Slack has created quite a buzz in the world of team communication. With 10 million+ daily users and more than a $27 billion valuation, it is undoubtedly one of the most popular team communication platforms.
However, Slack has gained a lot of competitors throughout the years (Microsoft Teams, and Facebook Workspace, to name a few) that offer highly competitive features and packages. And since Slack’s price tag is quite high many tools deliver more affordable solutions. So, who are the main competitors to Slack? Let’s find out.
1. Chanty
Let us start with Chanty – a simple team chat that we are passionately building. Our app lets you communicate with your colleagues via text messages, audio/video calls, or voice messages on the go.
Similar to Slack, chats are organized into public, private, and one-to-one conversations. We’ve made sure all files and links that your team shares are neatly organized and easy to find.
The built-in task manager lets you turn any message into a task, assign it to team members, and get notified when the task is done. You can also keep track of your to-do list for the day.
Audio and video calls with screen sharing are also available in Chanty, as well as voice messages.
If you are looking for a fast and secure team chat with built-in task management features you should give it a try. Our customers appreciate the clean interface, friendly UX, and unlimited message history in the freemium plan.
Moreover, you can connect Chanty with a myriad of apps through Zapier.
Chanty Pros:
- User-Friendly Interface: Easy to navigate, even for non-tech-savvy users.
- Affordable: Free plan for small teams and competitive paid options.
- Built-In Task Management: Includes Kanban boards for streamlined project management.
- Voice & Video Calls: High-quality calls with screen sharing for effective team collaboration.
- Unlimited Message History (Paid Plans): No limits on message history, providing long-term access to conversations.
Chanty Cons:
- Fewer third-party integrations than some competitors.
- Limited ability to customize the platform to match team preferences.
Watch the latest video about getting the most of Chanty! 😎
Pricing
- The Freemium Plan includes unlimited message history, task management, and integrations, ideal for small teams.
- The Business Plan costs $3 per user per month and includes premium integrations, support, and additional collaboration tools.
- Enterprise Plan: Contact us for a custom price for large organizations.
If you have any questions about Chanty, feel free to leave a comment. Otherwise, feel free to join our close-knit community of Chanty users and give our app a try ⬇️ We are looking forward to your feedback.
We are looking forward to getting you onboard 🙂
2. ProofHub
ProofHub is a project management and team collaboration tool with built-in communication features, making it one of the notable Slack competitors. While Slack serves primarily as a messaging app for businesses that give people easy access to all the information they need.
ProofHub is designed to help users manage and organize all their work on a centralized platform while collaborating seamlessly with others. Like Slack, ProofHub focuses heavily on team communication with features like Instant chat, Discussions, Real-time updates, Announcements, etc.
With its intuitive and neat user interface, ProofHub is more effortless to use than Slack’s overwhelming user interface. When you send direct messages in ProofHub, you can see if the recipient has read your message or not, which is something you can’t figure out in Slack.
With ProofHub, you don’t have to worry about losing your chat history as Slack deletes your entire conversation after 14 days. However, unlike Slack, ProofHub does not allow team members to communicate with people outside your organization.
Pros
- Combines both project management and communication.
- Simple and clean user interface.
- Message read receipts to track message engagement.
- Keeps all your chat history, no automatic deletion.
Cons
- Does not allow external communication with people outside your organization.
Pricing
- Essential Plan: $45/month (billed annually)
- Ultimate Control Plan: $89/month (billed annually)
Overall, ProofHub is a strong alternative for those seeking a tool that blends project management with effective team communication, similar to Slack.
3. Rocket.Chat
Rocket.Chat is an open-source alternative to Slack. Besides messaging, it offers audio and video conferencing through native integrations with Jitsi and Pexip. Users can chat via direct messages, channels, discussions, teams, and threads.
Rocket.Chat enables users to talk to their colleagues via their platform even if they’re not using Rocket.Chat on their end – making it easier to stay in touch with external collaborators or even clients. Due to its security features and the possibility of on-prem hosting, it’s used by organizations in highly regulated industries such as government, healthcare, and finance.
Pros
- Open-source, customizable, and free to use.
