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Slack alternatives

Compare Microsoft Teams, Google Chat, Discord, Mattermost, and Zulip as Slack alternatives by cost, message history, self-hosting, and how threads work.

What do you need to change?

Teams leaving Slack usually say one of three things: per-user seats or the free plan's 90-day history limit have become a problem, they already pay for an office suite that includes chat, or they need messages on their own servers. Microsoft Teams and Google Chat come with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, Mattermost and Zulip can be self-hosted, Zulip has a free cloud plan, and Discord suits community chat.

A focused editorial selection based on the linked official documentation. Fit notes are our judgment, rather than firsthand benchmark results or a universal ranking. How we select and verify information.

Slack alternatives at a glance

Slack and its alternatives: main focus and free option
ToolBest forFree option
Slack (current)Organising team conversations into channels, and working with partners and customers in shared channels.Free plan, 90 days of history
Microsoft TeamsOrganisations already on Microsoft 365 that want chat, meetings, and files under the same identity and admin controls.Included with Microsoft 365
Google ChatTeams already working in Gmail and Google Drive that want chat without another tool to buy.14-day Workspace trial
DiscordCommunities and informal groups that drop in and out of always-open voice channels as well as text chat.Free; optional Nitro
MattermostTeams that need chat on their own infrastructure, including private cloud and air-gapped networks.Free self-hosted editions
ZulipTeams that hold many conversations at once and want threads that stay readable when people catch up later.Free cloud plan; free to self-host

Five alternatives to consider

Team chat apps

Microsoft Teams

Consider Microsoft Teams when your organisation already uses Microsoft 365 and wants chat, meetings, and SharePoint files under one admin centre and licence.

Chat, channels, and meetings built on Microsoft 365, where each team gets a SharePoint document library, a shared mailbox and calendar, and a OneNote notebook.

Pricing model
Teams is licensed as part of qualifying Microsoft 365 plans or as a standalone subscription, including Teams Essentials for small businesses. Teams Premium is a paid add-on for advanced meeting, protection, and AI features.
Before choosing
Check whether your Microsoft 365 plan includes Teams or needs a separate Teams licence, and which meeting features sit in the Premium add-on.
Team chat apps

Google Chat

Consider Google Chat when you already pay for Google Workspace, since Chat is included at no extra cost and connects to Gmail, Calendar, Drive, and Meet.

Direct messages and spaces inside Google Workspace, connected to Gmail, Calendar, Drive, and Meet, with huddles and third-party apps.

Pricing model
Chat is included with Google Workspace at no additional cost. Workspace plans are priced per user per month, with a 14-day trial; some Chat features need Business or Enterprise plans.
Before choosing
Your Workspace admin controls which Chat apps people can install; check which features need a higher Workspace plan.
Team chat apps

Discord

Consider Discord for a community, open-source project, or informal group that wants free voice channels people can drop into and out of.

Voice, video, and text chat organised into servers with text and voice channels, built for friends, gamers, and online communities.

Pricing model
Creating servers and chatting is free. Nitro Basic and Nitro are optional subscriptions for each person, adding perks such as larger uploads and custom emoji everywhere; Server Boosts unlock extra perks for a whole server.
Before choosing
It is designed for communities rather than companies, so check message retention, export, and admin controls against your own requirements before moving work conversations.
Team chat apps

Mattermost

Consider Mattermost when chat must run on your own infrastructure, including air-gapped networks, with a free self-hosted mode to start.

Self-hosted chat and collaboration for engineering, security, and operations teams, with free Entry and open-source editions and paid plans for regulated organisations.

Pricing model
Self-hosted Mattermost runs free in Entry mode, best for teams under 50 users, and Team Edition is a free MIT-licensed build. Paid Professional covers up to 250 users; Enterprise and Enterprise Advanced add compliance, scale, and national security features through sales.
Before choosing
Free editions come with community support only, and Team Edition is meant for small teams and hobbyist use; plan who will run upgrades and backups.
Team chat apps

Zulip

Consider Zulip when many conversations run at once and you want topic-based threads, an open-source server, and a free cloud plan.

Open-source team chat that files every conversation under a topic within a channel, available as Zulip Cloud or self-hosted.

Pricing model
Zulip Cloud Free keeps 10,000 messages of search history; Standard and Plus are priced per user and add unlimited history, more storage, and SSO on Plus. Self-hosting is free with all features, though mobile notifications are limited to 10 users unless you qualify or pay. Many open-source, academic, and non-profit groups qualify for a free Standard plan.
Before choosing
Its topic-based threads take some getting used to; and if you self-host for more than 10 users, check the plan you need for mobile notifications.

When Slack may still fit

Keep Slack when you work in shared channels with other companies through Slack Connect, depend on its app directory, or want to pay only for people who are active. Its paid plans bill members active in the last 28 days and credit you for inactive ones.

On the free plan, group huddles are not available and anything older than a year is deleted; review your workspace analytics before downgrading.

Before you switch

  1. Count active members and guests, then price each candidate per user, remembering that Teams and Google Chat may already be in a suite you pay for.
  2. Export a Slack workspace and check what each candidate can import, including channels, files, and history older than 90 days.
  3. Rebuild your three most-used integrations or workflows, and check how external partners and guests would join each tool.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free alternative to Slack?

Zulip Cloud Free keeps 10,000 messages of search history, and Zulip can be self-hosted for free. Mattermost runs free when self-hosted, and Discord is free for servers and chat. Microsoft Teams and Google Chat are included with paid Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace plans.

Which Slack alternative can I self-host?

Mattermost and Zulip. Mattermost runs on your own servers, including air-gapped networks, with a free Entry mode and paid plans. Self-hosted Zulip includes all features for free, with mobile notifications limited to 10 users unless you qualify or pay.

Is Microsoft Teams free if we already have Microsoft 365?

Teams is licensed as part of qualifying Microsoft 365 plans or as a standalone subscription, so check whether your plan includes it. Teams Premium is a separate paid add-on for advanced meeting and AI features.

Can Discord replace Slack for a business team?

In our judgment, Discord suits communities and informal groups better than company teams. It is free and its voice channels work well, but check message retention, export, and admin controls before moving work conversations to it.

Slack vs Discord

Slack vs Discord: compare a workplace chat tool with a community chat app by price, message history, voice channels, and admin controls.

Read the guide

Slack vs Microsoft Teams

Slack vs Microsoft Teams: compare standalone per-user chat with chat included in Microsoft 365 by licensing, files, meetings, and guests.

Read the guide

Sources and check dates

Provider documentation supports the product and billing descriptions. Confirm current limits and terms before choosing a plan.

Slack

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Microsoft Teams

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Google Chat

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Discord

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Mattermost

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Zulip

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ShowMeYourSaaS also offers commercial product coverage. These guides follow our editorial selection criteria; placement is not a purchased ranking. Send a correction with the page and a supporting source.