#1 Pumble — Best overall
Pumble acts as a disrupting factor in the productivity industry, delivering Slack’s core features for free.
By placing no limitations on the message history and the number of users in a single workspace, Pumble aims to become the people’s champion.
As an avid user of Pumble, I value its sleek interface and user-friendly design, which make navigating the platform a breeze.
Rather than limiting the features in the software's free version, Pumble’s paid plans simply allow bigger organizations to customize the app to their working environment.
Additionally, Pumble makes transitioning from Slack seamless with its easy-to-use data migration.
Besides, unlike Slack, Pumble offers the paid version of its software at an incredibly affordable price. That and its robust feature set catering specifically to team communication and collaboration is enough to make Pumble the best Slack alternative in our book!
Pumble pros:
- Feature-packed free plan
- Affordable paid plans
- Intuitive user interface
- Unlimited users and message history for free
- 10 GB of storage space for free (and 100 GB per user in the paid plans)
- Voice and video calls (one-on-one and group conferencing)
- Save messages and set reminders
- Screen sharing
- Light, neutral and dark themes
- Sidebar customization
Pumble cons:
- Fewer native integrations, but there is an open API
What’s new in Pumble: Pumble now has an external guest feature, which supports external access to calls. Individuals without a Pumble account can join calls if a link to a call is shared with them.
Available for: Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, and as a web app
Pricing: Free plan available; Paid plans from $2.49 per user per month
#2 Google Chat — Best for Google Workspace integration
Google Chat harnesses the power of familiarity. It’s an extension of the popular free Google Hangouts chat, familiar to anyone with a Gmail account.
Furthermore, Google’s platform is a more versatile solution than some other Slack alternatives, applicable in a greater variety of scenarios.
It also benefits from the ubiquitous nature of Google as a comprehensive platform for online work. Along with other Google products such as Meet, Drive, Docs, or Calendar, Google Chat is available for free as part of the Google Workspace package.
In addition to the basic features of Hangouts, Google Chat provides additional collaboration-focused functionalities such as group chats, file sharing, and convenient integrations with other Google products (e.g. Meet for video calls).
However, as a stand-alone team communication platform, it does lack the structure, organization, and customization of some of the other apps we tested.
Google Chat pros:
- Deep integration with Google Workspace
- Familiarity and simplicity
- Voice and video calls
- Unlimited chat history
- Great storage (30 GB per user for the lowest price tier)
Google Chat cons:
- Only Google Workspace users get Google Chat for free
- Video and voice calls rely on Google Workspace apps
- Clunky non-Google integrations
- Questionable UI choices
What’s new in Google Chat: Google Chat introduces the ability to search for and insert smart chips linking to spaces. When you type “@” in Chat, you’ll see a list of suggested spaces to add as smart chips, based on your memberships.
Available for: Mac, Windows, Linux, Chrome OS, Android, iOS, in-browser, and in Gmail
Pricing: 14-day free trial and then starting at $6 per user per month
Pumble Pro Tip
For a comprehensive analysis of Slack versus Google Chat, check out our article:
Google Chat vs Slack: Ultimate Showdown
And for further insights into how Google Chat stacks up against Pumble, explore our research:
Free Google Chat Alternative
#3 Microsoft Teams — Best for Microsoft 365 integration
Microsoft Teams is the tech giant’s foray into the collaboration space. Its free version is available only for personal use, while businesses must choose a paid plan — and even those can be quite limiting. For example, the cheapest plan only lets you invite 300 users to a workspace.
Still, signing up for the Microsoft 365 bundle provides you with a robust team communication and collaboration tool. Its comprehensive list of enterprise-specific features and integrations has made Microsoft Teams a popular choice for larger-scale organizations.
Though this app is a great Slack alternative, its complicated registration process, complex interface, lack of free option for teams, and reliance on other Microsoft products make it a less suitable choice for smaller teams and startups.
Microsoft Teams pros:
- Unlimited chat history
- 5 GB of storage per user in the free plan (10 GB/1 TB for paying users)
- Many enterprise-specific features
- Customizable themes
- Paid plans include other Microsoft 365 suite apps
Microsoft Teams cons:
- No free version for businesses
- Less suitable for smaller teams
- More complex registration and interface
What’s new in Microsoft Teams: AI features in the Premium plan.
Available for: Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, and as a web app
Pricing: Free plan available; Paid plans from $4 per user per month, billed annually
Pumble Pro Tip
Looking for a detailed breakdown of Microsoft Teams vs. Slack? Our article has you covered:
Slack vs Microsoft Teams: What’s Best for Your Business?
You can also explore our research for a better understanding of how Microsoft Teams compares to Pumble:
Free Microsoft Teams Alternative
#4 Zoom — Best for video calls
Best known for its video conferencing capabilities, Zoom is another strong contender for the best Slack alternative. Aside from the team chat, its free version allows for up to 40 minutes per meeting and a maximum of 100 attendees.
