Tired of Slack Overload? 5 Team Chat Alternatives Worth Trying
Slack is powerful but pricey and noisy. We compare five alternatives on cost, integrations and usability so you can pick the right fit for your team.
At MG Software we recommend Microsoft Teams for organisations already in the Microsoft ecosystem and Discord for startups that want fast, affordable communication. For teams with strict privacy requirements we deploy Rocket.Chat or Mattermost with self-hosting. We handle the migration and configuration so your team stays productive throughout the transition.
Why do people look for alternatives to Slack is a cloud-based messaging platform that has defined workplace communication since 2013. It organises conversations into channels by project, team or topic and provides direct messages, huddles for spontaneous audio calls, clips for short video updates and Slack Connect for communicating with external partners. With over 2,600 app integrations in the Slack Marketplace you can connect virtually any tool to your workspace. The Pro plan costs $8.75 per user per month and unlocks unlimited message history, group calls and Workflow Builder. Business+ adds SAML SSO, data exports and a 99.99% uptime SLA for $12.50 per user per month. Enterprise Grid provides unlimited workspaces, HIPAA compliance and a dedicated account manager.?
Teams look for Slack alternatives for several valid reasons. Costs escalate quickly as teams grow, particularly when not every user fully utilises the paid features. Slack lacks built-in video conferencing for larger groups, forcing you to maintain a separate platform like Zoom or Google Meet. Notification overload drives context switching and reduced focus, a phenomenon many organisations call "Slack fatigue." The free plan restricts message history to 90 days and caps integrations at ten. Organisations heavily invested in Microsoft 365 experience duplication when running Teams alongside Slack. Some teams also miss deeper threaded discussions that go beyond what Slack threads offer.
Best alternatives
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is the communication platform within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, combining chat, video meetings, file storage and app integrations in a single interface. Teams is included with Microsoft 365 Business Basic ($6 per user per month), making it considerably cheaper than Slack when you already hold Microsoft licences. The platform supports meetings of up to 300 participants, breakout rooms, live transcription and Copilot AI assistance for summaries and action items.
Pros
- +Fully integrated with Microsoft 365 apps including Word, Excel, SharePoint and OneDrive
- +Built-in video meetings for up to 300 participants with recording, transcription and breakout rooms
- +No additional licence costs for organisations already running Microsoft 365 Business or Enterprise
- +Copilot AI generates meeting summaries, action items and chat overviews automatically
Cons
- -Heavier application with higher system requirements and slower startup time compared to Slack
- -Less intuitive interface for teams not accustomed to the Microsoft ecosystem and its conventions
- -External collaboration features more limited than Slack Connect for cross-organisation communication
Discord
Discord started as a gaming platform but has matured into a full-featured communication tool for communities and teams. It offers text and voice channels, screen sharing, forum channels for structured discussions and a free tier with no message limits. Discord Nitro ($9.99 per month) adds higher upload limits, better video quality and custom emoji. Beyond gaming, a growing number of startups and open-source projects rely on Discord as their primary communication channel.
Pros
- +Generous free tier with unlimited messages, voice channels and screen sharing with no time restrictions
- +Excellent voice chat with low latency, noise suppression and always-available voice channels
- +Forum channels provide structured threaded discussions similar to an internal community forum
- +Large bot library and open API for custom integrations and workflow automation possibilities
Cons
- -Lacks enterprise features such as SAML SSO, compliance reporting and enterprise-grade audit logging
- -No native integrations with business tools like Salesforce, Jira or SAP out of the box
- -Perception as a "gaming app" may create resistance among stakeholders in traditional organisations
Google Chat
Google Chat is the messaging platform within Google Workspace, offering direct messages, group conversations and Spaces for project-based collaboration. It is included with every Google Workspace subscription (starting at $7 per user per month) and integrates seamlessly with Gmail, Google Drive, Google Meet and Docs. Spaces combine chat with shared files, tasks and calendar integration, functioning as a lightweight project hub for distributed teams.
Pros
- +Native integration with Google Workspace: Gmail, Drive, Meet, Calendar and Docs work together seamlessly
- +No additional cost for existing Google Workspace customers on any subscription tier
- +Spaces offer a project environment with shared files, inline tasks and calendar event linking
- +Gemini AI features for smart summaries, suggestions and automatic action extraction from conversations
Cons
- -Significantly fewer third-party integrations compared to both Slack and Microsoft Teams
- -More limited workflow builder and automation options compared to Slack Workflow Builder capabilities
- -Less suitable for large enterprises due to missing advanced features like comprehensive DLP controls
Rocket.Chat
Rocket.Chat is an open-source communication platform that you can self-host or use through their managed cloud service. It provides channels, direct messages, video calling, screen sharing and end-to-end encryption. The Community edition is free and unlimited for self-hosted deployments. The Enterprise plan starts at $7 per user per month and adds LDAP, SAML, audit logging, federation and priority support. The platform is particularly popular with government agencies and organisations with strict data sovereignty requirements.
Pros
- +Fully open-source with self-hosting capability for maximum control over data and privacy policies
- +End-to-end encryption and compliance features for organisations with strict security requirements
- +Federation support allowing separate Rocket.Chat instances to communicate across organisational boundaries
- +Extensively customisable through APIs, webhooks, custom apps and white-labelling for own branding
Cons
- -Self-hosted deployment requires server management, maintenance and security updates by your own team
- -Smaller integration marketplace with fewer ready-made connectors than Slack or Teams ecosystems
- -Interface feels less polished and modern compared to the refined UX of Slack and Microsoft Teams
Mattermost
Mattermost is an open-source team communication platform built specifically for developer teams and DevOps workflows. It offers channels, direct messages, playbooks for incident management and a built-in project and task management environment. The Free edition supports unlimited users and message history for self-hosted installations. The Professional plan costs $10 per user per month adding SSO, advanced permissions and group management. Enterprise adds LDAP group sync, high availability and compliance reporting.
Pros
- +DevOps-native with built-in playbooks for incident management, CI/CD integrations and bot framework
- +Self-hosted option with full source code access and no restrictions on users or message volume
- +Strong integrations with developer tools including GitHub, GitLab, Jenkins, PagerDuty and Jira
- +Channel-based collaboration combined with built-in task and project management through Boards
Cons
- -Steeper learning curve for non-technical team members due to developer-oriented interface and terminology
- -Cloud-hosted version more expensive than Slack Pro when you lack self-hosting infrastructure
- -Less suitable for non-technical departments like marketing, HR and sales due to limited template options
Comparison at a glance
Microsoft Teams offers the best value for Microsoft 365 organisations with built-in video conferencing. Discord wins on cost and voice quality for smaller teams and communities. Google Chat integrates best within Google Workspace. Rocket.Chat provides maximum control through self-hosting with end-to-end encryption. Mattermost is the strongest choice for DevOps teams with native CI/CD integrations and incident playbooks.
What to consider when switching?
- Existing software ecosystem: whether you already run Microsoft 365, Google Workspace or another platform
- Budget considerations: per-user cost versus the value of bundled features and existing licences
- Data sovereignty and compliance requirements: need for self-hosting or end-to-end encryption
- Team composition: primarily technical teams versus mixed departments with diverse needs and skill levels
- Integration requirements: number and type of tools you need connected to your communication platform daily
Which alternative does MG Software recommend?
At MG Software we recommend Microsoft Teams for organisations already in the Microsoft ecosystem and Discord for startups that want fast, affordable communication. For teams with strict privacy requirements we deploy Rocket.Chat or Mattermost with self-hosting. We handle the migration and configuration so your team stays productive throughout the transition.
Frequently asked questions
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