20 Slack Alternatives to Take Online Collaboration to the Next Level in 2024

20 Slack Alternatives to Take Online Collaboration to the Next Level in 2024

Slack is one of the most popular online collaboration tools, helping remote teams improve communication and workflows.

However, Slack isn’t always the right solution for every organization. Some may prefer a more affordable tool, while others might look for one with better functionality.

This article will cover the 20 best Slack alternatives for different budgets, team sizes, and business needs.

When compiling the list, we considered the following factors:

  • Variety of features. All tools should provide a one-stop solution for communication, task management, and document collaboration.
  • Pricing structure. Each tool in our list offers multiple pricing options to accommodate different team budgets.
  • Cross-platform compatibility. We only included apps compatible with popular web browsers and operating systems.

Download Guide to Writing a Business Plan

Top 20 Slack Alternatives

With the essential factors in mind when choosing the best Slack alternatives, let’s dive into the complete list.

1. Microsoft Teams

The landing page of Microsoft Teams, an alternative to Slack for virtual meetings

Microsoft Teams Stats:

  • Available on: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and web browsers
  • Best for: teams with up to 300 members
  • Price: freemium, the premium plans start at $4/user/month

As one of the best alternatives to Slack, Microsoft Teams supports video chat, group messaging, and file sharing.

The Teams Connect feature provides shared channels for internal and external collaboration. There is also an auto-translation feature, helping you minimize language barriers with remote co-workers.

With the free plan, you can have 60-minute video conferences with up to 100 participants. It also offers 5 GB across all teams for document sharing and co-editing.

If you need more storage space, members, and call participants, the premium plans start at $4/user/month.

Key Features

  • Teams Connect. Collaborate seamlessly with other Microsoft Teams users outside your organization, including clients and vendors.
  • Simple guests invitation. Using a designated link, anyone with a valid email address can join virtual meetings through their web browser.
  • Virtual backgrounds. Minimize distractions during video calls using the blur effect, pre-designed backgrounds, or uploaded images.
  • Priority notifications. Keep your team notified on urgent matters by sending them notifications that repeat every two minutes.

Drawbacks

While Microsoft Teams is an excellent option for team collaboration, some areas still need improvements. These include a complicated file structure, limited document security, and frequent errors with chat notifications.

Moreover, setting up Microsoft Teams for the first time can be time-consuming due to its lack of initial structure.

[DOWNLOAD]

2. Zoom

The homepage of Zoom, a popular video conferencing platform

Zoom Stats:

  • Available on: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, and web browsers
  • Best for: teams with up to 100 members
  • Price: freemium, the paid plans start at $149.90/user/year

Zoom is one of the most popular video conferencing platforms.

With Waiting Room, the host can control when and which participants can join the virtual meeting.

Besides video calls, Zoom offers a Team Chat feature for group messaging and file sharing. An online Whiteboard is also available, making it easy to brainstorm and share ideas with other team members.

The free version comes with all basic Zoom features. However, it limits voice and video calls to 40 minutes with up to 100 participants.

If you need more attendees and longer calls, upgrade to a premium plan starting at $149.90/user/year.

Key Features

  • Screen sharing. When presenting, let other participants view your screen in real-time.
  • Waiting room. Control when attendees can join the session and which ones can bypass the room.
  • Calendar scheduling. Schedule meetings to keep your team aligned on future audio and video calls.
  • Video recording. Record video meetings and store the files on your computer or the Zoom cloud.

Drawbacks

Zoom offers too many subscription plans and add-ons, which can confuse beginners. Moreover, it’s not the most secure collaboration platform, as seen from past zoombombing incidents.

[DOWNLOAD]

3. Flock

The homepage of Flock, a team communication tool offering unlimited messages

Flock Stats:

  • Available on: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and web browsers
  • Best for: teams with up to 100 members
  • Price: freemium, the Pro plan costs $4.50/user/month

Flock is a tool that provides communication and task management features.

The free plan lets you send unlimited messages, set up one-on-one video calls, and create 10 public channels. You can use public channels for various purposes, such as general discussions, company news, and specific team conversations.

