Slack vs Rocket Chat

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Our analysts compared Slack vs Rocket Chat based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Collaboration Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Rocket Chat Software Tool

Product Basics

Slack is a versatile software designed to enhance productivity management by facilitating seamless communication and collaboration within teams. It offers a centralized platform where users can create channels for different projects, departments, or topics, enabling organized and focused discussions. Slack is particularly well-suited for businesses and organizations that require efficient coordination and real-time communication, making it ideal for remote teams and fast-paced work environments.

Key benefits of Slack include its ability to integrate with numerous third-party applications, providing a cohesive workflow. Popular features include direct messaging, file sharing, video calls, and searchable message archives, which help streamline project management and reduce email clutter. Users appreciate its intuitive interface and the flexibility it offers in customizing notifications and channel settings.

Compared to similar products, Slack is often praised for its user-friendly design and robust integration capabilities. Pricing varies based on the number of users and selected plan, with options for monthly or annual payments. For specific pricing details, it is recommended to contact SelectHub for a tailored quote based on individual needs.

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Rocket Chat is a versatile communication platform designed to streamline team collaboration and enhance productivity. It offers a comprehensive suite of features including real-time messaging, video conferencing, file sharing, and integrations with various third-party applications. This software is particularly well-suited for industries such as technology, healthcare, finance, and education, where secure and efficient communication is paramount.

One of the standout benefits of Rocket Chat is its open-source nature, allowing for extensive customization and scalability to meet specific organizational needs. Users appreciate its robust security measures, including end-to-end encryption and compliance with data protection regulations. Popular features include threaded conversations, customizable user roles, and a powerful API for seamless integration with existing workflows.

Compared to similar products, Rocket Chat is praised for its flexibility and cost-effectiveness. Pricing details can vary based on deployment options and user requirements, so it's advisable to contact SelectHub for a tailored quote.

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$6.67 Monthly, Freemium
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$4/User, Monthly, Freemium
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Tailored to your specific needs
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Product Assistance

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FAQ
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Knowledge Base
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Product Insights

