Communication & Collaboration · head to head
Flock vs Google Chat
Flock
Communication & Collaboration
Organized team communication platform
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Google Chat
Communication & Collaboration
AI-powered team messaging and collaboration
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Flock has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Flock the Starter plan only makes the most recent 10,000 messages searchable and caps public channels at 10; Google Chat not sold as a standalone product; it is included only with paid Google Workspace subscriptions (Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus)
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Flock and Google Chat actually diverge.
| Attribute | Flock | Google Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android | Web |
| Founded | 2014 | Unknown |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Communication & Collaboration).
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 Flock
- Team chat
- Channels
- Threads
- File sharing
- Polls
- Integrations
- Mobile apps
- Slack
Only in Google Chat
Nothing recorded that Flock does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Flock
- Team messaging with channels, direct messages and file sharingnot Google Chat
- Running polls, to-dos and reminders inside a chat workspacenot Google Chat
- Video conferencing and screen sharing for small teamsnot Google Chat
Google Chat
No use cases recorded yet. See the Google Chat review.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Flock
- The Starter plan only makes the most recent 10,000 messages searchable and caps public channels at 10
- Starter storage is 5 GB for the entire team, against 10 GB per member on Pro and 20 GB per member on Enterprise
- Starter allows a single team admin and a single approved domain
- Group video calls and screen sharing require the Pro plan; Starter is limited to 1-1 video calls
- Group video calls are capped at 20 participants even on Enterprise
- Single Sign-On and Active Directory sync are Enterprise only
- Enterprise is quote only, with no published rate, and is positioned for organisations with 100 or more members
- Unlimited auto-join and announcement channels require Enterprise; Starter and Pro get one of each
Google Chat
- Not sold as a standalone product; it is included only with paid Google Workspace subscriptions (Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus)
- Gemini AI features inside Chat, including message summarization and conversation insights, are limited to Business and Enterprise tier Workspace plans
Pricing, plan by plan
Flock
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited chats
- Channels
- File sharing
- Pro$5/month
- Everything in Free
- Advanced search
- API access
Google Chat
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Google Chat review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Flock if
- You need team chat.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
- You also want channels.
Choose Google Chat if
Nothing in the data separates Google Chat from Flock on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Flock or Google Chat better?
- Neither clearly leads. Flock starts at Free and Google Chat at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Flock or Google Chat?
- Flock has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Flock and On request for Google Chat.
- Does Flock or Google Chat run on more platforms?
- Flock runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android. Google Chat runs on Web.
- Can I use Flock for free?
- Yes. Flock has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Google Chat starts at On request.
- What is Flock best used for?
- Flock is most often used for team messaging with channels, direct messages and file sharing, running polls, to-dos and reminders inside a chat workspace, video conferencing and screen sharing for small teams. Of those, team messaging with channels, direct messages and file sharing and running polls, to-dos and reminders inside a chat workspace are not what Google Chat is typically brought in for.
- What can Flock do that Google Chat cannot?
- Flock covers Team chat, Channels, Threads, File sharing.