9 Best Team Chat Apps of 2026

1. 1

   Microsoft Teams

   Microsoft's workspace for chat, channels, meetings and file sharing, sold alone as Teams Essentials or within Microsoft 365.

   9.2overall

   Microsoft's workspace for chat, channels, meetings and file sharing, sold alone as Teams Essentials or within Microsoft 365.

   Best forOrganizations that want chat and meetings in one app at a low per-user price.

   Adoption data

   320 millionMicrosoft reported more than 320 million monthly active users of Teams on its fiscal 2024 first quarter earnings call.

   Microsoft, Microsoft Fiscal Year 2024 First Quarter Earnings Conference Call (2023): “When it comes to Teams, usage continues to grow, with more than 320 million monthly active users making Teams the place to work across chat, collaboration, meetings, and calling.”

   Teams combines persistent chat, channels, meetings and file sharing in one app, and Microsoft sells it alone as Teams Essentials for $4.00 per user per month on an annual subscription. That plan includes unlimited chat messages, file attachments and search, guest access, real-time collaboration with tasks and polling, and meetings of up to 300 participants and 30 hours, with 10 GB of cloud storage per user. Microsoft lists more than 250 integrated business apps, and users can chat between work and personal Teams accounts. Microsoft's most recent published figure, more than 320 million monthly active users in late 2023, is the largest user count for any product on this list. The drawbacks are structural: business plans are limited to 300 employees, Essentials storage is small, and the app's mix of teams, channels, chats and meetings takes longer to learn than Pumble or Chanty. For most small and midsize organizations, the price and reach make it the default choice.

   Strengths

   • +Chat, meetings and file sharing in one license
   • +Lowest verified paid entry price among the major suites
   • +Free version for personal and light use

   Limitations

   • −Essentials includes 10 GB of cloud storage per user
   • −Business plans cover at most 300 employees
   • −Channel and app features are denser than lighter chat tools, which can slow onboarding

   SummaryTeams is the best overall team chat app for organizations that also need meetings. It is especially strong for companies already using Microsoft products.

2. 2

   Slack

   The channel-based messaging platform owned by Salesforce, with a large app directory and built-in AI features.

   8.7overall

   The channel-based messaging platform owned by Salesforce, with a large app directory and built-in AI features.

   Best forTeams that work in channels across many tools and external partners.

   Adoption data

   200k+Slack says it has more than 200,000 paid customers and that 77 of the Fortune 100 use it.

   Slack, About Us | Slack (2026): “200k+ paid customers 77 of the Fortune 100 use Slack”

   Slack popularized channel-based work chat and remains the most complete product in that category. Its App Directory lists more than 2,600 apps, from Salesforce and Jira to Google Drive, and features such as huddles, canvases, lists and audio and video clips cover much of what teams used to do in meetings. Slack lists AI features such as conversation summaries, AI search and daily recaps, with Advanced AI on Business+ and Enterprise-grade AI on Enterprise+. The free plan keeps 90 days of history, allows ten apps and limits huddles and external messages to one-to-one conversations; Pro removes those limits. Slack says it has more than 200,000 paid customers and that 77 of the Fortune 100 use it. Salesforce, which owns Slack, lists Pro at $8.75 per user per month billed monthly and Business+ at $18. Slack costs more per seat than Teams, Zoho Cliq or Pumble, which is why it scores lower on value despite its features.

   Strengths

   • +The largest app ecosystem among chat tools on this list
   • +Built-in AI summaries, search and daily recaps
   • +Strong adoption among large companies

   Limitations

   • −Free plan keeps only 90 days of message history
   • −Huddles and external messaging are one-to-one only on Free
   • −Pro at $8.75 per user per month costs more than twice Teams Essentials

   SummarySlack is the best pick for teams that live in channels and depend on many integrations. Budget-focused teams can get the basics for less elsewhere.

