It is impossible to argue against the significance of two-way communication in real time between staff members and management in today’s modern workplace. After all, time is equivalent to currency. Instant messaging applications like Google Chat and Slack are gaining popularity among businesses as a tool for boosting employee productivity in the workplace.
This trend is expected to continue in the foreseeable future. Chat is a communication tool that Google developed specifically for the G Suite of products that it offers. Chat provides many features that are comparable to those found in Slack, including direct messages, group chat, emoji reactions, and file sharing. In addition, Chat is integrated with Google Docs and Calendar, which gives it some features that are exclusive to itself. The company known as Slack Technologies is responsible for the creation of the communication tool known as Slack.
Direct messages, group chat, emoji reactions, and the ability to share files are some of the features that it offers. Slack also has a few features that are exclusive to it, such as the ability to integrate with a wide variety of other applications. Google Chat is an app for collaborating with a team that is included in Google Workspace. It offers a platform for communication and collaboration, with features like the ability to share files and participate in video conferences.
Pricing
When we compare the costs of Slack and Chat, we are not only considering the prices. The primary reason for this is that because Google Chat is integrated into Google Workspace, there is no separate charge for using it. You will have access to Chat as well as a wide variety of other applications and solutions if you purchase a Google Workspace.
In contrast, Google Chat and Google Workspace do not offer a free version, which can be a barrier for groups of people who do not wish to spend money on this kind of software. However, keep in mind that Google Workspace comes with a comprehensive suite of applications that can assist you in the management of your company, and the price you pay covers all of those applications.
Therefore, investing in a Google Workspace plan for your business may prove to be a worthwhile course of action if you have the financial means to do so. Slack is an alternative to Google Workspace that you can use if you do not require all of its applications.
Google Chat vs Slack Google Chat: Features
Features
- Receive email notifications for unread messages
- Switch to Dark mode
- Quickly switch between multiple accounts
- Mute chat notifications using Do not disturb
- Create a space
- Download Google Chat
Google Chat vs Slack Slack: Features
Features
- Managing and tracking documents
- Advanced search modifiers
- Using shared channels across workspaces
- Streamlining your sidebar
- Lightning-quick navigation
- Download Slack
Google Chat vs Slack Interface
If you’ve ever used the Chat feature in Gmail, you’ll immediately recognize the similarities between that and Google Chat. This is the most effective method for providing users with an experience that is reliable and consistent. Aside from that, you can use at the top of the Chat room to gain access to the shared files and tasks that are being discussed.
In addition, there is a side panel with quick access that allows for convenient navigation to the Calendar, Keep, Tasks, or Maps applications. Dark and light modes are the only options available, so if you want to get creative with different themes, you’ll have to stick to those two.
In addition to having an appealing appearance, the user interface of Slack is very simple to navigate. There are commands that allow for the creation of shortcuts, such as beginning a new channel or inserting a GIF. In addition, you can alter the color scheme of the platform and personalize your own avatar. Exactly because of this, Slack has emerged victorious in this particular match.
Google Chat vs Slack Messaging
In this particular respect, the two apps are quite comparable to one another. Both Google Chat and Slack have dedicated areas for holding group discussions; Google Chat calls theirs “Rooms,” while Slack calls theirs “channels.” The ability to send private messages (one-to-one) and group messages is a feature shared by both apps. Nevertheless, there are a few key distinctions.
To begin, all of Google Chat’s Rooms are set to private by default. Nobody outside of your Google Workspace will be able to see them or join them unless you specifically invite them to do so. On the other hand, when you create channels in Slack, you have the option of keeping them private or making them available to the general public. Two, the entirety of Google Chat’s public communication is conducted within threads. Threads, on the other hand, are an additional feature that can be found in Slack.
Google Chat vs Slack Integrations
Chat, on the other hand, has only 89 integrations with third-party tools, whereas Slack has over 1,500 of these connections. But at the end of the day, the quantity is irrelevant if a tool already contains everything that you require for it to function properly.
People who already use some of the other Google Workspace apps in their day-to-day work will benefit greatly from the integration that Google Chat provides with those other applications. Take note that the number of integrations has a tendency to keep rising, which is to be expected given the recent significant updates that Google Chat has undergone. Bots are the name given to these integrations within Chat.
You have the option of adding Bots to a particular room or having a conversation with the Bots directly. You will be able to start a conversation with the bot once you have added it to your messages. It will provide you with some instructions on how to “talk” to it as well as some specific commands to type in during the conversation in order to activate certain features.
Google Chat vs Slack Search Functionality
Both provide a search functionality, allowing users to locate specific information by utilizing various keywords. At this time, the search function in Google Chat is significantly more fundamental. Once more, the primary reason for this is that it is the more recent app out of the two.
Slack has more advanced features now that it is more established as a platform. It is much simpler to find what you are looking for within chat rooms as you are able to search for specific times, exclude or include certain channels and individuals, and search for specific people.
However, as was mentioned earlier, Google Chat features are constantly being updated from one month to the next. Therefore, we anticipate that the year 2022 will bring us a great deal more that will make the app a great deal more competitive.
Google Chat vs Slack Groups
It is essential to be able to utilize group chats in order to properly segment projects and even departments. You have the ability to create a Group in Google Chat that can consist of more than two individuals, regardless of whether or not they are employees of Google.
Additionally, there is a feature called Spaces, which is quite powerful and serves as a central location for people to share messages, send files, delegate tasks, and stay connected in a manner that is more easily accessible. For instance, you are able to directly open files that have been shared in a Space by clicking on the file name within the chat window itself.
At the moment, direct conversations work best when conducted within Groups. On the other hand, Google plans to roll out the capability to hold threaded conversations in Groups in addition to Spaces.
Google Chat: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free for Workspace users
- Tight integration with other Google Workspace apps
- Simple and effective
Cons
- Few features and notification settings
- Limited support for third-party integrations and bots
Slack: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Rich set of tools and options
- Highly customizable
- Integrates with many other collaboration and office tools
Cons
- Expensive
- Audio and video call quality need improvements
Which one should you consider?
It is extremely difficult to arrive at a definitive verdict in this matter. It makes perfect sense to dive headfirst into Google Chat if you run your business on Google products like Drive, Docs, and Slides, among other Google products. However, this does not necessarily mean that you won’t find a significant number of Slack users in specialized departments.
In 2013, Slack was a pioneer in the field of workplace messaging, and ever since then, the company has continued to innovate and influence other forms of workplace communication. Because of this and the user-friendly interface, Slack has a legion of devoted users who are unwilling to give it up without a fight.
However, this does not imply that Slack is the only viable option for a chat tool that your company should have at its disposal. When deciding whether to use Slack, Google Chat, or both, as with any other business decision, your specific industry needs should be front and center.
FAQs
Is Google Chat any good?
Google Chat is one of the most convenient ways to communicate with other people online. It has a straightforward user interface and enables users to send messages, GIFs, files, and other media while they are on the move. Even adding a link to a video meeting to the conversation can be done without much trouble thanks to this feature.
Why Slack is better than Google Hangouts?
You won’t have any trouble locating people, files, channels, or messages within Slack. Slack gives you the ability to search for information that was posted within a certain time frame and even permits you to omit certain channels from the results of your search. On the other hand, the Business and Enterprise packages of Google Chat are the only ones that include access to advanced search options.