Best software · Communications
9 Best Team Chat Apps for Small Business of 2026
This list is for small businesses, roughly 2 to 50 people, choosing a chat tool where the free or starter plan does most of the work. We compared documented features and published prices for 9 team chat apps and looked hardest at what each free plan includes: user caps, message history, integrations, calls and storage. Scores weigh features at 40%, ease of use at 30% and value at 30%. Prices were checked on the vendors' own pages in November 2026.
By the Mojolin research desk · Updated November 12, 2026 · 9 tools compared · Prices checked on vendor pages, latest November 12, 2026
Questions or corrections: editorial@mojolin.com
Mojolin is self-funded How we score
Pumble is our top pick for small teams because its free plan has no user cap and keeps every message searchable, with 1:1 voice and video meetings included. Slack has the deepest feature set, with more than 2,600 apps, but its free plan hides messages older than 90 days and connects only 10 apps. Zoho Cliq is the best value once you pay, with a flat US$18 per month Standard plan for up to 25 users, and Microsoft Teams Essentials costs $4.00 per user per month paid yearly for teams that want meetings for up to 300 people. Chanty's free plan stops at 5 team members, Flock's free Starter plan is built for 1 to 20 members, and Zulip and Twist suit teams that prefer threaded, slower conversations.
Top picks
Runner-up
Slack
8.6 / 10
Small teams that connect many apps and work with clients in shared channels
Read the review →Comparison table
| # | Tool | Pricing | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Pumble | Small teams that want a free plan with no user cap | Free for unlimited users; Pro $2.49 per seat per month billed annually ($2.99 monthly); Business $3.99; Enterprise $6.99 | 8.7 |
| 2 | Slack | Small teams that connect many apps and work with clients in shared channels | Free plan with 90 days of message history; Pro and Business+ priced per user (see vendor pricing, USD check pending) | 8.6 |
| 3 |  Zoho Cliq | Teams of 5 to 25 that want a low flat monthly price | Free plan; Standard US$18 per month for up to 25 users, or US$16.20 per month billed yearly; Professional US$2 per user per month (minimum 10 users) | 8.5 |
| 4 |  Microsoft Teams | Small businesses already using Outlook, Word and Excel | Teams Essentials $4.00 per user per month paid yearly; Microsoft 365 Business Basic $7.00 per user per month paid yearly | 8.4 |
| 5 |  Google Chat | Small businesses that already pay for Google Workspace | Included with Google Workspace plans; 14-day free trial (see vendor pricing, USD check pending) | 8.2 |
| 6 |  Chanty | Micro teams of up to 5 people who also want task boards | Free for up to 5 team members; Business plan priced per user (see vendor pricing, USD check pending) | 8.0 |
| 7 |  Zulip | Small technical teams that prefer threaded conversations | Free cloud plan; Cloud Standard $6.67 per user per month billed annually ($8 monthly); Cloud Plus $10 (10 users minimum); self-hosted Free | 7.9 |
| 8 |  Flock | Teams of up to 20 that want free unlimited integrations | Free Starter plan for teams with 1 to 20 members; Pro priced per user with a 30-day free trial (see vendor pricing, USD check pending) | 7.6 |
| 9 |  Twist | Remote small teams that prefer async threads over live chat | Free plan with 1 month of history; Unlimited US$6 per user per month | 7.4 |
Scoring weights
Every tool gets three editorial scores out of 10, from vendor documentation, product pages and the published price. The overall score is the weighted average below, the same method on every list. Full method
The full ranking
Rank 1 · Best overall
Pumble
Team chat from CAKE.com with a free plan for unlimited users and unlimited message history.
pumble.com8.7
out of 10
Best for: Small teams that want a free plan with no user cap
Pumble fits the brief of this list better than any other tool: a small team can run on the free plan indefinitely. The pricing page lists Free at $0 for an unlimited number of users, with unlimited message history, unlimited channels, voice and video messages and 1:1 voice and video meetings. That is a rare combination, since Slack and Twist limit history and Chanty caps the free plan at 5 people.