Zoom’s high-definition video and audio quality ensure crystal-clear communication, and its user-friendly interface makes it easy to navigate. Additionally, the whiteboard feature fosters better collaboration by enabling real-time drawing and brainstorming.
We found Zoom to be very reliable for team meetings and client calls but lacked some of Slack’s more advanced communication features. Its chat functionality for messaging and file sharing does not include extensive customization options and is a bit simple for our taste.
That being said, we would recommend Zoom as a good Slack alternative for teams with packed call schedules that need the chat functionality to accompany their primarily in-call communication.
Zoom pros:
- HD video and voice
- Easy to use
- Whiteboard feature included
- Integrates with many third-party apps
Zoom cons:
- Limited free plan
- Privacy concerns
What’s new in Zoom: New languages released — Korean, Spanish, and Indonesian
Available for: Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, and as a web app
Pricing: Free plan available; Paid plans from $149.90 per year per user
#5 Workplace — Best for Facebook users
Workplace represents Facebook’s (or rather, Meta’s) take on internal communication and team collaboration.
Relying on the familiarity of the Facebook interface, Workplace is a comprehensive tool envisioned as a one-stop solution for team communication and collaboration.
Its biggest strength is its intuitive use for anyone familiar with Facebook and unlimited file sharing. It’s even a bit cheaper than Slack, but perhaps not enough to justify migration.
We tested the free trial but were disappointed by the absence of a free plan or multiple subscription options. Additionally, having to pay extra for enhanced admin and support, as well as the streaming function, seems inconvenient.
Workplace pros:
- Familiarity of Facebook’s interface
- Unlimited chat history
- Unlimited file sharing
- Voice/video calls
- Third-party integrations
Workplace cons:
- No free version of the software
- Users must pay extra for additional admin, support, and streaming functionality
What’s new in Workplace: Workplace Chat end users can now add up to 500 participants to chat in threads
Available for: Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and as a web app
Pricing: 30-day free trial and then $4 per user per month (with $2 add-ons)
#6 Brosix — Best for secure team collaboration
Brosix is a simple and easy-to-use instant messaging software with an emphasis on privacy and data security. It provides a private team network where you can take full control of your internal communication.
On the positive side, Brosix offers encrypted communication across various features, including voice and video chat, file sharing, and screen sharing. This ensures that sensitive information remains protected.
However, we find that, while it excels in security and administrative control, it does not have the same extensive app integrations and ecosystem as Slack.
Despite these considerations, Brosix’s commitment to privacy and security, along with its comprehensive feature set, make it a solid choice for organizations prioritizing data security in their team communication.
Brosix pros:
- Secure end-to-end encryption
- Extensive administrative control
Brosix cons:
- Limited free plan
- Limited third-party integrations
What’s new in Brosix:
Brosix has recently rolled out a few new features for its messaging, including:
- Edit
- Reply
- Delete
- Label
- Like
- Seen
Available for: Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, and as a web app
Pricing: Free plan available; Paid plans from $4 per user per month, billed annually
#7 Flock — Best for Slack migration
Flock serves as a direct competitor to Slack, aiming to provide slightly more for slightly less.
Its free plan is moderately more generous, and the paid plans are slightly more affordable than what Slack is offering. So in that regard, the app certainly delivers.
Even so, its free plan has some of the same drawbacks Slack had — namely, limiting its searchable message history to 10,000 messages and offering only 5 GB of file storage space.
Still, that obstacle is much easier to overcome when the cost of entry is lower than what Slack is offering.
Flock’s best feature as a Slack alternative is that it allows users to migrate their data from Slack. So if you want your new business messaging app to be just like Slack, but slightly cheaper — Flock promises to be your best bet.
Flock pros:
- Unlimited message history in the paid plans
- One-on-one voice/video calls (group calls for paying users)
- 10/20 GB of storage per user (Pro/Enterprise)
- 30-day free trial for the Pro paid plans
Flok cons:
- The search function only looks through 10,000 messages in the free version
- Only 5 GB of storage per team in the free version
- Group video calls are limited to 20 participants
Available on: Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and as a web app
Pricing: Free plan available; Paid plans from $4.50 per user per month, billed annually
Pumble Pro Tip
For a further examination into how Slack and Flock compare as team communication apps, read on:
Slack vs Flock: Which app to use?
Before you decide whether Flock is the right Slack alternative for your team, look into how Pumble compares:
Free Flock Alternative
#8 Chanty — Best for teams focused on tasks
Like some of the best Slack alternatives, Chanty offers its users an unlimited messaging history and the ability to communicate via text, audio/video calls, and even voice messages.
Furthermore, any message can be turned into a task and assigned to a team member.
The resulting to-do list can be found on the app’s ‘Teambook’ page, which also allows users to access their private and public conversations, shared links, and files.
