As remote and hybrid workforces continue to rise, choosing the right collaboration tool is more important than ever for business teams of all sizes. Organizations search for efficient ways to streamline video conferencing, manage projects, and boost productivity—often by weighing competing platforms like Slack and Zoom. While both have become household names in the world of collaboration tools, each takes a unique approach to messaging, meetings, and overall workflow integration.
The "Slack vs Zoom" debate reflects broader questions facing distributed teams: Should your workplace prioritize ongoing, channel-based messaging, or real-time face-to-face video conferencing? How do different communication platforms—such as Slack, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams—compare when it comes to integration capabilities, file sharing, security, and price? In this guide, you’ll find an in-depth analysis of these collaboration giants, highlighting their key features, key differences, and which platform may be the right fit as your team evolves.
Slack vs. Zoom in a nutshell
The transformation of the modern workplace has put digital collaboration platforms at the center of team success, especially with the ongoing shift toward remote and hybrid environments. Among the leading options, Zoom and Slack have emerged as essential tools for businesses seeking seamless team chat, video conferencing, and productivity. While both platforms serve the broader goal of keeping teams connected, their approaches are distinctly different.
Slack is tailored for persistent team chat, real-time messaging, collaborative channels, transparent project tracking, and deep workflow integration. As a persistent virtual workspace, it hosts every conversation, shared file, and decision—making information easy to organize and retrieve. Channels and direct messages foster effective connections, allowing for both focused team discussions and quick individual chats.
Zoom began as a robust video conferencing solution but has steadily evolved into a comprehensive collaboration platform. Beyond reliable meetings and webinars, it now offers features like team chat (sometimes called Zoom Team Chat), persistent chat spaces, meeting scheduling, and advanced event capabilities. Zoom stands out in scenarios that demand real-time, face-to-face interaction, making it the top choice for virtual meetings, training sessions, and large online gatherings.
Choosing between Slack and Zoom remains an important decision for organizations aiming to boost productivity and streamline workflows. By comparing their features, integration capabilities, pricing, and ideal use cases, business leaders can identify the communication platform—be it Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Lark or a combination—that truly meets the evolving needs of their teams.
Slack vs. Zoom: Which has the best features?
To truly understand the strengths of each platform, let’s explore the standout key features of Slack and Zoom side by side.
Slack's top features
Channel-based messaging: Organize conversations by topic, project, or team for transparent communication in dedicated Slack channels.
Threaded discussions: Keep side conversations focused and out of main channels, reducing clutter.
Powerful search: Find messages, files, or links within seconds across your whole workspace.
Workflow automation: Automate routine tasks and approvals with Workflow Builder—no coding needed.
Deep integrations: Seamlessly connect with hundreds of apps, bringing notifications and tools into your workspace to enhance your collaboration features.
File sharing & management: Upload, preview, and comment on files directly where discussions happen.
Customizable notifications: Fine-tune alerts by channel, topic, or keyword to reduce distractions.
Persistent team chat: Maintain ongoing discussions and updates in one place, supporting both synchronous and asynchronous teamwork.
Image source: slack.com
Zoom's top features
HD video meetings: Host stable, high-quality calls with advanced controls for hosts and participants.
Breakout rooms: Divide meetings into focused group sessions for workshops or collaborative projects.
Webinars and events: Broadcast to large audiences with interactive Q&A and polls.
Screen sharing: Present desktops, windows, or applications in real time—an essential part of effective video conferencing.
Cloud recording: Save, share, and automatically transcribe meetings for reference.
Team chat (Zoom Team Chat): Use persistent chat to keep conversations going before, during, and after meetings.
Whiteboard & annotation: Collaborate visually with digital whiteboards during calls.
Zoom meetings: Easily schedule or join a Zoom meeting with just a few clicks for fast real-time communication.
Image source: zoom.com
While Slack excels at organized messaging, team chat, and workflow integration, and Zoom remains the gold standard for virtual conferencing and live collaboration, both platforms typically require teams to depend on various third-party apps to fully manage documents, projects, and communications. This fragmented experience can increase complexity and hinder productivity as users constantly switch between different tools.
Lark offers a next-generation alternative by combining chat, video meetings, collaborative docs, project management, and calendar into one unified workspace. With Lark, teams can move from conversation to execution without leaving the platform, reducing tool fatigue and enabling seamless video collaboration across every aspect of work.
Slack vs. Zoom: Which has the best integrations?
Integrations are central to making any collaboration platform powerful and future-proof. In the context of Slack vs. Zoom, how each platform supports integration capabilities and expands functionality is a critical factor for teams.