The first paid tier, Pro, costs $2.49 per seat per month billed annually or $2.99 billed monthly, and adds group meetings, screen sharing with annotations, customizable sidebar sections, workspace analytics, 10 GB of storage per seat and up to 10 apps and integrations. Business at $3.99 adds permissions, guest users and unlimited integrations. The trade-off is ecosystem size: Pumble's integration list is short next to Slack's directory, and guests for clients or contractors sit on Business. For a team that mostly needs channels, direct messages and quick calls, it is the lowest-cost complete option we found.
Standout feature
The free plan has no user limit and unlimited message history.
Use cases
A 15-person retail or service business
Move staff conversations off personal messaging apps
Outcome: Every employee joins free with full searchable history
A small agency
Run team calls with screen sharing on Pro
Outcome: Group meetings without a separate video subscription
Teams already using Clockify or Plaky
Connect time tracking and projects to chat
Outcome: Native integrations at no extra cost
Key features
- Free plan for an unlimited number of users with unlimited message history
- Unlimited channels, voice and video messages and 1:1 voice and video meetings on Free
- Pro adds group meetings, screen sharing and screen share annotations
- Pro includes 10 GB storage per seat and up to 10 apps and integrations
- Business adds permissions, guest users and unlimited integrations at $3.99 per seat per month billed annually
Pros
- No user cap and no history limit on the free plan
- Pro costs $2.49 per seat per month billed annually, or $2.99 billed monthly
- Free native integrations with Clockify and Plaky from the same company
Cons
- Group meetings and screen sharing require Pro
- Guest users require the Business plan
- Pro connects up to 10 apps, far fewer than Slack's paid plans
Rank 2 · Runner-up
Slack
Channel-based messaging with huddles, Slack Connect for outside partners and a directory of more than 2,600 apps.
slack.com8.6
out of 10
Best for: Small teams that connect many apps and work with clients in shared channels
Slack has the most complete feature set here, and its free plan is a real product rather than a trial. Free keeps 90 days of searchable messages, connects up to 10 apps from a directory of more than 2,600, and includes 1:1 huddles with screen sharing and 1:1 direct messages with people outside your company through Slack Connect. AI conversation summaries, AI search and daily recaps also appear on the Free plan card.
The limits are what push small teams to pay. After 90 days, older messages are no longer visible, and group huddles, unlimited apps and group external messaging with up to 250 organizations all sit on Pro. Pro is priced per user, and our location returned euro prices, so we list the USD price as pending. For a small team that lives in tools like Jira, HubSpot or Google Drive, or that talks to clients every day, Slack is worth the per seat cost. A team that mainly needs internal chat can get further on Pumble's free plan.
Standout feature
Over 2,600 apps in the Slack App Directory.
Use cases
A small software or product team
Pipe GitHub, Jira and alert notifications into channels
Outcome: Updates land where the team already talks
A consultancy with a few clients
Open one Slack Connect channel per client
Outcome: Fewer email threads with clients
Founders
Use AI daily recaps to catch up on busy channels
Outcome: Less time spent scrolling back
Key features
- Free plan: 90 days of searchable messages, up to 10 apps and 1:1 huddles
- Pro: unlimited message history, unlimited app integrations and group huddles with screen sharing
- Group external messages with up to 250 outside organizations on Pro
- AI conversation summaries, AI search and AI daily recaps listed on every plan
- Slack App Directory with over 2,600 apps, including Salesforce, Jira and Google Drive
Pros
- The largest app directory in this list, with over 2,600 apps
- Slack Connect lets you message clients and vendors in shared channels
- AI conversation summaries are listed on the Free plan
Cons
- Free plan hides messages older than 90 days
- Free plan connects only 10 apps and allows only 1:1 huddles
- USD prices did not load from our location, so check the pricing page
Rank 3 · Also great
Zoho Cliq
Zoho's team chat with channels, calls and bots, sold at a flat price for up to 25 users on Standard.
zoho.com8.5
out of 10
Best for: Teams of 5 to 25 that want a low flat monthly price
Zoho Cliq's pricing is built for small companies. The Standard edition costs US$18 per month for up to 25 users, or US$16.20 per month on yearly billing, so a 20-person team pays the same as a 5-person team. That works out to well under a dollar per person at the top of the range, which no per seat tool here can match.
