With the coronavirus pandemic not going away any time soon, a lot of businesses are looking for a way to communicate in a remote setting. However, there seems to be a vast array of apps to choose from and finding the best one can be a bit of a challenge.
When building Chanty – our own team chat app for communication and collaboration – we’ve had the opportunity to test quite a few team chat apps. We test each app for a few weeks to find its strengths and weaknesses and ultimately, to learn from it and try to create something even better.
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Today, we’ll be talking about two competitors with similar offerings: Slack vs. Flock. Let’s see how they compare in 2020 and beyond and which one is a better solution for your team.
Slack vs Flock pricing (0:1)
One thing that makes the team chat app business model unique is that the more uses a team has, the more money can be made. With this in mind, team chat app companies like Slack and Flock create freemium business model – to attract companies with a large number of users. You get to try the free version of the product with some limitations and in order to access the full package, you have to upgrade to a paid plan.
Speaking of paid plans, Flock has two at the moment. The cheaper Pro plan is $4.50 per user per month and unlocks unlimited messages and an unlimited searchable history, as well as 10GB of storage per member. The more expensive Enterprise plan starts at is $8 per month and it unlocks 20Gb of storage, Single Sign On and 24/7 dedicated support. Since both teams offer unlimited messages and other similar features, I don’t think that the extra $3.50 is worth the upgrade. With a team of 100 people, this could make a difference of $450 and $800 per month without a significant difference in use.
On the other hand, Slack pricing has been the same for years now. The Pro plan will set you back $7.25 per user while the more expensive Business+ plan is $12.50.
| Slack | Flock |
|---|---|
| Pro $7.25 user/month Business+ $12.50 user/month | Pro plan $4.5 user/month |
When it comes to pricing, the decision is simple. Flock offers more features in the free plan and its paid plan is cheaper in comparison. So, the winner here is obvious – Flock.
| Slack (free) | Flock (free) | |
|---|---|---|
| Video conferencing | For no more than 2 users | For no more than 2 users Up to 20 mins/call |
| Screen sharing | No | No |
| Message history | 90-day messaging | 10 000 messages |
| Integrations | Limit of 10 integrations (with 2000+ integrations in Slack to choose from) | Unlimited (with 50+ integrations overall in Flock) |
Slack vs Flock interface (1:0)
Perhaps I’ve been spoiled with too many SaaS applications I’ve used to date, but I was not too pleased when I first opened Flock. The interface is split up into no less than five different sections on your screen and finding the right piece of information can be a hassle. It takes quite a bit of time to get used to this arrangement and a confusing mix of icons, windows, bars and features. After a while, you get familiar with it but I couldn’t stop wondering if things had to be this complicated.
Flock interface
On the other hand, Slack is much simpler and its two basic features are displayed from the start. Each additional feature is hidden behind some sort of a button. The best of all is that the buttons are placed intuitively in the places where you would expect them. For example, the attach button is right next to the chat window.
Slack interface
In this category, Slack takes the win.
Slack vs Flock: which app is the best for your team?
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Slack vs Flock conversations (1:0)
One of the best things in Slack is being able to start a conversation with yourself. Simply click on your own name on the left side of the screen and type any messages that you only want to see for yourself. It’s great for leaving notes or links you want to review in the future and you can use Slack as your own notepad.
The problem is, those messages will disappear after a certain time period. Slack has a limit of 10,000 searchable messages in its free plan, so once you run out of those 10k, you won’t be able to find your old messages. Unfortunately, the same goes for Flock. With both tools, you have to upgrade to a paid plan to get an unlimited search history.
When it comes to Flock, the one thing we didn’t like was the fact that everyone in your team can see what you’re doing. Whether you create a to-do item or pin a message, everyone in the team is able to see this action.
Threads feature in Slack
Threads are another feature which I’ve come to love in Slack. For each message you write, you can reply to it in a thread. Answers in a thread are displayed under the original message, which keeps things nice and orderly. In Flock, replying to a message does not open a thread but instead creates a completely new message. The same happens when you reply to an existing reply in a thread. In other words, it’s downright confusing.