It also has a process automation tool that simplifies your company’s workflows. Process automation helps with employee onboarding, budget planning, and lead generation.

However, free users are limited to three automation templates with five process runs each. A run refers to how often a template is used.

Upgrade to Flock’s Pro plan for $4.50/user/month to access unlimited templates and runs.

Key Features

  • Process automation. Boost your team’s productivity by automating repetitive tasks.
  • Integrated search. Quickly seek and retrieve information from personal and group chats using the built-in search engine.
  • Public channels. Create channels to discuss specific projects, create polls, share to-do lists, and track progress.
  • Reminders. Set deadline reminders for important tasks and projects to ensure on-time delivery.

Drawbacks

According to some reviews, the quality of audio and video calls needs improvement. Additionally, third-party integrations are limited compared to Slack.

[DOWNLOAD]

4. Troop Messenger

The homepage of Troop Messenger,  a team chat app that supports instant messaging and video conferencing

Troop Messenger Stats:

  • Available on: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Best for: teams of all sizes
  • Price: starts at $2.50/user/month

Troop Messenger is a team chat app that supports instant messaging, video conferencing, and file sharing.

The Forkout feature lets you send one message or attachment to multiple users simultaneously, accelerating team communication. There is also a Read Receipts tag to see which recipients have read the message.

Furthermore, you can share private and confidential information using Burnout. In this chat window, all exchanged messages will disappear once the pre-determined timer expires.

All plans offer unlimited message history, helping you retrieve chats from specific team members, even deactivated ones.

Unfortunately, there is no free plan available. To access Troop Messenger’s advanced features, purchase one of its paid plans, starting at $2.50/user/month.

Key Features

  • Forkout. Send one message to multiple users and groups simultaneously to improve team communication.
  • Burnout. Share confidential data through private conversations.
  • Chat supportive actions. Reply, copy, forward, edit, recall, and delete messages in just a few clicks. Read receipts also inform you when a recipient has read the message.
  • Remote desktop control. Determine which content appears on the screen during virtual meetings.

Drawbacks

Troop Messenger does not offer a free plan, making it unsuitable for smaller teams with a limited budget.

[DOWNLOAD]

5. Google Chat

The landing page of Google Chat, the successor of Google Hangouts

Google Chat Stats:

  • Available on: Android, iOS, and web browsers
  • Best for: small organizations
  • Price: freemium, the premium plans start at $6/user/month

Google Chat is the successor of Google Hangouts. It offers similar collaboration features like direct messages and group chats.

However, it has additional functionalities, such as emoji reactions, suggested replies, and filtered searches.

As a part of Google Workspace, it integrates with Gmail and lets you share Google Drive files, schedule meetings via Google Calendar, and start video conferences on Google Meet.

Google Chat offers a free plan with limited features for personal and small team accounts. For larger organizations, purchase one of Google Workspace’s premium plans, starting at $6/user/month.

Key Features

  • Predictive replies. When a team member sends you a message, the platform will provide several reply options to speed up the communication process.
  • Google Workspace integration. Collaborators can send Google Drive files, schedule meetings via Google Calendar, and set up Google Meet calls in chat.
  • Built-in search engine. Quickly retrieve information from past conversations using the filterable search engine.
  • End-to-end encryption. This app encrypts your transferred data, making it a secure collaboration platform.

Drawbacks

Google Chat has limited dashboard customization, as users can only set the theme to light or dark mode.

[DOWNLOAD]

6. TypeTalk

The homepage of TypeTalk, a Slack alternative available on desktop and mobile apps

TypeTalk Stats:

  • Available on: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and web browsers
  • Best for: organizations with up to 1,000 users
  • Price: freemium, the premium plans start at $6/month for three users

TypeTalk is online collaboration software that integrates with the diagramming tool Cacoo and the project management platform Backlog.

The Topics feature lets you create group channels based on specific topics, projects, or departments. TypeTalk also enables custom tool creation using its API and Webhook.

For smaller teams with up to 10 members, the free plan comes with integrations with five apps and 1 GB of file storage. If you need more resources, purchase its premium plans, available from $6/month for three users.