The free plan is also generous on calls: audio and video meetings with up to 100 participants and screen sharing, capped at 60 minutes per meeting. Search is capped at 10,000 messages on Free, and Standard removes that cap while adding external channels for working with other companies, call recording and basic usage reports. Storage is 100 GB per organization on both. Cliq connects natively to other Zoho apps such as Zoho People and Zoho Calendar, and supports bots, functions and schedulers for automation. The trade-off is a busier interface than Slack or Pumble, and Professional, which adds team management and task management, requires at least 10 users.
Standout feature
Standard costs a flat US$18 per month for up to 25 users.
Use cases
A 20-person company
Pay one flat monthly fee for team chat
Outcome: A predictable bill that does not rise with each hire
Businesses already on Zoho CRM or Zoho People
Get record updates and HR alerts inside chat
Outcome: Fewer tools to check during the day
Teams that hold all-hands calls
Run meetings with up to 100 people on the free plan
Outcome: No separate meeting subscription for short calls
Key features
- Free plan with 10,000 searchable messages and unlimited 1:1 and group chats
- Audio and video meetings with up to 100 participants on Free, up to 60 minutes
- Standard adds external channels, call recording and basic usage reports
- 100 GB of file storage per organization on Free and Standard
- Bots, functions and schedulers for automation, with 100 bots per organization on Free
Pros
- Standard is a flat US$18 per month for up to 25 users
- Free plan already includes meetings with up to 100 participants
- Built-in links to Zoho People, Zoho Calendar and Zoho Notebook
Cons
- Free plan search stops at 10,000 messages
- Free plan meetings end at 60 minutes
- Professional and Enterprise require a minimum of 10 users
Rank 4
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft's chat, meetings and calling app, sold alone as Teams Essentials or inside Microsoft 365 business plans.
microsoft.com8.4
out of 10
Best for: Small businesses already using Outlook, Word and Excel
Microsoft Teams is the natural choice for a small business that already runs on Outlook, Word and Excel. Microsoft sells it two ways: Teams Essentials at $4.00 per user per month paid yearly, and inside Microsoft 365 Business Basic at $7.00 per user per month paid yearly, which adds custom business email and web and mobile Office apps. Both are annual subscriptions.
Teams Essentials includes unlimited group meetings for up to 30 hours with up to 300 people, meeting recordings with transcripts and live captions in English, file sharing, tasks and polling in chat, and 10 GB of cloud storage per user. Microsoft also offers a free version of Teams, but its documented limits, such as group calls of up to 60 minutes, are written for personal and home use, so we do not count it as a business free plan. Chat in Teams is built around meetings and files more than around channels and bots, which some small teams find heavier than Slack or Pumble. If your staff already live in Microsoft 365, it is still the lowest-friction option.
Standout feature
Teams Essentials includes group meetings for up to 30 hours with up to 300 people.
Use cases
An accounting or law office
Chat and meet next to shared Word and Excel files
Outcome: Files and conversations in one Microsoft account
A small business that runs client webinars
Host meetings for up to 300 people on Teams Essentials
Outcome: Chat and large meetings under one subscription
Office managers
Record meetings with transcripts for absent staff
Outcome: Fewer repeat meetings
Key features
- Unlimited chat messages, file attachments and search
- Group meetings for up to 30 hours with up to 300 people on Teams Essentials
- Meeting recordings with transcripts and live captions in English
- 10 GB of cloud storage per user on Teams Essentials
- File sharing, tasks and polling inside conversations
Pros
- Teams Essentials costs $4.00 per user per month paid yearly
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic adds custom business email and web Office apps for $7.00
- Unlimited chat history and search on the paid business plans
Cons
- The free version of Teams is aimed at home use, not business workspaces
- Listed prices are for annual subscriptions
- Third-party app choice and channel design are less flexible than Slack's
Rank 5
Google Chat
Google's team messaging app, included with Google Workspace alongside Gmail, Calendar, Drive and Meet.
