All industries · head to head
Slack vs Google Workspace
Google Workspace
All industries
Everything you need to get work done, all in one place
- From
- €3.4/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Slack has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Slack 90-day message history limit on free plan results in important conversations disappearing; Google Workspace starter tier storage limited to 30 GB per user, requiring upgrade to Standard or higher for adequate document storage
- They diverge on capability: Slack covers Channels, Google Workspace covers Gmail business email.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Slack and Google Workspace actually diverge.
| Attribute | Slack | Google Workspace |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | €3.4/month |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux | Web |
| Founded | 2009 | 2006 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (All industries).
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 Slack
- Channels
- Direct messaging
- Voice & video calls
- Screen sharing
- File sharing
- Search
- Workflow builder
- Slack Connect
Only in Google Workspace
- Gmail business email
- Google Drive storage
- Google Docs, Sheets, Slides
- Google Calendar
- Google Meet video conferencing
- Google Chat
- Google Forms
- Google Sites
Both cover
- Salesforce
- Zoom
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Slack
- Team communicationnot Google Workspace
- Project coordinationnot Google Workspace
- Customer supportnot Google Workspace
- Remote worknot Google Workspace
- Cross-functional collaborationnot Google Workspace
Google Workspace
- Business email and calendar managementnot Slack
- Collaborative document editingnot Slack
- Video conferencing and meetingsnot Slack
- Secure document storage and sharingnot Slack
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Google Workspace
- Starter tier storage limited to 30 GB per user, requiring upgrade to Standard or higher for adequate document storage
- Starter and Standard tiers both capped at maximum 300 users per organisation
- Video meetings limited to 100 participants on Starter tier, 150 on Standard tier
- Recording capabilities only available on Standard tier and above
- eDiscovery, Vault, and advanced security features only available on Plus and Enterprise tiers
Pricing, plan by plan
Slack
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Slack review.
Google Workspace
€3.4/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Google Workspace review.
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Google Workspace if
- You need gmail business email.
- You also want google drive storage.
Questions people ask
- Is Slack or Google Workspace better?
- Neither clearly leads. Slack starts at Free and Google Workspace at €3.4/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Slack or Google Workspace?
- Slack has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Slack and €3.4/month for Google Workspace.
- Does Slack or Google Workspace run on more platforms?
- Slack runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux. Google Workspace runs on Web.
- Can I use Slack for free?
- Yes. Slack has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Google Workspace starts at €3.4/month.
- What is Slack best used for?
- Slack is most often used for team communication, project coordination, customer support, remote work. Of those, team communication and project coordination are not what Google Workspace is typically brought in for.
- What can Slack do that Google Workspace cannot?
- Slack covers Channels, Direct messaging, Voice & video calls, Screen sharing. Google Workspace covers Gmail business email, Google Drive storage, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Google Calendar. Both handle Salesforce, Zoom.
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.
SourceSlack: 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.
SourceSlack: 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.
SourceSlack: 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