diff --git a/backend/src/schema/resolvers/messages.spec.ts b/backend/src/schema/resolvers/messages.spec.ts
index 628034be5..1679b0c34 100644
--- a/backend/src/schema/resolvers/messages.spec.ts
+++ b/backend/src/schema/resolvers/messages.spec.ts
@@ -3,11 +3,13 @@ import Factory, { cleanDatabase } from '../../db/factories'
 import { getNeode, getDriver } from '../../db/neo4j'
 import { createRoomMutation, roomQuery } from '../../graphql/rooms'
 import { createMessageMutation, messageQuery, markMessagesAsSeen } from '../../graphql/messages'
-import createServer from '../../server'
+import createServer, { pubsub } from '../../server'
 
 const driver = getDriver()
 const neode = getNeode()
 
+const pubsubSpy = jest.spyOn(pubsub, 'publish')
+
 let query
 let mutate
 let authenticatedUser
@@ -58,6 +60,10 @@ describe('Message', () => {
   })
 
   describe('create message', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      jest.clearAllMocks()
+    })
+
     describe('unauthenticated', () => {
       it('throws authorization error', async () => {
         await expect(
@@ -80,7 +86,7 @@ describe('Message', () => {
       })
 
       describe('room does not exist', () => {
-        it('returns null', async () => {
+        it('returns null and does not publish subscription', async () => {
           await expect(
             mutate({
               mutation: createMessageMutation(),
@@ -95,6 +101,7 @@ describe('Message', () => {
               CreateMessage: null,
             },
           })
+          expect(pubsubSpy).not.toBeCalled()
         })
       })
 
@@ -110,7 +117,7 @@ describe('Message', () => {
         })
 
         describe('user chats in room', () => {
-          it('returns the message', async () => {
+          it('returns the message and publishes subscription', async () => {
             await expect(
               mutate({
                 mutation: createMessageMutation(),
@@ -135,6 +142,10 @@ describe('Message', () => {
                 },
               },
             })
+            expect(pubsubSpy).toBeCalledWith('ROOM_COUNT_UPDATED', {
+              roomCountUpdated: '1',
+              userId: 'other-chatting-user',
+            })
           })
 
           describe('room is updated as well', () => {
diff --git a/backend/src/schema/resolvers/messages.ts b/backend/src/schema/resolvers/messages.ts
index 984d17cc2..a908f3fd8 100644
--- a/backend/src/schema/resolvers/messages.ts
+++ b/backend/src/schema/resolvers/messages.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,22 @@
 import { neo4jgraphql } from 'neo4j-graphql-js'
 import Resolver from './helpers/Resolver'
+import { getUnreadRoomsCount } from './rooms'
+import { pubsub, ROOM_COUNT_UPDATED } from '../../server'
+
+const setMessagesAsDistributed = async (undistributedMessagesIds, session) => {
+  return session.writeTransaction(async (transaction) => {
+    const setDistributedCypher = `
+      MATCH (m:Message) WHERE m.id IN $undistributedMessagesIds
+      SET m.distributed = true
+      RETURN m { .* }
+    `
+    const setDistributedTxResponse = await transaction.run(setDistributedCypher, {
+      undistributedMessagesIds,
+    })
+    const messages = await setDistributedTxResponse.records.map((record) => record.get('m'))
+    return messages
+  })
+}
 
