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35 alternatives to Slack

Slack is a Communication product. The community recommends 35 alternatives: 35 open source, 35 self-hostable and 35 free to use. They are ranked by community votes, ratings and favorites, with the key differences from Slack highlighted.

Last updated:

S

About Slack

Team messaging platform organized into channels, with direct messages, huddles, file sharing and thousands of integrations.

Closed source
Not self-hostable
Freemium
Web
Windows
macOS
Linux
iOS
Android
View detailsVisit website

Quick picks

buzz logo

Best open-source pick

buzz

Open source, Apache-2.0 license

buzz logo

Best self-hosted pick

buzz

Run it on your own server

buzz logo

Best free pick

buzz

Free to use

All alternatives

  1. 0
    1.

    buzz

    Communication

    A hive mind communication platform

    Open source · Apache-2.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  2. 0
    2.

    chatto

    Communication

    A fully-featured team and group chat application that you can easily selfhost.

    Open source · AGPL-3.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  3. 0
    3.

    Chitchatter

    Communication

    Peer-to-peer chat app that is serverless, decentralized, and ephemeral.

    Open source · GPL-2.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  4. 0
    4.

    clickclack

    Communication

    ClickClackClaw - The chat app with claws.

    Open source · MIT
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  5. 0
    5.

    Colanode

    Groupware

    Open-source and local-first Slack and Notion alternative that puts you in control of your data

    Open source · Apache-2.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  6. 0
    6.

    Converse.js

    Communication

    XMPP chat client in your browser.

    Open source · MPL-2.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  7. 0
    7.

    Databag

    Communication

    Federated, end-to-end encrypted messaging service for the web, iOS, and Android, supporting text, photos, video, and WebRTC video and audio calls.

    Open source · Apache-2.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  8. 0
    8.

    deltachat-android

    Communication

    Decentralized private messenger with chat-shared tools and games for Android

    Open source · GPL-3.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  9. 0
    9.

    ejabberd

    Communication

    XMPP instant messaging server.

    Open source · GPL-2.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  10. 0
    10.

    Element

    Communication

    Fully-featured Matrix client for Web, iOS & Android.

    Open source · Apache-2.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  11. 0
    11.

    Ergo

    Communication

    Modern IRCv3 server written in Go, combining the features of an ircd, a services framework, and a bouncer.

    Open source · MIT
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  12. 0
    12.

    InspIRCd

    Communication

    Modular IRC server written in C++ for Linux, BSD, Windows, and macOS.

    Open source · GPL-2.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  13. 0
    13.

    Kiwi IRC

    Communication

    Responsive web IRC client with theming support.

    Open source · Apache-2.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  14. 0
    14.

    macro

    Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

    Macro is a unified workspace for teams: email, chat, docs, tasks, agents, calls, and CRM — @-linked together with shared AI memory.

    Open source · AGPL-3.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  15. 0
    15.

    Mattermost

    Communication

    Platform for secure collaboration across the entire software development lifecycle, can be integrated with Gitlab (alternative to Slack).

    Open source · AGPL-3.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  16. 0
    16.

    Movim

    Communication

    Modern, federated social network based on XMPP, with a fully featured group-chat, subscriptions and microblogging.

    Open source · AGPL-3.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  17. 0
    17.

    ngircd

    Communication

    Portable and lightweight Internet Relay Chat server for small or private networks.

    Open source · GPL-2.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  18. 0
    18.

    once-campfire

    Communication

    Super simple group chat, without a subscription

    Open source · MIT
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  19. 0
    19.

    Openfire

    Communication

    Real time collaboration (RTC) server.

    Open source · Apache-2.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  20. 0
    20.

    Quassel IRC

    Communication

    Distributed IRC client, meaning that one (or multiple) client(s) can attach to and detach from a central core.

    Open source · GPL-2.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  21. 0
    21.

    RetroShare

    Communication

    Secured and decentralized communication system. Offers decentralized chat, forums, messaging, file transfer.

    Open source · GPL-2.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  22. 0
    22.

    Robust IRC

    Communication

    RobustIRC is IRC without netsplits. Distributed IRC server, based on RobustSession protocol.

    Open source · BSD-3-Clause
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  23. 0
    23.

    Rocket.Chat

    Communication

    Teamchat solution similar to Gitter.im or Slack.

    Open source · MIT
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  24. 0
    24.

    SAMA

    Communication

    Next-Gen self-hosted chat server and clients.

    Open source · GPL-3.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  25. 0
    25.

    SimpleX Chat

    Communication

    The most private and secure chat and applications platform - now with double ratchet E2E encryption.

    Open source · AGPL-3.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  26. 0
    26.

    Snikket

    Communication

    All-in-one Dockerized easy XMPP solution, including web admin and clients.

    Open source · Apache-2.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  27. 0
    27.

    Talkyard

    Communication

    Create a community, where your users can suggest ideas and get questions answered. And have friendly open-ended discussions and chat (Slack/StackOverflow/Discourse/Reddit/Disqus hybrid).

