Slack Alternatives Open Source – Top 25 Alternatives

Best Slack Alternatives 2020 : We all know the problems associated with emailing; employees may not check their inbox, might have a full inbox, there might be failed deliveries, you name it. Hence, many group chat tools have been developed by several companies, in order to make communication easier and more effective.

Slack has no doubt established itself a name as one of the best team chat tools available on the market. However, for whatever reason, you might be looking for an alternative software for your company.

Whatever be the reason, here we have made a list of 25 alternative software that is as good or maybe even better than slack itself. 

25 Best Slack Alternatives for Team Chat

Several alternatives are available, which are open-source, unlike Slack. Many might prefer an open-source software over closed source ones. Most of these tools come with all the essential features of such a software; audio and video calling, individual and group messaging services, screen and file sharing and so on.

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We have researched them for you and made a list so that you can make an informed choice on what suits you best. So, here is a list of the best slack alternatives, described with some of their key features, outside the ordinary.

Mattermost

Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux and Web

Mattermost is an open-source, private cloud team chat tool that is highly customizable. A key feature here is the support of a dozen or more languages, which makes Mattermost a worthy alternative to Slack. Furthermore, not only does it come with several integrations such as mattermost GitHub and so on, but also lets you propose or build your own integration.

Price:

• Free plan available
• Enterprise plan starting at $39/ year/ user

Rocket Chat

Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux and Web

One of the best available alternatives to Slack would be, Rocket Chat. Being open-source, you can host your own chat service, customize it by choosing from an array of themes and integrations. The only drawback with Rocket Chat seems to be the lack of a customer support line. However, you can get answers to your queries through forums on GitHub.

Price:

• Entirely free

Flock

Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web

If you’re looking mainly for a communication tool, this is the one for you. One significant feature that this software offers is the provision of “to do” lists, which lets you convert discussions into tasks.

Price:

• A limited free trial
• Subscription starts at $3/ month/ user 

Fleep

Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux and Web

This tool comes with all the necessary feature you may look for in a team chat software. Furthermore, one huge advantage is that it lets you communicate with other Fleep users on the platform. It does not confine you to team-only communication, like many other tools.

Price:

• The free version lets you utilize all the basic features
• For a more advanced user platform, the business subscription starts at 5EUR/ month for a single user

Troop Messenger

Platforms: ​iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux and Web

Again, this software comes with all the features you may look for in a group messaging tool. Apart from individual and team chats, it also offers private chat options for confidential discussions. The noteworthy feature of Troop Messenger would be its easy user interface. It also comes very reasonable prices, for the features it offers.

Price:

• Free app with basic functionality
• Premium subscription at 1$/ month/ user
• Enterprise plan at $5/ year/ user

Blink

Platforms: ​​iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web

Blink was developed with mobile usability in mind. Several businesses require their employees to work outside their office space, without a laptop at hand. Such workplaces will benefit with the blink app for employees.

Price:

• A free 14-day trial which doesn’t require you to enter your card details
• Starts from $3.40/ month/ user

Ryver

Platforms: ​​​iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web

Now, this app comes with an all-in-one option that would impress. Where other software needs you to integrate several apps together to achieve maximum functionality, Ryver is one that has it all, wrapped in a neat little package. It also boasts an impressive workflow automation engine and comes at a flat-rate pricing.

Price:

• Free for up to 6 users
• 6+ users at $99/ month
• Enterprise plans at $399/ month

Glip

Platforms: ​​​​iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web

This is an app from Ring Central that mainly aims at better collaboration of teams and effective task management. It also offers all the necessary features of a team chat tool and is an above-average alternative for Slack because of its various added features.

Price:

• Free plan with unlimited usage of all basic features
• Standard plan starting at $5/ month/ user with advanced administrative controls

Microsoft Teams

Platforms: ​iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web

The top 25 list would of course be incomplete without Microsoft Teams. This is in many ways almost similar to Slack, with the only difference being that Microsoft Teams does not come as a separate product, but rather as a part of Office 365. It has a user-friendly interface and offers all the features as offered by Slack too.

Price:

• Core features available free for up to 300 users
• 300+ users at a rate of $6/ month

CA Flowdock

Platforms: ​​iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux and Web

The outstanding feature of Flowdock is that it offers an integrated dashboard that lets you categorize your team chats and frees up your mail clutter. It can also be integrated with other services for increased functionality.

Price:

• A 30-day free trial available
• Starts at $3/ month/ user
• Enterprise plans at $9/ month/ user

Twist

Platforms: ​​​iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux and Web

Twist is the way to go if you’re looking for an app that would keep all your message threads organized. And the best part is that it organizes threads by topic so that you don’t get lost in a whirlpool of group chats.

Price:

• Limited option free trial
• Starts at $3/ month/ user

Wire

Platforms: ​iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web

Initially introduced as a secure messaging app, wire has now become a cross-platform open-source tool for workplace team collaboration with efficient administration options. It comes with end-to-end encryptions and an option to self-destruct messages. This is, however, not a free app.