google.com8.2
out of 10
Best for: Small businesses that already pay for Google Workspace
Google Chat is the default answer for small businesses that already pay for Google Workspace, because Google lists Chat as included with Workspace at no additional cost. You get spaces for team and project conversations, direct messages, huddles for quick calls and Gemini in Chat, which Google says can catch you up on a conversation, share action items and translate in real time. Chat connects directly to Gmail, Calendar, Drive and Meet, and Google offers tools to migrate data from Slack or Teams.
The Business Starter plan includes 30 GB of pooled storage per person and video meetings with 100 participants, and Business plans can be bought for up to 300 users. There is no standalone free business plan, only a 14-day Workspace trial, and some features listed on the Chat page are limited to Business and Enterprise plans. Integrations outside Google's own apps are thinner than Slack's directory. Our location returned prices in złoty, so the USD price is marked pending.
Standout feature
Included with Google Workspace at no additional cost.
Use cases
A small business using Gmail and Drive
Discuss shared Docs and Sheets in spaces
Outcome: One login for email, files and chat
Teams with staff in several countries
Use Gemini in Chat to translate messages
Outcome: Fewer misunderstandings across languages
Companies leaving Slack
Migrate existing Slack data into Chat
Outcome: One less subscription to pay
Key features
- Spaces that support up to 500,000 members
- Huddles for quick real-time calls inside Chat
- Gemini in Chat to catch up on conversations, share action items and translate in real time
- Integrations with Gmail, Calendar, Drive and Meet
- Migration of existing data from Slack or Teams
Pros
- Included with Google Workspace at no additional cost
- Business Starter adds 30 GB pooled storage per user and Meet calls with 100 participants
- No extra app to roll out for teams already in Gmail
Cons
- No standalone business free plan; it needs a Workspace subscription
- Some listed features are only on Business and Enterprise plans
- USD prices did not load from our location, so check the pricing page
Rank 6
Chanty
Team chat with built-in task boards, announcement channels and a free plan for up to 5 people.
chanty.com8.0
out of 10
Best for: Micro teams of up to 5 people who also want task boards
Chanty is a tidy option for very small teams. Its free plan includes unlimited public and private chats, unlimited searchable history, unlimited 1:1 audio and video calls, scheduled and disappearing messages, built-in task management and 20 GB of storage per team, plus up to 10 integrations. The catch is size: the free plan stops at 5 team members, with 1 guest user.
The Business plan, priced per user, adds unlimited group chats and channels, group audio and video calls, unlimited screen sharing, to-do lists and task boards, calendar and events, polls and forms, 20 GB of storage per user, SSO and 2FA, HIPAA compliance with a BAA, 3 free guest seats per member and a 99.9% uptime guarantee. That makes it a reasonable pick for small clinics and service businesses that need compliance features without enterprise pricing. Chanty also lists a 50% discount for nonprofits and education. Our location returned euro prices, so the USD price is marked pending.
Standout feature
The free plan keeps unlimited searchable history for up to 5 team members.
Use cases
A three-person startup
Chat and track tasks in one free app
Outcome: No separate task tool in the first months
A small clinic or practice
Use Business with HIPAA compliance and a BAA
Outcome: Staff chat that meets healthcare requirements
Nonprofits
Apply for the 50% nonprofit discount
Outcome: Lower cost for paid features
Key features
- Unlimited searchable history and unlimited 1:1 audio and video calls on Free
- Built-in task management, with to-do lists and task boards on Business
- Announcement channels, scheduled messages and disappearing messages
- File storage of 20 GB per team on Free and 20 GB per user on Business
- Business adds group calls, screen sharing, SSO, 2FA and HIPAA compliance with a BAA
Pros
- Free plan keeps unlimited searchable history
- Tasks live inside chat, so very small teams may skip a separate task app
- Business includes 3 free guest seats per member
Cons
- Free plan is limited to 5 team members and up to 10 integrations
- Group audio and video calls require Business
- USD prices did not load from our location, so check the pricing page
Rank 7
Zulip
Open-source team chat organized by topic threads, available in the cloud or self-hosted.
