Slack
Freemium ProprietaryCoordinating teams and multiple work tools in one place is complex; Slack organizes conversations, alerts, files, and collaborations to cut email clutter and keep teams aligned.
Category
The best of communication, ranked
Team chat, video calls and async messaging for every kind of team. We compare the alternatives on per-seat pricing, free-plan limits and self-hosting options — from open-source chat to full enterprise suites.
8 listings indexed
4 make the shortlist
Updated Sep 7, 2026
The essentials
All 4 at a glance
Every listing’s vitals in one table — click any row to jump to its full breakdown below.
| Name | Pricing | License | Built for | Founded | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slack | $7.25Freemium | Proprietary | Startups Small Business | 2013 | The category standard |
| Microsoft Teams | $4.00Freemium | Proprietary | Small Business Enterprise | 2017 | Keeping chat, meetings, files, and day-t... |
| Google Chat | $7.00Freemium | Proprietary | Small Business Enterprise | — | Google Workspace teams reach for Google... |
| Chanty | $3.00Freemium | Proprietary | Startups Small Business | 2017 | Keeping team conversations, quick decisi... |
The shortlist
Four that earned it
Ranked by us and revised as tools change — each pick links straight to its alternatives.
Microsoft Teams
Freemium ProprietaryKeeping chat, meetings, files, and day-to-day coordination in one place is the job Microsoft Teams handles best, particularly for organizations already using Microsoft 365.
Google Chat
Freemium ProprietaryGoogle Workspace teams reach for Google Chat when they want messaging, shared Spaces, and quick Meet calls tied closely to Gmail, Drive, Calendar, and company accounts.
Chanty
Freemium ProprietaryKeeping team conversations, quick decisions, and lightweight follow-up work in one place is the job here. Chanty handles it with approachable group chat and uncomplicated task tracking for smaller teams.
Nothing matches those filters. Try removing one.
Keep exploring