10 Best Slack Alternatives (2026)
By ToolVS Research Team · Last Updated April 2026
The best Slack alternative for most people is Microsoft Teams because it is included free with Microsoft 365 subscriptions, offers unlimited message history, and includes built-in video conferencing and file collaboration.
Why People Switch from Slack
1. Pricing adds up for large teams. Slack Pro costs $8.75/user/month. A 100-person company pays $875/month just for chat. Microsoft Teams is often already included in their Microsoft 365 subscription.
2. 90-day message history limit on free plan. Slack free plan now only shows 90 days of messages. Teams lose access to older conversations, files, and context. Discord and Teams offer unlimited history for free.
3. Tool consolidation. Many companies already pay for Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, both of which include team chat. Paying for Slack on top feels redundant.
The 10 Best Slack Alternatives
1. Microsoft Teams
Best for: Organizations already using Microsoft 365
Key advantage over Slack: Included with Microsoft 365 at no extra cost. Built-in video conferencing, file storage, and deep Office integration.
- Free with Microsoft 365 subscriptions
- Unlimited message history on all plans
- Built-in video calls, file sharing, and wiki
2. Discord
Best for: Communities, startups, and teams wanting free unlimited messaging
Key advantage over Slack: Completely free with unlimited message history. Superior voice channels for always-on team communication.
- Free unlimited message history
- Always-on voice channels
- Screen sharing and streaming built-in
3. Google Chat
Best for: Teams already using Google Workspace
Key advantage over Slack: Included with Google Workspace. Deep integration with Gmail, Drive, Docs, and Meet.
- Included free with Google Workspace
- Seamless Gmail, Drive, and Meet integration
- Spaces for organized topic discussions
4. Rocket.Chat
Best for: Organizations needing full control over their messaging data
Key advantage over Slack: Open-source and self-hosted. Full data sovereignty. No per-user fees when self-hosting.
- Open-source with full data ownership
- Self-hosted option eliminates per-user costs
- End-to-end encryption available
5. Zoom Team Chat
Best for: Teams already using Zoom for video meetings
Key advantage over Slack: Included with Zoom subscriptions. Seamless transition from chat to video call. No separate chat tool needed.
- Included with Zoom Workplace plans
- One-click from chat to video meeting
- Channels, DMs, and file sharing
6. Mattermost
Best for: Developer teams needing self-hosted chat with DevOps integrations
Key advantage over Slack: Open-source, self-hosted, and built for developers. Deep CI/CD and incident management integrations.
- Open-source with self-hosting option
- Built-in playbooks for incident management
- Native DevOps integrations (GitHub, GitLab, Jenkins)
7. Chanty
Best for: Small teams wanting simple, affordable team chat
Key advantage over Slack: Much cheaper at $4/user/month. Built-in task management. Simpler interface for non-technical teams.
- $4/user/month — half the price of Slack
- Built-in task management
- Unlimited message history on all plans
8. Pumble
Best for: Teams wanting Slack-like experience with free unlimited history
Key advantage over Slack: Free plan includes unlimited message history, unlimited users, and 10GB storage. Looks and feels like Slack.
- Free unlimited message history
- Slack-like interface — easy migration
- Video calls included on free plan
9. Flock
Best for: Small businesses wanting chat + productivity tools in one
Key advantage over Slack: Built-in to-dos, notes, and polls. No need for separate productivity apps alongside chat.
- Built-in to-dos, polls, and shared notes
- Voice and video calls included
- More affordable than Slack for small teams
10. Element (Matrix)
Best for: Privacy-conscious teams needing end-to-end encrypted messaging
Key advantage over Slack: End-to-end encryption by default. Decentralized architecture. Full data sovereignty with self-hosting.
- End-to-end encryption on all messages
- Decentralized — no single point of failure
- Used by governments and defense organizations
How We Chose These Alternatives
We evaluated 20+ team messaging platforms as Slack replacements, focusing on: free plan generosity (especially message history), pricing for 10-100+ users, integration ecosystem, video/voice capabilities, and migration ease from Slack. All pricing verified April 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related: Slack vs Teams — Slack vs Discord — All Communication Comparisons
Last updated: . Pricing verified monthly.