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Webinar & Virtual Events · head to head

Google Meet vs Slack

Google Meet logo

Google Meet

Webinar & Virtual Events

Get on a video call in seconds

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Slack logo

Slack

All industries

Where work happens

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Google Meet google Meet only available as part of Google Workspace subscription; no standalone free option; Slack 90-day message history limit on free plan results in important conversations disappearing
  • They diverge on capability: Google Meet covers Video conferencing, Slack covers Channels.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Meet and Slack actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Meet and Slack differ
AttributeGoogle MeetSlack
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWeb, MobileWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux
CategoryWebinar & Virtual EventsAll industries
Founded19982009

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Google Meet

  • Video conferencing
  • Recording
  • Chat
  • Real-time captions
  • Hand raise
  • Grid view
  • Google Calendar
  • Gmail

Only in Slack

  • Channels
  • Direct messaging
  • Voice & video calls
  • File sharing
  • Search
  • Workflow builder
  • Slack Connect
  • Office 365

Both cover

  • Screen sharing
  • Google Drive
  • SOC2

What people use each for

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

Google Meet

  • Organisations already invested in Google Workspace ecosystemnot Slack
  • Large enterprises (500+ participants) requiring live streaming and attendance trackingnot Slack
  • Hybrid work environments needing integrated Gmail, Drive, and collaboration toolsnot Slack

Slack

  • Team communicationnot Google Meet
  • Project coordinationnot Google Meet
  • Customer supportnot Google Meet
  • Remote worknot Google Meet
  • Cross-functional collaborationnot Google Meet

Where each one falls short

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

Google Meet

  • Google Meet only available as part of Google Workspace subscription; no standalone free option
  • Starter plan limits Meet to 100 participants; Standard tier required for 150 participants
  • Organisation-wide user cap of 300 users on Starter, Standard, and Plus plans
  • Enterprise tier requires custom pricing and sales contact; no transparent per-user cost
  • Free tier (from basic Google account) limits meetings to 60 minutes with 3+ participants

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

Google Meet

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Google Meet review.

Slack

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Slack review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Meet if

  • You need video conferencing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want recording.
Google Meet 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 Google Meet or Slack better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Meet starts at Free and Slack at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Meet or Slack?
Google Meet starts at Free and Slack at Free.
Does Google Meet or Slack run on more platforms?
Google Meet runs on Web, Mobile. Slack runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux.
Can I use Google Meet for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Google Meet best used for?
Google Meet is most often used for organisations already invested in google workspace ecosystem, large enterprises (500+ participants) requiring live streaming and attendance tracking, hybrid work environments needing integrated gmail, drive, and collaboration tools. Of those, organisations already invested in google workspace ecosystem and large enterprises (500+ participants) requiring live streaming and attendance tracking are not what Slack is typically brought in for.
What can Google Meet do that Slack cannot?
Google Meet covers Video conferencing, Recording, Chat, Real-time captions. Slack covers Channels, Direct messaging, Voice & video calls, File sharing. Both handle Screen sharing, Google Drive, SOC2.

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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Related pages

More on Google Meet

More on Slack

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