Zoom Alternatives for 2025

Everyone knows Zoom. It quickly became the go-to app for team meetings, replacing Skype. But as communication evolves, so do teams’ needs for workplaces. With video calls at the core of its product, Zoom isn’t perfect for everyone.

The good news? In 2025, there are plenty of great Zoom alternatives available. Some offer better native-built solutions for work, while others provide seamless integration with your favorite work tools.

In this guide, we’ll explore the best apps like Zoom so you can find the next best option for your team’s needs.

TL;DR: Zoom Alternatives Shortlist

  • Slack for complex project hierarchies and structures
  • Orchestra for messaging with built-in calls, tasks & docs
  • Discord for voice-first and community-style communication
  • Google Chat for Google-centered workflows
  • Mattermost for self-hosted collaboration with that old-school SaaS vibe 
  • Chanty for team chat with task tracking 
  • Microsoft Teams for Microsoft-centered workflows

Why People Look for Zoom Alternatives

Zoom is popular, but it’s not always the best option for teams that do more than just calling. Many teams need built-in features to keep work moving the way they need, or they’re simply looking for a less complicated app that covers the basics of chatting and task management.

When teams start looking for a Zoom alternative, it’s usually for one of the following reasons:

It can slow things down on older devices, especially during long sessions
Some advanced features aren’t very intuitive unless you’re already familiar with the platform
It can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming
The 40-minute session limit is very restrictive
Newer features – like team chat and whiteboards – still feel a bit underdeveloped compared to standalone tools

If you happen to be facing one of these problems and are considering trying something else, here’s the good news: there are great Zoom alternatives that prioritize quality calls just as much.

Slack vs. Zoom

A pioneer in the world of SaaS communication tools that connects teams and integrates with apps for work collaboration.  

Slack Workspace

📍Key Features

  • Slack Connect. Shared channels to message and stay aligned with people outside your team, like clients, contractors, or partners, directly in Slack without switching apps.
  • Threads. The message flows in channels. They’re meant to keep discussions clear and on track.
  • Huddles. Audio or video chats you can start in any channel or DM.
  • Canvas. A collaborative space for your conversations, meeting notes, or project info that stays connected to your discussions.
  • Lists. A task-tracking tool where the team can create to-dos, assign tasks, set priorities, and keep progress visible.
  • Workflow Builder. A no-code tool for custom workflows like onboarding, approvals, or reminders.

🔎 Compared to Zoom

  • Pros: Great for quick and asynchronous communication. Extensive app integrations for workflows and automation. 
  • Cons: Video call features are basic. Can get noisy and overwhelming with many channels. Paid plans required for full message history and advanced features. Not optimized primarily for large video meetings (100+).

👾 Best for Teams

Slack is a go-to for large teams and enterprises, though it might feel messy and hard to navigate for startups, small, and mid-sized teams. Those teams are often settling for alternatives that are more budget-friendly and simple.

Orchestra vs. Zoom

An all-in-one workspace that brings communication and management as intended – together. Orchestra’s interface is chat-centric, so every project and task has a separate chat to keep your team’s communication on point from the very start.

Orchestra Workspace

📍Key Features

  • Task-focused Chats. Every task or project starts with a dedicated chat, keeping communication on point. Create private or public chats for personal, team, project, or task communication, plus channels for alerts.
  • Chat Folders. A cleaner alternative to threads. With folders like favorites, unread, personal, or task-related, shape chat views however you like.
  • Built-in Calls. Voice and video calls are already integrated into task-related chats. Recordings are stored within the same chat.
  • Built-in Tasks. Projects and tasks can be created directly from chats. Add assignees, deadlines, and structure with hierarchies, lists, and boards — all in one workspace.
  • Tasks from Messages. Turn messages into tasks in one click and link them to relevant projects instantly.
  • Media & Files. Easy access to docs, media, and files in every chat.
  • Teams & Free Guests. Build your team structure with customizable roles and permissions. No limits on external guests.

👾 Best for Teams

Orchestra works best for small and mid-sized modern product, marketing teams, and fast-moving startups. The app is simple yet packed with everything teams need to keep work flowing – easy to use and stylish to work with.

🔎 Compared to Zoom

  • Pros: Built-in chats & task management.  Simple async video updates. Unlimited meetings, guests, data. Fine UX/UI. 
  • Cons: Sometimes calls might lag a little, but for the most part, they run smoothly. Lacks advanced meeting features like breakout rooms or webinars. Not optimized primarily for large video meetings (100+).

Discord vs. Zoom

Originally made for the gamedev community and its streaming, Discord has now become a common voice- and video-based collaboration tool among tech teams.

Discord Workspace

📍Key Features

  • Chat Channels. A space for messaging with threaded replies like on Slack.
  • Voice Channels. Built-in audio rooms where users can drop in and out freely.
  • Video Calls & Streaming. One-on-one or group video calls with built-in screen sharing for live demos, presentations, or collaborative work.
  • Custom Roles & Permissions. Fine-tuned control over who can post, moderate, or manage different parts of a server.
  • Bots & Integrations. Automation tools, moderation bots, and third-party integrations (like GitHub, Trello, YouTube, and more).

🔎 Compared to Zoom

  • Pros: Always-on voice channels for seamless conversations. Free with unlimited meeting duration. Customizable servers with roles and permissions.
  • Cons: Not designed for formal business meetings or presentations. Lacks advanced meeting features like breakout rooms or webinars. Limited integrations with professional productivity tools.

