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12 Google Chat Alternatives Ranked by Real Users — Free Picks Included (2026)

Explore 12 alternatives to Google Chat — vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

Google Chat alternatives: the 12 best options at a glance

Quick answer

Need a Google Chat alternative fast? Consider Mattermost, Element and Rocket.Chat. Mattermost leads the list with a 4.76★ rating from real users. Compare all 12 on rating and pricing below.

Switching away from Google Chat is easier when you know which tools actually deliver. These 12 business instant messaging software free 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
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
Teamwork ChatEnhance teamwork and productivity with seamless communication.—★★★★☆ 4.33(20)Freefrom $4 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
SlackStay connected and organized with Slack.—★★★★★ 4.82(2759)Freefrom $2.67/moteams of all sizes
DiscordReal-time community and collaboration platform for voice, video, and text8.8Not yet ratedFreeFreemium · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
ArkchatRevolutionizing Business Communication and Lead Generation—Not yet ratedFreeFree Trialteams of all sizes
Beeper MiniEffortless communication, unified on one platform.—Not yet ratedFreeFree Trial · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
TapTalk.ioConnect, chat, and stay in touch effortlessly.—Not yet ratedFreeFreemium · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
ShiftEffortless productivity made simple.—★★★★☆ 4.15(640)FreeFreemium · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
BashEffortless communication for teams, anytime, anywhere.—Not yet ratedFreeFreemium · Subscription · Quotation Basedsmall & mid-size businesses
Voxer BusinessStay connected and communicate on-the-go with Voxer Business.—★★★★☆ 4.31(59)FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
Mattermost - Business Instant Messaging Software

Mattermost

Streamline team communication and collaboration.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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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 ...

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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

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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 ...

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Free TrialTry Free →·

Element offers custom pricing plan

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Reach in-market buyersRank above rivals2M+ buyers a year
Rocket.Chat - Business Instant Messaging Software

Rocket.Chat

Effortlessly connect and collaborate with Rocket.Chat.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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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

Teamwork Chat - Business Instant Messaging Software

Teamwork Chat

Enhance teamwork and productivity with seamless communication.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

What is Teamwork Chat?

Teamwork Chat is your ultimate team collaboration platform for improved communication and teamwork. With options such as team channels, personalized messages, file sharing, integrated Teamwork modules and more, this software solution helps organizations reach higher productivity levels while ...

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Free TrialTry Free →
Slack - Business Instant Messaging Software

Slack

Stay connected and organized with Slack.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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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

8.8

SpotScore

Discord logo

Discord

Real-time community and collaboration platform for voice, video, and text

Best for: SMB teams

Try for Free

Add to compare

watch-demo

Watch Demo

What is Discord?

Discord is a real-time communication platform combining voice, video, and text channels in organized servers. Originally built for gamers, Discord is now widely used by developer communities, SaaS companies, creator economies, and enterprise teams for community building, async collaboration, ...

Read more about Discord

Starts from Freefree, also offers free forever plan

Logo

Arkchat

Revolutionizing Business Communication and Lead Generation

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

watch-demo

Watch Demo

What is Arkchat?

Arkchat is an AI-powered business messaging platform that combines project management, team collaboration, and customer engagement in one interface. Teams can manage tasks and projects, and businesses can pitch products, close deals, and generate leads directly within the chat — accessible from ...

Read more about Arkchat
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $100/user when monthly

Beeper Mini

Beeper Mini

Effortless communication, unified on one platform.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

What is Beeper Mini?

Introducing the innovative Beeper Mini, an exclusive Android application designed to cater to the needs of professionals seeking seamless integration of iMessage features on their Android devices. Beeper Mini is a game-changing communication tool that empowers users with a plethora of advanced ...

Read more about Beeper Mini
Free Trial
TapTalk.io - New SaaS Software

TapTalk.io

Connect, chat, and stay in touch effortlessly.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

Add to compare

What is TapTalk.io?

TapTalk.io is a powerful tool that combines in-app chat and messaging in one convenient application. It eliminates the need for complicated coding and offers a user-friendly interface for seamless communication with clients and customers. With customizable options for colors and fonts, users ...

Read more about TapTalk.io

Starts from $75/Month, also offers free forever plan

Shift - New SaaS Software

Shift

Effortless productivity made simple.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

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What is Shift?

Shift streamlines your accounts, apps, and tasks for smooth, effortless productivity. Link every Gmail, Outlook, and Office 365 account in one unified hub and gain access to your preferred Chrome extensions. Improve web navigation with effective tab management and more intuitive searching - ...

Read more about Shift

Starts from $99.99/Year, also offers free forever plan

Bash - New SaaS Software

Bash

Effortless communication for teams, anytime, anywhere.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market

Try for Free

Add to compare

What is Bash?

Bash is a revolutionary app that lets teams communicate quickly and securely. UseGifs, emojis and private messaging to share your ideas, and access conversations anytime, anywhere on any browser or device. Plus, you can count on 128-bit AES encryption to keep your data safe from prying eyes. ...

Read more about Bash

Starts from $1/User, also offers free forever plan

Voxer Business - New SaaS Software

Voxer Business

Stay connected and communicate on-the-go with Voxer Business.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

What is Voxer Business?

Voxer Business is an ideal communication tool that allows you to stay connected on-the-go: engage in real-time conversations with your contacts with the convenient walkie talkie app. This innovative PTT app is fast, reliable and secure—you can send text messages, photos, and more without using ...

Read more about Voxer Business
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $6/User/Month

The main Google Chat competitors

There are 12 direct Google Chat competitors in Business Instant Messaging Software. The ones that come up most often are Mattermost, Element and Rocket.Chat. 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 12 options below cover both, whether you want a like-for-like replacement or something lighter.

Why each option earned its place

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

Teamwork ChatBest for teams of all sizes

Facilitates instant collaboration for efficient task completion and client responsiveness.

Watch for: Lack of an "Unread" feature for better organization and tracking of messages.

SlackBest for teams of all sizes

Unified communication platform

Watch for: Can be overwhelming for new users

Discord8.8Best for teams of all sizes

Extremely generous free tier — unlimited servers, voice, video, and text make it viable for communities and small teams with zero budget.

Watch for: Not designed for enterprise workflows — lacks native SSO, formal audit logs, and compliance features (SOC 2, HIPAA) that enterprise buyers require.

ArkchatBest for teams of all sizes
Beeper MiniBest for teams of all sizes
TapTalk.ioBest for teams of all sizes
ShiftBest for teams of all sizes

Unified account management

Watch for: Can be resource-intensive

BashBest for small & mid-size businesses

Secure messaging

Watch for: Limited integrations

Voxer BusinessBest for teams of all sizes

Real-time communication

Watch for: Limited features compared to competitors

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 12 business instant messaging software free alternatives stand on price and rating: 12 offer a free tier; paid plans run $2–$10, with Rocket.Chat the cheapest entry point; and Slack is the highest rated at 4.82★ across 2759 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 Slack (4.8★), Mattermost (4.8★), Element (4.5★). Compare all 12 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 — Mattermost, Element and Rocket.Chat let you evaluate without paying upfront.
  • If real-user ratings matter most: Slack has the strongest star rating (4.82★) 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].