{"id":12296,"date":"2024-01-24T16:08:50","date_gmt":"2024-01-24T16:08:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/?p=12296"},"modified":"2026-02-23T07:36:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T07:36:06","slug":"microsoft-teams-alternatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/microsoft-teams-alternatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Microsoft Teams Alternatives for 2026: Top 9 Apps for Smarter Collaboration"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Have you been feeling a bit of \u201cTeams fatigue\u201d lately?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you feel Microsoft Teams is very useful, but it can also feel heavy, glitchy, and packed with way more features than most teams actually need, you\u2019ve come to the right place.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you\u2019re tired of the constant pop-ups, the clunky interface, or the labyrinth of SharePoint folders, there are plenty of Microsoft Teams competitors that offer:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cleaner layouts,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Smoother performance, and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fairer <a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/microsoft-teams-pricing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pricing<\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s break them down so you can find the tool that truly fits your workflow.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Teams-alt-1.png\" alt=\"Best Microsoft Teams Alternatives for 2026-cover\n\" class=\"wp-image-16306\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Teams-alt-1.png 1200w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Teams-alt-1-600x300.png 600w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Teams-alt-1-1110x555.png 1110w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Teams-alt-1-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Teams-alt-1-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f9f5ff\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-cc33874368dce034e75a5191680fbf4f\" style=\"color:#1d272c\"><strong>Why trust us?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-eaa5c5b93180bdfa5ddb0a88e4f31268\" style=\"color:#1d272c\">The apps we talk about are selected, tested, and written about by human reviewers who follow strict review and editorial guidelines. We pick solutions that are practical, purposeful, and can offer real value for the specific use case or business context we\u2019re covering \u2014 while also being justified in their pricing. Our methodology is transparent, clear, and available to everyone:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-63e076551cb8a43d3e47e610234773dc\" style=\"color:#673ab7\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\/our-software-review-methodology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn more about our review methodology here \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"why-search-for-a-microsoft-teams-alternative\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why search for a Microsoft Teams alternative?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Microsoft Teams might be the default for many organizations, but that doesn\u2019t automatically make it the best fit.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s why so many businesses are looking to replace Microsoft Teams:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Complex interface<\/strong>. Teams can feel overwhelming with buttons and layers of menus, and far too many clicks to do simple things such as starting a chat. This user interface clutter leads to constant notification fatigue.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Performance issues<\/strong>. Teams is known for high RAM usage and slow loading times. So, when your <a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/team-communication-app\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">team communication app<\/a> starts acting like an overworked engine, it\u2019s time to look for a lighter alternative.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>SharePoint confusion<\/strong>. Teams places your files in SharePoint, even if you never asked for it. This often turns messy, leaving you scratching your head searching for critical files.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>If these Microsoft Teams disadvantages sound familiar, it may be time to consider a Teams alternative that\u2019s more streamlined and reliable in everyday use.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"top-all-around-alternatives-for-business\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top all-around alternatives for business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>These platforms offer a strong balance of chat, collaboration, and video without overwhelming you with extras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s break down the best team communication tools \u2014 2026 edition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"pumble-by-cake-com-the-smart-choice\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pumble<\/a> by <a href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CAKE.com<\/a> \u2014 the smart choice\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for <a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/compare\/free-microsoft-teams-alternative\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free Microsoft Teams alternatives<\/a> that don\u2019t cut corners, Pumble by CAKE.com is the clear standout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pumble is a team communication and <a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/team-collaboration-software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">collaboration software<\/a> that <strong>helps teams of all sizes stay organized and collaborate effectively<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why Pumble shines:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Unlimited message history<\/strong> \u2014 for free (no more \u201cyour history ended here\u201d walls),&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Clean, modern UI<\/strong> that keeps everyone focused,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Easy <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/guest-access\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>guest access<\/strong><\/a> for clients, partners, and contractors,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Balanced chat and <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/video-conferencing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>video conferencing<\/strong><\/a> without the heaviness,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Real-time