Alternatives
Best Google Chat alternatives in 2026
Data compiled by Toolradar Updated How we rate
Cite this list: Toolradar, best Google Chat alternatives 2026, toolradar.com/alternatives/google-chat
6 direct alternatives to Google Chat, compared on pricing, features, and best-for use cases. Pick the right replacement without the marketing fluff.
Quick answer
- Microsoft Teams is the top alternative to Google Chat on our list, followed by Slack and Mattermost.
- 6 of the 6 alternatives have a free plan, starting with Microsoft Teams.
- Highest rated: Microsoft Teams, 4.4 out of 5 from 30,473 ratings, Sep 2026.
- 6 alternatives
- 6 with a free plan
Top 3 alternatives to Google Chat
Microsoft Teams
#1 Top pickUnite chat, meetings, and files with Microsoft 365
Starting price
From $4 /mo
Cheapest paid plan, monthly, as of November 2026
4.4 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 30,473 ratings, Sep 2026
Our take
Best overall
Slack
#2Central hub for workplace communication and collaboration
Starting price
From $8.75 /mo
Cheapest paid plan, monthly, as of November 2026
4.2 /5 across Trustpilot, TrustRadius, PeerSpot and more · 64,990 ratings, Sep 2026
Mattermost
#3Open-source team collaboration platform
Starting price
From $10 /mo
Cheapest paid plan, monthly, as of November 2026
4.3 /5 across SourceForge, G2 and Capterra · 604 ratings, Sep 2026
Google Chat vs 6 alternatives
| Tool | Starting price (Nov 2026) | Free plan | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Price: $7/mo | Free plan: No | n/a |
| Price: $4/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.4 out of 5, from 30,473 ratings across G2 and Capterra (30,473) |
| Price: $8.75/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.2 out of 5, from 64,990 ratings across Trustpilot, TrustRadius, PeerSpot and more (64,990) |
| Price: $10/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.3 out of 5, from 604 ratings across SourceForge, G2 and Capterra (604) |
 | Price: $8/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.2 out of 5, from 530 ratings across G2 and Capterra (530) |
 | Price: $2.99/mo | Free plan: Yes | 3.7 out of 5, from 639 ratings across G2, Capterra and Trustpilot (639) |
 | Price: $4/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.4 out of 5, from 57 ratings on G2 (57) |
Why people consider alternatives to Google Chat
Google Chat is a communication and collaboration platform designed for teams within Google Workspace. It offers robust messaging features, including custom emojis, GIFs, and formatting options, to facilitate both business and personal…
Teams most often switch away when one of these starts to bite:
- Pricing at scale as usage or premium tiers add up.
- Missing integrations with the rest of your stack.
- Performance or scale limits as your needs grow.
- A specific feature gap you have hit in communication.
The 6 alternatives below cover the same core job (communication) with different trade-offs.
Google Chat by the numbers
Toolradar data: Google Chat's entry paid plan ($7/user/mo, billed monthly) ranks #13 of 18 for price among the Team Chat tools with a verified entry price per user, where the median is $5/user/mo. As of Nov 2026.
| Metric | Google Chat | Peer median | Position (1 is best) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry paid plan | $7/user/mo, billed monthly | $5/user/mo | #13 of 18 tools priced per user, verified price |
| Free plan | No | 34 of 47 have one | n/a |
| Listed as an alternative to | 8 tools | 2 | #13 of 47 (joint) |
| Compare-page visits, last 30 days | 29 visits | 33 | #12 of 18 tools with 20+ compare-page visits |
Listed as an alternative to: #14 on 2026-10-16 to #13 on 2026-11-02 (rank among 47 tools, 1 is best).
Each position is counted among the tools that have data for that row, as noted under it. A lower entry price ranks higher; prices are read on vendor pages and compared only with tools priced on the same basis. All Team Chat data · How we compute this. Advertising and placement fees are not inputs to any position. Visit counts include visits from every source.
Cite this: Toolradar, “Google Chat by the numbers”, Nov 2026.
Communication leaderboards from Toolradar data
Toolradar ranks Communication tools on one measure at a time, only where at least 8 tools have data. As of Nov 2026.
