7 Best Slack Alternatives in 2026 (Free & Paid)
Looking for a Slack alternative? We reviewed 7 team messaging tools on pricing, features, and search to help you find the best option.
Slack's 90-day message history cap on the free plan and increasing per-seat pricing have pushed many teams to explore alternatives. Here are the seven best Slack alternatives in 2026, from enterprise-grade options to free tools that punch above their weight.
Why Teams Switch from Slack
The two most common reasons teams leave Slack are cost and message history. On the free plan, you only see the last 90 days of messages — a significant limitation for small teams who rely on search. Paid plans start at $7.25/user/month, which adds up quickly. Beyond pricing, some teams find Slack's notification defaults disruptive, and the app can feel heavy for smaller organisations that don't need all the integrations.
1. Microsoft Teams — Best for Microsoft 365 Users
If your organisation is already paying for Microsoft 365, Teams is effectively free — it's included in most M365 plans. Teams has matched or exceeded Slack's core features: channels, threads, video calls, file sharing, and a large app marketplace. The interface is more complex than Slack's, and the mobile experience is less polished, but the value for existing Microsoft customers is unbeatable. Best for: organisations already using Microsoft 365, Outlook, or SharePoint.
2. Discord — Best Free Alternative
Discord started as a gaming platform but has become a legitimate team communication tool for tech companies, communities, and startups. The free plan has no message history limit, unlimited members, and voice channels included at no cost. Discord Nitro ($9.99/month) adds file size limits and better video quality, but the free tier is genuinely sufficient for most small teams. Best for: startups, open-source communities, and tech teams who want unlimited history at zero cost.
3. Zoom Team Chat — Best Bundled with Video
Zoom now offers persistent team chat (previously Zoom Chat) that competes directly with Slack. If your team already pays for Zoom meetings, the chat feature is included in your plan at no extra cost. The interface resembles Slack closely — channels, direct messages, threads, and file sharing work as expected. Best for: teams that rely on Zoom for video calls and want to consolidate their communication stack.
4. Google Chat — Best for Google Workspace
Similar to Teams for Microsoft users, Google Chat is included in all Google Workspace plans. It integrates seamlessly with Gmail, Google Drive, Meet, and Calendar. The search across chat and Drive simultaneously is particularly useful. The interface is clean but less feature-rich than Slack — no threads in the same way, fewer third-party integrations. Best for: teams already on Google Workspace who don't need complex integrations.
5. Mattermost — Best Self-Hosted Option
Mattermost is an open-source Slack alternative you can host on your own infrastructure. This is compelling for organisations with strict data residency or compliance requirements — your messages never leave your servers. The free self-hosted tier is full-featured. Cloud plans start at $10/user/month. The trade-off is setup and maintenance complexity. Best for: enterprise, government, or healthcare organisations with data sovereignty requirements.
6. Lark — Best Value All-in-One
Lark (from ByteDance) combines team messaging, video calling, docs, spreadsheets, project management, and email into one platform. The free plan is remarkably generous — 100GB storage, unlimited message history, and video calls up to 30 people. It's relatively unknown in Western markets, which means less social proof, but the product quality is genuinely high. Best for: small-to-mid teams looking for a Slack + Notion + Zoom replacement in one product.
7. Twist — Best for Async Teams
Twist takes a deliberately different approach: it discourages real-time chat in favour of threaded, async conversations organised by topic. This reduces the always-on anxiety that can come with Slack. The free plan includes 1 month of message history. Paid plans start at $5/user/month. Best for: remote teams across time zones who prioritise deep work over instant responses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free Slack alternative?
Discord offers the most compelling free plan — unlimited message history, unlimited members, and voice channels at no cost. Google Chat and Microsoft Teams are also free if you're already on Workspace or M365.
Is Microsoft Teams better than Slack?
For Microsoft 365 users, Teams offers better value (it's included in your plan). For teams not on Microsoft, Slack's integrations and user experience still lead. Both are competitive on features in 2026.
Which Slack alternative has unlimited message history?
Discord (free), Lark (free), Zoom Team Chat (with Zoom plan), and Google Chat (with Workspace) all offer unlimited or very long message history. Mattermost self-hosted also has no history limits.
Why is Slack so expensive?
Slack's Pro plan at $7.25/user/month is the starting paid tier, and it scales linearly with team size. For a 20-person team, that's $145/month or $1,740/year. Microsoft Teams is included with M365 Business Basic at $6/user/month — covering email, Teams, and cloud storage.