Slack

Active

Country: United States (US)
Founded: 2013
Developer: Salesforce
Pricing: Freemium
Open source: No
Platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Web

Indexes

Community/Forums Messaging Venture Capital Firms Video Calling

Overview

Slack is a team communication platform that organizes conversations into channels for messaging, file sharing, and collaboration. It targets businesses and teams needing centralized workplace communication, distinguishing itself through channel-based organization, searchability of message history, and extensibility via integrations.

Key Features

Channels - Organized spaces for team conversations, projects, or topics.
Direct Messages - Private one-on-one or group messaging.
File Sharing - Upload and share files with previews and search.
Search - Full-text search across messages, files, and users.
Integrations - Connect with third-party apps and services.
Voice/Video Calls - Built-in huddles for quick audio and video calls.
Custom Profiles - Editable profiles with fields like title, pronouns, and custom data.
Slack Atlas - Organization charts and enhanced employee profiles.

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Free	Free	Basic messaging, 90-day message history, 5GB storage, 10 app integrations.
Pro	$7.25/user/month (billed annually)	Unlimited message history, unlimited apps, 10GB storage, guest access.
Business+	$12.50/user/month (billed annually)	SAML SSO, data exports, 99.99% uptime, 20GB storage.
Enterprise Grid	Contact sales	Unlimited workspaces, HIPAA compliance, advanced security.

Platforms & Requirements

Slack runs on desktop apps for macOS, Windows, and Linux; mobile apps for iOS and Android; and a web app. Minimum requirements include modern browsers for web, macOS 11+, Windows 10+, and iOS 15+/Android 8.0+. Limitations include no native Linux package manager support and reduced features on mobile.

Integrations & Ecosystem

Google Workspace
Microsoft 365
Zoom
GitHub
Salesforce
Trello
API access
SCIM for user provisioning

Alternatives

App	Difference
Microsoft Teams	Tighter Microsoft ecosystem integration with Office apps.
Discord	Voice-focused with lower cost for non-enterprise use.
Mattermost	Self-hosted option emphasizing data sovereignty.
Rocket.Chat	Open-source with on-premises deployment.

Reputation

Slack is recognized for intuitive interface and effective channel organization, widely adopted in tech and remote teams. Criticisms include high pricing for advanced features and occasional performance issues in large workspaces. Post-Salesforce acquisition, concerns about data privacy and forced integrations have emerged.

Sources (9)