15 Best (& Budget-Friendly) Slack Alternatives for 2022

If you’re looking for a simple list of Slack alternatives, we’ve got you covered.

Sure, Slack is a stellar tool for team communication and collaboration. But, every team’s needs are different.

And let’s face it, just because Slack is a common tool doesn’t mean it’s the best tool for everyone — plus, there’s no harm in window shopping for different options, right?

Now, whatever your reasons for surveying Slack alternatives, inspecting and selecting a practical tool for you and your team can be a pain. But, good news: we’ve done the dirty work for you…

Today, we’ll look at 15 of the best, budget-friendly Slack alternatives for 2022. We’ll highlight their breakout features, discuss pricing (some are free!), and review which devices support these tools.

And by the end of this post, you’ll have a clear view of what Slack alternatives exist so you can pinpoint the best option for your team (and your wallet).

Ready to cut some “Slack?”

The 15 Best Slack Alternatives Today

This list is in alphabetical order, not ranked in any way. Most platforms offer feature-rich, free plans. The icon ($$) marks advanced features available only with paid plans.

1. Bitrix24

Bitrix24 is a comprehensive business platform. It accommodates team collaboration, project management, team communication, HR, CRM, and website building.

Available On:

• Web browser
• Windows
• Mac
• Android
• iOS

Breakout Features:

• Public and private team chat and instant messaging channels
• Individual & group chat and video calling
• Unlimited call duration
• Video chat and conferencing with up to 48 people
• Company social feed
• Webmail
• Workgroups
• Smart search
• App integrations
• Automation ($$)
• Screen sharing ($$)
• Audio/video recording ($$)
• Meeting briefs ($$)

Pricing:

The free plan includes unlimited users and 5 GB of online storage.

Paid plans start at $39/month, billed annually.

Bitrix24’s self-hosted solution includes free updates for a year and a 30-day free trial.

2. CA Flowdock

CA Flowdock focuses specifically on team collaboration and instant messaging. The simplistic-looking platform has a powerful search feature and supports numerous integrations to create a unique customized experience for you and your team.

Available On:

• Web browser
• Windows
• Mac
• Linux
• Android
• iOS

Breakout Features:

• Unlimited “flows” — organized collaboration spaces
• Color-coded conversation threads
• Private 1:1 flows
• Instant video chat and screen sharing
• File sharing
• Message search, filters, and tags
• Integration Inbox — a dedicated thread for integration updates and other related topics
• 100+ integrations and open API

Pricing:

A free plan is available for students and teams of five users or less.

Paid plans start at $3/month/user. Try the Standalone free plan for 30 days.

3. Discord

Discord is a community-building platform and communication tool. It is insanely easy and intuitive to set up and start talking amongst friends or teams through text, audio, and even video.

Available On:

• Web browser
• Windows
• Mac
• Linux
• Android
• iOS

Breakout Features:

• Invite-only, topic-based channels
• Voice channels
• Video chat and screen sharing
• Moderation tools
• Custom member access
• Server boosts ($$)
• Custom and animated emojis ($$)
• Larger file uploads ($$)
• Personal profile with animated avatar and custom tag ($$)
• HD video, screen sharing, and live streaming ($$)

Pricing:

Discord is free to use. Paid plans with bonus perks start at $4.99/month or $49.99/year.

4. Fleep

Europe-based Fleep offers its communication and project management tool in a Slack-esque interface – but with a nicer price tag.

Available On:

• Web browser
• Windows
• Mac
• Linux
• Android
• iOS

Breakout Features:

• Unlimited message history
• Unlimited 1:1 messaging
• Pinboard for important messages
• File drawer for shared files and photos
• Audio/video calling and screen sharing
• Integrations and API
• Unlimited group message hosting ($$)
• A task management board for each conversation ($$)
• Admin tool(s) ($$)
• Logo customization ($$)
• 100 GB of file storage ($$)

Pricing:

The free plan lets you host one group chat and gives you 1 GB of file storage.

Paid plans start at €5/user/month ($5.50), billed annually.

5. Flock

Flock’s team communication and collaboration tool is a direct Slack competitor and a top alternative.

