Slack vs Zoho Cliq: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Slack and Zoho Cliq side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Zoho Cliq leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Slack
Central hub for workplace communication and collaboration
Best for you if:
- • You want intuitive interface with low learning curve, most teams adopt it within days
Zoho Cliq
Optimized communication for your business with secure team chat and collaboration.
Best for you if:
- • You want team messaging
| At a Glance | ||
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $8.75/user/mo, billed yearly Pro plan | Free plan |
Category | Communication Team Chat | Communication Team Chat |
Rating | 4.2/5 G2 4.5 · Capterra 4.7 · TrustRadius 4.5 64,990 reviews | 4.5/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.6 377 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | 90-day message history on Free: after 90 days, old messages become invisible (not deleted, they return if you upgrade). This is the most common upgrade trigger and feels coercive for teams that relied on older unlimited history | n/a |
Choose Slack or Zoho Cliq?
Choose Slack if
- You want intuitive interface with low learning curve, most teams adopt it within days
- You want deepest third-party integration ecosystem of any team chat tool (2,600+ apps)
Choose Zoho Cliq if
- You want team messaging
- You want zoho integration
In-Depth Analysis
Slack
Central hub for workplace communication and collaboration
Slack is the default team messaging tool, and its pricing reflects that dominance.
Watch out
90-day message history on Free: after 90 days, old messages become invisible (not deleted, they return if you upgrade). This is the most common upgrade trigger and feels coercive for teams that relied on older unlimited history
Strengths
- Pro: Intuitive interface with low learning curve, most teams adopt it within days
- Pro: Deepest third-party integration ecosystem of any team chat tool (2,600+ apps)
- Pro: Slack Connect eliminates email chains with external partners via shared channels
- Pro: Powerful search across all messages, files, and connected apps from one bar
- Pro: Workflow Builder lets non-technical users automate routine processes
Weaknesses
- Con: Free plan limits message history and allows only a limited number of app integrations
- Con: Notification overload in large workspaces, channels can become noisy without discipline
- Con: Pricing adds up quickly for large teams
- Con: No built-in project management, still requires separate tools like Asana or Jira
- Con: Slack AI features require higher-tier plans, not available on all plans
Key features
Zoho Cliq
Optimized communication for your business with secure team chat and collaboration.
Zoho Cliq's pricing is quite fair and competitive, especially with its generous free tier supporting unlimited users.
Strengths
- Pro: Team messaging
- Pro: Zoho integration
- Pro: Affordable
- Pro: Bots and automation
- Pro: Video calls
Weaknesses
- Con: Smaller user base
- Con: Less polished than Slack
- Con: Limited integrations
- Con: Mobile apps okay
- Con: UI dated
Key features
Plans and prices: Slack vs Zoho Cliq
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Slack |
| slack.com/pricing read Oct 11, 2026 |
| Zoho Cliq | No plan prices on file | zoho.com/cliq/pricing read Oct 7, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Slack pricing and Zoho Cliq pricing.
Key Takeaways
Slack
- Choose if you want central hub for workplace communication and collaboration
Zoho Cliq
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 4.2/5
What the data shows
On the data below, Zoho Cliq leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Zoho Cliq has the higher user rating (4.2/5 from 64,990 reviews for Slack, 4.5/5 from 377 reviews for Zoho Cliq).
- Slack starts at $8.75/user/mo, billed yearly; Zoho Cliq has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Slack and Zoho Cliq compare in 2026?
On the data below, Zoho Cliq leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Zoho Cliq has the higher user rating (4.2/5 from 64,990 reviews for Slack, 4.5/5 from 377 reviews for Zoho Cliq). Slack starts at $8.75/user/mo, billed yearly; Zoho Cliq has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Slack and Zoho Cliq used for?
Slack: Central hub for workplace communication and collaboration. Zoho Cliq: Optimized communication for your business with secure team chat and collaboration.
What does Slack cost vs Zoho Cliq?
Slack's cheapest paid plan is Pro at $8.75/user/mo, billed yearly; it also has a free plan. Zoho Cliq has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 11, 2026.
What's the main difference between Slack and Zoho Cliq?
Slack's main strength: intuitive interface with low learning curve, most teams adopt it within days. Zoho Cliq's main strength: team messaging.