Naven
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Slack vs Google Chat vs Naven
Slack is the benchmark for team chat, Google Chat comes free with a Google account, and Naven is a free browser messenger built for mixed groups. What each is best at, side by side.
| Compared on | Slack | Google Chat | Naven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free plan with limits; paid plans per user | Free with a Google account; Workspace plans are paid | Free |
| Message history on the free version | Messages and files older than 90 days are hidden | Kept, subject to your Google storage and admin settings | Kept until you or the other person deletes it |
| Sign up with | An email address, joining a workspace | A Google account | Any email address |
| Install | Desktop and mobile apps; a web version exists | Browser, Gmail, or the mobile app | Nothing; runs in any browser |
| Channels and threads | Yes, the core of the product | Spaces with threaded or in-line conversations | Group chats with reply threads, plus public and private channels |
| Group calls | Huddles; limited to two people on the free plan | Through Google Meet | Voice and video calls in the browser |
| Messages screened before they are sent | No | No | Yes, against twelve published categories |
| Suitable for under-18s | Designed for workplaces | On school accounts, as the school configures it | Yes: a parent agrees for anybody under 18, with parent controls |
| AI assistant | Slack AI, on paid plans | Gemini, on Workspace plans | Naven AI, free |
| Integrations | Thousands | Google Workspace and add-ons | None |
Who each one is for
- Slack
- Companies and technical teams that live on integrations and can pay to keep their history.
- Google Chat
- Groups where everybody already has a Google account and uses Drive and Calendar together.
- Naven
- Volunteer groups, clubs, classes and families who want history that does not expire, nothing to install, and teenagers taken seriously.
Questions
Is there a free Slack alternative without the 90-day limit?
Yes: Google Chat, Discord, Microsoft Teams (free), self-hosted Mattermost or Element, and Naven all keep history on their free versions.
Can I move my Slack history to Naven?
Not automatically. Slack can export a workspace's public channels, but Naven has no importer.