Best Slack Alternatives for Small teams (2026)
Tolodora Editorial Team
The Tolodora Editorial Team researches software and services and writes practical, honest comparisons to help you choose faster.
Quick answer
The best Slack alternatives in 2026 are Microsoft Teams, Google Chat and Discord. Microsoft Teams is our top overall pick, best for teams in Microsoft 365 wanting chat, video and files. See the full ranked comparison below.
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Slack is great, but small teams sometimes want lower cost, tighter integration with their other tools, or a free plan without message limits. The right chat app should keep the team connected without a big bill.
Here are the best Slack alternatives for small teams.
| Tool | Value | Support | Ease of use | Features | Overall | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Teams | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 10.0 | 8.5 | Teams in Microsoft 365 wanting chat, video and files |
| Chanty | 10.0 | 8.0 | 10.0 | 6.0 | 8.5 | Small teams wanting affordable chat with tasks |
| Google Chat | 10.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | Teams living in Google Workspace |
| Discord | 10.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | Casual teams and communities wanting free voice and chat |
| Mattermost | 8.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | Teams wanting open-source, self-hosted control |
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| # | Tool | Best for | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft Teams | Teams in Microsoft 365 wanting chat, video and files | 4.3/5 |
| 2 | Google Chat | Teams living in Google Workspace | 4.0/5 |
| 3 | Discord | Casual teams and communities wanting free voice and chat | 4.0/5 |
| 4 | Mattermost | Teams wanting open-source, self-hosted control | 3.5/5 |
| 5 | Chanty | Small teams wanting affordable chat with tasks | 4.3/5 |
Microsoft Teams
- Pricing
- 8.0/10
- Functionality
- 10.0/10
- Ease of use
- 8.0/10
- Support
- 8.0/10
What I like
Video plus chat and files in Microsoft 365.
Best for
Teams in Microsoft 365 wanting chat, video and files
If you run this kind of small team operation, it belongs on your list. Microsoft Teams combines video meetings, chat, calling and file collaboration, tightly integrated with Microsoft 365. It's a full communication hub, strongest for teams already in the Microsoft ecosystem.
Google Chat
- Pricing
- 10.0/10
- Functionality
- 6.0/10
- Ease of use
- 8.0/10
- Support
- 8.0/10
What I like
Team chat built into Google Workspace.
Best for
Teams living in Google Workspace
Plenty of small teams land on it after weighing the field. Google Chat is team messaging integrated with Google Workspace, with spaces, threads and Drive integration. It's a natural fit for teams already using Gmail and Google Docs.
Discord
- Pricing
- 10.0/10
- Functionality
- 8.0/10
- Ease of use
- 8.0/10
- Support
- 6.0/10
What I like
Free voice, video and chat with community features.
Best for
Casual teams and communities wanting free voice and chat
That focus makes it a natural fit for many small teams. Discord is a free communication platform with servers, channels, voice, video and chat, popular for communities and increasingly for small teams that want casual, always-on collaboration.
Mattermost
- Pricing
- 8.0/10
- Functionality
- 8.0/10
- Ease of use
- 6.0/10
- Support
- 6.0/10
What I like
Open-source, self-hostable team messaging.
Best for
Teams wanting open-source, self-hosted control
Mattermost is an open-source, self-hostable messaging platform with channels, integrations and a Slack-like feel, chosen by teams wanting control, privacy or on-premise hosting. For a small teams setup, it's well worth a closer look.
Chanty
- Pricing
- 10.0/10
- Functionality
- 6.0/10
- Ease of use
- 10.0/10
- Support
- 8.0/10
What I like
Affordable, simple team chat with tasks.
Best for
Small teams wanting affordable chat with tasks
Chanty is an affordable team-chat app with messaging, voice, video and built-in task management, offering a simple, budget-friendly alternative for small teams. For small teams, it's one of the stronger options on this shortlist.
Choosing team chat on a budget
Slack is excellent, so the reasons to switch are usually specific: lower cost, a free plan without message-history limits, or tighter integration with the suite you already pay for. If your team lives in Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, the bundled chat tool is often the obvious, cheaper choice; if you want control, an open-source option lets you self-host; and for casual teams, a community-style app can be free and fun.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Slack alternative if we already use Microsoft 365?
Microsoft Teams bundles chat, video and files and is included with many Microsoft 365 plans, making it the natural, cost-effective pick for those teams.
Is there a good free option?
Google Chat is free within Google Workspace, and Discord offers free voice and chat that suits casual teams and communities.
We want to self-host — what should we use?
Mattermost is open-source and self-hostable, giving teams full control over their data and setup.
The bottom line
If you are in Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, Teams or Google Chat are the easy, cheaper choices; Discord is great free for casual teams; Mattermost for self-hosted control; and Chanty for affordable chat with built-in tasks.
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