TL;DR: Slack and Microsoft Teams publish free tiers plus clear per-user list prices. Google Chat is included with Workspace seats. Discord offers free community use and Nitro paid. Rocket.Chat publishes open-source self-host and cloud plans. Order follows published $0 / list prices first.
Team chat software provides persistent channels, direct messages, search, and integrations so distributed teams can coordinate without relying only on email. In 2026 the category spans consumer-grade free tools, Workspace- and Microsoft 365-native chat, and self-hosted open-source options.
Every entry uses the same fields: published pricing, free plan or trial, core focus, and the main limitation. The order below is not a quality ranking. Public $0 / published price first, quote-led last.
Team chat software compared at a glance
| Provider | Published pricing | Primary strength | Best for | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slack | Free plan; Pro and Business+ published per-user; Enterprise Grid quote | Channels, app ecosystem, search | Teams that want a dedicated chat hub with rich integrations | Visit → |
| Microsoft Teams | Free personal; included with Microsoft 365 business seats; premium add-ons published | Microsoft 365 identity, meetings, and files in one client | Organizations already on Microsoft 365 | Visit → |
| Google Chat | Included with Google Workspace seats (no separate chat SKU on standard plans) | Workspace-native chat and Spaces | Teams standardized on Google Workspace | Visit → |
| Discord | Free; Nitro and Boosts published subscription prices | Voice + text communities, low friction join | Community, gaming-adjacent, or informal internal groups | Visit → |
| Rocket.Chat | Open-source self-host free; Cloud published plans | Self-host and open-source control | Teams that require on-prem or full data ownership | Visit → |
Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Chat, Discord, and Rocket.Chat published models were reviewed on 29 September 2026. Confirm current free limits, per-user rates, and add-on pricing on the live vendor pages.
Free tiers are common for light use; paid plans unlock message history, admin controls, compliance, and higher guest limits.
Dedicated chat vs suite-native
Slack and Rocket.Chat are purpose-built chat platforms. Teams and Google Chat sit inside broader productivity suites. Choose suite-native when identity and files already live there; choose dedicated when you need a neutral hub across many tools.
The 5 providers in detail
1. Slack
Best for: Teams that want a dedicated channel-based chat hub with a large app ecosystem and strong search.
| Published pricing | Free; Pro and Business+ per-user list prices; Enterprise Grid quote-based |
| Free plan / trial | Free plan with message and app limits; trials on paid |
| Core focus | Channels, DMs, huddles, workflows, integrations, search |
| Main limitation | Free message history and integration limits; enterprise features on Grid |
- Official pricing page lists Free, Pro, and Business+ rates.
- Large third-party app directory and workflow automation.
- Enterprise Grid moves to sales-assisted packaging for large orgs.
2. Microsoft Teams
Best for: Organizations already on Microsoft 365 that want chat, meetings, and files under the same identity.
| Published pricing | Free personal app; included with Microsoft 365 business plans; Teams Premium and Phone add-ons published |
| Free plan / trial | Free personal; business use typically via M365 seats |
| Core focus | Chat, channels, meetings, SharePoint/OneDrive files, Microsoft 365 apps |
| Main limitation | Best experience assumes Microsoft identity and licensing stack |
- Core chat is included with qualifying Microsoft 365 seats rather than a separate SKU.
- Deep Outlook, SharePoint, and Azure AD integration.
- Premium features (advanced meetings, etc.) are published add-ons.
View Microsoft Teams options →
3. Google Chat
Best for: Teams standardized on Google Workspace who want chat and Spaces without a separate chat vendor.
| Published pricing | Included with Google Workspace plans; no separate Chat-only list price on standard editions |
| Free plan / trial | Consumer Google Chat exists; business features require Workspace |
| Core focus | Direct messages, Spaces, integration with Drive, Meet, and Calendar |
| Main limitation | Feature depth and admin controls tied to Workspace edition |
- Pricing is the Workspace seat price on workspace.google.com/pricing.
- Natural fit when Gmail, Drive, and Meet are already the default stack.
- Spaces support topic-based collaboration similar to channels.
View Google Workspace pricing →
4. Discord
Best for: Informal internal groups, communities, or teams that value voice channels and low-friction invites.
| Published pricing | Free core; Nitro and server Boosts published subscription prices |
| Free plan / trial | Free for standard servers and chat; Nitro optional |
| Core focus | Text + voice channels, communities, roles, bots |
| Main limitation | Not designed as a corporate compliance or admin-first workplace chat |
- Official Nitro page publishes consumer subscription rates.
- Strong for community and real-time voice; lighter on enterprise audit features.
- Useful when the primary need is informal coordination rather than regulated records.
5. Rocket.Chat
Best for: Teams that need self-hosted or open-source chat with full control over data and deployment.
| Published pricing | Community self-host free; Cloud and enterprise published or quote plans |
| Free plan / trial | Open-source Community edition; cloud trials vary |
| Core focus | Self-host channels, federation options, open-source extensibility |
| Main limitation | Self-host requires ops ownership; cloud plans differ by feature pack |
- Official pricing distinguishes Community, Cloud, and higher tiers.
- Appeals to regulated or sovereignty-focused deployments.
- Trade-off is operational responsibility versus SaaS convenience.
Kurums Match: which team chat fits?
Already on Microsoft 365 — Microsoft Teams first; add Premium only for specific meeting or compliance needs.
Already on Google Workspace — Google Chat / Spaces; avoid a second chat vendor unless required.
Dedicated hub with apps — Slack Pro or Business+.
Self-host / data ownership — Rocket.Chat Community or Cloud.
Informal or community — Discord free + Nitro if needed.
Buying tip: Count active users, not just licensed seats, and check message retention and guest policies. Suite-native chat is often “free” only if you already pay for the suite; dedicated tools add a line item but can reduce context-switching.
How this comparison was put together
We used official pricing and plan pages from each vendor, accessed on 29 September 2026. Free tiers, included suite features, and quote-led enterprise are distinguished. Order is by public $0 / published list price first. No quality ranking badges are applied.
FAQ
Is Slack free enough for a small team?
The free plan works for light use but limits message history and some integrations. Most growing teams move to Pro for searchable history and more apps.
Do I need both Teams and Slack?
Many organizations standardize on one. Running both increases cost and context switching; pick based on identity stack and primary workflow.
Can I self-host a modern team chat?
Yes—Rocket.Chat Community and other open-source options exist. Budget for hosting, updates, and backup rather than only software license.
Related: Best Video Conferencing Software 2026 · Best Project Management Software 2026 · Best Note-Taking Software 2026
Last updated: 29 September 2026. Pricing and plan limits change; always verify on the vendor site before purchase.
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