Price:

• Ranges from 4-6EUR/ month/ user, depending upon the billing preferences

Zoho Cliq

Platforms: ​​iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web, Linux

Zoho is a company that takes pride in developing budget-friendly office software, aimed at automating your entire workplace, with the help of bots. Zoho Cliq is no exception and provides some excellent features for communication, collaboration and integration with other apps and Zoho tools. The user interface is column-style and makes it easier for you to switch between several conversations in the same window.

Price:

• Free usage for the basic features
• Full functionality starts at $3/ month/ user

HighSide

Platforms: ​​​iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web, Linux

This app was previously known as ClearChat and is one of the best slack alternatives for companies handling sensitive data. It’s still in the beta stage but aims to make the user interface as friendly as possible, even for the least technical members. Its main aim is security.

Price:

• Basic features are free to use
• Advanced features available on a quote basis

Hubgets

Platforms: ​​​Windows, macOS, Web, mobile apps to come soon

This business tool offers all the features you may look for in such software and is also millennial-friendly. Albeit being on the pricier end of the scale, it offers several premium features such as team boards, business PBX for enterprise, a Hubgets page for working with external partners and so on.

Price:

• Basic features are free of cost
• Paid premium features start from $2.50/ month/ user

Atolia

Platforms: ​​​iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web

Atolia is a software that gathers many collaboration tools in one place. Communication, organization and formation (exchange of knowledge and internal resources), are its three main features. All your collaboration tools can be synchronized with Atolia.

Price:

• Basic features are free of cost
• Advanced features ranging between 5-9EUR/ month/ user

Zulip

Platforms: ​​​iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web, Linux

Zulip is another open source live chat offering tool that supports self-hosting. It provides an advanced feature of threaded conversations that help you to filter chats by topics. It also offers integrations with other tools such as Github for a better user experience.

Price:

• Free usage of all basic features, with limitations
• Plan subscription starting at $6.67/ month/ user, to enjoy all its advanced features

Chanty

Platforms: ​​​iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web, Debian, Fedora

Chanty is an AI-powered tool, still in the developmental beta stage, but promises several incredible features, with the most attractive one being that it’s free to use for life. It offers unlimited message history apart from all other basic features and an AI that has the ability to offer “smart replies”.

Price:

• It’s promised to be free, forever 

Missive

Platforms: ​iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web

This is a communication tool that basically combines mailing and chat into one neat package. Furthermore, it allows you to eve assign tasks, organize conversation threads and automates workflow. Their recent update even lets you collaborate on social media and SMS.

Price:

• Basic features are free
• Upgrades at the rate of $8/ month/ user

JANDI

Platforms: ​iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web

This is a purely business-related messaging tool, with various features that enhance workplace productivity. It allows integrations with other key software and tools and boasts a highly efficient administrative panel, designed mainly to fit the business needs of the Asian market. 

Price:

• Basic features are free
• Upgrades at the rate of $5/ month/ user

Cisco Jabber

Platforms: ​iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web

Jabber is a product of Cisco that combines all the features of an efficient business communication tool. It also has Jabber bots that allow for smooth running and allows direct access from Microsoft Office apps. It also works well with other products from Cisco, such as WebEx, Outlook and so on.

Price:

• This tool is available only on a quote basis and the price will be set by the vendor according to your needs. 

Zoho Connect

Platforms: ​iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web, Linux

Yet another product by Zoho, that makes team collaboration a business version of social networking. It’s not merely a business chat app and has much more functionality, but covers everything that’s required of a business communication software.

Price:

• The basic features are free to use
• Advanced features are paid and rates depend on the size of your company, ranging from $0.4-$0.8/ month/ user

Hibox

Platforms: ​​iOS, Android, Web

This is a tool that offers easy task management and integrated team chat with video conferencing. It is AI-mediated and poses as an excellent collaboration tool.

Price:

• Basic functionality is free
• Advanced functionality starting at $4/ month/ user

Blizz by TeamViewer

Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web

This is another business communication software that has features such as team chats, audio and video calling, screen sharing with session recording and so on. It also allows for group meetings to be conducted with around 300 people online. It’s a secure app that comes with end-to-end encryption.

Price:

• Limited functionality is free
• Upgrades can be added at $6/ month/ user

Crugo

Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web

Apart from offering the basic communication requirements, this tool also provides calendars and task sheets on its collaboration software, for effective task management. It allows you to send audio notes and make schedules on the calendar.

Price:

• Basic features are available free of cost
• Upgrades at the rate of 5EUR/ month/ user

Top Slack Alternatives 2020 – Conclusion

Several such alternatives are available for Slack, many open-source ones too. While most of them come with almost the same functionality as Slack, many others have more to offer. There are still several more tools that haven’t made this list, such as Yammer, Wimi, Skype for business, Stackfield, which are more diverse and offer you an entirely different experience. The ones mentioned here are notable for their similarity and ease of use, as Slack. Newer tools are constantly developed to enhance digital workplace management and take business communication to the next level, so keep an eye out for updates!