Best Free Alternatives to Slack
Slack costs From $7.25/month per user — 3 free alternatives below.
Discord
FreeFree team communication with voice, video, and chat
- Completely free
- Voice channels included
- Unlimited message history
- Threads and forums
Mattermost
Free (self-hosted)Open source Slack alternative you can self-host
- Open source
- Self-hostable for free
- Full data control
- Slack-like interface
Google Chat
Free with Google accountFree team messaging from Google
- Free with Google Workspace
- Integrates with Google Drive
- Video calls via Meet
- Spaces for team channels
Bottom line: Slack costs From $7.25/month per user. The 3 free alternatives above cover what most users actually need. Try a free option first — you can always upgrade later.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free Slack alternative?
Discord is the most popular free Slack alternative. Unlike Slack's free plan which deletes messages after 90 days, Discord keeps all message history forever for free. It also includes voice channels and video calls at no cost.
Why is Slack so expensive for small teams?
Slack charges $7.25 per user per month on the Pro plan. For a team of 10 that is $72.50/month or $870/year. Discord and Google Chat offer the same core messaging and calling features completely free.
Does Discord work for business teams?
Yes. Many startups and remote teams use Discord for business communication. It supports organized channels, threads, voice calls, screen sharing, and integrations with tools like GitHub, Trello, and Linear.
What is Mattermost and is it really free?
Mattermost is an open source team messaging platform you can self-host for free. It looks and works like Slack, supports unlimited message history, and gives you complete control over your data. Self-hosting requires a server but can be set up on a $5/month VPS.