Key Features

  • Topics. Organize group chats based on specific projects, products, or teams to encourage a more focused discussion.
  • Tags. Label important messages with a hashtag for easy browsing.
  • Sign-in history. Monitor suspicious login activity and prevent illegal access to your account.
  • API and Webhook. Create custom tools and develop programs that meet your team’s needs.

Drawbacks

While TypeTalk provides a great starting point for smaller organizations, it is quite expensive for growing teams. The app costs $150/month for 100 user accounts, which other platforms like Microsoft Teams provide for free.

[DOWNLOAD]

7. Chanty

The homepage of Chanty, a project management tool that offers a Kanban board view

Chanty Stats:

  • Available on: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and web browsers
  • Best for: organizations with up to 300 members
  • Price: freemium, the Business plan costs $3/user/month

Chanty is an alternative to Slack offering unlimited message history, voice messages, and one-on-one audio calls.

The Kanban board feature lets you organize to-do lists, set due dates, and track progress to optimize project management and communication. Chanty also offers integrations with other task management tools, including Zapier, Asana, and Trello.

The free plan allows unlimited private and group chats for up to 10 members, making it a great option for smaller organizations.

If you want to add more team members, upgrade to its Business plan, available for $3/user/month. It offers additional features like data import, group audio and video calls, screen sharing, and dedicated customer support.

Key Features

  • Teambook. Organize your tasks, conversations, pinned messages, and shared files in one place.
  • Kanban board. Create visual boards to manage projects and assign tasks to specific team members.
  • Roles and permissions. Control which team members can create public channels, customize tasks, invite guests, and start direct messages.
  • Stable uptime. Chanty offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee to ensure its services’ availability.

Drawbacks

Apart from the Kanban board, this app does not provide other project views, such as a Gantt chart, timeline, table, and calendar. In addition, the pricing structure is not cost-effective for teams with over 10 members.

[DOWNLOAD]

8. ClickUp

The homepage of ClickUp, a team communication and collaboration app

ClickUp Stats:

  • Available on: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and web browsers
  • Best for: teams and businesses of all sizes
  • Price: freemium, the premium plans start at $5/user/month

ClickUp is a team messaging app and project collaboration tool.

The Chat view lets you create channels for specific projects and teams. Each member can start action items, leave comments, mention colleagues, and share documents in the chat window.

Apart from instant messaging, ClickUp also facilitates workflow customization, task automation, and project management through ClickApps.

ClickUp’s free plan allows unlimited users and tasks but limits the storage to 100 MB. To access more advanced features and storage space, consider one of its premium plans. They are available from $5/user/month.

Key Features

  • Chat view. Create channels to discuss projects, set action points, and share files.
  • ClickApps. It provides over 35 tools to help you customize workflows, automate repetitive tasks, and manage projects more effectively.
  • Docs. Create, edit, and collaborate on documents in real time.
  • Whiteboard. Brainstorm ideas together with sticky notes and drawing tools.

Drawbacks

Some ClickUp users complain about its slow loading time, steep learning curve, lack of reporting tools, and overwhelming user interface.

[DOWNLOAD]

9. Discord

The homepage of Discord, a chat tool originally created for gamers

Discord Stats:

  • Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and web browsers
  • Best for: all team sizes
  • Price: freemium, the Nitro version costs $9.99/month

While originally created for gamers, Discord has become one of the most popular team chat apps for business purposes.

The platform achieves this success through its unique features, such as screen readers for visually-impaired users and keyboard navigation for mouseless usage.

With Slash Commands, you can use Discord bots to automate tasks like sending welcome messages, removing users who post spam, and managing customer service inquiries.

As a Slack alternative, this app offers team communication features such as personal messages, video and audio calls, and public channels.

The free plan already provides all the key tools Discord has to offer.

But if you want more advanced features, the Nitro versions start at $9.99/month or $99.99/year. It provides customized emojis, high-resolution videos, and up to 500 MB file upload size.

