7 Best Slack Alternatives in 2026

By ToolVS Research Team · Last Updated April 2026

30-Second Verdict

The best Slack alternative for most people is Microsoft Teams because bundled with Microsoft 365 giving much lower effective cost. See the full list below if you have a specific use case.

Why People Switch from Slack

1. Pricing concerns. Slack pricing can be prohibitive for growing teams or individuals looking for better value per dollar.

2. Feature gaps. Slack may not cover all use cases, pushing teams to look for more specialized or comprehensive alternatives in the team communication space.

3. Better alternatives exist. Newer tools offer comparable features with better pricing, modern UX, or unique capabilities Slack lacks.

The 7 Best Slack Alternatives

✓ Best for M365 Users

Microsoft Teams

Free / Bundled with M365

Best for: Microsoft shops

Bundled free with M365
Deep Office integration
Enterprise compliance

#2 · Best for Communities

Discord

Free

Best for: Communities + startups

Free unlimited
Voice channels
Community-friendly

#3 · Best Self-Hosted

Mattermost

Free (self-host) / paid cloud

Best for: Privacy-conscious teams

Self-hostable
Open source
Slack-compatible

#4 · Best Open Source

Rocket.Chat

Free / $4/user/mo

Best for: Open-source teams

100% open source
Self-hostable
Omnichannel

#5 · Best for Workspace

Google Chat

Free with Workspace

Best for: Google shops

Bundled with Workspace
Native Drive integration
Simple threading

#6 · Best for Async

Twist (Doist)

$6/user/mo

Best for: Remote + async teams

Thread-based
Less distracting
Remote-first design

#7 · Best Threaded Chat

Zulip

Free / $8/user/mo

Best for: Teams wanting topic threading

Topic threading
Open source
Great for large teams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Slack alternative?

The best Slack alternative for most people is Microsoft Teams — bundled with Microsoft 365 giving much lower effective cost. See the full list below for specific use cases.

What is the cheapest Slack alternative?

Microsoft Teams is the cheapest option with a free tier or very low pricing. See pricing details in the table below.

Is there a free Slack alternative?

Yes. Microsoft Teams, Discord, Mattermost, Rocket.Chat, Google Chat, Zulip all offer free tiers or free versions.

Why do people switch from Slack?

Common reasons: pricing (Slack has become expensive over time), feature gaps, better alternatives with modern UX, vendor consolidation, or specific use cases where specialized team communication tools fit better.