Reply feature in Flock
Out of a perspective of pure user experience, Slack’s conversations are much easier to use and read, which is why Slack wins in this category.
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Slack vs Flock video calls (0:1)
In the very beginnings of its journey, Flock used Appear.in as an integration to make video calls possible. However, it now offers standalone video calling as a feature. Both tools do video calls fairly well and there were no major hiccups when using either of them. However, the video quality in Flock is noticeably better than that in Slack, which is why we’ll give Flock the upper hand in this category.
Free plans
| Slack | Flock | |
| Amount of users | 1-to-1 calls only | 1-to-1 calls only |
| Call duration | not specified | 20 minutes per call, you can place as many voice and video calls as you need |
| Screen sharing | not available | not available |
Paid plans
| Slack | Flock | |
| Amount of users | up to 15 users | up to 20 users |
| Call duration | not specified | unlimited |
| Screen sharing | yes | yes |
Some bugs occurred during a video call in Slack
Slack vs Flock notifications (1:0)
We all know how important notifications are for our everyday functioning in the workplace. In Slack, you can tinker with notification settings down to the minute details. You can choose when you receive them, for what types of messages and when specifically you do not want to be disturbed.
Notification settings in Slack
Notification preferences in Slack
Flock’s notifications are not so sophisticated. You can turn on your do-not-disturb mode, but only at the press of a button. In other words, you cannot set a certain time frame when you won’t receive any notifications. The other notification settings are very basic as well.
When it comes to notifications, Slack takes the prize.
Slack vs Flock file sharing (1:0)
Without beating around the bush, I’ll go ahead and say that Slack has better file-sharing options. First of all, you can upload files of up to 1GB in size, compared to 100MB in Flock. What’s even better is that Slack allows you to search within your uploaded documents, which is a feature that Flock is missing – but more on that in the next section.
We’ve Tried 8 Slack Alternatives (Our Team’s Feedback) Slack vs Microsoft Teams: Which Tool is Ahead of the Game? Slack vs Discord – Gaming, Working or Both? (Our Team’s Feedback)You may also like:
Slack vs Flock search (1:0)
As mentioned, both apps have a limited search history of up to 10k messages. When searching in Flock, you can specify what you want to search in: a contact or a conversation, making the search quicker and more efficient. On the other hand, Slack even allows you to choose the time period you want to search for and you can exclude certain search elements as well.
Search filters in Flock
Search filters in Slack
One super cool feature in Slack is that you can search the documents you uploaded. For example, you can search the contents of a Word or PDF file, which can come in very handy.
With everything said and done, the search feature is much more advanced in Slack, so it wins in yet another category.
Slack vs Flock integrations (1:0)
When it comes to integrations, they’ve started as something nice to have and become an integral part of any team chat app. Among others, a good team chat app needs to have integrations with key workplace apps, such as Google Workspace, Dropbox/Box, various project management apps and others.
Once again, Slack is the clear winner here, purely on the basis of numbers. At the moment of writing, Slack integrates with more than 2,000 third-party applications, while Flock only integrates with the help of Zapier, which becomes quite expensive at some point.
Conclusion
After taking a look at Slack and Flock from different angles, we’ve come up with the following table with the results of Slack vs Flock battle.
| Slack | Flock | |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | 1 | 0 |
| Conversations | 1 | 0 |
| Pricing | 0 | 1 |
| Video calls | 0 | 1 |
| File sharing | 1 | 0 |
| File search | 1 | 0 |
| Notifications | 1 | 0 |
| Integrations | 1 | 0 |
| Total score | 6 | 2 |
Even though they seem similar, Slack and Flock are two completely different beasts. Even though it costs more, Slack comes out on top as the more capable tool, with better interface, conversations, notifications, file sharing and integrations. If you want the tool which is overall better, go for Slack. If price is your main concern, Flock may still be a good option.