The only serious gripe you might have with Chanty is that the free version is limited to only 5 users.
Still, if the rest of these features sound appealing to you, you’ll be glad to know that Chanty’s paid plan is more affordable than Slack’s paid plans.
Chanty pros:
- Unlimited message history
- Built-in task manager
- Video/audio calls
- 20 GB of storage per team in the free version (or per user in the Business version)
- Light and dark themes
- Over 1,500 integrations
Chanty cons:
- The free plan is limited to 5 users
What’s new in Chanty: Updated reactions now offer more expressive ways to respond to messages.
Available on: Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, and as a web app
Price: Free plan available; Paid plan costs $3 per user per month, billed annually
Pumble Pro Tip
Gain a deeper understanding of Slack and Chanty with our detailed comparison:
Chanty vs Slack: The fantastic face-off
And for more information about how Pumble and Chanty match up, read our analysis:
Free Chanty Alternative
#9 Twist — Best for asynchronous messaging
Created by a distributed remote team at the Doist company to cover the needs of, well, a distributed remote team Twist functions as a sort of middle ground between an email and a chat.
Its design and functionalities discourage the trivial and often “spammy” aspects of team chats. I believe that to allow a higher degree of organization, while also keeping communication more immediate and responsive than it would be through email.
The key principle of Twist is to enable efficient and structured team communication without constant disruptions.
The lack of video/voice call options, however, may prove to be a deal-breaker for many.
Twist pros:
- Clean interface
- Well-organized conversations
- Light/dark interface themes
- Asynchronous messaging without constant disruptions
Twist cons:
- Notable lack of voice and video calling features
- Limited message history in the free trial (up to 1 month)
Available for: Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and as a web app
Pricing: Free plan available; Paid plan costs $8/$6 per user per month (monthly/yearly)
💡 Pumble Pro Tip
Interested in further comparing Slack with Twist? Our article offers an extensive analysis:
Twist vs Slack: Focus vs Features
#10 Discord — Best for casual use
While primarily recognized as the gaming community’s communication tool of choice, Discord has also found its use among many professional teams.
The main reasons for Discord’s use in the business context are its familiarity, superior voice and video calls, and a fairly generous free plan.
However, Discord is not primarily a team chat app, and some of its drawbacks in a team setting are quickly revealed.
Ultimately, with its “informal” gaming background and an obvious set of weaknesses for the professional arena, Discord should be no match for a proper team communication and collaboration tool.
Even so, its novel, fast-paced style has still made it many teams’ favorite communication tool.
Disord pros:
- Solid free plan
- Excellent voice and video call capabilities
- Customizable interface
Discord cons:
- Not designed for enterprises
- Limited chat features
- Lack of collaboration options
What’s new in Discord: Discord has introduced Server Shops, enabling content creators and community managers to sell downloadable files, videos, server subscriptions, or individual roles.
Available on: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and as a web app
Pricing: Free plan available; Paid plans from $4.99 per user per month
Pumble Pro Tip
Learn more about the distinctions between Slack and Discord:
Slack vs Discord: Which One is Better for Teamwork?
Explore another strong team communication software competitor:
Free Discord Alternative
How to choose the best business messaging software for your team?
If you're on the hunt for apps similar to Slack, any one of the above will suffice.
Ultimately, the choice of a team communication tool should be dictated by the unique makeup of your team and its needs.
If Slack (either in its free plan or in any of the premium options) fully covers those needs, then there's no reason not to go for it.
However, if you're not quite satisfied with it — or even the Slack contenders I have highlighted — you should keep looking until you find the perfect team communication app for your company..
To that end, we wanted to share the criteria we used when compiling the list of apps we wanted to try.
The best Slack alternatives we ended up with were great in terms of the:
- Number of users they allowed in the free or paid version of the software,
- Feature package (basics first, and then extras like the more collaborative features),
- Pricing plans (and the extra features they brought to the table),
- Quality of the free plan, and/or
- Adaptability to different team settings.
Taking these criteria into consideration will help you narrow down your own list of contenders.
Pumble Pro Tip
Did you want to learn more about an app that's not on our list? Good news — we might have already reviewed it! Check out the following articles from our Chat Comparisons database:
Rocket.Chat vs Slack: Choosing the right fit for your team
Slack vs WhatsApp: Which app is better for work?
Mattermost vs Slack: The Clash of the Titans
Find a team communication app that feels tailor-made for your team
Having gone through our list of the best business communication apps, you know to look for an efficient, highly affordable, and security-conscious platform that offers overall value.
As we have established, the best team communication tool is the one that works best for you. So, if nothing else, we hope that our breakdown of different Slack competitors has given you enough information to understand which solution would suit your team the best.
Eager to explore how Pumble can revolutionize your team communication? Start your free account today and see the difference!