Slack has been the dominant workplace messaging app for small and large businesses. However, Slack is not a good choice when it comes to security and privacy purposes. The team behind Slack has made Slack more of a consumer application than an enterprise one.
An alternative to the app Slack should have similar features and functionality. Let us have a look at some of those features to decide if they can replace Slack for your business operations.
A few of Slack’s features include:
- Voice calling
- Video calling
- Screen sharing
- Chat with team members simultaneously on the same channel
- You need not open multiple channels and invite each other one by one separately.
We have taken out features from Slack and matched it with an alternative that gives you the same features, or even more. This is a good choice for you if you already use Slack, or want to try other options.
Most of the time, when you hear about Slack being hacked or a new data breach that’s been caused by Slack, it makes sense to look for an alternative. However, there are plenty of other reasons why someone might want to choose another platform. If you’ve never tried using any alternatives before then we recommend checking out the below options!
There are many hundreds of applications that can replace Slack. This post will help you find the right one for your company’s needs so you can focus on what matters most!
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1. Mattermost
What makes Mattermost unique is its open-source nature. Mattermost is great for using if you are a startup. It has many features and functions. If you want, it also has good security and privacy controls that other alternatives do not have for free. It offers a free, open-source version that anyone can download or use.
It’s a great Slack alternative if your business is looking for something more advanced than Slack and you don’t want to compromise the security and privacy of your essential conversations.
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2. Discord
Discord is a program that lets you text and talk with people. It also has a video call. While it’s marketed for gamers, its usage is almost identical to Slack which is marketed to teams. It’s quickly growing in popularity. People are using it instead of Slack because it is better with security and privacy controls.
The free version is “limited” according to Discord, but there are no limitations on who can use it – it just limits how much Discord can do by default. For teams or organizations who need a secure solution that requires less server upkeep, then they should use Discord instead of Slack.
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3. Element
Element is a Slack-like tool with some very interesting additions to make it better. The best thing about Element is that it comes with something Slack doesn’t have which is a built-in video and meeting conferencing room. Element is a great alternative to Slack. If you use Slack for messaging but then need something more advanced for group meetings, Element will work well.
The other add-ons are file sharing, task management (similar to Asana), and plenty of integrations that help with project management. Element’s bridge technology lets you exchange information seamlessly with other organizations through Matrix-based protocols such as Slack and Microsoft Teams. It is important to keep your conversations private. To do this, you can use a QR code or an emoji to verify. This way no one can listen in on the conversation and they will not know what you are talking about.
Element is built on open standards that allow people to work with other programs like Telegram and IRC. These standards allow for no barriers, which means you can be more productive.
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4. Zulip
Zulip provides enterprise support, security and privacy controls with both free and paid versions. It offers an open-source version of Slack (similar to Slack) for free. There is no charge for downloading the software or using it too. If you want a Slack alternative that has advanced security and privacy controls then Zulip is a good option.
It’s been backed by some of the best venture capitalists in Silicon Valley. It’s a great alternative to Slack if you are looking for an internal team communication application and don’t want it to be cloud-based (even though it already is).
Zulip’s mission statement reads: “Because email can harm productivity: More email isn’t better—not for individuals nor for teams”. Zulip was originally built at Yale University. Now, it is used by many big companies to host their internal chat and collaboration platform. You can also use Zulip for hosting your public/business forum website. It is like Reddit or HackerNews.
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5. Rocket.Chat
Rocket.chat is one of the best open-source alternatives to Slack out there. It’s simple, fast and secure thanks to its open source nature. It has been written from scratch in Erlang by creator Gabriel Engel. He was unhappy with Slack’s lack of privacy features so he created his own Slack alternative.
Rocket.chat was founded in 2015. It is a program that can help team members work together. They can talk and do other things too. It’s like Slack, but it is better because it has more functions.
You can connect Slack to Rocket.chat if you want to migrate from Slack to rocket chat. Rocket.chat uses the MongoDB database. This makes it easy for companies to backup and restore databases at any point in time. That’s one of the reasons why many businesses are switching over from Slack to Rocket Chat. It’s a good choice if you don’t want to do stuff like setting up and running Slack. You can just use this instead.
Rocket.chat has both paid and free versions of their software for businesses, but the Pro version is a more robust offering.
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6. Matrix.org
If you’re looking for a secure, decentralized Slack alternative, take a look at Matrix.org. This is an open API with a lot of servers. It lets you publish, store, and subscribe to data. There is no one who has control over it.
This is a new way of talking. There are many ways to use it. You can use it for things like voice over IP, or instant messaging, or even the Internet of Things. This can be used in many different places and could help you talk with other people who have this software.
Matrix was originally created by MATRIX, which is an organization that is based in the UK. Due to a partnership with Github that started in 2015, they are now working closely with them. Prior to this, MATRIX had raised approximately two million dollars from investors including Google Ventures and Digital Currency Group among others. This is a great choice if your team or business needs an open source chat solution, and it’s free.
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7. Jitsi
Jitsi is one of the best software on the market which can replace Slack completely and comes at free of charge as well. You can use it without paying any money. There is a free version and a business version also available that is very cheap compared to other Slack alternatives. It provides a complete chat solution (similar to Slack) including video calls and instant messaging support.
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8. Wire
Wire is an application that lets you send messages and files to people. It was the first non-American company to receive money from a Silicon Valley venture capitalist, Sequoia Capital. They gave it $50 million in investments. It was opened in 2014 by Finnish entrepreneurs and brothers Nikolai and Mikko Harju.
If you need an app for communication that is low bandwidth, this is a good one. It uses less data than other messenger apps and has encryption.
