Slack Pricing Guide: Which Plan is Best for Your Business?

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Slack is a powerful collaboration and communication platform to improve connections between your team members. 

However, choosing the right plan is easier said than done. You need to go through the pricing structure, determine the value of each plan, and focus on your ROI. These aspects might confuse you on which Slack pricing plan to choose from. 

This guide will break down Slack pricing, highlight key features, and help you determine the best plan for your company. Let’s get started.  

TL;DR

  • Slack offers four plans—Free, Pro, Business+, and Enterprise Grid—each catering to different team sizes and needs.
  • If your team needs unlimited message history, group video calls, advanced security, and guaranteed uptime, a paid Slack plan is worth considering.
  • Negotiation isn’t just about discounts. Secure additional perks like extended trials, flexible payment terms, or bundled services to maximize value.
  • While Slack is a top collaboration tool, alternatives like Microsoft Teams, Google Chat, Lark, and Telegram offer different advantages.
  • Choosing the right plan and negotiating better terms can save your company thousands. CloudEagle.ai’s data-driven insights help you streamline SaaS procurement and get the most value from Slack.

What is Slack?

Slack is a popular collaboration platform that can help your team communicate, share files, and integrate with other productivity tools. Since its launch in 2013, Slack has become a go-to platform for companies of all sizes, from startups to Fortune 500 companies.

When you use it correctly, you can enhance their productivity and reduce any communication gap. You can also integrate Slack easily with various SaaS tools. 

The best thing is you can do all of these from one centralized location. Instead of asking something through email, you can use Slack to get in touch with people directly. Moreover, you can also create various channels for better transparency and efficiency in communication.

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Is Slack Worth Paying For?

If you’re wondering whether upgrading to a paid Slack plan is worth it, the answer depends on your team’s needs. While the Free Plan works for basic communication, Slack subscription costs come with various features to improve workflows. Here’s why Slack might be the right move for your company:

  • Unlimited Message History & Search: The Free Plan only keeps messages for 90 days. With a paid plan, you’ll always have access to past messages and shared files.
  • Unlimited Integrations for Productivity: If your team relies on apps like Zoom, Google Drive, or Salesforce, a paid Slack plan lets you connect unlimited third-party tools. 
  • Group Video Calls & Screen Sharing: The Free Plan only supports one-on-one video calls. Upgrading allows your team to host group video meetings, share screens, and collaborate in real-time. 
  • Enhanced Security & Compliance: If your company needs advanced security, Slack’s paid plans provide SAML-based SSO, enterprise encryption, and compliance with HIPAA and FINRA standards. 
  • Admin Controls & Priority Support: As your team grows, you’ll need better admin tools, advanced user permissions, and 24/7 customer support to keep everything running smoothly. 
  • Guaranteed Uptime & Scalability: If your team depends on Slack for daily operations Slack guarantees 99.9% uptime. But, it’s available only on the Business+ and Enterprise Grid plans.

Overview of Slack Pricing Plans

Slack cost is billed on a per-user, per-month basis, with discounts available for annual billing. Its tiered pricing model is designed to support teams of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises. Here’s the detailed breakdown of Slack pricing plans. 

1. Slack Free

  • Cost: Free Forever ($0)
  • Best For: Small teams with minimal casual use
  • Features: 90-day message history, basic file sharing, one-on-one huddle, up to 10 third-party app integrations
  • Drawbacks: Messages and files older than 90 days are inaccessible, no group video calls, no advanced security. 

2. Slack Pro

  • Cost: $8.75 per user/month (billed annually) or $10 per user/month (billed monthly)
  • Best For: Small and medium-sized companies
  • Features: Unlimited message history, advanced search filters, group audio/video calls
  • Drawbacks: No admin controls, no priority customer support, no guaranteed uptime SLA

3. Slack Business+

  • Cost: $15 per user/month (billed annually) or $18 per user/month (billed monthly)
  • Best For: Growing companies needing more security and support
  • Features: SAML-based Single Sign-On, 99.99% uptime guarantee, Advanced compliance features
  • Drawbacks: No dedicated account representative, no Enterprise Grid functionality

4. Slack Enterprise Grid

  • Cost: Get a customizable quote after contacting the sales team 
  • Best For: Large enterprises with strict security and compliance needs
  • Features: Enterprise-level security and compliance, unlimited workspaces, Dedicated account
  • Drawbacks: Requires IT and admin expertise to manage complex settings.

