12 Best Slack Alternatives for Team Communication.
Team communication tools have been popping up like mushrooms in the post-pandemic world of remote work, so you have more options than ever before. Slack might be one of the most popular options, but you have to weigh the pros and cons before choosing the perfect messaging app to improve teamwork.
In this article, we take a look at the best alternatives to Slack to help you determine which team communication app suits your needs. We handpicked each chat software based on its collaboration features, price, and mobile app availability. Also, be sure to check out our article on the best coordination tools like Asana and Trello for productivity.
1. Microsoft Teams
Microsoft has developed a business chat tool designed for both corporate companies and small groups. Microsoft Teams is already available to anyone who subscribes to one of the Microsoft Office 365 plans. You can get a free version of Microsoft Teams if you don’t have any of these plans. All chat features will be available to you for free. Among them are instant chat, audio, video calls and various integrations.
The free version of Microsoft Teams supports up to 100 video chat participants and up to 500,000 internal and external users. If your company needs more, the premium plan for this chat tool starts at $5 per month per user. It is available for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac and web users.
Microsoft Teams integrations are somewhat like individual apps that you can add to your chat tool to personalize it. They can help you better organize your business, share files, or track business intelligence.
2. Google Chat
Google Chat is a built-in feature of the Gmail service designed to replace Google Hangouts. You can use it to communicate with anyone with a Gmail account. Whether you or your contact is using a free plan or a paid Gmail account, the chat tool is available to everyone.
To be able to conduct video and audio chats, you will have to use Google Meet along with Google Chat. It’s a great solution and SLack alternative for all enterprise teams, especially those already using G Suite.
Google Chat is completely free for all Gmail users and is supported on Android, iOS, and Windows.
3. Discord
For all companies looking for an open source alternative to Slack, Discord might be the right solution. Although this app was designed as a chat app for gamers, it turned out to be much more than that. It has unlimited chat and screen sharing features which are very handy for corporate communication.
The main function of Discord is video and audio calls with API integration. If you want unlimited chat history, unlimited storage, high-quality file sharing, and unlimited members per channel, you’ll have to pay $9.99 per month for Discord Nitro.
Discord is used not only by gamers and corporations, but also by schools, communities, friends and family. That’s why its developers have made sure that Discord is available on all web browsers, iOS and Android, as well as Windows, Linux and macOS.
4. Rocket.Chat
Companies that are looking for self-hosted options and don’t mind more sophisticated and tech-hungry alternatives to Slack should look into Rocket.Chat. This is another open source chat tool that will allow you to fully customize your multi-channel platform.
Rocket.Chat gives its users full access to its code. This means that you as a company can change this communication tool to suit your needs. You can add or remove some of its features, as well as improve it as you see fit. It also has end-to-end encryption that keeps your corporate conversations secure.
The hosted plan of Rochet.Chat is paid. It comes at $3 per user per month. But their open source code allows you to enjoy all the features available for free if you only host them within your company.
Rocket.Chat is available on all iOS, Android, Windows, macOS and Linux devices. It also has a web version.
5. Fleep
Fleep is a communication platform that focuses on task management. In addition to the usual chat function, it offers opportunities for appointment and coordination of work. There is also a pin board where you and your colleagues can pin important messages and reminders. The whole concept of Fleep Chat is built on the idea of having conversations about specific topics that anyone can discuss.
The freemium version of this chatting platform has unlimited one-on-one chat options. But it will only support three group conversations at the same time. It also allows up to 10 GB of storage space. But if you need more, you will have to pay for the premium version. Pricing will be done annually, although the plan is $5 per month per person. The premium version will give you access to 100 GB of storage space.
Fleep is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS
6. Chanty
Chanty is AI-driven collaboration software designed to improve productivity and team organization in your company. It is also advantageous for the price. Small teams of up to 10 people can use it for free. But if you have more people on your team and want the extra features that this communication platform has to offer, then you need the premium version. However, even the premium Chanty is very affordable at $3 per user per month.
