Once associated with laziness and low productivity, the word "slack" has taken on a new meaning. Today, it's the name of one of the most popular team collaboration platforms in the world. Slack is a go-to chat app for modern teams, offering a wide range of features. However, many of the most powerful features are only available on paid plans.
In this guide, we'll take a closer look at Slack's pricing, what each plan offers, how it compares to other collaboration tools, and how you can save money if you're searching for your next collaboration tool.
What is Slack?
Slack is a modern team communication platform that brings messaging, file sharing, and app integrations together in one place. It's built to streamline collaboration, reduce email clutter, and help teams stay aligned—no matter where they work.
Image source: pcmag.com
Key features:
Channel-based messaging for organized team communication
Direct messages for one-on-one conversations
Slack Canvas for creating shared documents.
Slack Connect to collaborate with external teams and partners
Slack Huddles for quick audio or video calls
Slack AI for finding info, summarizing chats, and getting daily updates.
Basic workflow automation with Slack Workflow Builder
Security features to protect your data
Integrations (Google Drive, Zoom, etc.) through Slack Marketplace (Formerly Slack App Directory)
It’s no surprise that about 80% of Fortune 100 companies pay for their teams to use Slack. Having a reliable communication tool isn’t just convenient, it’s a business essential. With poor communication costing businesses up to $1.2 trillion annually, investing in software like Slack can help teams stay aligned, speed up decision-making, and reduce costly misunderstandings.
Slack pricing plans explained
There are four different Slack plans:
Free
Pro
Business+
Enterprise+ (Also known as Enterprise Grid)
Slack uses a freemium pricing model, combining free and paid plans. While Slack's Free plan offers core functionalities, users cannot access more advanced features.
Selecting a plan will depend on balancing pricing with your business needs. You'll need to decide if the extra features you're paying for with a more premium plan are worth it.
Free plan
What you can do on the Free plan
Unlimited users and direct messaging
Creation of channels for specific discussions
90 days access to message history
Audio and video clips
Up to 10 app integrations with other software
What you can't do on the Free plan
Limited app integrations
Data exports for all messages
No group audio and video meetings
No access to customer support
Who the Free plan is for
Small to medium businesses (SMBs) with basic collaboration needs and budget constraints
Startups and small teams
People seeking a free version of Slack for personal use
Pro plan
What you can do on the Pro plan
Unlimited file history
Unlimited message history
Unlimited integrations with third-party apps
1,000 runs a month for premium workflows
Access to 24/7 support
Basic AI features
What you can't do on the Pro plan
No data export for all messages
There is no guaranteed uptime, unlike the Business+ plan
Limited customizations to channel postings and permissions
Cost of Pro plan
$8.75 per user per month
Who the Pro plan is for
Growing businesses with expanding collaboration needs
Businesses looking for enhanced support and communication capabilities
Mid-sized businesses experiencing increased collaboration demands
Business+ plan
What you can do on the Business+ plan
Data exports for all messages
SAML-based single sign-on
Get priority support
Advanced AI features
SCIM user management
Slack Atlas for advanced search (add-on)
What you can't do on the Business+ plan
Support for data loss prevention and offline backup providers
HIPAA-compliant message and file collaboration
Cost of Business+ plan
$18 per user per month
Who the Pro plan is for
Larger teams prioritizing data protection security and analytics
Mid-sized to large businesses with complex communication needs
Enterprise+ plan
This is Slack's newly introduced plan positioned above Business+ in Salesforce's updated structure.
What you can do on the Enterprise+ plan
Unlimited workspaces
All features available in the other plans
Priority support
Built-in employee directory
Enerprise-Grade AI
Slack Atlas for advanced search
Support for data loss prevention and offline backup providers
SCIM user management supports guests
HIPAA-compliant message and file collaboration
EMM (Enterprise Mobility Management) integration
What you can't do on the Enterprise+ plan
The Enterprise+ plan gives you full access to all of Slack's features
Cost of Enterprise+ plan
Custom pricing
Who the Enterprise+ plan is for
Large enterprises with complex communication structures
For the full list of features, limitations, and to compare the plans, visit Slack's pricing page.
Slack pricing discounts for education and nonprofit groups
Source: paycom.com
If you're a student, teacher, or a charity with reservations about Slack's costs, then fear not. Slack offers discounts to those within the education and nonprofit sectors.
