For greater than 32 million individuals, Slack has develop into the instrument they open very first thing within the morning to get the workday began. And it’s develop into the chief of the workforce collaboration trade, simplifying individuals’s work and boosting their productiveness.
However not everybody is totally elated with Slack. And in the event you’re involved by a number of the platform’s downsides, like limiting free plans, safety issues, or restricted customization choices, you’ve many selections.
I’ve used dozens of messaging instruments that supply capabilities just like Slack and work properly for various kinds of groups. On this roundup, I’ve listed down the 25 greatest Slack options to make distant collaboration a breeze.
The Finest Slack Alternate options
- Google Chat
- Chanty
- Microsoft Groups
- ClickUp
- Pumble
- Rocket.Chat
- Discord
- Brosix
- Mattermost
- Flock
- Ryver
- Glip
- Flowdock
- Fleep
- Twist
- HighSide
- Troop Messenger
- Wire
- Cisco Webex Groups
- Zoho Cliq
- Office by Meta
- Hive
- Basecamp
- Connecteam
- SmartSuite
1. Google Chat
- Obtainable on: Android, iOS, macOS, Home windows, and internet
- Value: Free for Gmail Customers. Beginning at $7.20 a person monthly for Google Workspace.
Google Chat is a Slack various constructed into Gmail, and you’ll chat with anybody who additionally has a Gmail account, whether or not that account is paid or free.
I’ve typically used Google Chat to share challenge updates with shoppers, and its neat interface has been fairly seamless.
Professional tip: You will additionally be capable of use Google Meet with Google Chat to host audio and video calls together with your workforce. Mixed with Google’s suite of instruments, Google Chat is a feature-packed Slack various for Gmail customers.
2. Chanty
- Obtainable on: Mac, Home windows, Android, iOS
- Value: Free model. Paid plans begin at $3 a person monthly
Chanty is an easy workforce chat instrument for small and medium-sized groups.
Like Slack, you may talk in private and non-private channels and thru one-to-one conversations. I like how Chanty organizes all of your recordsdata, hyperlinks, duties, and conversations into folders in a characteristic referred to as Teambook.
Basically, Chanty’s built-in job supervisor and intuitive interface make the chat instrument a strong Slack various for much less tech-savvy customers.
However that mentioned, in the event you’re a techie and love establishing automated workflows like I do, you may join Chanty with many apps via Zapier with out an excessive amount of problem.
3. Microsoft Groups
- Obtainable on: iOS, Android, Home windows, macOS, and Internet
- Value: Free for as much as 100 video individuals. Paid plans begin at $4 a person monthly.
Microsoft Groups is primarily focused in direction of enterprise corporations. It comes together with certainly one of Microsoft Workplace 365 plans.
Nevertheless, in the event you don’t have certainly one of these plans — like me, you can begin with the freemium model of the instrument.
Whereas attempting the free model, I discovered that it contains all of the important workforce chat options like immediate chats, audio/video calls, and integrations. It additionally gives integrations throughout all Workplace 365 merchandise and greater than 250 apps and companies.
Professional Tip: Microsoft Groups isn’t the best app to deploy, so make sure that your workforce admin is tech-savvy.
4. ClickUp
- Obtainable on: Android, Pc, iPhone & iPad, and Internet
- Value: Free Perpetually plan. Paid plans begin at $7 a member monthly
ClickUp is an all-in-one challenge administration instrument providing a wide range of instruments and customization options to assist customers collaborate and talk. I’ve typically used ClickUp to collaborate with shoppers and share real-time updates with its Chat view.
I notably like how customers can embed pages and movies, in addition to format messages, to incorporate code blocks and bulleted lists for a transparent and concise message. ClickUp’s Chat view is tremendous useful to remain organized and immediately chat with anybody.
5. Pumble
- Obtainable on: iOS, Android, Home windows, macOS, Linux, and Internet
- Value: Free with limitless customers. Paid plans begin at $2.49 a month.
Pumble is a enterprise communication instrument with a various set of options reminiscent of channels, direct messages, threads, voice and video messages, and 1:1 voice and video conferences.
I additionally seen that Pumble has a helpful visitor entry characteristic that permits groups to incorporate third events like contractors, distributors, freelancers, and shoppers of their workspaces.
