17 Slack Competitors & Alternatives to consider in 2021
The online revolution has given us the fastest and the most easily accessible communication tools imaginable. Personal communication has become extremely convenient, whether it is through text messages, emails or video calls. However, when it comes to businesses, communication amongst teams and multiple colleagues can become tedious, since normal messaging tools may not be suitable in many business environments.
This is where Slack comes in to fulfill the communication needs of businesses. Slack is an advanced business communication and file sharing platform that provides chat rooms and direct messaging tools for businesses with large teams and numerous employees. Slack is a market leader when it comes to business communication, however, connectivity issues amongst large teams and user-interface issues are common on the platform. That being said, there are many Slack alternatives that businesses can consider to meet their communication needs.
(We mention the hidden gems 💎 on top of our list, to give them more exposure, over the already popular ones)
💎 HIDDEN GEMS
1. SpikeNow
SpikeNow offers email, chatting, notes and file sharing features through its web based platform and its mobile app. Spike also offers email encryption and calendar features to help with scheduling and task management.
Pros
✔️ Features that help transform emails into real time chats to provide uncluttered communication channels.
✔️ Dynamic notes can be created without switching tabs or leaving the inbox
✔️ File management features make it easy to search for files and preview email attachments
✔️ Calendar integrations are provided along with in-built scheduling features
Cons
❌ User interface is not smooth and streamlined
❌ Initial syncing process can cause a lot of battery drainage
Pricing
💰 Free plan available
💰 Pro plan – $5 per month per account
💰 Business plan- $8 per month per account
💰 Customised pricing for enterprise solutions
Best known for
SpikeNow is best known for Online Notes, a feature that enables users to create notes and edit docs without switching windows or tabs or leaving the platform.
2. Fleep
Fleep is an Estonian software provider that offers communication, file sharing, and scheduling tools to businesses of all sizes. Fleep is a Slack alternative that provides planning tools as well to help businesses improve their performance and workflow management.
Pros
✔️ Ample options for integrations with other platforms, as well as a public API for advanced customised integrations
✔️ Audio and video calling features also available
✔️ Meeting notes, contact details and links are easy to edit and share with Pinboard features
✔️ Strong taskboard features to help with task assignment and tracking
Cons
❌ Only one email address can be connected per account
❌ Interface currently only available in English
Pricing
💰 Free basic plan available
💰 Business plan – $8 per user per month
💰 Custom pricing available for enterprise solutions
Best known for
Fleep is best known for the ease with which it can be integrated into various third-party platforms. Basic and advanced integrations are accommodated through Webhooks and custom APIs.
3. Twist
A by-product of Doist, Twist offers a novel platform to help facilitate collaborative conversations and workflow management. The platform aims to make communication through multiple channels as streamlined as possible.
Pros
✔️ Sleek platform that consolidates chats, emails and text messages into easy to read threads
✔️ Powerful search features that help users find old topics, files, decisions and messages
✔️ Advanced notification features that help users choose who they want to notify in each thread and comment when new messages appear
✔️ Automation features for daily tasks and reminders.
Cons
❌ No in-built tool to export data out of the Twist platform
❌ Features related to scheduling and task management are lacking, although they can be added through integration.
Pricing
💰 Free plan available
💰 Unlimited plan – $5 per user per month
💰 Custom pricing available for enterprises
Best known for
Twist emphasises on collaborative conversations amongst teams, hence it is best known as an effective communication tool for organisations with large teams or remote-working teams.
4. Fugu
One of the most popular products offered by Jungleworks, Fugu offers an all-purpose communication platform that beats all its competitors when it comes to pricing. Fugu is a good alternative to Slack that also offers self-hosting features and has special plans for educational institutions.
Pros
✔️ Attendance and leave management features enabled through facial recognition
✔️ Versatile screen sharing and audio/video calling features
✔️ Bots and automation features make routine tasks easier and improves workflow
✔️ Self-hosting features make it easy for businesses to host data locally
Cons
❌ Features are very basic and a lot of integrations are required to make the platform complete
❌ Task management features are minimal compared to peers
Pricing
💰 Free plan available
💰 Business plan – $2 per user per month
Best known for
Fugu is best known for its competitive pricing structure. Even though the platform is lacking in many areas, considering the features being offered with its current pricing plans, Fugu offers serious value-for-money.