messaging<\/strong> and <a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/asynchronous-communication\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>asynchronous<\/strong> communication<\/a>,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Video and voice messages<\/strong> for quick updates, and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fast performance and low <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/features\/screen-sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>screen sharing<\/strong><\/a> <strong>latency<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As a remote worker who connects with their team via Pumble daily, I really like how Pumble\u2019s interface is <strong>user-friendly and well-organized<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike Microsoft Teams, Pumble has a file browser, so you can <a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/knowledge-sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">easily locate all files shared<\/a> in channels or direct messages. I always find everything I need quickly and easily.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The greatest advantage is <strong>unlimited free access to all messages and files<\/strong> ever sent in your workspace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s more, starting a video call is a piece of cake \u2014 you can create a meeting link in one click and share it with your colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/register\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Improve team communication<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"658\" src=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/A-video-call-in-Pumble.png\" alt=\"A video call in Pumble\" class=\"wp-image-21376\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/A-video-call-in-Pumble.png 1280w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/A-video-call-in-Pumble-584x300.png 584w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/A-video-call-in-Pumble-1110x571.png 1110w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/A-video-call-in-Pumble-768x395.png 768w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/A-video-call-in-Pumble-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sharing a screen during a video call in Pumble<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Pumble pros:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Generous free version&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Unlimited message history<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Unlimited number of users<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sleek and easy-to-use interface<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>In-call chat&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>10 GB of storage space in the free version<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>24\/7 live, 100% human support in the free version<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Pumble cons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lacks read receipts&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/roadmap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>What\u2019s new in Pumble<\/strong><\/a><strong>: <\/strong>Pumble recently launched <a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/integrations\/google-drive\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google Drive integration<\/a>, allowing you to sync file uploads, share your work easily, and access your documents in one place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available for:<\/strong> Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/pricing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Pricing<\/strong><\/a><strong>: <\/strong>Free plan available; paid plans from $2.49 per user per month<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p>\ud83d\udca1 <strong>Pumble Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To find out how Pumble stacks up against Microsoft Teams across all categories, check out this post:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/pumble-vs-microsoft-teams\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pumble vs Microsoft Teams: Pricing, UI, and Features Comparison<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"banner banner-dark pumble-gradient-features\">\n    <div class=\"banner-text lg:pr-[6rem]\">\n        <span class=\"h4 text-lg translation-block mb-0\">Pumble vs Microsoft Teams<\/span>\n        <p class=\"translation-block mt-1 mb-3\">Find out why you should move your team communication to Pumble by CAKE.com.<\/p>\n\n        <div class=\"banner-buttons d-flex gap-4 align-items-center translation-block justify-content-center justify-content-sm-start\">\n            <a class=\"bg-white rounded px-3 py-1 text-gray-dark\" href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/register\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up<\/a>\n\n                            <a class=\"button-2\" href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/compare\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more<\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"banner-image banner-image-middle \">\n        <picture>\n            <source srcset=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/features@2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Illustration\"  media=\"(min-width: 1022px)\" \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/features.png\"  alt=\"Illustration\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n    \n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"slack-the-premium-choice\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/slack.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Slack<\/a> \u2014 the premium choice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Slack continues to be one of the popular Microsoft Teams competitors, especially for technical teams or ones that need many integrations. If your team uses a bunch of tools, such as GitHub, Asana, Notion, and HubSpot, Slack could become the glue that holds it all together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why teams pick Slack:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Thousands of app integrations<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Polished UI<\/strong> with great threads,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Automation and workflows<\/strong> that reduce busywork,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Advanced search<\/strong> capabilities, and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Asynchronous communication<\/strong> options.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Tech, engineering, and fast-moving startups often find Slack\u2019s stack of features valuable.