What is Slack used for?

Slack is a team messaging platform with channels, huddles, canvases, workflows and AI features, now part of Salesforce. It is a good fit for team chat for software and startup teams, working with partners in shared channels, and automating routine team requests.

Yes. Slack has a free plan, and paid plans start at $8.75 per seat per month.

Is Slack open source?

No. Slack is proprietary (closed-source) software and can't be self-hosted. Open-source alternatives to Slack include Rocket.Chat, Mattermost and Zulip.

What are some alternatives to Slack?

Slack competes with Microsoft Teams, Discord and Google Chat. For open-source options, see Enlisted's ranked list of open-source Slack alternatives.

Slack: features, pricing and alternatives

About Slack

Slack is a commercial workplace messaging platform organized around channels, direct messages and integrations. Teams use it to talk day to day, share files, hold quick video chats and connect the other software they depend on.

The vendor now calls it an AI work platform. Collaboration features include channels, Slack Connect for working with external partners, meetings and video, Canvas for docs and Lists for managing projects. On the AI side there is Slackbot, built-in AI, enterprise search and Agentforce agents from Salesforce. Build tools include Workflow Builder and an agentic platform, and Slack offers native CRM and Salesforce data inside conversations, plus trust and security pages.

Slack is hosted, proprietary software with a pricing page, and it cannot be self-hosted. It suits teams of any size that want searchable group conversations and automation, and it is a common reference point for open-source chat tools such as Mattermost and Rocket.Chat.

Key features

Channels and direct messages
Slack Connect for external partners
Huddles and video meetings
Canvas docs and Lists
Workflow Builder automation
Slackbot and built-in AI
Large app and integration directory

Good fit for

→Team chat for software and startup teams
→Working with partners in shared channels
→Automating routine team requests

Tags: team-chat; messaging; collaboration; workflow-automation; ai; integrations

Slack: questions and answers

What is Slack used for?: Slack is a team messaging platform with channels, huddles, canvases, workflows and AI features, now part of Salesforce. It is a good fit for team chat for software and startup teams, working with partners in shared channels, and automating routine team requests.
Is Slack free?: Yes. Slack has a free plan, and paid plans start at $8.75 per seat per month.
Is Slack open source?: No. Slack is proprietary (closed-source) software and can't be self-hosted. Open-source alternatives to Slack include Rocket.Chat, Mattermost and Zulip.
What are some alternatives to Slack?: Slack competes with Microsoft Teams, Discord and Google Chat. For open-source options, see Enlisted's ranked list of open-source Slack alternatives.