Free Slack alternatives

All Slack alternatives

1. 

   

   Microsoft Teams

   4.8(3.4M) · App StoreLike

   Microsoft Teams combines persistent team chat, channels, video meetings, webinars and calling in one app tied to Microsoft 365. Files live in SharePoint and OneDrive and can be co-edited in Word, Excel or PowerPoint without leaving the conversation. It suits organizations already standardized on Microsoft 365, and Copilot adds meeting recaps and chat summaries on eligible licenses.

   12 Microsoft Teams alternatives

   Pros

   • Chat, meetings and calls in one app tied to Microsoft 365
   • Co-edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint files without leaving a conversation
   • Enterprise-grade admin, security and compliance controls

   Cons

   • Can feel heavy and slow, especially on older machines
   • Channels, chats and files can be confusing to navigate
   • Less appealing outside a Microsoft 365 environment

   Cost / License

   FreemiumProprietary

   Categories

   Team ChatVideo Conferencing

   Platforms

   WebWindowsMaciPhoneAndroid

   Features

   AI assistantChannelsIntegrationsMeeting recordingScreen sharingVoice and video calls

   Visit websiteMore about Microsoft Teams
2. 

   

   Discord

   4.7(3.6M) · App StoreLike

   Discord is a chat platform built around servers, each with its own text channels, voice channels and roles. It started with gamers but now hosts communities of every kind, from open-source projects to study groups, with drop-in voice rooms, screen sharing, threads and forums. Bots extend servers, and an optional Nitro subscription adds perks such as larger uploads and higher-quality streaming.

   11 Discord alternatives

   Pros

   • Drop-in voice channels make spontaneous conversations easy
   • Roles, bots and permissions scale to very large communities
   • Generous free tier across desktop, mobile and the web

   Cons

   • Not designed for workplace compliance or admin controls
   • Busy servers and notifications can quickly feel overwhelming
   • Text messages are not end-to-end encrypted

   Cost / License

   FreemiumProprietary

   Categories

   Team ChatMessaging Apps

   Platforms

   WebWindowsMacLinuxiPhoneAndroid

   Features

   API accessChannelsGroup chatsScreen sharingThreaded conversationsVoice and video calls

   Visit websiteMore about Discord
3. 

   

   Google Chat

   4.6(306.5K) · App StoreLike

   Google Chat is Google's messaging app for direct messages, group conversations and spaces, the shared rooms where teams discuss projects in threads. It sits next to Gmail and works closely with Drive, Docs and Meet, so files and meetings can be shared without switching apps. It is free with a personal Google account, while companies get admin controls and Gemini features through Google Workspace.

   8 Google Chat alternatives

   Pros

   • Built into Gmail, so Workspace users need no extra app
   • Works closely with Drive, Docs and Meet for files and calls
   • Free to use with a personal Google account

   Cons

   • Fewer third-party integrations and bots than Slack
   • Little appeal outside the Google Workspace ecosystem

   Cost / License

   FreemiumProprietary

   Categories

   Team Chat

   Platforms

   WebiPhoneAndroid

   Features

   AI assistantChannelsIntegrationsTeam collaborationThreaded conversations

   Visit websiteMore about Google Chat
4. 

   

   Mattermost

   4.8(5.6K) · App StoreLike

   Mattermost is an open-source collaboration platform offering channels, threads, calls and playbooks for structured workflows. Organizations can run it on their own servers or in a private cloud to keep full control of their data, which appeals to engineering teams, public agencies and regulated industries. Plugins, webhooks and an API connect it to DevOps tools like GitLab, Jira and Jenkins.

   8 Mattermost alternatives

   Pros

   • Self-hosting keeps full control over data and infrastructure
   • Strong DevOps integrations with GitLab, Jira and Jenkins
   • Playbooks structure incident response and repeatable workflows

   Cons

   • Self-hosted deployments need ongoing admin work
   • Smaller app ecosystem than Slack
   • Advanced compliance and enterprise features require paid plans

   Cost / License

   FreemiumOpen source

   Categories

   Team Chat

   Platforms

   WebWindowsMacLinuxiPhoneAndroidSelf-hosted

   Features

   ChannelsIntegrationsPlugins & extensionsSingle sign-on (SSO)Threaded conversationsVoice and video calls

   Visit websiteMore about Mattermost
5. 

   

   Zulip

   26KstarsLike

   Zulip is an open-source team chat app whose threading model files every channel message under a named topic, so people can catch up on several discussions without losing context. It supports Markdown, code blocks and LaTeX math, and integrates with common developer tools. It can be self-hosted for free or used through Zulip Cloud, which suits open-source projects, research groups and remote teams.

