Looking for the best team chat app? Here are 12 Slack alternatives and contenders for messaging, video meetings, and async comms—including free and open‑source.
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If you want a fast answer: the best team chat app for most organizations is Slack for channel-based collaboration, with Microsoft Teams the easy pick inside Microsoft 365. For video-first teams, Zoom or Webex pair reliable meetings with persistent chat; for open-source and self-hosted, look at Matrix or Nextcloud.
| # | App | Best for | Pricing | Worldwide rank | 30-day trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Slack | Channel-based collaboration | Free plan + paid | #288 | +22% |
| 2 | Microsoft Teams | Microsoft 365-centric teams | Free plan + paid | — | — |
| 3 | Zoom | Video-first teams with chat | Free plan + paid | #62 | +13% |
| 4 | Webex | Enterprise meetings and chat | Free plan + paid | #131 | +24% |
| 5 | RingCentral | Phone, video, and messaging | Free plan + paid | #2,390 | +2% |
| 6 | Matrix | Open, decentralized chat | Open source | #7,210 | +1% |
| 7 | Nextcloud | Self-hosted collaboration | Open source | #1,032 | +0% |
| 8 | ClickUp | Tasks with built-in chat | Free plan + paid | #2,928 | −9% |
| 9 | Basecamp | Async project comms | Free plan + paid | #5,991 | +3% |
| 10 | Telegram | Large groups and channels | Free | #165 | +33% |
| 11 | Signal | Privacy-first small teams | Free | #2,339 | +0% |
| 12 | GroupMe | Simple group messaging | Free plan + paid | #6,105 | +8% |
Slack organizes work into channels with messaging and quick huddles for fast voice chats. It’s ideal for teams that need searchable conversations, flexible integrations, and a familiar interface across devices.
Why we like it:
Watch out for: Channel sprawl can creep in; set naming conventions and archiving rules early to keep things manageable.
Pricing: Free plan + paid · Traffic: #288 worldwide (+22% in 30 days)
Microsoft Teams bundles chat and online meetings with tight ties to Microsoft 365. If your docs, calendars, and identity live in Microsoft, Teams is a low-friction hub for collaboration.
Why we like it:
Watch out for: Governance and lifecycle settings matter; without them, Teams and channels can multiply fast in bigger orgs.
Pricing: Free plan + paid
Zoom is known for reliable video conferencing, and it also includes team chat to keep conversations going between meetings. It’s a strong choice if meetings drive your collaboration and you want persistent messaging attached to that workflow.
Why we like it:
Watch out for: If you’re primarily async, you may need stronger channel/thread structures than Zoom Chat provides.
Pricing: Free plan + paid · Traffic: #62 worldwide (+13% in 30 days)
Webex combines meetings, messaging, webinars, and calling into one suite. It’s well-suited to organizations that need enterprise-grade communications with persistent chats and scheduled video.
Why we like it:
Watch out for: With so much capability, plan your roll-out and training so teams use the right features, not everything at once.
Pricing: Free plan + paid · Traffic: #131 worldwide (+24% in 30 days)
RingCentral brings together phone, video conferencing, and team messaging—ideal if you want all business communications in one cloud app. Features like AI receptionists and virtual assistants help streamline operations.
Why we like it:
Watch out for: Start with a clear rollout plan—moving phones and meetings at once can be a big change for users.
Pricing: Free plan + paid · Traffic: #2,390 worldwide (+2% in 30 days)
Matrix is an open standard for real-time, interoperable, decentralized communication. It’s a top pick for teams that value open-source, federation, and long-term control over their messaging stack.
Why we like it:
Watch out for: Expect a bit more setup and governance work compared to turnkey SaaS chat tools.
Pricing: Open source · Traffic: #7,210 worldwide (+1% in 30 days)
Nextcloud is an open-source platform for file sync, sharing, and collaboration—with team communication in the same suite. If you need to self-host and keep data under your control, it’s a strong alternative to cloud-only chat apps.