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Slack Buying Guide - How to Streamline Slack Purchasing with CloudEagle.ai

Expert Strategies: Negotiation Tips to Secure the Best Slack Deal

Here are some effective negotiation tips to secure the best Slack deal:

  • Negotiation Isn’t Just About Discounts: Remember that negotiation isn’t all about getting discounted rates. You need to secure the best overall value for your company, not just a lower price.
  • Look For Additional Benefits: Sometimes, instead of getting lower Slack prices, you can look for additional benefits. For example, you can look for extended trial periods, flexible payment terms, or bundled services that align with your company’s needs.
  • Consider Strategic Requests: You must highlight how a better deal benefits both your business and Slack.
  • Build Leverage: You should competitors, consolidate licenses, or time your negotiation around renewal periods for better terms.

In the next section, we’ll break down proven negotiation tactics, key factors that influence pricing, and the most effective ways to position your requests.

Price Benchmarking Data

CloudEagle.ai lets you access a vast network of expert SaaS buyers who can provide you with the latest benchmarking data sources from 1B+ transactions. Thanks to CloudEagle.ai’s Slack benchmarking data, you will get a real-world view of how much other businesses are paying on different Slack Engineering plans. 

Breaking Down the Data

So, do you want to know how much other businesses are paying for different Slack engineering plans? Download our Slack buying guide and get proper insights.

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Importance of This Benchmarking Data

Here are some reasons why you need this premium benchmarking data:

  • Real-World Pricing Data: You will have real-world data on how much companies are paying for Slack. Unlike Slack’s public listings, CloudEagle.ai’s benchmarking data will provide you with better usage insights. 
  • Better negotiation: You will have a thorough understanding of different pricing models. Hence, you can negotiate with confidence and make sure you are not overpaying. 
  • Accurate Budget Planning: Proper pricing estimates will help your procurement and IT teams plan SaaS spend more accurately.  

Thanks to CloudEagle.ai’s unbiased price benchmarking data and deep negotiation insights, you can pay fair prices during procurement and renewals. You can get better deals and maximize your Slack investment. 

Premium Negotiation Insights

Why settle for standard pricing when you can use CloudEagle.ai to negotiate like a pro? With the right insights, you can cut unnecessary costs, secure exclusive perks, and get the most value out of your Slack investment! 

So, don’t leave money on the table. Get our Slack pricing guide today and know some great negotiation techniques that have saved other companies thousands of dollars.

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Slack’s Pricing Model: Best Suited for These Types of Organizations

Slack prices are different for different company sizes. So, you need to choose something depending on your specific requirements. 

  • Startups & Small Teams: The Free or Pro plans are ideal for companies with fewer than 50 employees, offering essential collaboration tools and integrations.
  • SMBs (50-500 Employees): The Business+ plan is best for growing businesses that need enhanced security, compliance features, and unlimited integrations.
  • Enterprises (500+ Employees): Enterprise Grid is designed for large corporations managing multiple workspaces, regulatory compliance, and advanced administrative controls.
  • Tech & Engineering Firms: Plans like Professional, Enterprise, and Unlimited cater to development teams with robust features tailored for engineering workflows.
  • Remote & Hybrid Workforces: Slack’s real-time communication and workflow automation tools make it a top choice for distributed teams.

What is Better Than Slack?

While Slack is a reliable communication platform, it comes with a few limitations. For starters, the onboarding is quite confusing, especially if you are new to this platform. 

On top of that, the push notifications make the user experience slightly more inconvenient. So, here are some Slack alternatives you should consider:

Google Chat

If your enterprise already uses Google Workspace, Google Chat is a natural alternative to Slack. It offers seamless integration with Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Meet. Google Chat supports threaded conversations, group messaging, and powerful search features. 

Lark

Lark is an all-in-one workplace collaboration tool that combines messaging, video calls, document sharing, and project management into a single platform. Unlike Slack, Lark comes with built-in word processing, spreadsheets, and cloud storage. 

