Looking to build, manage, and monetize your business all in one place? Online communities have become integral components in building loyalty, trust and fostering customer relationships.
They enhance your organization's ability to communicate, grow, and remain relevant. If you've been searching for the perfect community platform for your venture, chances are you’ve come across Slack.
Regarded as one of the OG’s of business communication, it boasts over 54 million monthly users. But, does it really live up to the hype?
In this guide, we take a deep dive into everything Slack has to offer community creators and business leaders. Below, we explore the app’s features, deliver tips to monetize your online community, and provide the very Slack alternatives that will help skyrocket your business’ success.
What is Slack?
Before we jump right in, let’s give a brief overview of Slack. First founded back in 2009, it’s a cloud-based messaging app designed for businesses and their communities. Slack is essentially a huge chatroom, streamlining communication in one private space.
Slack is made up of both public and private channels. In public channels, any team members you’ve invited to the workspace can post. In private channels, specific departments or teams can be segmented off from the larger group. This feature is handy when you need to discuss confidential or sensitive material.
You can also send one-to-one private messages to members of your team.
Key features of Slack
So, now you know some of the key things to look out for in a community-based app, we can move on to discuss the most important features Slack has to offer. We’re going to walk you through all the ins and outs of the platform, so you’re better informed to decide whether or not the app is right for you and your business.
Ease of use
Slack is well known for its user-friendly interface. Setting things up only takes a few minutes, and it comes complete with a guided tour to help speed up the process.
The tools are also easy to find, located in the left-hand navigation panel. Creating new channels is also a breeze, and simply involves clicking the “add channels” button. All channels, direct messages, and apps for each workspace you're a member of are viewable from the “Home” location.
You can also reorganize your channels by clicking on the ‘All workspaces’ dropdown on the left-hand side of the screen. Here you can select ‘Edit’ and reorder workspaces from the menu.
Communication
Communication features are where Slack really excels. There are a number of different ways to contact your community, including messages, voice messages, video calls and huddles.
Huddles are spaces where two or more team members can engage in real-time discussions. To start a huddle, all you need to do is click on the headphone icon in a conversation header to start a conversation with your team.
Slack messaging is instantaneous, ensuring that questions and messages are answered immediately and any feedback is given promptly. The audio-quality for voice messages is clear, and users reported no lags or delays in huddle, with everything working efficiently.
Project management
Slack are now branching out into the realms of project management. Similar to the likes of Monday.com and Trello, you can now plan, track and manage various projects all in one place.
Officially called Lists, this feature helps you triage incoming requests, with several columns dedicated to various items, such as the due date, status tracking,etc…
You can switch these lists into something called a Kanban view, so that each list becomes an individual card sorted into categories.
Lists can also be connected with Slack's built-in workflow manager, and message threads and at-mentions can be attached to any column in a list. The drag-and-drop interface makes moving all the different components a breeze.
Collaboration
Slack has a handy collaboration tool called Canvases. This allows a team to work on the same document in real time.
Perfect for when you need to share information that won’t fit in a simple message, Canvases can be viewed by anyone with access to the channel.
They can be used for a variety of different purposes, including project briefs, meeting notes, or research findings - pretty much anything you’re currently working on. Team members can then collaborate on the documents from the browser, phone or desktop application.
Canvases can be formatted in a few different ways, including the addition of headers, block quotes and bullet-point lists. Audio and video can also be inserted into a canvas, as well as files.
You can delete Canvases once you’re finished with them, and restore them within 24 hours if they need to be recovered.
Automated workflow
If you’re busy and don’t have much time to spare, Slack boasts several automation features that can streamline tedious and time-consuming tasks.
The Workflow Builder, for example, can be as simple or as complex as you like, and can be built from a template, or created from scratch if you need to customize it further.
Workflows can be used for a variety of different purposes, including onboarding new team members, creating weekly meeting aims and agendas, and automating emails using Outlook and Gmail.
Once you’ve published a Workflow, you can:
- Modify or remove workflows
- Download workflow responses
- Save workflow form responses
- View workflows that are in progress or completed, along with any errors
- View workflow activity
- Edit, delete or change who can use existing workflows
Bear in mind if you want access to Slack's Workflow Builder, it’s a paid feature included in the Slack Pro, Business+ and Enterprise subscriptions, so you won’t be able to access it during the free trial.
Security
Slack offers several security features to protect your data. These include:
- Audit logs and monitoring: To help you detect any unusual activity.
- End-to-end data encryption: Prevents your data from being decoded.
- Two-factor authentication: Slack requires a second form of identification as well as your password, to provide an added layer of safety.
- Single sign-on (SSO): Gives members access to Slack through an identity provider (IDP) of your choice.
