What is the best free alternative to Slack?

Pumble is the standout free option, offering unlimited team chat and unlimited message history at no cost, avoiding Slack free plan's 90-day history limit.

Which Slack alternative is best if we use Microsoft 365?

Microsoft Teams is the natural choice, as it is included with most Microsoft 365 business plans and integrates deeply with Office apps, chat, meetings, and calls.

Is there a self-hosted alternative to Slack?

Yes. Mattermost is open-source and self-hostable, giving teams full control over data location for compliance, air-gapped, or on-premise requirements Slack cannot meet.

Is there a cheaper alternative to Slack?

Several. Discord starts at $2.99/month, Pumble at $2.49/user/month, and Zoho Cliq at $3/user/month, all below Slack's $7.25 paid entry point.

Which Slack alternative has the best built-in video?

Microsoft Teams has the strongest native video and calling of these options. Discord is best for always-on voice channels, while Slack focuses on lighter huddles.

Slack Alternatives (2026): 8 Additional Options for Team Communication

Slack is the best-known channel-based team messaging app, with huddles, clips, and a deep app-integration ecosystem, starting at $7.25/user/month and holding a 4.7 Capterra rating. It is a productivity staple for teams that live in real-time chat and connect dozens of tools.

But Slack's per-user pricing, its 90-day message-history limit on the free plan, and its focus on chat over meetings push teams to look elsewhere. Some want a platform bundled with tools they already pay for, some want self-hosting and data control, and others want it far cheaper. These eight Slack alternatives cover every angle.

TL;DR

If you already pay for Microsoft 365, Teams is effectively bundled and the obvious Slack alternative.
For the lowest cost, Pumble and Zoho Cliq offer generous free and cheap paid tiers.
For data control, Mattermost is open-source and self-hostable.
Google Chat is the natural pick for Google Workspace organizations.

Why look for a Slack alternative?

Per-user pricing adds up fast, and the free plan now limits message history to 90 days.
Slack is chat-first, so teams wanting strong built-in video meetings often supplement it.
Message history and storage limits push growing teams onto paid tiers quickly.
Organizations with strict data-residency or compliance needs cannot self-host Slack.
Teams already paying for Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace get overlapping chat tools for no extra cost.

Slack alternatives at a glance

Tool	Starting price	Rating	Best for
Microsoft Teams	$4/mo	★ 4.5	Organizations already standardized on Microsoft 365.
Google Chat	Included with Google Workspace, which starts at $7/user/mo (Business Starter).	—	Teams already using Google Workspace.
Pumble	$2.49/mo	★ 4.7	Cost-sensitive teams that want unlimited history for free.
Zoho Cliq	$3/mo	★ 4.6	Teams already invested in the Zoho suite.
Mattermost	$10/mo	★ 4.4	Security-sensitive teams needing on-premise or self-hosted chat.
Discord	$2.99/mo	★ 4.7	Creator and gaming communities and informal teams.
Flock	$4.5/mo	★ 4.5	Small and growing teams that want productivity tools built in.
Chatwork	Free plan available; paid Business tier around $8/user/mo.	—	Small teams that want chat and task tracking in one place.

1. Microsoft Teams

Best for Microsoft 365 organizations

★ 4.5· Capterra$4/mo

What it does better than Slack

Microsoft Teams bundles chat, meetings, and calls tightly with Microsoft 365 starting at $4/user/month, and it is included with most business 365 plans. For organizations already on 365, it removes a separate line item entirely and adds far stronger native video and calling than Slack. Deep Office integration is a major draw.

Where Slack still wins

Slack's app-integration ecosystem and chat experience are widely considered more polished and faster, and it is simpler for non-Microsoft shops.

Best for: Organizations already standardized on Microsoft 365.

Visit Microsoft Teams Full review

2. Google Chat

Best for Google Workspace organizations

Included with Google Workspace, which starts at $7/user/mo (Business Starter).

What it does better than Slack

Google Chat comes bundled with Google Workspace, so teams on Gmail, Drive, and Meet get spaces-based messaging at no extra cost. It integrates cleanly with Google Docs and Calendar and pairs with Meet for video. For Workspace shops, it removes the need for a separate chat subscription.

Where Slack still wins

Google Chat's feature depth, app integrations, and third-party ecosystem are thinner than Slack's, and it is less compelling outside the Google ecosystem.

Best for: Teams already using Google Workspace.

3. Pumble

Best for cost-sensitive teams

★ 4.7· Capterra$2.49/mo

What it does better than Slack

Pumble offers free unlimited team chat with unlimited message history, then affordable paid tiers from $2.49/user/month for video and admin features. It removes the message-history cap that pushes Slack teams to pay. For budget-focused teams, it delivers Slack-style chat for far less.

Where Slack still wins

Pumble's integration marketplace and advanced features are much smaller than Slack's, so complex workflows may hit limits.

