Is your team starting to feel constrained by Slack’s limitations? As helpful as Slack can be for team messaging, its narrow focus on chat leaves much to be desired in a robust work management platform. But what are the viable alternatives?
Among business communication and project management tools, Slack managed to stand out. It’s because of its innovative design, an array of handy tools, and enhanced ease of use. The tool is ideally crafted for business communications and collaborations, therefore, is suitable for the quick exchange of thoughts, ideas, messages, and even files and documents between colleagues and partners. But it doesn’t always have to be Slack; there are several Slack alternatives worth trying.
I have examined 8 top Slack alternatives in 2023 that offer similar ease, equally intuitive features, and robust functionality. Let’s check them out.
Top 8 Slack Alternatives: In A Nutshell (2023)
Want to have a quick overview of top Slack alternatives? Here are the concise details in the tabular format for easy understanding.
| S. No. | Slack Alternatives | Best For | Rating |
| 1. | Microsoft Teams | Best enterprise solution for sizable teams. | 4.9/5 |
| 2. | Zoom Cloud Meetings | For corporate teams looking for a collaboration and video conferencing tool. | 4.8/5 |
| 3. | Rocket Chat | More control on the tool and better customization options. | 4.7/5 |
| 4. | Google Chat | Simplicity and Ease. | 4.7/5 |
| 5. | Mattermost | Affordability and intuitiveness. | 4.8/5 |
| 6. | Chanty | Exceptional cost-to-performance ratio. | 4.7/5 |
| 7. | Discord | Handy Free communication tool | 4.6/5 |
| 8. | ClickUp | Best suited for growing teams and organizations | 4.5/5 |
Microsoft Teams is the most widely used business communication tool next to Slack; however, software like Zoom Cloud Meeting, Rocket Chat, Google Chat, etc., are also excellent alternatives. In this segment, we will explore the top 8 alternatives of Slack in 2023. Let’s dive in!
1. Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is undoubtedly an exceptional productivity application and an excellent recommendation for workgroups looking for a business communication tool. It allows both individual and group messaging along with an impressive repertoire of messaging features like stickers, emojis, GIFs, and more.
On top of that, Microsoft Teams also excels in file sharing, task planning, video conferencing, and making calls. Above all, Microsoft Teams is renowned for its simplicity and the trust that comes with the brand name Microsoft.
Bonus: Check our post on Microsoft Teams statistics to know how many users this project management tool has.
Microsoft Teams Highlights
- Robust virtual meet-up options with extra control like together mode and background blur.
- Excellent call features like group calling, call transfers, voicemails, etc.
- Powerful collaboration features like easy file sharing and editing with teams directly in Excel, Word, or PowerPoint.
- Intuitive chat feature to easily convey messages, share ideas and discuss work.
Microsoft Teams Pricing
Microsoft Teams comes with tailor-made plans for business and home use.
Details of Business Plans;
- Microsoft Teams Essentials – $4 per month.
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic – $6.00 per month.
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard – $12.50 per month.
Details of Home Plans
- Microsoft 365 Personal – $6.99 per month.
- Microsoft 365 Family – $9.99 per month
Additionally, both plans also come with a free subscription with limits on video calling (30 hours) and 5GB cloud storage.
2. Zoom Cloud Meetings
You might be familiar with Zoom; it gained unprecedented popularity during the lockdown phase. While its popularity was primarily for its unparalleled video conferencing capabilities, Zoom also includes equally Robust collaboration functionalities for work meetings and business communications. In addition to the regular chat features, Zoom Cloud Meeting also supports presenting projects in real-time, annotating files and documents with marks and cues, plus sharing files and sending images.
In addition to that, Zoom Cloud Meeting also boasts other exciting features like audio recording and call transfers.
Zoom Cloud Meetings Highlights
- Robust features for creating and scheduling meetings.
- Excellent team chat options for easy communication.
- VoIP calling feature to connect with colleagues around the world.
- Instant messaging alongside File sharing and more.
- Search chat feature to access chat history speedily.
- Support contact channels to segmentize communication into groups.
