Slack Software Reviews

“simple to use”

Pros

Getting started with it is very simple and it stays simple to use while working reliably all the time.

Cons

the notification sounds get stuck in my head, even when I'm off work ,)

“Really appealing interface”

Pros

It has a really appealing interface and the fact that it's customizable and flexible makes it even better. I can easily see who's available and the chat comes packed with useful features for conversations, message exchanges and file sharing. It also helps a lot that it includes both video and voice calling.

Cons

Even though I use Slack a lot and see it as an essential tool, the video and audio calling still run into too many errors and tend to crash, whether I'm on a voice call or in a video meeting. Because of that, I often have to switch to other tools when I need more reliable real-time communication.

“Manages different workspaces”

Pros

I've really appreciated being able to manage different workspaces and rooms inside the app. The real-time notifications are also very useful, whether they come through as mobile pop-ups or by email. Getting around the app feels very simple and it does exactly what I need for team communication and collaboration. I'd definitely recommend it.

Cons

I can't reply to a chat directly from the notification pop-up. I'm not completely sure whether that's a setting on my side or something related to the app itself.

“status updates work”

Pros

It's really useful for setting your status, whether you're online, offline, out of the office or tied up in meetings. That visibility makes it much easier to keep everyone informed.

Cons

Honestly, I'm happy with pretty much everything about it and there's nothing I specifically dislike. A few areas could always be refined but nothing feels important or disruptive.

“Wide range of app integrations”

Pros

Getting started with it takes almost no effort so new users can jump in right away without much setup. It also supports a wide range of app integrations which makes it convenient to discuss and manage information from different platforms in one place. Google Drive integration is especially valuable so companies that rely on Google Drive as their main content management system should seriously consider it. It has worked well for both small teams and larger businesses and the many channels make it useful for organizations of all sizes. Giving each department its own channel theme makes it much easier to stay organized and split up work effectively. It has been a big help for me and my team while working on a research project.

Cons

It is excellent for quickly staying updated on what is going on but it is less effective for conversations that branch across many different topics. More in-depth discussions are usually better handled in other tools because following a conversation all the way through can be difficult. When several discussions are happening at the same time especially in a larger company, keeping up can become a challenge. Even with separate channels in place, going back through past conversations to find one specific topic can still be frustrating and take a lot of time.

“Channel layout makes sense”

Pros

Setting up message channels works really well and I can manage exactly who's in each one while switching them between public and private when needed. Private messaging for one-on-one conversations is useful too. The channel layout makes sense so it's quick to locate whichever one I need. I can also start video calls right from the messaging screen without jumping into another app and the audio and video are usually very clear for everyone involved. Another plus is that links open inside the app and photos and videos I send tend to load fast.

Cons

not all messages are saved and I couldn't find any setting that would let me change that. Because of that, I've ended up keeping whole folders of screenshots just in case important conversations disappear. It would also be a better deal if the lower-priced plans offered more value and didn't remove so many features.

“effective space to communicate”

Pros

It is a user-friendly app that gives me an effective space to communicate with my coworkers. The threaded reply layout is especially helpful for keeping conversations organized and avoiding clutter. I also really appreciate being able to switch between light and dark mode and the available themes look good without feeling distracting.

Cons

Moving between different workspaces can feel a little confusing when you're just getting started.

“Fast global team messaging”

Pros

It has been incredibly useful for our team communication. Messages go out fast and efficiently, even when teammates are spread across the world which makes staying connected really convenient. Being able to share files, send GIFs and schedule messages adds a lot as well. All of those features make it a very valuable tool for everyday communication.

Cons

Screen sharing can be better. It feels a little buggy and laggy and the visual side of it could be more polished and appealing. If that experience were better, I'd probably use it more often. As it is, I usually just switch to the Zoom link shortcut whenever I need to share my screen with a colleague.

“Mobile access is a bonus”

Pros

Having it on both desktop and mobile is a big plus. I can keep up with everything happening across my organization while I'm out and about, check files, reply to messages and stay in the loop without being tied to my computer.

Cons

The notifications can be really hit or miss. There are times when my manager sends something urgent and I don't get alerted at all. Also, the desktop version feels slower than the mobile app so I end up not using it nearly as much as I'd want to.

“Essential for organization”

Pros

it gives us a much more structured way to communicate across different working groups like protest planning, tech, outreach, lobbying and more. Having all the relevant conversations gathered in one place, instead of mixing them into a personal messaging app, has been essential for keeping at least some real sense of organization.

Cons

It did take a while to work out the best way to manage our most common workflows, whether that meant using bots, integrations or handling things manually for tasks like voting and scheduling. The integration with our knowledge base app, Nuclino, is still barely functional.

