Slack has become increasingly popular over the years, especially among startups. The informal messaging application took the world by storm a few years ago and hasn’t slowed down since.
Even though Slack is an extremely popular platform, it’s natural to have reservations about trusting it with your work. This is largely because the free version has several drawbacks that should be taken into account. For instance, the platform has limited contextual searching capabilities, relies heavily on the company’s servers and lacks customisation options.
Fortunately, there are several excellent chat solutions that can ensure your remote team’s conversations are sound and clear.
1. HipChat, the precursor to Slack, remains a popular option
HipChat was the original team chat favourite, pre-dating the release of Slack by several years.
Our platform offers all the fundamental features of Slack, including group and private chat, file sharing and integration, guest access, unrestricted file transfer, and secure 256-bit SSL encryption. Furthermore, the user interface is very similar to that of Slack.
HipChat is an affordable alternative to Slack. Its free version offers twice as much search history as Slack, while its professional membership costs just $2 USD per user per month – only a third of what Slack charges for its least expensive package.
If you want the added protection and dependability that come with running your own HipChat server, you can do so, although this will come at a higher expense. Unfortunately, Slack does not offer this option.
Although HipChat has its advantages, it does have a few downsides. Many users who have switched from Slack have noted that the platform is slower and less responsive due to the absence of customisation options and the less modern user interface design.
2. Jostle: An Elegant and Feature-Rich Platform Built for Enterprises
For some, the minimalist design of Slack may not be desirable. They may require additional features and greater control. According to a survey conducted by softwareadvice.com, 60% of project teams prefer using project management software that is feature-rich for collaboration and communication, rather than relying solely on a chat service.
Jostle’s aim is to narrow the divide between companies and their employees by presenting a robust intranet platform with social networking capabilities. Our product offers top-notch administrative features, including event management, a centralised file library, multi-team support, and comprehensive user profiles, alongside enterprise-level chat features comparable to Slack. Additionally, the interface is user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing.
A significant issue for many businesses is the general lack of enthusiasm for using chat software. If only a handful of individuals within a company or team are utilising chat search and other advanced communication technologies, then the true potential of these tools isn’t being fully realised. Reports indicate that employee engagement may increase by 500% with Jostle, which is why the company uses user engagement as its primary metric for measuring performance.
Since remote work has become standard practice for many companies, preserving a robust team culture has grown more difficult. To confront this issue, Jostle was established. Brad Palmer, the CEO of Jostle, offered insight into the platform, saying:
According to Jostle, its platform offers remote companies the most concrete embodiment of the organisation, serving as a central platform for workers to be a part of the corporate culture, gain insight into the company’s strategic goals, and receive recognition for their hard work.
Similar to Slack, this system is entirely cloud-based, and as such, has certain limitations. Unfortunately, Jostle cannot be installed on an individual server. Packages begin with a minimum of 25 users and cost $8 USD per person, making it more costly than Slack. However, as the number of users grows, the price per user decreases, making it a valuable investment for larger companies.
3. The Power of Open Source to Effect Change
Mattermost, endorsed by GitLab, proudly offers itself as the most prominent open-source alternative to Slack and claims to be superior in virtually every aspect.
Mattermost’s Team Edition provides an extensive range of features that are nearly comparable to those included in Slack’s premium plans, along with some additional benefits. The syntax highlighting of code blocks is an especially valuable feature for the remote IT community, enabling developers to exchange code snippets within the messaging platform in a precise and simple manner.
When collaborating with remote employees, several factors need to be considered. One significant advantage of Mattermost is its support for a vast array of languages and alphabets, making it a more inclusive platform for workers who may not be fluent in English. Furthermore, users only need to remember one login to access all of their teams, regardless of the number, which is an incredibly convenient aspect of the platform.
Lastly, Mattermost provides almost limitless customisation possibilities, including complete markdown formatting for all messages and highly customisable themes, allowing your business and teams to establish a consistent presence.
It’s important to weigh the drawbacks of using Mattermost, as it requires its own server and the business version can be quite pricey, starting at $20 USD per user. However, it’s worth noting that the free edition of Mattermost provides more features than its commercial counterparts. Regrettably, there is no cloud-based alternative, as provided by Slack.
Concluding Thoughts
Slack is undoubtedly a remarkable platform, and its achievements are well-deserved. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to remember that we do not live in a world where one solution fits all circumstances, and it’s possible that Slack may not be appropriate for your particular requirements.
It’s evident that all three of the previously mentioned options are not only viable alternatives, but they also have several advantages that make them superior. Remote workers are skilled in using various such tools and depending on the enterprise they are associated with, they may utilise a mixture of products for enabling communication and project management.
In case your business requires support for the onboarding and management of remote staff, our remote staffing agency can assess your current situation and suggest a personalised solution to meet your business’ necessities and cater to your dispersed workforce’s needs. To understand how our remote staffing and management resources can assist your business, please contact us at 888.866.7343, and we’ll be pleased to assist you.
At Works, we take pride in being recognised as one of the top remote staffing companies globally, specialising in identifying and placing exceptional IT professionals in businesses across the United States. We have created a distinct model that has rapidly gained momentum, serving as a quicker and more efficient method of spotting and recruiting the best talent. Explore how our IT Recruiting Experts can aid you in building a successful team in any region of North America.
Send your recruitment query to us at https://www.works.so/hire-talent
