Self-hosted chat apps: choosing Matrix or Rocket.Chat

Start with a Matrix homeserver such as Synapse, paired with Element, or a self-hosted Rocket.Chat workspace. Matrix suits groups that want client choice and chat across servers, while Rocket.Chat suits teams that want channels, threads and workspace controls.

In short:

• Matrix for federation. Use it for client choice and conversations across servers.
• Rocket.Chat for workspaces. Use it for channels, threads and workspace controls.
• Check room encryption. Self-hosting alone doesn't make your messages end-to-end encrypted.

Two chat stacks to start with

Matrix is a chat protocol, the shared rules its servers and apps use. Synapse is server software, and Element is a client, the app you use to send and read messages. Both stacks leave you responsible for your deployment.

Use this focused shortlist to match the server, clients and support model to your group.

Rocket.Chat's get-started page lists on-premise deployment, one workspace per organization and up to 50 users in its Starter offer. It describes Starter support as community knowledge and self-serve documentation only. Federation requires a qualifying paid plan and the Federation add-on; don't assume it is included in Starter. Check the current edition limits, hosting terms and support offer before deploying.

Choose Matrix when client choice and communication across servers are central requirements. Choose Rocket.Chat when its workspace layout fits your team's work. Neither choice removes the need to plan upgrades, recovery and support.

Check what each room keeps private

End-to-end encryption (E2EE) encrypts messages on the sender's device and decrypts them on the receiver's device. Servers don't read the message content. In Matrix, federation means room data is shared among participating homeservers, which is separate from message encryption.

Check these room-level differences before choosing your privacy settings.

A Matrix room with only local users doesn't prove server-wide federation is disabled. Check encryption support in your selected client instead of assuming every Matrix client has the same defaults.

Rocket.Chat's Force end-to-end encryption on private rooms setting is available from version 8.8.0. It requires new private channels, private teams and private discussions to start encrypted after you save the setting. The requirement applies at creation: users with permission to change a room's encryption can still turn it off afterward.

Existing rooms keep their original encryption state, and public rooms aren't affected. Federated rooms are exempt because Rocket.Chat federation doesn't support E2EE. The force setting also disables video-conference persistent chat because those discussions are unencrypted. Check these interactions against your required calling and room workflows.

Rocket.Chat offers searchable message history, but encrypted messages don't appear in search results. Most bots and integrations can't read encrypted messages unless they're specifically designed for E2EE. That matters if your workflow needs tools to inspect message content. Don't assume Matrix has identical search or integration limits. Check the selected client and tools.

Also check Rocket.Chat's Unencrypted messages in encrypted rooms setting. It can allow plaintext messages inside an encrypted room, so the room's label alone doesn't prove every message is encrypted. Check file behavior separately instead of assuming a room setting proves file encryption.

Work out the cost of running it

Budget for server upkeep and user recovery as separate jobs. The worksheet below contains planning categories, not measured costs or fixed product requirements. Fill it in once for Matrix and again for Rocket.Chat.

In each cost cell, cash means recurring monthly spending, setup means one-time hours, and maintenance means monthly hours. Name an owner for every job, especially upgrades. Use the recovery column to record what you'll check and what a successful result must show.

Use the same worksheet for both stacks so you can compare the work fairly.

Add the rows, then calculate:

Estimated monthly cost = recurring cash + (monthly maintenance hours × your chosen hourly value).

Keep one-time setup work separate. For upgrades, record who checks the chosen version's instructions and who plans rollback. For support, decide whether community help and self-serve documentation meet your needs.

Server restore and readable history are different checks

Restoring server data doesn't automatically recover the user keys needed to read encrypted history. Rocket.Chat says losing your encryption password prevents you from decrypting existing encrypted messages. An administrator can reset an E2EE key, but that doesn't recover old messages without the correct keys or password. Don't assume a server backup contains those keys.

For Matrix, use your chosen homeserver's and client's recovery documentation before planning a test. Include server identity in restore planning. Matrix's FAQ says renaming a homeserver makes other servers treat it as a different server, so choose its name for the long term.

The recovery worksheet should therefore have distinct checks for restored server data and readable encrypted history. A successful login isn't enough to pass both.

Try your must-have tasks before moving

Run a small pilot using only servers and accounts you're authorized to manage. Use test accounts and non-sensitive messages, and keep your current service and its recovery information intact.

1. List the tasks you can't lose.

Record required devices, group sizes, search needs, calls and bots. Check the current edition limits against your planned membership. Treat these as pass-or-fail requirements instead of choosing from a feature count.

2. Connect every required client.

Confirm that each selected client can join the intended server and room. You should be able to send and receive a test message. That proves basic access, not encrypted-history recovery or integration compatibility. If a required device can't connect, resolve its client support before moving.

3. Check the actual encryption mode.

Inspect existing and newly created Rocket.Chat private rooms separately. Send a harmless message and file, then check their behavior using the selected client's documentation. Confirm that recipients can read the test content in the intended encrypted mode. If plaintext is allowed, don't count the room label as proof that every message is encrypted.

4. Try search, calls and integrations.

Test the workflows your group needs with the intended room settings. Missing encrypted Rocket.Chat messages in search results match its documented behavior, not necessarily a broken installation. Required bots need explicit E2EE support to read encrypted messages. If a must-have workflow fails, keep the current service while you resolve it.

5. Test server restore and user-key recovery separately.

Follow the chosen server's documented restore path and the client's documented key-recovery path. You should be able to restore test server data and read encrypted test history with the required keys. That proves those recovery paths work for the pilot's conditions. If either check fails, don't move important history yet.

Matrix bridges, which connect Matrix to other chat services, may let you keep an existing service during a transition. Check the specific bridge's compatibility and encryption behavior before relying on it. Don't assume a bridge preserves E2EE or moves history automatically.

Where doxx.net fits. doxx.net is a private network where people and agents share private channels, run on its own Internet Protocol (IP) space, Domain Name System (DNS) root and hardware. As a separate choice from your self-hosted chat server, you can create a doxx.net account, download the app and connect a device or agent.