- Role-based permissions: So you can customize access for different members of your seam.
- Session durations: You’ll automatically be logged out after a certain amount of time.
Forced password reset: If there’s a security threat, all users will be required to reset their passwords.
Slack also adheres to the EU’s General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) requirements, known as the toughest privacy and security law in the world.
Analytics
Slack also has some analytics features, though not incredibly extensive. The analytics tool allows you to view reports from the last 30 days, the previous month, or all time, depending on what you require.
Some of the things you view using Slack’s analytics include:
- Member analytics
The total number of members, including those with a provisioned account, claimed account or outstanding invitation. You’ll also be able to see the number of monthly active members who have read or sent a message in one channel or direct message. - Channel analytics
You’ll be able to check out when channels were created, how many messages have been posted in them, along with the members who have posted or viewed these messages. - Activity overview
On your dashboard, you’ll be able to check how many people are currently active.
You can export member and channel analytics as CSVs if you’d prefer to have them all in one readable document. Bear in mind, however, that the data in these reports isn’t updated in real-time, which means there could be some inaccuracies depending on how long the update takes.
Slack AI
Slack also has an AI feature that can summarise content shared in channels and threads to help you keep up to date. It can also be used to create summaries of who’s working on a specific project, so you can keep track of what team members are involved in.
Slack AI also lets you search public conversations and shared files by typing in specific questions, and scanning the channel to find the answers you need.
If you’re taking part in a huddle, and need to summarise the conversation, Slack’s AI tool can also take notes to refer back to in future.
Finally, Slack AI is also capable of creating daily recaps, giving you summaries of some of the key things discussed in different channels.
Slack set-up guide: step-by-step
Now that we’ve covered some of the key features of Slack, it’s time to move on to our setup guide. Here, we’ll take you through all the steps to create your own work/community space on Slack.
Download the Slack app
Slack is free to download for both mobile devices and desktops. Once it’s ready to use on your device, simply click the ‘Get Started’ button on the screen to begin the setup process.
Tap Continue with email, or continue with Apple or Google to continue. Slack will forward a confirmation email after you’ve inputted your details.
Check your inbox, and confirm your email before returning to Slack, then you’ll then be guided through a series of prompts.
Upload icon and fill in profile details
The first thing you’ll need to do is upload your icon. This is usually your company’s logo and will help future members identify your workspace.
Next up, you’ll need to fill in your profile details. Slack has customized profile fields that allow you to fill in pertinent information, like your name, location, role, and contact number.
Add channels
Now you can start adding different channels to your Slack. The number of channels you create and whether or not they’re private or public is totally up to you. These channels will be where the majority of work will take place. For businesses, Slack recommends creating separate channels for:
- Announcements: Where you can share company-wide events and updates.
- Projects: Channels dedicated to specific projects within the workspace.
- Social: Channels for casual or informal conversations outside of work topics. This could be as simple as a ‘pets’ chat, where members are encouraged to send in photos of their four-legged friends.
Invite members
Now it’s time to invite members to your Slack channel. Slack has a customizable email template you can send out to members, explaining the basics of the platform and how to get set up.
From the Slack desktop app, click your workspace name in the top-left corner and look for the Invite people to... option in the menu, then you can begin adding them to the appropriate channels.
You can also appoint admins to your Slack, who can help manage the different channels. To do this:
- Click your workspace name on the left-hand side
- Select Tools & Settings
- Tap Manage members
- Tap the three dots beside the member's name
- Choose Change account type
- Choose Workspace admin
- Save changes
Slack pros and cons
Now we’ve given you the lowdown on how to get set up, it’s important to discuss the pros and cons associated with Slack for businesses/communities. Though the platform does provide users with powerful communication tools, there are some limitations to Slack’s free plan features.
Pros
✅ User interface: Slack is incredibly easy to navigate, and comes complete with a guided tour making it ideal for newbies.
✅ Real-time messaging: In remote collaboration and office communication settings, tools like direct messaging, private channels, file sharing, and emoji reactions help streamline collaboration efficiently.
✅ Integrations: Slack boasts over 2,600 integrations, making it easy to share files, partake in screen sharing sessions, and manage tasks all in one convenient place.
✅ Search function: Slack’s search function makes it easy to navigate messages, files, and conversations in a matter of seconds.
✅ Accessibility: Slack is available as a downloadable app for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It can also be used in certain web browsers, like Google Chrome and Safari.
Cons
❌ Lack of features: While Slack has many advantages that may benefit workplaces, it offers fewer features tailored toward online communities.
❌ Cost: While Slack does have a free plan, you’ll need to upgrade to one of the more advanced packages to take advantage of all its features, which can become costly, especially for larger enterprises.