Key Features

  • Screen readers. This feature helps visually-impaired users understand the on-screen text.
  • Keyboard navigation. Navigate the desktop app without a mouse or touchpad.
  • Slash commands. Automate tasks using Discord bot commands in just a few clicks.
  • File sharing. Share documents, links, images, and videos with your team through chat rooms and public channels.

Drawbacks

Discord has fewer collaboration tool integrations than other business-focused tools in this list. This might hinder your team’s productivity and flexibility.

[DOWNLOAD]

Suggested Reading

How to Host a Discord Bot – Making and Deploying Your Own Bot to VPS

10. Rocket.Chat

The homepage of Rocket.Chat, a platform for external communication

Rocket.Chat Stats:

  • Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS
  • Best for: small to medium-sized companies
  • Price: freemium, the paid plan starts at $7/user/month

Rocket.Chat is one of the best Slack alternatives for effective collaboration with team members, vendors, and clients.

Instead of email threads, create private and public channels to improve internal collaboration.

The omnichannel feature lets you communicate with customers through live chat and other messaging apps, such as Telegram, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Twitter.

Rocket.Chat’s free version offers unlimited direct messaging, group chats, and up to 10,000 push notifications per month.

Upgrade to its Enterprise plan for more features. It charges a monthly fee of $7/user/month for a minimum of 25 members and $35/agent/month for a minimum of five omnichannel agents.

Key Features

  • Anonymous users. External partners can read and post messages on public channels without creating an account.
  • Discussions. Notify team members about important tasks and projects using a separate chat window.
  • Workflow customization. Personalize the interface to suit your team’s workflow and brand identity.
  • Omnichannel customer service. Communicate seamlessly with clients through their preferred channels, including live chat, email, and social media platforms.

Drawbacks

Rocket.Chat tends to get laggy when multiple users access it simultaneously. This can negatively impact your team’s productivity.

[DOWNLOAD]

11. Fleep

The homepage of Fleep, a Slack alternative with instant messaging and task management features

Fleep Stats:

  • Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and web browsers
  • Best for: teams of all sizes
  • Price: freemium, the Business plan costs €5/user/month

Fleep is a team collaboration app combining instant messaging with task management.

It lets you create conversations based on specific topics, projects, or departments. Each collaborator can pin important messages using the Pinboard and manage workflows using Tasks.

Furthermore, start conversations with non-Fleep users by adding their email addresses, simplifying the collaboration process.

While the free version offers unlimited one-on-one conversations, it limits users to one group chat and 1 GB of storage space.

To unlock all the features, subscribe to its Business plan for €5/user/month. For larger teams, contact Fleep to get a customized plan.

Key Features

  • Pinboard. Pin important messages, links, or meeting notes for all team members to see and edit.
  • Email integration. Show email notifications in conversations and connect with people outside Fleep to optimize communication processes.
  • File drawer. Access and retrieve all the images and files of each conversation.
  • Presence. Check a member’s availability and last active status by clicking on their profile. The Writing and Read indicators also inform whether someone is typing a reply or has read the message.

Drawbacks

Fleep does not provide a built-in video calling feature. To host a virtual meeting, users need to create a Whereby room.

[DOWNLOAD]

12. Element

The homepage of Element, a messaging app based on the Matrix protocol

Element Stats:

  • Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and web browsers
  • Best for: medium to large-sized businesses
  • Price: freemium, premium plans start at $3/user/month

Element is a team communication platform based on the Matrix protocol. It provides a secure way to send messages and host video calls.

Its decentralized design gives users flexibility and control in managing data. Instead of using Element’s server, collaborators can store message files on their devices or through any cloud service provider.

The free plan is only available for communities and self-hosted personal accounts. For businesses, the Enterprise plans start at $3/user/month.

Key Features

  • Decentralization. Ensure that no single entity controls your personal information and sensitive data.
  • Cross-device verification. Validate the identity of your team members to prevent unauthorized users from entering conversations.
  • Bridges. Communicate with people from WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Discord without switching apps.
  • Widgets. Integrate third-party apps, like Google Calendar and YouTube, into chat rooms to improve collaboration.

