Report updated Apr 1, 2026
Slack for Desktop
v4.48.102Teams and organizations of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises, looking to centralize communication, automate workflows, and integrate business tools.
What Is Slack for Desktop?
Launched Jul 22, 2013
Updated Mar 2026
What users think iIndependent intel reports to help builders create better apps or enhance existing ones. Still in beta, accuracy and relevancy get better every day. For informational purposes only.
What does it look like?
What are the key features?
AI-powered search, meeting summaries, and intelligent agents to automate tasks and provide context
Securely collaborate and chat with external partners and vendors in real-time
No-code automation tool to streamline repetitive tasks and approvals
Built-in audio and video conferencing for quick, informal meetings
Connects with over 2,600 third-party tools like Salesforce, Google Drive, and Asana
Organized, topic-based spaces for team communication and file sharing
What do users think? iIndependent intel reports to help builders create better apps or enhance existing ones. Still in beta, accuracy and relevancy get better every day. For informational purposes only.
“Recent user voice shows a frustrated sentiment. Users appreciate team communication & organization and app integrations, but report technical stability & crashes and notification issues.”
What Users Love
Slack is a top-tier, user-friendly, and highly integrable workplace messaging platform
Makes communication with team members fast and organized through different channels
Integrations with other apps are really helpful
The integrations with other tools are a total game-changer for our office
Pain Points
The latest version is unstable, crashes all the time
Frequently freezes and crashes
I rarely get notifications. Sometimes someone will @ me or DM me and I get the notification less than 5% of the time
Notifications do not pop up
Unable to sign into the APP because my BROWSER is unsupported
Logging in has become increasingly difficult, and now impossible
High confidence · 99 reviews available
What are the pros and cons?
Pros
- Extensive integration ecosystem
- Strong brand recognition
- Advanced AI and automation capabilities
Cons
- Persistent technical instability and crashes
- Unreliable notification system
- Complex authentication flows
What is the market outlook?
Growth Opportunities
- Capture market share from Teams users
- Expand into project management
- Improve asynchronous communication features
Market Threats
- Microsoft Teams bundling
- Emerging low-cost competitors
- User fatigue with 'always-on' communication
Who competes with Slack for Desktop?
Contenders
Discord - Talk, Play, Hang Out
★4.3 (6726K)Discord Inc.
Strong competitor in real-time team communication, offering similar channel structures and voice/video huddles with a focus on high-velocity collaboration.
Mattermost
★4.8 (5K)Mattermost, Inc.
Enterprise-focused messaging platform that replicates Slack's core interface and integration ecosystem for technical and DevOps teams.
Same Space
New Kids on the Block
Pumble
★4.7 (1K)CAKE.com
A fast-growing, free-tier-focused team chat app that directly targets Slack's user base with a simplified, cost-effective interface.
What are the key takeaways?
Slack for Desktop is a frustrating business app that is free with in-app purchases. With a 4.7/5 rating from 184.2K reviews, it frustrates many users from users. Users particularly appreciate team communication & organization, though technical stability & crashes remains a common concern.
Best for: Teams and organizations of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises, looking to centralize communication, automate workflows, and integrate business tools.
How much does it cost?
Model: freemium
Uses a freemium model to drive broad adoption, gating advanced automation, AI, and security features behind subscription tiers to monetize enterprise users.
iOS Version
4.48.102
Android Version
26.03.40.0
Release Date
Jul 22, 2013
iOS Price
Free
Android Price
Free
Developer
Slack Technologies, Inc.