Matrix vs Rocket.Chat: Self-Hosted Chat Compared

Quick Verdict

Matrix is the better choice if you need federation, end-to-end encryption, or bridges to other chat networks. Rocket.Chat is the better choice if you want an all-in-one communications platform with omnichannel support, built-in video calls, and more free-tier features out of the box. For a pure team chat replacement of Slack or Teams, neither is the optimal pick — Mattermost is — but between these two, Rocket.Chat gets you running faster with less operational overhead, while Matrix gives you capabilities no centralized platform can match.

Overview

Matrix is a decentralized communication protocol. Synapse is the reference homeserver (Python), and Element is the primary web and mobile client. The protocol is governed by the Matrix.org Foundation. Self-hosting Synapse means running a homeserver that can federate with every other Matrix server on the internet — or stay completely isolated, your choice. Matrix supports end-to-end encryption via the Megolm protocol and has an extensive ecosystem of bridges that connect to Slack, Discord, Telegram, IRC, WhatsApp, and Signal.

Rocket.Chat is a centralized communications platform built on Node.js and backed by MongoDB. It started as a Slack alternative but has expanded into omnichannel territory — live chat widgets, chatbot integrations, customer support workflows. The Community Edition is MIT-licensed with no user limits. Rocket.Chat can federate with Matrix via a built-in bridge, but federation is not its core design. It ships with built-in video conferencing (Jitsi integration), LDAP authentication, and guest accounts — all free.

The architectural difference matters: Matrix is a protocol first (Synapse is one implementation among several), while Rocket.Chat is a product. Matrix prioritizes interoperability and decentralization. Rocket.Chat prioritizes being a feature-complete platform.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Matrix (Synapse + Element)	Rocket.Chat (Community)
Architecture	Decentralized, federated protocol	Centralized, single-server
Federation	Native — servers communicate across domains	Limited (Matrix bridge available)
End-to-end encryption	Yes (Megolm, on by default in DMs)	Yes (experimental, OTR)
Chat bridges	Extensive — Slack, Discord, Telegram, IRC, WhatsApp, Signal via mautrix	Webhooks, apps, and some built-in integrations
Video/audio calls	Element Call (requires configuration)	Built-in Jitsi integration (free)
LDAP/AD authentication	Via modules (OIDC, SAML, LDAP)	Built-in (free)
Guest accounts	Configurable in homeserver.yaml	Built-in (free)
Custom roles	Limited (admin, moderator, user)	Yes (free, granular)
Message retention policies	Via server-side purge jobs	Built-in (free)
Omnichannel (live chat, customer support)	No	Yes (free)
Full-text search	Requires separate search backend (like Elasticsearch)	Built-in (MongoDB-backed)
Threads	Yes	Yes
File sharing	Yes	Yes
Mobile apps	Element (iOS, Android)	Rocket.Chat (iOS, Android)
Desktop apps	Element Desktop (Electron)	Rocket.Chat Desktop (Electron)
Marketplace / plugins	Widgets, bots, bridges, Application Services	Apps marketplace (larger)
Database	PostgreSQL	MongoDB (replica set required)
License	Apache 2.0 (Synapse), AGPLv3 (Element)	MIT (Community Edition)
Primary language	Python + Rust (Synapse), TypeScript (Element)	TypeScript/Node.js (server)
Minimum RAM	~800 MB (Synapse + PostgreSQL + Element)	~1 GB (Rocket.Chat + MongoDB)

Docker Compose: Rocket.Chat

Rocket.Chat needs two services: the application server and MongoDB. MongoDB must run in replica set mode — Rocket.Chat uses the oplog for real-time updates, which requires it. This is not optional.