Drawbacks

Some aspects of Element require some technical knowledge.

[DOWNLOAD]

13. Twist

The homepage of Twist, one of the best team chat apps for asynchronous communication

Twist Stats:

  • Available on: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and web browsers
  • Best for: medium to large teams with up to 500 members
  • Price: starts at $6/user/month, with a free trial for one month

Twist is a project management and messaging app with an intuitive user interface.

With its threads, each team member can start a conversation, leave comments, and react with emojis to encourage discussion.

This platform also integrates multiple threads into one inbox, helping collaborators prioritize important tasks and information.

The one-month free trial allows up to 500 internal members and 500 guest accounts. However, it limits the storage space to 5 GB.

To add unlimited accounts and access the entire message history, purchase its premium plan for $6/user/month.

Key Features

  • Easy to use. Twist’s simple interface and intuitive navigation system accelerate the learning phase for beginners.
  • Thread-based conversations. Start a thread to discuss projects, share periodic updates, and announce successful campaigns.
  • Shared inbox. Access multiple conversations in one place and avoid missing important information.
  • Third-party integrations. Connect with over 30 apps, including Skype, GitHub, and Google Drive, to improve team collaboration and productivity.

Drawbacks

Twist promotes asynchronous communication, so there are no built-in video and audio calls, notifications, and status messages. Not having these features might not suit fast-paced teams.

[DOWNLOAD]

14. Ryver

The homepage of Ryver, an all-in-one messaging platform

Ryver Stats:

  • Available on: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and web browsers
  • Best for: teams of all sizes
  • Price: starts at $69/month

Ryver is a collaboration tool that offers unlimited group messaging, file sharing, and conversation searching.

Whether you want to start open discussions through public forums, set up department-focused group conversations, or have one-on-one communication with each team member, Ryver has it all covered.

Apart from instant messaging, Ryver has a built-in audio and video call feature. However, this functionality is currently in the beta stage.

To start using Ryver, subscribe to one of its plans. The Starter plan costs $69/month for up to 12 users, while the Standard version is available for $129/month and allows up to 30 members.

If you have more than 30 employees, the Medium Pack plan charges $4.67/user/month. Although there’s no free plan, all premium versions offer a 14-day trial.

Key Features

  • Topic-threaded chat. Set the team’s focus by organizing conversations based on specific topics.
  • Custom invite links. Generate signup links to simplify the onboarding process of new members.
  • Document sharing. Organize and share all your files via Google Drive and Dropbox.
  • Single sign-on. Simplify the login process using your active Google Workspace, Okta, or 1Password credentials.

Drawbacks

Ryver limits video and audio calls to five participants, making it unsuitable for larger teams.

[DOWNLOAD]

15. Mattermost

The homepage of Mattermost, a Slack alternative for web developers

Mattermost Stats:

  • Available on: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS
  • Best for: large teams of web developers
  • Price: freemium, the Professional plan costs $10/user/month

If you’re looking for an alternative to Slack optimized for web developers, Mattermost is worth trying.

Mattermost offers project management features to optimize your web development processes, from planning and building to releasing and operating.

The Kanban boards enable task visualization and project tracking based on status, owner, or priority. This helps keep your team aligned on processes and deadlines. If a problem emerges, use Channels to brainstorm ideas and discuss possible solutions.

In addition, its Playbooks feature provides configurable templates, automated triggers, and integrations with relevant tools, including GitHub, Jira, and Jenkins.

The free plan offers unlimited user accounts, Channels, Playbooks, and Kanban boards. However, it limits the file storage to 10 GB and the chat history to 10,000 messages.

To unlock more features and storage space, upgrade to the Professional plan for $10/user/month.

Key Features

  • Powerful free plan. It allows unlimited users and offers most of Mattermost’s key features.
  • Playbooks. Keep your team aligned on objectives using built-in task checklists.
  • Channels. Discuss problems, share code snippets, and access third-party developer tools without leaving the app.
  • Data ownership. Gain complete control over your data, isolated from other users.

Drawbacks

Unlike most alternatives to Slack, this platform does not support video calling.

