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Slack vs Twist

Slack logo

Slack

All industries

Where work happens

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Twist logo

Twist

Communication & Collaboration

Distraction-free team communication

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Slack 90-day message history limit on free plan results in important conversations disappearing; Twist the free plan only exposes the last 1 month of comments and messages; older history is hidden until you upgrade
  • They diverge on capability: Slack covers Channels, Twist covers Topic-based chat.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Slack and Twist actually diverge.

Attributes where Slack and Twist differ
AttributeSlackTwist
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, LinuxWeb, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android
CategoryAll industriesCommunication & Collaboration
Founded20092014

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 Slack

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

Only in Twist

  • Topic-based chat
  • Threading
  • File attachments
  • Notifications control
  • Integrations
  • Mobile apps
  • Slack
  • Zapier

Both cover

  • Search
  • Google Drive
  • GitHub

What people use each for

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

Slack

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

Twist

  • Asynchronous threaded team communication for distributed teamsnot Slack
  • Keeping decisions in searchable threads rather than a real time chat streamnot Slack
  • Coordinating across time zones without expecting immediate repliesnot 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

Twist

  • The free plan only exposes the last 1 month of comments and messages; older history is hidden until you upgrade
  • The free plan caps integrations at 5 and file storage at 5 GB
  • Full message history, unlimited integrations, unlimited storage and priority support all require the Unlimited plan at US$6 per user per month
  • Both plans cap the workspace at 500 internal member accounts and 500 external guest accounts

Pricing, plan by plan

Slack

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Slack review.

Twist

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited topics
    • Message history
    • File sharing
  • Pro$5/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Advanced search
    • API access

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.
Slack review

Choose Twist if

  • You need topic-based chat.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
  • You also want threading.
Twist review

Questions people ask

Is Slack or Twist better?
Neither clearly leads. Slack starts at Free and Twist at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Slack or Twist?
Slack starts at Free and Twist at Free.
Does Slack or Twist run on more platforms?
Slack runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux. Twist runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
Can I use Slack for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Twist is typically brought in for.
What can Slack do that Twist cannot?
Slack covers Channels, Direct messaging, Voice & video calls, Screen sharing. Twist covers Topic-based chat, Threading, File attachments, Notifications control. Both handle Search, Google Drive, GitHub.

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 Slack

More on Twist

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