Pumble vs Google Chat: Which Communication Tool Fits Your Team Best?

Are you looking for a free, powerful, and easy to use communication hub that organizes your entire team’s collaboration? 

For most people (especially those who already use the Google Workspace ecosystem) Google Chat is one of the most obvious choices. 

But is it really the best option when you want a simple, focused communication tool that hosts the entire record of your work? 

Or, is Pumble a more capable free alternative, allowing you the freedom to invite your entire team without hitting the user limit?  

Find out in this comparison of Pumble vs Google Chat. 

Pumble vs Google Chat: Main features comparison

The choice between Pumble and Google Chat comes down to the choice between a focused communication tool and an integrated add-on.

What I mean by that is that Pumble feels like a toolbox built with purpose. It’s stripped back to powerful essentials for messaging and focused team collaboration. 

And it’s free in its core sense with reasonably priced plans for additions. 

Google Chat, on the other hand, is more like an add-on put together for the sake of adding another set of features to the Google suite. 

It’s functional, don’t get me wrong. However, I’m afraid team communication can get pretty chaotic pretty quickly with all the space threads, emails, and Meet calls and chats.

So, some of the main differences between Pumble and Google Chat include: 

• Pricing — Pumble’s paid plans start at $2.49 vs Google Chat’s that start at $6.30.
• Free plan limits — Pumble is truly free with unlimited users and unlimited messaging history, while Google Chat limits your features unless you’re on a paid plan. 
• Approach to communication — Pumble is purpose-built, messaging-first app with built-in video and screen sharing capabilities, while Google Chat is part of a massive suite and relies on a separate app (Google Meet) for video functionality. 

Let’s compare the main features of Pumble and Google Chat: 

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Pumble vs Google Chat: Pumble is free forever

Pumble’s free version is actually free — no trials, no limit. 

It lets you host:

• Free (unlimited) users, 
• Unlimited message history, and 
• Channels that won’t disappear. 

With this free forever promise, Pumble completely flips the script on similar team communication apps that are shrinking their message history limits more and more over time. 

Pumble stands out as one of the few platforms committed to letting teams of all sizes collaborate comfortably with every piece of shared information kept on file. 

And this is exactly why it has my vote in this category — what you see is what you get. You have a completely functional free version, no strings attached, for as long as you want.  

Google Chat, technically, features a free plan. But in reality, this feels more like you’ll get some of the basics for free but the real deal is locked behind a Workspace paywall. 

So, basically, you can get Google Chat for free only if you have a personal Google account or Google Workspace plan. 

And the “perks” you’’ll get in this version are pretty limited (at least in my book), especially when compared to Pumble and similar fully-functional team chat apps: 

• 1:1 messaging, 
• Group conversations, and 
• Spaces (chat rooms). 

Yet, to be able to access admin controls, retain more data, or get more support, you’ll have to upgrade to a paid Google Workspace plan.

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Pumble vs Google Chat: Pumble offers more value across all plans 

If you compare their pricing models, it’s pretty clear right off the bat that Pumble is more affordable than Google Chat, offering more affordable prices across all paid plans. 

The PRO plan in Pumble, which costs $2.49 per user per month billed annually, takes your entire collaboration experience to the next level — from more people in meetings to more storage and an organized interface.

This is what I appreciate about Pumble — it grows with your team, giving you more of everything at each pricing plan and not just some random vanity feature to try to justify the high price. 

Next up are the BUSINESS (at $3.99) and ENTERPRISE (at $6.99) plans that add elaborate features including more storage, data export, and custom SLA, without keeping basic functionality tied to a paid plan.  

Unfortunately, Google Chat’s full power is attached to Workspace, which comes with bloated features and high prices. 

You can get their cheapest paid plan — Business Starter — for $7 per user per month, paid monthly, or $6.30 if you pay annually. This upgrade lets you add other Google tools like Gmail with AI assistant, Docs, Drive, and Meet.

Other Google Chat plans include:

• Business Standard at $12.60 per user per month (paid annually) that adds meeting recording and Gemini AI assistant in Docs and Meet,
• Business Plus at $22 per user per month that offers improved security and advanced management controls, and 
• Enterprise Plus with custom pricing that allows for in-domain live streaming and enhanced security.   

So, if you’re looking for an organized communication platform that doesn’t nickel-and-dime you and doesn’t skimp on essentials, Pumble might be right up your alley. 