- Secure with the ability for on-prem hosting.
- Easy communication with external users, even if they aren’t on Rocket.Chat.
Cons
- Limited integrations compared to Slack.
- Can be more complex to set up and manage.
Pricing
Starter: Free (for small teams and self-hosted)
Pro: $4/user/month
Enterprise: custom pricing
Rocket.Chat is a great open-source option for teams looking for customizable communication tools with solid security features. It’s perfect for organizations in regulated industries. It brings together messaging and conferencing, and lets you chat with external users too, so it’s a great option for teams who want to be more flexible and secure.
4. Flock
Flock is an Indian platform that appeared a year after Slack. Since 2014, it is argued to have witnessed a growth rate of over 200%.
Last year Forbes claimed that Flock is “richer in features” when compared to Slack, while also having “deep integrations.” “The broad multiple languages support goes in its favor,” as stated by the Forbes contributor. However, in our review, we noticed that Flock’s interface seems overloaded, less convenient, and user-friendly. We also found that Slack has a wider stack of options when it comes to notification settings and easier file sharing.
Pros
- Rich in features with strong language support.
- Unlimited integrations on the free plan.
- Video conferencing for up to 8 participants on the free plan.
Cons
- User interface can feel overloaded and less intuitive.
- Fewer app integrations compared to Slack.
- Lacks Slack’s wide range of notification settings and file-sharing features.
Pricing
- Free Plan: $0 for small teams
- Pro Plan: $4.50/user/month (billed annually)
- Enterprise Plan: custom pricing
While comparing the free plans of Slack and Flock, the latter lets 8 users participate in a video conference (compared with only two users in Slack). Besides, Flock has unlimited integrations with apps – although it has far fewer of them than Slack. Overall, while Flock presents itself as a Slack competitor, it may not fully match Slack’s usability and extensive features.
5. Ryver
The main feature Ryver boasts is having a Trello-like native task manager. It suggests turning any messages into trackable tasks can happen with the push of a button. Also, Ryver claims their tool is more agile, while Slack’s free version is too restrictive. Among its considerable pros – is a built-in integration with FreeConference app, allowing audio/video conferences with up to 400 people.
However, when testing Ryver, our team faced some possible disadvantages. The main one might be the integration issue. Ryver integrates via Zapier which requires a Zapier paid account if you use integrations heavily. Also, Ryver seems to have a quite stuffed interface, no notifications for specific keywords or @mentions, and a search with no file or date-specific options.
Pros
- Native task manager for easy project tracking.
- Audio/video conferencing with up to 400 participants.
- Agile and less restrictive than Slack’s free version.
Cons
- Relies on Zapier for integrations (requires a paid account).
- Cluttered interface with limited notification options.
- Basic search function without file or date filters.
Pricing
- Starter Plan: $69/month (up to 12 users)
- Standard Plan: $129/month (up to 30 users)
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing (for 30+ users)
Ryver is an all-in-one team communication and task management tool with strong features for task-focused collaboration. It’s an ideal Slack alternative for teams looking for a streamlined workflow solution.
6. Facebook Workplace
Unveiled in the fall of 2016, Workplace is very much like regular Facebook. Users can make posts, view updates, discuss projects in groups, or watch live video broadcasts. The tool supports screen sharing, file sharing, reactions, mentions, and GIFs. What’s also important is that workplace accounts are separate from users’ ones and vice versa.
At the same time, Workplace is a closed, private universe – it belongs to your business only. So when collaborating with people outside your company, you might have to use some other tool. Also, considering the recent Facebook privacy scandal, the issue of data protection naturally arises. Facebook assures Workplace relies on industry-leading security tools and that its hosting practices are audited by independent third parties.
Pros
- Easy to use, especially for teams familiar with Facebook.
- Separate professional accounts ensure privacy.
- Rich media options like reactions, GIFs, and live broadcasts.
Cons
- Limited communication with people outside your organization.
- Data privacy concerns due to Facebook’s history with security issues.
- May require additional tools for collaborating with external partners.
Pricing
Workplace offers a free plan for smaller teams and a premium plan starting at $4 per user per month for advanced features.