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It does offer an extensive list of third-app integrations and a decent set of automations that can cater to almost any need.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I also appreciate how easy it is to organize and navigate different conversations in threads and channels \u2014 super convenient for people who collaborate with several teams.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, the app\u2019s UI has never given me any headache. It\u2019s simple and easy to use.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, it\u2019s the limited communication history that puts me off. <strong>Slack infamously limits your message history to only 90 days<\/strong>. This means, you\u2019ll lose all of your conversations older than 90 days if you don\u2019t pay for a subscription.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And that\u2019s another one of Slack\u2019s huge downsides \u2014 it\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/slack-pricing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">super pricey<\/a>. With the cheapest plan starting at $8.75 per user per month, costs add up fast for a growing team.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/register\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Get more affordable alternative<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"677\" src=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/slacks-channels.png\" alt=\"Slack\u2019s channels\" class=\"wp-image-21377\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/slacks-channels.png 1200w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/slacks-channels-532x300.png 532w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/slacks-channels-1110x626.png 1110w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/slacks-channels-768x433.png 768w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/slacks-channels-18x10.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Slack\u2019s channels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Slack pros:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Huddles for real-time collaboration<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Private and public channels&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Advanced search&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Over 2,600 integrations&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Slack cons:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Limited message history on the free plan&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Expensive paid plans<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Paid tiers allow only 50 participants per meeting&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What\u2019s new<\/strong>: Slack has recently improved the AI functionality to support transcription and additional automated tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available for<\/strong>: iOS, Android, Web, Desktop<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pricing<\/strong>: Free plan available; paid plans start at <strong>$8.75<\/strong> per user per month<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p>\ud83d\udca1 <strong>Pumble Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To find out how Slack compares to Microsoft Teams across all categories, check out this post:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/slack-vs-microsoft-teams\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Slack vs Microsoft Teams: Finding the Best Fit for Your Business<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"google-chat-the-workspace-choice\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/workspace.google.com\/products\/chat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google Chat<\/a> \u2014 the Workspace choice&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your team uses several Google Workspace tools (Gmail, Google Docs, Google Drive, Sheets, and Meet), then Google Chat fits perfectly into your workflow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first thing you\u2019ll notice about Google Chat is that it\u2019s not flashy in the way it looks or the volume of advanced features it offers, but it\u2019s seamless nonetheless.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why it works well:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Workspace integration<\/strong> (chat right inside Gmail),&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Easy to use<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Natural pairing with Google Meet <\/strong>for video calls, and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Simple interface<\/strong> that reduces clutter and notification fatigue.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have a smaller team, want a simple solution inside the Workspace ecosystem, and you don\u2019t need much admin control, you\u2019ll find Google Chat just fine for your daily communication.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I liked the <strong>clean and simple user interface<\/strong>. It feels light, especially when you have a smaller number of spaces with a few threads.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Otherwise, things can get hectic pretty quick. The chat interface is nice and neat until it\u2019s not. I really didn\u2019t like how it adds another layer to your sidebar each time someone answers a thread or completes a task. I can only imagine how insane it could get with larger teams.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/register\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Organize smarter with Pumble<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"861\" src=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Google-Chat-interface-1536x861-1.png\" alt=\"Google Chat interface\" class=\"wp-image-21378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Google-Chat-interface-1536x861-1.png 1536w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Google-Chat-interface-1536x861-1-535x300.png 535w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Google-Chat-interface-1536x861-1-1110x622.png 1110w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Google-Chat-interface-1536x861-1-768x431.png 768w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Google-Chat-interface-1536x861-1-18x10.