On the other hand, Google Chat makes more sense for you price-wise if you’re already paying for Workspace and if your business depends on scheduling, Drive, and deep Google integrations. 

And, even then, I think Pumble still might be a good option, having core Google apps integration, but without the app bloat and the team conversations spiraling into chaos.

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Pumble vs Google Chat: Pumble is designed with a clear purpose, while Google Chat feels disconnected 

What I love most about Pumble is that it’s simple and minimalist yet super powerful when you need it to be. 

From the first log in, Pumble felt like a cozy space made for organized conversations. It’s clean, intuitive, and designed to do one thing really well. 

Its user interface is lean, tidy, and familiar, especially if you’ve ever used Slack.

Everything is in the right place, exactly where you expect to find it — from channels and treads to files and video calls. 

It took me zero training to find my way around the app the first time I tried it.  

And if you don’t like the default sidebar layout, you can customize different sections to your liking. 

I like to have different coloured themes for different workspaces — for work, I use the dark theme or the default light theme, while my off-the-record workspaces are mostly in some purple or pink shade. 

Customize your workspace in Pumble

By contrast, Google Chat looks pretty clean, but actually collaborating inside it feels like trying to find your way around a huge open plan space full of Google apps. 

I appreciate that it hosts everything I need, but it feels disconnected and distracting, especially when I need to focus on deep work. It’s super functional but pretty clunky.

Sure, you can customize your workspace, but you only have two options to choose from for appearance and density adjustment.

My take? If you want a dedicated space for categorized team conversations, organizing subtopics in threads, and keeping tabs on all past communications, Pumble gives you that focused vibe. 

Google Chat might look familiar, but you’ll often find yourself strolling over to Drive, Meet, or Gmail to finish what you started.  

Pumble vs Google Chat: Pumble is unbeatable for asynchronous communication 

Now, for the core communication functionality. 

Right off the bat, Pumble pulls ahead with the messaging history record that doesn’t leave you hanging. 

This is especially useful when you work with people whose work hours don’t overlap with yours — Pumble makes sure you’re all on the same page even when collaborating asynchronously.

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Here’s the trick — Pumble gives you unlimited, searchable messaging history even on its free plan. I still remember the relief I felt when I realized I no longer had to hunt for critical info in an endless email chain or a thread that vanished behind a paywall.

Pumble also lets me prioritize better: 

• If I’m nose deep in my writing tasks, I can simply mute all notifications for a couple of hours and keep laser-sharp focus.
• At the same time, if there’s an ongoing issue I have to keep up with, I’ll customize my settings to only receive notifications for messages in those specific threads. 
• For channels I don’t follow regularly, I keep them muted. 

Customize your notifications in Pumble

Google Chat? Well, technically, it lets you keep your entire chat history on the free plan, unless:

• You accidentally turn off your chat history, which deletes all your conversations after 24 hours, 
• You have a 1:1 direct message with someone who uses Google Chat for school or work (as their administrators might set a data retention policy that automatically deletes messages after a certain time period), and 
• The person who started the 1:1 direct message belongs to an organization that has a rule to delete messages after a certain time period. 

So, basically, unless you’re on a paid Workspace plan, your chat future is always hanging in the balance in Google Chat.

As for the notification schedule, it leaves much to be desired. 

Google Chat lets you:

• Pick your favorite notification sound, 
• Set up your do not disturb schedule, and 
• Match the do not disturb schedule to your time zone. 

I have to give credit to the DND mode that works flawlessly and comes in handy when you need focused time. 

However, I’d still appreciate not getting alerted every time a teammate who works on site fills out their lunch order form while I’m miles away at home. 

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Pumble vs Google Chat: Pumble video conferencing keeps you in the flow

One of the benefits Pumble has over many similar tools is that it works with your work style, not against it. 

I can stay focused and in the flow even when I need to switch to a quick call with a coworker. 

One click is all it takes to hop on a video call in Pumble, and that’s all it takes to return to my work without a hitch — no focus loss and no switching apps.    

Pumble even lets you do unlimited 1:1 video calls for free, which are frictionless every time. You’ll have to upgrade for group calls with screen sharing and meeting recording, which, at $2.49 per user per month, is a real steal in my book.

Google Chat, on the other hand, will pull you out of your current flow and into Google Meet — an entirely different app. I have to say, this switch can feel pretty disruptive, especially if you’re used to a smooth, streamlined communication environment.

