Central hub for workplace communication and collaboration
From $8.75/mo (free plan available)Visit WebsiteThe Bottom Line
- Best for
- Startups, agencies, and companies not already paying for Microsoft 365, especially teams that value messaging UX over bundled everything. For M365-standardized enterprises, Teams is the cheaper default even if users prefer Slack's day-to-day feel.
- Price
- From $8.75/mo (free plan available). Compare plans
Key facts
- Channel-based messaging platform with 2,600+ integrations, huddles, Canvas docs, and workflow automation
- Free plan covers basics (90-day history, 10 apps); paid plans start at $7.25/user/month with unlimited history
- Best for distributed teams needing deep app integrations, less ideal if you need built-in project management
Pros
- Intuitive interface with low learning curve, most teams adopt it within days
- Deepest third-party integration ecosystem of any team chat tool (2,600+ apps)
- Slack Connect eliminates email chains with external partners via shared channels
- Powerful search across all messages, files, and connected apps from one bar
- Workflow Builder lets non-technical users automate routine processes
- Strong enterprise security with SOC 2/3, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and FINRA compliance
Cons
- Free plan limits message history and allows only a limited number of app integrations
- Notification overload in large workspaces, channels can become noisy without discipline
- Pricing adds up quickly for large teams
- No built-in project management, still requires separate tools like Asana or Jira
- Slack AI features require higher-tier plans, not available on all plans
What is Slack?
Available on: Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Ratings Across the Web
Slack holds an aggregate rating of 4.2 out of 5 from 64,990 reviews across Trustpilot, TrustRadius, PeerSpot, G2 and Capterra, last checked September 17, 2026.
What people say
“the only issue I face it get frequently logged out on it own and take time to log in. Also there are instances when call hung up during huddle.” via Trustpilot
“It's helpful for team communication. We can integrate GitHub with it.” via TrustRadius
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Preview
Key Features
- Channels for organizing conversations by team, project, or topic
- Huddles with built-in audio/video calls and AI note-taking
- Canvas for creating rich, collaborative documents within Slack
- Workflow Builder for no-code automation of approvals, requests, and tasks
- Slack Connect for secure messaging with external partners and clients
- Slack AI with channel summaries, daily recaps, and search answers
- Enterprise search across messages, files, and 2,600+ connected apps
- Clips for recording and sharing async audio and video updates
- Lists for tracking projects, tasks, and requests inside channels
- Enterprise Key Management with custom encryption key controls
Pricing Plans
Free TrialPricing checked Oct 11, 2026
| Plan | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | For small teams getting started
+4 more Show less
|
| Pro | $7.25/per user/month (annual) | For growing teams that need full history and more integrations
+6 more Show less
|
| Business+ Popular | $15/per user/month (annual) | For large teams needing compliance, advanced AI, and SSO
+6 more Show less
|
| Enterprise+ | Custom | For complex organizations needing enterprise-grade control
+7 more Show less
|
Is Slack worth the price?
Slack is the default team messaging tool, and its pricing reflects that dominance.
The Free plan's 90-day message history limit is the #1 reason teams upgrade: losing access to old conversations is unacceptable for most businesses. Pro at $8.75/user/mo is reasonable and includes basic Slack AI (conversation summaries, huddle notes).
Business+ at $15/user/mo adds advanced AI (search, recaps, translations) and SAML SSO. The real cost issue: Slack charges per user, and in large organizations, many users are infrequent, paying $8.75-15/mo for someone who sends 5 messages a week feels wasteful.
Enterprise Grid (custom, ~$15-25/user/mo) adds multi-workspace governance but requires Salesforce-level procurement processes.
Hidden Costs & Gotchas
90-day message history on Free
after 90 days, old messages become invisible (not deleted, they return if you upgrade). This is the most common upgrade trigger and feels coercive for teams that relied on older unlimited history
10 app integration limit on Free
most teams use 15-30 integrations (GitHub, Google Calendar, Zoom, Jira, etc.). Hitting the 10-app cap happens within the first week for technical teams
Per-user billing for inactive users
Slack charges for every user in the workspace, including those who rarely log in. A 100-person company where 30 people use Slack monthly still pays for 100 seats. Slack offers 'fair billing' (credits for inactive users after 14+ days) but only on annual plans
Slack AI is tier-gated
basic AI (summaries, huddle notes) requires Pro. Advanced AI (search, recaps, translations) requires Business+ at $15/user/mo. There is no way to add AI to Pro without upgrading the entire workspace
Huddle transcription and recording is Business+ only
Pro gets basic huddles but no transcription or recording. Teams that use huddles as lightweight meetings need Business+ for the full experience
Data exports for compliance (DLP, eDiscovery) require Business+ or Enterprise. Pro workspaces cannot export message data in compliance-ready formats
Guest accounts (single-channel or multi-channel) are paid at reduced rates but still add to the bill. A workspace with 50 full members and 20 guests pays for ~60 seats worth
Enterprise Grid requires Salesforce-level procurement
custom quotes, annual contracts, legal review, and weeks-to-months sales cycles. No self-serve sign-up
How Slack's pricing compares
At $8.75/user/mo, Slack is mid-range of its 6 comparable direct competitors ($4 to $14/mo across the set).
Entry paid plan, monthly, per user. Pricing checked Oct 11, 2026.
Reviews
Review Slack, get a free AI guide
Share your experience and we will send you Improve Your Thinking Patterns Using ChatGPT, free.
Across 64,990 verified user reviews on G2, Capterra, TrustRadius
Add your hands-on experience using the offer above to help the next buyer.
Best Slack Alternatives
Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.
Unite chat, meetings, and files with Microsoft 365
Seamless video meetings for Google Workspace users
Connect, communicate, and collaborate with HD video meetings
Open-source team collaboration platform
Open-source team communication platform
Your place to talk and hang out
Team chat app with built-in task management
AI-powered chat for teams of all sizes to connect, collaborate, and get more done.
Still deciding?
Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.
Explore More
Slack FAQ
How does Slack facilitate communication with external partners?
What kind of user benefits most from Slack's workflow automation?
How does Slack's integration ecosystem compare to Microsoft Teams?
Which teams are best suited to use Slack?
What are the limitations of Slack's free plan?
Does Slack include a free tier?
Can Slack help summarize conversations?
Source: slack.com
Guides & Articles
Best Team Communication Tools in 2026
Features Slack
Best Internal Communications Software
Features Slack
Best Free Productivity Apps in 2026
Features Slack
Which software categories are actually free
8 min read
Communication software statistics 2026
5 min read
The AI Agent Stack for Software Procurement: Automate Tool Selection
11 min read