The remote mode work culture is at its peak. The success of the workflow depends on the right communication instrument choice. Among hundreds of tools, Slack became a synonym for team communication. But following the trends that don’t meet your requirements and work for your team is not the best option. Popularity doesn’t equal a perfect match. Luckily, Slack is not the only player on the field. Let’s review some other options to choose from.
To Slack or Not to Slack?
When Slack first appeared in 2013, it was almost one of a kind combining features teams can benefit from in their communication. Businesses were not so picky, and there wasn’t much to choose from. In 2022, the offers on the market are blinding.
You can find faster, lighter, more user-friendly, and more diverse features in applications and solutions that can replace Slack and boost teams’ communication. We can’t blame you for selecting Whoosh or Chanty — it’s all about your needs and comfort. Besides, the free version of Slack has limited features, fewer integrations, and lower security, and it’s basically a nice choice for small teams. The premium version is quite pricey. Each active user must pay at least $8.75 monthly. Considering the cost optimization, replacing it with a free (or less pricey) solution can be wise.
Free Alternatives to Slack
To avoid wasting time Googling and comparing countless applications, we have selected the best Slack alternative options.
When compiling the list, we paid attention to the following factors:
- Workflow optimization;
- Encryption and security;
- Pricing (the apps are free but have premium features);
- File sharing capability;
- Search history;
- Project management opportunities;
- Hosting;
- Team collaboration;
- Video and audio calling.
Many solutions have most (if not all) of these features, and some have unique functions in addition to what Slack has to offer.
Chanty
Chanty is a cost-effective, easy-to-use artificial intelligence software for teams of all sizes, designed to give companies all the communication platform features they need at virtually no cost. The app is free for ten users. If your team is larger, you’ll need to pay $3 per user monthly for additional features and unlimited members. In fact, Chanty’s paid features cost about half as much as Slack’s paid capabilities.
Chanty offers a built-in team management system to create, assign, and track tasks. A Teambook feature arranges all the tasks, files, and conversations in folders to keep your workspace organized. You can also use Chanty for video conferencing and connect Chanty to multiple applications using Zapier. It also integrates with Trello, Mailchimp, Asana, and other tools.
Zoho Cliq
Zoho Cliq is a free solution for team collaboration and communication. This cross-platform app offers public and closed channels for up to 100 participants. Besides, there are private and group chats and one-hour audio and video call for up to 100 members. The storage space is 100 GB, and users have unlimited access to their messages. The free version of Zoho Chiq integrates with ten applications and supports bots to optimize and automate some of your processes. The check-in and check-out feature can help enhance your team’s time management and productivity.
RocketChat
Want to find an open-source app and customize it completely for you? RocketChat is a perfect match. It connects you with colleagues, customers, and external partners in one place via chat, video and audio calls. It’s a cross-platform solution with countless integrations. RocketChat provides access to its code, allowing full adaptation and customization for their collaboration and communication needs. The free plan includes unlimited messaging, end-to-end encryption, full messaging history, and up to 10K push notification monthly.
Flock
Flock is a communication app that offers chat, video and audio calls, file sharing, and productivity tools. Their video platform is similar to Whoosh and Zoom, with the ability to record meetings and share screens. The app is free for up to 20 users and $4.50/user monthly for 100 users with advanced features. You can have a 30-days trial to test premium features and realize if it matches your needs.
Fleep
Fleep is ideal for teams that highly value communication in the task management process. Users can organize their channels as “conversations” to organize projects. This cross-platform solution integrates with Whereby and enables video and audio calls. All the messages are stored in a cloud, and you can access them anytime. The application is free for up to 10 GB of storage space. If you need more, the cost will be $5/user for 100 GB.
Creating comfortable and user-friendly collaboration and communicating conditions have never been so important. Don’t limit yourself only to Slack due to its popularity. There are plenty of alternatives out there that can cover your needs for free or at a lower price. You can try them for free to find that perfect match and make your team happier.
