Comparison

Element Classic vs Rocket.Chat

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Element Classic

This app is a legacy version of a communication platform, offering secure messaging and collaboration. It will receive security updates until the end of 2025 but no new features.

Highlights
  • Secure messaging
  • Collaboration
  • Legacy version
  • Security updates
Features
Read full description

Element Classic is the previous-generation of Element mobile app. Friends, family and communities should use the free and open source Element X app which is faster, easier to use, and more powerful. New users of public sector organisations, enterprises and professional teams users should use the Element Pro app that is built for work and organizations. Element Classic is available at least until the end of 2025 and will receive critical security updates but no further enhancements or new features.

About

Rocket.Chat

A secure communication platform that integrates messaging, voice, video, and AI for organizations requiring high security and compliance. It offers features like E2E encryption and two-factor authentication to protect sensitive communications.

Highlights
  • Unified messaging, voice, and video
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Open source software
  • On-premises or cloud hosting
  • Guest access
  • File sharing
Features
Read full description

Rocket.Chat Secure CommsOS™ is a communication platform that unifies messaging, voice, video, AI, and mission-critical applications—ensuring uncompromising security, compliance, and operational efficiency for governments, defense, and critical infrastructure organizations operating in high-stakes environments. The result is an increase in productivity and customer satisfaction rates. Everyday, tens of millions of users in over 150 countries and in organizations such as Deutsche Bahn, The US Navy and Credit Suisse trust Rocket.Chat to keep their communications completely private and secure. By opting for Rocket.Chat, users also benefit from free audio and video conferencing, guest access, screen and file sharing, LiveChat, LDAP Group Sync, two-factor authentication (2FA), E2E encryption, SSO, dozens of OAuth providers and unlimited users, guests, channels, messages, searches and files. Users can set up Rocket.Chat on cloud or by hosting their own servers on-premises. With thousands of contributors and stars on Github, Rocket.Chat has the world’s largest community of chat developers in the open source communication sector. When you choose Rocket.Chat, you join an ever-growing passionate community that constantly improves our platform with us :) KEY FEATURES: * Open Source Software * Hassle-free MIT license * BYOS (bring your own server) * Multiple Rooms * Direct Messages * Private & Public Channels/Groups * Desktop and Mobile Notifications * 100+ available integrations * Edit and Delete Sent Messages * Mentions * Avatars * Markdown * Emojis * Choose between 3 themes: Light, Dark, Black * Sort conversations alphabetically or group by activity, unread or favourites * Transcripts / History * File Upload / Sharing * I18n - [Internationalization with Lingohub] * Hubot Friendly - [Hubot Integration Project] * Media Embeds * Link Previews * LDAP Authentication * REST-full APIs * Remote Locations Video Monitoring * Native Cross-Platform Desktop Application

Screenshots

Element Classic4 screens
Rocket.Chat4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Rocket.Chat at 4.4 against Element Classic's 3.3. Rocket.Chat also leads on review sentiment (62% vs 44%) and ratings volume (3.7K vs 578). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Rocket.Chat holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rocket.Chat has 3.7K ratings behind it against 578, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of Element Classic's written reviews are positive against 62% of Rocket.Chat's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Element Classic ships an update monthly, Rocket.Chat every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Element Classic versus Rocket.Chat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterElement ClassicRocket.Chat
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.3 (578 ratings)4.4 (3.7K ratings) — better
Positive reviews43.7% of reviews61.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings5783.7K — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS15.115.1
Further details — not scored
Size172 MB78 MB
Age rating17+9+
DeveloperVector Creations LimitedRocket.Chat Technologies Corp.

Customer experience

Element Classic

All ratings578 ratings
Positive53.3%
Neutral10.0%
Negative36.7%
Written reviews286 reviews
Positive43.7%
Neutral14.3%
Negative42.0%

Rocket.Chat

All ratings3,728 ratings
Positive84.8%
Neutral5.4%
Negative9.8%
Written reviews856 reviews
Positive61.7%
Neutral10.5%
Negative27.8%

User reviews

Element Classic

From 578 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and efficient
  • 🔒 Secure and private
  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • 💡 Innovative features
  • 🌐 Decentralized and open-source

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and unstable
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 📚 Steep learning curve
  • 🤔 Confusing user experience
  • 🚫 Lack of key features

Rocket.Chat

From 3.7K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Robust and reliable
  • 🔒 Secure self-hosted chat
  • 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
  • 🙌 Great for team communication
  • 💻 Seamless desktop and mobile experience

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
  • 🔍 Inconsistent search and navigation
  • 📢 Unreliable notification system
  • 🔒 Tricky privacy management
  • 🔄 Frequent login issues

Bugs and requests

Element Classic

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Constant crashes and freezes
  • Issues with message decryption and verification
  • Unreliable notifications and sync issues
  • Inability to leave or delete empty rooms
  • Problems with image and video sharing

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to pause notifications
  • Option to set messages to disappear after a certain time
  • Improved search functionality
  • Better integration with other apps and services
  • Customizable font size and notification sounds

Rocket.Chat

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Messages not loading properly
  • Inability to stay logged in
  • Broken translation feature
  • Compatibility issues with newer devices
  • Admin panel not functioning on mobile

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved notification settings
  • Enhanced file sharing and management
  • Customizable notification sounds
  • Streamlined admin panel for mobile
  • Integrated video/audio calling

In-app purchases

None

Element Classic

No in-app purchases

None

Rocket.Chat

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Element Classic free?
Element Classic is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Rocket.Chat free?
Rocket.Chat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Element Classic or Rocket.Chat?
Rocket.Chat is rated higher. Element Classic averages 3.3 out of 5 from 578 ratings, while Rocket.Chat averages 4.4 from 3.7K ratings.
Do Element Classic or Rocket.Chat have ads?
Neither Element Classic nor Rocket.Chat shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Element Classic or Rocket.Chat?
Element Classic ships an update monthly, and Rocket.Chat every 3 weeks. Most recently, Element Classic was updated on September 24, 2026 and Rocket.Chat on September 23, 2026.

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