5. Flujo
One of the newer entrants in the communication software space, Flujo packs many versatile features into its platform. Flujo offers messaging, audio/video calling, scheduling and task management features to help organize conversations and improve collaboration amongst teams.
Pros
✔️ Multipurpose ‘Kanban’ based scheduling and planning features that help boost productivity
✔️ 100GB storage offered without any limits on the native drive
✔️ Auto scheduling and minutes features to make meetings more efficient and productive
✔️ Streamlined dashboard features to track activity and progress of your tasks
Cons
❌ Lack of integration options compared to peers
❌ Lack of dark mode can lead to battery drainage on devices
Pricing
💰 Free plan available
💰 Pro Plan – $6 per user per month
💰 Enterprise Plan – Custom pricing
Best known for
Flujo is best known for its scheduling and task management features, especially its ‘Kanban’ feature that helps with task planning and collaboration
6. Anywhere.app
Anywhere.app is one of the many products created by AnywhereWorks. This no-frills app-based communications platform offers the perfect solution for businesses that work with remote teams. Along with messaging and audio/video calling, they also offer activity tracking and reporting features.
Pros
✔️ Seamless video-calling features embedded into the platform
✔️ Robust Android and iOS app
✔️ Tracking features to monitor the activities of team members
✔️ Strong customer support team
Cons
❌ Lack of task/workflow management features compared to peers
❌ Lack of integration options compared to peers
Pricing
💰 Free plan available
💰 Pro plan – $5 per user per month
💰 Business plan – $15 per user per month
Best known for
Anywhere.app is best known for its powerful Android and iOS app, which makes it a very useful tool for business that work with many remote teams
7. Swit
Swit offers a unified hub to facilitate workflow management and communication. Along with comprehensive communication tools, Swit also offers task management, scheduling and collaboration tools.
Pros
✔️ Streamlined user interface that combines multiple communication channels into one platform
✔️ Advanced calendar and scheduling features to improve task management
✔️ Cross workspace features for integrated search, notification and admin management
✔️ Remote learning features make the platform handy for educational institutions
Cons
❌ Lack of audio/video calling features, integrations are required to enable these features
❌ Pricing on the higher side compared to peers
Pricing
💰 Free plan available
💰 Standard plan – $12 per user per month
💰 Advanced plan – $24 per user per month
💰 Advanced plus plan – $34 per user per month
Best known for
Swit is best known for providing exceptional task management and planning tools, especially with handy features such as Kanban boards, Gantt charts and advanced calendar integrations embedded into its platform.
🥇 TOP PERFORMERS
8. Zoho Cliq
Being a part of Zoho’s suite of products, Zoho Cliq offers communication tools to help organize conversations between teams and employees. Zoho Cliq is a Slack competitor that also offers scheduling and automation tools on its platform.
Pros
✔️ Multi-chat views to monitor multiple conversations at once
✔️ Extensive automation features to simplify workflow management and task scheduling
✔️ Advanced video calling and screen sharing features
✔️ Versatile features to create detailed forms for data collection, lead creation and task management
Cons
❌ Platform can lag at times due to network connectivity issues
❌ Due to complexity of features, training and on-boarding process is time consuming
Pricing
💰 Free basic plan available
💰 Unlimited plans – $.9 -$2.7 per user per month, depending on the number of users.
Best known for
Zoho Cliq is best known for its automation features that enable users to optimize workflows and scheduling using artificial intelligence and bots.
9. Rocket.Chat
This open-source communication software platform provides the tools for communication, data management and collaboration. Rocket.Chat also provides remote working tools and customized tools for small and medium businesses.
