diff --git a/web/package-lock.json b/web/package-lock.json
index fe35c60..1f32593 100644
--- a/web/package-lock.json
+++ b/web/package-lock.json
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
       "dependencies": {
         "@livekit/components-react": "^2.9.21",
         "@livekit/track-processors": "^0.7.2",
+        "emoji-picker-react": "^4.19.1",
         "livekit-client": "^2.20.0",
         "react": "^18.3.1",
         "react-dom": "^18.3.1",
@@ -1862,6 +1863,21 @@
       "dev": true,
       "license": "ISC"
     },
+    "node_modules/emoji-picker-react": {
+      "version": "4.19.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/emoji-picker-react/-/emoji-picker-react-4.19.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-BmDdqInKFVYJpv7qS9WI6L9656cDAC+FkDvUjJds56nKHbaVTBNeDmLwKBytRnzu37zWHs9Isg7gt5PT43y6xA==",
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "flairup": "1.0.0"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=10"
+      },
+      "peerDependencies": {
+        "react": ">=16"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/es-errors": {
       "version": "1.3.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/es-errors/-/es-errors-1.3.0.tgz",
@@ -2011,6 +2027,12 @@
         "node": ">=8"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/flairup": {
+      "version": "1.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/flairup/-/flairup-1.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-IKlE+pNvL2R+kVL1kEhUYqRxVqeFnjiIvHWDMLFXNaqyUdFXQM2wte44EfMYJNHkW16X991t2Zg8apKkhv7OBA==",
+      "license": "MIT"
+    },
     "node_modules/fraction.js": {
       "version": "5.3.4",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/fraction.js/-/fraction.js-5.3.4.tgz",
diff --git a/web/package.json b/web/package.json
index 96e053d..db7abd7 100644
--- a/web/package.json
+++ b/web/package.json
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
   "dependencies": {
     "@livekit/components-react": "^2.9.21",
     "@livekit/track-processors": "^0.7.2",
+    "emoji-picker-react": "^4.19.1",
     "livekit-client": "^2.20.0",
     "react": "^18.3.1",
     "react-dom": "^18.3.1",
diff --git a/web/src/components/ChatArea.tsx b/web/src/components/ChatArea.tsx
index 517fe64..e0f5cb3 100644
--- a/web/src/components/ChatArea.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/ChatArea.tsx
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ import { useContextMenu } from "./ContextMenu.tsx";
 import { PinnedMessages } from "./PinnedMessages.tsx";
 import { FeatureRequestsPanel } from "./FeatureRequestsPanel.tsx";
 import { ReactionBar } from "./ReactionBar.tsx";
-import { EmojiPicker } from "./EmojiPicker.tsx";
+import { EmojiPicker as KaomojiPicker } from "./EmojiPicker.tsx";
+import Picker, { Theme } from 'emoji-picker-react';
 import { FormatToolbar } from "./FormatToolbar.tsx";
 import { ReplyBar } from "./ReplyBar.tsx";
 import { useLayoutStore } from "../stores/layout.ts";
@@ -160,6 +161,8 @@ const MessageItem = memo(({
   currentUserId,
   activeReactionMessageId,
   setActiveReactionMessageId,
+  activeNativeReactionMessageId,
+  setActiveNativeReactionMessageId,
   members,
   parentMessage,
   onJumpToParent,
@@ -175,6 +178,8 @@ const MessageItem = memo(({
   currentUserId?: string;
   activeReactionMessageId: string | null;
   setActiveReactionMessageId: (id: string | null) => void;
+  activeNativeReactionMessageId: string | null;
+  setActiveNativeReactionMessageId: (id: string | null) => void;
   members: any[];
   parentMessage: any | null;
   onJumpToParent: (id: string) => void;
@@ -243,11 +248,22 @@ const MessageItem = memo(({
 
       {/* Kaomoji picker popover */}
       {activeReactionMessageId === message.id && (
-        <EmojiPicker
+        <KaomojiPicker
           onSelect={(emoji) => onAddReaction(message.id, emoji)}
           onClose={() => setActiveReactionMessageId(null)}
         />
       )}
+      {activeNativeReactionMessageId === message.id && (
+        <div className="absolute z-50">
+          <Picker
+            theme={Theme.DARK}
+            onEmojiClick={(emoji) => {
+              onAddReaction(message.id, emoji.emoji);
+              setActiveNativeReactionMessageId(null);
+            }}
+          />
+        </div>
+      )}
     </div>
   );
 });
@@ -274,6 +290,7 @@ export function ChatArea() {
   const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [showGifPicker, setShowGifPicker] = useState(false);
   const [showKaomoji, setShowKaomoji] = useState(false);
+  const [showNativeEmoji, setShowNativeEmoji] = useState(false);
   const [showSearch, setShowSearch] = useState(false);
   const [mentionQuery, setMentionQuery] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [commandQuery, setCommandQuery] = useState<string | null>(null);
@@ -313,6 +330,7 @@ export function ChatArea() {
   const [showPinned, setShowPinned] = useState(false);
   const [showFeatureRequests, setShowFeatureRequests] = useState(false);
   const [activeReactionMessageId, setActiveReactionMessageId] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [activeNativeReactionMessageId, setActiveNativeReactionMessageId] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [replyToMessage, setReplyToMessage] = useState<any | null>(null);
   const pinMessage = useMessageStore((s) => s.pinMessage);
   const unpinMessage = useMessageStore((s) => s.unpinMessage);
@@ -337,6 +355,7 @@ export function ChatArea() {
     try {
       await api.post(`/messages/${messageId}/reactions`, { emoji });
       setActiveReactionMessageId(null);
+      setActiveNativeReactionMessageId(null);
     } catch (err) {
       setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to add reaction");
     }
@@ -352,10 +371,18 @@ export function ChatArea() {
         }
       },
       {