  • Enhanced Team Collaboration: Slack centralizes communication, allowing team members to collaborate in real-time through channels, direct messages, and threads, reducing the need for lengthy email chains.
  • Streamlined Project Management: Integrations with tools like Trello, Asana, and Jira enable seamless task tracking and project updates within Slack, ensuring everyone stays on the same page.
  • Improved Transparency: Public channels make information accessible to all team members, fostering a culture of openness and reducing information silos.
  • Efficient Communication: Features like mentions, reactions, and reminders help prioritize and manage conversations, ensuring important messages are not overlooked.
  • Remote Work Facilitation: Slack supports remote work by providing a virtual workspace where team members can communicate and collaborate effectively, regardless of their physical location.
  • Customizable Notifications: Users can tailor notification settings to their preferences, ensuring they receive alerts for critical updates while minimizing distractions from less urgent messages.
  • Knowledge Retention: Slack’s searchable message history allows team members to easily retrieve past conversations and decisions, preserving organizational knowledge and reducing redundancy.
  • Enhanced Security: Slack offers enterprise-grade security features, including data encryption and compliance certifications, ensuring that sensitive information remains protected.
  • Integration with Existing Tools: Slack integrates with a wide range of third-party applications, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and Zoom, streamlining workflows and reducing the need to switch between multiple platforms.
  • Scalability: Slack can scale with your organization, accommodating growing teams and evolving communication needs without compromising performance or usability.
  • Boosted Productivity: By centralizing communication and integrating with productivity tools, Slack helps teams stay organized and focused, ultimately enhancing overall productivity.
  • Real-Time Updates: Instant notifications and updates keep team members informed about project progress and changes, enabling quicker decision-making and response times.
  • Enhanced Employee Engagement: Features like custom emojis, channels for non-work topics, and recognition tools help build a positive and engaging workplace culture.
  • Cost Efficiency: By reducing the need for multiple communication and project management tools, Slack can help organizations save on software costs and streamline their tech stack.
  • Cross-Platform Accessibility: Slack is available on various devices and operating systems, ensuring team members can stay connected and productive whether they are using a desktop, laptop, or mobile device.
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  • Enhanced Collaboration: Rocket Chat facilitates seamless team collaboration by integrating multiple communication channels into one platform, allowing for real-time messaging, file sharing, and video conferencing.
  • Customizable Workflows: The software supports extensive customization options, enabling businesses to tailor workflows and communication channels to meet specific organizational needs.
  • Data Security: With end-to-end encryption and compliance with data protection regulations, Rocket Chat ensures that sensitive information remains secure and private.
  • Cost Efficiency: By consolidating various communication tools into one platform, Rocket Chat reduces the need for multiple subscriptions, thereby lowering operational costs.
  • Open Source Flexibility: As an open-source platform, Rocket Chat allows organizations to modify and extend the software to fit unique requirements, fostering innovation and adaptability.
  • Scalability: Rocket Chat can scale to accommodate growing teams and increasing communication demands, making it suitable for both small businesses and large enterprises.
  • Integration Capabilities: The platform integrates with a wide range of third-party applications, such as CRM systems and project management tools, streamlining workflows and enhancing productivity.
  • Improved Customer Support: By utilizing Rocket Chat's omnichannel support features, businesses can provide timely and efficient customer service through various communication mediums, including live chat and social media.
  • Remote Work Enablement: Rocket Chat supports remote work by providing a unified communication platform that keeps distributed teams connected and engaged, regardless of their physical location.
  • Community Support: Being part of an active open-source community, Rocket Chat users benefit from shared knowledge, regular updates, and community-driven improvements.
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  • Channels: Organize conversations into dedicated spaces for specific teams, projects, or topics.
  • Direct Messages: Send private messages to individuals or small groups for quick, focused communication.
  • Integrations: Connect with over 2,000 apps like Google Drive, Trello, and Zoom to streamline workflows.
  • Search Functionality: Use advanced search filters to find specific messages, files, or conversations quickly.
  • File Sharing: Upload and share documents, images, and other files directly within conversations.
  • Notifications: Customize alert settings to stay informed about important updates without being overwhelmed.
  • Threaded Conversations: Keep discussions organized by replying to specific messages within a thread.
  • Pinning and Bookmarking: Pin important messages or bookmark key information for easy access later.
  • Video and Voice Calls: Initiate one-on-one or group calls directly within Slack for real-time communication.
  • Status Updates: Set custom statuses to inform colleagues of your availability or current activity.
  • Workflow Builder: Automate routine tasks and processes with a visual tool for creating custom workflows.
  • Security Features: Benefit from enterprise-grade security, including data encryption and compliance certifications.
  • Analytics and Reporting: Access detailed usage reports to monitor team activity and engagement.
  • Custom Emojis and Reactions: Personalize your communication with custom emojis and reactions to messages.
  • Guest Access: Invite external collaborators to specific channels without giving them full access to your workspace.
  • Mobile App: Stay connected on the go with a fully-featured mobile app for iOS and Android devices.
  • Slack Connect: Collaborate with partners, vendors, and clients in shared channels across different organizations.
  • App Directory: Explore and install a wide range of third-party apps to enhance your Slack experience.
  • Customizable Themes: Personalize the appearance of your Slack interface with various theme options.
  • Message Formatting: Use rich text formatting, including bold, italics, and code blocks, to enhance message clarity.
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  • Team Collaboration: Enable single-channel conversations with transparent interactions. Improve organizational workflow with private and public messaging threads, push notifications, discussions, file sharing, multi-language interface, mentions, message history and video-based team chat. 
  • Organized Customer Service: Engage with customers on a single communication platform. Shorten response times, categorize conversations, prioritize and configure chats, create a support help desk, answer queries and centralize customer service. 
  • In-App Functionality: Regulate and simplify the workflow in real time through the mobile screen. Send encrypted private and direct messages, share files, images and attachments, enable Live Chat and customize the user interface with various themes and integrations on the mobile application. 
  • Apps and Integrations: Sync with third-party applications to manage data, monitor assigned tasks on a single platform, refine customer service, improve operations and boost team productivity. Supports integration with Trello, GitHub, Sentry, BitRocket and more. 
  • Chatbot Messaging: Automate the communication process and accelerate customer service with seamless bot integrations. Build a conversational interface with an in-depth language understanding, machine learning engines and human-friendly functionality. 
  • Open Source: Rocket Chat is an open-source platform, allowing for extensive customization and flexibility in deployment.
  • Real-Time Messaging: Facilitates instant communication with features like group chats, direct messages, and threaded conversations.
  • Video and Audio Conferencing: Integrated video and audio call capabilities support seamless virtual meetings and collaborations.
  • Screen Sharing: Users can share their screens during video calls, enhancing collaborative efforts and presentations.
  • File Sharing: Supports the sharing of various file types, including documents, images, and videos, directly within the chat interface.
  • End-to-End Encryption: Ensures secure communication by encrypting messages from sender to recipient.
  • Custom Integrations: Offers APIs and webhooks for integrating with other tools and services, such as CRM systems and project management software.
  • Multi-Platform Support: Available on multiple platforms, including web, desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux), and mobile (iOS, Android).
  • Role-Based Permissions: Administrators can assign roles and permissions to users, controlling access to various features and data.
  • Custom Emojis and Reactions: Users can create and use custom emojis and reactions to enhance communication and expressiveness.
  • LDAP and SSO Integration: Supports LDAP and Single Sign-On (SSO) for streamlined user authentication and management.
  • Omnichannel Support: Centralizes customer interactions from various channels, including email, social media, and live chat, into a single interface.
  • Message Pinning and Bookmarking: Allows users to pin important messages and bookmark conversations for easy reference.
  • Audit and Compliance: Provides tools for auditing and ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations.
  • Customizable User Interface: Users can personalize their interface with themes, custom layouts, and branding options.
  • Push Notifications: Keeps users informed of new messages and updates through real-time push notifications.
  • Chatbots and Automation: Supports the integration of chatbots to automate routine tasks and enhance user interaction.
  • Data Import and Export: Facilitates the migration of data to and from Rocket Chat, ensuring continuity and ease of transition.
  • Multi-Language Support: Offers support for multiple languages, making it accessible to a global user base.
  • Analytics and Reporting: Provides insights into user activity and system performance through detailed analytics and reporting tools.
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Product Ranking

