Office communication has changed drastically over the past few years. What used to be communicated in an office is now often shared via chat applications, email messages, or video conferencing calls. In the new world of hybrid working, the need to communicate effeciently online is greater than ever.
If you work with teammates— or even if you don’t — chances are that you’re familiar with Slack, a communication platform used to send messages, store documents, and create new projects. While Slack was not the first platform to offer these services, it has become one of the most popular team chat apps due to its wide range of features and integrations with other common work tools.
However, while Slack has become a household name in the past few years, it’s not the only tool out there. Several other team chat tools offer similar features — and in some cases, much more functionality than Slack alone.
If you’re in the market for another chat option for your business, or you are just curious about what other tools are trying to de-throne Slack slack from its reign over workplace communication, here are some Slack alternatives that might be of interest.
How to choose a great Slack alternative
Chat software you pick can do more than help your teams communicate. It can pull reports, aggregate data, and even track productivity. So, before deciding what platform to move forward with, take time to evaluate each product based on its features. Aside from the obvious messaging features, try to get a program that includes the following:
- File sharing and collaboration
- Video and voice chat
- Integration with other tools
- Reporting and analytics
- Security and privacy
While Slack has all of the above features, there are a few competitors that compare and even others that go above and beyond the standard chat messaging features. Read on to learn about some of the top Slack alternatives on the market.
1. Hive
Hive is a popular Slack alternative for project management, as it offers chat as well as robust project management capabilities. In addition to both direct and group chats, Hive offers many collaboration features — such as in-app calendar syncing, note-taking, and task management — that allows users to streamline their workflow and manage team tasks from one interface. Plus, its integration with other third-party tools makes it an ideal choice for businesses that need to collaborate across multiple apps.
Key Features:
- Chat and messaging capabilities for direct and group communication
- Task management tools and HiveMindAI.
- File sharing and collaboration tools
- Integration with other third-party tools
- Security features, including data encryption
Pricing:
- Hive offers a 14-day free trial to get started today
- Hive Free Plan – Available for up to 10 users
- Hive Professional – $12/user/month
- Hive Enterprise – Custom pricing is available for larger organizations.
2. Microsoft Teams
As part of the Microsoft Office suite, Teams is an all-in-one collaboration platform that allows users to share files, chat, and collaborate on projects all in one place. Teams is on-par with Slack, as it offers all of the same features but with the added bonus of Office 365 integration.
Key Features:
- Chat and messaging capabilities for direct and group communication
- File sharing and collaboration tools
- Audio and video calling and conferencing
- Integration with other Microsoft Office 365 tools and apps
- Customizable channels and workspaces
- Project management and task-tracking tools
- Data encryption and multi-factor authentication
Pricing:
- Free version available with limited features
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic: $5/user/month
- Enterprise pricing available for larger organizations
3. Zoom
Although Zoom is primarily known as a video conferencing tool, it also has a chat feature that allows users to message each other and share files. Zoom’s popularity exploded during the pandemic, making it a top choice for businesses needing video conferencing and chat capabilities. While it is less robust than Slack with its features, it’s a great option for a team that wants to run their business with videos and chat.
Key Features:
- Video and audio conferencing for remote meetings
- Chat and messaging capabilities for direct and group communication
- File sharing and collaboration tools
- Screen sharing and virtual background options
- Integration with other tools and apps, including Microsoft Teams and Slack
Pricing:
- Basic (Free): for personal or small team meetings, limited to 40 minutes
- Pro: $14.99/host/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing for large organizations and enterprise-level needs
4. Google Chat
Formerly known as Hangouts Chat, Google Chat is a team communication platform that integrates with other Google products like Google Drive and Google Meet. Google Chat is free as part of a Google Workspace account and is an excellent Slack alternative for businesses using other Google products. What’s great about Google Chat is that you can access it from any device with a web browser, making it one of the most versatile options.
Key Features:
- Chat and messaging capabilities for direct and group communication
- File sharing and collaboration tools
- Integration with other Google products like Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Meet
- Voice-calling capabilities with up to 25 participants in a voice chat
- Robust security and privacy features, including 2-step authentication
Pricing:
- Free with a Google Workspace account
- G Suite Basic – $6/user/month
- G Suite Enterprise – Custom pricing is available for larger organizations.
5. Chanty
Chanty is a team chat app used for collaboration for teams of all sizes. The solution is a great alternative to Slack, as it lets you create, manage and assign tasks from a text message.
The Kanban board lets you optimize your workflow with a flexible and visual way to execute agile methodology. With 20+ integrations, Chanty also offers audio and video calls with screen sharing available to the entire team or by individual team members.
Key Features:
- Audio Calls
- Public & Private Conversations
- Voice Messages
- Built-In Task Management
- File Storage
- Group Video Calls
Pricing:
- Free for the basic version (up to 10 members)
- Business version is $3/month/user and $4/annual/user.
- Download For: iOS, Android, Mac and Windows Desktop
6. Flock
Flock is a communication app and a great alternative to Slack as it combines messaging, video and voice calls in one platform. In comparison to Slack, Flock offers the best cost-benefit. Its basic plan starts at $6 per month, while Slack starts at $8 per month/user.
However, most Flock users report a cluttered dashboard and very basic notification settings and integrations. Both tools offer a limited history search, however, Flock lets you have unlimited group members in their basic plan.
The software allows users to convert discussions into tasks, streamlining and automating workflow. Its advanced searching features and an option to bookmark messages allow better organization, facilitating documentation and team collaboration. Flock has a free starter plan that accommodates up to 20 members.
Key features:
- Public company’s directory, closed channels and private messages
- Native voice and video calls
- Document sharing
- Integrations and add-ons
- Manage mailing lists
- Create and share code snippets on the go
Pricing:
Communication platforms like Slack have become essential for remote workforces to collaborate, share files, and stay connected. While Slack is a popular choice, several other chat tools offer similar or even unique features.
Among others, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Chat, and Hive are a few popular Slack alternatives that offer various communication and collaboration capabilities, making it essential to assess each product’s features before choosing the right one for your business.