Pros
✔️ Comprehensive communication channels that can be used to connect with teams as well as clients
✔️ Open source software makes it possible to fully customize the platform
✔️ Automatic real-time message translations are possible on the platform in over 50 languages
✔️ Real-time chat widgets that are easy to embed into any website or mobile app
Cons
❌ Lack of task management and planning features (compared to peers)
❌ Lack of payment options (only credit/debit card accepted)
Pricing
Self-Managed:
💰 Free plan available
💰 Unlimited plans – $2.5 per user per month
💰 Customised enterprise plans available
SaaS with cloud hosting services offered by Rocket.Chat:
💰 Bronze plan – $2 per user per month
💰 Silver plan – $4 per user per month
💰 Customised enterprise plans available
Best known for
Rocket.Chat is best known for being an open-source platform, which means it can be fully customized to suit the needs of its end users.
10. Flock
Simple, yet effective, the Flock platform offers communication and productivity tools for businesses of all sizes. Flock also offers strong privacy and data protection features on its platform, which can be customized as per the specific needs of the end user.
Pros
✔️ Features that can be customized and tailored as per operational requirements.
✔️ Handy voice note features to record memos and convey important details
✔️ Powerful search features to help retrieve information and files from past conversations
✔️ Strong data retention and privacy tools, including flexible admin control and authentication features
Cons
❌ Very basic scheduling and task management features compared to peers
❌ Managing multiple conversations on one screen can be tedious due to the user interface
Pricing
💰 Free starter plan available
💰 Pro plan – $6 per user per month
💰 Enterprise plan – $10 per user per month
Best known for
Flock is best known for the way in which they customise their solutions based on the needs of the user, e.g. the features for a user working working in sales will be tailored differently compared to the features for a user working in HR or Product development.
🌟 RISING STARS
11. Element.io
A communications platform that runs on open-source software, Element.io offers communication and file-sharing services through the Matrix.org ecosystem. With an emphasis on data protection, Element.io adds a new level of security to business communication.
Pros
✔️ Cross-signed device verification and default end-to-end encryption makes every conversation secure
✔️ Open source software makes the platform easily customisable
✔️ Automation features available to create audit and moderation bots
✔️ App translation available in over 25 languages
Cons
❌ Lack of task management and scheduling features
❌ Poor customer service
Pricing
💰 Free plan available
💰 Nickel plan – $2 per user per month
💰 Silver plan – $3 per user per month
💰 Gold plan – $4 per user per month
💰 Customised platinum plans also available
Best known for
Element.io is best known for its privacy and data protection features, hence it is perfect for businesses who want to keep their data and their conversations secure.
12. Troop Messenger
Through its messenger platform, Troop Messenger has introduced many new innovative features into the communication software space. Along with communication tools, Troop Messenger also offers file management and self-hosting features on its mobile, desktop and web platform.
Pros
✔️ Innovative new communication features such as Burnout (enables users to chat in private within a stipulated time period) and Forkout (allows users to send messages to multiple individual participants or groups).
✔️ Features to add non-employees, such as vendors and customers, to the messaging and file sharing platform.
✔️ Versatile features available for self-hosting and app customization
✔️ Dashboards are streamlined and easy to use
Cons
❌ Only one-to-one calling available as of now
❌ Automation features are limited compared to peers
Pricing
💰 Premium plan – $1 per user per month
💰 Enterprise plan – $5 per user per month
💰 Self-hosting plan – prices starting from $5 per user per month
Best known for
Troop messenger is best known for the novel features available on its messaging platforms, such as Burnout, Forkout and live location tracking.
13. Chanty
Known for its simple and intuitive user interface, Chanty offers a handy business communications platform with conversation, file sharing and scheduling features. Chanty’s ‘Teambook’ feature offers a single hub that helps users organize tasks, conversations, pinned messages and content.
Pros
✔️ One of the most intuitive user interfaces with seamless onboarding across devices and platforms.
✔️ Code snippet feature enables developers to easily share lines of code, along with files and links
✔️ Useful features to help with task management such as Kanban boards
✔️ 99.9% uptime is guaranteed
Cons
❌ Audio/Video calling and screen sharing features are deficient compared to peers
❌ Platform only available in 3 languages at the moment
Pricing
💰 Free plan available
💰 Business plan – $4 per user per month
Best known for
Chanty is best known for its easy to use and intuitive user interface, and although the layout of the platform is not very feature-rich, its simplicity makes onboarding easy and it makes the learning process easy for new users.