 export default {
   Query: {
@@ -20,27 +37,15 @@ export default {
         const undistributedMessagesIds = resolved
           .filter((msg) => !msg.distributed && msg.senderId !== context.user.id)
           .map((msg) => msg.id)
-        if (undistributedMessagesIds.length > 0) {
-          const session = context.driver.session()
-          const writeTxResultPromise = session.writeTransaction(async (transaction) => {
-            const setDistributedCypher = `
-              MATCH (m:Message) WHERE m.id IN $undistributedMessagesIds
-              SET m.distributed = true
-              RETURN m { .* }
-            `
-            const setDistributedTxResponse = await transaction.run(setDistributedCypher, {
-              undistributedMessagesIds,
-            })
-            const messages = await setDistributedTxResponse.records.map((record) => record.get('m'))
-            return messages
-          })
-          try {
-            await writeTxResultPromise
-          } finally {
-            session.close()
+        const session = context.driver.session()
+        try {
+          if (undistributedMessagesIds.length > 0) {
+            await setMessagesAsDistributed(undistributedMessagesIds, session)
           }
-          // send subscription to author to updated the messages
+        } finally {
+          session.close()
         }
+        // send subscription to author to updated the messages
       }
       return resolved.reverse()
     },
@@ -57,7 +62,9 @@ export default {
           MATCH (currentUser:User { id: $currentUserId })-[:CHATS_IN]->(room:Room { id: $roomId })
           OPTIONAL MATCH (currentUser)-[:AVATAR_IMAGE]->(image:Image)
           OPTIONAL MATCH (m:Message)-[:INSIDE]->(room)
-          WITH MAX(m.indexId) as maxIndex, room, currentUser, image
+          OPTIONAL MATCH (room)<-[:CHATS_IN]-(recipientUser:User)
+            WHERE NOT recipientUser.id = $currentUserId
+          WITH MAX(m.indexId) as maxIndex, room, currentUser, image, recipientUser 
           CREATE (currentUser)-[:CREATED]->(message:Message {
             createdAt: toString(datetime()),
             id: apoc.create.uuid(),
@@ -70,6 +77,7 @@ export default {
           SET room.lastMessageAt = toString(datetime())
           RETURN message {
             .*,
+            recipientId: recipientUser.id,
             senderId: currentUser.id,
             username: currentUser.name,
             avatar: image.url,
@@ -81,13 +89,25 @@ export default {
           roomId,
           content,
         })
+
         const [message] = await createMessageTxResponse.records.map((record) =>
           record.get('message'),
         )
+
         return message
       })
       try {
         const message = await writeTxResultPromise
+        if (message) {
+          const roomCountUpdated = await getUnreadRoomsCount(message.recipientId, session)
+
+          // send subscriptions
+          await pubsub.publish(ROOM_COUNT_UPDATED, {
+            roomCountUpdated,
+            userId: message.recipientId,
+          })
+        }
+
         return message
       } catch (error) {
         throw new Error(error)
diff --git a/backend/src/schema/resolvers/rooms.ts b/backend/src/schema/resolvers/rooms.ts
index 8460977f1..5e931a446 100644
--- a/backend/src/schema/resolvers/rooms.ts
+++ b/backend/src/schema/resolvers/rooms.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,31 @@
 import { neo4jgraphql } from 'neo4j-graphql-js'
 import Resolver from './helpers/Resolver'
+import { pubsub, ROOM_COUNT_UPDATED } from '../../server'
+import { withFilter } from 'graphql-subscriptions'
+
+export const getUnreadRoomsCount = async (userId, session) => {
+  return session.readTransaction(async (transaction) => {
+    const unreadRoomsCypher = `
+      MATCH (:User { id: $userId })-[:CHATS_IN]->(room:Room)<-[:INSIDE]-(message:Message)<-[:CREATED]-(sender:User)
+      WHERE NOT sender.id = $userId AND NOT message.seen
+      RETURN toString(COUNT(DISTINCT room)) AS count
+    `
+    const unreadRoomsTxResponse = await transaction.run(unreadRoomsCypher, { userId })
+    return unreadRoomsTxResponse.records.map((record) => record.get('count'))[0]
+  })
+}
 
 export default {
+  Subscription: {
+    roomCountUpdated: {
+      subscribe: withFilter(
+        () => pubsub.asyncIterator(ROOM_COUNT_UPDATED),
+        (payload, variables) => {
+          return payload.userId === variables.userId
+        },
+      ),
+    },
+  },
   Query: {
     Room: async (object, params, context, resolveInfo) => {
       if (!params.filter) params.filter = {}
@@ -15,17 +39,8 @@ export default {
         user: { id: currentUserId },
       } = context
       const session = context.driver.session()
-      const readTxResultPromise = session.readTransaction(async (transaction) => {
-        const unreadRoomsCypher = `
-          MATCH (:User { id: $currentUserId })-[:CHATS_IN]->(room:Room)<-[:INSIDE]-(message:Message)<-[:CREATED]-(sender:User)
-          WHERE NOT sender.id = $currentUserId AND NOT message.seen
-          RETURN toString(COUNT(DISTINCT room)) AS count
-        `
-        const unreadRoomsTxResponse = await transaction.run(unreadRoomsCypher, { currentUserId })
-        return unreadRoomsTxResponse.records.map((record) => record.get('count'))[0]
-      })
       try {
-        const count = await readTxResultPromise
+        const count = await getUnreadRoomsCount(currentUserId, session)
         return count
       } finally {
         session.close()
diff --git a/backend/src/schema/types/type/Room.gql b/backend/src/schema/types/type/Room.gql
index 8b9982dda..fdce6865b 100644
--- a/backend/src/schema/types/type/Room.gql
+++ b/backend/src/schema/types/type/Room.gql
@@ -55,3 +55,7 @@ type Query {
   ): [Room]
   UnreadRooms: Int
 }
+
+type Subscription {
+  roomCountUpdated(userId: ID!): Int
+}
diff --git a/backend/src/server.ts b/backend/src/server.ts
index b4d63c007..feceeb9eb 100644
--- a/backend/src/server.ts
+++ b/backend/src/server.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ import bodyParser from 'body-parser'
 import { graphqlUploadExpress } from 'graphql-upload'
 
