Top 10 Google Chat Alternatives 2026
Work smarter, collaborate better.
Trusted by 2M+ software buyers annually.
Main Features
- Calendar Management
- Chat (Messaging)
- Collaboration Tools
- Document Management
Pricing
Starts from $6/User/Month
Free Trial available
Google Chat is a Business Instant Messaging Software platform. Teams looking for alternatives typically need better pricing flexibility, easier deployment, or a closer feature fit for their specific use case. Below you'll find 10 vetted Business Instant Messaging Software alternatives ranked by user rating, with filters to narrow by pricing, platform, and features — so you can find the right fit for 2026.
Google Chat vs Top Alternatives at a Glance
Side-by-side comparison of pricing, user rating, and free trial availability to help you decide faster.
| Tool | Best For | Pricing | Rating | Free Option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Chat Current | Business Instant Messaging Software | $6 | No reviews | ✓ Yes |
 Hubgets | Business Instant Messaging Software | $2.50 | 4.7 ★ | ✓ Yes |
 Chanty | Business Instant Messaging Software | $3 | 5.0 ★ | ✓ Yes |
 Mattermost | Business Instant Messaging Software | $3.25 | 4.8 ★ | ✓ Yes |
 Element | Business Instant Messaging Software | $10 | 4.5 ★ | ✓ Yes |
 Rocket.Chat | Business Instant Messaging Software | $2 | 4.4 ★ | ✓ Yes |
Showing 1-10 out of 10
List of the Top Google Chat alternatives as of September 2026
Compare business software, products, and services to find the best solution for your business or organization. Use the filters on the left to drill down by category, pricing, features, market segment, user ratings, and more.
Hubgets
Communicate better, collaborate smarter with Hubgets.
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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 moreCommon Features
-
Chat (Messaging)
-
Real-time Chat
-
Collaboration Tools
+ 3 more
Unique Features
No unique features
Pricing
Starts from $2.50/User/Month when Billed Yearly, also offers free forever plan
Chanty
Collaborate better, grow faster with Chanty.
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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 moreCommon Features
-
Chat (Messaging)
-
Real-time Chat
-
File Sharing
+ 3 more
Unique Features
-
Task Management
-
Alerts
Pricing
Starts from $3/User/Month when Billed Yearly, also offers free forever plan
Spotsaas Buyer Intelligence
Own the software buyers are comparing here? See who's weighing you against rivals — and who's comparing your competitors while you're not in the running.
Mattermost
Streamline team communication and collaboration.
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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 ...
Read moreCommon Features
-
Chat (Messaging)
-
Real-time Chat
-
File Sharing
+ 3 more
Unique Features
-
Authentication
-
Push Notifications
Pricing
Free Trial available
Starts from $3.25/User/Month, also offers free forever plan
Element
Streamline communication and boost productivity with Element.
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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 ...
Read moreCommon Features
-
Chat (Messaging)
-
Real-time Chat
-
File Sharing
+ 3 more
Unique Features
-
End-to-End Encryption
-
Encryption
Pricing
Free Trial available, Try Now
Starts from $10/Month, also offers free forever plan
Rocket.Chat
Effortlessly connect and collaborate with Rocket.Chat.
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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 moreCommon Features
-
Chat (Messaging)
-
Real-time Chat
-
File Sharing
+ 3 more
Unique Features
-
End-to-End Encryption
-
Push Notifications
Pricing
Free Trial available, Try Now
Starts from $2/User/Month when Billed Yearly, also offers free forever plan
HCL Sametime
Streamline collaboration and boost productivity with HCL Sametime.
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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 moreCommon Features
-
Chat (Messaging)
-
Real-time Chat
-
Video Conferencing
+ 2 more
Unique Features
-
Contact Management
Pricing
HCL Sametime offers custom pricing plan
Pronto
Unify your team with seamless communication.
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What is Pronto?
Pronto is simple instant messaging software that allows colleagues to communicate on the job from virtually any computer attached to the network. In Pronto, e-mail, instant messages, and other forms of group communication are all handled in one convenient location. Keep all the information in ...
Read moreCommon Features
-
Chat (Messaging)
-
Real-time Chat
-
File Sharing
+ 2 more
Unique Features
-
Task Management
-
Push Notifications
Pricing
Pronto offers custom pricing plan
Cbox
Streamline your communication and workflow with Cbox.
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What is Cbox?
Cbox has been designed around a set of powerful features that are easier-to-use. It includes a full set of tools to help user manage its day-to-day business or personal workflow as well as social communication needs. Cbox also provides advanced functionality not found in other instant messaging ...
Read moreCommon Features
-
Chat (Messaging)
-
Real-time Chat
-
Video Conferencing
+ 1 more
Unique Features
No unique features
Pricing
Starts from $1.67/Month, also offers free forever plan
Teamwork Chat
Enhance teamwork and productivity with seamless communication.
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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 ...
Read moreCommon Features
-
Chat (Messaging)
-
File Sharing
-
Collaboration Tools
+ 1 more
Unique Features
No unique features
Pricing
Free Trial available, Try Now
Starts from $4/User/Month when Billed Yearly
Slack
Stay connected and organized with Slack.
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 moreCommon Features
-
Chat (Messaging)
-
Real-time Chat
-
File Sharing
+ 2 more
Unique Features
-
Collaboration
-
Workflow Automation
-
Alerts
Pricing
Free Trial available
Starts from $2.67/Month, also offers free forever plan
Which Google Chat Alternative Is Right for You?
- If you need a free or low-cost option: Hubgets — offers a free plan or trial suitable for small teams.
- If user satisfaction is your top priority: Chanty — holds the highest user rating (5.0★) among Google Chat alternatives.
- If you want a mid-range option: HCL Sametime — sits in the middle of the list by rating and may fit teams with mixed requirements.
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 for Business Instant Messaging Software are Chanty (5.0★), Slack (4.8★), Mattermost (4.8★). Compare all 10 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 tools you already use. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.
For small businesses, the best Business Instant Messaging Software tools are Discord, Arkchat, Message Whiz. Look for affordable per-seat pricing, quick setup (under 1 day), no long-term contracts, and strong onboarding support to reduce time-to-value.
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.
About the reviewer
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].