Softwr

Telecommunications · head to head

8x8 vs Slack

8x8 logo

8x8

Telecommunications

Enterprise-grade unified communications

From
$29.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Slack logo

Slack

Communication

Where work happens

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Slack has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 8x8 listed on UK G-Cloud 14 at £2.65 to £113.40 per user per month for 8x8 Hosted PBX, submitted directly by 8x8 UK Limited; Slack 90-day message history limit on free plan results in important conversations disappearing
  • They diverge on capability: 8x8 covers Voice calling, Slack covers Channels.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 8x8 and Slack actually diverge.

Attributes where 8x8 and Slack differ
Attribute8x8Slack
Starting price$29.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Windows, Macos, Ios, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux
CategoryTelecommunicationsCommunication
Founded19872009

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 8x8

  • Voice calling
  • Video meetings
  • Team messaging
  • Call recording
  • Voicemail
  • Call routing
  • Analytics
  • Microsoft Teams

Only in Slack

  • Channels
  • Direct messaging
  • Voice & video calls
  • Screen sharing
  • File sharing
  • Search
  • Workflow builder
  • Slack Connect

Both cover

  • Salesforce
  • SOC2
  • HIPAA
  • ISO27001

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

8x8

  • Business communicationnot Slack
  • Customer contactnot Slack
  • Remote work
  • Continuitynot Slack

Slack

  • Team communicationnot 8x8
  • Project coordinationnot 8x8
  • Customer supportnot 8x8
  • Remote work
  • Cross-functional collaborationnot 8x8

Both are used for remote work, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

8x8

  • Listed on UK G-Cloud 14 at £2.65 to £113.40 per user per month for 8x8 Hosted PBX, submitted directly by 8x8 UK Limited

Slack

  • 90-day message history limit on free plan results in important conversations disappearing
  • Per-user pricing becomes expensive quickly for larger teams
  • Notification overload with 78% of employees feeling overwhelmed by notifications
  • Mobile app performance issues including lag and slow syncing
  • Huddles limited to 50 people and cannot be recorded
  • Requires dedicated video conferencing service for formal meetings and webinars

Pricing, plan by plan

8x8

$29.99/month
  • Pro$29.99/month
    • Calling and meetings
    • Video conferencing
    • Team messaging
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Everything in Pro
    • Advanced analytics
    • Dedicated support

Slack

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Slack review.

Which should you pick?

Choose 8x8 if

  • You need voice calling.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
  • You also want video meetings.
8x8 review

Choose Slack if

  • You need channels.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux.
  • You also want direct messaging.
Slack review

Questions people ask

Is 8x8 or Slack better?
Neither clearly leads. 8x8 starts at $29.99/month and Slack at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 8x8 or Slack?
Slack has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29.99/month for 8x8 and Free for Slack.
Does 8x8 or Slack run on more platforms?
8x8 runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android. Slack runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux.
Can I use Slack for free?
Yes. Slack has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. 8x8 starts at $29.99/month.
What is 8x8 best used for?
8x8 is most often used for business communication, customer contact, remote work, continuity. Of those, business communication and customer contact are not what Slack is typically brought in for.
What can 8x8 do that Slack cannot?
8x8 covers Voice calling, Video meetings, Team messaging, Call recording. Slack covers Channels, Direct messaging, Voice & video calls, Screen sharing. Both handle Salesforce, SOC2, HIPAA, ISO27001.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Slack: Does Slack have a free plan?

Yes, Slack offers a free plan indefinitely with no credit card required. Free users get 90-day message history, up to 10 app integrations, and 1:1 huddles.

Source
Slack: What are Slack's pricing plans?

Slack offers Free, Pro ($7.25/user/month with annual billing), Business+ ($12.50/user/month), and Enterprise Grid (custom pricing). Monthly billing costs approximately 20% more than annual.

Source
Slack: Does Slack support offline use?

Slack is a cloud-based platform and does not support robust offline work. Internet connectivity is required to access messages and collaborate.

Source
Slack: What integrations does Slack support?

Slack integrates with 43+ apps on average per team, including Google Drive, ChatGPT, Vercel, Asana, GitHub, and many others through their app marketplace.

Source
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