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Google Chat interface<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Google Chat pros:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Generous storage capacity<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Google Workspace ecosystem \u2014 convenient for Workspace users&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strong Google Workspace security<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Google Chat cons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Fewer advanced admin controls<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Not ideal for medium to large teams that want structured collaboration<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Expensive subscription plans<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What\u2019s new: <\/strong>Google Chat recently added AI-powered summaries of conversations or shared files on mobile.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available for: <\/strong>Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pricing: <\/strong>Free plan available, paid plans start at $7 per user per month&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"best-alternatives-for-video-first-teams\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best alternatives for video-first teams<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Our next round of platforms offer great video quality and are trusted by companies around the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"zoom-team-chat-the-meeting-heavy-choice\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoom.com\/en\/products\/team-chat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Zoom Team Chat<\/a> \u2014 the meeting-heavy choice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Zoom became popular for one single reason \u2014 reliable video quality that actually works. Its chat tool, Zoom Team Chat, is now an added bonus rather than the main event, but it\u2019s considered useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why video-centric teams like Zoom:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Clear video<\/strong> and audio,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reliable screen sharing<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Great breakout rooms<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Chat<\/strong> for side conversations and quick updates, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Great for hybrid and remote teams<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Zoom Team Chat is perfect for you if your team mainly uses Zoom for calls and only needs simple chat functions \u2014 not deep channel organization or advanced admin control. It shines when used alongside meetings, not as a standalone team chat app for business.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My main takeaway is that the <strong>interface felt fast and uncluttered<\/strong>, especially when jumping into post-meeting discussions. Chat seems perfect for capturing notes or continuing a conversation that started in a call.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But once the number of channels and threads grows, it becomes clear that Zoom\u2019s chat features are still catching up to <a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/best-instant-messaging-apps-for-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">more established messaging apps<\/a>. Organization can feel limited, and it\u2019s easy for messages to get buried if your team engages in more conversations during the day.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Zoom-Team-Chat-interface.png\" alt=\"Zoom Team Chat interface\" class=\"wp-image-21390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Zoom-Team-Chat-interface.png 1200w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Zoom-Team-Chat-interface-480x300.png 480w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Zoom-Team-Chat-interface-1110x694.png 1110w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Zoom-Team-Chat-interface-768x480.png 768w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Zoom-Team-Chat-interface-18x12.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Zoom Team Chat interface<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Zoom Team Chat pros:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Great for meeting-centric teams<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Seamless integration with Zoom Meetings and Whiteboard<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Clean, simple interface&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Included in most Zoom plans<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Zoom Team Chat cons:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Limited chat features&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Limited channel structure and admin controls<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Not ideal for teams that need tight collaboration<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/register\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Experience unlimited collaboration<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What\u2019s new<\/strong>: Zoom has rolled out AI-powered meeting summaries to streamline follow-up.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available for<\/strong>: Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pricing<\/strong>: Free plan available; paid plans start at $13.33 per user per month<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p>\ud83d\udca1 <strong>Pumble Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To find out how Zoom stacks up against Microsoft Teams across all categories, check out this post:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/microsoft-teams-vs-zoom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Microsoft Teams vs Zoom: Which Is the Best Video Conferencing Tool?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"webex-the-enterprise-grade-video-choice\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webex.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Webex<\/a> \u2014 the enterprise-grade video choice&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Webex is one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/best-video-conferencing-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">best video conferencing software<\/a> out there, for a reason.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It feels like an old, reliable vehicle that never breaks down. It\u2019s steady, secure, and trusted by large enterprise companies around the globe.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What Webex brings to the table:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Enterprise security features,&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>High video conferencing quality,<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Long meeting durations, <\/strong>and <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Built-in transcriptions and screen-sharing tools. <\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Webex is a solid hub for meetings and collaboration for companies operating in a highly regulated environment, needing advanced IT governance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But if you\u2019re looking for a modern, lightweight chat experience or rich channel organization, you may find Webex\u2019s messaging features a bit underwhelming.