Is there a free alternative to Shift?

Yes. VIPole, Mattermost, Output Messenger offer free tiers or trials suitable for small teams and individuals.

Last updated: October 23, 2026

Shift Alternatives: 6 Options Compared, Including Free (2026)

Q: What are the best alternatives to Shift?

The top-rated alternatives to Shift are Mattermost, VIPole, Workstorm. Compare all 6 alternatives at https://www.spotsaas.com/list/tryshift-free-alternative.

Explore 6 alternatives to Shift, vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

The best free Shift alternatives, ranked by SpotScore

Quick answer

Looking for a Shift alternative? The top picks are VIPole, Mattermost and Output Messenger. VIPole leads the list with a 4.54★ rating from real users. Compare all 6 on rating and pricing below.

If Shift isn't pulling its weight, this list points you to better options. These 6 business instant messaging software free alternatives are ranked by SpotScore (verified satisfaction and market presence), ratings, and pricing model, with editorial review on every entry. Compare them in the table, then read the detail for each pick below.

Product	SpotScore	Rating	Pricing	Best for
VIPoleStreamline communication, boost productivity.	—	★★★★★ 4.54(12)	Freefrom $5.99/mo	teams of all sizes
MattermostStreamline team communication and collaboration.	—	★★★★★ 4.76(34)	Freefrom $3.25 /User/Month	teams of all sizes
Output MessengerStay connected with ease, anytime, anywhere.	—	★★★★☆ 4.11(10)	Freefrom $35/yr	teams of all sizes
BundelingStreamline your communication, unleash your community's potential.	—	★★★★☆ 3.88(9)	FreeQuotation Based · Free Trial	teams of all sizes
WorkstormStreamline your business communication with instant messaging.	—	★★★★☆ 4.35(38)	Freefrom $12.50 /User/Month	teams of all sizes
SigmifyConnect, communicate, and collaborate effortlessly.	—	★★★★☆ 4(12)	FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Based	teams of all sizes

VIPole

Streamline communication, boost productivity.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.5

12 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is VIPole?

VIPole Business Instant Messaging Software is a one-click way to instantly notify team and customers of sales, news and opportunities. Instantly find the people who matter most to get answers fast. Seamlessly integrate business processes with customized buttons that let user easily share ...

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 ...

Output Messenger

Stay connected with ease, anytime, anywhere.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.1

10 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Output Messenger?

Output Messenger is an easy to use software that allows business to connect with others and keep in touch, regardless of proximity. Output Messenger provides instant chat options, file sharing, a task manager and more. It also can work at no cost with business operations over the web, using ...

Bundeling

Streamline your communication, unleash your community's potential.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

3.9

9 verified reviews

Add to compare

Watch Demo

What is Bundeling?

Engaging your community has never been easier. Bundeling brings all communication and information together in one clear and secure environment. Fully branded in your own style. Used daily by 1,300+ organisations worldwide. Our mission? Communication should be easy! We help organisations bring ...

Workstorm

Streamline your business communication with instant messaging.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.3

38 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Workstorm?

Workstorm is a business instant messaging software. The company's products enable businesses to communicate and share information electronically, providing a real-time virtual communication link between employees, customers, and partners. It provides troubleshooting, resolution & configuration ...

Sigmify

Connect, communicate, and collaborate effortlessly.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.0

12 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Sigmify?

Sigmify is business instant messaging software for receiving and sending secure messages to customers, partners, employees and more. Sigmify enables user to increase communication across offices, departments, teams, business units and customers with one service that is available on desktop apps ...

How Shift competitors stack up

Buyers comparing Shift usually weigh it against these 6 business instant messaging software competitors, starting with VIPole, Mattermost and Output Messenger. Each is compared against Shift on rating, pricing and feature coverage below.

Tools similar to Shift

Searches for "sites like Shift" and "apps like Shift" land on the same set of options as "Shift alternatives" — the 6 options below cover both, whether you want a like-for-like replacement or something lighter.