However, if you want the best of both worlds – a capable tool with amazing features and a great pricing – take a look at Chanty! Our free plan comes with unlimited search history, while our paid plans have amazing features like audio and video calls and screen sharing. Give it a try today for free! 😉
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FAQs
How do you compare flock and Slack? ›
The only significant difference is that Slack allows unlimited private and public channels, while Flock offers up to 10 public channels in the free plan. However, if you're looking for an even more cost-effective solution for your team, you can consider Pumble as it offers better functionality even in the free version.
What makes Slack better than teams? ›Slack has more integrations, a better bot, and slightly better usability. Microsoft Teams is a little bit cheaper, offers marginally better free plans, and integrates natively with Office 365 tools.
What is better than Slack? ›The best alternatives to Slack include Flowdock, Rocket. Chat, and RingCentral Video. Slack alternatives work well for various companies.
Why is Slack better than zoom? ›If Zoom is a video tool at its core, then Slack's heart is in messaging. If you're looking for a place to consistently communicate with the rest of your team, Slack can give you that. It offers everything from group messaging with message threading to one-on-one conversations.
What is a benefit of flocking behavior? ›Flocking helps birds notice and defend against predators, as they can all look in different directions to see threats. In addition, if a predator should come upon a flock, it can be distracted and confused by the swirling bodies and have a more difficult time picking out a single prey bird to target.
What is flock used to describe? ›: a group of animals (such as birds or sheep) assembled or herded together. : a group under the guidance of a leader. especially : a church congregation.
What is a weakness of Slack? ›There is minimum file storage. When files are sent through Slack instead of email, it can be frustrating because you only get as much storage as you choose to pay for as a company, so Slack slowly deletes files over time. It can be a distraction. If you're not careful, you can easily get sucked into every discussion.
What are the key differences between Slack and teams? ›Teams navigation is more focused on teams, while Slack puts more emphasis on channels, work areas that users create around projects, topics, or teams. Slack's interface is more visual than Teams' and a bit more fun.
What is the main benefit of Slack? ›Slack organizes conversations into channels, where everyone can come together in one place to share ideas, make decisions and move work forward. It helps teams operate faster and stay in sync, wherever they are.
When should you not use Slack? ›- @Channel. ...
- Sending multiple messages in a row. ...
- Replying in-channel instead of in a thread. ...
- Posting the same message in multiple channels. ...
- Using Group DMs. ...
- Making every conversation public. ...
- Not acknowledging messages.
Who is Slack's biggest competitor? ›
- Office 365 (including SharePoint Online)
- Adobe Acrobat (Document Cloud)
- Google Workspace.
- Atlassian Confluence.
- Yammer Social Software.
- Chatter.
- Zimbra.
- HCL Connections.
Operating system support
1, 2022, Slack will no longer support the following operating systems (OS): Mac OS: 10.13 and below Windows OS: Windows 10 version 2004 and below. Windows Server version 2004 and below. Android OS: 8.1 and below.
Slack is a communication hub for any size organization, but when you work within larger groups, it's worth taking a little extra care to be deliberate and considerate about the ways you interact with everyone.
Does Slack help or hurt productivity? ›Teams using Slack report shorter sales cycles, a 25% increase in potential closed deals and 21% faster internal response times.
Is Slack good for small teams? ›In general, Slack can be the better choice for small businesses and businesses that need a communication tool that integrates with certain apps that Teams doesn't support.
What are some examples of flocking? ›An example of typical cooperative behaviour is 'flocking', where 'animals' move around in formation. Sheep provide a good example of flocking in nature, where there is one leader and the rest follow. Zebras also stay together which makes them safer; it's difficult for a predator to distinguish one zebra from the rest.
Who came up with the 3 rules for flocking behavior? ›It was developed by Craig Reynolds in 1986. The behavior of the animals (also called agent or boid) is defined by a simple set of rules. Every agent is following exatly the same set of rules which leads to complex motion and interaction of the flock.
