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Software · head to head

Slack vs Zoom Webinar

Slack logo

Slack

Software

Where work happens

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoom Webinar logo

Zoom Webinar

Software

Professional video conferencing and webinar hosting

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; Zoom Webinar free tier capped at 40 minutes per meeting with up to 100 participants
  • They diverge on capability: Slack covers Channels, Zoom Webinar covers HD video conferencing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Slack and Zoom Webinar actually diverge.

Attributes where Slack and Zoom Webinar differ
AttributeSlackZoom Webinar
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, LinuxDesktop, Mobile, Tablet
Founded20092011

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 Zoom Webinar

  • HD video conferencing
  • Recording
  • Chat
  • Breakout rooms
  • Slack
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Google Workspace
  • Windows support

Both cover

  • Screen sharing
  • Salesforce

What people use each for

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

Slack

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

Zoom Webinar

  • Large-scale webinars up to 1,000 participants on Enterprise tiernot Slack
  • Professional organisations needing end-to-end encryption and customer-managed keysnot Slack
  • Hybrid work environments with integrated PBX phone servicenot 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

Zoom Webinar

  • Free tier capped at 40 minutes per meeting with up to 100 participants
  • Free tier lacks cloud storage and advanced AI Companion features
  • Higher tiers require commitments to larger participant counts (Business: 300, Enterprise: 1000)

Pricing, plan by plan

Slack

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Slack review.

Zoom Webinar

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Zoom Webinar 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.
Slack review

Choose Zoom Webinar if

  • You need hd video conferencing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Desktop, Mobile, Tablet.
  • You also want recording.
Zoom Webinar review

Questions people ask

Is Slack or Zoom Webinar better?
Neither clearly leads. Slack starts at Free and Zoom Webinar at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Slack or Zoom Webinar?
Slack starts at Free and Zoom Webinar at Free.
Does Slack or Zoom Webinar run on more platforms?
Slack runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux. Zoom Webinar runs on Desktop, Mobile, Tablet.
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 Zoom Webinar is typically brought in for.
What can Slack do that Zoom Webinar cannot?
Slack covers Channels, Direct messaging, Voice & video calls, File sharing. Zoom Webinar covers HD video conferencing, Recording, Chat, Breakout rooms. Both handle Screen sharing, Salesforce.

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 Zoom Webinar

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