You manage group and chatroom info and members on your app server. RC handles message distribution, delivery, and push notifications for offline users in groups and online users in chatrooms.
RongCloud’s IM server doesn’t store, update, or manage group info or member permissions. Use RC ’s Server API to send messages and handle basic permission notifications.
RongCloud offers both group and chatroom services. Here’s the main difference—choose based on your needs:
| Feature | Group | Chatroom |
|---|---|---|
| Offline messages | Stores offline messages for 1–7 days (default: 7 days). | No offline messages. Only online users receive messages. |
| Member limit | Up to 3,000 members per group. | No limit on chatroom members. |
| Message notifications | Sends push notifications for new messages when users are offline. | Users won’t receive messages after leaving the chatroom. |
| Local storage | Supports local message storage and search on mobile. | No local storage or message search. |
| History messages | Offers cloud storage for messages. Requires Cloud Storage for One-to-One and Group Messages (default: 6 months). | Offers cloud storage for messages. Requires Cloud Storage for Chatroom Messages (default: 2 months). |
| Join limits | Users can join multiple groups (up to 5,000 for Premium Plan, 10,000 for Ultimate Plan). | By default, users can join only one chatroom. Multiple chatroom access requires activation. |
| View history before joining | Doesn’t support viewing past messages by default. Requires Cloud Storage for One-to-One and Group Messages and activation of “View pre-join messages.” | Users can access the latest 50 messages after joining. |
| Exit logic | Provides a Server API to exit groups. | Offers an SDK-side exit interface. Users automatically exit after 30 seconds offline or 30 new messages. |
| Destruction/dissolution logic | Provides a Server API to disband groups. | Provides a Server API to destroy chatrooms. Chatrooms auto-destroy after 1 hour of inactivity. |
| Message reliability | 100% reliable, no message loss. | Messages may be discarded if volume exceeds limits. Learn more |
| Server API message sending frequency | 20 messages per second. | 100 messages per second. |
| SDK usage | Provides IMKit SDK with a UI chat interface. | Provides basic IMLib SDK. Developers must implement the UI. |