Slack has made quite a name for itself over the years. Starting out as an internal chat tool to keep a small team of gaming developers connected, Slack now boasts 38.8 million daily active users. That makes Slack the fastest-growing startup in history, not to mention one of the leading instant messaging apps for business.
But that doesn’t make Slack a one-size-fits-all platform. Whether you’re using it now or considering it for your business, it’s helpful to have some Slack alternatives in mind. Every team is different, and Slack may not be the best answer for you.
The Best Alternatives to Slack in 2024 for Team Collaboration
This is the golden age of communication, and there are loads of apps like Slack, each offering distinct capabilities to suit teams of all sizes and functions.
Below, I’ll help you sort through the best Slack alternatives for 2024, so you can make the best choice for your business.
1. Brosix
Why not start with what we know best? It’s our blog, after all! Brosix is a highly capable, secure, and customizable Slack alternative.
Brosix enables team communication via one-on-one text chats, group chat rooms, and seamless voice and video chat features. Our user-friendly user interface (UI) lets you share your screen, capture instant screenshots, transfer files, and create whiteboard conferences, all with just a click.
A fully manageable and secure platform, Brosix is packed with rich administrative features so you can tailor your team network to your business’s unique communication, collaboration, and security needs.
Manage everything from user access to the collaboration platform to communication spaces, features, and user data access. Unlike Slack, Brosix offers end-to-end encryption. The peer-to-peer communication channels and anti-virus and malware integration further minimize the risk of outside threats.
“Effective communication is pivotal at eLearning Industry Inc., where we manage a vast network of 1,400 authors and publish over 150 articles monthly. Brosix has significantly streamlined our interactions, proving invaluable for synchronous and asynchronous communication. Its end-to-end encryption ensures that our extensive exchanges about content, sensitive data, and user feedback remain secure—a critical feature in today’s digital age.” — Christopher Pappas, Founder, eLearning Industry Inc
Top Brosix features:
- Authorize platform access on a user-based basis
- Manage contact lists, features, shared chat spaces, and more
- Set up multiple network administrators
- Establish individual data security levels
- Track and archive user activity
- Transfer unlimited files with no size restrictions
- Broadcast messages to handpicked audiences
- Grant desktop access with remote desktop control
Brosix pricing: Free Team Network, text chat, and feature control for 3 users; $4 per user/month for Business; $6 per user/month for Premium.
Pros and cons
| Brosix Pros | Brosix Cons |
| Compared to Slack, our app provides robust encryption and security measures, ensuring data privacy | Offers fewer customization options compared to some other platforms |
| Includes tools like screen sharing and file transfer, enhancing team collaboration | Brosix’s mobile app may not offer the same level of features and usability as its desktop version |
| Has an intuitive interface, making it easy for teams to adopt and use it effectively |
Available on: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, Web
User ratings:
- Trustpilot 4.3 (Stars) from 14 people
- Capterra 4.6 (Stars) from 71 people
- G2 4.7 (Stars) from 44 people
2. Flock
As a popular Slack alternative today, Flock’s big claim is that it’s faster. With Flock, you get the standard team communication tools like one-on-one and group chat, as well as audio and video calls.
The freemium version includes integrations (60 or so, such as Google Drive, Trello, and Dropbox). It’s limited, however, to 10,000 searchable messages, one-on-one video conferencing, and 5 GB of team storage.
Top Flock features:
- Convert discussions to tasks with built-in task management
- Create polls, auto-generated mailing lists, and shared to-dos
- Invite guests onto the platform
For more, explore our Flock vs Slack comparison.
Flock pricing: Paid plans run $4.50 per seat, but you’ll get access to screen sharing, unlimited messaging history, and 10 GB of storage per user.