❌ Security: Though Slack has strict security features in place, this doesn’t mean it’s totally impenetrable. The risk of data interception, phishing attacks, and unauthorized access still remains.
❌ Learning curve: Though Slack is known for its ease of use, there is a potential learning curve when you first sign up. The information and number of channels can be overwhelming, especially at the beginning.
❌ Lack of monetization: For community-based platforms, Slack has no monetization options without a third-party service.
How much does Slack cost?
As we mentioned in our features guide, one of the most important things to consider when choosing a community-based platform is cost. You need to find an app that’s reasonably priced, while still delivering all of the features it needs to thrive.
Below, you’ll find an outline of each of Slack’s pricing plans, plus what they have to offer you and your business.
Free plan
Slack has a free plan which can be a good option if you’re just getting started out or you’re running a small team/community. It covers your business's most basic needs, including direct messaging, with limited integration features.
Cost: $0
Key Features:
- Integrations: Connections with up to ten third-party apps, including Google Drive, Office 365, and Trello.
- Messages and files: You’ll have access to up to 90 days of message history and file storage.
- Communication: The Free Plan lets you partake in one-on-one audio and video meetings, but limits group calls.
Pro plan
Slack’s Pro plan is the most popular option for medium-sized businesses. It has several useful tools that can aid project management, including unlimited direct messages and audio and video meetings.
Cost: $8.75 per user per month
Key features:
- Usage trends: This grants you access to some of Slack’s most basic analytics tools, including message volume, channel usage, and user activity.
- Group calls: You’ll be able to make group calls with up to 50 participants.
- Customizable retention policies: You set the rules for file storage according to your company’s rules and regulations.
- Unlimited integrations: Unlike the Basic Plan, you’ll be able to install as many integrations as you need.
- Guest access: You can collaborate with other companies, inviting them as guests to your Slack workspace.
- 24/7 support: With the Pro Plan, you’ll be able to contact Slack’s support team around the clock.
Business+ plan
This is best for mid-sized to large businesses that need enhanced security, along with enhanced administrative controls and compliance features.
Cost: $15 per user per month
Key features:
- 24/7 Support: Like the Pro Plan, you’ll have access to Slack’s 24/7 support team, but with a four-hour response time to keep things running as efficiently as possible.
- 99.99% uptime SLA: This means that Slack's service will be available for at least 99.99% of the month, making collaboration as smooth as possible.
- Security: With the Business+ Plan, you can rest easy with customizable retention settings, Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tool integrations, and data exports.
- Permission controls: You’ll have more power over who can post in channels, or use mentions that notify multiple team members.
- SAML-based single sign-on (SSO): So your team can log into multiple platforms with just one set of credentials.
Enterprise grid plan
This is best suited for large enterprises that require a solid set of features designed to increase security and foster collaboration across several workspaces.
Cost: Custom Slack pricing
Key features:
- Unlimited workspaces: You can host multiple Slack workspaces all in one place, perfect for large enterprises with several different departments.
- Security: The Enterprise Grid Plan comes with the most advanced security features of all the packages, including HIPAA compliance, DLP integration, data encryption, and enterprise key management.
- 24/7 support: As well as the four-hour response time from customer support, Slack will also provide access to customer success teams who take care of onboarding, training, and optimizing Slack.
- eDiscovery and legal holds: This facilitates legal teams in obtaining and preserving communications for audits and documentation.
What features should a community app have?
There are a range of community apps out there, not limited to Slack. Some features can be absolute game-changers for your business, while others might prove redundant. You need to take note of the kind of features your community requires committing to Slack, or any of its competitors.
Here are some of the most important features to look out for:
🔗 Integration: One of the key features to look out for in community-based apps is integration. You need to be able to easily integrate it with existing systems, like tech stacks. This is particularly important if you’re using it in the workspace.
😊 Ease of use: You need an app with a user-friendly interface, making it as easy as possible for your team/community members to get to grips with. If your community is super tech-savvy, then you can stand to choose an app with a more complex user interface. It’s all about managing your community’s needs.
🎨 Customization: Customization features are important when implementing your branding. You need an app that allows you to make your online community your own, and easily recognizable with different logos and colors.
💰 Cost: Some apps come with a free trial so you can find out whether they’re a good fit for your business or not. After this, you’ll usually pay a monthly subscription package that varies in cost depending on the size of your community.
These are just a few key features to look out for when choosing your community-based app.
Slack alternatives
Now we’ve explored all the ins and outs of Slack, it’s time to take a look at some community app alternatives.
Though Slack is considered to be one of the most popular options, this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right choice for you and your business. Take a look below and explore your options.
🏆 Whop
Our top spot goes to Whop. Hands down the best community platform for team collaboration. Whop earns the top spot thanks to its incredible versatility, with a ton of ways for users to engage.
