Slack: Is This Team Messaging App Worth It?

Slack is a top-notch tool for businesses. It brings team members together for brainstorming, discussions, and working on projects.¹ It links up with over 2,600 other apps many companies already use, like marketing, HR, and project management tools. This makes it even more helpful.

With Slack, you can easily switch between different ways of talking. This includes calls, video chats, and messaging. Everything is designed to be easy to understand right away. The best part is, all your messages stay where you can find them, even after they're sent. This means you won't lose track of important info or ideas.

Companies love Slack for how well it helps teams work together. It's known as one of the top picks for projects and team communication.

Key Takeaways

Slack offers a centralized platform for team collaboration, communication, and productivity.
The app integrates with a wide range of business tools, enhancing its functionality.
Slack's intuitive interface and various communication options make it easy to use.
Slack's ability to retain communication history is a valuable feature for businesses.
Slack is a popular choice among businesses for its communication and collaboration capabilities.

What Is Slack?

Slack is popular for working with lots of different software. It has more than 2,600 apps you can add. These apps cover many areas like analytics, marketing, HR, and project management.¹

Slack's Key Features and Functionalities

At its heart, Slack lets you chat, share files, and make calls. You can work with other tools too. Its key parts are channels and direct messages. These let you connect with team members and discuss work.¹ For conversations, you can choose to type, talk, or meet face-to-face online. You can also use a shared whiteboard for brainstorming or creating plans together.¹

Collaboration and Communication Tools

Slack is all about working together easily. Teams can call, talk, or join project chats. Calls support big groups, up to 50 people.¹ You can make Slack look the way you want with themes and colors. This makes it easier to use and more fun.

Benefits of Using Slack

Slack is a top app for business chats. It makes talking with coworkers, teams, and others simple.² Its many features like channels, direct talks, and calls help keep conversations organized.² In one place, teams can work on projects, share files, and use different tools for tasks.

Seamless Team Communication

Slack focuses on easy and clear team talks.² 87% of users say it makes sharing ideas and staying responsible better.² Workers save 32 minutes every day by using Slack instead of email.² Storing chats and working with other apps also boosts team work success.

Centralized Workspace for Collaboration

Its space brings teams close for work.² Users feel more tied to their team's goals because of it.² It joins with tools like Google Drive, making teamwork across platforms smooth.² Features for calling straight from chats also step up teamwork.

Intuitive and User-Friendly Interface

Slack is easy to learn and make your own.¹ It comes with lots of apps for better work in many fields.¹ Searching through old messages or files is a breeze with its smart search.

Slack's Pricing and Plans

Slack has a free plan you can use forever. This plan has most of Slack's main features but has some limits. For example, you get a 90-day message history, no guest access, and just 10 app integrations. The paid plans start at $7.25 per user per month for the Pro plan if you pay yearly. This allows you to keep all your messages, gives guest access, and you can use as many apps as you want.

Free Plan

The Free plan is great but has some downsides. You can only search history back for three months. Video and audio calls are limited to two people. You also get 5GB for all your files and can only have 10 third-party apps.³

Pro Plan

The Pro plan costs $8.75 a month per person or $87 per year per person. It comes with lots of perks, like unlimited app integrations, 10GB for your files, and group calls for up to 15 people.³

Business+ Plan

The Business+ plan is $12.50 per month for each user. It focuses on more security, with features like single sign-on. You also get all the Pro plan stuff, 20GB file storage, 24/7 support with a four-hour response time, and the ability to manage users.³

Enterprise Grid Plan

The Enterprise Grid plan is for big companies needing strong security. It has custom pricing. You can also get a custom Enterprise Grid account for your organization.³

Compared to other team messaging apps, Slack is a bit pricier, starting at $3-$6 per user per month. Yet, Slack offers cool things like Schedule Send, Slack Huddles for fast talks, and Slack Connect DMs for chatting with people outside your group.

Getting Started with Slack

Setting up Slack is easy. Users start by making a new workspace. Then, they invite their team.¹ They learn to make their first channel. This channel is like a virtual room for talking with the team. You can make channels for different topics or projects.⁴ The Slack sidebar has 4 sections. It helps keep everything organized and easy to find.

Creating a Workspace and Channels

Starting a workspace on Slack is a breeze. The platform walks users through the process. Next, users make channels for team talks and work.⁴ There are 3 ways to discuss in channels. Users can chat, share files, and use fun emojis to react to messages.

Inviting and Managing Team Members

Bringing in team members on Slack is simple. Workspace owners decide who can do what. This makes sure only the right people join the talks and work.⁴ The Slack sidebar lets users change how their Slack looks and works. They can set notifications, choose themes, and more.

