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Which one is right for you?
Slack is a great communication app for your business, whether you use the free version or one of the paid options. They have a lot in common, from similar chat options and video/voice calling to file sharing features. Both versions are also available on different devices, whether you use a Windows laptop or one of our favorite phones. But the paid version shines in areas that could be crucial for your business. For example, it offers unlimited integrations with other tools as well as enhanced privacy and security. We tried Slack in its free and paid versions to help you decide which is better for your business.
Price
Choose what you want to pay
If you don't want to stick with the free plan, you're not limited to the basic version of Slack. Paid plans start at $7.25 per person/month when billed annually or $8.75 when billed monthly. The Business+ plan costs $12.50 per person/month when billed annually or $15 per person/month when billed monthly. There's also an Enterprise Grid plan, but pricing isn't listed – you'll need to contact the sales team for a quote.
Features
Consider your team's likely needs
Slack's paid plans include a number of features that are not available for free. First of all, you get unlimited message history with any paid plan, while the free version hides messages older than 90 days. This can be a big deal if you have to look back at old messages often. Having access to these older conversations is very helpful, especially when you're working on a long project and need to review what was previously said.
Another thing to consider is Huddles, Slack's audio and video tool. With the free version you can only use it for 1:1 conversations. But with the paid version you can have huddles with multiple people. If you have a large team and like to do daily stand-ups or schedule meetings, you'll either need to pay for Slack or use other tools like Google Meet or Zoom. You can integrate both with Slack, so it's not a big hassle either way. Meet and Zoom have some better meeting and scheduling features anyway.
While we're discussing integrations, it's worth noting that the free version only lets you add up to 10 external tools. However, with a paid plan, you can add as many as you want. Slack supports integration with over 2,000 apps, including Notion, Google Drive, Salesforce, Adobe Express, and Trello.
The paid tier also gives you access to automation tools like Workflow Builder, custom workflow steps, and the ability to deploy apps using Slack infrastructure. Workflow Builder lets you automate routine tasks like sending messages, getting approvals, or sharing updates across channels. Custom workflow steps allow you to tailor these automations to your team's specific needs. By deploying apps on the Slack infrastructure, you can build and integrate custom apps directly into Slack.
Members of the work area
Often not a problem
Both the free and paid versions of Slack allow you to add unlimited members to your workspace. You can also create as many channels and groups as you want. You can even add members from other workspaces to yours. With a free plan, you can send 1:1 messages to external guests, but you can't include them in your channels.
AI features
Extra charge
With the free version, you don't get Slack AI, the platform's suite of AI features. And you don't get it with the paid versions either. But if you are a paying customer, you can purchase it as an add-on and it must be applied to every member of your workspace. The Slack AI add-on costs $10 per user per month, which can add up quickly.
Slack AI offers some decent features, but doesn't quite justify the $10 monthly fee. Slack claims it can save your team “45 hours per month,” but we didn’t actually see those results in our testing. A daily digest is created to keep you up to date on important news across high-traffic channels. You can also ask natural language questions in the search bar (e.g. “What’s the latest marketing campaign update?”). You will then receive a clear answer and a link to the source in your chat history so you can double check the info. But that's about it.
Security
Definitely varies depending on the plan
The free version of Slack offers basic security. There is data encryption at rest and in transit, meaning your data is protected while it is at rest and when it is being sent from one location to another. There is also two-factor authentication when registering. These security features are not enough, especially if you are a public sector organization, a large enterprise, or frequently handle sensitive data.
You can get slightly better security if you upgrade to the basic paid tier, which includes OAuth with Google. OAuth is important because it allows users to log in securely without revealing their actual passwords, reducing the risk of breaches. If you choose the Business+ plan, you also get SAML-based single sign-on, which is crucial for larger companies. SAML allows users to access multiple apps with one set of credentials, streamlining security and making it easier for IT teams to manage access.
For advanced features such as HIPAA compliance, integration with Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM), audit logs, and Identity Provider (IDP) groups, you must enroll in the Enterprise Grid plan.
Which one is right for you?
If you have a large team and value security features, Slack's paid tiers are the right choice. But if your company isn't very large or you want to build a community and you don't mind losing messages older than 90 days, the free version might be right for you.
While Slack has plenty of features in both the free and paid versions, you may also want to try out some alternatives. The free version has its limitations and the paid tiers can get quite expensive without really providing any more value. A solid alternative is Microsoft Teams, which gives you the features of Slack's Enterprise Grid for just $4 per month per person. Additionally, Teams has some features that actually outperform Slack. Another option is Discord, which is free and has no limitations on features. Check out our separate guide if you're looking for other productivity solutions.