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Software · head to head

Salesforce Service Cloud vs Slack

Salesforce Service Cloud logo

Salesforce Service Cloud

Software

Customer service software that powers loyalty

From
$25/month
Rated
-
Slack logo

Slack

Software

Where work happens

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Slack has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Salesforce Service Cloud the vendor's own pricing page as captured by the Internet Archive on 29 December 2021 listed four Service Cloud tiers billed annually per user per month in USD: $25, $75, $150 (Enterprise, marked most popular), and $300; add-ons such as Omni-Channel Supervisor cost an additional $75 per user per month and Google Apps/Outlook integration an additional $25 per user per month on lower tiers; Slack 90-day message history limit on free plan results in important conversations disappearing
  • They diverge on capability: Salesforce Service Cloud covers Case management, Slack covers Channels.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Salesforce Service Cloud and Slack actually diverge.

Attributes where Salesforce Service Cloud and Slack differ
AttributeSalesforce Service CloudSlack
Starting price$25/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux
Founded19992009

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

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 Salesforce Service Cloud

  • Case management
  • Omnichannel routing
  • AI-powered bots
  • Field service
  • Self-service
  • Analytics
  • Salesforce CRM
  • Slack

Only in Slack

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

Both cover

  • SOC2
  • ISO27001
  • HIPAA
  • FedRAMP

What people use each for

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

Salesforce Service Cloud

  • Enterprise customer servicenot Slack
  • Field servicenot Slack
  • Self-service portalsnot Slack
  • AI-powered supportnot Slack

Slack

  • Team communicationnot Salesforce Service Cloud
  • Project coordinationnot Salesforce Service Cloud
  • Customer supportnot Salesforce Service Cloud
  • Remote worknot Salesforce Service Cloud
  • Cross-functional collaborationnot Salesforce Service Cloud

Where each one falls short

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

Salesforce Service Cloud

  • The vendor's own pricing page as captured by the Internet Archive on 29 December 2021 listed four Service Cloud tiers billed annually per user per month in USD: $25, $75, $150 (Enterprise, marked most popular), and $300; add-ons such as Omni-Channel Supervisor cost an additional $75 per user per month and Google Apps/Outlook integration an additional $25 per user per month on lower tiers

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

Salesforce Service Cloud

$25/month
  • Essentials$25/month
    • Case management
    • Knowledge base
    • Web & email support
  • Professional$80/month
    • CTI
    • Omni-channel routing
    • Custom reports
  • Enterprise$165/month
    • Web API
    • Einstein AI
    • Workflow automation
  • Unlimited$330/month
    • 24/7 support
    • Configuration services
    • Premier success

Slack

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Slack review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Salesforce Service Cloud if

  • You need case management.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want omnichannel routing.

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 Salesforce Service Cloud or Slack better?
Neither clearly leads. Salesforce Service Cloud starts at $25/month and Slack at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Salesforce Service Cloud or Slack?
Slack has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $25/month for Salesforce Service Cloud and Free for Slack.
Does Salesforce Service Cloud or Slack run on more platforms?
Salesforce Service Cloud runs on Web, 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. Salesforce Service Cloud starts at $25/month.
What is Salesforce Service Cloud best used for?
Salesforce Service Cloud is most often used for enterprise customer service, field service, self-service portals, ai-powered support. Of those, enterprise customer service and field service are not what Slack is typically brought in for.
What can Salesforce Service Cloud do that Slack cannot?
Salesforce Service Cloud covers Case management, Omnichannel routing, AI-powered bots, Field service. Slack covers Channels, Direct messaging, Voice & video calls, Screen sharing. Both handle SOC2, ISO27001, HIPAA, FedRAMP.

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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