#26

among all
Collaboration Software

#66

among all
Collaboration Software

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User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 22452 reviews
Great User Sentiment 357 reviews
93%
of users recommend this product

Slack has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 93% when considering 22452 user reviews from 1 recognized software review sites.

83%
of users recommend this product

Rocket Chat has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 83% when considering 357 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

n/a
3.8 (105)
4.65 (22452)
4.27 (140)
n/a
4.3 (112)

Awards

Slack stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Real-Time Communication: Instead of playing email tag, Slack offers instant messaging to get quick answers and keep projects moving.
Centralized File Sharing: Slack allows you to share files directly in the platform rather than attaching them to emails, ensuring everyone can access the latest versions.
Task Management Integration: You can connect project management tools like Wrike or Trello to Slack, turning casual conversations into trackable tasks.
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Usability: 66% of reviews on this aspect said that the software is simple and easy to use.
Integrations: 75% of users mentioning this appreciated the variety of integrations and that they work smoothly.
Communication: 60% of users who commented on this feature stated the software offers a flexible suite for messaging, including private chats for team members, and file-sharing.
Customer Service: The support team is responsive, according to 70% of users who reviewed this aspect.
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Distracting Notifications: The constant stream of notifications, even with customization options, can disrupt focus, especially for those engaged in deep work.
Information Overload: The fast-paced, voluminous nature of Slack communication, coupled with limited customization for organization, can lead to information overload and difficulty keeping track of conversations.
Blurred Work-Life Boundaries: The casual, social-media-like environment of Slack can blur the lines between personal and professional life, making it challenging to disconnect after work hours.
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User Experience Shortcomings: While generally user-friendly, some features can be confusing or underdeveloped, potentially impacting productivity.
Technical Expertise Required: Fully utilizing Rocket.Chat's customization and integration capabilities may require a certain level of technical expertise, potentially posing a challenge for non-technical users.
Documentation and Maintenance Issues: Some users have reported issues with documentation and maintenance, which could lead to difficulties in troubleshooting and ongoing platform management.
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How can Slack help teams avoid "slacking" on their productivity? Slack consistently receives positive reviews, with users praising its intuitive interface and ability to streamline communication. Users highlight the platform's organized channels, which effectively categorize discussions and facilitate focused conversations, as a key strength. However, a recurring concern is the potential for notification overload, especially in larger workspaces, which can hinder productivity if not managed effectively. A differentiating factor is Slack's extensive integration capabilities with other tools, a feature not always as robust in competitors like Microsoft Teams, making it a valuable asset for teams reliant on diverse software. For instance, integrating project management tools can centralize task updates within Slack, enhancing workflow visibility. While Slack offers robust communication features, some users point to limitations in its search functionality, making it challenging to locate past information. This is a notable drawback compared to alternatives like Zulip, which boasts superior search capabilities. Overall, Slack is best suited for teams prioritizing seamless communication and seeking to centralize interactions. Its intuitive design and integrations can significantly reduce email clutter and enhance collaboration. However, teams should be prepared to implement strategies for managing notifications and explore workarounds for the limitations in search functionality.

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Is Rocket Chat stellar or will it fall to Earth? Rocket Chat is a highly customizable and cost-effective open-source chat application that has garnered generally positive reviews from users. Its robust messaging capabilities, good voice quality, and easy integration with platforms like Slack and Teams make it a strong contender in the market. Users particularly appreciate its flexibility, enabling them to tailor the platform to their specific needs. This high level of customization is a key differentiating factor, allowing businesses to create a unique communication hub that aligns with their branding and workflows. However, some users have reported inconsistencies in call quality and occasional difficulties with documentation. Despite these minor drawbacks, Rocket Chat's strengths, such as its cost-effectiveness compared to competitors like Troop Messenger and GetStream, make it a compelling option for startups and organizations seeking a versatile communication solution. Its open-source nature provides a level of transparency and control that is often absent in proprietary software. Overall, Rocket Chat is best suited for tech-savvy teams who are comfortable with a bit of customization and can navigate potential hiccups with documentation. Its affordability, flexibility, and robust feature set make it a valuable tool for businesses looking to streamline their communication and collaboration efforts.

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