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Comparison · Comms
Element vs Rocket.Chat
A side-by-side editorial comparison of Element and Rocket.Chat — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Element vs Rocket.Chat: at a glance
What is Element?
Element 1.12.34 RC.1 keeps call picture-in-picture and adds read receipts to the labs timeline.
Element Web spent October on crypto UX: mandatory device verification, removal of guest tokens and NEB links, and a shorter recovery-key flow in 1.12.33. The 1.12.34 candidates add OS-level picture-in-picture for Element Call, a module switch that disables public rooms, recovery-key generation when logging out of the last device, and a softer reset warning; rc.1 adds read receipts in the labs timeline and a configurable default timezone.
What is Rocket.Chat?
Rocket.Chat patches 8.9 LTS with the load fixes from 9.0 while the candidate reaches rc.7.
The 9.0 candidate line opened on 27 October with a licensing change: LDAP, SAML and Custom OAuth now require a premium plan. Since rc.4 the candidates have been fixes: rc.5 drops removed-license features for connected users and redacts OAuth codes from logs, rc.6 fixes Matrix federation auth, and rc.7 stops a web and desktop client memory leak and moves native LiveKit video to beta. On 6 November 8.9.1 LTS backported the notification, presence and startup load fixes plus a security hotfix.
Element vs Rocket.Chat: editorial side-by-side
Element
5.0COMMS
Element 1.12.34 RC.1 keeps call picture-in-picture and adds read receipts to the labs timeline.
◆ Current state
Element Web spent October on crypto UX: mandatory device verification, removal of guest tokens and NEB links, and a shorter recovery-key flow in 1.12.33. The 1.12.34 candidates add OS-level picture-in-picture for Element Call, a module switch that disables public rooms, recovery-key generation when logging out of the last device, and a softer reset warning; rc.1 adds read receipts in the labs timeline and a configurable default timezone.
◆ Where it's heading
Two tracks run in parallel: reducing key-loss failures in encryption, and giving deployers more control through the Module API. The public-room switch and timezone config point at managed and institutional deployments, while the new timeline in labs is slowly gaining parity features.
◆ Prediction
1.12.34 should ship stable within about a week, following the RC-to-release pattern of recent versions; read receipts suggest the new timeline is getting closer to replacing the old one.
Rocket.Chat
6.3COMMS
Rocket.Chat patches 8.9 LTS with the load fixes from 9.0 while the candidate reaches rc.7.
◆ Current state
The 9.0 candidate line opened on 27 October with a licensing change: LDAP, SAML and Custom OAuth now require a premium plan. Since rc.4 the candidates have been fixes: rc.5 drops removed-license features for connected users and redacts OAuth codes from logs, rc.6 fixes Matrix federation auth, and rc.7 stops a web and desktop client memory leak and moves native LiveKit video to beta. On 6 November 8.9.1 LTS backported the notification, presence and startup load fixes plus a security hotfix.
◆ Where it's heading
9.0 is in stabilization: each candidate is smaller than the last, and the load fixes are being carried to the LTS line rather than held for the major. Native LiveKit video is being promoted step by step, from alpha to beta and now as the named default provider option.
◆ Prediction
With rc.7 down to a handful of fixes, 9.0.0 GA is the next likely release, followed by further 8.9.x LTS patches carrying the same fixes.
Alternatives to Element and Rocket.Chat
Other Comms products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either Element or Rocket.Chat.
Element X Android
Element X Android turns on multi-select forwarding and better search in v26.11.0.
Fonoster
Fonoster lets voice agents pick Anthropic, Google or Groq models and record calls with one switch.
Salesmsg
Salesmsg's Sherpa AI now sends replies and builds broadcasts on request, with approval first.
Proton Bridge
Proton Bridge v3.27.2 adds support for the oo7 keyring on Linux.
Netcore Cloud
Netcore keeps publishing unified-platform explainers with no product release.
See all Element alternatives → · See all Rocket.Chat alternatives →
Recent activity from Element and Rocket.Chat
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 3d agoElement1.12.34 RC.1 adds labs read receipts and configurable timezone
- 4d agoRocket.Chat8.9.1 LTS: load fixes from 9.0 plus a security hotfix
- 4d agoRocket.Chat9.0 rc.7: client memory leak fixed, LiveKit video moves to beta
- 4d agoRocket.Chat9.0 rc.6: Matrix federation auth header fix
- 4d agoRocket.Chat9.0 rc.5: removed-license features shut off, OAuth codes redacted
- 6d agoRocket.Chat9.0 rc.4: notifications, presence and startup fixed under load
- 6d agoElement1.12.34 RC: call picture-in-picture, module switch for public rooms
- 10d agoRocket.Chat9.0 rc.3: REST refusals become 403; /hooks status codes change
- 13d agoElementElement 1.12.33 ships simpler recovery keys, ends libolm migration
- 21d agoElement1.12.33 RC simplifies recovery keys, drops libolm migration
- 24d agoElementElement 1.12.32 removes guest tokens and NEB links to fix 2 advisories
- 27d agoElementElement 1.12.31 makes device verification mandatory by default
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Element and Rocket.Chat?
They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. Rocket.Chat is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 6.3 vs 5.0), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.
Is Element better than Rocket.Chat?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Rocket.Chat is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 6.3 vs 5.0), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Comms products to evaluate alongside.
What are the best alternatives to Element?
Top Element alternatives in Comms are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Element alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/element-web for the full list with editorial commentary on each.
What are the best alternatives to Rocket.Chat?
Top Rocket.Chat alternatives in Comms are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Rocket.Chat alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/rocketchat for the full list with editorial commentary on each.