Create a docker-compose.yml:

services:
  rocketchat:
    image: registry.rocket.chat/rocketchat/rocket.chat:8.1.1
    container_name: rocketchat
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "3000:3000"       # Web UI and API
    environment:
      ROOT_URL: "https://chat.example.com"           # Your public URL — change this
      PORT: "3000"
      MONGO_URL: "mongodb://mongodb:27017/rocketchat?replicaSet=rs0"
      MONGO_OPLOG_URL: "mongodb://mongodb:27017/local?replicaSet=rs0"
      DEPLOY_METHOD: "docker"
      REG_TOKEN: ""                                  # Optional: registration token for cloud features
    volumes:
      - rocketchat_uploads:/app/uploads
    depends_on:
      mongodb:
        condition: service_healthy
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD", "curl", "-f", "http://localhost:3000/api/v1/info"]
      interval: 30s
      timeout: 10s
      retries: 3
      start_period: 60s

  mongodb:
    image: docker.io/mongodb/mongodb-community-server:8.0.4-ubi8
    container_name: rocketchat_mongodb
    restart: unless-stopped
    command: mongod --replSet rs0 --oplogSize 128
    volumes:
      - mongodb_data:/data/db
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD", "mongosh", "--eval", "db.adminCommand('ping')"]
      interval: 10s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 5

volumes:
  rocketchat_uploads:
  mongodb_data:

After starting the stack, initialize the MongoDB replica set — Rocket.Chat will not start without this:

docker compose up -d
# Wait 10 seconds for MongoDB to be ready, then initialize the replica set
docker compose exec mongodb mongosh --eval "rs.initiate({_id: 'rs0', members: [{_id: 0, host: 'mongodb:27017'}]})"

Once the replica set is initialized, Rocket.Chat starts automatically. Open http://your-server:3000 and complete the setup wizard — admin account, organization name, and server settings are all configured through the web UI.

Docker Compose: Matrix (Synapse + Element)

Matrix requires three services: Synapse (homeserver), PostgreSQL (database), and Element Web (client). You also need to generate a config file before first start.

Generate the initial config:

mkdir -p ./synapse-data
docker run --rm \
  -v ./synapse-data:/data \
  -e SYNAPSE_SERVER_NAME=matrix.example.com \
  -e SYNAPSE_REPORT_STATS=no \
  matrixdotorg/synapse:v1.147.1 generate

This creates homeserver.yaml inside ./synapse-data. Edit it to use PostgreSQL instead of the default SQLite:

# In synapse-data/homeserver.yaml, replace the default sqlite database section with:
database:
  name: psycopg2
  args:
    user: synapse
    password: change_this_db_password
    database: synapse
    host: synapse_db
    port: 5432
    cp_min: 5
    cp_max: 10

Create a docker-compose.yml:

services:
  synapse:
    image: matrixdotorg/synapse:v1.147.1
    container_name: synapse
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "8008:8008"     # Client-Server API (behind reverse proxy)
      - "8448:8448"     # Server-Server federation (optional — remove if not federating)
    volumes:
      - ./synapse-data:/data
    environment:
      TZ: "UTC"
    depends_on:
      synapse_db:
        condition: service_healthy
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD", "curl", "-f", "http://localhost:8008/health"]
      interval: 30s
      timeout: 10s
      retries: 3
      start_period: 30s

  synapse_db:
    image: postgres:16-alpine
    container_name: synapse_db
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
      POSTGRES_USER: synapse
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: change_this_db_password   # Must match homeserver.yaml
      POSTGRES_DB: synapse
      POSTGRES_INITDB_ARGS: "--encoding=UTF-8 --lc-collate=C --lc-ctype=C"
    volumes:
      - synapse_pgdata:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -U synapse -d synapse"]
      interval: 10s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 5

  element:
    image: vectorim/element-web:v1.12.10
    container_name: element
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "8080:80"       # Element Web UI
    volumes:
      - ./element-config.json:/app/config.json:ro

volumes:
  synapse_pgdata:

Create element-config.json alongside the Compose file:

{
  "default_server_config": {
    "m.homeserver": {
      "base_url": "https://matrix.example.com",
      "server_name": "matrix.example.com"
    }
  },
  "brand": "Element",
  "default_theme": "dark",
  "room_directory": {
    "servers": ["matrix.example.com"]
  }
}

Start the stack and create your first admin user:

docker compose up -d
docker exec -it synapse register_new_matrix_user \
  http://localhost:8008 \
  -c /data/homeserver.yaml \
  --admin

There is no web-based setup wizard. User creation happens via the CLI.

Installation Complexity

Rocket.Chat is simpler to deploy, though it has one gotcha.