What is the disadvantage of flocking? ›Flocking can have some disadvantages; increased competition among members for nesting spots, competition for mates, competition for food when food is scarce, and disease can spread through a flock quickly.
How do you use flock in a short sentence? ›Thousands of people flocked to the beach this weekend. Huge numbers of birds had flocked together by the lake. flock to do something People flocked to hear him speak.
What's another word for flock? ›OTHER WORDS FOR flock
1 bevy, covey, flight, gaggle; brood, hatch, litter; shoal, school, swarm. 2 group, company; assembly.
How do you use flock of people in a sentence? ›
flock verb (MOVE IN GROUP)
to move or come together in large numbers: Hundreds of people flocked to the football match. [ + to infinitive ] Crowds of people flocked to see the Picasso exhibition.
- Set reminders using Slackbot. ...
- Stop distracting notifications and set 'deep work' time. ...
- Capture notes or tasks in Slack for easy access. ...
- Save important messages for easy reference. ...
- 'Star' people or channels to avoid time-consuming scrolling.
Mute, pause or set hours for notifications
Muting channels and conversations as well as setting notification hours can also help reduce stress.
- Try moving all conversations for a key project into Slack for 72 hours. Why it matters. ...
- Reach each other with @mentions. Why it matters. ...
- One-click responses and approvals: Say it with emoji. Why it matters. ...
- Keep yourself in the know. Why it matters. ...
- Add the tools you use every day.
While Slack has grown steadily in daily active users (DAUs), from six million when Teams launched to 12 million in 2020, Microsoft Teams has surged ahead, currently at 75 million DAUs. This is partly due to Microsoft marketing Teams as a catch-all solution for people and organisations affected by COVID-19.
What is a good reason to start a Slack huddle? ›Be it brainstorming ideas, solving time-sensitive issues or catching up after a long weekend, sometimes it's easier to talk things through. Slack huddles are there to do just that, right from where you're already working.
What does Slack stand for? ›Slack stands for “Searchable Log of All Communication and Knowledge” and is a chat and messaging app that is now used by over three quarters of Fortune 100 companies.
What are some fun facts about Slack? ›Slack has come a long way since its inception back in 2009. The Slack number of employees stands at 1,664 people worldwide, and the platform is compatible with 4,000 different apps. Plus, more than 1.5 billion messages per month are sent using Slack.
How Slack is ruining work? ›He sees Slack as a particularly “scary offender” in stopping people getting their work done because it encourages them to be constantly distracted. It's scary because messenger-based systems directly tap into how humans seek to reward themselves, and the long term result is unhealthy.
Can my boss see my slacks? ›There's a good chance your boss can get access to your Slack messages. Admins can export messages from public channels, but employers on either Slack's free tier or paid tier need to submit a request to Slack before they can access your private chats.
What is Slack etiquette? ›
Slack etiquette is a code of behavior that helps the preservation of workspace boundaries. It promotes a harmonious and comfortable baseline for communication. It also maximizes the vast features that Slack offers. Good Slack etiquette isn't only for others.
Why do companies use Slack over teams? ›Generally speaking, Teams is good for large businesses, whereas some of its strengths might go unused with smaller teams. Slack is the better option if you want flexibility in choosing apps and add-ons, use messaging more than calls, and want the best customization options for notifications.
Is Slack owned by Amazon? ›Slack is partnering with Amazon in a multiyear agreement that means all Amazon employees will be able to start using Slack. As part of the deal, Slack will migrate its voice and video calling features over to Amazon's Chime platform alongside a broader adoption of Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Is Slack owned by Apple? ›Slack is an instant messaging program designed by Slack Technologies and owned by Salesforce. Although Slack was developed for professional and organizational communications, it has also been adopted as a community platform.