Chanty offers many of the same features as Slack for half the price. But it also comes with an integrated task management system to help you create and assign tasks to different team members. A feature called Teambook will allow you to neatly organize tasks, chats and files into folders, and your workspace will always be organized.
Available for Android, iPhone, and iPad smartphones, as well as Windows and macOS users.
7. Mattermost
Mattermost is an open source chat tool perfect for small business teams that need extra security without overpaying. This platform is free for 10 users, but for distributed organizations it costs $10 per user per month.
The developers of Mattermost have invested in the privacy and security features of their chat tool, making it an excellent platform suitable for government, medical, and financial institutions.
The interface of this chat platform is familiar, as it resembles Slack. This makes it easy to switch from Slack to Mattermost. But Mattermost has one extra feature. This will allow users to manage their workflow from within the software. Its open source means it’s customizable, and tech-savvy users can make Mattermost a personalized tool.
Mattermost is available for all Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, macOS and web users.
8. Flock
If your company is looking for a hosted instant messaging app, Flock should be your choice. It also supports audio and video calls, file sharing, and company productivity tools, and supports direct and group messaging. Flock has it all. Their video platform is similar to Skype and Zoom and your team will be familiar with it.
The free version of Flock supports up to 20 users. But the paid version, which only costs $4.50 per user per month, pushes that number up to 100. And more! The paid version also contains many additional features to help you manage tasks and your team members more easily. If you’re not sure if you need these extra features, you can always try Premium Flock for free with a 30-day trial period.
Flock is available for Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, macOS and the web.
9. Ryver
Companies that want all their communications in one place should consider Ryver. It is a collaboration app designed not only for communication but also for task management and overall workflow. Ryver has integrations with Google Drive, Dropbox, and Box, making file sharing extremely easy. Audio and video calls can support up to 5 people.
Ryver is a hosted tool with unlimited chat, file sharing, and a very well thought out message history search option. This and its task management feature make it not only a good communication platform, but also a project management tool.
Ryver can be a little pricey for new startups. But if you want to give it a try, there’s a 14-day trial to help you decide if paying $49 a month is worth it. Available for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS devices and on the web.
10. Glip
Glip is a great alternative to Slack for all those companies that need advanced security features built into their communications platform. Glip is free for the first 100 users, but advanced features and more members are available for $14.99 per user per month.
Acquired by RingCentral, Glip is more than a team chat platform, it’s a collaboration tool. It comes with built-in features such as tasks, calendar, notes, audio and video conferencing, and more. Glip can be connected to other apps via Zapier, allowing you to automate some of your team’s tasks.
Glip is available on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and the web.
11. Twist
If you work with an international team, you probably understand how difficult it is to keep your workflows in sync. Group meetings and conversations can be very problematic if everyone works at different times. This is where Twist comes into play. It’s a communication software designed for teams that can’t rely on real-time calls, chats, and conferences.
Private chat and public channels are structured into threads, which helps a lot in long-term communication. In addition, Twist consolidates emails and chats, keeping them all in one place. This, plus unlimited history search, makes it easy to keep track of your communications.
While Twist is free for unlimited users, if you want more features, integrations, and unlimited chat history storage, you’ll have to pay $5 per user per month. Available for Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, and web.
12. Ring Central
Ring Central is a cloud-based business phone system that is great for both small and large corporations using voice calls. It also features messaging and video conferencing systems to keep your team connected at all times. But it works best when paired with other communication apps. Its open API provides Ring Central integration with over 2,000 business applications and tools.
Virtual conference rooms and the geographical diversity of data centers ensure that international workgroups can always communicate and synchronize their workflows. What’s more, Ring Central is a great alternative to Slack for companies that need enterprise-grade security.
Ring Central has several paid plans, but they all cost $4.99 per user per month. Ring Central is available for Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. There is also a web browser version.
12 Best Slack Alternatives for Team Communication
12 Best Slack Alternatives for Team Communication