Best Slack Alternatives (2026)
Looking for something other than Slack for communication? Here are the 10 alternatives we track, ranked, with verified pricing for each.
Pricing verified Jul 28, 2026
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Slack alternatives at a glance
| Product | Entry price | Plans | Free plan | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slack this page's subject | $8/mo | 4 | Yes | No |
| Zoom | $14/mo | 4 | Yes | No |
| Loom | $18/mo | 4 | Yes | Yes |
| Aircall | $30/mo | 3 | No | No |
| Airmeet | $199/mo | 4 | No | Yes |
| Bettermode | $399/mo | 3 | No | Yes |
| Chanty | $4/mo | 3 | Yes | Yes |
| Circle | $89/mo | 3 | No | Yes |
| CloudTalk | $25/mo | 3 | No | Yes |
| Demio | $63/mo | 3 | No | Yes |
| Discord | $2/mo | 2 | No | No |
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Zoom
CommunicationVideo conferencing and meetings.
Zoom sits in the mid-market sweet spot — not the cheapest (Google Meet is bundled free with Workspace, Teams with M365) but far from premium. At $14-18/seat they're competing on brand trust and reliability against Microsoft and Google, who are essentially giving away comparable functionality to existing customers.
Plans: Basic $0/mo per seat · Pro $14/mo per seat · Business $18/mo per seat · Enterprise Contact Sales
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Loom
CommunicationAsync video messaging for work.
At $18-24/mo per seat, Loom sits in the mid-market range — not as cheap as scrappy alternatives like Tella or Cap, but well below enterprise video platforms. They're clearly targeting product, CS, and sales teams at growth-stage companies who want async video without a full video production stack.
Plans: Starter $0/mo per seat · Business $18/mo per seat · Business + AI $24/mo per seat · Enterprise Contact Sales
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Aircall
CommunicationCloud phone system for sales and support.
At $30-$50/seat annually, Aircall sits in the mid-market range — more expensive than scrappy alternatives like OpenPhone or Grasshopper, but cheaper than enterprise CCaaS players like Genesys or NICE. They're clearly targeting SMB and mid-market sales and support teams who want a polished product without an enterprise procurement process.
Plans: Essentials $30/mo per seat · Professional $50/mo per seat · Custom Contact Sales
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Airmeet
CommunicationVirtual events and webinars.
At $199/mo entry, Airmeet isn't trying to be the budget webinar tool — it's positioned as a premium, experience-focused platform competing for mid-market and enterprise events budgets, not solo creators or small teams testing webinars for the first time. The custom-quote wall on 3 of 4 tiers signals they want sales conversations with anyone doing real event volume.
Plans: Premium Webinars $199/mo · Events Contact Sales · Managed Events Contact Sales · Agency Plan Contact Sales
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Bettermode
CommunicationCustomer community platform.
This sits firmly in premium territory for community platforms — there's no free tier, and Starter alone costs more than many competitors' mid-tier plans. They're not chasing hobbyists or small forums; they're positioning against enterprise community and CX platforms where budget isn't the objection, fit is.
Plans: Starter $399/mo · Growth $1750/mo · Premium Contact Sales
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Chanty
CommunicationSimple team chat with built-in tasks.
At $3-4/seat, Chanty is firmly in the budget-friendly lane, undercutting Slack and Microsoft Teams by a wide margin and competing directly with tools like Flock or Pumble. They're going after cost-conscious SMBs who want a Slack-like experience without the Slack price tag.
Plans: Free $0/mo per seat · Business $4/mo per seat · Enterprise Contact Sales
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Circle
CommunicationCommunity platform for creators.
At $89-199/mo before the custom enterprise tier, Circle sits mid-to-upper market compared to scrappier community tools but undercuts full-blown LMS or membership platforms bundled with marketing suites. They're chasing serious creators and businesses who've outgrown Discord/Slack hacks but aren't ready for a bloated enterprise stack.
Plans: Professional $89/mo · Business $199/mo · Circle Plus Contact Sales
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CloudTalk
CommunicationAI-powered call center software for sales and support teams.
Plans: Starter $25/mo per seat · Essential $29/mo per seat · Expert $49/mo per seat
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Demio
CommunicationWebinars built for marketing.
Demio sits mid-market — pricier than bare-bones tools like Livestorm's entry tier but cheaper than enterprise webinar platforms like ON24, positioning itself as the polished, easy-to-use option for marketing teams who don't want a clunky Zoom Webinar experience.
Plans: Starter $63/mo · Growth $117/mo · Premium $196/mo
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Discord
CommunicationVoice, video, and text communities.
Discord is essentially unchallenged in its category — there's no direct apples-to-apples competitor at this price point for gaming/community chat. At $9.99 they're cheaper than Slack's paid tiers but targeting a completely different buyer, so they're the affordable premium in a space they largely own.
Plans: Nitro Basic $2/mo · Nitro $9/mo
None of these fit? Browse the full pricing directory →
Slack Alternatives FAQ
- What is the best alternative to Slack?
- Zoom is the closest Slack alternative we track for communication. Paid plans start at $14/mo, and there is a free plan to start on. Loom and Aircall are also worth a look.
- Are there free alternatives to Slack?
- Yes — Zoom, Loom, Chanty offer a free plan, so you can switch without paying up front.
- How much do Slack alternatives cost?
- Entry prices range from $2/mo (Discord) to $399/mo (Bettermode). Each product page has the full verified tier breakdown.
- Is there a cheaper alternative to Slack?
- Yes — Slack starts at $8/mo, while Discord ($2/mo), Chanty ($4/mo) start lower.
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