[DOWNLOAD]

16. Missive

The homepage of Missive, one of the best chat tools with customer support feature

Missive Stats:

  • Available on: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and web browsers
  • Best for: teams of all sizes
  • Price: freemium, the paid plans start at $14/user/month

Missive is a chat tool that offers customer support solutions.

With Team Inbox, assigned team members can answer incoming messages, emails, and client social media mentions. This helps ensure no message is left unattended.

In addition, Missive provides task automation and response templates to speed up workflows. Its collaborative writing feature also helps minimize errors while composing an email draft.

Missive’s free plan allows up to three users and provides two shared accounts for email, Facebook, and Twilio. If you have more employees, consider one of its paid plans, starting at $14/user/month.

Key Features

  • Team Inbox. Address client complaints and queries in a shared inbox to maintain brand reputation.
  • Canned response. Reply to incoming messages faster with pre-made templates.
  • Collaborative writing. Work together on email drafts to avoid unnecessary mistakes.
  • Unsend messages. Recall recently sent messages with different grace periods.

Drawbacks

For teams with over three members, there are other alternatives to Slack with better value for money.

[DOWNLOAD]

17. Hive

The homepage of Hive, a free online collaboration tool for teams of two

Hive Stats:

  • Available on: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and web browsers
  • Best for: teams of all sizes
  • Price: freemium, the Teams plan costs $12/user/month

Hive is an alternative to Slack offering communication and project management software.

This app lets users start a group chat or host a Zoom meeting to brainstorm ideas, notify essential tasks, and co-edit documents in real time.

Collaborators can visualize tasks via a Kanban board, Gantt chart, calendar, or table view, keeping the team aligned on project timelines and milestones.

Hive’s free plan is reserved for individuals and teams of two. For larger organizations, subscribe to its paid plan for $12/user/month.

Key Features

  • Task visualization. Present an idea via a Kanban board, Gantt chart, calendar, table, or portfolio view.
  • Progress tracking. Set a timer while creating tasks to avoid missed deadlines.
  • Personalization. Add your company logo and custom emojis to the workspace. You can also customize project layouts, task urgency levels, and notifications based on your team’s preferences.
  • Analytics dashboard. Oversee the project completion status, outstanding tasks, and your team’s workload.

Drawbacks

More advanced features like analytics and reporting dashboards are only available on the Enterprise plan, which requires contacting Hive’s sales team first.

[DOWNLOAD]

18. Wire

The homepage of Wire, a Slack alternative with robust security features

Wire Stats:

  • Available on: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and web browsers
  • Best for: teams of all sizes
  • Price: freemium, the paid plans start at $7.65/user/month

Wire is a team communication tool for secure instant messaging, video conferencing, and file sharing.

Its single sign-on functionality lets all team members access the app without entering a username and password, accelerating the login process. You can also invite clients and vendors using their email addresses.

The free plan lets collaborators send encrypted messages and files via one-on-one and group conversations. However, it’s limited to only five users.

To invite unlimited members, upgrade to its Enterprise plan, available for $7.65/user/month. It enables video conferencing, screen sharing, and sending meeting invitations via Google Calendar and Outlook.

Key Features

  • Single sign-on. Simplify the user login process through identity management providers like Okta and OneLogin.
  • Security. To protect your data privacy, all transmitted messages and files on Wire use end-to-end encryption.
  • Team management. Invite team members, manage their roles, and remove inactive users all in one place.
  • Self-destructing messages. Activating this feature lets you send messages that will disappear once the timer expires.

Drawbacks

Due to its encrypted nature, Wire does not store your chat history. Therefore, creating a backup before switching to a new device is crucial to retrieve past conversations.

If you prefer practicability over security, consider alternatives to Slack with an unlimited message history feature.

[DOWNLOAD]

19. ProofHub

The homepage of Proofhub, a document collaboration platform with a user-friendly interface

ProofHub Stats:

  • Available on: web browsers and mobile apps for Android and iOS
  • Best for: teams of all sizes
  • Price: starts at $45/month

ProofHub is a project management tool with an intuitive user interface.