    Open source · AGPL-3.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  28. 0
    28.

    The Lounge

    Communication

    Self-hosted web IRC client.

    Open source · MIT
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  29. 0
    29.

    Tigase

    Communication

    XMPP server implementation in Java.

    Open source · GPL-3.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  30. 0
    30.

    Tinode

    Communication

    Instant messaging platform. Backend in Go. Clients: Swift iOS, Java Android, JS webapp, scriptable command line; chatbots.

    Open source · GPL-3.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  31. 0
    31.

    Tox

    Communication

    Distributed, secure messenger with audio and video chat capabilities.

    Open source · GPL-3.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  32. 0
    32.

    Tuwunel

    Communication

    Official successor to conduwuit

    Open source · Apache-2.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  33. 0
    33.

    UnrealIRCd

    Communication

    Modular, advanced and highly configurable IRC server written in C for Linux, BSD, Windows, and macOS.

    Open source · GPL-2.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  34. 0
    34.

    Weechat

    Communication

    Fast, light and extensible chat client.

    Open source · GPL-3.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite
  35. 0
    35.

    Zulip

    Communication

    Zulip is a powerful, open source group chat application.

    Open source · Apache-2.0
    Self-hostable

    Compared with Slack

    • + Open source (Slack is not)
    • + Self-hostable (Slack is not)
    • + Free to use (Slack is paid)
    DetailsWebsite

Slack vs. alternatives

ServiceOpen sourceSelf-hostedLicensePricingPlatformsRatingVotes
Slack
Current
NoNoproprietaryFreemiumWeb / Windows / macOS / Linux / iOS / Android——
buzzYesYesApache-2.0———0
chattoYesYesAGPL-3.0———0
ChitchatterYesYesGPL-2.0———0
clickclackYesYesMIT———0
ColanodeYesYesApache-2.0———0
Converse.jsYesYesMPL-2.0———0
DatabagYesYesApache-2.0———0
deltachat-androidYesYesGPL-3.0———0
ejabberdYesYesGPL-2.0———0
ElementYesYesApache-2.0———0
ErgoYesYesMIT———0
InspIRCdYesYesGPL-2.0———0
Kiwi IRCYesYesApache-2.0———0
macroYesYesAGPL-3.0———0
MattermostYesYesAGPL-3.0———0
MovimYesYesAGPL-3.0———0
ngircdYesYesGPL-2.0———0
once-campfireYesYesMIT———0
OpenfireYesYesApache-2.0———0
Quassel IRCYesYesGPL-2.0———0
RetroShareYesYesGPL-2.0———0
Robust IRCYesYesBSD-3-Clause———0
Rocket.ChatYesYesMIT———0
SAMAYesYesGPL-3.0———0
SimpleX ChatYesYesAGPL-3.0———0
SnikketYesYesApache-2.0———0
TalkyardYesYesAGPL-3.0———0
The LoungeYesYesMIT———0
TigaseYesYesGPL-3.0———0
TinodeYesYesGPL-3.0———0
ToxYesYesGPL-3.0———0
TuwunelYesYesApache-2.0———0
UnrealIRCdYesYesGPL-2.0———0
WeechatYesYesGPL-3.0———0
ZulipYesYesApache-2.0———0

FAQ

What is the best alternative to Slack?

Community-recommended alternatives to Slack include buzz, chatto, Chitchatter, clickclack, Colanode, and Converse.js. Compare open source, self-hosting, pricing and platforms to choose.

Is there a free alternative to Slack?

Yes. buzz, chatto, Chitchatter, clickclack, Colanode, and Converse.js can be used for free; the open-source, self-hostable ones can be run on your own server at no cost.

Is there an open-source alternative to Slack?

Yes. Open-source alternatives include buzz, chatto, Chitchatter, clickclack, Colanode, and Converse.js.

Can I self-host an alternative to Slack?

Yes. buzz, chatto, Chitchatter, clickclack, Colanode, and Converse.js can run on your own server, so you keep control of your data.

Other Communication services

Services in the same category that haven't been suggested as Slack alternatives yet. If one fits, add it as an alternative.

  • D
    Discord

    Voice, video and text chat platform organized into community servers and channels, popular with gamers and online communities.

  • Z
    Zoom

    Video conferencing platform for meetings, webinars and screen sharing, with team chat and phone add-ons.

  • T
    Twilio

    Cloud communications API platform for programmable SMS, voice calls, WhatsApp messaging, email and verification.

  • I
    Intercom

    Customer service platform with live chat messenger, shared inbox, help center and the Fin AI agent.

  • M
    Mailchimp

    Intuit's email marketing platform for newsletters, audience management and automated campaigns.

  • MT
    Microsoft Teams

    Microsoft's workplace chat and video meeting app, integrated with Microsoft 365 files and calendars.

Know another Slack alternative?

Once added, the community can vote and the best suggestions rise to the top.