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For most buyers, Slack is the safest starting point for channel-based collaboration and integrations, but its free plan is limited and advanced AI costs more. Lark bundles chat with docs, meetings and workflows; Pumble and Zulip offer lower starting prices for teams with more specific needs. The right switch depends on what you need to keep: message history, integrations, deployment control, or specialist workflows. We ranked all 17 options by general fit, while flagging where prices or plan details are unclear and where a tool is a niche match rather than a general team chat choice.
Quick picksThe shortlist
SlackSlackBest overall · $7.25/mo
LarkLarkBest all-in-one · $6/mo
PumblePumbleBest budget pick · $2.49/mo
ZulipZulipBest for async teams · $3.50/mo
ChantyChantyBest for chat and tasks · $3/mo
FlockFlockBest for shared to-dos · $4.50/mo
WireWireBest for secure chat · €7.45/mo
DingTalkDingTalkBest for office workflows · $4/mo
ElementElementBest for federation · Free
MattermostMattermostBest for controlled deployments · Free- ZenzapZenzapBest for chat-based AI · $50/mo
VoxerVoxerBest for push-to-talk · $4.17/mo
Rocket.ChatRocket.ChatBest for self-managed chat · Free
Intermedia UniteIntermedia UniteBest for unified communications · Custom
SymphonySymphonyBest for financial services · Custom
ProntoProntoBest for education teams · Custom
ClaritiClaritiBest for content teams · $40.83/mo
01Compared at a glance
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SlackSlack | 6.8 | $7.25/mo | Yes | — |
| LarkLark | 7.3 | $6/mo | Yes | — |
| PumblePumble | 7.1 | $2.49/mo | Yes | — |
| ZulipZulip | 7.8 | $3.50/mo | Yes | — |
| ChantyChanty | 7.0 | $3/mo | Yes | — |
| FlockFlock | 7.1 | $4.50/mo | Yes | 30 days |
| WireWire | 7.5 | €7.45/mo | Yes | — |
| DingTalkDingTalk | 6.8 | $4/mo | Yes | 30 days |
| ElementElement | 6.5 | Free | Yes | — |
| MattermostMattermost | 6.0 | Free | Yes | Yes |
| ZenzapZenzap | 6.4 | $50/mo | Yes | — |
| VoxerVoxer | 6.3 | $4.17/mo | Yes | — |
| Rocket.ChatRocket.Chat | 6.0 | Free | Yes | — |
| Intermedia UniteIntermedia Unite | 6.2 | Custom | No | — |
| SymphonySymphony | 6.5 | Custom | No | — |
| ProntoPronto | 3.8 | Custom | No | — |
| ClaritiClariti | 6.8 | $40.83/mo | No | — |
02The picks, in detail
- Best overallSlackSlack
Slack is the strongest default for teams that rely on channels, integrations and collaboration with external partners. The pricing page lists plans from $7.25 and a free plan, but the free tier is limited and advanced AI costs more. That makes Slack a broad fit, not an automatic value pick: check which history and AI features your team would need before switching.
What works
- Free plan includes basic AI
- Pro includes unlimited message history
- Pro includes unlimited app integrations
What doesn't
- Free plan history is limited to 90 days
- Free plan caps apps at 10
- Advanced AI requires Business+
- Best all-in-oneLarkLark
Lark combines chat, docs, meetings and workflows, which makes it a reasonable choice for teams trying to consolidate collaboration tools. It has a free plan and pricing from $6. The trade-off is that the attractive entry price may not hold if you hit plan limits or need add-ons. Check the limits against your current workflows before moving the whole team.
What works
- Starter is free for up to 20 users
- Starter includes 100 GB storage
- Chat, docs, meetings and workflows share one workspace
What doesn't
- Monthly Basic and Pro rates are not published
- Starter limits teams to 20 users
- Basic and Pro cap teams at 500 users
- Best budget pickPumblePumble
Pumble is a value-focused option for teams that want free chat, message history or meetings without starting at a higher listed price. Its pricing starts at $2.49, with a free plan. The main caution is that storage, integrations and meeting limits can affect whether the low starting price works for your team. Verify those caps before planning a full switch.
