| Core Identity |
| Developer | Threema GmbH | Signal Messenger, LLC | Session Foundation | Mattermost, Inc. | Vector Creations Limited | Cisco | Rocket.Chat Technologies Corp. | Microsoft Corporation | Slack Technologies, Inc. | CAKE.com |
| Category | Social Networking | Social Networking | Communication | Business | Business | Business | Productivity | Business | Business | Business |
| Platform | Android, iOS | iOS | Android, iOS | iOS, Android | Android, iOS | Android, iOS | iOS, Android | iOS, Android | iOS, Android | Android, iOS |
| Store Metrics |
| Rating | 3.9 / 5 | 4.7 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 | 4.8 / 5 | 3.3 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 | 0.0 / 5 | 4.8 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 | 4.7 / 5 |
| Ratings Count | 24 | 1,031,845 | 3,448 | 5,455 | 574 | 9,169 | 0 | 3,356,480 | 45,544 | 1,311 |
| Price | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Release Date | May 19, 2016 | Jul 29, 2014 | Feb 6, 2020 | Jul 10, 2017 | May 5, 2016 | Sep 13, 2014 | Mar 9, 2016 | Nov 2, 2016 | Mar 20, 2013 | Oct 19, 2020 |
| Last Updated | Apr 9, 2026 | Apr 29, 2026 | Apr 9, 2026 | Apr 16, 2026 | Apr 2, 2026 | Apr 10, 2026 | Mar 13, 2026 | May 7, 2026 | Apr 29, 2026 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Sentiment & Reviews |
| Sentiment | terrible | positive | - | mixed | - | positive | terrible | - | mixed | - |
| Score | 10/100 | 75/100 | - | 42/100 | - | 62/100 | 20/100 | - | 45/100 | - |
| Praises | - | - Privacy-focused messaging architecture provides a secure alternative to mainstream platforms for daily communication
| - | - Self-Hosting & Open Source
| - | | - The core chat functionality provides a functional communication alternative to more expensive industry standard messaging platforms
| - | - Centralized workspace organization allows teams to manage multiple projects and company channels effectively in one place
| - |
| Complaints | - Mandatory authentication screens prevent access because the administrator contact path is missing
- Installation failures prevent initial app launch on mobile devices
| - Technical instability during device linking prevents users from accessing accounts on secondary hardware
| - | - App Stability and Crashes
| - | - Device Compatibility and Installation
| - Frequent application crashes on launch prevent users from accessing critical work communication channels on desktop
| - | - Unreliable push notifications prevent users from receiving critical messages and meeting alerts on mobile devices
| - |
| Requests | - | - Advanced group management features would allow for better community organization and moderation
| - | - | - | - | - Native support for modern hardware architectures to improve performance and eliminate lag during daily usage
| - | - Simplified channel management tools are needed to filter relevant content and hide unnecessary workspace clutter
| - |
| Strategic Intel |
| Strengths | - Zero-knowledge architecture verified by independent audits
- MDM/EMM integration for enterprise-wide policy enforcement
| - Open-source protocol establishes category authority as a privacy-first utility
- Minimalist interface reduces cognitive load during daily use
- Editors' Choice badge across five markets sustains organic install velocity
| - | - Strong brand reputation in high-security sectors
- Robust self-hosting capabilities
- Clear focus on data sovereignty
| - | - Superior hardware interoperability with Webex Room and Board devices
- Mature AI-driven audio intelligence for noise removal
- Unified management via Control Hub for deep IT analytics
| - 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
| - Deep integration with Microsoft 365 creates high switching costs
- Enterprise-grade security compliance sustains large-scale adoption
- Global infrastructure supports massive user scalability
| - 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
| - |
| Weaknesses | - Critical authentication failures at login
- High-frequency installation errors on mobile devices
- Lack of administrator support path
| - Device-linking instability creates high-friction onboarding for multi-device users
- 1,000-member group limit lacks automated moderation tools
- No native CarPlay or Siri integration for hands-free use
| - | - Poor mobile app stability
- Recurring notification bugs
- Sync issues
| - | - Critical Android compatibility issues on modern devices (e.g., S21)
- Friction in Play Store update processes
- Weaker ecosystem lock-in compared to Microsoft 365 bundling
| - 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
| - High-volume notification culture drives user fatigue
- Feature bloat increases complexity for non-desk workers
- 60-minute meeting limit on free tier restricts utility
| - Unreliable mobile notifications causing critical message loss
- Persistent read-state synchronization bugs across platforms
- Cluttered UI navigation for high-volume channel users
| - |
| Pricing | subscription | free | free | subscription | free | freemium | freemium | freemium | freemium | free |
| Momentum | Intense | Maintenance | - | - | Intense | Intense | Intense | Active | Active | Intense |
| Update Cadence | 5 versions | 1 versions | - | - | 5 versions | 5 versions, 4 majors/6mo, ~9d avg | 5 versions | 5 versions, 2 majors/6mo, ~7d avg | 5 versions, ~5d avg | 5 versions |