Zoom Cloud Meeting Pricing
Zoom offer multiple plans to help users choose according to their requirements;
Pro – $14.99 per month per user
Business – $19.99 per month per user.
Enterprise – Available upon request.
Apart from the usual premium plans, Zoom offers a free subscription with limitations on storage and video calls (40 minutes per meeting). On top of that, if you go for yearly billing, you will also receive a 17% discount on the final purchase.
3. Rocket.Chat
Next on our list is Rocket Chat – a simple and easy-to-use collaboration tool. One primary advantage of Rocket Chat is the simplicity it offers to switch from Slack. Incidentally, you can export all your files from Slack and upload them on Rocket chat, and you are good to go.
On top of that, Rocket Chat also offers a host of attractive features other than traditional messaging, like an encrypted and closed team, project, and private channel chats, etc. On top of that, it also allows you to add unlimited guest users and channels in your live sessions. And to enhance security, Rocket Chat implements stringent two-factor authentication during file sharing.
Rocket.Chat Highlights
- Unique omnichannel conversation audit.
- Strong e2e encryption for enhanced privacy.
- Extremely customizable due to open API support.
- Support around 30 languages.
- Live chat and sms integration for seamless conversations.
Rocket Chat Pricing
Rocket Chat offers two plans tailored to different sets of audiences. One is paid, and the other is free.
- Rocket Chat Enterprise Plan Cost – $7 per user per month.
There are also add-ons available on the paid version. For the pricing of these add-ons, you have to contact the Rocket Chat team.
4. Google Chat
Google also offers a fantastic collaboration tool that you can use instead of Slack – it’s called Google Chat, which comes integrated into Gmail. Incidentally, Google Chat is an intuitive business communication tool that is both easy to use and secure. It’s exceptionally crafted to support business communication within Google’s workspace.
With Google Chat, you can collaborate with your colleagues via text, create chat rooms, exchange files, deliver presentations or initiate video calls.
Google Chat Highlights
- Both built-in and stand-alone platforms to help you simplify collaborations.
- Dedicated spaces for topic-based chatting, sharing ideas, and exchanging projects.
- Powerful search feature to easily access past chats, files, or documents.
- Bots to automate the process and boost productivity.
- Helpful suggestions to enable you to interact and communicate with your team more efficiently.
Google Chat Pricing
Google Chat is a part of Google’s workspace, so if you are already a customer, you don’t have to pay additional charges.
Pricing for Workspace is as follows;
- Business Starter – $6
- Business Standard – $12
- Business Plus – $18
5. Mattermost.Com
If you are a fan of open-source software, Mattermost could be your best Slack alternative. The best part is it’s pretty flexible and can be tailored to specific business needs. On top of that, you can also use it on a self-managed server or cloud hosting.
Mattermost packs multiple features like workflow automation, project management, reporting and statistics etc., to make business communication as simple as possible. On top of that, Mattermost also supports a dozen languages, making it an ideal Slack alternative for international teams.
Mattermost Highlights
- Real-time communication for hassle-free conversations.
- Unique code snippet sharing feature.
- Built-in workflow automation capability for more technically inclined teams.
- Seamless integration with popular tools like GitLab, GitHub, ServiceNow, etc.
- Mobile and desktop app for unhindered collaborations.
- Excellent switching tool to let you speedily swap chat for calls or screen share.
Mattermost Pricing
Mattermost has been tailored to serve teams of all sizes. Here are the pricing details.
- Professional Plan – $10 per user per month.
- Enterprise Plan – Price available upon request.
Additionally, there’s a free plan which can meet most of the requirements of small teams.
6. Chanty.com
If you are a beginner in remote business communications and want a simple tool, try Chanty. It’s an intuitive tool for small- to medium-sized teams with impressive features. Much like Slack, you can easily interact with your team in both public and private channels.
There is a handy feature called team book where Chanty neatly stacks all the shared files, tasks, links etc., for easy access. On top of that, Chanty also allows unlimited access to message history, so your older chats are always accessible.
Chanty Highlights
- No learning curve; you can get started with Chanty right away.
