Google Workspace vs Slack

by Gralio Mar 11, 2025

Google Workspace and Slack offer distinct approaches to productivity. Workspace provides a broader suite of tools, while Slack focuses on communication and collaboration. Workspace is better for businesses seeking an all-in-one solution encompassing email, file storage, and document creation. Slack is better for teams prioritizing efficient communication, project management, and seamless integration with various business apps.

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This comparison was created by analysing 7483 reviews and 60 websites, saving 1 day, 18 hours, 4 minutes of reading.

Google Workspace

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Slack

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About

Google Workspace is a suite of online productivity and collaboration tools for businesses of all sizes. It includes popular apps like Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet and more. Google Workspace aims to provide a seamless and integrated experience for communication, document creation, file storage, and team collaboration, all accessible from any device with an internet connection. It stands out with its user-friendly interface and strong collaboration features.

Slack is a communication platform designed to streamline teamwork. It offers real-time messaging, file sharing, and searchable archives of conversations, all in one place. Slack integrates with numerous other business applications to centralize workflows. It suits companies of all sizes seeking to improve collaboration and internal communication.

Summary

Main difference

Google Workspace is a comprehensive suite of applications offering a broader range of functionalities, including email, file storage, and document creation, making it suitable for businesses needing an all-in-one solution. Slack excels in team communication and project management, providing a centralized hub for messaging, file sharing, and integrations with various business tools, making it ideal for teams prioritizing efficient collaboration.

Relative strengths of Google Workspace (compared to Slack)

Comprehensive suite of applications (email, cloud storage, document creation, etc.)
Strong integration within the Google ecosystem
User-friendly interface and easy to learn

Relative weaknesses of Google Workspace (compared to Slack)

Less focused on project management features compared to Slack
Limited free plan functionalities
Can be overwhelming for users primarily needing communication tools

What companies are using Google Workspace and Slack?

No data

Who is using Google Workspace and Slack?

Kevin Indig

SEO Authority | Growth Advisor | Hypergrowth Partner

Ane Wiese

SEO Lead at saas.group | Data-driven SaaS SEO

Brice Maurin

CEO&Founder La Growth Machine

Brendan Hufford

SaaS Marketing - Growth through Content, Community & SEO

Rob Timmerman

Founder of a 20-year-old full-service digital agency

Show all 7 stacks

Olesia Krilyshyn

Sales Acceleration Specialist at Reply.io

Andrew Charlton

SEO Consultant, Founder of SEO tool companies

Kai Cromwell

eCommerce SEO

Bibi The Link Builder

Link Building Expert

Adam Robinson

CEO @ Retention.com & RB2B

Who should use Google Workspace VS. Slack

Google Workspace is a comprehensive suite of online productivity and collaboration tools ideal for businesses of all sizes. Users praise its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with other Google services. While some users experience occasional service outages, its collaborative features and flexible pricing plans make it a popular choice. It offers a range of applications, including Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides, to streamline workflows and enhance teamwork.

Slack is a versatile communication platform that streamlines teamwork through real-time messaging, file sharing, and searchable archives. Users appreciate features like organized channels and integrations with tools like Google Drive. However, some find the Huddles feature buggy and the mobile app performance slow. Slack offers a free plan and tiered paid options, catering to diverse budgets.

Ideal for businesses of all sizes seeking enhanced productivity and collaboration.
Suitable for various sectors, including healthcare, finance, education, and more.

Ideal for businesses of all sizes seeking improved team communication and collaboration.
Strong fit for industries like tech, media, education, and non-profits, offering tailored solutions for enhanced communication.

Google Workspace and Slack features

Supported

Partially supported

Not supported

Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

External Team Collaboration

Supported

Google Workspace allows secure external team collaboration via shared documents, Google Meet, and email.

Supported

Slack supports external team collaboration via Slack Connect, offering shared channels and enhanced security.
Custom business email

Supported

Google Workspace allows custom business emails using your domain.

Partially supported

Custom business emails with Gmail are not directly supported in Slack, but email integration is possible.
Shared calendars

Supported

Google Workspace supports shared calendars for efficient scheduling and booking, facilitating team coordination.

Partially supported

Shared calendars are supported via integration with external calendar apps like Google Calendar.
Live Chat

Supported

Google Chat, integrated with Google Meet, enables real-time text conversations during meetings.

Partially supported

Slack supports live chat through integrations like Chatlio, Social Intents, and LiveChat. It also offers Huddles for real-time text, audio, and video communication.
Slack Integration

Supported

Google Workspace integrates with Slack via Zapier, single sign-on, and app integrations.

Supported

Slack supports a wide range of integrations, including integrations with other software tools.
Productivity Tools Integration

Partially supported

Google Workspace supports integration with Google Drive natively, but integration with Dropbox would require third-party integrations or workflows.

Supported

Slack integrates directly with Google Drive and Dropbox, allowing users to share files, collaborate on documents, and automate workflows.

Qualities

Value and Pricing Transparency

No data

No data
Customer Service

No data

No data
Ease of Use

No data

No data
Reliability and Performance

No data

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Ease of Implementation

No data

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Scalability

No data

No data

Google Workspace and Slack Pricing

Google Workspace offers flexible pricing plans based on the number of users. All plans include a suite of productivity and collaboration tools, including Gmail, Drive, Meet, Calendar, Chat, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Keep, Sites, Forms, and AppSheet. Users can choose from four plans: Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, and Enterprise. Each plan offers different storage limits, meeting participant limits, and additional features.