It gives two further perks that give it an edge over Slack: every person on the free plan has limitless entry to message historical past and 10GB of storage per workspace with no closing dates.
6. Rocket.Chat
- Obtainable on: iOS, Android, Home windows, macOS, Linux, and Internet
- Value: Free as much as 1K customers. Paid plans begin at $7 a person monthly
Rocket.Chat is a free, open-source Slack various that allows you to tailor the appear and feel of your workforce communication setup to your individual model. Considered one of Rocket.Chat’s greatest options is the benefit of migration. All it is advisable to do is export your recordsdata from Slack and add them to Rocket.Chat.
Professional tip: I additionally discovered a number of helpful options on this instrument, like real-time translation, stay chat consumer, and E2E encryption, making it a Slack various that’s undoubtedly value a glance.
7. Discord
- Obtainable on: iOS, Android, Home windows, macOS, Linux, and Internet
- Value: Free. Paid plans begin at $9.99 monthly.
Whereas Discord has conventionally been a go-to app for avid gamers, it will possibly additionally assist groups collaborate successfully—due to its wealthy performance and limitless message historical past.
Once I first began utilizing Discord for work, I figured that you may simply implement the idea of Slack’s personal and public channels utilizing channel settings. It’s additionally the one app on this checklist that gives push-to-talk options.
Professional tip: Remember that Discord could not have integrations greatest fitted to work. However in the event you want a free house to speak through textual content, voice, or video, Discord might be a superb choice for you.
8. Brosix
- Obtainable on: Home windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Internet
- Value: Free for as much as 3 customers. Paid plans begin at $4 a person monthly.
Brosix is a user-friendly messaging platform with a safe personal workforce community, enabling exact person administration. I attempted a bunch of options in its Instantaneous Messenger, together with end-to-end encryption to make sure information safety, environment friendly peer-to-peer (P2P) file switch capabilities, and safe immediate messaging.
What’s extra, it gives chat rooms for collaboration, real-time communication, and help for each cell and internet purposes.
9. Mattermost
- Obtainable on: iOS, Android, Home windows, macOS, Linux, Internet
- Value: Free for as much as 10 customers. Paid plans begin at $10 a person monthly.
Mattermost is one other fashionable Slack various. This open-source resolution is absolutely customizable to fulfill your organization’s wants. You can too implement Mattermost with personal cloud internet hosting or a self-managed server.
What impressed me essentially the most was how this resolution is deployed by main organizations like NASA due to its safety features and uptime.
It’s purpose-built for technical and operational groups with particular performance for maximizing effectivity, like id and entry controls, compliance auditing & reporting, and information management.
Professional tip: Mattermost helps greater than a dozen languages, making it a fantastic match for world groups.
10. Flock
- Obtainable on: iOS, Android, Home windows, macOS, Linux, and Internet
- Value: Free for as much as 20 customers. Paid plans begin at $4.50 a person monthly.
Flock is a office chat software program that claims to run quicker than Slack. Moreover all of the common communication options like immediate chat, audio, and video calls, I found that Flock gives built-in polls, reminders, notes, and to-do snippets.
Flock’s freemium model is restricted to 10,000 searchable messages. Paid plans unlock useful options like display sharing and limitless message historical past. I feel its interface is way simpler to navigate than Slack’s.
11. Ryver
- Obtainable on: iOS, Android, Home windows, macOS, and Internet
- Value: Beginning at $69 monthly for as much as 12 customers.
Ryver is a workforce communication instrument identified for its built-in job supervisor that turns messages into duties, and you’ll handle them with Kanban boards.
Like Slack, Ryver helps you to talk via open boards, personal teams, and direct messages. I additionally tried its characteristic to make voice and video requires as much as 5 customers per name. And in case you have a Zapier account, it’s also possible to combine Ryver into your favourite apps in a snap.
12. Glip
- Obtainable on: iOS, Android, Home windows, macOS, and Internet
- Value: Free as much as 100 individuals, Paid plans beginning at $30 a person monthly.
Glip is a workforce collaboration instrument developed by RingCentral. Whereas Slack has configurable options, making it a one-size-fits-all workforce chat app, Glip has built-in options like duties, calendars, and notes.
You may join Glip to different apps via Zapier or certainly one of its greater than 20 customized integrations.
I used to be impressed to see how Glip gives a set of instruments for particular use instances, like clever telephone options. You get a enterprise SMS platform and a cloud telephone system — excellent for gross sales groups.
