Slack is an instant messenger, which is mainly used for communication within workgroups. By linking a number of services such as Google Drive or Dropbox with the messenger service, joint processing of documents is possible. This is particularly attractive for large companies, but also for small work groups. But if you're not that into Slack and are looking for an alternative, read on. Here are a few other messengers for teamwork.
Mattermost
Mattermost is an open source tool with its own cloud. You need to deploy this tool on your company's server. So all employees can use it with the free team edition. If you want a high level of security, you can also subscribe to the Enterprise Edition E10 for the equivalent of around € 35 per user per year. It comes with all the features and security measures, such as encrypted push notifications or multi-factor authentication. You can also use Mattermost on the move. Because this messenger is available for both Android and iOS devices. You can also import channels and accounts from Slack to Mattermost. This will make the change easier for you. And thanks to open source code, you can adapt the messenger to the way your company needs it.But you are not convinced of Mattermost? Then we have other alternatives for you.
Discord
Discord is actually a communication tool for gamers. But that doesn't mean it's unsuitable for workgroups. Because it offers everything a growing team needs - completely free of charge. Among other things, you can create channels, make audio and video calls and use the app on your iPhone or Android smartphone. Also, you don't have a limit on messages - unlike Slack, there is a limit of 10,000. And if you want, you can even have Discord read your messages to you. But perhaps best of all: You can invite anyone, anywhere, and anytime to your server. You can also communicate with your team from home. But while you can share files up to 1 gigabyte in size with Slack, the maximum with Discord is only 50 megabytes. That's a big difference.But if you're more into communicating with your team via text, audio, or video, Discord is definitely worth a try..
RocketChat
According to the developer, RocketChat is a tool for "communities and companies who want to host their own news service privately, or for developers who are looking forward to building and developing their own chat platforms". You can easily get started with RocketChat by importing your Slack gradients and files. But if your team consists of more than 50 people, you have to upgrade to the Pro version for the equivalent of around € 27 per user per year. This tool is also open source, which allows you to adapt it exactly to your needs and to personalize it endlessly. And RockeChat has another practical feature: you can use it to transfer your screen and make it possible for others to see what you see. RocketChat is definitely worth a look.
Microsoft Teams
For a long time, Microsoft Teams was only available to Office 365 subscribers. But Microsoft has changed that and now you can use Microsoft Teams for free too. Understandably, there are some limitations. However, the free version of Microsoft Teams still offers a variety of useful functions. One of the great features of Microsoft Teams is the unlimited sending of messages. While Slack limits your team to 10,000 messages, Microsoft Teams can get you going wild. Another plus is the extensive list of Microsoft Teams integrations, of which you can add over 140 to your free subscription..
Chanty
Chanty's user interface is simple and clean. Chanty tries to stay simple, but still offer powerful features that a team needs to work efficiently. There's a built-in task manager that allows you to turn any message into a task and notify you when it's done. You have no message limit and you can even search all messages for a keyword to make them easier to find again. Chanty encrypts all messages and data you share. However, only a maximum of ten people can participate in the free version. For additional participants you have to use the Pro version for around 3 € per user per month.