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first thing I noticed about the platform is that the <strong>video and audio tools feel more \u201centerprise\u201d<\/strong> than most competitors.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the chat experience didn\u2019t leave the same impression. The interface feels bulky and the overall flow feels like messaging was added to a meetings platform rather than designed with the chat collaboration in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"678\" src=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Webex-interface.png\" alt=\"Webex interface\u00a0\" class=\"wp-image-21380\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Webex-interface.png 1200w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Webex-interface-531x300.png 531w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Webex-interface-1110x627.png 1110w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Webex-interface-768x434.png 768w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Webex-interface-18x10.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Webex interface&nbsp;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Webex pros:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Great video conferencing&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strong security&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Deep integration with Cisco hardware&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reliable for large organizations<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Webex cons:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Dated chat features&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Heavier interface with a steeper learning curve&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Slow, clunky, messy messaging<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"banner banner-light pumble-gradient-templates\">\n    <div class=\"banner-text lg:pr-[6rem]\">\n        <span class=\"h4 text-lg translation-block mb-0\">Looking for a secure team collaboration software<\/span>\n        <p class=\"translation-block mt-1 mb-3\">Protect your work with Pumble by CAKE.com \u2014 the all-in-one communication app.<\/p>\n\n        <div class=\"banner-buttons d-flex gap-4 align-items-center translation-block justify-content-center justify-content-sm-start\">\n            <a class=\"bg-white rounded px-3 py-1 text-gray-dark\" href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/secure-messaging-app\" target=\"_blank\">See why<\/a>\n\n                            <a class=\"button-2\" href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/register\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up<\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"banner-image banner-image-middle \">\n        <picture>\n            <source srcset=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/templates@2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Illustration\"  media=\"(min-width: 1022px)\" \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/templates.png\"  alt=\"Illustration\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n    \n\n\n\n<p><strong>What\u2019s new<\/strong>: Webex recently improved its noise removal to help teams achieve clean and consistent audio regardless of the environment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available for<\/strong>: Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pricing<\/strong>: Free plan available; paid plans start around $14.50 per user per month, depending on features and calling options&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"best-secure-and-open-source-alternatives\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best secure and open-source alternatives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for collaboration without sacrificing data privacy, open-source tools are a great place to start. The options below combine strong security with the freedom to customize your workspace.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"rocket-chat-the-compliance-choice\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rocket.chat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rocket.Chat<\/a> \u2014 the compliance choice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Rocket.Chat is ideal for teams who need to keep data under their own roof. The app is your best bet if you\u2019re in healthcare, finance, government, or any industry that prioritizes privacy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why secure teams choose Rocket.Chat:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Self-hosting and on-premise deployment,<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>HIPAA, GDPR, and enterprise compliance,&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Open-source flexibility,&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Customizable messaging workflows,<\/strong> and&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strong user permission controls.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The key thing about Rocket.Chat is that it\u2019s built with <strong>flexibility and control<\/strong> in mind. You can host it yourself, customize nearly every part of the system, and integrate it deeply into your own infrastructure.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As I suspected, it\u2019s not as sleek or polished as mainstream chat apps, but it can be really powerful if you have the technical resources to tailor it. From permissions and workflows to UI components, you can basically configure everything to fit your needs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, the interface is a bit less intuitive, especially if you\u2019re (like me) used to immediate simplicity. So, be prepared for a bit of a learning curve if you\u2019re not super tech-savvy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/register\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Simplify your workspace with Pumble<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1570\" height=\"784\" src=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Rocket.Chat-interface.png\" alt=\"Rocket.Chat interface\u00a0\" class=\"wp-image-21381\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Rocket.Chat-interface.png 1570w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Rocket.Chat-interface-601x300.png 601w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Rocket.Chat-interface-1110x554.png 1110w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Rocket.Chat-interface-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Rocket.Chat-interface-1536x767.png 