Slack excels in third-party integrations and advanced automation workflows, while Google Chat prioritizes seamless Google Workspace integration and AI-powered Gemini features. Choice depends on whether you prioritize ecosystem flexibility or native productivity suite connectivity.
Slack vs Google Chat — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Cloud-based team messaging platform with deep enterprise integrations and 21 million daily active users.
Lightweight team communication tool integrated with Google Workspace and powered by Gemini AI
Third-Party Integrations. AI Assistant. Google Workspace Integration. Workflow Automation. Entry-Level Pricing. File Storage Per User. Price Stability. Mobile App Experience
Both platforms are enterprise-ready team communication solutions serving different organizational needs. Slack is ideal for companies requiring extensive third-party integrations and advanced automation, while Google Chat suits organizations already invested in Google Workspace seeking simplified, AI-enhanced collaboration. The optimal choice depends on your existing tech stack and integration requirements.
Slack: $87 (billed yearly) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Up to 2,000 (with paid plan) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Limited (third-party connectors) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Slack AI (summarization, search, assisted writing) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Excellent - optimized search indexing | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: $3,600 (Pro plan at $15/user) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 10,000 most recent | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: $8.25 (Pro plan, min 3 users) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Unlimited (Slack Huddles for video limited to 50 participants) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Huddles for brief video, limited to 50 participants; requires external tool for full conferencing | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Not native; requires integration with Otter.ai or similar third-party services | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 5 out of 5 (core feature with channels, threads, and history) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 2 out of 5 (available via integration, not native) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 30+ (CRM tools, meeting summaries, automation, SlackBot enhancements) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Cloud-based SaaS only | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Compliant but data on Salesforce servers | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: No increases for 33 months | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Unlimited group chats | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Workflow automation, search enhancement | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Optimized with threads and archives | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Slack AI (optional on paid plans) | Google Chat: Gemini AI (native, advanced features)
Slack: Limited (requires custom setup) | Google Chat: Deep native integration
Slack: Advanced with conditional logic | Google Chat: Basic automation capabilities
Slack: Variable by plan | Google Chat: 2000 (pooled)
Slack: 33+ months | Google Chat: Regular updates
Slack: No, proprietary | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Advanced AI assistant, smart summaries, automation | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Requires 3rd party | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: $150 (billed monthly) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 0 (not native feature) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 3 participants | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Unlimited (slide deck view only) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: DMs only, Enterprise+ plan | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Slack AI (search, summarization, drafting) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: $12.50 per user/month | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 90 days maximum | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 2000+ integrations | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 15 participants | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Advanced (Workflow Builder, automations) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 2,300+ integrations | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Unlimited external guests via workspace invite | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: $8-12.50 (Pro/Business+) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 10 years standard | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Channel-based threads (contextual loss in active channels) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Proprietary (closed-source) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Native iOS/Android with feature-parity | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Yes (Slack Huddles) | Google Chat: N/A
Paid Workspaces/Users (Enterprise Adoption)
Slack: 750,000+ paid workspaces | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Proprietary/closed | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: $150/month ($1,800/year) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 2,400+ integrations | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 90-day limited access | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 750,000+ active workspaces | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: No (cloud-only) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Yes (Business+ plan required) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: $12.50/user (Pro plan) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 10,000 messages (free); unlimited (paid) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: No (requires integrations) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 50-100ms (instant) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 5GB (Free), varies by plan | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: SOC 2, HIPAA, FedRAMP, GDPR | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 1 GB shared workspace | Google Chat: N/A
Annual Subscription Cost (Pro, 100 users)
Maximum video call participants (free tier)
Slack: 100 participants | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 90 days searchable | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 2,000+ apps (Slack App Directory) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Cost-effective until ~12 users | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: No: messaging-only, requires integrations | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 90 days (Free/Pro), unlimited with Enterprise | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 750+ million messages daily across 750k+ organizations | Google Chat: N/A
Monthly Subscription Cost (Pro/Standard)
Slack: All messages indexed instantly | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: API-based (basic) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 100 (workspace) | Google Chat: N/A
Maximum Video Conference Participants (Free)
Slack: Limited (typically 3-4) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: 4.6/5 (12,400 reviews) | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Full-text indexed across all messages | Google Chat: N/A
Slack: Partial (DMs only, beta feature) | Google Chat: N/A
Cost Per User (Annual, Lowest Paid Tier)
Slack: Certified (SOC 2 Type II, GDPR) | Google Chat: N/A
How to choose between Slack and Google Chat
Slack vs Google Chat — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Slack vs Google Chat. Contains 155 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Slack vs Google Chat — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Slack vs Google Chat.
Which platform is better for Google Workspace users?
Google Chat is significantly better for Google Workspace users because it natively integrates with Docs, Sheets, Drive, and Calendar. You can share and collaborate on documents directly within conversations without leaving the platform. Slack requires custom integration setup and workarounds for similar functionality.
Does Slack have AI capabilities in 2026?
Yes, Slack offers Slack AI on its paid plans (Pro, Business+, and Enterprise Grid). However, it's not as comprehensive as Google Chat's native Gemini AI integration. Slack AI focuses on message summarization and search, while Gemini offers broader productivity features.
Can I integrate third-party apps with Google Chat?
Google Chat supports integrations primarily within the Google Workspace ecosystem. While you can connect some external tools via webhooks and custom bots, the capabilities are limited compared to Slack's 2,000+ native integrations. This is a key differentiator if you use many specialized business tools.
What's the total cost difference between platforms at scale?
For a 100-person team on standard plans: Google Chat Business Standard costs $600/month ($6/user) vs Slack Pro at $725/month ($7.25/user). However, Slack's superior integration ecosystem may reduce costs on other tools, while Google Chat integration might require additional paid solutions elsewhere.
Which platform has better mobile functionality?
Slack has a more feature-rich and highly-rated mobile app with offline message access and better responsiveness. Google Chat's mobile experience is functional but more limited, relying heavily on the Google ecosystem apps for full functionality.
How to Choose Between Slack and Google Chat
Third-Party Integrations: Slack has 2,000+ native apps and custom integrations, while Google Chat has Limited to Google Workspace ecosystem.
AI Assistant: Slack has Slack AI (available on paid plans), while Google Chat has Gemini AI built-in with advanced features.
Google Workspace Integration: Slack has Limited integration, while Google Chat has Native deep integration with Docs, Sheets, Drive.
Workflow Automation: Slack has Advanced Workflow Builder with conditional logic, while Google Chat has Basic automation through Google Workspace.
Entry-Level Pricing: Slack has $7.25/user/month (Pro), while Google Chat has $6.00/user/month (Business Starter).
File Storage Per User: Slack has Standard plans include limited storage, while Google Chat has 2TB pooled storage on Business Standard.
Price Stability: Slack has No price increases in 33+ months, while Google Chat has Multiple pricing tiers with regular updates.
Mobile App Experience: Slack has Highly rated, feature-rich mobile app, while Google Chat has Functional mobile access via Google ecosystem.