Slack integrations
Slack boasts a vast app directory, supporting thousands of integrations with third-party tools. Popular options include Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Asana, Trello, Salesforce, and GitHub—making it easy for teams to connect tools they already use. The integration capabilities of Slack mean you can pull updates from other apps directly into your Slack channels, automate approvals, and streamline notifications for your team chat—all in just a few clicks. No-code workflow builders enable tailored notifications, automated approvals, and sophisticated task management right inside the chat interface, further enhancing team collaboration features.
Zoom integrations
Zoom’s App Marketplace has expanded in recent years, reflecting its growth beyond video conferencing. It features integrations with Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, Dropbox, Slack itself, and project management apps like Jira. Zoom meeting experiences are even more productive when you use integrations to schedule meetings, share files, or launch breakout sessions with just a few clicks. In-meeting apps (such as collaborative whiteboards or live polls) make Zoom adaptable for interactive meetings and webinars, while the persistent Zoom Team Chat can connect directly to other business tools.
Interoperability and the next step
While Slack excels in the quantity and customization of its integrations and Zoom in streamlining meeting-centric workflows, users often find themselves toggling between several disconnected apps for daily work.
With Lark's Anycross integration, you can connect your Lark account with Zoom, Salesforce, Square, and 100+ different tools to truly host all work in just one place.This unified approach means fewer third-party add-ons and less context-switching, enabling true all-in-one productivity and smoother video collaboration.
Slack vs. Zoom: Which has the best pricing?
Pricing is a deciding factor for teams comparing Slack vs. Zoom, especially for growing businesses or enterprise-level organizations.
Slack’s pricing in 2025
Slack offers a free plan, two main paid plans, and an enterprise option:
Free: 90-day message history, 10 app integrations, 1:1 audio and video meetings, 1:1 messages with people outside your organization, and 1 workspace.
Pro: $8.75/user/month (or $4.38/user/month for the first 3 months). Includes unlimited message history, unlimited app integrations, group audio and video meetings, group messaging with external users, 1 workspace, unlimited workflows, and document collaboration.
Business+: $15/user/month. Adds advanced identity management (SAML SSO), user provisioning, data exports, 24/7 support, and all Pro features.
Enterprise Grid: Custom pricing for large organizations, with unlimited workspaces, enhanced compliance, full data exports, HIPAA support, and advanced admin controls.
Slack AI is available as an add-on for paid plans.
Image source: slack.com
Zoom’s pricing in 2025
Zoom also offers a free plan, two main paid plans, and enterprise options:
Basic: Free, with meetings up to 40 minutes, 100 participants, team chat, mail and calendar, basic docs, tasks, notes, and whiteboards.
Pro: $13.33/user/month (annual) or $16.99 (monthly). Includes meetings up to 30 hours, 100 participants, 10GB cloud storage, unlimited docs, AI Companion, workflow automation, live support, and more.
Business: $18.33/user/month (annual) or $21.99 (monthly). Expands to 300 participants, unlimited whiteboards, scheduler, SSO, managed domains, and extra admin tools.
Enterprise: Custom pricing for larger needs, with further capacity and advanced controls.
Zoom Phone can be added to Pro or Business at extra cost.
Image source: zoom.us
Factors to consider
Both platforms offer flexible plans and pricing for small businesses and enterprises. Costs can add up, particularly when stacking multiple services or requiring specialized features beyond messaging or meetings. For teams that rely on both video conferencing and team chat, evaluating bundled vs. a la carte pricing is important.
To help organizations maximize their collaboration experience, Lark offers flexible pricing plans that cater to various team sizes and needs, ensuring accessibility without compromising on features and functionality.
Slack vs. Zoom: Which has better customer support?
Reliable customer support can make or break the experience with any collaboration tool, impacting both day-to-day productivity and the ease of onboarding new team members. When evaluating Slack vs. Zoom and even Zoom and Slack vs. other options, support channels and response times are central considerations for both small teams and large enterprises.
Slack offers multi-layered support for all plan levels. Free users get help center articles, community forums, and standard email support. Paid customers—including those on Pro, Business+, or Enterprise Grid—receive prioritized ticket handling and, at the highest tiers, 24/7 response with fast escalation for business-critical issues. Help resources are regularly updated, and Slack invests in webinars and onboarding materials to help teams maximize tools like file sharing, team chat, and integration capabilities. Slack’s support covers common challenges, including managing integrations and ongoing team chat, which are vital for smooth team communication.
Image source: slack.com
Zoom has expanded its support alongside rapid growth. Free users have access to video tutorials, knowledge bases, and forums. Paid plans unlock direct ticketing, live chat, and phone support. With the growth of Zoom Team Chat and video conferencing, Zoom’s team can handle technical questions—from setting up a zoom meeting to troubleshooting video quality and chat issues. Enterprise customers benefit from Customer Success Managers, proactive service monitoring, and advanced onboarding. This is valuable for distributed teams relying on regular meetings and seamless communication.