Rocket.Chat needs two containers and one post-deploy step (MongoDB replica set initialization). The setup wizard handles everything else through the browser. The main friction point is MongoDB’s replica set requirement — if you forget the rs.initiate() command, Rocket.Chat fails with unhelpful error messages. But once you know to do it, the entire process takes under ten minutes.

Matrix (Synapse + Element) requires significantly more work:

Generate homeserver.yaml via a separate Docker command before starting the stack
Edit the generated config to switch from SQLite to PostgreSQL (SQLite is unsuitable for production)
Create and configure a separate element-config.json for the web client
Configure .well-known delegation if your Matrix server name differs from the hostname
Set up federation (port 8448 or .well-known discovery) if you want cross-server communication
Register admin users via CLI — no web-based first-run wizard

The reverse proxy configuration is also more involved for Matrix. You need to proxy both the client API (port 8008) and federation endpoint (port 8448), with correct .well-known responses for delegation. Rocket.Chat needs a single proxy to port 3000. See our reverse proxy guide for both configurations.

Verdict: Rocket.Chat is easier. Not trivially easy — the replica set step catches people — but substantially less work than a full Matrix deployment.

Performance and Resource Usage

Resource	Matrix (Synapse + Element + PostgreSQL)	Rocket.Chat (Server + MongoDB)
RAM (idle, small server)	~800 MB total	~1-1.2 GB total
RAM (50 active users)	1.5-2.5 GB total	1.5-2 GB total
CPU (idle)	Low-medium (Python process)	Low-medium (Node.js process)
Disk (application)	~500 MB	~600 MB
Database growth	Fast if federating — state resolution metadata accumulates quickly. 1-5 GB/month on active federated servers. Moderate if isolated.	Moderate — MongoDB stores messages, files, and metadata. ~500 MB-1 GB/month for active servers.
Startup time	15-30 seconds	20-40 seconds (MongoDB replica set + app init)
Container count	3 (Synapse + PostgreSQL + Element)	2 (Rocket.Chat + MongoDB)

Both platforms are heavier than Mattermost, which runs on a lean Go binary with PostgreSQL.

Synapse’s Python runtime is CPU-hungry under load, particularly during federation. Joining large public Matrix rooms (like #matrix:matrix.org) can spike RAM to 2-4 GB as state resolution processes thousands of events. If you run Synapse as an isolated server without federation, resource usage is more predictable.

Rocket.Chat’s Node.js runtime carries its own overhead, and MongoDB is more memory-hungry than PostgreSQL for equivalent workloads. However, Rocket.Chat does not have federation-related resource spikes, making its usage more predictable.

For a home server or small team (under 20 users), either runs on a 2 GB RAM VPS. For 50+ users, plan for 4 GB. If you plan to federate Matrix with public rooms, 4 GB is the minimum.

Bridges and Interoperability

This is where Matrix has a decisive advantage.

Matrix bridges let you connect your homeserver to other chat networks. The mautrix suite provides bridges for:

Slack
Discord
Telegram
WhatsApp
Signal
IRC
Facebook Messenger
Google Chat

Each bridge runs as a separate service (usually a lightweight container) that uses the Matrix Application Service API. Once configured, users in your Matrix rooms can transparently communicate with users on the bridged platform. Messages, reactions, edits, and media flow in both directions. This is Matrix’s killer feature — consolidating fragmented chat platforms into a single client.

Rocket.Chat has integration points — webhooks, the apps marketplace, and some built-in connectors — but nothing comparable to Matrix’s bridge ecosystem. Rocket.Chat can connect to Matrix via its federation bridge, giving it indirect access to the Matrix network, but the experience is not as seamless as native Matrix bridges.

If your use case involves connecting multiple chat platforms into a unified view, Matrix is the only viable option.

Omnichannel and Customer Support

This is where Rocket.Chat has a decisive advantage.

Rocket.Chat includes a full omnichannel module in the Community Edition:

Live chat widget — embed on your website for real-time customer support
Routing engine — assign incoming conversations to agents based on department, availability, or load
Chatbot integration — connect to Dialogflow, RASA, or custom bots for automated responses
Canned responses — pre-built reply templates for support agents
Analytics — response times, resolution rates, agent performance

Matrix has no equivalent. You could bolt on a separate customer support tool, but Rocket.Chat includes this natively. If you need team chat and customer-facing communication in one platform, Rocket.Chat is the clear choice.