As one of the Slack competitors, it comes with similar team chat features, including username mentions, file sharing, emoji reactions, and third-party integrations.

Apart from instant messaging, it also offers project management capabilities, from task planning using a table view to document co-editing via its online proofing feature.

Unlike most entries in this list, ProofHub does not offer per-user pricing. Instead, all plans allow unlimited user accounts, starting at $45/month for the Essential plan.

There is also a 40% discount on its Ultimate Control plan for non-profit organizations.

Key Features

  • Competitive pricing. With its flat pricing system, users will know the total cost upfront.
  • Discussions. It enables effective brainstorming sessions, where collaborators can share ideas, give suggestions, and mention specific teammates.
  • Proofing. Review, edit, and collaborate on designs and documents in real time.
  • Language customization. Communicate with team members and clients in their preferred language, including English, Spanish, French, German, Turkish, and Taiwanese Mandarin.

Drawbacks

Managing notifications can be overwhelming for some users, resulting in unnecessary distractions.

[DOWNLOAD]

The homepage of Blink, a Slack alternative for frontline workers

Blink Stats:

  • Available on: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and web browsers
  • Best for: medium to large teams of frontline workers
  • Price: starts at $3.40/user/month

Blink is one of the best Slack alternatives for frontline workers, especially in the logistics, hospitality, healthcare, construction, and retail industries.

This platform lets you discuss ideas, send files, and share locations through one-on-one and group chats. There is also a Zoom integration for video and audio calls.

Through Feed, you can announce company news, celebrate work anniversaries, and recognize employees for great work. Each member can like and leave comments on the posts, boosting team engagement.

In addition, this platform lets you personalize various workflows, such as accessing payslips, requesting leaves, and managing shift schedules.

To get started, subscribe to Blink’s premium plans, available from $3.40/user/month. While the app does not offer a free plan, there is a 14-day trial.

Key Features

  • Feed. Keep your team updated on company news, work anniversaries, and priority alerts.
  • Page editor. Create company-wide procedures, guidelines, and policies to speed up the onboarding process. Store those files in Hub to enable easy access for new employees.
  • Mandatory reads. Make sure your team has read and understood important messages.
  • Digital forms. Simplify workflows like collecting employee feedback, approving leave requests, and managing shift schedules with Blink’s pre-built forms.

Drawbacks

Blink’s pricing structure lacks transparency, as most plans require users to contact their representatives first. There are also hidden costs for some features.

[DOWNLOAD]

Conclusion

Despite its popularity and rich features, Slack is not the perfect solution for every team.

Thankfully, numerous alternatives cater to different budgets, team sizes, and business needs. To sum up, here are our top recommendations:

  • Microsoft Teams and Zoom are great choices if you need advanced video conferencing and screen-sharing features.
  • ClickUp and Discord offer a free plan with rich features, providing excellent options for growing teams with a limited budget.
  • Rocket.Chat is the best Slack alternative for customer communication.
  • Element should be the top pick if you’re concerned about data privacy.
  • Flock and Missive are the best project management tools that enable task automation, speeding up your business workflows.
  • Mattermost remains the top messaging platform for web developers.
  • Blink works best for frontline workers.

We hope this article has helped you determine which Slack alternative to choose. If you have more questions, feel free to comment or read through our FAQ below.

Slack Alternatives FAQ

This section will answer some frequently asked questions about Slack alternatives.

What Are the Best Free Slack Alternatives?

While no tool is completely free, ClickUp, Discord, and Mattermost are among the best freemium Slack alternatives due to their rich features.

Who Uses Slack the Most?

According to a study, Slack is mostly used by businesses with around 10-50 employees and $1-10 million in revenue. Furthermore, 61% of its clients come from the US, most of which are technology, computer software, and marketing companies.

Author
The author

Brian Fajar Mauladhika

Brian is a Content Writer who knows the ins and outs of digital marketing and eCommerce. Driven by passion and a dose of caffeine, he constantly looks for better ways to tell complex stories in a simple manner. Follow him on LinkedIn.