Alternatives to Google Chat
Google's team messaging app with spaces, direct messages and threaded conversations. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Google Chat
Google's team messaging app with spaces, direct messages and threaded conversations.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Google Chat.
Slack
A team chat platform organized into channels, with huddles, file sharing, app integrations and AI features.
Slack offers hosted channel-based chat with huddles, many app integrations and workflow automation across desktop, mobile and web, without requiring a Google account.
Microsoft Teams (free)
The free edition of Microsoft Teams for chat, file sharing and video meetings.
Microsoft Teams (free) bundles chat, file sharing and meetings for up to 100 participants, and ties you to a Microsoft account instead of Google Workspace.
Pumble
A team messaging app with channels, threads, direct messages and voice and video calls.
Pumble is a hosted Slack-style workspace with unlimited users and history on the free offering, native apps, and integration with Google Drive.
Chanty
A hosted team chat workspace for organizing internal and external communication, with a free plan.
Chanty is a hosted team chat with a free plan, free guest access for external contacts and stated HIPAA, GDPR and SOC 2 compliance.
Flock
A team messaging app with channels, voice and video calls, screen sharing and file sharing.
Flock is a proprietary hosted team chat with channels, built-in voice and video calls, screen sharing and productivity integrations.
Mattermost
A self-hosted team chat platform with a desktop client, aimed at organisations that want Slack without the cloud.
Mattermost is open source and self-hosted, so messages stay on your own infrastructure rather than Google's, but running the server is real work.
Zulip
Team chat organised by topic inside each channel, so conversations stay readable when you come back hours later.
Zulip is open source with topic-based threading inside channels, and can be self-hosted or hosted, unlike Google Chat's Google-only hosting.
Rocket.Chat Desktop
Connect to Rocket.Chat workspaces from a desktop client.
Rocket.Chat Desktop is an open-source client for Rocket.Chat workspaces on Windows, macOS and Linux, with server access and licensing handled separately.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Google Chat as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Twist
An asynchronous team messaging app that organizes conversations into threads inside channels.
Google Chat offers spaces with threaded conversations integrated with Gmail, Drive and Docs, requiring a Google account with no self-hosting option.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Google Workspace
Google's online office suite with Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail, Drive and Meet in one account.
Google Meet
Google's video meeting service, used in the browser or through mobile apps.
Zoho Workplace
An online suite from Zoho combining mail, team chat, meetings, file storage and office editors.
Webex
Cisco's collaboration suite for video meetings, calling, team messaging, webinars and whiteboarding.
Campfire
A self-hosted group chat system from 37signals with rooms, direct messages and @mentions.