Why we like it:
Watch out for: Requires hosting and maintenance capacity; align ownership with your IT team before rollout.
Pricing: Open source · Traffic: #1,032 worldwide (+0% in 30 days)
ClickUp is an all-in-one work platform for projects and docs, and it includes team chat alongside tasks. If you want conversations attached to work items in the same app, this is a pragmatic choice.
Why we like it:
Watch out for: Chat is a helpful complement, but deeper channel features are lighter than dedicated chat apps.
Pricing: Free plan + paid · Traffic: #2,928 worldwide (−9% in 30 days)
Basecamp focuses on organizing projects, clients, and company-wide communication. It favors calm, asynchronous collaboration over always-on chat, which suits teams aiming to cut noise.
Why we like it:
Watch out for: Real-time chat is not the centerpiece; fast-moving teams may still want a dedicated chat companion.
Pricing: Free plan + paid · Traffic: #5,991 worldwide (+3% in 30 days)
Telegram offers fast, cloud-based messaging with groups and channels across all devices. It can work for communities, cross-company collaborations, and broadcast-style updates.
Why we like it:
Watch out for: Not purpose-built for enterprise compliance or classic channel/thread workflows found in team chat tools.
Pricing: Free · Traffic: #165 worldwide (+33% in 30 days)
Signal is a free, open-source messaging app designed for privacy and security. For small, security-conscious teams or field work, it’s a strong way to keep communications private.
Why we like it:
Watch out for: Lighter on admin and enterprise controls than business-focused platforms.
Pricing: Free · Traffic: #2,339 worldwide (+0% in 30 days)
GroupMe keeps group chat straightforward and device-friendly. It’s useful for small teams, contractors, or ad-hoc groups that want simple messaging without overhead.
Why we like it:
Watch out for: Feature set is intentionally simple—if you need channels, threads, or advanced admin, look elsewhere.
Pricing: Free plan + paid · Traffic: #6,105 worldwide (+8% in 30 days)
Picking a team chat platform is about matching how your team actually communicates—not just the feature list. Start with these practical criteria:
Zivvi tracks a catalog of 2,300 web apps and ranks them by real worldwide traffic using the Tranco list, a research-driven ranking that averages several traffic sources. Ranks listed here are worldwide traffic ranks (Tranco) as of November 6, 2026, and each app’s 30-day change compares its rank about 30 days earlier with the latest. We combine that demand signal with hands-on criteria—usability for team chat, video and async support, availability of a free plan, and options for open-source or self-hosting.
There are no paid placements in Zivvi’s rankings or picks. You can browse more Communication tools on Popular apps, see what’s rising on Trending, or explore by Categories and Communication. If you don’t see your product, you can list it via Submit. For adjacent research, check out our related posts: The 100 most visited web apps of 2026, ranked by real traffic, The fastest-growing web apps of November 2026, and The best project management apps.
For most teams, Slack is the best all-around team chat due to its channel model, broad integrations, and lightweight huddles. If your organization is standardized on Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams is the natural alternative with integrated meetings and files.
Several leading options offer free plans to start: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Webex, and ClickUp. These free tiers are useful for pilots—validate noise levels, admin controls, and must-have integrations before upgrading.
If you want open standards and federation, Matrix is a standout. For a self-hosted collaboration suite that includes communication, Nextcloud gives you control over data residency and compliance while keeping files and messaging together.
Choose a video-first platform with persistent messaging, such as Zoom or Webex. These let you run reliable meetings and keep chat running between sessions so action items and updates don’t vanish after the call.
Start with channel naming and ownership, post guidelines, and default notifications to mentions-only. Use threads to keep topics contained, archive stale channels, and reserve urgent pings for time-sensitive issues.
Yes—Telegram and Signal can work for simple or external-facing coordination. Be aware that governance and enterprise controls are lighter than dedicated business platforms, so define usage policies and keep sensitive work in approved tools.
Ready to try a few options? Compare more Communication tools on Categories, see what’s trending on Trending, or list your own app at Submit.
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