Limitations and Considerations
- Some advanced features (especially around omnichannel and governance) may depend on enterprise licensing and deployment choices
- Real-time performance and large deployments require careful sizing and database tuning
Rocket.Chat is a strong fit for organizations that need control over data, flexible deployment options, and a customizable communications stack. It combines modern chat features with extensibility and security-oriented administration for critical operations.
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