Best Team Chat and Messaging Software in 2026: 11 Tools Compared by Company Size and Requirements

Top picks by situation

• A 40-person company that wants a rich app ecosystem

  Slack

  Business+ brings SAML sign-in plus SCIM without a sales call, the app ecosystem is the main draw, and SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 are listed.

  From: $8.75/user/month monthly, about $7.25/user/month billed annually (Pro)

• A small business already on Microsoft 365

  Microsoft Teams

  Teams Essentials costs about $4 per user per month, meetings hold up to 300 people, and sign-in runs through Entra ID.

  From: $4.00/user/month paid yearly (Teams Essentials)

• A 20-person firm on Google Workspace

  Google Chat

  Chat is bundled into every paid Workspace seat, starting at $7 per user, with Google Meet built in and no separate license to buy.

  From: $7 per user/month (Workspace Starter, annual commitment billed…

• A retail or field team with hourly staff

  Connecteam

  Chat shares one mobile-first app with shift planning, a time clock and forms, and up to 10 users can start on the free plan.

  From: Free for up to 10 users

• A DevOps team that must host chat itself

  Mattermost

  Teams can host it on their own servers or fully offline, SAML sign-in starts at Professional, and Enterprise adds audit logs with compliance export.

  From: Contact sales

• A remote team spread across time zones

  Twist

  Each message sits inside a thread under a channel, so nobody must read everything after waking up; free guests and a $6 Unlimited plan help.

  From: Free

Team Chat and Messaging Software comparison table

Team Chat and Messaging Software compared

Tool	Best for	Starting price	Free plan	Free trial	G2 rating
Connecteam	Frontline and deskless teams needing scheduling, forms and chat in one mobile app	Free for up to 10 users	Yes	Yes	4.6 (3,505 reviews)
Rocket.Chat	Regulated or public-sector organizations that need on-premises, air-gapped or sovereign-cloud chat	Contact sales	Yes	No	4.2 (356 reviews)
Zoho Cliq	Teams already on Zoho apps (CRM, Projects, Workplace) that want chat inside that suite	Free	Yes	Not stated	4.4 (261 reviews)
Twist	Remote or multi-timezone teams that prefer async threads over real-time chat	Free	Yes	Not stated	No rating
Chanty	Small teams wanting cheap per-user chat with tasks	Free up to 5 members	Yes	No	No rating
Flock	Small teams (up to about 100 members) wanting low-cost chat with a free tier	Free (Starter)	Yes	Not stated	4.4 (301 reviews)
Zoom Workplace	Teams whose main need is reliable video meetings with chat attached	$14.16 per user/month billed annually (Pro)	Yes	Not stated	4.5 (56,500 reviews)
Slack	Teams wanting channel-based chat with a large app ecosystem	$8.75/user/month monthly, about $7.25/user/month billed annually (Pro)	Yes	No	4.5 (37,812 reviews)
Google Chat	Teams already on Google Workspace that want chat without a second license	$7 per user/month (Workspace Starter, annual commitment billed…	Yes	Yes	No rating
Microsoft Teams	Organizations already on Microsoft 365 and Entra ID	$4.00/user/month paid yearly (Teams Essentials)	Yes	No	4.4 (19,192 reviews)
Mattermost	Organizations that must self-host or run air-gapped chat	Contact sales	Yes	Yes	4.3 (368 reviews)

What is team chat and messaging software?

Team chat software is a shared messaging space for a company. Conversations are sorted into channels by topic, project or department, with direct messages and threads for side discussions, and files and decisions stay searchable. Most tools add voice and video calls, and connect to calendars, project boards and help desks so that notifications arrive in one place. Teams use a team communication app to cut internal email, answer quick questions faster and keep remote colleagues in the loop. Some products are chat-first, while others come bundled with an office suite or built for hourly staff on phones.

Core capabilities

• Channels and threads

  Sort conversations by topic or team and keep side discussions in threads so busy channels stay readable.

• Video calls and huddles

  Starts a voice or video call from a chat, with screen sharing and participant limits that depend on the plan.

• Search and message history

  Finds old messages and files, although free plans often hide or delete anything older than a set period.

• App integrations and bots

  Links chat with task boards, sales software and ticketing so alerts and approvals arrive inside the conversation.

• Guest and external access

  Admits customers and freelancers to chosen channels only, without exposing the rest of the workspace.

• Admin and security controls

  Provides SSO, retention rules, audit logs and permissions for companies with compliance duties.