What works
- Free plan includes unlimited users and message history
- Free plan includes 10 GB storage per workspace
- Pro starts at $2.49 per seat/month annually
What doesn't
- Free plan limits integrations to three
- Free plan has 10 GB storage per workspace
- Group meetings with screen sharing require Pro
- Best for async teamsZulipZulip
Zulip is the strongest fit here for teams that prefer asynchronous conversations organized by topic, as well as open-source communities and organizations wanting self-hosting. Pricing starts at $3.50 and includes a free plan. The topic-based approach comes with a learning curve, so teams used to simpler channel chat should account for adoption before moving conversations over.
What works
- Topics and threaded replies keep conversations organized
- Unread inbox helps surface conversations needing attention
- Free cloud plan includes 10,000 messages of search history
What doesn't
- Free cloud search history is limited to 10,000 messages
- Plus requires at least 10 users
- Topic-first posting can feel overwhelming to newcomers
- Best for chat and tasksChantyChanty
Chanty pairs team chat with tasks and AI agent controls, making it a practical option for small teams replacing basic messaging. Pricing starts at $3 and there is a free plan. The published details position it as good value, but do not specify plan caps here; confirm which features are included at the price you would pay before committing.
What works
- Free plan includes unlimited searchable history
- Free plan includes up to 10 integrations
- One-click conversion from message to task
What doesn't
- Free plan is capped at five team members
- Free plan includes only one guest user
- Enterprise pricing is custom, not published
- Best for shared to-dosFlockFlock
Flock suits small teams that want free team chat, shared notes and to-dos in the same tool. Its listed starting price is $4.50, with a free plan. The Starter plan has caps, and the PRO plan is billed annually, so check both the limits and billing commitment. It is a fair-price option only if those terms fit your team.
What works
- Free Starter plan for teams of 1–20
- PRO is $4.50 per user/month billed annually
- PRO includes unlimited searchable messages and channels
What doesn't
- Starter caps searchable messages at 10,000
- Starter includes only 10 public channels
- Starter storage is 5 GB per team
- Best for secure chatWireWire
Wire is worth considering when encrypted chat is a priority, or when your organization needs SSO, SCIM or on-premises deployment. Pricing starts at $7.45 and a free plan is listed. Larger deployments and support have unpublished pricing, so the starting figure may not reflect your real cost. Ask for a full quote before comparing it with standard team-chat plans.
What works
- Free plan supports up to 5 people
- End-to-end encrypted messaging, calls and file sharing
- SMB includes SSO and SCIM
What doesn't
- Free plan is capped at 5 people and 8 devices
- SMB costs €8.94 per person monthly without annual payment
- Enterprise pricing is custom and not published
- Best for office workflowsDingTalkDingTalk
DingTalk combines chat, meetings and office workflows, and may fit organizations already using Alibaba tools. It has a free plan and pricing from $4. The published details flag limits and setup friction for global teams, so it is not a friction-free default for distributed organizations. Check whether those trade-offs outweigh the bundled collaboration tools before switching.
What works
- Messaging, meetings and office workflows in one platform
- Free plan supports up to 10 users
- Basic supports up to 300 users
What doesn't
- Free meetings are limited to 40 minutes
- Free plan includes only 300 AI minutes per user monthly
- Reddit users report registration-code problems outside mainland China
- Best for federationElementElement
Element is a capable Matrix communications option for organizations that need self-hosting, cross-organization federation or air-gapped deployments. A free plan is listed, but paid costs and support details are not published on the vendor's site. That makes it harder to compare on total cost. Get answers on pricing and support before treating it as a ready-to-budget replacement.
What works
- Federation connects users across organizations and vendors.
- Organizations can self-host and control their infrastructure.