Pros and cons
| Flock Pros | Flock Cons |
| Offers competitive pricing, making it an affordable option for teams and businesses | Provides fewer third-party app integrations, limiting its compatibility with other tools |
| Includes features like shared to-do lists, polls, and reminders, enhancing team collaboration | Has a smaller user base, resulting in fewer available resources and community support |
| Flock is easy to navigate and use, making it accessible for team members of all tech skill levels | Offers fewer customization options, which can be restrictive for teams with specific needs |
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web
User ratings:
- Trustpilot 2.7 (Stars) from 6 people
- Capterra 4.5 (Stars) from 342 people
- G2 4.4 (Stars) from 269 people
3. Microsoft Teams
Subscribers to the Microsoft 365 Business Basic (formerly Office 365 Business Essentials) or Microsoft 365 Business Premium plans are familiar with Microsoft Teams. Launched in 2017, Teams comes standard with these Microsoft plans.
There’s a freemium plan that offers you the usual suspects—chat and audio and video calls—as well as integrations, limited file storage, and the ability to communicate and collaborate with anyone inside or outside your organization.
Top Microsoft Teams features:
- Deep integration with Microsoft Office 365 lets you access, edit, and share any Office or OneDrive document without ever leaving the app
- In-messaging Word-like formatting lets you change font styles, create bulleted lists, and more
- Bots provide AI-powered onboarding and search
We recently compared Teams vs Slack in depth. Check it out!
“At Ling, we use various digital tools for communication, collaboration, and project management. The lack of face-to-face interaction makes it difficult to build team rapport. Microsoft Teams has helped us get through this.
We created chat rooms for specific purposes, like ‘Content Development’ for content planning and ‘Water Coolers’ for greetings, small talks, and sharing mottos and personal and work wins. We also have set up a dedicated channel for our DEI initiatives to address communication and work relationship gaps due to cultural differences. All of these contribute to our employees’ sense of belonging and boost productivity levels while building a strong, cohesive work culture.” — Simon Bacher, CEO and Co-Founder, Ling
Microsoft Teams pricing: Essentials starts at $4 per user/month; Business Basic for $6 per user/month; Business Standard for $12.50 per user/month.
Pros and cons
| Microsoft Teams Pros | Microsoft Teams Cons |
| Integrates smoothly with Office 365 apps, enhancing productivity and collaboration | The interface can be overwhelming for new users, making it difficult to navigate and use effectively |
| Offers strong security and compliance features, making it suitable for businesses with stringent security requirements | Can be resource-intensive, potentially slowing down devices and affecting performance |
| Provides a wide range of communication options, including chat, video conferencing, and file sharing |
Available on: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web
User ratings:
- Trustpilot 1.4 (Stars) from 178 people
- Capterra 4.5 (Stars) from 9,482 people
- G2 4.3 (Stars) from 15,147 people
4. Mattermost
Mattermost is a self-hosted, open-source communication app. For the non-techies, that means you can fumble with the source code, tailoring it to meet your organization’s needs. It also means you’ll need to deploy it on your server.
Communication happens via direct one-on-one messages, or in groups through public and private channels. There’s also voice, video, and screen sharing.
Top Mattermost features:
- Custom-build the mobile app
- Customize emojis
- Tweak branding and login page design
- Change languages in the UI
- Add encryption on both the communication and server levels
“I’d recommend Mattermost. This handy tool allows self-hosting and offers robust security features—a great fit for companies handling sensitive information. Its flexibility and control over data make it a preferred choice for organizations with strict compliance needs.” — Logan Mallory, Vice President of Marketing, Motivosity
Mattermost pricing: Freemium plan for small teams. Paid plans start at $10 per user/month
Pros and cons
| Mattermost Pros | Mattermost Cons |
| Mattermost is open-source, allowing for extensive customization and flexibility to meet specific business needs | Due to its customization capabilities, Mattermost can be more challenging for new users to learn and navigate |
| With its high scalability, it can be used by large teams and projects | Has fewer integrations compared to some other platforms like Slack |
| Supports both on-premise and cloud deployment, offering businesses the flexibility to choose based on their needs |
Available on: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Web
User ratings:
- Trustpilot 2.9 (Stars) from 8 people
- Capterra 4.4 (Stars) from 157 people
- G2 4.3 (Stars) from 331 people
5. Discord
A voice-based alternative to Slack, Discord may be new to some. For gamers, though, it’s a household name. That’s because Discord was conceived to give the gaming community a more interactive experience.
Lately, Discord’s rich voice features, coupled with chat capabilities and screen sharing, have begun to take hold in the business world.
