Slack is the leading team messaging platform, with channels, direct messages, huddles, a vast integration ecosystem and AI, loved for its polished experience, the all round standard for team chat. Launched in 2013 and now part of Salesforce, it organises communication into channels (public and private), direct and group messages and threads, with voice and video huddles, file sharing, powerful search, and more than 2,600 app integrations that bring other tools and workflows into the conversation, plus AI to summarise and assist. Widely regarded as the best standalone team chat experience and loved for its polish and integrations, Slack is used by teams and organisations worldwide. For all round team messaging, Slack is the benchmark.
Slack's distinction is the best standalone messaging experience with the richest integrations. Its channels, threads and huddles are refined and loved, and its 2,600 plus integrations and platform make it the hub where other tools and workflows live, which no rival matches for standalone chat polish and ecosystem. That experience and integration breadth set it apart.
Slack is best for teams and organisations that want the best standalone team messaging experience, with channels, huddles, the richest integrations and AI, especially those not tied to Microsoft or Google chat or willing to use a best of breed tool. It suits teams valuing chat experience and integrations. It is a weaker fit for Microsoft 365 organisations where Teams is bundled, Google Workspace ones using Google Chat, community and informal use, where Discord fits, or those needing self hosted open source, where Mattermost fits.
The core strengths are organised channels (public and private), direct and group messages and threads, voice and video huddles, file sharing, powerful search, and more than 2,600 app integrations bringing tools and workflows into chat, plus Slack AI for summaries and assistance. Slack offers Workflow Builder automation, Slack Connect for external collaboration, and a polished experience. Its experience, integrations and ecosystem are its defining advantages.
Slack is priced per user per month, with a Free plan (limited message history and features), Pro from around 8.75 US dollars per user, Business+ around 15, and Enterprise Grid quoted. Higher tiers add history, compliance, SSO and controls. Note the free plan's history limit. Costs scale with users and tier. Confirm current figures on the Slack pricing page.
Slack offers more than 2,600 app integrations, the richest in team chat, connecting to project management, code, support, calendars, Salesforce and countless tools, plus Workflow Builder and a developer platform. Its unmatched integration ecosystem, which makes Slack the hub where other tools and workflows live, is a signature strength and a key reason it is loved.
The best standalone chat experience with rich integrations is the signature strength: Slack's refined channels, threads, huddles and search, plus 2,600 plus integrations, make it a polished, central communication hub that teams enjoy and connect their tools to, which standalone rivals do not match. For teams wanting the best chat experience, this is the main reason to choose Slack.
Slack is highly rated for ease of use, its polished experience, integrations and search, with strong support, the most reviewed and loved standalone chat tool. Its G2 reviews praise the experience, integrations and collaboration, with per user cost versus bundled Teams and the free plan's history limit the main considerations.
For teams and organisations that want the best standalone team messaging experience with the richest integrations and AI, Slack is the benchmark choice. The main caution is per user cost versus bundled Teams or Google Chat, so Microsoft 365 organisations may use Teams, Google ones Google Chat, community use Discord, and self hosted needs Mattermost, but for all round team messaging Slack leads.
These team collaboration & business chat tools come up most often against Slack.
Chat, meetings and collaboration in Microsoft 365
Team messaging within Google Workspace
Voice, video and text community chat