Slack has many helpful collaboration features, and over 200,000 customers pay for the service (many people use it for free). But while numerous organizations and individuals find Slack useful, it may not be the best choice for everyone. Today, you’ll discover the four best tried and tested Slack alternatives.
The Best Slack Alternatives: An Overview
| Feature | Microsoft Teams | Google Chat | Pumble | Rocket.Chat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. Users | 5,000 | 400 (space participants); 100-1,000 video participants | Unlimited | 25-500 |
| Device Availability | iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux | Desktop, iOS, Android | iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux | iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux |
| Message History | Unlimited by default | 30 days | Unlimited | Custom |
| Video/Audio Chat Available? | Yes (video and audio) | Yes (video and audio) | Yes (video and audio) | Yes (video and audio) |
| Pricing (Premium Subscriptions) | From $4/mo | From $6/mo | From $2.49/mo | From $4/mo |
1. Microsoft Teams
When looking at Slack alternatives, it’s common to compare Slack with Microsoft Teams. Teams integrates with several Microsoft apps and tools, including Copilot, OneDrive, and Calendar.
Microsoft Teams allows up to 5,000 team members, and you can have up to 250 people in the same video meeting. You can connect productivity tools (e.g. Trello, ClickUp, and monday.com) to keep an eye on tasks that require your attention. Users can access the search function to find specific chats.
Each team in Microsoft Teams can have up to 2,500 private channels. Teams has keyboard shortcuts for several actions, such as setting your status to Do Not Disturb.
Microsoft Teams Pricing
Microsoft Teams is free for personal use, but you can upgrade to a paid Microsoft 365 Personal ($6.99/mo) or Microsoft 365 Family ($9.99/mo) for increased group call and participant permissions. Microsoft Teams for Business pricing is as follows:
| Microsoft Teams Essentials | Microsoft 365 Business Basic | Microsoft 365 Business Standard |
|---|---|---|
| $4 per person per month | $6 per person per month | $12.50 per person per month |
2. Google Chat
It’s very easy to activate and get started with Google Chat, and in my opinion, it’s the most user-friendly Slack alternative. I often use the app to have quick conversations with clients and potential clients, and it’s also helpful for sending personal reminders. You can chat with anyone via their Gmail address.
Google Chat integrates with Zapier, Salesforce, Giphy, and several other apps via the Google Workspace Marketplace. Moreover, you can integrate the broader Google ecosystem (e.g. Google Drive). Calendar, Keep, and Tasks are all available within the Google Chat interface.
In Google Chat, you can type @ and enter a document or folder name to share it. It’s also possible to forward messages to your Gmail inbox and sift through content based on starred messages and correspondences in which you’ve been mentioned. It’s also possible to start video calls.
Google Chat Pricing
Google Chat is free for personal use, but upgrading to a Google Workspace subscription gives you video meeting participant extensions (100-1,000, depending on your plan) and increased storage (30GB-5TB). Pricing is as follows:
| Business Starter | Business Standard | Business Standard | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| $6 per user per month | $12 per user per month | $18 per user per month | Custom pricing |
3. Pumble
Pumble is used by over 200,000 teams and is owned by CAKE.com; the company also looks after Clockify and Plaky. You can import members and channels from Slack if you’ve previously used that service, and it’s possible to get a free trial without submitting your credit card details.
It’s possible to sign up for Pumble with your Google account or via an alternative email address. The interface is quite similar to Slack, with hashtagged channels and different tabs for mentions and reactions, threads, and direct messages. The free version of Pumble has unlimited users, up to three integrations, unlimited message history, and both audio and video meetings.
In my opinion, Pumble has more intuitive navigation than Slack. The app also feels like it runs faster. Pumble integrates with Google Calendar, Zoom, and a handful of other apps. When writing in July 2024, Pumble was working on integrations with Gmail, Dropbox, Trello, Outlook, OneDrive, and more.
Pumble Pricing
The premium versions of Pumble have group meetings, increased integration allowances, and other helpful features.
Here’s a breakdown of each subscription’s pricing:
| Pro | Business | Enterprise | CAKE.com Bundle |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2.49/user/month | $3.99/user/month | $6.99/user/month | $12.99/user/month |
4. Rocket.Chat
Rocket.Chat is an open-source, fully customizable Slack replacement. You can add unlimited apps to the tool, and it’s also possible to set up read receipts. Voice messages and video conferences are both available, and it’s possible to add up to 25 users and have as many as 100 monthly active contacts with a free plan.
The Rocket.Chat app has both one-to-one messaging and group conversations. Users can exchange documents within the app, and you can invite guest users if needed. Rocket.Chat has an engagement dashboard feature with metrics like when is the best time to communicate.
App integrations include ChatGPT, Google Calendar, HubSpot, GitHub, and Facebook Messenger. The main downside of Rocket.Chat is that you need to create a self-hosted server and get familiar with Docker, Kubernetes, or Snaps. This requires technical knowledge.
Rocket.Chat Pricing
Beyond the free version of Rocket.Chat, you can upgrade to Pro or Enterprise. Benefits include increased user permissions and removing the Rocket.Chat watermark.
Pro costs $4 per user per month. Enterprise features custom pricing.
How to Choose Your Slack Alternative
You should consider several factors before deciding on your Slack alternative. Ease of use is crucial, especially if you have no technical knowledge. While Rocket.Chat is great for someone who can make self-hosted servers, for example. However, I don’t suggest using it if you have no programming knowledge.
Device availability is also an important consideration. Check to ensure that the software you choose is available on all of your operating systems, whether that’s macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, or something else. You should also think about integrations and whether you must pay to connect the apps you want.
If you’re using a Slack alternative as part of a wider team, consider how many users you need within your channel and how much this will cost. You’ll also need to consider whether you need alternative communication options, such as group video calls.
While Slack is incredibly popular, it doesn’t meet everyone’s needs. Whether you need different features or you want to lower your costs, considering one of these Slack alternatives is a good idea. If you decide to stay with Slack, consider some tips to be more productive with Slack.
Image Credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Danny Maiorca.
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