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Top 8 Mattermost Alternatives for Windows, Compared (2026)

Explore 8 alternatives to Mattermost, vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

Compare the top 8 Mattermost alternatives

Quick answer

The top-rated business instant messaging software alternatives to Mattermost are Rocket.Chat, Hubgets and Element. Rocket.Chat leads the list with a 4.37★ rating from real users. Compare all 8 on rating and pricing below.

Ready to move on from Mattermost? These 8 business instant messaging software alternatives are the picks worth testing first. Our ranking leans on SpotScore, which weighs verified satisfaction against market presence, then star ratings and pricing model. Editors check each tool. Start with the table for a fast read, then go section by section below.

ProductSpotScoreRatingPricingBest for
Rocket.ChatEffortlessly connect and collaborate with Rocket.Chat.—★★★★☆ 4.37(382)Freefrom $2 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
HubgetsCommunicate better, collaborate smarter with Hubgets.—★★★★★ 4.67(12)Freefrom $2.50 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
ElementStreamline communication and boost productivity with Element.—★★★★★ 4.5(2)Freefrom $10/moteams of all sizes
WorkstormStreamline your business communication with instant messaging.—★★★★☆ 4.35(38)Freefrom $12.50 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
Output MessengerStay connected with ease, anytime, anywhere.—★★★★☆ 4.11(10)Freefrom $35/yrteams of all sizes
HCL SametimeStreamline collaboration and boost productivity with HCL Sametime.—★★★★☆ 3.93(123)Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
ZulipStreamlining communication for efficient teamwork.—★★★★☆ 4.43(40)Freefrom $6.67 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
SlackStay connected and organized with Slack.—★★★★★ 4.82(2759)Freefrom $2.67/moteams of all sizes
Rocket.Chat - Business Instant Messaging Software

Rocket.Chat

Effortlessly connect and collaborate with Rocket.Chat.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.4

382 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Rocket.Chat?

Rocket.Chat is an instant-messaging and team collaboration platform for enterprises and organizations that need private messaging, persistent chat rooms, direct messages, persistent user presence and file transfer capabilities. It does not require the installation of any client software, which ...

Read more about Rocket.Chat
Free TrialTry Free →·

Rocket.Chat offers custom pricing plan

Hubgets - Business Instant Messaging Software

Hubgets

Communicate better, collaborate smarter with Hubgets.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

4.7

12 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Hubgets?

Hubgets is a business instant messaging software which includes Instant Messaging, Colloboration, Virtual Meeting and Integrations to popular enterprise applications. If used discreetly, Hubgets is an effective way to increase communication levels within organizations. Users gain a competitive ...

Read more about Hubgets

Hubgets offers custom pricing plan

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Element - Business Instant Messaging Software

Element

Streamline communication and boost productivity with Element.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.5

2 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Element?

Element is an instant messaging software for small and medium business from element14. Quickly and easily create IM groups, manage employees' contact details and schedule meetings on the go. Watch screencasts about Element business instant messaging software by clicking the Instant Messaging ...

Read more about Element
Free TrialTry Free →·

Element offers custom pricing plan

Workstorm - Business Instant Messaging Software

Workstorm

Streamline your business communication with instant messaging.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.3

38 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Workstorm?

Workstorm is a business instant messaging software. The company's products enable businesses to communicate and share information electronically, providing a real-time virtual communication link between employees, customers, and partners. It provides troubleshooting, resolution & configuration ...

Read more about Workstorm
Free TrialTry Free →·

Workstorm offers custom pricing plan

Output Messenger - Business Instant Messaging Software

Output Messenger

Stay connected with ease, anytime, anywhere.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.1

10 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Output Messenger?

Output Messenger is an easy to use software that allows business to connect with others and keep in touch, regardless of proximity. Output Messenger provides instant chat options, file sharing, a task manager and more. It also can work at no cost with business operations over the web, using ...

Read more about Output Messenger
Free Trial
HCL Sametime - Business Instant Messaging Software

HCL Sametime

Streamline collaboration and boost productivity with HCL Sametime.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Get Pricing Details

3.9

123 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is HCL Sametime?