1536w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Rocket.Chat-interface-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1570px) 100vw, 1570px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rocket.Chat interface&nbsp;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Rocket.Chat pros:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>On-premise deployment and full data control&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strong HIPAA and GDPR compliance options&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Customizable&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Enterprise support&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Rocket.Chat cons:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Complicated setup&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>UI and UX are dated and not user friendly&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What\u2019s new: <\/strong>Rocket.Chat recently improved its UI\/UX by placing search in the top navigation bar for quick access.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available for: <\/strong>Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pricing: <\/strong>Free plan available; paid plans start from $9 per user per month<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"mattermost-the-dev-team-choice\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mattermost.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mattermost<\/a> \u2014 the dev team choice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Mattermost is another open-source collaboration app, but it\u2019s specifically designed with development teams in mind.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why tech teams love Mattermost:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Open-source with private hosting options,<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>CLI tools and API integrations,<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Channel-based messaging,&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Deep integrations with CI\/CD tools (GitHub, Jenkins, GitLab), <\/strong>and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Threaded conversations.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Mattermost is a strong contender to Microsoft Teams for companies in industries like finance, healthcare, defense, or enterprise software.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, because it\u2019s built for technical users, non-techies (myself included) may find the interface less intuitive and the setup more complex.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And, like many open-source platforms, the UI can feel utilitarian. It\u2019s functional and practical, but not as smooth or friendly as other communication apps I\u2019ve tested out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/register\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Communicate easier via Pumble<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1912\" height=\"1037\" src=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/mattermost-interface.png\" alt=\"Mattermost interface\u00a0\" class=\"wp-image-21382\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/mattermost-interface.png 1912w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/mattermost-interface-553x300.png 553w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/mattermost-interface-1110x602.png 1110w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/mattermost-interface-768x417.png 768w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/mattermost-interface-1536x833.png 1536w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/mattermost-interface-18x10.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1912px) 100vw, 1912px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mattermost interface&nbsp;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Mattermost pros:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Total data ownership<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Open-source<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Incident management and workflow automation&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Integrations with developer tools<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Mattermost cons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Not ideal for non-technical teams looking for simplicity<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Requires technical skill to deploy and maintain&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What\u2019s new: <\/strong>Mattermost has recently focused on implementing enterprise advanced security, including zero trust access and secure file viewing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available for: <\/strong>Free plan available; paid plans begin around $10 per user per month&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"best-for-task-oriented-teams\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best for task-oriented teams&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your team prioritizes productivity above anything else, you\u2019d want simple, effective coordination. These Teams\u2019 alternatives help you stay aligned and execute faster.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"chanty-the-task-management-choice\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chanty.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chanty<\/a> \u2014 the task management choice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Next on our list of alternatives to Microsoft Teams is Chanty \u2014 one of the most popular team communication and <a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/best-collaboration-tools\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">collaboration tools<\/a> focused on task management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chanty is ideal for small businesses, creative teams, and early-stage startups.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why teams choose Chanty:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Clean and simple UI,&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>\u201cTeambook\u201d hub keeps everything in one place,<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Messages can become tasks instantly,&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Affordable pricing, and&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Suitable for teams transitioning from email<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>My first impression is that the<strong> sign up is straightforward<\/strong> \u2014 you can simply enter your email address and use Chanty on the web.