Of course, as one of the most capable video conferencing platforms, Google Meet does offer solid meeting features for free, including: 

• Screen sharing, 
• Captions, and 
• 60-minute group meetings with a participant capacity of 100.

So, even though Google Chat technically features video conferencing capability, it comes at the cost of you being left squeezing it inside the Workspace suite.

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Pumble vs Google Chat: Pumble organizes your communication better 

If you’ve ever tried to keep a project on track using Google Chat in the past, you know how quickly things used to get messy. 

It handled low volume 1:1 and group chats just fine, but as soon as things started scaling up, important information started slipping through the cracks. You just kind of had to reckon with the fact that everything lands in one long stream.

Now, with the features such as spaces, threads, and pins, you can get some semblance of order and structure when working with teams. Your DMs and spaces are now organized in separate sections so you can keep track of who said what. 

Pumble, on the other hand, is built to keep your team connected and your conversations organized with options to: 

• Set up dedicated channels for each project or team, 
• Start threads within channels to keep side conversations from taking over the main topic,
• Streamline your team collaboration and communication by creating user groups that let you notify large teams of users across channels, and 
• Share quick and clear updates over voice and video messages.   

This is exactly what makes all the difference when you’re juggling multiple tasks or teams across time zones. I like the option to record and share quick video messages to update my team on my progress when I can’t squeeze in another meeting. 

To me, Google Chat often feels too basic for any substantial collaboration. The basics are all finally there, but it’s rarely enough to work together smoothly as a hybrid team. 

Pumble pulls everything into one place and helps your team stay on the same page without the constant back-and-forth between different apps or lost messages.

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Pumble vs Google Chat: Pumble makes inviting guest users seamless, while Google Chat complicates the process   

Another thing that stood out to me was how easy it is to bring in clients or external collaborators on Pumble. 

I really appreciate how Pumble makes your guest users feel at home. You can collaborate with external partners directly from your Pumble workspace. 

Want to control what they can access? Included in the invitation settings. 

Need to add a time limit for your collaboration? It’s as simple as choosing the date for their account deactivation. 

It’s super handy when you’re working with external collaborators but still want to keep internal stuff private. In just a couple of clicks, you can control exactly what they see by adding them to specific channels without giving them full access to everything.

This way, your guests feel included without being overwhelmed by stuff that’s not relevant to them. 

From then on, you can collaborate with the guest the same as you do with your internal team.  

Google Chat? Not so smooth. 

You either have to deal with domain restrictions, mess around with Google Groups, or hope the person has a compatible account, and even then, it’s not always clear if they’ve been added properly.

I personally ran into a bunch of headaches trying to add one external partner in my Google Chat space. The worst thing was that I couldn’t find any useful info on the subject. 

After searching high and low for answers, I stumbled on an old Google forum answer that basically said that the issue probably has something to do with needing to have a one-to-one chat connection with the invitee before you can send them the invite. 

So, after a couple of failed (publicly recorded) attempts to send them a proper invite, I had to share the invitation link in a DM.  

With Pumble, everything feels more straightforward, which helps keep the momentum going, especially on fast-moving projects where time is of the essence. 

So, if collaborations with external partners is part of your regular workflow, in my opinion, Pumble’s got it figured out better than Google Chat.

Pumble vs Google Chat: Pumble offers substantial storage capacity, but Google Chat is backed by Google Workspace

When it comes to file sharing and storage capacity, both Pumble and Google Chat feature a comfortable space for all your work records to be neatly stored and shared. 

Pumble is organized as a digital collaboration hub of sorts, keeping all of your knowledge sharing super functional with: 

• Easily searchable resources across the entire workspace, 
• Pinned critical documents and conversations at the top of channels, and 
• In-line previews to identify shared items quick and easy. 

What I found super convenient about Pumble is that it hosts all of my screenshots, recordings, and PDFs, and I’ve never had to upgrade for more. 

It lets you share files of up to 256 MB in size.  

Here’s how storage in Pumble is arranged by plan: 

• FREE plan: 10 GB per workspace, 
• PRO plan: 10 GB per user,
• BUSINESS plan: 20 GB per user, 
• ENTERPRISE plan: 100 GB per user.  