Slack Review: Communication and Collaboration Tools

Slack offers powerful tools for team communication and collaboration. It has features like direct messaging, channels, and huddles. These allow team members to talk quickly and easily, using text, voice, or video.

Messaging and Channels

With Slack, you can chat privately or in groups on different channels. Channels can be made for specific topics or projects. This helps keep team talks clear and focused.¹ While the free account only keeps messages for 90 days, the Pro plan saves everything.¹

Audio and Video Calls

Slack’s huddle means you can start video and audio chats instantly. This is great for quick meetings or sharing ideas in real time.⁵ Video calls are for up to 50 people.⁵ It’s ideal for keeping far-away teams in sync and working smoothly together.

File Sharing and Document Collaboration

File sharing on Slack is simple. You can drag and drop files or link to cloud storage services.¹ The Canvas tool keeps versions of documents, available by plan.¹ This makes working on projects or documents with others easy.

In a nutshell, Slack's tools are built for better team interaction and cooperation. They help keep everyone informed and working as one, no matter where they are.

Slack Integrations and Third-Party Apps

Slack has over 2,600 third-party apps and services for users to connect with.⁶ It allows people to bring in their favorite tools. This includes apps for project management, analytics, and even other communication tools.

This wide selection boosts productivity and workflows.⁶ Google Workspace, Trello, Zoom, and Asana are some of the favorites.

Popular Integrations for Productivity

Users can enhance Slack with apps like scheduling tools and workflow automations.⁶ This makes each user's experience unique. Workspace Owners can manage which apps are used by setting up approval lists.⁶ They can also allow some members to approve apps and handle installation requests.⁶

Customizing Slack with Apps

Having a clear policy for app approvals is crucial. A good policy would ask about the app's purpose and its privacy. It should also think about how often it's used, its cost, and how it handles data.⁶ Remember, Slack doesn't check every app, so it's best to only use apps you trust.

Slack Integration Type	Example Apps
Project Management	Trello, Asana, Jira
Analytics and Reporting	Google Analytics, Tableau, Datadog
Communication and Collaboration	Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams
Workflow Automation	Zapier, IFTTT, Automate.io

Slack's User Interface and Ease of Use

The Slack interface is simple and easy to understand, especially for new users.⁷ Many people from different fields have praised how user-friendly it is.⁷ Setting it up is also quick and straightforward, which is a big plus for many.¹ Key features like direct messages, channels, and apps are easily accessible from the left side. Users can tweak settings and themes to make Slack feel like their own.⁵ When it comes to finding stuff, Slack shines. Its search works really well, unlike what people have said about Microsoft Teams.⁵ Plus, folks like the way Slack organizes conversations and groups in channels.

Slack's design lets teams get right to work by keeping things¹ simple.⁷ Even though a few people may face issues with message delivery without good internet, most find it easy to use every day.¹ People can get a lot done with⁷ fewer hitches on Slack than other similar apps.

Slack Review: Security and Privacy Considerations

Slack is a great tool for communication but it has its slack security and slack privacy concerns. It lets you do things like set up a single sign-on. You can also control who has access and what they're allowed to do on Slack.⁸

Yet, many are worried since Slack keeps a lot of user info and can share it with others. This is why some businesses, especially those that need to follow strict rules, might pick the Enterprise Grid plan. It comes with more security features, including helping with HIPAA compliance for healthcare organizations.⁸

Data Privacy and Compliance

Organizations, especially those under strict rules, look closely at Slack's data privacy and compliance steps. Slack allows tweaking slack privacy and slack compliance rules like how long data is kept and who can see what.⁸ They also use reliable ways to keep your data safe when it moves or when it's just sitting there.⁸

User Access and Control

Slack gives workspace owners many detailed options for controlling who can do what. You can, for example, make sure everyone uses two ways to prove they're who they say they are.⁸ There's also tech to spot if something fishy is happening and to keep very close eye on who's logging in.

If you're a company that really needs to stick to the rules, you should check if Slack fits your needs well. The Enterprise Grid plan is made to meet bigger organizations' needs for slack security, slack privacy, and slack compliance.⁸

Alternatives to Slack

Slack is a top app for team talk, but some prefer other options. They might fit an org's needs better.

Microsoft Teams gives lots of tools for working together. This includes video calls and ties to Microsoft 365.⁹ Google Chat is neat for simple, chatty messages. It feels a lot like sending emails. And Twist by Doist is all about talking when it works for you. It's great for long chats or complex ideas in threads.¹⁰ These choices are good for groups with special needs or who want a unique way to chat.

Microsoft Teams

Teams was started by Microsoft in 2017. It lets teams split into different chats to work. But, there's a limit on how many chats you can join.⁹

Google Chat

Google Chat is free with any Google account. For more, you can use Google Workspaces. This gives you Spaces for team work and quick messages.¹⁰

Twist by Doist

Twist by Doist likes slow, deep talks. It's set up for big talks over time, with threads to keep things neat.