“Fast to use”

Pros

Slack feels very fast to use and it comes with a lot of newer options that developers can take advantage of. The SDK is also available which makes it possible to build chatbots that can help boost productivity.

Cons

Video calls still drop at times even when the network is good. There also feels like a bit too much going on with Giphy and animation features and the bots are not quite mature yet.

“Different access levels for users”

Pros

Using it has been really simple. It handles video meetings, audio calls and instant messaging in a very convenient way. Organizing chat channels is simple and it also lets you assign different access levels to users. I also appreciate the dark mode and the option to customize the color scheme.

Cons

It took me a couple of mistakes before I fully understood how the "threads" feature worked. It's definitely a useful feature but it could still use a bit of refinement.

“Quick polls for ideas”

Pros

It has become our go-to for day-to-day communication because it lets us recognize team members, share important updates that everyone can acknowledge and even run quick polls for things like lunch plans or business ideas. It also connects with other tools like Bonusly which adds another nice layer of team recognition that everyone can see, including remote employees. We use it to share educational videos too and it makes it simple to have the team confirm they watched them with a comment or even just an emoji.

Cons

Honestly, it's hard to point to anything we like least because everything we've used in Slack has worked really well for our firm.

“Outperforms both Skype and Discord”

Pros

Unlike a lot of workflow tools such as Trello, Airtable, Node and Asana, Slack actually includes instant messaging and that fills a big gap those platforms often leave behind. Organized channel-based conversations are a big part of why it works so well and that is really its core strength. On top of that, sharing files is simple, message history is easy to revisit and the search feels user-friendly. As a messaging platform, it is a very capable tool and, to me, it outperforms both Skype and Discord.

Cons

It can create a culture of chatting more than actually getting work done. That is partly just the nature of instant messaging since not every team needs constant jokes, questions and interruptions throughout the day. In some cases, it is better to have protected blocks of focused work without notifications popping up all the time. Notifications can be turned off manually but it would be much better if Slack added an option to disable them automatically on a set schedule.

“Actually enjoyable”

Pros

It has become something we use constantly because it's fast, simple to use and actually enjoyable. We rely on it all the time to communicate, ask questions, clear up doubts and stay connected with teammates. For a home office setup, it's been a really useful tool for our team.

Cons

Once in a while it slows down a bit but that seems more related to our internet or network connection than to any actual problem with the platform itself.

“Threaded chats keep teams connected”

Pros

Once a workspace fills up with 40+ threads and hundreds of conversations, it can become pretty hard to keep track of everything. I often ended up relying on memory just to locate one specific thread among all the ongoing discussions.

Cons

With 40+ threads going at once and hundreds of messages spread across them, it was really easy to lose track of where things were. Finding a particular thread often came down to remembering it myself rather than the app helping me get there.

“Fast onboarding and team chat”

Pros

Right from the start, Slack felt very user-friendly. The emoji reactions are fun to use, all the services are available instantly and the onboarding and signup process is quick. Inviting others is simple, setting up channels and groups takes no time, file sharing works well and making calls is convenient too.

Cons

offering the calling feature in the free version with better quality would be nice. The video quality also still has room for improvement.

“Searchable history of conversations”

Pros

It makes it simple to communicate and collaborate with the right people and teams across an organization. It also keeps a searchable history of conversations which is incredibly helpful when you need to go back and find what was said about a specific idea. I use it every single day and have relied on it for around five years across three different companies. My work is highly collaborative and this has been far more convenient for staying in touch than other methods. When teams depend on email for project communication, everything tends to move much more slowly. Honestly, I can't imagine doing my job without this tool.

Cons

There really isn't much to criticize. At times, when multiple tools are integrated, the interface can feel a little cluttered. Notifications from integrations can also end up taking over certain channels. That said, it feels more like a setup or preference issue than a problem with Slack itself.

“simple to send instant messages”

Pros

After getting everything configured, it's really simple to send instant messages to one person or a group. You can also share video and audio files without any trouble. The option to create custom channels, whether company-wide or private, works really well for different projects and department needs. It also runs very well on a Mac. Huddles are especially nice when you just need a quick meeting since they feel a lot like placing an instant phone call.

Cons

The newer search feature at the top doesn't feel as well designed as the previous version. It's harder to use.

“Boosts sales and productivity”

Pros

Getting it up and running is pretty simple and it does a really good job of keeping team communication fast and organized. Sharing files, schedules and other information is efficient which helps keep everyone aligned and can really boost productivity and even sales. It's also very useful for managing multiple teams all in one excellent platform.

Cons

Some team members especially older ones, have trouble with the setup and customization options. It would be better if that part were more user-friendly.