👾 Best for Teams

Discord remains a top choice for gamedev communities, as well as creative and remote teams that prefer spontaneous, informal messaging and calls over structured project management.

Google Chat vs. Zoom

Built for teams integrated into the Google Workspace ecosystem, Google Chat allows users to communicate in direct messages or group spaces while collaborating on familiar tools like Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

Google Chat Workspace

📍Key Features

  • Messages & Group Chats. Direct or public chats for discussions. 
  • Spaces. Threaded conversations, file sharing, and task assignments within each Space.
  • Google Workspace Integrations. Additional services like Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, and Calendar to collaborate and share work without leaving the chat.
  • AI Replies. AI-suggested messages to automate tasks and responses.

🔎 Compared to Zoom

  • Pros: Seamless integration with Google Workspace apps (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet). Easy to switch between chat, email, and video calls. Simple, clean interface and easy to use.
  • Cons: Threaded conversations create chaos. Video meetings rely on Google Meet, which has fewer advanced features than Zoom. Less feature-rich video conferencing capabilities.

👾 Best for Teams

Google Chat is best for teams already using Google Workspace. Teams that focus on document-based collaboration can also consider this tool.

Mattermost vs. Zoom

An open-source team collaboration tool, often viewed as a more utilitarian alternative to Slack, offering similar features along with secure messaging.

Mattermost Workspace (Image source: G2)

📍Key Features

  • Channels. Public or private spaces based on topics, teams, or projects for team communication.
  • Threads. The Slack feature to follow specific conversations.
  • Customizable Notifications. Tailored notifications to stay updated on important conversations.
  • Dev-Centric Integrations. External apps like GitHub, JIRA, Google Drive, and more are connected to your workspace.

🔎 Compared to Zoom

  • Pros: Open-source and self-hostable. Strong data privacy and control. Customizable with plugins and integrations.
  • Cons: Lower quality in video conferencing. Less polished UI. More occasional bugs. Not optimized primarily for large video meetings (100+).

👾 Best for Teams

Mattermost is best suited for teams looking for a direct Slack alternative or those needing a self-hosted solution.

Chanty vs. Zoom

A team chat app that combines messaging, task management, and project planning into one tool.

Chanty Workspace

📍Key Features

  • Teambook. A central hub where you can find all your messages, tasks, files, and pinned content organized in one place. Threads are also available.
  • Chanty Extras. Add-ons like dark mode, a built-in media player, and content previews to improve your work experience.
  • Calls. Voice or video calls within the workspace when typing isn’t an option.
  • Task Management. A range of tools to work with tasks and manage progress right in the chat.
  • Team Space. A shared environment where your whole team can collaborate through chats and tasks.

🔎 Compared to Zoom

  • Pros: Simple interface. Built-in chatting & task management. 
  • Cons: Lower quality in video conferencing. Less polished UI. More occasional bugs. Lacks advanced meeting features (like breakout rooms). Not optimized primarily for large video meetings (100+).

👾 Best for Teams

Chanty is a budget-friendly option for small to mid-sized teams seeking a communication tool with built-in basic project and task management.

Microsoft Teams vs. Zoom

A collaboration platform seamlessly integrated with Microsoft 365, designed for teams working within the Microsoft ecosystem.

Microsoft Teams Workspace

📍Key Features

  • Chats. Direct messages with one or more colleagues.
  • Channels. You can create them based on any topic. Channels are where all the conversations, files, wikis, and planners are.
  • Teams. A space with a list of all the teams you're a part of. They are made up of channels.
  • Calls. A cloud-based phone service for calls.
  • Meetings. Instant voice and video meetings, just like everywhere else.
  • File Collaboration. You can collaborate on Microsoft Docs simultaneously.

🔎 Compared to Zoom

  • Pros: Seamless integration with Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, SharePoint). Combines team collaboration and document co-editing. No 40-minute meeting limit on free plans.
  • Cons: Video call quality sometimes less consistent than Zoom. Heavy app that can slow down on older devices. Occasional UI clutter and feature overload.

👾 Best for Teams

Teams that are already using Microsoft 365 and need integration with Office apps will find this option perfect.

Zoom Alternatives: The Table View

We’ve rounded up some of the top Zoom alternatives for 2025. To help you decide, here’s a simple table comparing key features and pricing for each platform:

# Key Features
Slack Slack Connect, Threads, Huddles, Canvas, Lists, Workflow Builder
Orchestra Built-in Chats, Calls, Tasks, One-Click Task Creation, Media & Files, Free Guests
Discord Chat Channels, Calls & Streaming, Custom Roles & Permissions
Google Chat Messages & Group Chats, Spaces, Google Workspace Ecosystem, AI Replies
Mattermost Channels, Threads, Dev-Centric Integrations
Chanty Teambook, Chanty Extras, Calls, Task Management, Team Space
Microsoft Teams Chats, Channels, Teams, Calls, Meetings, File Collaboration

# Pricing
Slack Freemium, Pro - $8/user/mo, Business+ - $14/user/mo, Enterprise - Custom
Orchestra Free Trial, Early Bird - $7/user/mo
Discord Freemium, Nitro - $10/user/mo, Nitro Classic - $5/user/mo
Google Chat Free Trial, Starter - $6/user/mo, Standard - $12/user/mo, Plus – $18/user/mo
Mattermost Freemium, Pro - $10/user/mo, Enterprise - Custom
Chanty Freemium, Business - $4/user/mo, Enterprise - Custom
Microsoft Teams Freemium, Basic - $5/user/mo, Standard - $13/user/mo, Enterprise - Custom