Softwr

All industries · head to head

Slack vs Zeplin

Slack logo

Slack

All industries

Where work happens

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zeplin logo

Zeplin

Design Tools

Design handoff and developer collaboration

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; Zeplin the free plan is limited to 1 project and 100 screens and works only in a personal workspace
  • They diverge on capability: Slack covers Channels, Zeplin covers Design specs.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Slack and Zeplin actually diverge.

Attributes where Slack and Zeplin differ
AttributeSlackZeplin
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, LinuxWeb, Desktop, Mobile
CategoryAll industriesDesign Tools
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
  • Search
  • Workflow builder
  • Slack Connect

Only in Zeplin

  • Design specs
  • Asset export
  • Code snippets
  • Design tokens
  • Comments
  • Version control
  • Handoff workflow
  • Accessibility checks

Both cover

  • Jira
  • Trello
  • GitHub
  • SOC2

What people use each for

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

Slack

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

Zeplin

  • Handing off design specs from Figma or Sketch to developersnot Slack
  • Sharing screens, assets and style guides with an engineering teamnot Slack
  • Reviewing and commenting on design versionsnot 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

Zeplin

  • The free plan is limited to 1 project and 100 screens and works only in a personal workspace
  • Free plan AI reviews are capped at 3 per week
  • Role based permissions require the Advanced plan or higher
  • Single sign on, multi factor authentication, activity logs and invoiced billing are Enterprise only
  • Priority 24 hour support is Enterprise only
  • Basic plan caps screens at 1,000 per project and is priced per project rather than per seat
  • Enterprise pricing is by quote with no published rate

Pricing, plan by plan

Slack

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Slack review.

Zeplin

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 project
    • 1 workspace
    • Basic specs
  • Starter$19/month
    • Unlimited projects
    • Multiple workspaces
    • Advanced specs
  • Professional$49/month
    • Everything in Starter
    • Team collaboration
    • Admin controls

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 Zeplin if

  • You need design specs.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want asset export.
Zeplin review

Questions people ask

Is Slack or Zeplin better?
Neither clearly leads. Slack starts at Free and Zeplin at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Slack or Zeplin?
Slack starts at Free and Zeplin at Free.
Does Slack or Zeplin run on more platforms?
Slack runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux. Zeplin runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
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 Zeplin is typically brought in for.
What can Slack do that Zeplin cannot?
Slack covers Channels, Direct messaging, Voice & video calls, Screen sharing. Zeplin covers Design specs, Asset export, Code snippets, Design tokens. Both handle Jira, Trello, GitHub, SOC2.

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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