The 11 best team chat and messaging software, reviewed

1

Connecteam

Free for up to 10 users

Connecteam is built for deskless staff and puts messaging beside shift planning, time clocks, tasks and forms. Free covers 10 users. Paid hubs include the first 30 users, with a fee for each additional person, and SSO requires the Enterprise plan.

• 1-10: strong fit
• 11-50: strong fit
• 51-500: workable
• 500+: no data

Best for

• Frontline and deskless teams needing scheduling, forms and chat in one mobile app
• Businesses with under 10 employees (free plan)

Look elsewhere if

• Teams that want a Slack-style chat tool only
• Larger teams sensitive to per-user cost growth (G2 summary flags this)

Key features

Channels and threading

Group chats and updates; channels and threads not confirmed by the vendor

App integrations and bots

Integrations page exists; specific names not extracted

Security and admin controls

SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, CCPA; SSO on Enterprise

Mobile app and frontline fit

Mobile-first app (App Store 4.8, 70,000+ reviews per vendor); shifts, time clock, forms; read receipts for managers

Pricing model and transparency

Base fee per hub covering 30 users plus per-extra-user fee

Target company size

Small to mid-size deskless businesses; 80,000+ businesses claimed

What users like

• Easy to use
• Central place for communication and scheduling

Common complaints

• Cost can climb as team size grows (G2 summary)

Full Connecteam profileRequest an offer

2

Rocket.Chat

Contact sales

Rocket.Chat is open source and can be self-hosted, which attracts public-sector, defense and other regulated buyers. Deployment options include on-premises, a sovereign EU cloud and air-gapped setups, plus federation with Matrix. Pricing is by quote. Reviewers mention setup complexity.

• 1-10: workable
• 11-50: poor fit
• 51-500: strong fit
• 500+: strong fit

Best for

• Regulated or public-sector organizations that need on-premises, air-gapped or sovereign-cloud chat
• Teams that want federation with Matrix or XMPP instead of a closed network
• Technical teams that can start on the free self-managed Starter workspace

Look elsewhere if

• Small teams that want a published per-user price and quick self-serve checkout
• Buyers who want a polished consumer-style chat UI, since reviewers cite UI and setup complexity

Key features

Channels and threading

Channels, teams, discussions, direct messages and threaded replies

Built-in video and huddles

Voice, video and screen sharing listed as core features

App integrations and bots

Custom apps, workflows, REST APIs, SDKs, and an app marketplace (labeled new)

Guest and external access

Not documented on the homepage; partner collaboration is done via federation with Matrix and XMPP

Security and admin controls

SAML 2.0, OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, LDAP/AD SSO; audit trails; retention policies; RBAC/ABAC

Mobile app and frontline fit

Mobile and desktop apps available; frontline features not documented

Pricing model and transparency

Custom quote per tier; free self-managed Starter

Target company size

Mid-size to enterprise, government, defense and critical infrastructure

What users like

• Flexible and controllable, with strong data control and privacy options
• Reviewers generally find it easy to use and feature-rich

Common complaints

• UI feels less polished than mainstream chat tools
• Setup and customization can be complex

Full Rocket.Chat profileRequest an offer

3

Zoho Cliq

Free

Zoho Cliq includes channels, calls and bots, and it works best for companies that already use other Zoho products. The free plan allows channels of up to 100 people. Guest chat begins at Professional, while audit logs are limited to Enterprise.

• 1-10: strong fit
• 11-50: strong fit
• 51-500: strong fit
• 500+: workable

Best for

• Teams already on Zoho apps (CRM, Projects, Workplace) that want chat inside that suite
• Small teams that want a free tier with 100-person channels and group chats

Look elsewhere if

• Buyers who need audit logs below the Enterprise plan
• Teams that need a verified public USD price list before talking to Zoho

Key features

Channels and threading

Channels up to 100 participants and group chats up to 100 participants on Free

Built-in video and huddles

1:1 audio/video calls; meetings up to 100 participants (Free, Standard) or 1,000 active participants plus 10,000 viewers (Professional, Enterprise); 60-minute cap on Free

Search and message history limits

10,000 searchable messages on Free; unlimited on Standard and above

App integrations and bots

Extensions and bots; Free is limited to 10 extensions and 100 bots per company

Guest and external access

Guest chat on Professional and Enterprise, not on Free or Standard

Security and admin controls

SSO listed on all plans; audit logs on Enterprise only; retention and eDiscovery policies; encryption at rest and in transit

Pricing model and transparency

Free tier plus per-user paid plans; annual billing saves 10%

Target company size

Small teams to enterprises (Enterprise tier has 10-user minimum)

What users like

• Easy to use with a clean interface
• Strong fit when the rest of the stack is Zoho

Full Zoho Cliq profileRequest an offer

4

Twist

Free

Twist from Doist is built for asynchronous work, with every conversation in a thread under a channel. The free plan shows one month of history, and Unlimited costs $6 per user. Video calls, SSO and SOC 2 are not mentioned on its site.

