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Microsoft Teams vs Rocket.Chat: Pricing Comparison 2026

Side-by-side pricing comparison of Microsoft Teams and Rocket.Chat. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.

Bottom line: Microsoft Teams starts at $4/mo and Rocket.Chat starts at Custom pricing. Compare all 6 pricing tiers side by side.

Last updated: March 16, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated March 16, 2026
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Microsoft Teams vs Rocket.Chat: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureMicrosoft TeamsRocket.Chat
Starting Price$4/moCustom pricing
Number of Plans33
Free TierNoYes
Pricing Modelper-seatopen-source
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

Microsoft Teams and Rocket.Chat are both priced at $4/mo, making them equally accessible Communication tools. Together they offer 6 pricing plans with 36 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.

Rocket.Chat stands out with a free plan for getting started. Microsoft Teams uses per-seat pricing while Rocket.Chat uses open-source pricing, which may affect your total cost at scale.

Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Communication needs.

Pricing Plans
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams
Try it free
Rocket.Chat
Rocket.Chat
Try it free
Tier 1
Microsoft Teams EssentialsPopular
$4/month
Includes
  • Chat, call, and video conferencing
  • Real-time collaboration with file sharing, tasks, and polling
  • Team meeting recordings with transcripts and live captions (English)4
  • 10 GB of cloud storage per user
  • Data encryption for meetings, chats, calls, and files
  • Anytime phone and web support
Start with Microsoft Teams Essentials
Starter
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Deployment & operational control
  • Secure messaging essentials
  • Real-time communications
  • Identity access management
  • Extensibility & customization
  • Mobility and endpoint access
  • Federated communications
  • Peer-to-peer community assistance
Start with Starter
Tier 2
Microsoft 365 Business Basic
$6/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Identity and access management for up to 300 users
  • Web and mobile versions3 of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook apps
  • Custom business email (you@yourbusiness.com)
  • 1 TB of cloud storage per user
  • 10+ additional apps for your business needs (including Microsoft Bookings, Planner, and Forms)
  • AI chat experience with web grounding, writing assistance, data analysis, and access to agents5
  • Automatic spam and malware filtering
Start with Microsoft 365 Business Basic
Pro
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Deployment flexibility and scaling
  • Advanced customizations
  • Standard operational support
Start with Pro
Tier 3
Microsoft 365 Business Standard
$13/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Desktop, web, and mobile versions3 of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other apps
  • Webinars with attendee registration and reporting
  • Collaborative workspaces to co-create using Microsoft Loop
  • Video editing and design tools with Microsoft Clipchamp
Start with Microsoft 365 Business Standard
Enterprise
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Mission-critical scalability and resilience
  • Real-time communications
  • Advanced identity and access controls
  • Audit and information governance
  • Zero trust security
  • Sovereign AI
  • Cross-agency collaboration
  • Operational continuity and support
Start with Enterprise

Swipe to compare plans →

Microsoft Teams

Team collaboration hub with chat, meetings, and file sharing

View all Microsoft Teams plans

Rocket.Chat

Open-source team communication platform you can self-host

View all Rocket.Chat plans

What Reviewers Say

Our Pick

Rocket.Chat

Rocket.Chat offers a free plan.

Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.

Best value: Rocket.Chat

Try Rocket.Chat free

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Microsoft Teams if:

  • •You prioritize Microsoft Teams's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
  • •You want Microsoft Teams's approach to incremental feature unlocking across its 3 pricing tiers
  • •Microsoft Teams's feature bundling aligns with how Communication teams actually work day-to-day

Choose Rocket.Chat if:

  • •You need a free plan with Deployment & operational control, Secure messaging essentials—Rocket.Chat offers no-cost access with no credit card required
  • •You want more features built-in—Rocket.Chat offers 2 additional features across its plans
  • •Your team needs custom enterprise pricing—Rocket.Chat offers negotiated terms for large deployments

Rocket.Chat offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Microsoft Teams requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Rocket.Chat a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Rocket.Chat's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately Custom pricing provides substantial additional functionality. Compare this pricing path against Microsoft Teams' tiering starting at $4/mo to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Rocket.Chat's 3 tiers provide flexibility at different budgets, while Microsoft Teams' 3 tiers structure may force you into higher-cost plans than necessary for your use case. If evaluation cost matters to your decision, Rocket.Chat is the obvious starting point with zero financial commitment. Use the free tier to validate core functionality before committing to paid plans from either tool.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Microsoft Teams vs Rocket.Chat

How many pricing plans does Microsoft Teams have vs Rocket.Chat?
Microsoft Teams offers 3 pricing plans, while Rocket.Chat offers 3 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does Microsoft Teams or Rocket.Chat offer a free plan?
Rocket.Chat offers a free plan, while Microsoft Teams does not. If budget is a concern, Rocket.Chat lets you get started at no cost.
What is the most popular Microsoft Teams plan?
The Microsoft Teams Essentials plan is Microsoft Teams' most popular tier, priced at $4/mo. Key features include Chat, call, and video conferencing, Real-time collaboration with file sharing, tasks, and polling, Team meeting recordings with transcripts and live captions (English)4.
Does Microsoft Teams or Rocket.Chat offer custom enterprise pricing?
Rocket.Chat offers a custom-priced enterprise tier for larger teams. Microsoft Teams lists all its pricing publicly.
What pricing models do Microsoft Teams and Rocket.Chat use?
Microsoft Teams uses a per-seat pricing model, while Rocket.Chat uses open-source pricing. The right model depends on your team size and usage patterns.
How do Microsoft Teams and Rocket.Chat compare for Communication?
Both Microsoft Teams and Rocket.Chat are Communication tools. Microsoft Teams offers 3 plans starting at $4/mo, while Rocket.Chat offers 3 plans starting at Custom pricing. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your Communication needs.

Sources

  1. Microsoft Teams Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
  2. Rocket.Chat Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page

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