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When trying the free version of Chanty, I found the Teambook hub extremely useful. It\u2019s a one-stop shop for shared links, files, and saved messages.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It lets you find all important messages and files in one place and offers a more sophisticated version of the search bar \u2014 you can use the search box to search for text to make this process more efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Chanty\u2019s separate private and public channels, you can <strong>effectively organize all tasks and projects<\/strong> and keep everyone in the loop with @mentions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One drawback is that its free version supports up to 5 members, which is quite limited. It also doesn\u2019t offer many third-party integrations, which can be a dealbreaker if your team relies on diverse software ecosystems.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"674\" src=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Chanty-interface.png\" alt=\"Chanty interface\u00a0\" class=\"wp-image-21383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Chanty-interface.png 1200w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Chanty-interface-534x300.png 534w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Chanty-interface-1110x623.png 1110w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Chanty-interface-768x431.png 768w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Chanty-interface-18x10.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Chanty interface&nbsp;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Chanty pros:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Unlimited searchable chat history<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>User-friendly interface<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Teambook hub, which serves as an extensive knowledge base for the entire team&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Chanty cons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Free version offers limited features (no video calls or group audio calls, workspaces limited to 5 members)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Limited number of integrations<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What\u2019s new in Chanty: <\/strong>Chanty has recently introduced a built-in calendar to help users keep track of deadlines and events.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available for: <\/strong>Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pricing: <\/strong>Free plan available; paid plans from $4 per user per month<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"clickup-the-project-management-choice\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ClickUp<\/a> \u2014 the project management choice&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>ClickUp is a project management ecosystem. Chat is integrated inside your tasks, docs, whiteboards, dashboards, and workflows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why productivity-focused teams love ClickUp:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Everything is in one workspace (tasks, goals, docs, sprints, chat),&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Chat is tied directly to actionable work,&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Great for asynchronous teams,<\/strong> and <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Decent customization options.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>My first impression of ClickUp is that the sign-up process is simple, but the platform itself has much more features than typical chat tools.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can get started quickly with templates, though there is a learning curve due to the number of available options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While testing ClickUp\u2019s free version, I found its <strong>task organization particularly impressive<\/strong>. You can break work down into spaces, folders, lists, and tasks, with multiple views such as List, Board, Calendar, and Gantt. This makes it easy to manage everything from daily to-dos to long-term projects in one place.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ClickUp also includes built-in chat, comments, and @mentions directly inside tasks, which helps keep conversations tied to actual work.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, communication feels more structured and task-oriented compared to other communication tools.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One qualm I have with ClickUp is that it can feel overwhelming for new users because of its depth and customization options. Teams looking for lightweight, chat collaboration may find it more complex than necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"banner banner-dark pumble-gradient-bundle\">\n    <div class=\"banner-text lg:pr-[6rem]\">\n        <span class=\"h4 text-lg translation-block mb-0\">Simplify your project management<\/span>\n        <p class=\"translation-block mt-1 mb-3\">Try Pumble\u2019s Plaky integration or browse the CAKE.com Marketplace for more<\/p>\n\n        <div class=\"banner-buttons d-flex gap-4 align-items-center translation-block justify-content-center justify-content-sm-start\">\n            <a class=\"bg-white rounded px-3 py-1 text-gray-dark\" href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/register\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up<\/a>\n\n                            <a class=\"button-2\" href=\"https:\/\/marketplace.cake.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">See the Marketplace<\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"banner-image banner-image-bottom \">\n        <picture>\n            <source srcset=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/bundle@2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Illustration\"  media=\"(min-width: 1022px)\" \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/bundle.png\"  alt=\"Illustration\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n    \n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"677\" src=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/ClickUp-interface.png\" alt=\"ClickUp interface\" class=\"wp-image-21384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/ClickUp-interface.png 1200w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/ClickUp-interface-532x300.png 532w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/ClickUp-interface-1110x626.png 1110w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/ClickUp-interface-768x433.png 768w, https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/ClickUp-interface-18x10.