Slack for Education
The Slack for Education program offers an 85% discount on Pro or Business+ plans. To qualify, you must be one of the following:
Nonprofit educational institution
Accredited primary, secondary, or tertiary institution
A student group from any of the above
School districts and regional services
Slack for Nonprofits
The Slack for Nonprofits program gives free or discounted plan upgrades to nonprofit organizations:
Pro plan: Slack offers workspaces with 250 or fewer members a free upgrade, and an 85% discount for workspaces above that size.
Business+ plan: Slack offers workspaces of any size an 85% discount.
To qualify for Slack nonprofit pricing, you must be an organization that holds a valid charitable status with the IRS, a local tax service/charity commission, or a local TechSoup Global partner.
6 ways to pay less for Slack
If the free version of Slack doesn't meet your needs and you're thinking about paying for Slack, read these 6 tips on how to save money on Slack plans.
1. Limit the number of users
The paid Slack plans are calculated based on the number of users. Limiting the number of users registered on your Slack plan can help you save significant money.
Also, remove members from your workspace once they move to other departments or companies so you don't get charged for them.
2. Pay annually
When you look at Slack pricing as well as competitors, many offer significant discounts for paying for plans annually rather than monthly. For example, Slack Pro pricing costs $8.75 (per user) when paid monthly, but $7.25 annually. By paying annually, you can save a lot of money for your business, which can be put into other endeavors.
3. Downgrade plans and use only the most vital features
Do you need unlimited app integrations and message history? If you don't, consider whether Slack Pro plan pricing is worth it instead of a free plan. While more features are generally good, you don't want to pay significantly more for features you hardly ever use.
By analyzing the features of each plan, you can determine which plan will suit the needs of your business best.
4. Use free plans for non-core users
A great way to save money on Slack is by using free plans for non-core team members while reserving premium plans for key members. By limiting paid plans to just a select few core members, you can save money on Slack plans.
5. Wait for discounts
If you're not in a rush to make a Slack investment, discounts do appear on Slack's website throughout the year. For example, at the time of writing this, Slack is currently offering 50% off for 3 months when purchasing a Pro or Business+ plan.
6. Choose a better value team collaboration tool
Slack offers powerful messaging and chat features that make team communication easy and efficient. However, if you're looking for more than just chat—like built-in task management, video conferencing, calendar integration, document co-editing, and even tools for CRM, performance management, and project tracking—you might find yourself needing several third-party apps to fill the gaps. While Slack can achieve all of this through integrations, it doesn’t offer these tools natively, which means additional costs and constant app switching throughout your workday.
Lark solves this problem by bringing all your collaboration and productivity tools into a single, unified platform. From messaging and task management to scheduling, document collaboration, and video meetings, Lark lets you do it all without leaving the app—making your workflow simpler, faster, and more cost-effective.
How Slack pricing compares to the other collaboration tools
Here's a breakdown of pricing and features offered by Slack and platforms that offer similar capabilities.
While Slack isn't the most expensive platform in the market, when you look at the features provided and compare that with other tools, it's no wonder that businesses are starting to switch to Slack alternatives that offer more value.
A Slack alternative for businesses
When it comes to team collaboration, Slack is undeniably popular—but it's not the only option. If you're looking for a more cost-effective and feature-rich alternative, Lark is the solution you need.
Why teams switch to Lark
1. Cost savings
Rather than paying for multiple tools to meet your business needs, Lark offers all-in-one functionality at a fraction of the cost. Both its free and paid plans include access to over 11 productivity tools, giving you exceptional value whether you're a small, medium, or large business.
For instance, a company with 100 employees using Slack, G Suite, and Zoom could save $25,200 per year by switching to Lark.
Curious about your potential savings? Use our price calculator to see how much Lark can save your business.
2. Improved efficiency
With Lark, your team can complete projects from start to finish without ever leaving the platform. No more switching between apps or wasting time managing multiple tools.
End-to-end workflows: Chat, hold meetings, assign tasks, and manage projects seamlessly in one place.
Simplified onboarding: New team members only need to learn one platform, reducing training time and making transitions easier.
Automation features: With Lark, you can automate repetitive tasks so your team spends more time on things that matter.
3. Seamless collaboration
One of the biggest frustrations with using multiple tools is the constant back-and-forth between apps. Unlike Slack, Lark eliminates this by integrating all your collaboration needs into one platform.