13. Flowdock
- Obtainable on: iOS, Android, Home windows, macOS, Linux, and Internet
- Value: Paid plans begin at $3 per person monthly.
Flowdock is one other Slack various that organizes dialog by threads.
All threads are color-coded so you may simply navigate between matters and manage your workforce’s communication. I discovered their interface to be extra cluttered than Slack, however the choice to color-code threads is useful in sorting conversations.
Flowdock additionally options open, invite-only, and one-to-one chats. That is nice for internet hosting various kinds of conferences, like every day stand-ups, weekly syncs, or month-to-month opinions. What’s extra, you may join Flowdock to greater than 100 of your favourite apps.
14. Fleep
- Obtainable On: Home windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, and iOS
- Value: Free as much as 10GB of file storage. Paid plans begin at €5 per person monthly billed yearly.
Fleep is designed across the thought of “conversations” the place customers can take part in a dialogue on a particular matter.
To make these conversations extra actionable, Fleep gives a characteristic referred to as “Job” for assigning and coordinating work. Mix this with the “Pinboard” characteristic to let customers pin important messages, particulars, or bulletins to the facet for simple entry.
Whereas 1:1 conversations are limitless throughout the board, I experimented with the freemium model. It gives restricted storage capability and might solely help three group conversations. For limitless group conversations, you may have to replace the Marketing strategy.
15. Twist
- Obtainable on: MacOS, Home windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Internet
- Value: Free. Paid plans begin at $6 per person monthly.
Twist is a perfect communication software program for asynchronous groups.
Its mannequin strikes away from real-time conversations into “deeper, structured communication” through their “Threads” characteristic. As an alternative of a gaggle chat, customers should designate a particular ”thread” for conversations associated to a subject.
One-on-one and small group chat can be out there for conversations that do not require threads.
After signing up for the freemium model, I discovered that you simply get a one-month restrict on search historical past and 5GB most file storage — just like Slack’s free model.
16. HighSide
- Obtainable On: Home windows, MacOS, Ubuntu, iPhone, Android
- Value: Paid plans begin at $12 a person monthly.
HighSide is a superb alternative for workforce communication for organizations with superior safety wants. This instrument gives end-to-end encryption, authentication, and safe cloud storage.
Its infrastructure may even enable you guarantee compliance with HIPAA, GDPR, and extra. I additionally discovered a Microsoft Groups extension to assist in working securely throughout apps.
Professional tip: Moreover securing your communications, this instrument gives all important capabilities to work together with your workforce, like file-sharing, audio + video messaging, information analytics, and compliance regulation.
17. Troop Messenger
- Obtainable On: Home windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS
- Value: Paid plans begin at $2.5 per person monthly.
One other nice Slack various is Troop Messenger, which has chat, audio and video calling, and screen-sharing capabilities.
However this app takes a lead over Slack with two distinctive options: audio messaging and distant desktop management, which permits your workforce to get pleasure from a variety of use instances inside one resolution.
I additionally discovered some attention-grabbing options within the premium model, like “Burnout.” It permits customers to collaborate confidentially for a specified period of time earlier than the historical past is eliminated.
One other one is “Reply Later” that will help you prioritize your communication with out forgetting something.
18. Wire
- Obtainable on: Home windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS
- Value: Not out there.
Wire is a non-public messaging app with a core give attention to safety. I discovered this to be one of the best Slack various in case your major concern is information privateness and safe communications.
This app is predicated on the world’s first open protocol designed for end-to-end encrypted communication. It additionally encrypts cross-platform messages throughout iOS, Mac, Android, and PC.
Professional tip: This is a perfect resolution for corporations working within the public sector and enterprises. You’ll have higher choices to guard all info, not simply the confidential bits.
19. Cisco Webex Groups
- Obtainable on: Home windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
- Value: Free. Paid plans begin at $7 a license monthly.
Webex Groups is an enterprise-focused instrument for workforce collaboration and video conferencing. Whereas Slack is extra fitted to small-mid-sized groups and startups, Webex caters to the wants of worldwide groups distributed throughout areas.
This Slack various integrates with OneDrive and SharePoint to make file-sharing simpler. In actual fact, it’s also possible to get tools just like the Cisco Webex Board to host board conferences and video calls.