Available On:

• Windows
• Mac
• Linux
• Chrome OS
• Android
• iOS

Breakout Features:

• Private and public channels
• Unlimited 1:1 and group chat
• Productivity tool(s) to match your style
• 60+ app integrations and API
• Guest invites with restricted access
• Auto-generated, customizable mailing lists
• Discussion-to-task conversion
• Advanced search
• 1:1 video calling
• Unlimited channels ($$)
• Video conferencing for up to 20 participants ($$)
• Screen sharing ($$)
• Audio conferencing ($$)
• Unlimited automation ($$)

Pricing:

Flock’s free plan includes 5 GB of storage per team and 10 public channels.

Paid plans start at $4.50/user/month, billed annually. Try Flock’s Pro plan free for 30 days.

6. Google Chat

Google Chat has replaced Google Hangouts. Its functionality and integration with other Google apps, like Google Meet, make it a formidable Slack competitor.

Available On:

• Web browser
• Windows
• Mac
• Linux
• Chrome OS
• Android
• iOS

Breakout Features:

• Direct and Group messaging
• Shared team chat, files, and easy task management
• Spaces — topic-based discussion threads
• Integration with Google apps and third-party apps
• Collaboration on Google Workspace content
• Automation with bots

Pricing:

If you’re a current Google Workspace customer, Google Chat comes standard with your plan. Workspace plans start at $6/month/user and include a 14-day free trial.

7. Mattermost

Mattermost is an open-source team collaboration solution specifically tailored to developers.

Available On:

• Windows
• Mac
• Linux
• Android
• iOS

Breakout Features:

• Unlimited teams and channels
• Unlimited 1:1 and group messaging with file sharing
• Unlimited message history and search
• Meeting notes
• Multi-team views
• Project cards and tasks
• Task grouping, filtering, and sorting
• Pre-built, customizable board templates
• Custom branding and themes
• Configurable playbooks with built-in task checklists
• App and plugin integrations, API, and webhooks

Pricing:

Mattermost offers self-hosted and cloud-hosted plans:

• Starter: free self-hosted version; $12.42/month cloud-hosted version with unlimited users
• Professional: $10/user/month, billed annually for self-hosted or monthly for cloud-hosted

Try any cloud plan free for 14 days or the full self-hosted solution free for 30 days.

8.  Microsoft Teams

Among the various Slack alternatives is Microsoft’s native Microsoft Teams, replacing Skype for Business.

Available On:

• Web browser
• Windows
• Mac
• Linux
• Android
• iOS

Breakout Features:

• Unlimited real-time team chat with file sharing
• Scheduled or impromptu audio/video meetings (up to 60 min)
• Polling and tasks
• App integrations and automation bots
• Team collaboration in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Admin tool(s) ($$)
• Breakout rooms ($$)
• Reporting, auditing, and analytics ($$)
• Meeting recordings and transcripts ($$)
• Web and mobile versions of all Office apps ($$)
• One-click transfer from team chat to audio/video call ($$)
• Unlimited meetings up to 30 hours long ($$)

Pricing:

Microsoft Teams offers a free plan and a paid plan costing $4/user/month, billed annually.

9. RingCentral Video

RingCentral Video (formerly Glip) is a video meeting and team messaging platform that offers high-value features at a very reasonable cost.

Available On:

• Web browser
• Windows
• Mac
• Android
• iOS

Breakout Features:

• Up to 100 meeting participants (or 200 for $$)
• Meeting recordings stored in the cloud for up to 7 days (or a year for $$)
• Instant join-in from browser
• Scheduled or impromptu meetings
• Switch devices mid-meeting
• In-meeting private and team chat
• Control invites and who joins meetings
• Screen sharing
• Task management
• File sharing
• App integrations
• Extra cloud recording storage per user ($$)
• Advanced analytics ($$)
• Custom integrations ($$)
• Call any phone number from a meeting ($$)

Pricing

RingCentral Video is free to use. Its paid plan costs $11.99/user/month.

10.  Rocket Chat

Rocket Chat is an open-source team collaboration solution that meets a wide array of use cases. It is among the very few tools out there that can effortlessly handle both team collaboration and omnichannel support.

Available On:

• Web browser
• Windows
• Mac
• Linux
• Android
• iOS

Breakout Features:

• Audio and video calls
• Custom workflows
• Omnichannel customer service
• Unlimited message history
• Guest users
• Public and private channels
• Broadcast channels for one-way announcements
• Hundreds of app integrations and open API
• Cross-medium communication:
  • Social media messaging
  • Email
  • Telegram
  • Live Chat
  • SMS

Pricing

Rocket Chat offers both SaaS and self-managed plan options. The self-managed Community plan is free while Paid plans include a 30-day unlimited-access trial.