Plans

See full Pricing page

Slack offers a free plan and tiered subscription plans based on the number of users. Slack AI is available as an add-on for all paid plans.

Plans

See full Pricing page

Google Workspace and Slack review insights

Users love

Seamless integration with Google Classroom.
User-friendly interface.
Excellent collaboration features.
The virtual background feature is great.

Organized channels for different departments or projects
Seamless integrations with other tools like Google Drive
Real-time messaging keeps everyone in the loop
The "Remind me later" feature is helpful

Users dislike

Occasional service outages are a concern.
Limited offline access.
Google sheet is not as feature rich as MS Excel.
Can\'t upload large files to Drive.

Huddles tend to be buggy
Notifications for messages/threads can be missed
The mobile app can be slow or buggy
The search functionality is not always effective

Google Workspace and Slack Ratings

G2

4.6/5

(2518)
Glassdoor

3.5/5

(2)

G2

4.5/5

(2604)
Capterra

4.7/5

(2361)
Glassdoor

4.1/5

(18141)

Company health

Employee growth

69% increase in the last year

2% increase in the last year

Web traffic

2% decrease in the last quarter

7% decrease in the last quarter

Financing

July 2018 - $16M

July 2022 - $65M

How do Slack's Huddles compare to Google Meet for quick team discussions?

Slack Huddles are designed for quick, informal audio conversations within Slack, while Google Meet is better suited for more formal video meetings. Huddles offer a lightweight way to jump into a quick discussion without scheduling, whereas Meet requires creating a meeting link. While Huddles can be easier and faster for spontaneous discussions, Google Meet provides a more robust platform for video conferencing, screen sharing, and larger group discussions. Slack users have reported some bugginess with Huddles, while Google Meet is generally considered more stable.

Which platform better integrates with existing tools, Slack or Google Workspace?

Google Workspace generally offers tighter integration with other Google services and a growing number of third-party apps. While Slack is known for its extensive integrations, Google Workspace's native integration within its own ecosystem provides a more seamless experience for users already invested in Google's suite of applications.

What are the advantages of Google Workspace?

Google Workspace offers a tightly integrated suite of applications, providing a seamless experience for various tasks like email, document creation, file storage, and video conferencing. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to adopt, and the strong collaboration features enhance team productivity. Furthermore, Google Workspace's flexible pricing plans cater to businesses of all sizes.

What are the disadvantages of Google Workspace?

Disadvantages of Google Workspace include limited offline access, occasional service outages, and Google Sheets having fewer features compared to Microsoft Excel. Some users also report difficulties uploading large files to Google Drive.

Is Google Workspace cheaper than Slack?

Google Workspace offers plans starting at $6 per user per month while Slack offers a free plan and paid plans starting at $7.25 per user per month. Therefore, Slack can be cheaper than Google Workspace depending on the chosen plan. If a company opts for Slack's free plan, then Slack is undoubtedly cheaper. However, if they require the features of a paid Slack plan, then Google Workspace's entry-level plan is slightly cheaper.

Alternatives to Google Workspace and Slack

Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 is a cloud-based subscription service that provides access to familiar applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, alongside cloud services like email, online storage, and teamwork tools. Offering a range of plans for businesses of all sizes, it allows users to work from anywhere with an internet connection, collaborating on documents in real time and improving productivity through its suite of integrated apps. Microsoft 365 aims to be a central hub for communication, content creation, and data management for modern businesses.

Zoho Workplace

Zoho Workplace is a comprehensive suite of online office productivity and collaboration tools designed for businesses of all sizes. It offers a unified platform including email, file management, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and meeting software. The platform emphasizes team collaboration through features like instant messaging and a social intranet. Zoho Workplace aims to simplify work processes and boost productivity by bringing all essential tools into a single, integrated platform.

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a communication and collaboration platform designed for businesses. It offers chat, video conferencing, file sharing, and integration with other Microsoft Office apps. Aimed at improving teamwork and productivity, Teams centralizes communication and provides a hub for all work-related activities.

MarkUp

MarkUp.io is a visual commenting platform designed to simplify how teams review and provide feedback on digital content. It allows users to upload various file types, including websites, PDFs, and images, and then comment directly on the content itself. This visual approach aims to provide clearer feedback and streamline approvals, replacing email chains and messy spreadsheets. MarkUp.io offers features like pixel-accurate annotations, comment attachments, and integrations with popular tools. While it caters to a range of users, its focus on visual feedback makes it particularly well-suited for teams working on design, marketing, and creative content.

Zoho Cliq

Zoho Cliq is a communication and collaboration platform designed for businesses of all sizes. It offers team chat, video conferencing, file sharing, and task management features. Zoho Cliq aims to streamline communication, enhance team productivity, and integrate with other business tools. Its searchable chat history and focus on team channels make it suitable for organizing projects and discussions.

Zoom Workplace

Zoom Workplace is an all-in-one platform designed to streamline communication and boost productivity for modern teams. It combines video conferencing, chat, phone, email, calendar, and AI-powered features like meeting summaries and message composition. Collaboration tools like whiteboarding, note-taking, and task management are also included. Additionally, Zoom Workplace offers solutions for hybrid work environments, such as desk reservations, visitor management, and digital signage.

Page co-authored by

Michal Kaczor

CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

Tymon Terlikiewicz

CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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