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Communication · head to head

Lark vs Slack

Lark logo

Lark

Communication

The super app for team collaboration

From
Free
Rated
-
Slack logo

Slack

Communication

Where work happens

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Lark vendor website positions as best-priced but actual costs not verified; Slack 90-day message history limit on free plan results in important conversations disappearing
  • They diverge on capability: Lark covers Team messaging, Slack covers Channels.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lark and Slack actually diverge.

Attributes where Lark and Slack differ
AttributeLarkSlack
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWeb, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux
Founded20192009

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Communication).

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 Lark

  • Team messaging
  • Video conferencing
  • Collaborative docs
  • Cloud storage
  • Calendar
  • Google Workspace
  • Open API
  • GDPR compliant

Only in Slack

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

Both cover

  • Jira
  • GitHub
  • Salesforce
  • ISO27001
  • SOC2

What people use each for

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

Lark

  • Team collaborationnot Slack
  • All-in-one workspacenot Slack
  • Communication platformnot Slack
  • Project managementnot Slack
  • Document collaborationnot Slack

Slack

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

Where each one falls short

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

Lark

  • Vendor website positions as best-priced but actual costs not verified

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

Lark

Free
  • StarterFree
    • Up to 50 users
    • 100GB storage
    • Unlimited messaging
  • Pro$12/month
    • Unlimited users
    • 1TB storage per user
    • 24-hour meetings
  • Enterprise$20/month
    • SSO/SAML
    • eDiscovery
    • Custom retention

Slack

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Slack review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Lark if

  • You need team messaging.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
  • You also want video conferencing.

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.

Questions people ask

Is Lark or Slack better?
Neither clearly leads. Lark 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, Lark or Slack?
Lark starts at Free and Slack at Free.
Does Lark or Slack run on more platforms?
Lark runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android. Slack runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux.
Can I use Lark for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Lark best used for?
Lark is most often used for team collaboration, all-in-one workspace, communication platform, project management. Of those, team collaboration and all-in-one workspace are not what Slack is typically brought in for.
What can Lark do that Slack cannot?
Lark covers Team messaging, Video conferencing, Collaborative docs, Cloud storage. Slack covers Channels, Direct messaging, Voice & video calls, Screen sharing. Both handle Jira, GitHub, Salesforce, ISO27001.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Lark: What pricing plans does Lark offer?

Lark advertises itself as a best-priced all-in-one solution with multiple pricing plans, but specific pricing tiers, costs, and features are not publicly detailed on accessible pages.

Source
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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