Google Chat has the advantage of the large Google Workspace ecosystem, which comes with its own perks storage-wise:

• Free plan: 15 GB shared workspace storage (pooled across all Google apps), 
• Business Starter plan: 30 GB per user (pooled across all Google apps), 
• Business Standard plan: 2 TB per user (pooled across all Google apps), and 
• Business Plus and Enterprise Plus: 5 TB per user (pooled across all Google apps). 

Judging by the numbers alone, Google Chat does offer more space for your files. 

However, the storage includes all apps within the Google Workspace, which can stretch it thin at times, depending on the volume of resources you share. 

Still, the good news is that not every file and message you share in Google Chat counts against your Google Workspace account storage limit. 

Here’s what doesn’t count towards your Google storage quota: 

• Messages and attachments sent directly through Google Chat, and 
• Files uploaded directly to a chat message from your computer or mobile device.   

So, only files uploaded to Google Drive and shared in Google Chat count against your Google storage.

Pumble, on the other hand, lets you store and access a substantial amount of files in and of itself without splitting the storage between multiple platforms. 

Pumble vs Google Chat: Google Chat integrates with more tools, but Pumble’s integrations are more focused 

When it comes to add-ons, I like the less is more principle. Too many options can easily turn chaotic and messy, leaving you playing catch-up with the notification overload.

This is where Pumble takes the cake for me with a simple but strategic approach to its app ecosystem. 

You don’t have an abundance of apps to choose from, but you’re all set up with everything you need to keep your workflow productive and optimized. 

Built-in integrations in Pumble include: 

• Google Calendar, 
• Email, 
• Google Drive, and 
• Simple workflows (like Clockify and Plaky). 

Pumble’s integration catalogue is always expanding and is soon adding Asana, Trello, and HubSpot to the mix.

If you need more apps, you can build your own integrations with Pumble. The CAKE.com marketplace and API let you choose how you want to streamline your productivity, without adding unnecessary clutter to your workspace.    

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Pumble also has its very own native ecosystem. Built by CAKE.com, the brand behind Clockify (time tracking tool), and Plaky (project management tool), Pumble is part of a unified workspace for communication, tasks, and time management, so it doesn’t really need a bunch of different apps to make it all work.

I use this ecosystem daily — I communicate with my team in Pumble, track time and productivity in Clockify, and manage my tasks in Plaky. The apps are connected and work perfectly together, and I appreciate how it helps create a seamless, uninterrupted workflow.

Additionally, CAKE.com offers a bundle plan for teams wanting to use Pumble, Clockify and Plaky together, making it cost-effective and easy to manage.

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Google Chat is deeply integrated with the Google Workspace ecosystem and this is one of its major advantages. 

Right from the get-go, I had the access to: 

• Gmail, 
• Google Calendar, 
• Google Drive, 
• Google Docs, and 
• Google Keep. 

Google Chat doesn’t support video conferencing and immediately pushes you to another software when you want to make a call, which, as I mentioned, seriously affects my workflow. 

Use Pumble and have both video and messaging in one app

I was unpleasantly surprised to learn that I needed a paid account to access any of the popular task management, productivity, and customer service apps such as:

• Asana, 
• Trello, and 
• Zendesk.  

So, Google chat wins judging by the sheer volume of integrations, but Pumble isn’t far behind with its tightly connected suite built for productivity. 

Pumble vs Google Chat: Pumble offers human-based support        

When it comes to support, I’ve had pretty different experiences with Pumble and Google Chat. 

Pumble is more of a team communication-focused platform and it shows in the way it goes the extra mile to help its users. 

You can send them a message through live chat and email, and they usually get back fairly quickly — at least in my case. And, most importantly, you’ll get to speak to a real human, which is so rare these days.

Pumble’s help center is pretty solid too, with step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow even if you’re not very tech-savvy. 

Google Chat, on the other hand, leans more on its large ecosystem. When you’re faced with an issue, in most cases, you’ll be redirected to forums, help articles, or community threads, which can be hit or miss.

This is exactly what happened when I wanted to solve the mystery of why my Google Chat space invitation wasn’t coming through. 

I had to comb through a bunch of forum topics only to find one comment that said that the issue probably has something to do with needing an established one-to-one connection between the space moderator and the invitee for the invitation to be successful.

True, there’s a lot of info out there, but sometimes you’ll have to dig through outdated posts to find the answers to your issues. 

Unless you’re a Google Workspace paid user, you’ll rarely get any real-time support. 