- End-to-end encryption supports messages and calls.
What doesn't
- Enterprise and Sovereign prices aren't published.
- Sovereign's user limit isn't published.
- Community is for non-professional deployments and evaluations.
- Best for controlled deploymentsMattermostMattermost
Mattermost fits teams that need self-hosted collaboration, incident playbooks or strict data controls. The published details describe capable workflows, but paid pricing is opaque and changes to the free tier have frustrated users. There is a free plan, though the cost of a paid deployment is not published here. Confirm current plan terms and support before you migrate.
What works
- Self-hosted, private-cloud, and air-gapped deployment options
- Searchable channels, threads, and direct messages
- Playbooks include checklists, SLA timers, and escalations
What doesn't
- Paid plans require custom quotes
- Commercial seats are prepaid annually
- Entry caps history at 10,000 messages
- Best for chat-based AI
ZenzapZenzap
Zenzap is aimed at teams moving work chat off personal apps, linking tasks to conversations or using chat-based AI agents. Pricing starts at $50, with a free plan listed. Seat caps and annual pricing are important checks before comparing it with lower-priced options. It is a more specialized choice for teams that want structured work chat and AI together.
What works
- Free plan lists unlimited users
- Business+ includes 400 AI credits monthly
- Channels can be organized by team or project
What doesn't
- Business+ is capped at five users
- Lite includes no AI agents
- Paid prices shown require annual billing
- Best for push-to-talkVoxerVoxer
Voxer is a niche fit for groups that prefer push-to-talk, families and friends sharing voice notes, or teams interested in AI chat summaries. It has a free plan and pricing from $4.17. That feature mix does not make it an obvious replacement for a conventional team chat stack. Shortlist it when voice messaging is central, not just because your team needs chat.
What works
- Free Personal plan includes one-to-one and group chats
- Personal group chats support up to 500 people
- Voice, text and multimedia messaging in one app
What doesn't
- Personal message storage is limited to 30 days
- Business is positioned for teams of 20 or more
- Monthly Business pricing is not published
- Best for self-managed chatRocket.ChatRocket.Chat
Rocket.Chat offers a flexible self-hosted option for teams needing self-managed deployment, Matrix or XMPP federation, or public offices under 100 monthly active contacts. A free entry point is listed, but costs beyond it are unclear in the published details. Ask for paid pricing and confirm the relevant deployment limits before comparing it with hosted chat plans.
What works
- Starter is listed at $0 per user/month
- Unlimited chat history on Starter
- Self-managed hosting is available on Starter
What doesn't
- Starter is capped at 100 monthly active contacts
- Starter is self-managed hosting only
- Enterprise pricing is custom and unpublished
- Best for unified communicationsIntermedia UniteIntermedia Unite
Intermedia Unite is worth shortlisting if you are consolidating calls and meetings, exploring AI agent assistance for a contact center, or need communication archiving. The published material does not list a starting price or detailed limits. Get the full seat price and feature caps in writing before comparing it with team-chat products that publish entry pricing.
What works
- Combines calls, meetings, chat, email, and customer interactions
- AI call recaps include transcripts and sentiment analysis
- Meeting recaps include topics and next steps
What doesn't
- Starting price and billing terms are not published
- Exchange Email add-on price is not published
- Reddit users describe Basic as internal-only; verify calling access
- Best for financial servicesSymphonySymphony
Symphony is built for financial-services collaboration, including front-office traders and brokers, and teams that need client-channel federation. Its pricing is quote-only in the published details, and there is no relevant Reddit feedback to help answer open questions. It is a specialist shortlist, not a general team-chat recommendation. Ask for a quote and confirm the capabilities your team requires.