14. Talkspirit
With an aim to simplify information sharing, this French software provider gives business the necessary tools to streamline conversations and facilitate collaboration. Talkspirit offers comprehensive communication tools, flexible customisation options and a sleek dashboard feature to help businesses optimize their back-end operations.
Pros
✔️ Complete personalization and customization controls that enable users to modify themes, logos and backgrounds on the platform.
✔️ A feature-rich dashboard to analyse and track user activity
✔️ Office suite features to enable sharing and co-editing of files and documents in real time with collaborators
✔️ Strong document-manager features to organize files and view images in galleries
Cons
❌ Lagging and glitches are common during audio calls
❌ Chat interface is not very streamlined and can become cluttered at times
Pricing
💰 Standard pricing – $6 per user per month
💰 Premium pricing- $10 per user per month
Best known for
Talkspirit is best known for its customization and personalization features, which enables businesses to setup a branded communications platform with fully customized themes, layouts, designs, logos and features.
15. Coast (also known as Coastapp)
Coast provides an all-in-one workspace on their platform for businesses that need simple messaging solutions. Along with communications tools, Coast also provides task management tools and scheduling features.
Pros
✔️ Handy checklist features to assign tasks and track productivity through task lists
✔️ Novel scheduling features to help optimize shift changes and reduce errors and no shows
✔️ Powerful search features to locate messages, tasks, schedules, and files in chat groups
✔️ Automated notification features to provide updates on latest tasks and schedules
Cons
❌ Audio/Video calling and screen sharing features are lacking
❌ Lack of integration options compared to peers
Pricing
💰 Free plan available
💰 Starter plan – $6 per user per month
💰 Plus plan – $12 per user per month
💰 Professional plan – $18 per user per month
Best known for
Coast is best known for its easy-to-use task management and scheduling features, especially its checklist feature. This makes it a very handy planning tool and a good alternative to Slack.
16. Grape.io
This European open-source communication platform is geared towards being an intuitive tool that can be easily integrated into other platforms. Along with messaging and calling tools, Grape.io also has an NLP based AI engine that analyses conversations in real-time to help with data and information mining.
Pros
✔️ Jitsi technology generates high-quality and clear voice and video calls
✔️ Advanced APIs and SDKs enable users to integrate the app into any software
✔️ Robust user statistics features such as one-click reports and time based reviews
✔️ NLP based AI engine to classify conversations to make them contextually searchable
Cons
❌ Does not come with any in-built task management or scheduling features
❌ Number of guests is limited per account on cloud plans
Pricing
Cloud plans:
💰 C10 plan – $4 per user per month
💰 C20 plan- $7 per user per month
Server plan:
💰 Free plan available
💰 S50 plan – $6 per user per month
💰 S100 plan – $9 per user per month
Best known for
Grape.io is one of the few providers that doesn’t just position itself as a standalone app, but it also positions itself as a tool that can be integrated into other tools and software platforms. This is what makes it unique, and it is already quite well known for its compatibility with leading platforms such as Jira, Confluence and Crowd.
17. TypeTalk
Created by the developers at Nulab, Typetalk offers a novel messaging platform for businesses looking for streamlined channels to exchange information. Compared to other Slack alternatives, TypeTalk aims to gives its users a more animated and interactive platform, that feels more like a social media site as opposed to business software.
Pros
✔️ Interactive social media features such as GIPHY support, emoji libraries and YouTube/Twitter widgets make communication process animated and lively
✔️ Formatting syntax enables users to insert source code, quotes and files
✔️ Strong search features to retrieve important information
✔️ Automated bots can be created using APIs and Webhooks
Cons
❌ Lack of audio and video calling features
❌ Lack of integration options compared to peers.
Pricing
💰 Free plan available
💰 Standard plan – Starting from $10/month (for 5 users), going up to $750/month (for 500 users)
Best known for
Typetalk is best known for being an animated and stimulating platform that aims to be more like a social media platform as opposed to an SaaS communication platform, this is what makes the platform more engaging than its competitors.
Conclusion
Did you like the list? Have we missed something important? Let us know in the comments
