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Software · head to head

Slack vs Whereby

Slack logo

Slack

Software

Where work happens

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Whereby logo

Whereby

Software

No downloads, no logins - just video meetings that work

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; Whereby no breakout rooms, polls, or whiteboard tools
  • They diverge on capability: Slack covers Channels, Whereby covers Browser-based meetings.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Slack and Whereby actually diverge.

Attributes where Slack and Whereby differ
AttributeSlackWhereby
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, LinuxWeb
Founded20092013

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

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

Only in Whereby

  • Browser-based meetings
  • No downloads required
  • Personal room URLs
  • Recording
  • Google Calendar
  • Outlook
  • Slack
  • HubSpot

Both cover

  • Screen sharing
  • Trello

What people use each for

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

Slack

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

Whereby

  • Client meetingsnot Slack
  • Remote consultationsnot Slack
  • Team standupsnot Slack
  • Webinarsnot 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

Whereby

  • No breakout rooms, polls, or whiteboard tools
  • Hard cap of 200 participants and performance drops with groups of 12+
  • No phone dial-in option for participants without internet
  • Occasional connectivity issues and laggy screen sharing reported

Pricing, plan by plan

Slack

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Slack review.

Whereby

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 meeting room
    • 100 participants
    • Screen sharing
  • Pro$6.99/month
    • 3 meeting rooms
    • Custom branding
    • Recording
  • Business$11.99/month
    • Unlimited rooms
    • SSO
    • Analytics

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 Whereby if

  • You need browser-based meetings.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want no downloads required.
Whereby review

Questions people ask

Is Slack or Whereby better?
Neither clearly leads. Slack starts at Free and Whereby at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Slack or Whereby?
Slack starts at Free and Whereby at Free.
Does Slack or Whereby run on more platforms?
Slack runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux. Whereby runs on Web.
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 Whereby is typically brought in for.
What can Slack do that Whereby cannot?
Slack covers Channels, Direct messaging, Voice & video calls, File sharing. Whereby covers Browser-based meetings, No downloads required, Personal room URLs, Recording. Both handle Screen sharing, Trello.

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
Whereby: Does Whereby require software downloads?

No. Whereby is browser-based and requires no downloads or complex configuration. Participants join via a simple link without needing to install software.

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
Whereby: What is Whereby's pricing model?

Whereby offers a free-forever plan and paid plans starting at $5.82/month when billed annually. Whereby does not offer a free trial.

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

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