- Quick access to the entire message history.
- Allow sharing of content from YouTube, Coub, GIFs, etc.
- Help you prioritize tasks with pins. You can pin tasks like deadlines, reports, or any new ideas.
- Built-in task organizer to enhance productivity.
Chanty Pricing
Chanty offers both monthly and annual subscription plans. Details are as follows;
- Business Plan – $4 per user per month.
You have to pay an additional $4 per member plus an extra $4 for each multi-conversation guest. And if you aren’t ready for the paid subscription, you can go with the Free plan that offers basic features but doesn’t include data import, group audio calls, one-on-one video calls, group video calls, and screen sharing.
7. Discord
You might have heard gamers bragging about Discord, but its functionality stretches beyond gaming. Interestingly, discord can be a valuable tool for workplaces too.
As a Slack alternative, it allows users to invite co-workers or team members to work and collaborate on a common task. Similar to other tools in the list, it allows group and individual chats plus audio and video calls. On top of that, you can easily share files and images too.
Discord Highlights
- Screen sharing feature to help you easily share content on the screen with team members.
- Server folders to help you organize multiple discord servers and keep all your business communication in one place.
- Allow pinning of urgent tasks or messages on top of the channels to help your team prioritize the work.
- Bots to enhance workflow further, automate access, set reminders, etc.
Discord Pricing
Discord is free to use; however, you can also opt for the paid version for $4.99 monthly to avail of additional benefits like improved audio and video quality, exclusive emojis, and increased file upload size.
8. ClickUp
ClickUp is a feature-packed project management platform that provides teams with tools to collaborate on tasks, documents, goals, and more. It includes productivity features like customizable workflows, reminders, time tracking, file sharing, Gantt charts, calendars, and video chat. With its interactive interface and integration capabilities, ClickUp aims to be an all-in-one project and work management solution.
Slack is a popular team communication app for sharing messages, files, and updates. It streamlines real-time collaboration through channels, instant notifications, and group messaging. However, Slack is mainly a communication tool rather than a complete project management solution. It lacks the robust task management, productivity, and automation features found in ClickUp.
ClickUp Highlights
- Create tasks with descriptions, assignees, due dates, priorities, statuses, and more
- Break down larger tasks into steps as sub-tasks
- Centralized documents integrated with Google Drive, DropBox, etc.
- Track time spent on tasks via timer or manual entry
- Visual timeline of projects and task schedules
- Shared calendars to schedule events and assign tasks
- Communicate within tasks with commenting and chat
ClickUp Pricing
There is a free forever plan which is best for personal use. The premium plans of ClickUp are as follows:
- Unlimited Plan – $10 per member per month
- Business Plan – $19 per member per month
ClickUp also has an enterprise plan that is great for large teams.
But Why Choose A Slack Alternative?
Slack is good, but it still carries a few significant downsides, often forcing users to look for an alternative. Here are a few areas where Slack needs major upgrades:
- Slack is sometimes too slow on mobile, which is irritating, particularly if you are trying to access older messages.
- You can only access chat and history for up to three months in the free version. This poses a problem for smaller teams who can’t manage the paid plan.
- Storage is too limited, with the capacity of holding only about 10k messages. If you want more space, you have to upgrade your plan.
- Slack becomes burdensome if you have too many groups, chats, or channels, causing distractions and poor productivity.
- Slack needs more customization options and better integration with third-party apps.
- The pricing structure is also confusing and expensive for larger teams.
Conclusion: Best Slack Alternatives (2023)
The key to identifying the best Slack alternative is to decide what features, benefits, and subscription plans best fits the needs of your business and your employees or co-worker. Once you have zeroed down that, you can easily pick the best slack alternative that is the perfect match for you.
In my view, Microsoft Teams is the best Slack alternative if you are looking for an enterprise solution. It offers a comprehensive set of features that can easily cater to large organizations.
However, if you are more into simplicity and affordability, Chanty or Mattermost are also worthwhile. These Slack alternatives offer a user-friendly interface and cost-effective subscription plans that won’t break the bank.
