Alternatives to Twist
An asynchronous team messaging app that organizes conversations into threads inside channels. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Twist
An asynchronous team messaging app that organizes conversations into threads inside channels.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Twist.
Zulip
Team chat organised by topic inside each channel, so conversations stay readable when you come back hours later.
Zulip organises chat by topic inside channels, is open source Apache-2.0 and can be self-hosted, though the topic model needs team discipline.
Slack
A team chat platform organized into channels, with huddles, file sharing, app integrations and AI features.
Slack offers hosted real-time channel chat with huddles, many integrations and workflow automation, with many features and AI tools behind paid plans.
Mattermost
A self-hosted team chat platform with a desktop client, aimed at organisations that want Slack without the cloud.
Mattermost is an open source team chat you self-host so data stays on your servers, but it needs real infrastructure to run.
Microsoft Teams (free)
The free edition of Microsoft Teams for chat, file sharing and video meetings.
Microsoft Teams (free) combines chat, file sharing and meetings for up to 100 participants, but requires a Microsoft account and ties you to Microsoft services.
Google Chat
Google's team messaging app with spaces, direct messages and threaded conversations.
Google Chat offers spaces with threaded conversations integrated with Gmail, Drive and Docs, requiring a Google account with no self-hosting option.
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 on all major platforms, and built-in calls.
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 and stated HIPAA, GDPR and SOC 2 compliance, oriented toward real-time chat.
Flock
A team messaging app with channels, voice and video calls, screen sharing and file sharing.
Flock provides channel-based team chat with built-in voice and video calls and screen sharing, as a proprietary hosted service for organisations.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Twist as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Campfire
A self-hosted group chat system from 37signals with rooms, direct messages and @mentions.
Twist is a hosted, asynchronous team messaging app built around threads inside channels, suited to remote teams but slower paced than Campfire's real-time rooms.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Missive
A collaborative email app for teams that combines shared inboxes, internal chat and task assignment.
Huly
An open-source team platform combining project tracking, chat, documents, planning and video meetings.
Rocket.Chat Desktop
Connect to Rocket.Chat workspaces from a desktop client.
Zoho Workplace
An online suite from Zoho combining mail, team chat, meetings, file storage and office editors.