   8 Zulip alternatives

   Pros

   • Topic-based threading makes catching up on discussions easy
   • Markdown, code blocks and LaTeX suit technical teams
   • Free to self-host under an open source license

   Cons

   • The topic model takes some getting used to after Slack
   • Video calls rely on external services such as Jitsi or Zoom

   Cost / License

   FreemiumOpen source

   Categories

   Team Chat

   Platforms

   WebWindowsMacLinuxiPhoneAndroidSelf-hosted

   Features

   API accessChannelsIntegrationsMarkdown supportThreaded conversations

   Visit websiteMore about Zulip
6. 

   

   Chanty

   4.5(135) · App StoreLike

   Chanty is a team messaging app aimed at small and mid-sized teams who want something simpler than larger chat suites. It offers public and private conversations, audio and video calls with screen sharing, and a built-in task manager with a Kanban board, so messages can be turned into tasks. A free plan covers small teams, and integrations connect it to common workplace tools.

   8 Chanty alternatives

   Pros

   • Simple interface that small teams pick up quickly
   • Built-in Kanban task board turns messages into tasks
   • Free plan is enough to get a small team started

   Cons

   • Smaller integration catalog than Slack or Microsoft Teams
   • Task management is basic compared with dedicated tools

   Cost / License

   FreemiumProprietary

   Categories

   Team Chat

   Platforms

   WebWindowsMacLinuxiPhoneAndroid

   Features

   ChannelsIntegrationsKanban boardsScreen sharingVoice and video calls

   Visit websiteMore about Chanty
7. 

   

   Rocket.Chat

   4.4(3.7K) · App StoreLike

   Rocket.Chat is an open-source communications platform that can be self-hosted or used as a cloud service. Besides team channels, threads, direct messages and calls, it includes an omnichannel module that routes website chat, email and messaging apps to support agents. Its marketplace and APIs let organizations customize it heavily, and self-hosting suits teams with strict data residency needs.

   9 Rocket.Chat alternatives

   Pros

   • Omnichannel module routes website chat, email and messaging apps
   • Self-hostable open source platform for strict data residency needs
   • Marketplace and APIs allow deep customization

   Cons

   • Self-hosted setups require regular maintenance and upgrades
   • Some features are reserved for paid editions
   • The wide range of settings makes administration complex

   Cost / License

   FreemiumOpen source

   Categories

   Team ChatCustomer Support & Live Chat

   Platforms

   WebWindowsMacLinuxiPhoneAndroidSelf-hosted

   Features

   API accessChannelsIntegrationsLive chat widgetThreaded conversationsVoice and video calls

   Visit websiteMore about Rocket.Chat
8. 

   

   Element

   3.3(590) · App StoreLike

   Element is a messaging app from the team that created Matrix, an open standard for decentralized, federated chat. Rooms, direct messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted, and people on different Matrix servers can talk to each other like email. Individuals can join a public server for free, while organizations and governments self-host or buy Element's enterprise server suite, with bridges to other chat networks.

   12 Element alternatives

   Pros

   • End-to-end encryption by default for private rooms and messages
   • Federated Matrix network, so no single company controls your chats
   • Open source and self-hostable, popular with public sector bodies

   Cons

   • Encryption keys and device verification can confuse newcomers
   • Running your own Matrix server takes real technical effort
   • Fewer business integrations than mainstream team chat apps

   Cost / License

   FreemiumOpen source

   Categories

   Team ChatMessaging Apps

   Platforms

   WebWindowsMacLinuxiPhoneAndroidSelf-hosted

   Features

   ChannelsEnd-to-end encryptionNo phone number requiredThreaded conversationsVoice and video calls

   Visit websiteMore about Element
9. 

   

   Basecamp

   4.7(20.9K) · App StoreLike

   Basecamp, made by 37signals, gives each project its own space with to-dos, a message board, schedule, documents, a card table and group chat, cutting down on email and status meetings. It favors calm, asynchronous communication over Gantt charts and heavy reporting, which suits agencies and small companies that work with clients.

   9 Basecamp alternatives

   Pros

   • Each project gathers to-dos, messages, files, schedule and chat
   • Calm, asynchronous approach cuts down on email and status meetings
   • Clients can be invited into projects with controlled visibility

   Cons

   • No Gantt charts, task dependencies or detailed reporting
   • Less customizable than tools like ClickUp or monday.com
   • The free plan covers only a single project

   Cost / License

   FreemiumProprietary

   Categories

   Project Management

   Platforms

   WebWindowsMaciPhoneAndroid

   Features

   Calendar viewKanban boardsMobile appTeam collaborationTemplates

   Visit websiteMore about Basecamp