Best for: Cost-sensitive teams that want unlimited history for free.

Visit Pumble Full review

4. Zoho Cliq

Best for existing Zoho customers

★ 4.6· Capterra$3/mo

What it does better than Slack

Zoho Cliq provides low-cost team chat and video from $3/user/month with tight integration across the Zoho suite. For teams already using Zoho CRM or other apps, it connects seamlessly and undercuts Slack sharply. It holds a strong 4.6 Capterra rating.

Where Slack still wins

Zoho Cliq's third-party ecosystem outside the Zoho world is smaller than Slack's, and its chat UX is less refined.

Best for: Teams already invested in the Zoho suite.

Visit Zoho Cliq Full review

5. Mattermost

Best for self-hosted data control

★ 4.4· Capterra$10/mo

What it does better than Slack

Mattermost is open-source and self-hostable, giving security-sensitive and technical teams full control over where their data lives. It is a strong fit for compliance, air-gapped, or on-premise requirements that Slack cannot meet. Developers appreciate its extensibility.

Where Slack still wins

Mattermost requires infrastructure and maintenance to self-host, and its polish and ready-made integrations lag Slack's cloud experience.

Best for: Security-sensitive teams needing on-premise or self-hosted chat.

Visit Mattermost Full review

6. Discord

Best for communities and casual teams

★ 4.7· Capterra$2.99/mo

What it does better than Slack

Discord offers persistent voice, video, and text channels with excellent always-on voice rooms, starting at just $2.99/month for Nitro perks. For creator communities, gaming, or casual teams, its voice-first design beats Slack's huddles. Large free servers make it very cost-effective.

Where Slack still wins

Discord lacks Slack's business-grade admin controls, compliance features, and productivity integrations, so it is less suited to formal workplaces.

Best for: Creator and gaming communities and informal teams.

Visit Discord Full review

7. Flock

Best for small teams wanting built-in tools

★ 4.5· Capterra$4.5/mo

What it does better than Slack

Flock is a team messenger with built-in to-dos, polls, reminders, and video for small teams, starting at $4.5/user/month. It bundles lightweight productivity tools that Slack leaves to add-ons. Small teams get more out of the box for less.

Where Slack still wins

Flock has a smaller integration ecosystem and less scale-tested reliability than Slack for large organizations.

Best for: Small and growing teams that want productivity tools built in.

Visit Flock Full review

8. Chatwork

Best for chat with built-in task management

Free plan available; paid Business tier around $8/user/mo.

What it does better than Slack

Chatwork combines group chat with native task management, so conversations turn into assigned tasks without a separate tool. It offers a free plan and inexpensive paid tiers, making it budget-friendly. Teams that blend messaging and lightweight project tracking find it efficient.

Where Slack still wins

Chatwork's integration ecosystem and real-time chat polish are more limited than Slack's, and it is less common in Western markets.

Best for: Small teams that want chat and task tracking in one place.

How to choose the right Slack alternative

Choose Microsoft Teams if you already pay for Microsoft 365 and want chat, meetings, and calls bundled.
Choose Google Chat if your organization runs on Google Workspace.
Choose Pumble if you want unlimited message history for free on a tight budget.
Choose Zoho Cliq if you already use the Zoho suite and want tight integration.
Choose Mattermost if you need self-hosting and full control over your data.
Choose Discord if you run a community or casual team that lives in voice channels.
Choose Flock if you are a small team that wants to-dos and polls built into chat.
Choose Chatwork if you want group chat and task management combined in one tool.

How we evaluated

Feature mapping — we compare each alternative's capabilities against the tool it's replacing, job for job.
Real pricing — starting prices come from each vendor's public pricing page, labeled by tier.
User sentiment — ratings and review counts are aggregated from third-party platforms (Capterra, G2) and shown with their source.
Right-sizing — we weigh which team size, budget, and technical comfort each option actually fits.
Independence — we don't sell a competing product, and affiliate relationships never change our picks.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free alternative to Slack?: Pumble is the standout free option, offering unlimited team chat and unlimited message history at no cost, avoiding Slack free plan's 90-day history limit.
Which Slack alternative is best if we use Microsoft 365?: Microsoft Teams is the natural choice, as it is included with most Microsoft 365 business plans and integrates deeply with Office apps, chat, meetings, and calls.
Is there a self-hosted alternative to Slack?: Yes. Mattermost is open-source and self-hostable, giving teams full control over data location for compliance, air-gapped, or on-premise requirements Slack cannot meet.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Slack?: Several. Discord starts at $2.99/month, Pumble at $2.49/user/month, and Zoho Cliq at $3/user/month, all below Slack's $7.25 paid entry point.
Which Slack alternative has the best built-in video?: Microsoft Teams has the strongest native video and calling of these options. Discord is best for always-on voice channels, while Slack focuses on lighter huddles.

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