I mean, I get it, they are a huge company, but sometimes it can feel like you’re left to figure things out on your own, which is a bit inconsiderate, if you ask me.

So if I had to pick, I’d say Pumble is more approachable and hands-on when you need guidance.

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Pumble vs Google Chat: Both apps take security seriously   

Now, when we talk about security, I have to give credit where credit is due. Google Chat has really got it figured out. 

Since it’s part of Google Workspace, it benefits from the advanced security features you’d expect from a giant such as Google.   

So, basically, you have everything included: 

• 2-step verification, 
• Data encryption in transit and at rest, and 
• Advanced admin controls.  

Still, even a giant like Google with all its security measures is not immune to sneaky cyberattacks. In June 2025 Google reported another case of data breach, confirming it got impacted by a voice phishing data extortion attack.

Can’t say this incident didn’t spark my trust issues, and I imagine it’s even worse for larger businesses that handle bigger user databases.   

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That being said, Pumble is no joke either. 

It offers: 

• TLS encryption, 
• Secure data storage, 
• Role-based access control for free, 
• Single Sign-On, and  
• Audit logs on paid plans. 

What I appreciate about both platforms is that they stick to clear policies with no compromise.

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The final verdict: Pumble is better for organized communication, Google Chat shines within the Google Workspace

It’s time to make a final decision on which of the two apps to use.

Taking into account everything I’ve seen so far, I’d say: 

• Pick Pumble when you want an organized team communication tool that helps you scale and doesn’t rip you off — or limits your message history. 
• Stick with Google Chat if you’re already a paying Workspace member whose daily operations revolve around scheduling, Google Drive, and other native Google integrations.     

To sum up, let’s answer some frequently asked questions about the differences between Pumble and Google Chat. 

Is Pumble better than Google Chat for business? 

If you’re a small to mid-sized team that values organized communication and free-of-cost scaling, Pumble is a better choice for you, especially with its actually free plan. 

What is the main difference between Pumble and Google Chat?

Pumble is built from the ground up as a messaging-first platform with unlimited users and history. Google Chat is a part of a bigger system that requires a paid plan to unlock its full capacity.

Is Pumble really free for unlimited users and history? 

Yes. You get unlimited seats and unlimited message history on the free plan — no hidden strings, no trial countdown. 

Does Google Chat have the same limitations as Slack’s free plan?

Pretty much. Without a paid Google Workspace plan, limits get tight and message history can have the same fate as Slack’s free account chats. 

Can Pumble replace Google Chat for a small business?

Absolutely. If you want organized channels, built-in calls, searchable history, and zero cost — Pumble does the trick.

Switch to Pumble for more streamlined communication

How to easily switch from Google Chat to Pumble

If you’ve made the decision to switch from Google Chat to Pumble, you can do so in a couple of easy steps. 

1. Create a workspace on Pumble and invite your team members. 
2. Add channels for your teams, projects, or topics, e.g., #marketing, #product, #off-the-record — and make them private or public as needed. 
3. Pin key documents or paste vital threads as pinned messages to keep your critical conversations at your team’s fingertips. 
4. Set up integrations — connect Pumble to Google Calendar, Drive, Zapier, and more. 
5. Use both tools simultaneously for a week to let your team get comfortable in Pumble before saying goodbye to Google Chat. 

If you want to import all your communication from Google Chat to Pumble, you can export your Google Chat data and then import it into Pumble as a CSV file: 

• Initiate an archive of your Google Chat data from the Google Help page, 
• Download the data.
• Locate the downloaded CSV file containing your exported data.
• In Pumble, locate General settings under Workspace settings. 
• Within the General settings, open the Import and Export section.
• Go to the Import tab, click the Import button in the CSV section, and select the exported Google Chat CSV file to upload. 
• Click the Start import button to begin the import process. 

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Pumble delivers where it counts 

So, after spending some time testing out what Pumble and Google Chat have to offer, here are my key takeaways: 

• Pumble is lean, clean, purposeful, and free — with unlimited users and message history. 
• Even though Google Chat relies on Google Workspace, you’ll likely have to pay for a premium tier to get any real business use out of it. 
• In my opinion, Pumble is the smarter, simpler, and more scalable choice, especially for small teams on a budget that want to keep the momentum and scale up without breaking the bank on features they don’t even use. 

So, if you want to experience unlimited team communication, don’t wait around. 

Get started with Pumble today