 export const NOTIFICATION_ADDED = 'NOTIFICATION_ADDED'
+// export const CHAT_MESSAGE_ADDED = 'CHAT_MESSAGE_ADDED'
+export const ROOM_COUNT_UPDATED = 'ROOM_COUNT_UPDATED'
 const { REDIS_DOMAIN, REDIS_PORT, REDIS_PASSWORD } = CONFIG
 let prodPubsub, devPubsub
 const options = {
diff --git a/webapp/components/Chat/Chat.vue b/webapp/components/Chat/Chat.vue
index 0ec77a9c5..43994ef5d 100644
--- a/webapp/components/Chat/Chat.vue
+++ b/webapp/components/Chat/Chat.vue
@@ -60,10 +60,10 @@
 </template>
 
 <script>
-import { roomQuery, createRoom } from '~/graphql/Rooms'
+import { roomQuery, createRoom, unreadRoomsQuery } from '~/graphql/Rooms'
 import { messageQuery, createMessageMutation, markMessagesAsSeen } from '~/graphql/Messages'
 import chatStyle from '~/constants/chat.js'
-import { mapGetters } from 'vuex'
+import { mapGetters, mapMutations } from 'vuex'
 
 export default {
   name: 'Chat',
@@ -85,31 +85,31 @@ export default {
           title: 'Just a dummy item',
         },
         /*
-        {
-          name: 'inviteUser',
-          title: 'Invite User',
-        },
-        {
-          name: 'removeUser',
-          title: 'Remove User',
-        },
-        {
-          name: 'deleteRoom',
-          title: 'Delete Room',
-        },
-        */
+            {
+            name: 'inviteUser',
+            title: 'Invite User',
+            },
+            {
+            name: 'removeUser',
+            title: 'Remove User',
+            },
+            {
+            name: 'deleteRoom',
+            title: 'Delete Room',
+            },
+          */
       ],
       messageActions: [
         /*
-        {
-          name: 'addMessageToFavorite',
-          title: 'Add To Favorite',
-        },
-        {
-          name: 'shareMessage',
-          title: 'Share Message',
-        },
-        */
+            {
+            name: 'addMessageToFavorite',
+            title: 'Add To Favorite',
+            },
+            {
+            name: 'shareMessage',
+            title: 'Share Message',
+            },
+          */
       ],
       templatesText: [
         {
@@ -123,14 +123,14 @@ export default {
       ],
       roomActions: [
         /*
-        {
-          name: 'archiveRoom',
-          title: 'Archive Room',
-        },
-        { name: 'inviteUser', title: 'Invite User' },
-        { name: 'removeUser', title: 'Remove User' },
-        { name: 'deleteRoom', title: 'Delete Room' },
-        */
+            {
+            name: 'archiveRoom',
+            title: 'Archive Room',
+            },
+            { name: 'inviteUser', title: 'Invite User' },
+            { name: 'removeUser', title: 'Remove User' },
+            { name: 'deleteRoom', title: 'Delete Room' },
+          */
       ],
 
       showDemoOptions: true,
@@ -195,6 +195,9 @@ export default {
     },
   },
   methods: {
+    ...mapMutations({
+      commitUnreadRoomCount: 'chat/UPDATE_ROOM_COUNT',
+    }),
     async fetchRooms({ room } = {}) {
       this.roomsLoaded = false
       const offset = this.roomPage * this.roomPageSize
@@ -257,12 +260,23 @@ export default {
 