Lowest entry price, plans with no stated unit
Cheapest standard paid plan per month (annual prices divided by 12), read on vendor pages and compared only with tools priced on the same basis.
Counted among 96 tools with no stated price unit, verified price.
| # | Tool | Entry plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plivo | $0.50/mo, billed monthly |
| 2 | Runbox | $0.66/mo, billed yearly |
| 3 | MyKidReports | $0.99/mo, billed monthly |
| 4 | PortaOne Telecom Billing | $1/mo |
| 4 | Twilio Flex | $1/mo |
Lowest entry price, per-user plans
Cheapest standard paid plan per month (annual prices divided by 12), read on vendor pages and compared only with tools priced on the same basis.
Counted among 55 tools priced per user, verified price.
| # | Tool | Entry plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zoho Mail | $1/user/mo, billed monthly |
| 2 | Pumble | $2.49/user/mo, billed monthly |
| 3 | Troop Messenger | $2.50/user/mo, billed monthly |
| 4 | Yac | $3/user/mo, billed monthly |
| 5 | Chanty | $4/user/mo, billed monthly |
Most media coverage, last 30 days
Number of distinct articles published in the last 30 days by independent press, blogs and newsletters that mention the tool. A story carried by several outlets counts once; the vendor's own blog, review sites, forums and republishing sites do not count.
Counted among 8 tools mentioned in the last 30 days.
| # | Tool | Articles |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft 365 | 29 articles |
| 2 | Microsoft Teams | 14 articles |
| 3 | AirPods 5 | 5 articles |
| 3 | OpenClaw | 5 articles |
| 5 | Google Meet | 3 articles |
A position exists only when at least 8 tools have data for that metric. 151 of 291 Communication tools have a verified price; the others publish none we could read (often "contact sales"). Advertising and placement fees are not inputs to any position. Visit counts include visits from every source. How we compute this. Cite this: Toolradar, “Communication leaderboards”, Nov 2026. Data licensed CC BY 4.0. All Communication statistics.
6 alternatives to Google Chat
Ranked by G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editor review, plus how directly they replace Google Chat.
- 1
Microsoft Teams
Free plan Cheaper than Google ChatUnite chat, meetings, and files with Microsoft 365
4.4 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 30,473 ratings, Sep 2026
From $4/user/mo, billed monthly; free plan available
- 2
Slack
Free plan Cheaper than Google ChatCentral hub for workplace communication and collaboration
4.2 /5 across Trustpilot, TrustRadius, PeerSpot and more · 64,990 ratings, Sep 2026
From $8.75/user/mo, billed yearly; free plan available
- 3
Mattermost
Free plan Cheaper than Google ChatOpen-source team collaboration platform
4.3 /5 across SourceForge, G2 and Capterra · 604 ratings, Sep 2026
From $10/user/mo, billed monthly; free plan available
- 4
Rocket.Chat
Free plan Cheaper than Google ChatOpen-source team communication platform
4.2 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 530 ratings, Sep 2026
From $8/user/mo, billed yearly; free plan available
- 5
Discord
Free plan Cheaper than Google ChatYour place to talk and hang out
3.7 /5 across G2, Capterra and Trustpilot · 639 ratings, Sep 2026
From $2.99/mo, billed monthly; free plan available
- 6
Chanty
Free plan Cheaper than Google ChatTeam chat app with built-in task management
4.4 /5 on G2 · 57 ratings, Sep 2026
From $4/user/mo, billed monthly; free plan available
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Google Chat?
Based on real-signal scoring (G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editorial review), the top alternatives to Google Chat are Microsoft Teams, Slack, Mattermost. Each solves the same core job with different trade-offs on pricing, features, and integrations.
Is there a free alternative to Google Chat?
There is no fully free alternative in this list. Microsoft Teams is freemium: a permanent free tier plus paid plans (Unite chat, meetings, and files with Microsoft 365).
Why do people look for Google Chat alternatives?
Common reasons teams switch away from Google Chat: pricing that scales aggressively, missing integrations with the rest of their stack, performance or scale limits, or a specific feature gap in communication. The alternatives on this page solve the same core problem with different trade-offs.
Side-by-side comparisons
In-depth comparison pages for Google Chat versus each alternative.
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