Slack redefined workplace communication, but its pricing, message history limits, and feature gaps leave room for alternatives. Whether you need better video conferencing, lower costs, or self-hosted control, there are compelling options available.
Why look for a Slack alternative?
- Pricing — Slack's per-user pricing gets expensive as teams scale
- Message history — The free tier limits history to 90 days
- Video conferencing — Native video and audio capabilities are limited
- Data control — Some organizations require self-hosted communication tools
- Feature overlap — If you already pay for Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, you may be doubling up
Top alternatives
1. Microsoft Teams
Best for: Organizations already using Microsoft 365
Teams is the most direct Slack competitor and comes included with most Microsoft 365 plans. It offers robust messaging, excellent video conferencing, deep file integration through SharePoint, and tight connections with the entire Microsoft ecosystem. If you are already paying for Microsoft 365, switching to Teams can eliminate a significant line item.
Pricing: Free tier available. Included with Microsoft 365 Business Basic ($6/user/month).
2. Discord
Best for: Communities, startups, and informal teams
Discord started as a gaming communication platform but has become popular with developer communities, open-source projects, and startup teams. It offers excellent voice channels (always-on voice rooms you can drop into), strong community management tools, and a generous free tier. The interface feels more casual than Slack but is highly functional.
Pricing: Free with full features. Nitro at $10/month for enhanced uploads and streaming quality.
3. Rocket.Chat
Best for: Self-hosted and privacy-focused teams
Rocket.Chat is an open-source communication platform you can host on your own servers. It offers channels, direct messaging, video conferencing, and extensive customization. For organizations with strict data sovereignty requirements or those who want full control over their communication infrastructure, Rocket.Chat is the leading option.
Pricing: Free (self-hosted). Cloud plans start at $7/user/month.
4. Google Chat
Best for: Google Workspace users
Google Chat (integrated into Gmail and Google Workspace) provides straightforward team messaging with Spaces for group conversations. It integrates naturally with Google Docs, Drive, Meet, and Calendar. It lacks Slack's polish and integration depth, but if your organization runs on Google Workspace, it is already available and may be all you need.
Pricing: Included with Google Workspace plans starting at $7/user/month.
5. Element (Matrix)
Best for: Security-conscious and decentralized teams
Element is built on the Matrix protocol, an open standard for decentralized communication. It offers end-to-end encryption by default, federation between servers, and the ability to self-host. Governments and security-focused organizations use Element for its strong privacy guarantees.
Pricing: Free (self-hosted). Managed hosting starts at $5/user/month.
Comparison table
| Feature | Slack | Teams | Discord | Rocket.Chat | Google Chat | |---------|-------|-------|---------|-------------|-------------| | Free message history | 90 days | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | | Video conferencing | Basic | Advanced | Good | Built-in | Via Meet | | Self-hosting | No | No | No | Yes | No | | End-to-end encryption | Enterprise | No | No | Yes | No | | Integrations | 2,600+ | M365 suite | Bots/webhooks | 100+ | Google suite | | Voice channels | Huddles | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Our recommendation
If you are on Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams is the practical choice — it is likely already included in your plan. For communities and informal teams that want excellent voice features, Discord is surprisingly capable. If data ownership and privacy are non-negotiable, Rocket.Chat or Element give you full control with self-hosted deployments.