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9. Air Send
Air Send is an app that enables team-based communications. You can log in and start chatting with coworkers or students right away by downloading the app on your phone! You can talk about work, personal things, and schoolwork without being afraid of someone listening.
Air Send targets large companies and organizations with specific features for teams including:
- Clear workspace – Stay on top of your team’s work and plan projects in a single app without hassle from any other apps.
- Voice Call – Make voice calls within your company! It’s quick and efficient so you can get back to work faster.
- Encrypt your data transfer. This will keep your information safe. Make sure that you choose encryption instead of communication when sending data.
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10. Google Hangouts
Most people have heard of this app, and it’s another good alternative to Slack which is worth a mention.
- Increases transparency within the company without third-party.
- Voice and video calls
- Works in any environment with any device, even offline on a desktop client.
- Google Hangouts is a free app that’s available on all devices.
- It’s simple to use and most people are familiar with it, so you’ll have no trouble getting your team up and running.
- You can take care of business anywhere in the world without needing internet access.
- You’ll be able to work offline when necessary, which is great for remote workers or travelers.
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12. Microsoft Teams
Recently, Microsoft Teams has been in the news. It is a good alternative to Slack because it is popular among the users for team communication. It has already gained millions of users within a short time.
One of the most important things to consider when replacing Slack is how many people can be in the chat. Microsoft Teams allows 300 people, but Slack allows 8,000.
It also offers an instant messaging feature in addition to video calls which Slack does not offer.
There is a free version and paid as well where the control of privacy level lies with the administrator. If you’re looking for something more robust than Slack that works in a similar manner to Slack, Microsoft Teams is worth considering.
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13. Conversations
This website is not a Slack competitor because it does not have the same look or feel, but it is included as an alternative to Slack anyhow. It’s an open source messaging app which works on android and iOs devices.
There are plenty of Slack alternatives which offer Slack-like user experience, but they lack in functionalities. However, Conversations does offer an experience like Slack. It also has some other features such as multi-device sync, message search and easy file sharing.
The name “Conversations” is pretty self explanatory since it allows the user to have a conversation within the Slack like interface.
There is a limit of 10,000 messages you can send in a conversation. This Slack alternative has the potential to replace Slack but still needs some work to do before it’s considered for replacement. But if you are looking for Slack alternatives, this one is worth considering because it includes real time messaging and file sharing.
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14. Threema
Threema is a private messenger app which comes with end-to-end encryption and focuses on privacy. It’s an alternative to Slack for those who want more security in their communication tool. Threema works with all the platforms that Slack supports and lets you compress messages.
It also allows you to send photo and audio files, share your location and even make video calls.
If you are looking for a Slack alternative with high security features, Threema is a good choice.
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15. Proficonf
Proficonf is a Slack replacement that allows teams to organize and connect in an efficient manner. It is similar to Slack and works as a live meeting tool, allowing up to 250 participants with one-click meetings, screen sharing capabilities and more. It is an extremely fast and versatile video conferencing web app. It has a sleek, minimalistic UI and comes at an affordable price.
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16- Ringcentral Glip
Glip is an instant messaging app for teams and businesses to communicate and get work done at the same time. You always know what your team is doing and what needs to be done because you communicate and work in the same place. Glip comes with lots of additional features such as video calls and CRM at an affordable price.
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17. Gitter
Gitter is a chat app that focuses on open source projects. It’s features include:
- Channels enable free, public chat rooms with a specific purpose.
- There are public and private chats
- You can join group chats with other users who have the same interests as you
- Gitter has a search feature to find the right people for your project
- Unlimited searchable chat history
- Unlimited integrations
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18. Nextcloud Talk
Nextcloud Talk is a free service that allows you to speak privately. It has features to help you work and talk to your team. It provides text messaging, voice and video calls along with file sharing and cloud storage.
Nextcloud Talk is a great way to work on projects. It helps you work with other people and share calendars and screens. Nextcloud Talk has an easy-to-use user experience that feels like Slack, but you can also use it like a full screen app where you have to switch tabs in order to see someone’s profile for example.
It includes a zero-knowledge encryption and key management system to guarantee all business data is safe. You can use Nextcloud in other ways. It can be integrated into other things that you are doing. This means that you have a lot of different options when it comes to how to manage your tasks.
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19. Twist
Twist is a free mobile messaging app. It’s available on iOS, Android, and Windows Phone.
The advantage of Twist is that it offers group chat with up to 100 members on the platform with several different operating systems. Twist allows you to send messages with document attachments and voice messages. You can also make payments via PayPal for those who want to.
Twist is a way to keep your data private. There is no chance that it will ever be sold or used for anything other than what it’s meant to do.
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20. Flock
Flock is a chat and messaging app that can be helpful for small groups. It’s free and you can use it for up to 7 people.
It features:
- Graphical messages which include images, text and emojis.
- Voice messaging as well as location sharing and big text support.
- Strong security set-up as
- Flexible pricing plans
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21. Wickr
The app Wickr is a team chat tool that you can use with your team members to communicate more privately. You can send pictures, videos, audio messages and text messages to others in the group chat.
Wickr has a special way of keeping your data safe. It is well known in the industry for its security. This means you don’t have to worry about data leakage when you’re talking privately with other people.
You can share photos and other content in a group of up to 10 people. The rest of the world will not be able to see what you are sharing.
There are also no restrictions on the size of files that you can send with Wickr, such as video or pictures. This makes it really versatile.
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Final Thoughts
We have compiled a list of 21 apps that are similar to Slack. These apps work similarly but also offer other features such as increased security for company communication in the digital world. With cyberattacks happening every 39 seconds, it is no doubt that companies want to be prepared and offer their employees an option which will work seamlessly with their business model.