Why these Shift alternatives made the cut

VIPoleBest for teams of all sizes

Instant notifications

Watch for: Requires server setup

MattermostBest for teams of all sizes

Open source flexibility

Watch for: Steeper learning curve

Output MessengerBest for teams of all sizes

Easy to use

Watch for: Limited advanced features

BundelingBest for teams of all sizes

Engaging communication experience

Watch for: Limited integrations with other tools

WorkstormBest for teams of all sizes

Real-time communication

Watch for: Limited integrations

SigmifyBest for teams of all sizes

Secure messaging

Watch for: Limited advanced features

Why teams look for a Shift alternative

Several familiar frustrations tend to drive teams away from Shift:

Can be resource-intensive
Learning curve for new users
Limited offline functionality

The things that matter when replacing Shift

The numbers behind these 6 free alternatives: 6 offer a free tier; paid plans run $3.25–$35, with Mattermost the cheapest entry point; and Mattermost is the highest rated at 4.76★ across 34 reviews.

How the order works.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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

What are the best alternatives to Shift?

The top-rated alternatives to Shift are Mattermost (4.8★), VIPole (4.5★), Workstorm (4.3★). Compare all 6 alternatives side-by-side above.

What features should I look for in a Business Instant Messaging Software alternative?

When evaluating alternatives to Shift, prioritize: Workflow Configuration, Business Process Automation, Project Management, Task Management, Document Management, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

How does Shift pricing compare to its alternatives?

Shift starts from $99.99 /Year. 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.

How difficult is it to migrate from Shift to an alternative?

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Shift 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 decide on a Shift alternative

On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — VIPole, Mattermost and Output Messenger let you evaluate without paying upfront.
If real-user ratings matter most: Mattermost has the strongest star rating (4.76★) among the options with verified reviews.

Making the move from Shift

A clean break from Shift starts with your data. Export it, verify the new tool can take it in, and check that your core workflows carry over. Pilot the switch with a small team or project before going all in, and don't cancel Shift until the migration's finished. Free trials above make testing low-risk.

Compare top products

Bundeling

Workstorm

Mattermost

Output Messenger

Mattermost

Sigmify

VIPole

Sigmify

Bundeling

Sigmify

VIPole

Output Messenger

Workstorm

Sigmify

Output Messenger

Sigmify

Mattermost

Bundeling

About the reviewer

Rajat Gupta

Rajat Gupta is the founder of Spotsaas. Over the past two years, he has reviewed 2,000+ tools across CRM, HR, AI, and finance — applying hands-on product research and a background in commerce and the CFA program to evaluate software through a business and ROI lens. His goal: help teams make software decisions they won't regret.

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

Shift Alternatives: 6 Options Compared, Including Free (2026)

The best free Shift alternatives, ranked by SpotScore

VIPole

Streamline communication, boost productivity.

Mattermost

Streamline team communication and collaboration.

Output Messenger

Stay connected with ease, anytime, anywhere.

Bundeling

Streamline your communication, unleash your community's potential.

Workstorm

Streamline your business communication with instant messaging.

Sigmify

Connect, communicate, and collaborate effortlessly.

How Shift competitors stack up

Tools similar to Shift

Why these Shift alternatives made the cut

Why teams look for a Shift alternative

The things that matter when replacing Shift

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to decide on a Shift alternative

Making the move from Shift

Compare top products

Bundeling

Workstorm

Mattermost

Output Messenger

Mattermost

Sigmify

VIPole

Sigmify

Bundeling

Sigmify

VIPole

Output Messenger

Workstorm

Sigmify

Output Messenger

Sigmify

Mattermost

Bundeling

Research Popular Software and Services

About the reviewer

Compare top products

Bundeling

Workstorm

Mattermost

Output Messenger

Mattermost

Sigmify

VIPole

Sigmify

Bundeling

Sigmify

VIPole

Output Messenger

Workstorm

Sigmify

Output Messenger

Sigmify

Mattermost

Bundeling

Research Popular Software and Services

About the reviewer