Slack review (2026): features, pros and cons, and what to check before you buy
Channel-based team chat with huddles and Slack Connect, sold per user in Free, Pro, Business+ and Enterprise+ plans.
Our take for buyers
Slack is a channel-based chat tool with threads, huddles and Slack Connect for external messaging, owned by Salesforce. It suits teams that want a large app ecosystem, and organizations that need SAML SSO plus SCIM on a self-serve plan, which starts at Business+. G2 rates it 4.5 from 37,812 reviews, with praise for ease of use.
The usual complaints are notification overload and channel sprawl, plus limited message history on Free. Both are admin and policy problems as much as product ones, and they hit larger workspaces hardest, so decide channel naming, notification norms and retention before rollout. Buyers wanting group video on the free plan will not get it, since Free is 1:1 huddles only.
Pros
- Very easy to use (G2 ease of use about 9.1)
- Strong app and integration ecosystem.
Cons
- Notification overload and channel sprawl.
- Limited message history on free plan.
- Best for
- Teams wanting channel-based chat with a large app ecosystem.
- Starting price
- $8.75/user/month monthly, about $7.25/user/month billed annually (Pro)
- G2 rating
- 4.5 (37,812 reviews)
What is Slack?
Channel-based team chat with huddles and Slack Connect, sold per user in Free, Pro, Business+ and Enterprise+ plans. Teams that live across many SaaS apps and want strong third-party connections should trial this first. Free works for evaluation only, as it shows 90 days of history and allows ten apps. Business+ is the plan to price if your security team insists on SAML SSO and SCIM.
Category: Team Chat and Messaging Software, Video Conferencing Software
Slack key features
| Criterion | What we found |
|---|---|
| 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) |
Slack plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | per workspace | 90-day message history, up to 10 apps, 1:1 huddles only; data deleted after 1 year |
| Pro | $8.75/user/mo monthly; $7.25/user/mo annual (annual price not confirmed on the vendor page) | per user | Group huddles/meetings |
| Business+ | $18/user/mo monthly; $15/user/mo annual (annual price not confirmed on the vendor page) | per user | SAML SSO, SCIM, data residency listed here; 24/7 support with 4-hour first response |
| Enterprise+ | Contact sales | per user | Audit logs, multiple SAML configurations, FedRAMP Moderate authorization |
Slack.com/pricing shows EUR in Germany (Pro 8.25/6.75, Business+ 18/15 EUR monthly/annual). USD monthly prices ($8.75, $18) are from the Salesforce-hosted salesforce.com/products/slack-pricing page; USD annual prices ($7.25, $15) are not directly confirmed on the vendor page. FAQ says annual billing saves about 16%. Intro offer: 50% off for 3 months on monthly online purchases within 7 days of creating a team.
Who should shortlist Slack
A strong fit 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+)
A weak fit for
- Teams that need long free message history (Free keeps 90 days)
- Buyers wanting group video on the free plan (1:1 huddles only)
Slack alternatives
Microsoft TeamsOrganizations already on Microsoft 365 and Entra ID.
Zoom WorkplaceTeams whose main need is reliable video meetings with chat attached.
Google ChatTeams already on Google Workspace that want chat without a second license.
MattermostOrganizations that must self-host or run air-gapped chat.
ChantySmall teams wanting cheap per-user chat with tasks.
ConnecteamFrontline and deskless teams needing scheduling, forms and chat in one mobile app.
Security, admin and compliance
Slack publishes a long list of certifications, including SOC 2 Type II, SOC 3, ISO 27001, 27017, 27018, 27701 and 42001, FedRAMP Moderate on Enterprise and Enterprise+, and GovSlack at FedRAMP High. SAML SSO and SCIM start at Business+, audit logs are Enterprise+ only, and Slack offers a DPA. Data residency is listed on Business+ and Enterprise+ on the pricing page, while a help center article says an Enterprise plan is required, and regions are not published. Enterprise Key Management costs extra.
- SAML SSO
- Business+ (SAML); Enterprise+ adds multiple SAML configurations.
- SCIM provisioning
- Business+ and Enterprise+.
- Audit logs
- Enterprise+ only (per pricing FAQ)
- Data residency
- Listed on Business+ and Enterprise+ on pricing page; help center says Enterprise plan required; regions not published.
- Public DPA
- Yes, Slack offers Data Processing Addenda (see trust page)
- Certifications
- SOC 2 Type II, SOC 3, ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, ISO 27701, ISO 42001, CSA STAR, FedRAMP Moderate (Enterprise/Enterprise+), GovSlack FedRAMP High, HIPAA configurable, ENS High, C5.
Contract and buying terms
- Contract
- Monthly billing available on Pro and Business+; Enterprise+ by contract.
- Support
- 24/7 support; Business+ with 4-hour first response; Enterprise+ 24/7 priority with 4-hour first response.
- Starting price
- $8.75/user/month monthly, about $7.25/user/month billed annually (Pro)
- Pricing model
- Per user.
- Free plan or trial
- Free plan.
What to test in a Slack demo or trial
Pilot with one real team for two weeks and watch for notification overload and channel sprawl, the two top complaints. Set channel conventions up front and see whether they hold. Test the apps your team depends on, remembering that Free allows only 10. Try Slack Connect with an outside partner and check which actions need a paid plan. If you need SSO or SCIM, test provisioning on Business+, not on a lower plan. Confirm the history and retention behavior your team needs.
Questions to ask Slack before you sign
These are the points Slack's public pages leave open. Get the answers in writing before procurement signs off.
- What will the price be at renewal, and is the increase capped?
Things to know before a demo
- Pricing page shows EUR to German visitors; USD monthly prices are $8.75 (Pro) and $18 (Business+)
- SAML SSO and SCIM start at Business+; audit logs are Enterprise+ only per FAQ.
- A help article footnote says SSO/SCIM are available on Free and Pro only for customers who connected a Salesforce org (single source, not confirmed by the vendor)
- Enterprise Key Management (EKM) is a paid add-on; data residency per help center requires an Enterprise plan.
- Free plan data is deleted after 1 year and group calls need a paid plan.
Head-to-head comparisons
Slack FAQ
What is Slack used for?
Teams that live across many SaaS apps and want strong third-party connections should trial this first. Free works for evaluation only, as it shows 90 days of history and allows ten apps. Business+ is the plan to price if your security team insists on SAML SSO and SCIM. It suits teams wanting channel-based chat with a large app ecosystem.
Does Slack support SAML SSO?
Yes, from Business+, and Enterprise+ adds multiple SAML configurations. SCIM is available on Business+ and Enterprise+.
Does Slack offer audit logs?
Audit logs are listed on Enterprise+ only, according to the pricing FAQ. Event-level logging is not part of Pro or Business+.
Who is Slack best for?
Teams wanting channel-based chat with a large app ecosystem, and companies already on Salesforce. Teams that need long free message history are better served elsewhere.
Vendor profile
- Funding or owner
- Part of Salesforce.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Slack's own pricing, product or documentation pages, G2 and company records, checked on October 24, 2026. Unknown values are left out instead of estimated.