3. 3

   Zoho Cliq

   Zoho's team chat app with channels, calls, task management and bots, priced low with a flat-rate small-team plan.

   8.1overall

   Zoho's team chat app with channels, calls, task management and bots, priced low with a flat-rate small-team plan.

   Best forSmall and midsize teams looking for low cost, especially Zoho users.

   Adoption data

   500,000Zoho says Zoho Cliq serves almost 500,000 users worldwide.

   Zoho, Team chat & communication software for businesses - Zoho Cliq (2026): “Zoho Cliq supports teams of all sizes, empowering almost 500,000 users globally”

   Zoho Cliq is one of the most affordable full-featured chat apps, and Zoho publishes a US dollar price list on its own pricing page. The free plan covers messaging, channels, file storage, meetings with screen sharing and chat export, though searchable messages are capped at 10,000. Standard is a flat $16.20 per month on annual billing for up to 25 users and adds external channels, call recording and a custom domain. Professional costs $1.80 per user per month annually with a ten-user minimum and adds team management, task management, roles and permissions and live events, while Enterprise at $3.60 adds audit history, eDiscovery and data loss prevention. A Flexi Subscription lets organizations mix tiers by user. Zoho says Cliq serves almost 500,000 users. Its integrations are strongest with other Zoho apps, and its third-party catalog is smaller than Slack's, but on price per feature it is hard to beat.

   Strengths

   • +Flat Standard price covers up to 25 users
   • +Professional and Enterprise per-user prices are among the lowest on this list
   • +Published USD price list on the vendor's own page

   Limitations

   • −Free plan caps searchable messages at 10,000
   • −Professional and Enterprise require at least 10 users
   • −Smaller third-party app ecosystem than Slack or Teams

   SummaryZoho Cliq is the best value pick for small and midsize teams that want channels, calls and admin controls without Slack pricing. It fits best for companies already using Zoho apps.

4. 4

   Google Chat

   Google Workspace's messaging app, with direct messages, spaces and huddles linked to Gmail, Meet and Drive.

   8.0overall

   Google Workspace's messaging app, with direct messages, spaces and huddles linked to Gmail, Meet and Drive.

   Best forTeams already using Google Workspace for email and documents.

   Adoption data

   10 millionGoogle says Google Workspace, which includes Chat, has been used by more than 10 million businesses; Google does not publish a separate Chat figure.

   Google, Google Workspace enables the future of AI-powered work for every business (2025): “We've empowered more than 10 million businesses of all sizes”

   Google Chat is the messaging layer of Google Workspace rather than a separate purchase, which makes its value depend on whether you want the rest of the suite. Every Workspace plan includes Chat alongside Gmail, Meet, Calendar and Drive, with Business Starter at $8.40 per user per month on the Flexible Plan. Chat supports direct messages, group conversations and spaces of up to 500,000 members, and huddles start a call from inside a conversation. Gemini AI features are part of Workspace plans, and admins manage Chat from the same console as email and documents. Compared with Slack, the third-party integration catalog is smaller and the product feels more like an extension of Gmail than a standalone hub. Google says more than 10 million businesses have used Workspace, but it does not report Chat usage separately. For organizations already paying for Workspace, Chat is effectively free and good enough to replace a separate chat subscription.

   Strengths

   • +Included with Google Workspace at no extra cost
   • +Very large space size limit
   • +Shares the Workspace admin console and security controls

   Limitations

   • −Not sold as a standalone business product
   • −Fewer third-party integrations than Slack
   • −Google reports more than 10 million businesses for Workspace as a whole, not a Chat user count

   SummaryGoogle Chat is the obvious choice for teams on Google Workspace who want to avoid another subscription. Teams that rely on many third-party integrations may still prefer Slack.

5. 5

   Pumble

   A low-cost team chat app from CAKE.com with unlimited users and history on its free plan.

   7.6overall

   A low-cost team chat app from CAKE.com with unlimited users and history on its free plan.

