Introduction
Secure and self-hosted team communication is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity for privacy-conscious users and organizations. Whether you’re replacing Slack, Discord, or just looking for private group chat, platforms like Matrix, Rocket.Chat, and Mattermost offer powerful alternatives that give you full control over your data.
In this comparison, we explore these three top contenders. We’ll cover everything from installation to extensibility, helping you choose the best chat platform for your home lab, tech team, or community.
1. Philosophy & Privacy
| Feature | Matrix | Rocket.Chat | Mattermost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philosophy | Decentralized, federated, FOSS | Centralized, open-core | Open-core, workplace-focused |
| Privacy | End-to-end encryption (E2EE) | Optional E2EE (beta), server logs | Encrypted at rest, no E2EE |
| Self-hosted | Yes (Synapse, Dendrite) | Yes | Yes |
Summary: Matrix leads in decentralization and encryption. Rocket.Chat and Mattermost favor workplace needs with varying privacy trade-offs.
2. Installation & Setup
| Aspect | Matrix | Rocket.Chat | Mattermost |
| Setup Difficulty | High (Synapse setup) | Moderate | Moderate |
| Docker Support | Yes (with extra services) | Excellent | Excellent |
| Hosting Options | Self-hosted / Hosted (via EMS) | Self-hosted or cloud | Self-hosted or cloud |
Beginner Tip: Rocket.Chat and Mattermost are easier to deploy for small teams. Matrix offers more control but comes with complexity.
3. Features & Integrations
| Feature | Matrix | Rocket.Chat | Mattermost |
| Video/Voice Calls | Yes (via Jitsi or native) | Built-in | Add-on |
| Federation | Yes | No | No |
| Bots & Webhooks | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| App Integrations | Moderate (via bridges) | Extensive (Slack-like) | Slack-compatible plugins |
Advanced Users: Matrix bridges (e.g., to Slack, Discord, IRC) are powerful but require manual setup.
4. UI & UX
| Feature | Matrix (Element) | Rocket.Chat | Mattermost |
| Desktop/Mobile Apps | Yes (Element) | Yes | Yes |
| Interface Style | Modern but busy | Slack-like, customizable | Clean and functional |
| Theming | Limited | High | High |
Observation: Rocket.Chat wins on Slack-like familiarity. Matrix feels more modern but may overwhelm beginners. Mattermost sits in the middle.
5. Performance & Scalability
| Metric | Matrix | Rocket.Chat | Mattermost |
| Resource Usage | High (Synapse) | Moderate | Efficient |
| Scalability | Federated: horizontally | Vertical scaling | Horizontal/Vertical |
| 1-on-1 Speed | Fast | Fast | Fast |
Pro Tip: Matrix federation adds network resilience but increases overhead. For simpler needs, Rocket.Chat or Mattermost may scale easier.
6. Pricing & Licensing
| Feature | Matrix | Rocket.Chat | Mattermost |
| Cost (Self-Hosted) | Free (FOSS) | Free core / Paid features | Free core / Enterprise tiers |
| Cloud Hosting | Element Matrix Services | Rocket.Chat Cloud | Mattermost Cloud |
| Enterprise Features | All included via bridges | LDAP, SSO, auditing (paid) | SAML, AD/LDAP, analytics |
Summary: Matrix is fully open-source. Rocket.Chat and Mattermost use an open-core model—great for business needs, but not always free.
Use Cases & Best Fit
| Use Case | Best Fit |
| Privacy-focused communities | Matrix |
| Teams replacing Slack | Rocket.Chat |
| Internal corporate communications | Mattermost |
| Federation & decentralization goals | Matrix |
| Full chat suite with voice & video | Rocket.Chat |
Final Verdict
Choose Matrix if:
- You care about federation, open standards, and E2EE.
- You’re building a community with long-term privacy goals.
- You’re okay with a steeper learning curve.
Choose Rocket.Chat if:
- You want a Slack-like tool with self-hosting freedom.
- You prioritize ease of deployment and UI familiarity.
- You need integrated calls and flexible permissions.
Choose Mattermost if:
- You’re managing internal teams or projects.
- You want granular control over user roles and integration.
- You prefer clean design over maximal features.
Example Setup
- Matrix + Element + Jitsi: Privacy-first chat, with optional bridges to other platforms.
- Rocket.Chat + Docker: All-in-one team chat with extensibility.
- Mattermost + Reverse Proxy: Ideal for internal dev teams with minimal fuss.
Final Note: Choosing a self-hosted chat platform is about control, trust, and flexibility. Whether you’re running a small team, a privacy community, or your own digital fortress, there’s a solution here that fits.
Pro Tip: Want Slack/Discord compatibility without lock-in? Start with Rocket.Chat. For future-proof federation, Matrix is your hero.