zulip.com7.9
out of 10
Best for: Small technical teams that prefer threaded conversations
Zulip takes a different approach to chat: every message in a channel belongs to a named topic, so a small team can follow several discussions without them blending together. The Cloud Free plan includes 10,000 messages of search history, up to 5 GB of file storage in total, hundreds of integrations, advanced roles and permissions and guest accounts. Zulip says many organizations qualify for a free Standard plan, including open-source projects, academic research and most small nonprofits.
Cloud Standard costs $6.67 per user per month billed annually or $8 monthly and removes the search limit while adding 5 GB of storage per user and message retention policies. Plus costs $10 per user per month billed annually, with a 10-user minimum, and adds SSO with SAML. Zulip is also 100% open-source with a free self-hosted edition, though mobile notifications there cover up to 10 users for most businesses unless you upgrade. The topic model is its strength and its learning curve.
Standout feature
Topic-based threads inside every channel.
Use cases
A small development team
Discuss several bugs in one channel under separate topics
Outcome: Each thread stays readable later
A small nonprofit
Apply for a sponsored Standard plan
Outcome: Paid features at no cost if eligible
Teams with strict data rules
Run the free self-hosted edition
Outcome: Chat data stays on their own servers
Key features
- Cloud Free with 10,000 messages of search history and up to 5 GB file storage in total
- Hundreds of integrations, advanced roles and permissions and guest accounts on Free
- Cloud Standard adds unlimited search history and 5 GB storage per user
- Self-hosted Free edition with all Zulip features included
- Free Standard plan for eligible open-source projects, academic research and most small nonprofits
Pros
- Topic-based threads keep several conversations apart in one channel
- 100% open-source, with a free self-hosted edition
- Guest accounts and hundreds of integrations on the free cloud plan
Cons
- Cloud Free search history stops at 10,000 messages
- Self-hosted Free sends mobile notifications for up to 10 users for most businesses
- Threading by topic takes some adjustment for teams used to Slack
Rank 8
Flock
Team messenger with channels, to-dos, polls and reminders, with a free Starter plan for 1 to 20 members.
flock.com7.6
out of 10
Best for: Teams of up to 20 that want free unlimited integrations
Flock targets the same small team audience as this list. Its free Starter plan is labeled for teams with 1 to 20 members and includes unlimited 1:1 and group messages, 10,000 searchable messages, 10 public channels, 5 GB of storage per team, a single team admin and 1:1 video calls. Unlike most free plans, Starter lists unlimited third-party apps and integrations, along with unlimited to-dos, polls and reminders.
Pro, described as ideal for teams with 20 to 100 members, adds unlimited search, unlimited private and public channels, 10 GB of storage per team member, multiple admins, group video calls for up to 20 participants, screen sharing and 24/7 priority support, with a 30-day trial that needs no credit card. The free plan has no private channels, which matters for teams that discuss pay or hiring in chat. The Pro price did not render on the pricing page as we fetched it, so it is marked pending.
Standout feature
The free Starter plan includes unlimited third-party apps and integrations.