   Best forBudget-conscious teams that want unlimited history without paying.

   Pumble is the most generous free plan on this list: unlimited users, unlimited message history, unlimited channels, voice and video messages and one-to-one meetings, all at no cost. That removes the 90-day history cutoff that pushes many Slack Free teams to upgrade. Paid plans stay inexpensive. Pro costs $2.49 per seat per month billed annually and adds group meetings, screen sharing with annotations and advanced workspace analytics. Business at $3.99 adds permissions, guest users (five free single-channel guests per seat), user groups, 20 GB of storage per seat and meeting recordings, and Enterprise at $6.99 adds single sign-on, data retention, an audit log and 100 GB per seat. Pumble is made by CAKE.com, which also makes Clockify and Plaky, and integrates natively with both. The integration catalog beyond that is smaller than Slack's, and no user count is published, which keeps its adoption score low.

   Strengths

   • +Free plan has no user or history limits
   • +Lowest verified paid price on this list
   • +24/7 human support listed by the vendor

   Limitations

   • −Group meetings require a paid plan
   • −Smaller integration catalog than Slack or Teams
   • −No published user count, so adoption is scored conservatively

   SummaryPumble is the cheapest credible Slack alternative and the best free plan for teams that need full history. Teams relying on many third-party apps should check integrations first.

6. 6

   Rocket.Chat

   An open-source secure communications platform that can be deployed on premises, in private clouds or air-gapped.

   7.4overall

   An open-source secure communications platform that can be deployed on premises, in private clouds or air-gapped.

   Best forGovernment, defense and regulated organizations that need data sovereignty.

   Adoption data

   12 millionRocket.Chat says it has more than 12 million users, including large public and private sector organizations.

   Rocket.Chat, About us | Rocket Chat (2026): “Today Rocket.Chat has over 12 million users, including organizations such as The World Bank, The US Navy, and Credit Suisse.”

   Rocket.Chat targets organizations where keeping communications on their own infrastructure is a requirement rather than a preference. It can be deployed on premises, in a private cloud, in an isolated VPC or fully air-gapped, or run by Rocket.Chat as dedicated hosting. The platform covers messaging, voice, video meetings and screen sharing, and its federation feature lets separate organizations share channels while each keeps its own servers and identity. Rocket.Chat describes support for HIPAA (with a Business Associate Agreement), FINRA, MiFID II, NIS2 and DORA requirements. For evaluation, small businesses and nonprofits it offers two free options, Starter and Community; commercial plans are priced by quote, so no US price can be verified. The company reports more than 12 million users. The trade-off is operational: self-hosting means someone has to maintain servers, and small teams with no compliance needs will find hosted tools simpler.

   Strengths

   • +Full control over where data is stored
   • +Compliance features for HIPAA, FINRA, MiFID II, NIS2 and DORA
   • +Free Starter and Community options for evaluation and small teams

   Limitations

   • −Commercial pricing is by quote only
   • −Self-hosting requires IT staff to run and update servers
   • −Less polished for casual small-business use than Slack or Pumble

   SummaryRocket.Chat is the right choice for regulated and public sector teams that must control their data. Ordinary small businesses will get more convenience from a hosted app.

7. 7

   Chanty

   A simple team chat app with built-in task boards, calls and a free plan for small teams.

   7.2overall

   A simple team chat app with built-in task boards, calls and a free plan for small teams.

   Best forSmall teams that want chat and basic task management together.

   Adoption data

   75,000Chanty says more than 75,000 companies use its app.

