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.
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.
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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.
Microsoft Teams and Google Chat are natural picks if you're already in those ecosystems, Discord is free and casual, Mattermost offers control, and Chanty is the budget option.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best Slack alternative for a small team?
If you use Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams or Google Chat integrate naturally and are often included. Discord is free and casual, Mattermost is open-source and self-hostable, and Chanty is an affordable, simple option.
Which is free?
Google Chat and Microsoft Teams are included with their productivity suites, Discord is free, and Chanty and Mattermost have free or low-cost tiers. Slack's free plan has limits many teams outgrow.
Which is best for privacy or self-hosting?
Mattermost is open-source and can be self-hosted, giving teams full control over their data — a key reason privacy-conscious teams choose it over cloud-only chat apps.
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