• 1-10: strong fit
• 11-50: strong fit
• 51-500: workable
• 500+: poor fit

Best for

• Remote or multi-timezone teams that prefer async threads over real-time chat
• Small teams wanting a free plan with free guests

Look elsewhere if

• Teams needing built-in video calls or huddles (not mentioned on the site)
• Regulated buyers needing SSO/SAML or published SOC 2 (not listed on its security page)

Key features

Channels and threading

Channels organized by topic, every message in a thread

Search and message history limits

Free: 1 month of history; Unlimited: full history

App integrations and bots

Google Drive, GitHub, Zoom, Todoist, Zapier, Asana, Calendly listed; Free capped at 5 integrations

Guest and external access

Free: guests free but see only last month; Unlimited: single-channel guests free, multi-channel guests billed as members

Security and admin controls

Security page lists Google OAuth and email login, AWS hosting; no SSO, SOC 2 or audit logs mentioned

Mobile app and frontline fit

Mobile apps exist; no frontline or shift features

Pricing model and transparency

Per user, free tier plus one paid plan

Target company size

Small teams; enterprise pricing for over 200 employees

What users like

• Clean, customizable interface
• Threads keep topics organized for async work

Full Twist profileRequest an offer

5

Chanty

Free up to 5 members

Chanty is an inexpensive chat app with tasks and Kanban, recently repositioned for staff working with AI agents. Up to 5 members are free, and Business costs 3 EUR per user billed annually. SAML needs Enterprise, and certifications could not be verified.

• 1-10: strong fit
• 11-50: strong fit
• 51-500: workable
• 500+: poor fit

Best for

• Small teams wanting cheap per-user chat with tasks
• Teams wanting AI agents mentionable inside chat

Look elsewhere if

• Buyers who need verified SOC 2/ISO and SAML below Enterprise
• Large orgs needing deep admin and residency options (region unspecified)

Key features

Channels and threading

Group chats, channels, direct messages; threads not confirmed by the vendor

Built-in video and huddles

Free: unlimited 1:1 audio/video; Business: unlimited group calls

Search and message history limits

Free plan lists unlimited searchable history

App integrations and bots

Free up to 10; Business unlimited; MCP-connected partner apps

Guest and external access

Free: 1 guest; Business: 3 free guest seats per paid member

Security and admin controls

Business: SSO, 2FA; Enterprise: SAML and directory sync, custom retention; 120+ admin permission settings on homepage

Mobile app and frontline fit

Apps for iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, web; targets frontline industries on homepage

Pricing model and transparency

Per user, flat tiers

Target company size

Small businesses

What users like

• Easy to use and good support (Capterra sub-scores 4.8)
• Low price for the feature set

Full Chanty profileRequest an offer

6

Flock

Free (Starter)

Flock is a team messenger for small and mid-size teams, with channels, video and apps. The free Starter plan keeps 10,000 searchable messages and allows only 1:1 video, while PRO group calls stop at 20 participants. SSO is reserved for Enterprise.

• 1-10: strong fit
• 11-50: strong fit
• 51-500: workable
• 500+: no data

Best for

• Small teams (up to about 100 members) wanting low-cost chat with a free tier
• Teams that want unlimited search history without a large per-seat price

Look elsewhere if

• Buyers needing SSO below the Enterprise plan
• Teams needing large group video calls (PRO group calls cap at 20)

Key features

Channels and threading

10 public channels on Starter, unlimited on PRO and Enterprise

Built-in video and huddles

Starter 1:1 only; PRO group calls up to 20 participants; Enterprise limit not stated

Search and message history limits

10,000 searchable messages on Starter; unlimited on PRO and Enterprise

Guest and external access

PRO and Enterprise guests free for 90 days from invitation, then billed at member rate

Security and admin controls

SSO Enterprise only; hosted on AWS; TLS 1.2

Pricing model and transparency

Free tier, per-user PRO, quote-based Enterprise with member-count bands

Target company size

Starter 1 to 20, PRO 20 to 100, Enterprise 100+ members

What users like

• Easy to use
• Channels and direct messages keep conversations organized

Common complaints

• Fewer advanced features than larger rivals
• Mobile apps seen as needing improvement

Full Flock profileRequest an offer

7

Zoom Workplace

$14.16 per user/month billed annually (Pro)

Zoom Workplace builds team chat, a whiteboard and AI notes around its meeting product, with per-user Pro and Business plans. Meeting size runs from 100 up to 1,000 attendees by plan, and free meetings end at 40 minutes. Chat is the less developed part.