Slack Review: Pros and Cons

Pros of Using Slack

Slack is great for team communication. It offers a central place for everyone to work together. Plus, it's easy to use. It works well with thousands of apps for tasks like tracking numbers, marketing, and managing people. This makes it a top choice for getting work done.¹

It has useful ways to talk, like messaging directly or in groups. You can also have quick video calls. This helps keep everyone in touch and on the same page. Another cool thing is the Canvas feature. It lets you and your team work on stuff together right now.¹

Cons of Using Slack

But Slack isn't the cheapest option. Its paid plans start at $7.25 a month per user if you pay yearly. For more features, the Business+ plan is $12.50 a month. So, some may find it pricey.¹³

Privacy is another concern. Slack keeps a lot of your info and can share it with others. This worries some people. Also, too many channels and alerts can be a lot to handle. If you need more than just basic chatting, you might feel limited.

With Slack, you can pick a plan that fits what you need. There's a Free plan, plus Pro, Business+, and Enterprise plans. While the Free one has limits, the others offer more, like extra tools and better security.¹³

However, the cost might be higher than some competitors. Slack's plans typically run higher, from around $3 to $6 more per user each month.³

Slack Pros	Slack Cons
Seamless team communication features Centralized workspace for collaboration Intuitive and user-friendly interface Extensive app integrations (over 2,600) Versatile communication tools (channels, direct messaging, huddles) Collaborative whiteboard feature (Canvas)	Relatively higher pricing compared to alternatives Privacy concerns due to data retention and sharing policies Potential for overwhelming number of channels and notifications Limited project management capabilities compared to some competitors

Conclusion

Slack is a powerful platform for team communication and collaboration that is widely used by businesses.¹ It's known for being easy to use, full of features, and connects with many other apps. These strengths help boost productivity and make talking within teams easier.¹ While not the most budget-friendly, its features for centralizing discussions and sharing files offer real team benefits.

Whether Slack is right for your team depends on what you need from a communication tool, how much you can spend, and if you can adjust it to fit your work.¹

Slack has grown to have over¹¹20 million people using it each month.¹¹ Experts predict this number will only go up, possibly reaching 79 million by 2025. It provides various price plans, including a free one and an advanced one for big organizations.¹¹¹ The free plan has limits, but paid options give you more, like keeping more of your chat history safe, and stronger security measures.¹

Like any tool, Slack has both good points and things to watch out for.¹² It's praised for easy talking among teammates and a look that's simple to understand. But, how it handles your privacy and the chance of too many notifications might not suit every group.¹² Picking Slack for your team's work means thinking through what you really need from it and how it fits in with your plan for working together and talking.

FAQ

What is Slack?

Slack is a tool for teams to do work together easily. It's where people can talk, share ideas, and work on projects. It connects with a lot of other apps for better teamwork.

What are Slack's key features and functionalities?

It lets you chat, call, share files, and work with other apps. You can talk in private or in groups. Huddles help you have quick voice or video chats. There's also a feature called Canvas for drawing and working together in real-time.

What are the benefits of using Slack?

Slack helps teams talk better and work together in one place. It's easy to use. And, it works with many other apps so you can do more without leaving Slack.

What are Slack's pricing plans?

You can use Slack for free with some limits. For more tools, there are paid plans. Prices start at $7.25 each month for each user with the Pro plan. The cost goes up if you choose the Business+ or Enterprise Grid plans, which are for very big companies.

How do I get started with Slack?

Getting started with Slack is simple. Just make a new workspace and invite your team. Slack will help you make your first channel. You can also set who can do what, like who can join channels or invite other people.

What are Slack's communication and collaboration tools?

Slack has many tools for talking and working together. You can send messages, talk in groups, or have quick calls. Sharing files and content is easy too, making teamwork smooth.

What integrations does Slack offer?

Slack works with over 2,600 other apps and services. This includes Google Workspace, Trello, Zoom, and Asana. Connecting Slack with these tools helps you work more efficiently.

How user-friendly is the Slack interface?

The Slack interface is made easy for anyone to use. There's a sidebar on the left for quick finding of features. You can also change your settings and look to make Slack fit you better.

What are the security and privacy considerations for Slack?

Slack has tools to make sure your work is safe and private. You can do things like setting up single sign-on. But, some people worry about how much data Slack keeps. The biggest plan, Enterprise Grid, offers extra safety features.

What are some alternatives to Slack?

If Slack doesn't work for your team, there are other options. Microsoft Teams, Google Chat, and Twist by Doist are some you might want to try.