Eraser
Rocket.Chat
| Feature | Eraser | Rocket.Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $10/mo | Free / from $4/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Best For | engineering-teams, solution-architects, technical-documentation, system-design | security-conscious-organizations, government, self-hosters, enterprises |
| Founded | 2022 | 2015 |
| Diagrams As Code | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ai Diagrams | ✓ | ✗ |
| Whiteboarding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Documentation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Version History | ✓ | ✗ |
| Templates | ✓ | ✗ |
| Collaboration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Channels | ✗ | ✓ |
| Direct Messaging | ✗ | ✓ |
| Video Calls | ✗ | ✓ |
| Federation | ✗ | ✓ |
| E2e Encryption | ✗ | ✓ |
| Marketplace | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Eraser Pros
- AI-generated diagrams from text descriptions
- Code-first diagrams with version control
- Combines docs and diagrams in one canvas
- Purpose-built for technical architecture docs
✗ Eraser Cons
- Limited general-purpose whiteboarding features
- Smaller template library than Miro/Lucidchart
- Not suited for non-technical teams
✓ Rocket.Chat Pros
- Fully open-source and self-hostable
- End-to-end encryption
- Federation support between instances
- Highly customizable
✗ Rocket.Chat Cons
- Self-hosted requires maintenance
- Mobile apps less polished than Slack
- Smaller app ecosystem
The Verdict
Eraser is built for engineering teams and solution architects, with a focus on diagrams-as-code and ai-diagrams. Rocket.Chat targets security conscious organizations and government and leads with channels and direct-messaging.
On pricing, Rocket.Chat is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $4/mo compared to $10/mo for Eraser. That $6/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Eraser edges out on user ratings (4.5 vs 4.1). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Feature-wise, Eraser offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Rocket.Chat takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Eraser has a slight overall edge — but if fully open-source and self-hostable matters most to you, Rocket.Chat may still be the right call.