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Software · head to head

Slack vs Wise Business

Slack logo

Slack

Software

Where work happens

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Wise Business logo

Wise Business

Software

The smart way to send and receive business payments

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Wise Business opening a Wise Business account in the UK carries a one off setup fee of 50 GBP
  • They diverge on capability: Slack covers Channels, Wise Business covers Multi-currency accounts.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Slack and Wise Business actually diverge.

Attributes where Slack and Wise Business differ
AttributeSlackWise Business
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelUnknownusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, LinuxWeb, Ios, Android, Api
Founded20092011

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 Slack

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

Only in Wise Business

  • Multi-currency accounts
  • International transfers
  • Batch payments
  • API access
  • Team management
  • Xero
  • QuickBooks
  • Various

What people use each for

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

Slack

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

Wise Business

  • Holding and converting multiple currencies as a businessnot Slack
  • Paying international suppliers and contractors at the mid market ratenot Slack
  • Receiving payments into local currency account details in several countriesnot 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

Wise Business

  • Opening a Wise Business account in the UK carries a one off setup fee of 50 GBP
  • Volume discounts on transfers start only above 20,000 GBP equivalent sent per month

Pricing, plan by plan

Slack

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Slack review.

Wise Business

$29/month
  • StandardFree
    • Multi-currency account
    • Real exchange rate
    • Batch payments

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 Wise Business if

  • You need multi-currency accounts.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want international transfers.
Wise Business review

Questions people ask

Is Slack or Wise Business better?
Neither clearly leads. Slack starts at Free and Wise Business at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Slack or Wise Business?
Slack has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Slack and $29/month for Wise Business.
Does Slack or Wise Business run on more platforms?
Slack runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux. Wise Business runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
Can I use Slack for free?
Yes. Slack has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Wise Business starts at $29/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 Wise Business is typically brought in for.
What can Slack do that Wise Business cannot?
Slack covers Channels, Direct messaging, Voice & video calls, Screen sharing. Wise Business covers Multi-currency accounts, International transfers, Batch payments, API access.

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

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