Slack
Review · Communication & Messaging · Freemium
About Slack
Slack is the leading team communication platform designed for modern workplaces. It organizes conversations into channels, making it easy to follow topics and projects without getting lost in endless email threads. With powerful search, file sharing, and integrations with over 2,400 apps, Slack has become essential for remote teams worldwide.
The platform supports real-time messaging, voice and video calls, and async communication through threads. Its robust API allows teams to build custom workflows and automations. Whether you're a small startup or a large enterprise, Slack scales to meet your team's communication needs.
Key features include channel organization, direct messaging, huddles for quick audio conversations, workflow builder, and enterprise-grade security. Slack's intuitive interface reduces the learning curve, helping teams get up and running quickly.
Our Take on Slack
Verdict: Slack is still the best chat tool for remote teams that live in their integrations: GitHub, Jira, Google Drive, support tools and dozens of bots. It feels fast and organised in a way Teams often doesn't. The free plan's 90-day message history makes it a trial for real teams. Expect to pay $7.25/user/month (annual) for Pro.
Pricing
| Plan | Annual (per user/month) | Monthly | Key differences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | 90 days of history, 1:1 huddles only, 10 integrations |
| Pro | $7.25 | $8.75 | Unlimited history, group huddles, unlimited apps |
| Business+ | $15 | $18 | Advanced AI (including Slackbot agent), stronger admin and compliance |
| Enterprise+ | Custom | Custom | Unlimited workspaces, enterprise-grade AI and security |
Cost against Microsoft Teams: a 20-person team on Slack Pro pays $1,740/year (annual). Teams Essentials is $4/user/month ($960/year), and Teams is often already included in Microsoft 365. Slack only makes sense if its integrations and user experience are worth the difference to you.
Why remote teams pick Slack
- Integrations. The largest app ecosystem in team chat, with alerts, workflows and bots where work happens.
- Channels and threads that keep async conversations organised across time zones.
- Huddles (Pro) for quick audio and screen-share without scheduling a meeting.
Where it falls short
- Free plan history limit. Anything older than 90 days disappears from view.
- Cost against bundled alternatives, since Teams and Google Chat often come "free" with existing suites.
- Notification overload without channel discipline.
Choose Slack if
- Your team relies on developer and SaaS integrations
- You want the best chat UX and are willing to pay for it
Avoid Slack if
- You're on Microsoft 365. Teams is likely already paid for
- You're on Google Workspace and want minimal cost. Use Google Chat
- Your team prefers voice messages on the go. Look at Voxer
Compare: Slack vs Microsoft Teams, Slack vs Zoom, Slack vs Voxer. See Slack alternatives and communication tools.
Sources (checked 2026-10-09)
Key Features
- ✓Organized channels for team conversations
- ✓Powerful search across all messages and files
- ✓2,400+ app integrations
- ✓Voice and video huddles
- ✓Workflow builder for automation
- ✓Enterprise-grade security
Pricing
Free
$0
- • 90 days of message history
- • 1:1 huddles
- • 10 integrations
Pro
$7.25/user/mo (annual)
- • Unlimited history
- • Group huddles
- • Unlimited apps
Business+
$15/user/mo (annual)
- • Advanced AI
- • Admin and compliance
Other Communication & Messaging Tools
Microsoft Teams
Chat, video calls, and file sharing integrated with Microsoft 365
Google Chat
Messaging built into Google Workspace with spaces for team collaboration
Discord
Voice, video, and text chat platform popular with dev teams and communities
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Slack free to use?
Yes, Slack offers a free tier with 90-day message history, 10 integrations, and 1:1 audio/video calls. For unlimited history and more features, paid plans start at $8.75/user/month.
How many integrations does Slack support?
Slack supports over 2,400 third-party app integrations including Google Drive, Microsoft Office, Salesforce, and many more productivity tools.
Is Slack good for remote teams?
Slack is excellent for remote teams. Its channel-based organization, async-friendly threads, and integrations make it ideal for distributed teams across time zones.
Quick Verdict
Team messaging platform with channels, threads, and integrations
92/100 · Excellent
Pros
- ✓Industry-leading team messaging platform
- ✓Extensive third-party integrations
- ✓Excellent search functionality
Cons
- ✗Can become expensive for larger teams
- ✗Free tier has limited message history
- ✗Notification overload potential