Paid self-managed plans start at $3/month/user, billed annually.

SaaS plans start at $2/user/month, billed annually.

11.  Ryver

Ryver boasts an unlimited team collaboration tool and project management features across the board. The only limitation is the number of users included in your plan.

Available On:

• Web browser
• Windows
• Mac
• Android
• iOS

Breakout Features

• Messaging: team chat, topics, custom conversation channels, file sharing, conversation search, searchable collaboration spaces
• Task management: tasks, team and personal task boards, checklists, tags, assignments
• Audio/video calls (beta feature): up to five users per call, screen sharing, one-click call joining
• Automatic news streaming: social media posts, news articles, RSS feed content
• Integrations: APIs, and webhooks

Pricing

Plans start at $69/month for up to 12 users. Beyond 30 users, additional accounts cost $4.67/user, unless you upgrade to Enterprise. Try Ryver free for 14 days.

12. Troop Messenger

Troop Messenger is a hearty business collaboration and communication solution and has a robust toolset. Its well-crafted UI/UX makes the learning curve very simple even for newbies.

Available On

• Windows
• Mac
• Linux
• Android
• iOS

Breakout Features

• Audio calling and messaging
• 1:1 and group messaging
• Unlimited access to team chat history
• Message recall – [research & explain]
• Forkout: messaging a high volume of team members
• Canned messages
• Sync conversations and files across devices
• Add outside partners with restricted access
• App integrations and API
• Burnout: 1:1 confidential, self-destructing chat window ($$)
• Message flagging ($$)
• Sent message editing ($$)
• Desktop sharing and remote desktop control ($$)
• Audio/video conferencing ($$)

Pricing

SaaS plans start at $30/user/year with 150 GB of storage. Try the Enterprise plan free for 30 days.

Troop also offers a 15-day free trial of its full self-hosted version.

13. Twist

Twist fosters productivity, focus, and collaboration through async messaging. It challenges the notion that teams need real-time communication or constant access to each other. It allows you to take time off and truly disconnect from your work. With Time Off mode on, Twist doesn’t send you any notifications on any of your devices and tells your team that you’re away and when you’ll be back.

Available On:

• Web browser
• Windows
• Mac
• Linux
• Android
• iOS

Breakout Features:

• Async message threads
• Prioritize important topics and discussion threads in your inbox
• Public, organized topic channels
• Link sharing to conversation threads
• Unlimited guests with invite-only access to channels
• Unlimited message history ($$)
• Unlimited members, integrations, and file storage ($$)
• 31 app integrations and API integration tool

Pricing:

Twist’s free plan allows up to 500 members, up to 5 app integrations, and message history for 30 days.

Paid plans start at $5/month/user, billed annually.

14. Webex by Cisco

Webex Suite provides a unified business collaboration tool and communication suite tailor-made for hybrid remote teams.

Available On

• Web browser
• Windows
• Mac
• Android
• iOS

Breakout Features

• Transfer calls across devices
• Convert calls to video
• 6-way conference calling
• Interactive video conferencing tool
• Meeting recordings and automated transcripts
• Screen sharing
• Breakout rooms
• Individual and group messaging
• Unlimited messaging and file sharing
• Whiteboarding
• Async Video
• 100+ app integrations

Pricing:

Webex Suite’s Basic plan is free.

Paid Suite plans start at $25/month.

Individual plans start at $13.50/month, billed annually.

15. Workplace from Meta

Facebook’s entry among the Slack alternatives to manage team communication is Workplace from Meta.

Workplace’s features and interface are similar to those of Facebook. However, Workplace accounts are completely separate from personal Facebook accounts.

Available On

• Web browser, Android, and iOS (Workplace)
• Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS (Workplace Chat app)

Breakout Features

• Knowledge library
• Customizable groups
• Team member profiles
• Newsfeed
• Comments
• Events
• Post-pinning
• Livestream and Video Team Chat
• Auto-translate into 91 different languages
• Surveys and polls
• Access codes for team members without email
• 80+ integrations and API

Pricing

Pricing starts at $4/user/month, with optional add-ons available. Try Workplace free for 30 days or request a demo.

Test-Driving Slack Alternatives for 2022

Hopefully, one of these Slack alternatives proves a viable option for your team’s evolving needs. One that meets you where you are now, scales with you and takes you where you hope to go.

Make a shortlist of the options you want to try out. Sign up for the free or trial plans. Test them with your team, collect feedback and discover the best slack alternative for you.

 

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