Workplace offers a familiar, social media-like experience for internal communication, making it a solid Slack alternative for teams who value ease of use and Facebook’s ecosystem.
7. Fleep
Fleep is a messaging service founded by Skype’s ex-product manager Henn Ruukel.
He regretted that the famous video chat tool would never focus on typed messaging. So he came to create his own startup.
Basically, Fleep is a tool that combines worplace chat and email into one platform. It faces the issues that have plagued many email users. At times, it is confusing which thread we are using, when we introduce a new person to the thread, etc. Fleep’s technology strives to solve such issues.
When our team tested Fleep we noted that it would probably suit you if you communicated outside of your team more than inside. Among its pros are a clean interface, unlimited message history, and unlimited integrations.
Pros
- Combines messaging and email into one platform.
- Clean, user-friendly interface.
- Unlimited message history and integrations.
Cons
- Fewer integrations than Slack.
- Best suited for teams that communicate outside of their organization.
Pricing
- Business Plan: €6 per user/month, adds more integrations and storage
- Enterprise Plan: custom pricing
Fleep is a simple, user-friendly communication platform with strong messaging and task management features. It works as a solid alternative to Slack for teams needing an easy-to-use solution with task-based collaboration.
8. Microsoft Teams
It’s been half a decade since Microsoft Teams stepped into the game. The tool has become the go-to for large enterprises, engaging 650,000 organizations across 181 markets.
Microsoft Teams integrates with other Office 365 apps and supports third-party plug-ins – these are the key features of the tool. MS Teams allows users to share files, create meetings, and much more, all in one chat platform. There are also some neat features Microsoft is adding to Teams, such as cloud recording that will enable one-click meeting records, with automatic transcription and time coding.
However, there is one big thing experts would like to see in MS Teams – the signup process for small businesses should be more simple. When Chanty explored Microsoft Teams, we found out it’s quite difficult to start, along with a complicated interface, while customer support has room for improvement.
Microsoft Teams is available as a part of Microsoft Office 365 subscription.
Pros
- Seamless integration with Office 365 apps.
- Cloud recording with transcription and time coding.
- Supports third-party plug-ins for added functionality.
Cons
- Complicated setup process, especially for small businesses.
- Complex interface that may take time to master.
- Customer support can be improved.
Pricing
- Microsoft Teams Essentials: $4/month per user
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic: $6/month per user
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard: $12.50/month per user
Microsoft Teams is a powerful collaboration tool with robust meeting and integration features. It’s an excellent Slack alternative for businesses already using Microsoft products.
9. Mattermost
Mattermost is an open-source Slack competitor designed specifically for software engineers to improve communication and collaboration.
You may send and receive direct messages through both private and public channels of communication. The tool distinguishes itself from Slack by providing a self-hosted option, which is ideal for individuals who require greater data security.
Playbooks in Mattermost are a great tool for team collaboration because they are pre-made, customizable checklists that help you organize your work. In addition, you never need to worry about your colleagues forgetting their assignments or due dates due to its efficient features.
Pros
- Open-source with a self-hosted option for better data security.
- Customizable checklists (Playbooks) to keep teams organized.
- Suitable for software engineers and tech-focused teams.
Cons
- Primarily designed for tech teams, which may make it less suitable for non-technical users.
- Some features require more technical knowledge to set up and customize.
Pricing
- Free Plan: Limited features
- Professional Plan: $10 per user/month
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing
Mattermost is a powerful Slack alternative, especially for organizations prioritizing self-hosting and greater data control.
Final Thoughts on Slack Competitors
To wrap up, looking at these Slack competitors shows us a wide range of communication tools designed to suit different business needs. If you’re looking for something with solid project management features, better video conferencing, or more flexible pricing, these options are worth checking out.
They’re similar to Slack in terms of what they offer. As more and more work gets done remotely, it’s important to make sure your teams have the right tools for the job. These platforms can help you find the best fit for your unique workflows.
If you think about what each Slack competitor does well and not so well, you can make your communication strategies better and get more done overall. Make the most of the chance to boost your team’s collaboration and communication with the right tools that fit your needs.