Discord organizes conversations into ‘Servers.’ Servers are separated by text and voice. The latter continuously takes place in the background, and by clicking on a channel, you’ll immediately start voice communication with other users.
See our Discord vs Slack review for an in-depth comparison.
Top Discord features:
- Push-to-talk lets you immediately start and stop voice communication
- Access all your workspaces with one interface
- Integrate natively with YouTube, Twitter, Reddit, or a host of other apps through Zapier
“Discord excels in voice and video communication, which is essential for our team as we often hold brainstorming sessions and client meetings. For example, Discord’s ability to host video calls with up to 25 people and its robust noise suppression feature have made our virtual meetings clearer and more productive.” — Brandy Hastings, SEO Strategist, SmartSites
Discord pricing: The free plan offers core functionality; For $9.99/month, Nitro gets you custom emojis, 500 MB uploads, and GIF avatars.
Pros and cons
| Discord Pros | Discord Cons |
| Offers a robust set of features for free, making it an economical choice for team communication | While versatile, Discord’s design and branding are heavily geared toward gaming |
| Provides reliable and high-quality voice and video communication, suitable for both casual and professional use | Does not offer end-to-end encryption for messages, which may be a concern for sensitive business communications. |
| Allows extensive customization of servers and channels, enabling tailored communication structures for teams |
Available on: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Web
User ratings:
- Trustpilot 1.5 (Stars) from 1,088 people
- Capterra 4.7 (Stars) from 440 people
6. Chanty
An up-and-comer in the world of team communication, Chanty hit the market in 2017. The AI-powered messaging app is geared toward small to medium-sized enterprises.
Similar to Slack, Chanty allows for communication on a one-to-one basis, as well as through both public and private channels. You also get voice and video, file sharing, screen sharing, and an unlimited searchable message history.
Top Chanty features:
- AI-powered search and suggestions
- Organize tasks, messages, links, and files with the Teambook feature
- Turn messages into tasks and track them on the Kanban board
- Automate workflows through integrations with Trello, Mailchimp, and Google Drive
“I prefer using Chanty over Slack for many reasons. One of them is its AI enhancements. AI enhancements have made the app highly useful. Chanty has become a self-learning assistant by learning what I search for in chats. After a few searches, it starts giving relevant search results. Thanks to it, I don’t have to spend much time on searches.
Its AI feature also provides automatic suggestions. Due to this, I don’t have to think much about what to say next in the conversation. The conversations go smoothly, helping me to reach the main point quickly. Now, I can convince clients rapidly. It also makes conversations with my team or employees faster.” — Jeremy Bogdanowicz, Founder and CEO, JTB Studios
Chanty pricing: Free plans are limited to 5 users on a team; Paid plans start at $3 per user/month if billed annually
Pros and cons
| Chanty Pros | Chanty Cons |
| Offers a more affordable pricing structure, making it a budget-friendly option for small to medium-sized teams | Has fewer integrations with external tools compared to other platforms, which may limit workflow automation. |
| Provides a clean and intuitive interface that simplifies team communication and collaboration | Does not provide end-to-end encryption for files and conversations |
| Includes integrated task management features, helping teams manage projects and track progress directly within the platform |
Available on: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, Web
User ratings:
- Trustpilot 4.4 (Stars) from 10 people
- Capterra 4.7 (Stars) from 34 people
- G2 4.5 (Stars) from 42 people
7. Ryver
We mentioned Trello as one of our top productivity apps. What’s that got to do with Ryver, you ask? Well, imagine the Kanban boards of Trello together with a team messaging platform, and you’ve got Ryver.
It’s a great Slack alternative that allows users to communicate through direct messages, private groups, and open forums, all of which can be managed like tasks on a Kanban board. You also get voice and video calls and screen sharing. Ryver also offers unlimited integrations through Zapier.
