Slack vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against Slack's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

Slack
This App
Rocket.Chat
Contender
Mattermost
Contender
Google Chat
Contender
Pumble
New Kid
Core Identity
DeveloperSlack Technologies, Inc.Microsoft CorporationRocket.Chat Technologies Corp.Mattermost, Inc.Googlemonday.com Ltd.Notion Labs, IncorporatedZoom Communications, Inc.Discord Inc.CAKE.com
CategoryBusinessBusinessProductivityBusinessBusinessBusinessProductivityBusinessSocial NetworkingBusiness
PlatformAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidAndroid, iOS
Store Metrics
Rating4.1 / 54.8 / 50.0 / 54.8 / 54.6 / 54.8 / 54.8 / 54.7 / 54.7 / 54.7 / 5
Ratings Count45,5443,356,48005,455300,53345,88482,8043,146,1683,418,5011,311
PriceFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFree
Release DateMar 20, 2013Nov 2, 2016Mar 9, 2016Jul 10, 2017Feb 28, 2018Oct 10, 2017Sep 14, 2017Aug 15, 2012May 21, 2015Oct 19, 2020
Last UpdatedApr 29, 2026May 7, 2026Mar 13, 2026Apr 16, 2026May 4, 2026Apr 9, 2026May 5, 2026Apr 4, 2026Apr 27, 2026Apr 1, 2026
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentimentmixed-terriblemixedmixedmixednegativepositivenegative-
Score45/100-20/10042/10045/10048/10035/10068/10035/100-
Praises
  • Centralized workspace organization allows teams to manage multiple projects and company channels effectively in one place
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  • The core chat functionality provides a functional communication alternative to more expensive industry standard messaging platforms
  • Self-Hosting & Open Source
  • Direct communication via email addresses simplifies connectivity without requiring phone numbers or iCloud accounts
  • Project Management Utility
  • Relational database structure provides powerful organization for personal and professional knowledge management
  • Educational & Professional Utility
  • Audio and Video Clarity
  • Community-driven social interaction provides a reliable space for connecting with friends and hobbyists
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Complaints
  • Unreliable push notifications prevent users from receiving critical messages and meeting alerts on mobile devices
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  • Frequent application crashes on launch prevent users from accessing critical work communication channels on desktop
  • App Stability and Crashes
  • Post-update connectivity errors prevent users from loading messages or accessing their chat history
  • Mobile Feature Parity
  • Frequent app crashes and UI freezing during text editing sessions on mobile devices
  • Background Multitasking Issues
  • Hardware Compatibility
  • Frequent application crashes and freezing behavior post-update disrupt core communication and voice chat functionality
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Requests
  • Simplified channel management tools are needed to filter relevant content and hide unnecessary workspace clutter
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  • Native support for modern hardware architectures to improve performance and eliminate lag during daily usage
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  • Integrated voice and video calling features are requested to restore previous communication capabilities
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  • Toggle switch to disable or hide AI features from the primary interface
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  • Simplified account recovery and login processes to reduce reliance on phone number verification
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Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • Integration ecosystem embeds platform into existing enterprise tech stacks
  • Slack Connect network effects force external partner adoption
  • Intuitive interface reduces cognitive load compared to Microsoft Teams
  • Deep integration with Microsoft 365 creates high switching costs
  • Enterprise-grade security compliance sustains large-scale adoption
  • Global infrastructure supports massive user scalability
  • BYOS architecture enables B2B distribution into air-gapped government sectors
  • Federated communication protocol allows cross-agency coalition building
  • Open-source MIT license lowers entry barrier for large-scale enterprise adoption
  • Strong brand reputation in high-security sectors
  • Robust self-hosting capabilities
  • Clear focus on data sovereignty
  • Native Workspace integration creates high switching costs for existing Google users
  • Gemini AI summarization embeds intelligence directly into the document lifecycle
  • Cloud-native security architecture simplifies enterprise compliance requirements
  • Highly intuitive visual UI
  • Powerful low-code customization
  • Strong AI agent ecosystem
  • Relational database engine enables complex knowledge management systems
  • Template library lowers barrier to entry for new users
  • AI Companion bundled at no extra cost
  • Superior external collaboration UX (no tenant switching)
  • High-quality AV performance on unstable networks
  • Persistent server-based community structure drives high switching costs
  • Real-time presence triggers increase DAU/MAU ratio
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Weaknesses
  • Unreliable mobile notifications causing critical message loss
  • Persistent read-state synchronization bugs across platforms
  • Cluttered UI navigation for high-volume channel users
  • High-volume notification culture drives user fatigue
  • Feature bloat increases complexity for non-desk workers
  • 60-minute meeting limit on free tier restricts utility
  • Frequent desktop launch crashes drive high churn among power users
  • Desktop update cadence lags significantly behind web and mobile clients
  • 0.7★ Android-iOS rating gap indicates inconsistent cross-platform quality
  • Poor mobile app stability
  • Recurring notification bugs
  • Sync issues
  • Post-update connectivity errors prevent message loading
  • Threaded conversation layout lacks user-controlled toggles
  • High CPU usage on iOS causes hardware overheating
  • Poor mobile app feature parity
  • Recurring technical bugs
  • Lack of billing transparency
  • Mobile app crashes during long editing sessions
  • Forced AI elements disrupt core UI
  • Critical background multitasking bugs on Android 16
  • Document portability lags behind Microsoft Loop
  • Hardware-specific camera and GIF issues
  • Frequent post-update crashes erode daily active habit
  • Complex account verification creates high-friction entry barriers
  • Premium tier pricing exceeds category median
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Pricingfreemiumfreemiumfreemiumsubscriptionfreemiumsubscriptionfreemiumfreemiumfreemiumfree
MomentumActiveActiveIntense-Active-ActiveMaintenanceIntenseIntense
Update Cadence5 versions, ~5d avg5 versions, 2 majors/6mo, ~7d avg5 versions-5 versions, 1 majors/6mo, ~10d avg-5 versions, ~5d avg5 versions, ~18d avg5 versions, 1 majors/6mo, ~5d avg5 versions

Compare Slack head-to-head

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Slack, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

Data licensed under CC-BY-NC 4.0