-        label: "[ADD REACTION]",
+        label: "[ADD KAOMOJI REACTION]",
         onClick: () => {
           setActiveReactionMessageId(msg.id);
-        }
+          setActiveNativeReactionMessageId(null);
+        },
+      },
+      {
+        label: "[ADD EMOJI REACTION]",
+        onClick: () => {
+          setActiveNativeReactionMessageId(msg.id);
+          setActiveReactionMessageId(null);
+        },
       },
       {
         label: msg.pinned ? "[UNPIN MESSAGE]" : "[PIN MESSAGE]",
@@ -851,6 +878,8 @@ export function ChatArea() {
                     currentUserId={currentUser?.id}
                     activeReactionMessageId={activeReactionMessageId}
                     setActiveReactionMessageId={setActiveReactionMessageId}
+                    activeNativeReactionMessageId={activeNativeReactionMessageId}
+                    setActiveNativeReactionMessageId={setActiveNativeReactionMessageId}
                     members={members}
                     parentMessage={message.reply_to ? messages.find((m) => m.id === message.reply_to) : null}
                     onJumpToParent={handleJumpToMessage}
@@ -934,21 +963,45 @@ export function ChatArea() {
                 >
                   [GIF]
                 </button>
+                <button
+                  type="button"
+                  onClick={() => {
+                    setShowNativeEmoji((prev) => !prev);
+                    setShowKaomoji(false);
+                    setShowGifPicker(false);
+                  }}
+                  disabled={!activeChannelId || slowmodeRemaining > 0}
+                  className="text-gb-fg-f hover:text-gb-orange font-mono text-sm select-none disabled:opacity-50 disabled:cursor-not-allowed shrink-0"
+                  title="Toggle native emoji picker"
+                >
+                  [E]
+                </button>
                 <button
                   type="button"
                   onClick={() => setShowKaomoji((prev) => !prev)}
-                  disabled={!activeChannelId}
+                  disabled={!activeChannelId || slowmodeRemaining > 0}
                   className="text-gb-fg-f hover:text-gb-orange font-mono text-sm select-none disabled:opacity-50 disabled:cursor-not-allowed shrink-0"
                   title="Toggle kaomoji picker (Ctrl+E)"
                 >
                   [☺]
                 </button>
                 {showKaomoji && (
-                  <EmojiPicker
+                  <KaomojiPicker
                     onSelect={(emoji) => setInput((prev) => prev + emoji)}
                     onClose={() => setShowKaomoji(false)}
                   />
                 )}
+                {showNativeEmoji && (
+                  <div className="absolute bottom-full right-0 mb-2 z-50">
+                    <Picker
+                      theme={Theme.DARK}
+                      onEmojiClick={(emoji) => {
+                        setInput((prev) => prev + emoji.emoji);
+                        setShowNativeEmoji(false);
+                      }}
+                    />
+                  </div>
+                )}
               </form>
             </div>
             {activeThread && (
diff --git a/web/src/components/DMChat.tsx b/web/src/components/DMChat.tsx
index 6add601..069ab98 100644
--- a/web/src/components/DMChat.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/DMChat.tsx
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ import { useAuthStore } from "../stores/auth.ts";
 import { useTypingStore } from "../stores/typing.ts";
 import { useLayoutStore } from "../stores/layout.ts";
 import { GiphyPicker, type Gif } from "./GiphyPicker.tsx";
-import { EmojiPicker } from "./EmojiPicker.tsx";
+import { EmojiPicker as KaomojiPicker } from "./EmojiPicker.tsx";
+import Picker, { Theme } from 'emoji-picker-react';
 import { FormatToolbar } from "./FormatToolbar.tsx";
 import ReactMarkdown from "react-markdown";
 import remarkGfm from "remark-gfm";
@@ -76,6 +77,7 @@ export function DMChat() {
   const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [showGifPicker, setShowGifPicker] = useState(false);
   const [showKaomoji, setShowKaomoji] = useState(false);
+  const [showNativeEmoji, setShowNativeEmoji] = useState(false);
   const bottomRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const scrollContainerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const inputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
@@ -282,6 +284,19 @@ export function DMChat() {
         >
           [GIF]
         </button>
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          onClick={() => {
+            setShowNativeEmoji((prev) => !prev);
+            setShowKaomoji(false);
+            setShowGifPicker(false);
+          }}
+          disabled={!id}
+          className="text-gb-fg-f hover:text-gb-orange font-mono text-sm select-none disabled:opacity-50 disabled:cursor-not-allowed shrink-0"
+          title="Toggle native emoji picker"
+        >
+          [E]
+        </button>
         <button
           type="button"
           onClick={() => setShowKaomoji((prev) => !prev)}
@@ -292,11 +307,22 @@ export function DMChat() {
           [☺]
         </button>
         {showKaomoji && (
-          <EmojiPicker
+          <KaomojiPicker
             onSelect={(emoji) => setInput((prev) => prev + emoji)}
             onClose={() => setShowKaomoji(false)}
           />
         )}
+        {showNativeEmoji && (
+          <div className="absolute bottom-full right-0 mb-2 z-50">
+            <Picker
+              theme={Theme.DARK}
+              onEmojiClick={(emoji) => {
+                setInput((prev) => prev + emoji.emoji);
+                setShowNativeEmoji(false);
+              }}
+            />
+          </div>
+        )}
       </form>
     </div>
   );