Top Ryver features:
- Chat, manage tasks, and automate workflows on one platform
- Turn messages into tasks and track them on the Kanban board
- Stream social media, news articles, and RSS feed content
“We use Ryver as our primary communication tool instead of Slack. I really appreciate that Ryver offers unlimited messaging, file storage, and integrations on all its paid plans. The platform allows users to collaborate on documents and share screens during video calls, which is incredibly useful. It also has mobile apps for both iOS and Android, which helps keep our team connected even on the go.” — Kyle Kozlowski, Co-Founder, Eco Temp HVAC
Ryver pricing: There’s a 14-day free trial; Plans start at $34.50 per month for up to 12 users; $64.50 per month for up to 30 users; $2 per user for more than 30 participants; These prices are valid for the first three months of subscription
Pros and cons
| Ryver Pros | Ryver Cons |
| Combines messaging with task management, allowing teams to manage projects and communicate on one platform. | Some users find the interface and navigation to be less intuitive, which can lead to a steeper learning curve |
| Offers unlimited messaging and users on all plans, which can be more cost-effective for larger teams | Users may experience performance issues or slow loading times, especially with larger volumes of messages and tasks |
| Provides customizable boards and workflows to adapt to different team needs and processes |
Available on: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web
User ratings:
- Trustpilot 3.7 (Stars) from 1 person
- Capterra 4.4 (Stars) from 43 people
- G2 4.4 (Stars) from 153 people
8. Trillian
The elder of this list, Trillian was released all the way back in 2000! You get encrypted direct and group messaging with desktop notifications, voice clips, image and file sharing, screenshots, and email and social media management, all on Trillian’s servers. Alternatively, you can host Trillian on-premises behind your own firewall.
Centralized administration, control over features and contacts, and customizable data retention periods make Trillian a versatile option.
Top Trillian features:
- Have the option to self-host or communicate behind Trillian servers
- Take advantage of numerous in-messaging text formatting options
- Integrate Trillian with Facebook and LinkedIn to stay on top of your social media
- Leverage in-game overlay to chat directly during full-screen games
Trillian pricing: Individual Free for 1 user; Individual Pro for $3.33; Business Plan for $3.99 per user/month; Enterprise for $7.99 per user/month
Pros and cons
| Trillian Pros | Trillian Cons |
| Works seamlessly across multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, providing flexibility in communication | Lacks some advanced collaboration features found in other tools, such as in-depth project management capabilities |
| Offers end-to-end encryption for secure messaging, which is beneficial for privacy-conscious users | The interface can be considered less modern and less intuitive compared to more advanced collaboration tools |
| Provides a variety of customization options for notifications, and themes, allowing for a more personalized user experience | Has fewer integrations with other apps and services, potentially limiting its utility in complex workflows |
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web
User ratings:
- Capterra 4.7 (Stars) from 52 people
- G2 4.4 (Stars) from 113 people
9. Workplace Chat from Meta
Facebook isn’t just a social media giant anymore. In 2016, the Silicon Valley titan unveiled its very own workplace communication tool based on its notorious Facebook platform.
As another top Slack alternative, Workplace delivers team chat in a familiar Facebook fashion. In addition to direct and group messaging, there’s a news feed, personal pages, posts, comments, and likes. You also get voice and video calls, monitoring tools for IT teams, admin controls, and some integrations.
However, after 10 years of service, Workplace from Meta will be discontinued in 2026.
Top Workplace features:
- Live stream events and get real-time feedback
- Invite partners, customers, or teams from outside the organization to the platform
- Establish groups to unite chat and collaboration
- Communication, collaboration, culture, and team building with the familiarity of Facebook
Take a look at our full Workplace comparison to Slack!
Workplace Chat from Meta pricing: Workplace Core Plan at $4 per user/month
Pros and cons
| Workplace Chat from Meta Pros | Workplace Chat from Meta Cons |
| Seamlessly integrates with other Facebook services and tools, making it easier for users within the Facebook ecosystem to collaborate | Has fewer integrations with non-Facebook apps and services, which might limit its flexibility in diverse workflows |
| Offers a familiar interface that many users find intuitive and easy to navigate, thanks to its alignment with other Meta products | Being part of the Meta ecosystem, there may be concerns about data privacy and security due to the company’s history of data management issues |
| Includes various communication tools such as group chats, video calls, and file sharing, which enhance team collaboration |
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web
User ratings:
- Trustpilot 3.2 (Stars) from 2 people
- Capterra 4.4 (Stars) from 1,340 people
- G2 4.0 (Stars) from 1,715 people
10. Twist
Twist was created by a team working remotely across several time zones. Their priority was to design a team chat app to better organize the asynchronous communication typical with remote teams.