Both platforms are praised for responsive support, but coverage and speed improve with premium plans. Your choice may depend on how much direct access and personalized service your team needs, as well as comfort with self-serve vs. guided resources.
Lark takes support further: onboarding guides, responsive in-app help, and live assistance are embedded directly in the platform. Teams can get started, troubleshoot, and maximize value without friction or delay.
Slack vs. Zoom: Which is the most secure and compliant?
Security and compliance are critical when choosing collaboration tools, especially with remote work on the rise. Both Slack and Zoom have invested heavily in privacy features, but their approaches reflect their nature as different communication platforms—particularly those focused on video conferencing and team chat.
Slack offers enterprise-grade encryption (at rest and in transit), granular admin controls, SSO, and multi-factor authentication. Advanced features like key management, audit logs, and detailed access settings are available for businesses with strict requirements. Slack holds certifications such as SOC 2, ISO/IEC 27001, and GDPR, making it a trusted choice for regulated industries. Its security tools support distributed teams, protecting sensitive conversations in file sharing, team chat, and Slack channels.
Zoom has rapidly improved its security since becoming a remote work staple. As of 2025, it offers robust encryption—including end-to-end encryption for meetings—SSO, password-protected meetings, waiting rooms, and strong host controls. Zoom is compliant with standards like HIPAA, SOC 2, and GDPR. Enterprise users benefit from advanced admin dashboards and security settings, whether using Zoom for video meetings, webinars, or persistent Zoom team chat.
Both platforms have matured in compliance and data privacy. Ultimately, the security of your team’s video collaboration and meeting content depends on proper configuration and management of each tool’s integration capabilities. IT admins should tailor settings to organizational needs, especially when handling sensitive data across borders.
Lark provides enterprise-grade security by default, having passed certifications for SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, ISO 27701, and ISO 27018. The platform also complies with major privacy regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, APPI, and PDPA by default. With robust encryption, granular permission controls, and a strong commitment to global compliance, Lark ensures that sensitive team data remains protected across messaging, file sharing, and video collaboration.
Slack vs. Zoom: What are other users saying?
User experience is key when comparing collaboration tools. In the Slack vs. Zoom discussion, and when organizations use Zoom and Slack together, real-world feedback highlights both strengths and pain points—often shaped by whether teams prioritize video conferencing or team chat.
Slack users praise its intuitive channel-based organization, powerful search, and robust integrations. Many find Slack a reliable hub for team chat, file sharing, and workflow automation, especially valuable for remote or hybrid teams. Features like notification management and project-based channels support clear separation of conversations. However, some report information overload, particularly in active channels.
Zoom is lauded for its stable video conferencing, high-quality audio and video, and ease of use for everything from quick huddles to large video meetings. Features such as screen sharing, cloud recording, and virtual backgrounds make Zoom a favorite for client calls and webinars. Users also appreciate Zoom’s rapid rollout of security upgrades and expanding Zoom team chat abilities. Still, some wish for better persistent messaging and easier file sharing—areas where Slack excels.
Many companies now blend Slack, Zoom, and even Microsoft Teams to cover all their needs. As hybrid work becomes standard, teams seek the right mix of messaging, meetings, and integration capabilities to boost connection and productivity.
Lark is gaining recognition for merging messaging, meetings, docs, and project management into one platform. This unified approach reduces app fatigue and provides a smoother, more integrated user experience, especially for those valuing both video collaboration and ongoing team chat.
Slack vs. Zoom: Which is right for you?
Choosing between Slack and Zoom depends on your team’s priorities, daily workflows, and future plans. Both platforms have unique strengths, but the ideal fit matches how your team communicates and collaborates.
Slack is best for teams focused on project-based, ongoing communication. Its channel and thread system ensures transparency, knowledge retention, and allows for asynchronous discussion—vital for distributed or hybrid teams. If your work revolves around messages, file sharing, and quick task updates, Slack’s collaboration tools and integrations make everything accessible in one place. Persistent team chat and extensive integration capabilities support collaboration as your team grows.
Zoom is ideal for organizations where live interactions—meetings, training, webinars—are the core of productivity. If you primarily collaborate via face-to-face (virtual) sessions, or regularly host external clients and presentations, Zoom’s video conferencing-first experience and robust meeting controls give it an edge. Quick video calls, breakout rooms, and recorded sessions are essential for synchronous, real-time work and virtual meetings.
Many businesses combine Slack for team chat and project discussions, with Zoom for video meetings and presentations. This hybrid approach offers persistent messaging and high-quality video collaboration. Thanks to integration capabilities, teams can launch a Zoom meeting from Slack or share meeting notes back into a channel.