Use cases
A 10-person sales team
Connect several outside tools to chat on the free plan
Outcome: Notifications from each tool without paying for integrations
Team leads
Run quick polls and set reminders in channels
Outcome: Faster decisions without a separate survey tool
Growing teams near 20 people
Trial Pro for 30 days without a card
Outcome: A test of group video before paying
Key features
- Starter plan for teams with 1 to 20 members with unlimited 1:1 and group messages
- 10,000 searchable messages and 10 public channels on Starter
- Unlimited third-party apps and integrations on every plan
- To-dos, polls, reminders and notes built in
- Pro adds unlimited search, unlimited private and public channels, group video calls for up to 20 participants and 10 GB per member
Pros
- Free Starter plan includes unlimited third-party integrations
- To-dos, polls and reminders without add-ons
- 30-day Pro trial with no credit card required
Cons
- Starter limits search to 10,000 messages and allows only 10 public channels
- Private channels and group video calls require Pro
- Pro price did not display on the page we fetched, so check the pricing page
7.4
out of 10
Best for: Remote small teams that prefer async threads over live chat
Twist is built for teams that do not want to be on call in chat all day. Conversations happen in threads inside channels, so replies stay on topic and people can answer when they are ready. The free plan allows up to 500 member accounts and 500 guest accounts, up to 5 integrations and 5 GB of storage, but you can only view and search the last month of comments and messages. Twist says older data is never deleted and comes back if you upgrade.
The Unlimited plan costs US$6 per user per month and removes every limit: full history, unlimited integrations, unlimited storage and unlimited members and guests, plus priority support. Twist does not list built-in voice or video calls on its pricing page, so most teams pair it with a meeting tool. It is a focused product for remote teams that plan their week in writing, not a general replacement for real-time chat.
Standout feature
The free plan covers up to 500 members and 500 guests.
Use cases
A remote team across time zones
Post weekly updates as threads
Outcome: Everyone replies in their own working hours
Agencies with many freelancers
Add contractors as guests on the free plan
Outcome: Up to 500 guests without paying per seat
Founders tired of constant pings
Move decisions from live chat to threads
Outcome: Fewer interruptions during focus time
Key features
- Threads organized by channel, with comments kept on topic
- Free plan: 1 month of comments and messages, up to 5 integrations and 5 GB storage
- Free plan allows up to 500 member accounts and 500 guest accounts
- Unlimited plan: full history, unlimited integrations and unlimited file storage
- Data is kept after a downgrade and becomes visible again on upgrade
Pros
- Free plan covers up to 500 members and 500 guests
- Unlimited plan is a single tier at US$6 per user per month
- Older messages are stored, not deleted, on the free plan
Cons
- Free plan shows only 1 month of comments and messages
- No built-in calls, so meetings need a separate tool
- Async threads feel slow for teams that want quick back and forth
Frequently asked questions
+What is the best team chat app for a small business?
Pumble is the best team chat app for most small businesses. Its free plan covers an unlimited number of users with unlimited message history, and Pro costs $2.49 per seat per month billed annually as of November 2026. Slack is the stronger pick if you depend on many app integrations.
+Which team chat app has the best free plan?
Pumble has the most generous free plan in our comparison. It has no user cap and keeps unlimited searchable history, while Slack Free keeps 90 days, Twist Free one month, and Chanty Free stops at 5 team members.
+Is Slack free for small teams?
Yes, Slack has a free plan with no time limit. It keeps 90 days of searchable messages, connects up to 10 apps and allows 1:1 huddles; unlimited history and group huddles require the Pro plan.
+What is the cheapest paid team chat app?
Zoho Cliq is cheapest for teams of about 7 to 25 people, at a flat US$18 per month for up to 25 users on Standard. For smaller teams, Pumble Pro at $2.49 per seat per month billed annually costs less in total.
+Is Microsoft Teams free for business?
No, Microsoft's free version of Teams is aimed at personal and home use. The cheapest business option is Teams Essentials at $4.00 per user per month paid yearly, which includes meetings for up to 300 people.
+Do I need a separate chat app if I use Google Workspace?
No, Google Chat is included with Google Workspace at no additional cost. It includes spaces, huddles and Gemini in Chat, so most Workspace customers can start there before paying for another tool.
+Which team chat app is best for a team of 5 people?
Pumble and Chanty both work well for 5 people on their free plans. Both keep unlimited searchable history; Chanty adds built-in task management but its free plan stops at 5 team members, while Pumble has no user cap.
About this list
Updated November 12, 2026 by the Mojolin research desk. Mojolin is self-funded
Questions or corrections: editorial@mojolin.com
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