   Chanty, Chanty – Team Communication and Collaboration Software (2026): “Over 75,000 companies use Chanty to be more productive”

   Chanty combines chat with lightweight project tracking. Its free plan supports up to five team members with unlimited public and private chats, unlimited searchable history, one-to-one calls, built-in task management, 20 GB of storage per team and up to ten integrations. The Business plan removes the member cap and adds unlimited group audio and video calls, screen sharing, to-do lists and task boards, polls and forms, customizable roles, HIPAA compliance with a BAA, SSO, two-factor authentication and 20 GB of storage per user. Enterprise adds white labeling, on-premises installation and US, EU or APAC data residency. Chanty says more than 75,000 companies use it, and it offers a 50 percent discount to nonprofits and educational institutions. The pricing page showed euros from our location, so the US price is pending. The five-member free cap makes it best for very small teams or as a trial before Business.

   Strengths

   • +Task boards included, so small teams may not need a separate task tool
   • +Unlimited searchable history even on the free plan
   • +50 percent discount for nonprofits and education

   Limitations

   • −Free plan is limited to 5 team members
   • −Pricing page showed euros from our location, so the US price is pending
   • −Smaller integration catalog than the market leaders

   SummaryChanty is a practical choice for small teams that want chat and task boards in one app. Larger teams will want to confirm US pricing and integrations first.

8. 8

   Mattermost

   A self-hostable collaboration platform for technical and mission-critical teams, with channels, playbooks and integrations.

   7.2overall

   A self-hostable collaboration platform for technical and mission-critical teams, with channels, playbooks and integrations.

   Best forEngineering, operations and defense teams that need chat under their own control.

   Mattermost is aimed at technical and mission-critical teams that want chat they can host and control. Its Professional tier covers channel-based collaboration, multi-team collaboration, access controls and automation, an integrations platform and support, while Enterprise and Enterprise Advanced add federated communications, infrastructure hardening, compliance and administration features, high availability and security-focused mobile access. Developers get a REST API, an MCP Server, webhooks and slash commands, and guest accounts let outside users join, with single-channel guests free up to a one-to-one ratio with licensed seats. A free limited-use edition of Enterprise Advanced is available for technical evaluation. All paid tiers are priced through sales, so there is no public US price to verify, which weighs on its value score. Mattermost also does not publish a user count. For DevOps groups and defense or critical infrastructure operators, those trade-offs are acceptable in exchange for control.

   Strengths

   • +Built for teams that must keep data in their own environment
   • +Strong developer integration options
   • +Free limited-use edition available for technical evaluation

   Limitations

   • −All paid tiers require contacting sales for a price
   • −Set-up and maintenance need technical staff
   • −No published user count, so adoption is scored conservatively

   SummaryMattermost is a strong fit for engineering and operations teams that need self-hosted chat with deep integrations. Most office teams will find a hosted app easier to buy and run.

9. 9

   Flock

   A team messenger with channels, video calls and a free tier for teams of up to 20 people.

   6.7overall

   A team messenger with channels, video calls and a free tier for teams of up to 20 people.

   Best forTeams of 20 to 100 people that want a simple, low-cost messenger.

   Flock is a straightforward team messenger organized by team size. The free Starter plan suits teams of up to 20 members, with unlimited one-to-one and group messages, 10,000 searchable messages, ten public channels, 5 GB of storage per team and one-to-one video calls. Pro, aimed at teams of 20 to 100, removes the search and channel limits and adds group video calls, screen sharing, multiple admins, 10 GB per member and 24/7 priority support, with a 30-day trial that needs no credit card. The pricing page lists Pro at $4.50 per user per month on annual billing. Enterprise, for 100 or more members, adds Active Directory sync, single sign-on and 20 GB per member. Guests can be invited free for 90 days. Flock covers the basics well but has fewer integrations and AI features than Slack or Teams.

   Strengths

   • +30-day free trial of Pro with no credit card required
   • +Guests can join free for 90 days
   • +Simple plan structure by team size

   Limitations

   • −Free plan caps search at 10,000 messages and 10 public channels
   • −Fewer integrations and AI features than Slack or Teams
   • −No published user count, so adoption is scored conservatively

   SummaryFlock works for small and midsize teams that want simple chat at a modest price. Teams that need deep integrations or AI features should look at Slack or Teams.

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