Telegram

Telegram is a fast, cloud-based messaging app known for its end-to-end encryption, large group chat capabilities, and unlimited storage. It’s a great alternative for teams that need secure and lightweight communication without the complexity of traditional workplace tools.

WhatsApp Business

If your company relies on customer communication or remote team messaging, WhatsApp Business can be a great alternative. It gives you secure messaging, voice and video calls, and business profiles with automated responses. 

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is one of the most powerful Slack alternatives, especially for businesses already using Microsoft 365. It offers deep integration with Office apps, robust video conferencing, and enterprise-grade security.

Conclusion

Slack is undoubtedly one of the best communication channels for companies of all sizes. However, due to its pricing complexity, choosing the right plan may become a little too daunting. On top of that, there are also negotiation hurdles. 

But, CloudEagle’s Slack pricing benchmarking and negotiation insights can help you optimize your SaaS investment. You will get the best Slack investment value while streamlining SaaS procurement. 

So, sign up with CloudEagle today and get top-tier negotiation insights to take charge of your SaaS purchasing decisions!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does Slack cost monthly?

The Slack Pro plan starts at $7.25/user/month when billed annually. Depending on your needs, you can choose other pricing plans as well. You can also use its free version for casual collaboration. 

2. Can I use Slack for free forever?

Yes, you can use Slack for free forever. However, the free plan comes with various limitations. For example, you cannot access texts when they are 90 days or older. Thus, it’s best to upgrade to a paid plan. 

3. How to get Slack for cheap?

If you’re looking to cut costs, you don’t have to pay full Slack pricing. With the right strategies, you can reduce unnecessary spending and maximize the value of your subscription. Thanks to CloudEagle.ai’s Slack buying guide, you can secure the most favorable deal. 

4. Why do people prefer Slack?

People prefer Slack because it offers a seamless, user-friendly communication experience tailored for teams of all sizes. Its intuitive interface, real-time messaging, powerful integrations, and customizable workflows make collaboration effortless.

5. Why do companies use Slack instead of Teams?

Companies prefer Slack over Teams for its simpler interface, faster setup, and superior third-party integrations. Unlike Teams, Slack isn’t tied to Microsoft 365, making it more flexible for diverse tech stacks.

What to consider when buying Slack - Engineering
Based on the latest community trends and observations
Billing
Standard billing is Annual Net 30 and customers have cited very limited flexibility.
Free Credits / Months
Account Executives may be able to provide a 30-day free trial of new products. Customers have cited that 30 days is often an insufficient amount of time to fully evaluate product functionality.
Plans
When evaluating Unlimited Edition Sales/Service Cloud, it's important to note that downg rading editions is not possible. Customers are only able to upgrade.
Pricing
As of 1/1/23, Salesforce is applying a 5% uplift to all flat renewals. As of 7/11/23, Salesforce is increasing list pricing by an average of 9% across Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Industries, and Tableau. The new list pricing will go into effect globally for new and existing customers purchasing new clouds beginning August 2023.
Sales
Account Executives (AEs) are primarily measured on Annual Contract Value. It is very common for Salesforce to reassign territories to Account Managers (AMs) after the close of their fiscal year in January. Customers have cited that AMs will offer significant discounting in January.
Upgrades / Downgrades
Customers are unable to downgrade their Salesforce edition, only upgrade.
Usage / Overages
Customers have shared Salesforce will not automatically charge for data overages and will instead use it as an opportunity to upsell customers to a more expensive edition. The most common add-ons are additional API calls and additional data storage.
Product
As of Q3 2023, Slack, Tableau, and Salesforce continue to operate independently from one another. Customers have shared purchases made for one product line will not influence pricing for others.
Reducing License
Customers have cited being able to reduce licenses only at time of renewal and to expect Salesforce to increase the per-unit cost to offset the license reduction.

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Slack - Engineering Enterprise
License Count
Benchmark
Per User/Per Year
100-500
$1260.00 - $1476.00
500-1000
$1116.00 - $1350.00
1000+
$1116.00 - $1350.00

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