Core Features |
Channels, Direct Messaging, Integrations, File Sharing, Search, Video & Voice Calls, Slack Connect |
Channels, Direct Messaging, Voice Channels, Video Calls, Community Management Tools |
Channels, Direct Messaging, Self-hosted Options, Integrations, File Sharing, Search, Video Calls |
Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Chat, Meet, Calendar, Integration with Google Apps |
Target Audience |
Businesses of all sizes, remote teams, enterprises |
Gamers, communities, informal groups, small teams |
Developers, tech-savvy teams, security-focused organizations |
Businesses, educational institutions, general productivity use |
Ease of Use |
Intuitive interface, easy to set up and navigate |
User-friendly for casual communication, can be complex for non-gamers |
Slightly steeper learning curve, especially for non-technical users |
Familiar and easy for users within the Google ecosystem |
Pricing |
Free tier with limitations, paid plans start at $7.25 per user/month |
Free with premium Nitro option at $9.99/month |
Free self-hosted option, paid plans start at $10/user/month |
Bundled with Google Workspace plans, starting at $6/user/month |
Integration Capabilities |
Integrates with 2,000+ apps, including Google Drive, Trello, Zoom, GitHub |
Limited integrations, mainly bots and extensions |
Integrates with DevOps tools like GitHub, Jenkins, Jira, plus custom integrations |
Seamless integration with Google apps, plus third-party apps via Google Workspace Marketplace |
Security |
Enterprise-grade security, encryption at rest and in transit, 2FA, advanced options in paid plans |
Basic security, 2FA available, no enterprise-grade options |
High security with self-hosted control, encryption, 2FA, compliance options |
Strong security measures, encryption, 2FA, advanced admin controls in enterprise plans |
Customization |
Highly customizable with bots, workflows, and integrations |
Limited customization, mainly through bots |
Extensive customization with plugins, self-hosting, and integrations |
Customization through Google Apps Script, limited in comparison to Slack or Mattermost |
Scalability |
Scales well for large enterprises, supports cross-organizational collaboration |
Scales for large communities, but not optimized for enterprise-level business communication |
Scales well for tech teams, especially with self-hosting |
Scales across organizations, well-suited for businesses and education sectors |
User Experience |
Professional, business-focused, with a balance between simplicity and functionality |
Casual, community-focused, less formal, more social |
Technical, focused on developers and IT teams, requires setup |
Familiar, integrates well with daily workflows for those already using Google apps |