20. Zoho Cliq
- Obtainable on: Home windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android
- Value: Free. Paid plans beginning at $8 for as much as 25 customers a month.
Zoho Cliq is one other one of many many instruments by Zoho. This real-time messaging software program is an easier, extra built-in various to Slack. Whereas its interface is fairly just like Slack, it leaps forward within the precise performance.
The instrument integrates properly with different Zoho apps — CRM, HRM, monetary administration, and extra. So, you may nearly management your complete enterprise operations from one place.
Professional tip: Cliq’s model 5.0 has enterprise-grade safety choices with extra workforce collaboration capabilities for video + audio conferences. It additionally contains AI-powered automation to average all channels concurrently.
21. Office by Meta
- Obtainable on: Home windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
- Value: Not out there.
A Slack various by Meta, the social media big? I had the identical doubts as you once I found this instrument.
However on giving it a trial run, I spotted that is an superior workforce collaboration platform with the interface of a social media app — enjoyable.
Throughout my trial, I discovered that Office is filled with options related for distant/distributed groups, like a information library, group chats, analytics, and integrations. It additionally has cool capabilities you gained’t discover on Slack, like a stay video broadcast (not a gathering) to make firm bulletins.
I additionally suppose the Information Feed, similar to a Fb or Instagram feed, is ideal for sharing newest updates and wins throughout the board.
22. Hive
- Obtainable on: Home windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
- Value: Free. Paid plans begin at $12 a person monthly.
Hive is a challenge administration platform with superior capabilities for groups to work collectively. I signed up for this app to see the way it fares in opposition to Slack and found it’s an all-in-one platform for workforce collaboration.
From time monitoring to automated workflows and analytics, Hive gives every part it is advisable to succeed with a big workforce.
I notably favored the power to customise challenge views and arrange automation guidelines for issues to maneuver rapidly, even in my absence. Its built-in chat characteristic is simply nearly as good as (if not higher than) Slack.
23. Basecamp
- Obtainable on: Home windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
- Value: Paid plans beginning at $4.50 a person monthly.
Basecamp is one other platform I’ve used as a Slack various whereas working with a consumer. Whereas the instrument is purpose-built for challenge administration, it additionally gives workforce collaboration capabilities just like Slack.
Basecamp reduces pointless notifications and noise you see on Slack. As an alternative, it helps you to create extra targeted discussions with Message Boards. You may hold all of the conversations and updates a couple of matter on a single web page.
Professional tip: I feel this app does a significantly better job at organizing details about tasks than Slack, serving to to keep away from any information loss or repeated effort.
24. Connecteam
- Obtainable on: Home windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
- Value: Free. Paid plans begin at $29 a month for as much as 30 customers.
Connecteam is a superb Slack various for non-desk staff. Its intuitive cell app permits groups to attach with all staff in actual time with chat, bulletins, surveys, occasions, and a information base — discuss all-in-one!
I additionally discovered Connecteam a extra versatile various to Slack because it contains three most important hubs: Operations, Communications, and HR/L&D. So, groups can flexibly run their complete enterprise from a single app or use it completely for workforce collaboration.
25. SmartSuite
- Obtainable on: Home windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
- Value: Free, Paid plans beginning at $10 a person monthly.
Like all different instruments on this checklist, I additionally began a free trial of SmartSuite. It is a versatile resolution that mixes every part groups have to collaborate successfully — spreadsheets, challenge dashboards, file sharing, calendars, and extra.
Professional tip: What amazed me essentially the most is how SmartSuite isn’t only a workforce communication and challenge administration instrument.
It consolidates real-time information for varied features like advertising, gross sales, HR, and enterprise operations. You can too arrange customized workflows to decide on the metrics that matter essentially the most to you and the way they need to be visualized.
Take Management Over Your Work with Slack Alternate options
Regardless of its reputation for workforce collaboration, Slack has its flaws. It may be costly for bigger groups and never customizable for smaller groups. There’s additionally a good bit of a studying curve to undertake its interface and plenty of options absolutely.
I’ve personally tried and reviewed these instruments to make the choice simpler for you. For those who’re on the lookout for one thing extra seamless, strive certainly one of these Slack options which will be just right for you and your workforce.
Editor’s notice: This submit was initially revealed in September 2018 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.