Community and Development

Metric	Matrix (Synapse + Element)	Rocket.Chat
GitHub stars (server)	~40,000+ (Synapse)	~41,000+
First release	2014 (protocol), 2019 (Element)	2015
Governance	Matrix.org Foundation (non-profit)	Rocket.Chat Technologies (VC-backed)
Development pace	Active — multiple releases per month	Active — regular releases
Documentation	Good but scattered across protocol docs, Synapse docs, and Element docs	Decent — single docs site, but reorganized frequently
Alternative implementations	Dendrite (Go), Conduit/Continuwity (Rust)	None

Matrix benefits from having a protocol specification independent of any single implementation. If Synapse does not fit your needs, lighter homeservers like Dendrite or Conduit exist. Rocket.Chat has only one server implementation.

Both projects are well-maintained with large communities. Matrix’s community is more developer-oriented and focused on protocol innovation. Rocket.Chat’s community is more product-oriented, with a focus on business features and deployments.

Use Cases

Choose Matrix If…

Federation is the point. You want users on your server to communicate with users on other Matrix servers, or you want to bridge to Slack, Discord, Telegram, and IRC from a single client.
End-to-end encryption matters. Matrix has mature, protocol-level E2EE. Rocket.Chat’s E2EE is experimental.
You are building a community. Matrix’s public room directory, federation, and Spaces make it well-suited for open communities that span multiple servers.
You want to consolidate chat platforms. The bridge ecosystem is unmatched. If your team uses Slack, Discord, and Telegram, Matrix can unify all three into Element.
You want protocol-level sovereignty. Matrix is an open standard governed by a foundation. Your data, your server, your rules — and you can switch homeserver implementations without losing interoperability.

Choose Rocket.Chat If…

You need omnichannel support. Live chat widgets, routing, chatbots, and customer support workflows come built-in and free.
LDAP/AD authentication is required. Free in Rocket.Chat. Requires modules in Matrix.
You want built-in video calls. Rocket.Chat’s Jitsi integration works out of the box. Matrix requires additional configuration for Element Call.
Guest accounts matter. Free and easy in Rocket.Chat.
You want a simpler deployment. Fewer services, a web-based setup wizard, and no config file generation step.
Your team is non-technical. Rocket.Chat’s UI is more traditional and immediately understandable. Matrix concepts (homeservers, federation, key verification) confuse non-technical users.
Custom roles and retention policies are needed without paying. Both are free in Rocket.Chat.

Final Verdict

These platforms serve overlapping but distinct use cases.

Matrix wins on interoperability. If you need federation, chat bridges, end-to-end encryption, or participation in the wider decentralized Matrix ecosystem, there is no real alternative. The complexity is the price of decentralization, and it is a fair price if decentralization is what you actually need. Matrix bridges alone — consolidating Slack, Discord, Telegram, and IRC into a single client — are a killer feature that justifies the deployment overhead.

Rocket.Chat wins on breadth as a product. It ships with more features on the free tier: LDAP, guest accounts, custom roles, omnichannel support, video calls. If you need a communications platform that handles team chat and customer support in one deployment, Rocket.Chat delivers that without add-ons.

For most self-hosters running a small team or homelab chat server with no federation needs, Mattermost is still a better choice than either — simpler, lighter, more polished. But if your requirements specifically include federation or chat bridges, pick Matrix. If they include omnichannel customer support or you want more features without paying, pick Rocket.Chat.

Do not deploy Matrix and then run it as an isolated server with no federation. That gives you all of the complexity with none of the advantages. If you are not going to federate or bridge, you do not need Matrix.

Quick Verdict

Overview

Feature Comparison

Docker Compose: Rocket.Chat

Docker Compose: Matrix (Synapse + Element)

Installation Complexity

Performance and Resource Usage

Bridges and Interoperability

Omnichannel and Customer Support

Community and Development

Use Cases

Choose Matrix If…

Choose Rocket.Chat If…

Final Verdict

Related

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How to Self-Host Rocket.Chat with Docker Compose

Matrix vs Mattermost: Which Should You Self-Host?

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