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Self-hosted chat. Polished this time.

Same self-hosted freedom Rocket.Chat pioneered — with settings you can actually find, video that doesn't depend on Jitsi, encryption that's on by default, and onboarding that doesn't require a sysadmin.

Download freeSee pricing
  • UX
    Settings you can actually find.
  • Meetings
    Native video. No Jitsi.
  • Encryption
    On by default. Not a per-room beta.
  • Ownership
    One-time licence available.

Rocket.Chat pioneered self-hosted team chat. Respect. But the UI feels dated, settings are buried, video depends on Jitsi (native calls are Enterprise-only), encryption is a per-room beta, and post-upgrade stability is a common user complaint. We kept the self-hosted freedom. Fixed the rest.

Feature-by-feature

Feature
TheChatApp
Rocket.Chat
Edge
UI and settings
Modern. Flat navigation. Settings where you'd expect them.
Settings buried deep. Interface feels confusing for new users.
TheChatApp
Setup and onboarding
Guided 7-step onboarding. QR invite. Non-technical teams can finish it.
Technical setup. Non-IT teams struggle. Documentation gaps.
TheChatApp
Voice and video calls
Native SFU. Simulcast. Works at scale. Built in at every tier.
Jitsi bolt-on below Enterprise; native calls are an Enterprise add-on.
TheChatApp
Scheduled and recurring meetings
Native. Guest lobby. Per-occurrence threads.
Via external integrations.
TheChatApp
Stability after updates
Controlled upgrade path. Licensed-until-version guarantee.
Users commonly report instability after routine upgrades.
TheChatApp
Read receipts and delivery state
Read receipts, typing indicators, delivery confirmation — native.
Messages don't instantly update read/unread status.
TheChatApp
End-to-end encryption
Default. Every channel. Every DM. Every call.
Per-room beta. Admin has to toggle it on. Not every client supports it.
TheChatApp
AI training on your messages
Never. Semantic search runs on your device.
Not applicable (open source).
Tie
GDPR-native architecture
EU-built, EU-hosted. Customer content stays in the EU by design.
Self-host gives you data control, but no GDPR-native cloud offering.
TheChatApp
Data portability
Self-host export, GDPR export on cloud. Your data leaves when you do.
Self-host means you have the data. No structured GDPR export tool.
TheChatApp
Channels, threads, mentions
Included.
Included.
Tie
Self-hosting
First-class. One-time licence or annual.
First-class. Community edition available.
Tie
Pricing model
Capacity-based. Or one-time perpetual licence.
Per-user subscription above Starter.
TheChatApp
Contact management
Favourites, contact management, search-first navigation.
User list keeps everyone forever. No way to close users out.
TheChatApp

Don't take our word for it — self-host it free and see for yourself.

Download freeSee features

The bill, over time

5 years, 50 users, cloud. Cumulative list-price spend. Both lines plotted in €; competitor converted at $1 ≈ €0.92.

TheChatApp — Cloud Business
Rocket.Chat Pro
€0€6250€12 500€18 750€25 000StartYr 1Yr 2Yr 3Yr 4Yr 5$24 000€8450
5-year TheChatApp
€8450
5-year Rocket.Chat
$24 000
You keep
€13 630

List prices, annual billing. Discounts, negotiated terms, and FX drift may vary.

Why teams choose TheChatApp

  • →Settings where you'd expect them. No digging. No admin-only menus. No 'where is that setting?' Slack. Guided onboarding a non-technical human can finish.
  • →Setup that doesn't need a sysadmin. Host-mode runs the server inside the desktop app. QR invite to join. Done.
  • →Video that works. Native SFU with simulcast — not a Jitsi bolt-on where native calls live behind Enterprise. Voice rooms, video calls, and screen share built in at every tier.
  • →Updates that don't break things. Controlled upgrade path with a licensed-until-version guarantee. Not the post-upgrade instability users commonly report.
  • →Messages that track. Read receipts, typing indicators, delivery confirmation. Not 'did they see it? Guess we'll never know.'
  • →Encrypted end-to-end by default. Every channel. Every DM. Not a per-room beta the admin has to toggle on.
  • →GDPR-native. EU-built, EU-hosted. Customer content stays in the EU by design. Not just 'you self-host so it's your problem.'
  • →One-time licence if you want one. Pay once, run forever. Or subscribe — your call, not ours.
  • →Your data leaves when you do. Self-host export, GDPR export on cloud. No lock-in.

Frequently asked questions

Is TheChatApp really a Rocket.Chat alternative?

Yes — both serve the self-hosted team chat market. The differences are structural: native voice and video (not Jitsi), encryption on by default (not a per-room beta), a modern UI your non-technical teammates can navigate, and a one-time licence if you don't want a subscription. Same freedom. Less friction.

Why doesn't TheChatApp use Jitsi like Rocket.Chat?

Because Jitsi is a separate system bolted on. The plugin integration is widely reported as flaky past small calls, and Rocket.Chat's own native calls are locked behind Enterprise. TheChatApp ships its own Pion-based SFU — simulcast, dynamic quality tiers, voice rooms, video calls, and screen share. Built in. Every tier.

Does Rocket.Chat encrypt messages end-to-end?

Sort of. Rocket.Chat offers per-room E2EE as a beta feature. The admin or room owner has to enable it manually, and not every client supports it. TheChatApp encrypts every channel, every DM, and every call by default. We don't read your messages and don't train AI on them.

Can I self-host TheChatApp for free?

Yes — free up to 10 users. Rocket.Chat Starter is free up to 25 users, so they're more generous on the free cap. But above that, Rocket.Chat Pro is $8/user/month vs our capacity-based pricing — and we include native video, encryption by default, and a modern desktop without extra cost.

Is TheChatApp cheaper than Rocket.Chat Pro?

Yes. At 50 users, Rocket.Chat Pro is $4,800/year ($8/user/month). TheChatApp Cloud Business is €1,690/year — about a third. Self-hosted with a one-time licence, year 1 is €3,490 (licence + maintenance), then €995/year after that. Over 5 years self-hosted: €7,470 vs $24,000.

Can I get my data out if I want to leave?

Yes. Self-host means your data is already on your infrastructure. On cloud, GDPR export gives you a full machine-readable archive at any time. No paywall, no sales call.

See how TheChatApp fits your team

Try the Free tier on your own server, or start a managed Cloud workspace in minutes.

Download TheChatAppSee pricing

Comparison drawn from publicly available pricing and documentation as of April 2026. Rocket.Chat pricing fetched from rocket.chat/pricing. Starter plan capped at 25 users (previously 50). Pro plan at $8/user/month annual billing. User-experience characterisations paraphrase common themes from Capterra, G2, and community-forum reviews — not direct quotations. Re-verify vendor pricing before quoting in procurement.

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