         const newMsgIds = Message.filter((m) => m.seen === false).map((m) => m.id)
         if (newMsgIds.length) {
-          this.$apollo.mutate({
-            mutation: markMessagesAsSeen(),
-            variables: {
-              messageIds: newMsgIds,
-            },
-          })
+          this.$apollo
+            .mutate({
+              mutation: markMessagesAsSeen(),
+              variables: {
+                messageIds: newMsgIds,
+              },
+            })
+            .then(() => {
+              this.$apollo
+                .query({
+                  query: unreadRoomsQuery(),
+                  fetchPolicy: 'network-only',
+                })
+                .then(({ data: { UnreadRooms } }) => {
+                  this.commitUnreadRoomCount(UnreadRooms)
+                })
+            })
         }
 
         const msgs = []
diff --git a/webapp/components/ChatNotificationMenu/ChatNotificationMenu.vue b/webapp/components/ChatNotificationMenu/ChatNotificationMenu.vue
index 016410216..ec3f9fbc7 100644
--- a/webapp/components/ChatNotificationMenu/ChatNotificationMenu.vue
+++ b/webapp/components/ChatNotificationMenu/ChatNotificationMenu.vue
@@ -8,24 +8,31 @@
         placement: 'bottom-start',
       }"
     >
-      <counter-icon icon="chat-bubble" :count="count" danger />
+      <counter-icon icon="chat-bubble" :count="unreadRoomCount" danger />
     </base-button>
   </nuxt-link>
 </template>
 
 <script>
+import { mapGetters, mapMutations } from 'vuex'
 import CounterIcon from '~/components/_new/generic/CounterIcon/CounterIcon'
-import { unreadRoomsQuery } from '~/graphql/Rooms'
+import { unreadRoomsQuery, roomCountUpdated } from '~/graphql/Rooms'
 
 export default {
   name: 'ChatNotificationMenu',
   components: {
     CounterIcon,
   },
-  data() {
-    return {
-      count: 0,
-    }
+  computed: {
+    ...mapGetters({
+      user: 'auth/user',
+      unreadRoomCount: 'chat/unreadRoomCount',
+    }),
+  },
+  methods: {
+    ...mapMutations({
+      commitUnreadRoomCount: 'chat/UPDATE_ROOM_COUNT',
+    }),
   },
   apollo: {
     UnreadRooms: {
@@ -33,7 +40,18 @@ export default {
         return unreadRoomsQuery()
       },
       update({ UnreadRooms }) {
-        this.count = UnreadRooms
+        this.commitUnreadRoomCount(UnreadRooms)
+      },
+      subscribeToMore: {
+        document: roomCountUpdated(),
+        variables() {
+          return {
+            userId: this.user.id,
+          }
+        },
+        updateQuery: (previousResult, { subscriptionData }) => {
+          return { UnreadRooms: subscriptionData.data.roomCountUpdated }
+        },
       },
     },
   },
diff --git a/webapp/components/NotificationMenu/NotificationMenu.vue b/webapp/components/NotificationMenu/NotificationMenu.vue
index 72f539a42..9e94e07d7 100644
--- a/webapp/components/NotificationMenu/NotificationMenu.vue
+++ b/webapp/components/NotificationMenu/NotificationMenu.vue
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ export default {
           const {
             data: { notificationAdded: newNotification },
           } = subscriptionData
+
           return {
             notifications: unionBy(
               [newNotification],
diff --git a/webapp/graphql/Rooms.js b/webapp/graphql/Rooms.js
index e42cae2e8..68baccf3f 100644
--- a/webapp/graphql/Rooms.js
+++ b/webapp/graphql/Rooms.js
@@ -35,3 +35,11 @@ export const unreadRoomsQuery = () => {
     }
   `
 }
+
+export const roomCountUpdated = () => {
+  return gql`
+    subscription roomCountUpdated($userId: ID!) {
+      roomCountUpdated(userId: $userId)
+    }
+  `
+}
diff --git a/webapp/store/chat.js b/webapp/store/chat.js
index be4ddaec0..ed6b5256c 100644
--- a/webapp/store/chat.js
+++ b/webapp/store/chat.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ export const state = () => {
   return {
     showChat: false,
     roomID: null,
+    unreadRoomCount: 0,
   }
 }
 
@@ -10,6 +11,9 @@ export const mutations = {
     state.showChat = ctx.showChat || false
     state.roomID = ctx.roomID || null
   },
+  UPDATE_ROOM_COUNT(state, count) {
+    state.unreadRoomCount = count
+  },
 }
 
 export const getters = {
@@ -19,4 +23,7 @@ export const getters = {
   roomID(state) {
     return state
   },
+  unreadRoomCount(state) {
+    return state.unreadRoomCount
+  },
 }