When comparing Slack vs. Zoom vs. different communication platforms, weigh:
Your communication style (synchronous vs. asynchronous)
The role of video conferencing vs. ongoing chat
Integration with tools like Google Workspace
Security, compliance, and cost over time
For teams wanting a more unified environment—where messaging, meetings, and docs connect natively—Lark offers a fresh alternative by uniting all collaboration features in one platform.
The future of team collaboration: AI and automation in Slack and Zoom
As collaboration technology advances, both Slack and Zoom are investing in AI and automation to reshape how distributed teams communicate. AI now powers everything from team chat workflows to video conferencing summaries, helping teams work smarter.
Slack focuses on workflow automation and intelligent recommendations. Its Workflow Builder lets teams automate approvals, reminders, and integrations with third-party apps—no coding required. AI improves search, channel suggestions, and message summaries, reducing time spent managing team chat. Slack’s expanding app marketplace enables even more tailored automations and collaboration features, especially for teams juggling multiple channels and large conversations.
Zoom is innovating in the meeting space with AI-driven features like meeting summaries, automated action items, real-time transcription, and language translation. After every Zoom meeting, participants can access AI-generated notes and highlights, making it easy to review decisions. The Zoom AI “Companion” automates tasks like chaptering recordings and creating to-do lists, while hosts use automation to manage polls, Q&A, breakout rooms, and chat during meetings—ensuring smooth video collaboration.
As AI and integration capabilities evolve, the lines between messaging, meetings, and workflows are blurring. Both platforms are adapting with smarter assistants and customizable automation for future-ready collaboration.
When comparing Slack and Zoom, consider not only current features, but also how these platforms will support evolving business needs with AI-powered productivity, robust team chat, video conferencing, and seamless integrations.
Discovering Lark: The all-in-one solution for modern team collaboration
While Slack and Zoom remain two of the most popular collaboration tools globally, emerging platforms like Lark are redefining what a unified digital workspace can achieve. For organizations considering alternatives—or looking to streamline their stack—Lark presents a compelling all-in-one approach that integrates messaging, meetings, docs, and project management into a single platform.
1. True integration of chat, meetings, documents, and calendars
Lark eliminates the friction of switching between multiple collaboration tools. With just a few clicks, you can message teammates in dedicated channels, jump into instant HD video conferencing, co-edit documents, and manage your calendar—all without leaving the Lark workspace. This seamless blend reduces tool fatigue and creates a more focused, productive workflow.
2. Lark Base: Collaborative project and knowledge management
One of Lark’s standout features is Lark Base, which combines powerful table/database functionality with intuitive project management. Teams can track work in customizable databases, link tasks to chats or meetings, and connect records to documents or events. This means that important information—from project status to knowledge resources—stays visible and actionable for every team member, supporting transparency across remote and global offices.
3. Built-in automation and open ecosystem
Lark offers robust automation capabilities, from quick-action bots and workflow triggers to deeper integrations with popular SaaS platforms. Out-of-the-box tools help automate notifications, approvals, and repetitive processes. Lark’s open API and integration options ensure you can connect everyday business apps or create custom automations as needed, empowering teams to work smarter at scale. These automation and integration capabilities enable teams to manage both team chat and video meetings more efficiently, unifying collaboration features into one platform.
Unique advantages compared to Slack and Zoom:
A single platform for chat, meetings, docs, and project management—reducing context-switching and uniting video collaboration with persistent team chat
Advanced permission controls and enterprise-grade security for global teams
Cloud-native design ensures reliable performance, whether your team is local or distributed
If you’re searching for an integrated platform that minimizes software sprawl while maximizing transparency, automation, and real-time collaboration features, Lark is worth considering. It offers a fresh perspective on productivity, especially for companies balancing remote work, global teams, and rapid growth.
Conclusion
In the rapidly evolving landscape of team collaboration, both Slack and Zoom offer distinct strengths tailored to different communication needs. Slack excels in asynchronous messaging and workflow automation, making it ideal for teams that prioritize ongoing communication and project collaboration. Conversely, Zoom stands out as a leader in video conferencing, providing high-quality, real-time interactions crucial for meetings, webinars, and large-scale events. However, many organizations often find themselves juggling these tools, which can lead to fragmented communication and inefficiencies.
To navigate these challenges, teams must evaluate their specific requirements and choose a solution that best fits their collaboration style. A hybrid approach that combines both platforms can offer a comprehensive solution, but often comes with its own complexities. In this context, Lark emerges as a compelling choice. By integrating messaging, meetings, document collaboration, and project management into a single platform, Lark streamlines workflows and enhances productivity, allowing teams to focus on what truly matters—collaboration and success.
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