Whop is an all-in-one platform that allows you to create, manage, and monetize your online community, all in one handy space.
Once you’ve created your whop, (your hub on the internet) you can add the features you want through native apps. Simply scroll through the list of Whop Apps and choose what you want to include.
Some of the key features that you can add to your community are video calls, forums, chat, giveaways, and online courses. You can even sell digital products as add-ons to your community.
As soon as team members join, they’ll be directed by Whop’s onboarding automation tool.
The level of customization Whop has to offer is perfect for moderators looking to curate their online space. Once you’re set up, there are a ton of ways to monetize. You can sell eBooks, podcasts, online courses, and much more.
The best part? The service is completely free to use, with Whop operating on a transaction fee model that only takes a tiny 3% cut of non-marketplace sales. So there are no monthly fees to content with, or hidden costs along the way.
2. Discord
Next up we have Discord. This app has become a popular community application, with a range of features to enhance the experience.
Similar to Slack, Discord’s main features are its voice chat and instant messaging options, allowing you to communicate in real time via text chat or audio. Discord users can also create their own separate channels within the hub.
Discord also has a bot integration, which makes server management a lot easier.
Similar to Slack, however, Discord doesn’t have many monetization options. However, if this is something you're really interested in, users can do this themselves by making their own premium Discord channels and servers.
This allows you to keep certain features within your channels or servers locked behind a paywall. Server subscriptions, however, require approval, and the platform will take a 10% cut.
If you want to learn more about earning money from your Discord server, make sure to check out Whop, where you can manage access for members and sell subscriptions.
In terms of price, there is a free tier available, but with limited features. Paid tiers range from $2.99 per month ($29.99 per year) to $9.99 per month ($99 per year).
3. Thinkific
Thinkific is a great option if you’re looking to cash in on your community. It focuses on selling digital products, such as memberships and courses.
One of Thinkfic’s drawbacks is that it can be quite niche. It’s mainly tailored toward online learning, with features geared toward course building. However, it does have an incredibly user-friendly interface, with drag-and-drop mechanics displayed by the website builder making it a dream to operate.
Despite offering some versatility, Thinkific is still best for educators or creators trying to build and market an online course.
In terms of price, Thinkific does have a free plan, but it only allows for one course and one community. With the paid plans, these range from the Basic plan ($36/month) to the Grow plan ($149/month), with advanced features designed to sell more and grow your online presence.
Looking to manage and monetize your community in one place? Whop is your hub on the internet
Though Slack and the other community platforms featured on our list have their advantages, they also present some undeniable drawbacks.
Slack provides no monetization options, making it incredibly limited.
Whop, on the other hand, is a versatile platform that caters to all kinds of creators, from seasoned business owners to entrepreneurs looking to find their footing in the digital world. With smooth integrations, a user-friendly interface, and an emphasis on growing like-minded communities, Whop is the best community platform out there.
Once you’ve built your community, you can capitalize on it with a wealth of monetization features, including:
- Coaching
- Consulting
- Online courses
- Ebooks
- Downloadable content
- SaaS
- Templates
- One-on-one calls
And much more.
All of this and no expensive monthly subscription. You’ll just pay a transaction fee for each product sale - so you won’t pay until you earn.
Sign up to Whop today and start creating and monetizing your community platform. Getting started only takes 10 minutes.
FAQ
What are the drawbacks of Slack?
The main criticism associated with Slack is that it can become expensive for larger businesses with the Enterprise Package. It can also be overwhelming for larger teams with the number of separate channels on the dashboard, which can prove confusing. Plus, there aren’t any monetization options, so you won’t be able to cash in on your community.
What are the key benefits of Slack?
Slack has over 2,600 app integrations, a collaborative whiteboard tool, and an advanced search function, along with direct messaging document sharing capabilities. It’s a highly effective central hub for workspaces and communities.
Why is Slack losing to Teams?
Many companies are opting to use Microsoft Teams instead of Slack, favoring the robust security features needed in larger businesses. When it comes to managing sensitive data, Microsoft Teams boasts several security advantages, including eDiscovery, data loss prevention, and encryption.
Why use Slack instead of texting?
Many companies choose to use Slack instead of text. It’s considered to be a more efficient manner of communication than email or text, preventing users from getting stuck in endless text or email threads.
Is Slack owned by Microsoft?
No, Slack is not owned by Microsoft. Slack is a communication platform designed by Slack Technologies, which has been owned by Salesforce since 2020.
What’s the difference between Slack and Zoom?
Both Slack and Zoom are cloud-based communication platforms. Slack specializes in online messaging and integrations, whereas Zoom specializes in top-quality video conferencing.