HCL Sametime is a complete collaboration solution built for small and medium businesses that want to nurture their employees' ideas, streamline internal processes, and enhance customer relationships. It's a smart instant messaging software that helps user work smarter and faster. It will keep ...

Read more about HCL Sametime

HCL Sametime offers custom pricing plan

Zulip - Business Instant Messaging Software

Zulip

Streamlining communication for efficient teamwork.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

4.4

40 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Zulip?

Zulip is enterprise software that makes it easy to set up a business IM network with dozens or thousands of people, while avoiding most of the problems of larger public IM systems such as scale, spam, usability and support. Zulip also has great features through which businesses can be more ...

Read more about Zulip

Zulip offers custom pricing plan

Slack - Business Instant Messaging Software

Slack

Stay connected and organized with Slack.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.8

2759 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Slack?

Slack is the only unified communication platform for chatting, sharing, and collaborating. Whether in one-on-one conversations or a large group, Slack's threaded conversations keep everyone on the same page. No more email threads about a project that went sideways. No more meeting minutes ...

Read more about Slack
Free Trial·

Slack offers custom pricing plan

Mattermost vs its closest competitors

Mattermost competes with 8 other business instant messaging software tools tracked on Spotsaas. The closest by feature overlap are Rocket.Chat, Hubgets and Element. Each is compared against Mattermost on rating, pricing and feature coverage below.

What else works like Mattermost?

Searches for "sites like Mattermost" and "apps like Mattermost" land on the same set of options as "Mattermost alternatives" — the 8 options below cover both, whether you want a like-for-like replacement or something lighter.

What makes each one stand out

Rocket.ChatBest for teams of all sizes

Enterprise-level collaboration

Watch for: May require technical setup

HubgetsBest for teams of all sizes

Collaboration features

Watch for: Can be overwhelming for new users

ElementBest for teams of all sizes

Easy group creation

Watch for: Limited advanced features

WorkstormBest for teams of all sizes

Real-time communication

Watch for: Limited integrations

Output MessengerBest for teams of all sizes

Easy to use

Watch for: Limited advanced features

HCL SametimeBest for teams of all sizes

Complete collaboration solution

Watch for: Complex setup process

ZulipBest for teams of all sizes

Scalable for large teams

Watch for: May require setup time

SlackBest for teams of all sizes

Unified communication platform

Watch for: Can be overwhelming for new users

Why teams look for a Mattermost alternative

The motivation to leave Mattermost usually centers on a few specifics:

  • Steeper learning curve
  • Requires self-hosting
  • Limited mobile features
  • Setup can be complex

What to check before picking a Mattermost alternative

How these 8 business instant messaging software alternatives measure up: 7 offer a free tier; paid plans run $2–$35, with Rocket.Chat the cheapest entry point; and Slack is the highest rated at 4.82★ across 2759 reviews.

Our ranking logic.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stuck on something? We're here to help with all the questions and answers in one place.

The top-rated alternatives to Mattermost are Slack (4.8★), Hubgets (4.7★), Element (4.5★). Compare all 8 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to Mattermost, prioritize: Chat (Messaging), Real-time Chat, File Sharing, Collaboration Tools, Video Conferencing, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

Mattermost starts from $3.25 /User/Month. Many alternatives offer similar functionality at different price points — some with free tiers, others with more flexible per-seat pricing. Use the filters above to narrow by budget.

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Mattermost is integrated into your workflows. Most alternatives offer data export/import tools and dedicated onboarding support. We recommend narrowing to 2–3 options, running a free trial, and checking each vendor's migration guides before committing.

Which of these Mattermost alternatives should you choose?

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — Rocket.Chat, Hubgets and Element let you evaluate without paying upfront.
  • If real-user ratings matter most: Slack has the strongest star rating (4.82★) among the options with verified reviews.

Switching off Mattermost cleanly

When you're ready to leave Mattermost, protect your data first. Export it, confirm the new tool reads it, and check that your core workflows transfer. Test on a free plan or trial before committing, and hold onto Mattermost until the move is complete.

Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].