Integrated communication: Schedule meetings, edit documents, and assign tasks directly from your chat feed.
Advanced messaging features: Translate messages, schedule them to send later, or convert audio to text for easier reading.
Organized group chats: Threaded replies keep discussions clear and allow new members to catch up easily.
4. Increased security
With businesses spending nearly $200 billion on information security in 2023, data protection is more important than ever. Lark reduces risks by consolidating tools into one app, minimizing the need for multiple logins.
Enterprise-grade security: Lark follows strict global privacy standards to protect your data.
Simplified access: No need to log in and out of multiple platforms, reducing exposure to security vulnerabilities.
Whether you're handling sensitive business documents or customer information, Lark ensures your data is safe.
What gives Lark the advantage
While Slack is a powerful tool, Lark offers several advantages that make it a superior choice for many businesses:
Advanced messaging: Lark enhances communication with features like real-time message translation, scheduling messages for different time zones, and converting audio to text for easy reading.
More than just chats: With Lark, you can consolidate your workflows by scheduling video calls, assigning tasks, and approving projects directly in chats you're having with your colleagues.
Powerful video conferencing software: Host video and audio conferences for up to 1,000 participants, with built-in tools like file sharing, meeting recording, and real-time caption translation to support global teams.
Streamlined workflows: Manage tasks, collaborate on documents, and share files—all within Lark's all-in-one platform, designed to simplify and unify your team's work.
AI: Smart AI summaries, meeting minutes, translations, and integration with OpenAI through Lark Base allow your team to take productivity to the next level.
Cross-platform compatibility: Lark works across all devices, ensuring your team stays connected and productive—whether on desktop, mobile, or tablet.
Built for global teams: Lark can recognize over 100 source languages and translate them into 24 target languages
With Lark, your team gets everything they need in one platform all while saving time, money, and effort. It's the ultimate alternative to Slack for businesses that want to work smarter, not harder.
Slack pricing FAQs
Is Slack's free plan enough for my business?
This depends on the size of your business. Small businesses and startups can benefit from the free plan. However, the free plan may not offer enough for growing teams and you may need to pay for Slack sooner or later.
What is Slack's AI pricing?
Slack provides a set of generative AI tools, but the features you can use depends on the plan you purchase. For example, on the Pro plan, you get AI conversation and thread summaries and huddle notes. On the Business+ plan, you get additional tools, and if you're willing to pay Slack's Enterprise+ price, you get all 9 of Slack's AI features. The free plan does not include any AI features, and AI add-ons are no longer available.
Can I add or remove users during the subscription period?
You can add and remove new users to your Slack workspace anytime during your subscription period.
To add users, invite them to join your workspace by sending an invitation through their email address
To remove users, access the workspace settings to remove users
What's Slack's pricing strategy?
Slack offers a free plan and three paid plans: Pro, Business+, and Enterprise+.
Is Slack more expensive than alternatives such as Microsoft Teams?
This depends on what you'd like to use the software for. Slack and Microsoft Teams both offer free plans with limited features. If Slack pricing plans don't offer enough features, try Lark for its advanced communication, project management, and document creation capabilities.
Is Slack’s Enterprise Grid now called Enterprise+?
Not exactly. Slack’s Enterprise+ isn’t a renaming of Enterprise Grid, but a newly introduced plan positioned above Business+ in Salesforce’s updated structure. Slack's Enterprise Grid pricing tier is no longer listed on Slack’s website. Instead, Enterprise+ serves as its replacement for businesses needing enterprise-grade security, compliance, AI-powered search, and admin controls.
Final thoughts
Slack is a major player in the collaboration software space, and it’s easy to see why. Its focus on streamlined communication makes it a go-to choice for many teams in 2025. If all you need is a solid messaging tool, Slack’s free plan is hard to beat.
But if you’re looking for more, and want features like unlimited integrations, advanced admin controls, or deeper collaboration tools, Slack’s paid plans can start to add up quickly, so much so that some businesses leave Slack.
If Slack costs are a concern for your business, or you simply feel the paid plans don't offer enough value, it might be time to consider alternatives like Lark. Lark gives you all the essential chat features you’d expect, plus built-in tools for video meetings, project and performance management, shared calendars, attendance tracking, and more. It’s a complete collaboration platform that comes at a more budget-friendly price.
Table of Contents