In this way, Twist organizes messages into an inbox where they’re threaded by topic, so responses don’t get buried in endless streams of conversation.
You get direct and group messaging, threaded conversations, highly customizable notifications, browseable and searchable conversation histories, and a handful of integrations.
If you need voice and video, you’ll need to look elsewhere, as Twist doesn’t offer those.
“Twist’s unique threaded chats significantly boost team attention and clarity. Unlike standard chat apps, where messages can become lost in a never-ending stream, Twist arranges discussions by topic. This format allows our team to readily follow and respond to conversations, even across time zones. For example, our marketing staff in Europe may easily continue a conversation that began in Australia hours earlier without losing any important details.” — Sergey Taver, Marketing Manager, Precision Watches
Top Twist features:
- Native integration with Todoist, an app we’ve written about to help you stay organized
- Preview messages before opening them
- Have access to all your messages in an inbox
- Invite guests like freelancers and consultants
Twist pricing: Free version with up to 5 integrations, 5 GB of storage, and one-month message and comment history; $6 per user/month for unlimited everything
Pros and cons
| Twist Pros | Twist Cons |
| Organizes conversations into threads, which helps keep discussions organized and easy to follow, reducing information overload | May lack some advanced features and integrations found in other collaboration tools |
| Designed for asynchronous communication, allowing team members to respond at their own pace, which can improve productivity. | The unique thread-based approach can be challenging to get used to for teams accustomed to other communication methods |
| Offers a clean, minimalist interface that reduces distractions and helps business teams focus on their work |
Available on: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Web
User ratings:
- Trustpilot 3.8 (Stars) from 3 people
- Capterra 4.3 (Stars) from 36 people
- G2 3.9 (Stars) from 19 people
Why Do People Choose Slack?
People use Slack for the integrations. According to Slack, the chat software connects with more than 2,000 other tools and apps.
Slack delivers a social-media-like user experience through a hip interface that’s filled with notifications, emojis, GIFs, memes, and other such goodies. Slack also makes strong use of user feedback, taking customer suggestions on board in order to grow more iteratively.
Why Look for Slack Alternatives for Team Communication and Productivity?
Slack’s success and popularity are undisputed. The same goes for Slack’s top-dog status in the integrations category.
That said, those integrations render many of Slack’s capabilities a result of other apps and technologies. And if your team isn’t making use of those integrations, you’re practically pouring money down the drain, because Slack isn’t cheap.
- It’s expensive: At $7.25 per user/month for Pro and $12.50 per user/month for Business+ (both billed yearly), Slack is out of reach for many startups or small to medium-sized enterprises. There’s a freemium version, but that limits you to only 10 integrations and 90 days of message history and shared file storage.
- It’s complicated and disruptive: If you’re part of multiple teams or groups, you face separate workspaces for each team and separate logins. That’s a lot of buried messages and missed details. What’s more, anyone who posts a message in Slack channels, resulting in a thread, then gets notifications about replies. And if you’re thinking of turning off notifications, other team members can bypass your Do Not Disturb mode.
- It may not be completely private: While it encrypts messages and data both in transit and at rest, Slack lacks end-to-end encryption. Questions have been raised surrounding Slack’s handling of user data, as well as the threat that the ever-growing number of third-party app integrations pose to the platform and the organizations using it.
Conclusion: Which One Is the Best Slack Alternative for Your Team?
As this list proves, there’s no shortage of different Slack competitors to suit your business. But as needs vary from one team to another, choosing the right solution isn’t easy.
Here are some considerations when choosing a Slack alternative for your team:
- Your specific team communication habits and preferences
- Which features could enhance team performance and which could hinder it
- Your organization’s approach to data privacy and security
If you’re having trouble making up your mind, why not give Brosix a try?
It’s intuitive, secure, and affordable, making this chat tool a solid Slack alternative. It has the right amount of features to ensure teamwork, safeguard communications, and boost your business.e right amount of features to ensure teamwork, safeguard communications, and boost your business.
