Once your organization starts scaling, you’ll inevitably have to consider whether you want to keep using the free version of Slack, or upgrade and pay for its premium features. Having used both, I’ll help you make the right decision today.
Content
- Quick Compare of Slack Free vs. Paid
- 1. Third-Party Integrations
- 2. Message History
- 3. Huddles and External Guests
- 4. Workspace Member Allowances (the Same for Both)
- 5. Security Features
- 6. Customer Support
- 7. Automations
- 8. The Slack AI Add-On
- Do I Need the Paid Version?
Quick Compare of Slack Free vs. Paid
| Feature | Slack Free | Slack Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum number of users | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Message history | 90 days | Unlimited |
| Maximum integrations | 10 | Unlimited |
| Customization features | Change the interface color, customize profile, add Slack channels | All in Free plus custom sections and, if you have Enterprise Grid, custom templates |
| Compatibility with Slack AI | No | Yes |
| Maximum level of security | Data encryption, 2FA | IDP groups/audit logs |
| Slack Huddle capabilities | 1:1 only | For multiple users |
| Automation | No | Yes |
1. Third-Party Integrations
I use several Slack integrations for productivity and other means, including Google Calendar and Dropbox. These have significantly improved my quality of life, and I suggest doing the same. Even if you don’t subscribe to a Slack paid plan, you can use up to 10 integrations simultaneously.
Slack lets you integrate 2,000+ apps, including Notion, Google Drive, Salesforce, and Zoom. I’ve outlined how to activate your integrations in this guide to using Giphy in Slack if you need assistance.
If you have a paid version of Slack, you’re allowed unlimited integrations. However, you’ll have to get permission if you join a paid workspace and aren’t an administrator.
When you integrate an app in Slack, you can easily access it via the left-hand toolbar’s Apps section.
2. Message History
If I’m working on a big project, I like having access to previous messages for reference. With the free version of Slack, you can view up to 90 days of your message history.
To find your old messages, go back to that conversation or channel. Alternatively, use the search function to look for keywords or members.
If you have a paid Slack plan, you can save messages indefinitely.
3. Huddles and External Guests
When you create and manage a workspace, you might need to communicate with others outside your organization. You can send 1:1 messages to external guests with a free plan, but you won’t be able to include them in your channels.
Huddles are Slack’s audio and video communication tool, and with a free plan, you can access both mediums in 1:1 calls.
The paid version, on the other hand, lets you create Huddles with multiple users. If you need more flexibility and don’t want to get the paid version of Slack, downloading the Zoom integration would be my top suggestion.
4. Workspace Member Allowances (the Same for Both)
Some instant messaging apps impose member limits. For example, when comparing Slack and Microsoft Teams, you’ll notice that Teams has a 5,000-user limit per team.
However, even if you only have a free plan, Slack will let you add unlimited users. It’s also possible to create as many channels and groups as you want.
5. Security Features
Slack’s free plan doesn’t have the same level of security features as a paid subscription, but you can at least use two-factor authentication (2FA) to safeguard your account.
When you set 2FA in Slack, you can use an authenticator app (e.g. Google Authenticator) to access your verification code. Alternatively, you may opt to receive an SMS code; I don’t recommend this as I think it’s less secure.
Tip: If you later use Slack on a different device and enable 2FA via Google Authenticator, you should learn how to transfer Google Authenticator to a new phone.
If 2FA isn’t enough, you can benefit from even more security options with a paid Slack plan. Like customer support, your options will vary depending on your subscription level.
All paid Slack plans have Google OAuth, but SAML-based single sign on (SSO) is only supported on Business+ and Enterprise Grid.
Enterprise Grid has the most comprehensive suite of security tools, which includes audit logs, an optional Slack Enterprise Key Management add-on, and EMM integration.
6. Customer Support
Slack says that it’ll give you “standard” support with free plans, and to be honest, this is still better than I’ve had with many other apps (both messaging and not). However, if you need faster access to help, a Slack paid plan will provide this.
Slack does have a comprehensive Help Center if you need fast answers for basic problems but don’t wish to upgrade to a paid plan.
All paid Slack plans provide 24/7 support, but the level will differ depending on whether you have Pro, Business+, or Enterprise Grid. Business+ and Enterprise Grid plans promise that you’ll wait at most four hours for the first response, which isn’t guaranteed with Slack Pro.
7. Automations
Several automations can increase your daily productivity, and Slack offers a handful of features in this respect for paying subscribers only. You get unlimited published workflows and standard workflows; these don’t require the Slack AI add-on.
You can automate several actions in Slack, such as PTO requests, message scheduling, and sending messages to your channel. You get 1,000, 2,000, or 5,000 premium workflow runs per month, depending on your plan; these involve two connector steps or more.
You’ll have to pay $0.05 for each premium workflow run once you use your monthly allocation. If you don’t upgrade to a paid plan, I suggest integrating Zapier if you need automation capabilities.
8. The Slack AI Add-On
I don’t think that AI is necessary in everything, to be honest, but Slack AI might interest you if you want to be more productive with Slack.
Slack AI is available as an add-on for paid plan subscribers. It lets you summarize conversations, regardless of whether those are private messages or full channels.
Slack AI also has daily recaps and more advanced search functionality (though I think the normal Slack search option is very comprehensive anyway).
Slack AI pricing varies depending on your region.
Do I Need the Paid Version?
To help you make a better decision, here’s when I recommend using each version of Slack.
Use Slack Free if…
- You’re only just starting out in business and have a small team.
- You just need a quick place to chat with classmates or friends.
- You only need basic security features.
- You either don’t need integrations or have limited requirements for them.
- Saving messages for the long term isn’t a big deal for you.
Use Slack Paid if…
- You have a large team and share particularly sensitive information.
- You want to use audio and video messaging beyond 1:1 chats without integrating an app.
- You need to automate monotonous tasks and free up time to work on bigger tasks.
- You’re undergoing a long-term project and need to save messages.
- You require multiple integrations beyond what a free plan can offer.
You should also consider looking at Slack alternatives before making a final decision.
Image credit: Pexels. All screenshots by Danny Maiorca.
Danny Maiorca –
Contributor
Danny has written for online audiences for 10+ years. He specializes in Apple products and loves writing on his MacBook, keeping in touch on his iPhone, and measuring his workouts on his Apple Watch. Danny’s work has featured in multiple places online, including MUO, Lifewire, and Guiding Tech. Away from the keyboard, he’s passionate about photography and leading an active lifestyle outdoors.
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