What works
- Secure messaging designed for global finance
- Federation supports WhatsApp, SMS, WeChat and LINE
- Cloud9 provides trader voice capabilities
What doesn't
- Enterprise pricing is quote-based; rates are not published
- Seat and usage limits are not published
- No free plan or trial is listed
- Best for education teamsProntoPronto
Pronto is a sector-focused communication option, with education teams as its clearest stated audience. The published details also mention businesses comparing sector-specific tools and restaurants exploring team messaging. There is too little published information to judge its fit or cost, and no starting price is listed. Treat it as an inquiry, not a fully comparable option, until the vendor fills in those gaps.
What works
- Separate destinations for education, business and restaurant teams
- States a focus on real-time connections
- Aims to keep teams aligned
What doesn't
- Starting price is not published
- Monthly and annual rates are not published
- Available material gives few feature specifics
- Best for content teamsClaritiClariti
Clariti is not a general team chat pick: its stated fit is WordPress sites with 200 or more posts and content teams tracking optimization work, audits and keywords. Pricing starts at $40.83, and the published description warns it may be pricey if you only need occasional audits. We include it for buyers comparing adjacent workflow tools, but most chat buyers should look elsewhere.
What works
- Integrates WordPress, Google Analytics, and Search Console
- Organizes optimization work into projects and tasks
- Includes keyword ranking and tracking
What doesn't
- Costs $49 monthly without annual billing
- No free plan is listed
- Free trial availability is not published
03How we chose
We weigh published pricing, plan limits, documentation, and user sentiment on Reddit. Pricing and limits matter because a low entry price can hide caps or require a higher tier for features a team needs. We use documentation to clarify what vendors say their products support, and treat Reddit comments as anecdotal context rather than proof. We do not claim hands-on testing, benchmarks, or screenshots. The published published material includes no product pricing or feature details, so specific comparisons need verification before publication.
04Choose around the work your team needs to do
Start with the team’s communication pattern, not the longest feature list. Decide whether chat is mainly for quick questions, persistent project discussions, company-wide updates, or communication with external partners. Then make a shortlist and check each vendor’s current documentation for the workflows you need. The tools covered here include Slack, Element, Lark, Mattermost, Wire, Voxer, Pumble, Pronto, Flock, Zenzap, Zulip, Symphony, Chanty, Intermedia Unite, DingTalk, Rocket.Chat, and Clariti; names alone do not tell you which product fits. Write down must-haves before comparing plans, such as administration controls, integrations, search, or mobile access. Treat each as a requirement to verify, not a feature to assume. If a vendor does not clearly document a requirement, ask for confirmation before you build the switch around it.
05Compare the full cost and switching work
Compare the total cost for the people who will actually use the product, not just the advertised starting price. Check the vendor’s current pricing page for billing terms, plan limits, and whether the capabilities your team needs are included at the tier you are considering. If a price or limit is not published, mark it as unknown and ask the vendor; do not treat missing information as included. Before switching, inventory the conversations, files, integrations, and user accounts you need to preserve. Check the documentation for supported export or import paths, and confirm any gaps with the vendor. Plan a small rollout, tell users where new conversations belong, and keep a fallback plan until important workflows are accounted for. A cheaper subscription may not be the cheaper move if migration or administration adds work.
Questions people ask
What is the best team chat software?
There is no single best choice for every team. The right fit depends on how people communicate, which workflows and controls they need, and what the relevant plan costs. Compare vendors against a written list of requirements, then verify features, limits, and pricing in current documentation.
How much does team chat software cost?
Prices and plan limits vary by vendor and can change. The published material for this page does not provide current prices, so we cannot give a reliable range. Check each vendor’s pricing page for billing terms, user limits, and whether required features are included in the quoted tier.
What should we check before switching chat tools?
List the conversations, files, accounts, integrations, and administrative settings your team depends on. Confirm what the vendor documents for exporting or importing that data, and ask about anything unclear. Also plan user onboarding and decide how long the old tool must remain available.
How can we compare security and privacy?
Check each vendor’s current documentation for the security and privacy controls your organization requires, and ask for details that are not published. Do not infer protections from a product’s name or general marketing language. Your legal, IT, or security team should confirm whether a tool meets internal requirements.