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Best Google Chat Alternatives for Windows — 7 Compared in 2026

Explore 7 alternatives to Google Chat — vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

Google Chat alternatives: the 7 best options at a glance

Quick answer

Need a Google Chat alternative fast? Consider Hubgets, Chanty and Mattermost. Hubgets leads the list with a 4.67★ rating from real users. Compare all 7 on rating and pricing below.

Switching away from Google Chat is easier when you know which tools actually deliver. These 7 business instant messaging software alternatives earned their spots on SpotScore (verified user satisfaction plus market presence), star ratings, and pricing. Our editors vet each one. The table gives you the quick comparison; the sections below give you the why.

ProductSpotScoreRatingPricingBest for
HubgetsCommunicate better, collaborate smarter with Hubgets.—★★★★★ 4.67(12)Freefrom $2.50 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
ChantyCollaborate better, grow faster with Chanty.—★★★★★ 4.95(24)Freefrom $3 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
MattermostStreamline team communication and collaboration.—★★★★★ 4.76(34)Freefrom $3.25 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
ElementStreamline communication and boost productivity with Element.—★★★★★ 4.5(2)Freefrom $10/moteams of all sizes
Rocket.ChatEffortlessly connect and collaborate with Rocket.Chat.—★★★★☆ 4.37(382)Freefrom $2 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
HCL SametimeStreamline collaboration and boost productivity with HCL Sametime.—★★★★☆ 3.93(123)Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
SlackStay connected and organized with Slack.—★★★★★ 4.82(2759)Freefrom $2.67/moteams of all sizes
Hubgets - Business Instant Messaging Software

Hubgets

Communicate better, collaborate smarter with Hubgets.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

4.7

12 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Hubgets?

Hubgets is a business instant messaging software which includes Instant Messaging, Colloboration, Virtual Meeting and Integrations to popular enterprise applications. If used discreetly, Hubgets is an effective way to increase communication levels within organizations. Users gain a competitive ...

Read more about Hubgets

Hubgets offers custom pricing plan

Chanty - Business Instant Messaging Software

Chanty

Collaborate better, grow faster with Chanty.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

5.0

24 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Chanty?

Chanty is a complete instant messaging software solution to help small businesses collaborate, manage and grow. Features include: Instant Messaging, Desktop Notifications, File Sharing, Team Calendar and much more. Chanty also has a chat feature allowing user to communicate with employees or ...

Read more about Chanty

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Mattermost - Business Instant Messaging Software

Mattermost

Streamline team communication and collaboration.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.8

34 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Mattermost?

Mattermost is an open source messaging platform that brings all business communication into one place. More than just chat, Mattermost is built around a modern team communication workflow. It includes integrated video conferencing and IP telephony, along with integrations to CRM, LDAP ...

Read more about Mattermost
Free Trial·

Mattermost offers custom pricing plan

Element - Business Instant Messaging Software

Element

Streamline communication and boost productivity with Element.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.5

2 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Element?

Element is an instant messaging software for small and medium business from element14. Quickly and easily create IM groups, manage employees' contact details and schedule meetings on the go. Watch screencasts about Element business instant messaging software by clicking the Instant Messaging ...

Read more about Element
Free TrialTry Free →·

Element offers custom pricing plan

Rocket.Chat - Business Instant Messaging Software

Rocket.Chat

Effortlessly connect and collaborate with Rocket.Chat.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.4

382 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Rocket.Chat?

Rocket.Chat is an instant-messaging and team collaboration platform for enterprises and organizations that need private messaging, persistent chat rooms, direct messages, persistent user presence and file transfer capabilities. It does not require the installation of any client software, which ...

Read more about Rocket.Chat
Free TrialTry Free →·

Rocket.Chat offers custom pricing plan

HCL Sametime - Business Instant Messaging Software

HCL Sametime

Streamline collaboration and boost productivity with HCL Sametime.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Get Pricing Details

3.9

123 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is HCL Sametime?

HCL Sametime is a complete collaboration solution built for small and medium businesses that want to nurture their employees' ideas, streamline internal processes, and enhance customer relationships. It's a smart instant messaging software that helps user work smarter and faster. It will keep ...

Read more about HCL Sametime

HCL Sametime offers custom pricing plan

Slack - Business Instant Messaging Software

Slack

Stay connected and organized with Slack.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.8

2759 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Slack?

Slack is the only unified communication platform for chatting, sharing, and collaborating. Whether in one-on-one conversations or a large group, Slack's threaded conversations keep everyone on the same page. No more email threads about a project that went sideways. No more meeting minutes ...

Read more about Slack
Free Trial·

Slack offers custom pricing plan

The main Google Chat competitors

There are 7 direct Google Chat competitors in Business Instant Messaging Software. The ones that come up most often are Hubgets, Chanty and Mattermost. Each is compared against Google Chat on rating, pricing and feature coverage below.

Tools similar to Google Chat

Searches for "sites like Google Chat" and "apps like Google Chat" land on the same shortlist as "Google Chat alternatives" — the 7 options below cover both, whether you want a like-for-like replacement or something lighter.

Why each option earned its place

HubgetsBest for teams of all sizes

Collaboration features

Watch for: Can be overwhelming for new users

ChantyBest for teams of all sizes

Comprehensive collaboration tools

Watch for: Limited scalability for larger teams

MattermostBest for teams of all sizes

Open source flexibility

Watch for: Steeper learning curve

ElementBest for teams of all sizes

Easy group creation

Watch for: Limited advanced features

Rocket.ChatBest for teams of all sizes

Enterprise-level collaboration

Watch for: May require technical setup

HCL SametimeBest for teams of all sizes

Complete collaboration solution

Watch for: Complex setup process

SlackBest for teams of all sizes

Unified communication platform

Watch for: Can be overwhelming for new users

Why teams look for a Google Chat alternative

Why do teams want a Google Chat alternative? Most point to issues like these:

  • Limited customization options
  • Dependent on Google ecosystem
  • Basic features compared to competitors
  • Privacy concerns with data

How to evaluate a Google Chat alternative

Where the 7 business instant messaging software alternatives stand on price and rating: 6 offer a free tier; paid plans run $2–$10, with Rocket.Chat the cheapest entry point; and Chanty is the highest rated at 4.95★ across 24 reviews.

How we put this in order.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stuck on something? We're here to help with all the questions and answers in one place.

The top-rated alternatives to Google Chat are Chanty (5.0★), Slack (4.8★), Mattermost (4.8★). Compare all 7 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to Google Chat, prioritize: Chat (Messaging), Real-time Chat, File Sharing, Collaboration Tools, Video Conferencing, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

Google Chat starts from $6 /User/Month. Many alternatives offer similar functionality at different price points — some with free tiers, others with more flexible per-seat pricing. Use the filters above to narrow by budget.

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Google Chat is integrated into your workflows. Most alternatives offer data export/import tools and dedicated onboarding support. We recommend narrowing to 2–3 options, running a free trial, and checking each vendor's migration guides before committing.

How to land on the right Google Chat alternative

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — Hubgets, Chanty and Mattermost let you evaluate without paying upfront.
  • If real-user ratings matter most: Chanty has the strongest star rating (4.95★) among the options with verified reviews.

Ready to leave Google Chat?

Getting off Google Chat cleanly comes down to preparation. Export everything, verify the new tool can import it, and check feature parity for your day-to-day work. Run a small pilot first, then migrate fully, keeping Google Chat as backup until you're done. Free trials above lower the risk.

Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].