Why do companies use Slack and not discord? ›Slack has better integrations (but you can work around that)
Slack offers thousands of integrations with all kinds of business applications, from Google Drive to Zoom to Twitter. Discord doesn't really offer official integrations, relying instead on bots built by third parties.
Slack is up and running
Troubleshoot connection issues or email us at feedback@slack.com.
Yes! Like many providers of workplace communications, Google now has a Slack alternative. Google Chat is the team communications app offered by Google. It has many features similar to Slack like direct messaging, group conversations, file sharing, and video meetings.
Who Is Slack's target audience? ›Slack aims to upgrade communication within an organization by replacing inefficient emails. Its audience includes startups, corporates, SMEs, and anyone with a team/community to formally communicate with.
How does Slack improve communication? ›Slack lets you change up your communication style to engage specific types of teams and personalities. Grab people's attention by strategically using videos, polls, GIFs and living documents to connect with employees, clients or the entire company.
Is it OK to Slack off at work sometimes? ›"Slacking off," when done judiciously, can make you a healthier, happier and more productive worker.
What is similar to flock? ›
- throng.
- swarm.
- crowd.
- horde.
- multitude.
- herd.
- legion.
- mob.
flock verb (MOVE IN GROUP)
to move or come together in large numbers: Hundreds of people flocked to the football match. [ + to infinitive ] Crowds of people flocked to see the Picasso exhibition.
We have listed all the opposite words for flock alphabetically. disperse. banish. besprinkle. break up.
What is the difference between herd and flock? ›Both herd and flock are used of animals (and usually farm animals) that are domesticated and kept under the care of a person. In this particular use, herd tends to be used of cattle or other bovine animals, and flock tends to be used of sheep and goats.
How can I use flock in a sentence? ›Thousands of people flocked to the beach this weekend. Huge numbers of birds had flocked together by the lake. flock to do something People flocked to hear him speak.
How do you use flock in a sentence? ›They kept a small flock of sheep. They are gregarious birds and feed in flocks. These cases all attracted flocks of famous writers. The public have flocked to the show.
Is flocking a group behavior? ›Flocking is the phenomenon that individuals all move with approximately the same velocity, so that they remain together as a group. Animals that exhibit flocking range in size from buffalo to bacteria. Biologists were the first scientists to investigate flocking.
Where do you use flock? ›The word flock refers to a group of animals, like birds or sheep, that have congregated together. The flock of pigeons at the park is so tame that they'll eat right out of your hand. You can also use flock to mean a congregation of people, like a flock of children at the zoo, or a group of people belonging to a church.
What is flock communication? ›Flock is a cloud-based tool that facilitates team communication. It is suitable for businesses of all sizes across a variety of industries and offers video and audio calling, screen sharing, text chat, integration with other business applications and more.
What does flock mean in text? ›flock verb (MOVE IN GROUP)
to move or come together in large numbers: Hundreds of people flocked to the game. [ + to infinitive ] Crowds of people flocked to see the Picasso exhibition.
What can I say instead of glad? ›
- pleased.
- delighted.
- thankful.
- satisfied.
- happy.
- thrilled.
- gratified.
- joyful.
verbaccumulate, come together. aggregate. amass. array. assemble.
What is the opposite of crowd crowd? ›a) Deserted- It refers to a place that is no longer occupied or crowded by people. It is opposite in meaning to crowded. Hence, it is the correct option. b) Lonely- It refers to someone who is alone and has no company.
What is a group of flock called? ›Flock, a collective noun for various animal groups: Flock (birds), a group of birds. Flock, a herd of sheep, goats or similar animals. Flock, a crowd of people.
Is a group of people called a herd? ›A collective noun is a word for a group of specific items, animals or people. For example, a group of ships is called a fleet, a group of cows is called a herd, a groupd of lions is called a pride, a group of baseball players is called a team, and a group of ants is called a colony.
What is the meaning of flock and followers? ›Flock refers to the group of people or animals. Followers refers to the people who follow or support something.