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">ClickUp interface<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>ClickUp pros:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Project management capabilities<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Customizable workflows and views&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Free plan with many features<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>ClickUp cons:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Steeper learning curve<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Less intuitive chat features&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Can feel overwhelming for small or simple teams<\/strong>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What\u2019s new in ClickUp<\/strong>: ClickUp recently rolled out AI agents for task management to help teams work faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pricing<\/strong>: Free plan available; paid plans start from $7 per user per month<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"at-a-glance-teams-vs-the-rest\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">At a glance: Teams vs the rest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a comparison table that shows how Microsoft Teams compares to the rest of the apps mentioned in terms of some of the most important features \u2014 price, storage, and video limits.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Tool<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Price (starting)&nbsp;<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Storage (free\/paid)<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Video limits (free\/paid)<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Microsoft Teams<\/strong><\/td><td>Free&nbsp;<br>Paid from $4 user\/month<\/td><td>Free: 5 GB per user Paid: 10 GB\u20131 TB per user<\/td><td>Free: up to 100 participants, 60-min group calls<br>Paid: up to 300 participants and 30-hour meetings<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Pumble<\/strong> <strong>by CAKE.com<\/strong><\/td><td>Free<br>Paid from $2.49 user\/month<\/td><td>Free: 10 GB per workspace<br>Paid: 10 GB\u2013100 GB per user&nbsp;<\/td><td>Free: 1:1 voice and video calls&nbsp;<br>Paid: <a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/group-meetings\">Group meetings<\/a> and recordings (features expand with plans)&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Slack&nbsp;<\/strong><\/td><td>Free<br>Paid from $8.75 user\/month&nbsp;<\/td><td>Free: 5 GB per workspace&nbsp;<br>Paid: 10 GB\u201320 GB per user<\/td><td>Free: 1:1 video calls only<br>Paid: Multi-person calls (exact number varies by plan)&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Google Chat<\/strong><\/td><td>Free<br>Paid from $7 user\/month<\/td><td>Free: 15 GB of Workspace storage<br>Paid: 30 GB\u20135 TB per user<\/td><td>Free: 1-hour group calls<br>Paid: 100\u20131,000 participants; 24-hour calls<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Zoom Team Chat<\/strong><\/td><td>Free&nbsp;<br>Paid from $13.33 user\/month<\/td><td>Free: No cloud storage<br>Paid: 10 GB \u2013 unlimited cloud recording space<\/td><td>Free: 40-minute group calls<br>Paid: up to 300+ participants and longer durations<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Webex<\/strong><\/td><td>Free<br>Paid from $14.50 user\/month<\/td><td>Free: No cloud storage<br>Paid: 10 GB \u2013 unlimited cloud recording space&nbsp;<\/td><td>Free: 40-minute group meetings<br>Paid: up to 1,000 participants and longer sessions<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Rocket.Chat&nbsp;<\/strong><\/td><td>Free<br>Paid from $9 user\/month<\/td><td>Storage depends on deployment and external storage; self-hosted storage is configurable<\/td><td>Video calls are available via integrations without a fixed built-in limit&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Mattermost<\/strong><\/td><td>Free<br>Paid from $10 user\/month<\/td><td>Storage depends on self-hosted or enterprise cloud setup&nbsp;<\/td><td>Video calls via plugins; limits depend on integrations used<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Chanty<\/strong><\/td><td>Free<br>Paid from $4 user\/month<\/td><td>Free: 20 GB total<br>Paid: 20 GB per user<\/td><td>Free: 1:1 video calls<br>Paid: Unlimited group video calls<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>ClickUp<\/strong><\/td><td>Free<br>Paid from $7 user\/month<\/td><td>Free: 60 MB<br>Paid: Unlimited<\/td><td>Video calls available via integrations only<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"final-decision-which-tool-fits-your-workflow\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final decision: which tool fits your workflow?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Choosing the right Microsoft Teams alternative ultimately comes down to how much structure you need versus how much speed and simplicity you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many tools on this list shine in specific areas: some focus on real-time collaboration, others on deep integration or advanced project management.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you like the Microsoft-style workspace with <strong>channels, threads, and team-based communication<\/strong> but want something <strong>faster, easier to use, and genuinely free \u2014 Pumble by CAKE.com<\/strong> <strong>is the best choice<\/strong>. It provides a familiar structure without the heavy setup, performance issues, or paywalls that often come with enterprise tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want your team to move quickly, and avoid unnecessary complexity, <strong>Pumble has the best balance of structure, speed, and cost<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Experience smoother team communication.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/register\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Get started with Pumble today<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover the best Microsoft Teams alternatives in 2026. Compare Slack, Teams, and Google Chat to find the right collaboration platform.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":21368,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-comparisons"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12296","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12296"}],"version-history":[{"count":67,"href":"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12296\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22806,"href":"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12296\/revisions\/22806"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21368"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12296"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12296"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pumble.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}