• 1-10: strong fit
• 11-50: strong fit
• 51-500: strong fit
• 500+: workable

Best for

• Teams whose main need is reliable video meetings with chat attached
• Companies that want recording and AI summaries on every paid seat

Look elsewhere if

• Teams that want a chat-first workspace with a large app ecosystem
• Free-tier users needing meetings longer than 40 minutes

Key features

Channels and threading

Team Chat with channels and threads ( not confirmed by the vendor in detail)

Built-in video and huddles

Native Zoom Meetings: 100 to 1,000 participants depending on plan

Security and admin controls

Trust center lists SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001, FedRAMP Moderate, PCI DSS

Pricing model and transparency

Per user, monthly or annual; free Basic tier

Target company size

Small business to enterprise

What users like

• Good video quality and easy screen sharing
• Simple scheduling and joining

Common complaints

• Feature set seen as limited versus suites
• Connectivity issues and meeting fatigue

Full Zoom Workplace profileRequest an offer

8

Slack

$8.75/user/month monthly, about $7.25/user/month billed annually (Pro)

Slack runs on channels, adds huddles and Slack Connect, and has the largest app marketplace in this group. Free workspaces see only the last 90 days and can install 10 apps. Paid tiers are Pro, Business+ and Enterprise+, and audit logs belong to Enterprise+.

• 1-10: workable
• 11-50: strong fit
• 51-500: strong fit
• 500+: strong fit

Best for

• Teams wanting channel-based chat with a large app ecosystem
• Companies already on Salesforce
• Organizations needing SAML SSO plus SCIM on a self-serve plan (Business+)

Look elsewhere if

• Teams that need long free message history (Free keeps 90 days)
• Buyers wanting group video on the free plan (1:1 huddles only)

Key features

Channels and threading

Channels, threads and huddles; Slack Connect for external 1:1 messaging on Free

Built-in video and huddles

Free: 1:1 huddles only; Pro and up: group huddles/meetings (limits not published on pricing page)

Search and message history limits

Free: 90-day visible history and data deleted after 1 year; paid plans longer (retention details not confirmed by the vendor)

App integrations and bots

Free plan limited to 10 apps

Guest and external access

Slack Connect external messaging; Free limited to 1:1

Security and admin controls

SOC 2 Type II and SOC 3, ISO 27001/27017/27018/27701/42001, HIPAA configurable, FedRAMP Moderate (Enterprise/Enterprise+), GovSlack FedRAMP High, C5, ENS High

Mobile app and frontline fit

Frontline teams is an Enterprise+ add-on

Pricing model and transparency

Per user, monthly or annual; Free forever tier

Target company size

Small teams to large enterprises (Enterprise Grid)

What users like

• Very easy to use (G2 ease of use about 9.1)
• Strong app and integration ecosystem

Common complaints

• Notification overload and channel sprawl
• Limited message history on free plan

Full Slack profileRequest an offer

9

Google Chat

$7 per user/month (Workspace Starter, annual commitment billed…

Google Chat is included in every paid Google Workspace plan, so there is no separate chat price. It offers spaces with threads and builds in Google Meet. Starter to Plus plans max out at 300 users. Reviewers say it lacks the app depth of chat-first tools.

• 1-10: workable
• 11-50: strong fit
• 51-500: strong fit
• 500+: workable

Best for

• Teams already on Google Workspace that want chat without a second license
• Small companies under 300 users that want one bundled bill

Look elsewhere if

• Teams on Microsoft 365 that would run two suites
• Buyers who want a deep app marketplace and advanced workflow tooling comparable to Slack

Key features

Channels and threading

Spaces with threaded replies and direct messages

Built-in video and huddles

Google Meet built in; participant cap depends on Workspace plan (100 Starter to 1,000 Enterprise)

Security and admin controls

Workspace supports SAML and OIDC SSO; Secure LDAP on Plus; DLP and context-aware access on Enterprise

Pricing model and transparency

Bundled per-user Workspace license; no separate Chat price

Target company size

Small to enterprise; Starter to Plus limited to 300 users

What users like

• Simple and easy to use
• Tight fit with the rest of Google Workspace

Common complaints

• Limited feature depth compared with chat-first tools
• File-sharing size limits and occasional slowness reported

Full Google Chat profileRequest an offer

10

Microsoft Teams

$4.00/user/month paid yearly (Teams Essentials)

Microsoft Teams handles chat, meetings and calls, and customers buy it alone as Teams Essentials or inside Microsoft 365. External people in shared channels need Entra work or school accounts. Reviewers report heavy, slow clients, and admin search needs Exchange Online mailboxes.

• 1-10: workable
• 11-50: strong fit
• 51-500: strong fit
• 500+: strong fit

Best for

• Organizations already on Microsoft 365 and Entra ID
• Small businesses wanting meetings for up to 300 people at about $4/user/month

Look elsewhere if

• Teams wanting a lightweight tool; reviewers report slow, resource-heavy clients
• Buyers needing group video calls beyond 20 people from a chat

Key features

Channels and threading

Standard, private and shared channels; up to 1,000 channels per team; teams up to 25,000 members

Built-in video and huddles

Calls from chat up to 20 people; meetings up to 300 people on Essentials and Business plans, up to 1,000 on enterprise plans

Search and message history limits

Chat stored in Exchange Online mailboxes; admin search and hold needs Exchange Online mailbox

App integrations and bots

Teams apps available on Business and Enterprise plans; Loop integrations

Guest and external access

Shared channels support external participants with Entra work or school accounts only

Security and admin controls

Built on Entra ID and Microsoft 365 compliance; certification list not confirmed by the vendor

Pricing model and transparency

Per user, bundled with Microsoft 365 or standalone Essentials

Target company size

Small businesses (Essentials, Business) to enterprises (E3/E5)

What users like

• Easy to use, strong file sharing and communication features
• Tight fit with Microsoft 365

Common complaints

• Performance issues and heavy resource use
• Complicated interface, slow loading

Full Microsoft Teams profileRequest an offer

11

Mattermost

Contact sales

Mattermost targets security-sensitive organizations that want chat on their own infrastructure. It comes as Professional, Enterprise and Enterprise Advanced. The free edition keeps only 10,000 messages. Seats are prepaid per year, and each server, including staging, requires its own license key.

• 1-10: workable
• 11-50: workable
• 51-500: strong fit
• 500+: strong fit

Best for

• Organizations that must self-host or run air-gapped chat
• Technical and DevOps teams wanting data under their own control

Look elsewhere if

• Buyers wanting a public price list or self-serve checkout
• Small teams wanting a polished hosted free tier (free edition caps history at 10,000 messages)

Key features

Channels and threading

Channel-centric with threads

Built-in video and huddles

Calls built in; Entry (free) edition limited to 40-minute calls

Search and message history limits

Entry edition 10,000 channel messages; unlimited searchable history on Professional

Guest and external access

Guest accounts on Professional with custom user groups

Security and admin controls

SSO (SAML) from Professional; AD/LDAP sync; advanced logging, audit logs with export and compliance export on Enterprise

Mobile app and frontline fit

Native iOS and Android apps; Enterprise MDM/EMM support; Entry push notifications capped at 10,000 per month

Pricing model and transparency

Prepaid annual seat licenses; extra seats bought quarterly true-forward; each server needs its own license

Target company size

Professional up to 250 users; Enterprise scales to tens of thousands

What users like

• Strong security and data ownership
• User-friendly interface and integrations

Common complaints

• Interface not intuitive to some users

Full Mattermost profileRequest an offer

How to choose team chat and messaging software

Feature coverage at a glance

A check means the vendor documents the capability publicly (hover for the detail). A dash means we found no public documentation, which is a question to put in your request, not proof the feature is missing.

Team Chat and Messaging Software requirements checklist

Use this list to write down what your team actually needs. Sorting requirements into must-have, should-have and nice-to-have is what lets vendors quote accurately instead of pitching their biggest plan.

Turn this checklist into a request

Questions vendors will ask you

Have answers ready for these, and your first conversation with a vendor starts at pricing instead of discovery.

1. How many people will use chat, and how many are hourly or deskless?User bands and frontline add-ons change which plan and product fit.
2. Which office suite do you use, Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace?Bundled chat may remove the need for a separate license.
3. Do clients or contractors need to join channels?Guest rules and billing differ widely.
4. How much history must stay searchable, and do you have retention duties?Retention and audit logs sit on higher plans.
5. Which tools must connect to chat?App limits and bot fees can alter the total.
6. Must the data stay on your servers or in a specific region?Self-hosting and regional hosting are offered by only a few vendors.

Example request

Write your own request

Team Chat and Messaging Software FAQ

The bottom line

Begin with the office suite you already pay for, because bundled chat often removes a whole purchase. Then test the remaining options against your must-haves for history, guests, video and SSO. A precise request on SaaSBid lets each vendor quote the plan that actually includes those controls, so the offers you receive are comparable and free of hidden limits.

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