Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Outkit – an abstraction layer for outbound messaging launched in 2018; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Total.js Messenger▲181

   A small, open-source alternative to Slack

   2017 · totaljs.com · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Slack▲128

   A platform for team communication

   2014 · slack.com · its alternatives →

3. 3
   HiveFlux + Slack▲93

   Real-time task management meets real-time communication

   2015 · blog.hiveflux.com · its alternatives →

4. 4
   reception▲94

   Native iOS support chat for less churn

   2d ago · reception.sh · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Node.js Messenger▲140

   A small alternative to Slack

   2017 · totaljs.com · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Pingly▲86

   A new messaging platform working to evolve email

   2014 · its alternatives →

7. 7FA
   Forsta – A Signal based messaging platform for enterprises▲6

   2018 · forsta.io · its alternatives →

8. 8
   opp.io▲55

   succinct team messaging

   2014 · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Slack▲93

   Platform for team communication

   2015 · slack.com · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Wabi▲84

    A new kind of messenger that gets things done

    22d ago · wabi.ai · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Inline▲99

    A thread-based chat app for work with your team and agents

    Sep 2026 · inline.chat · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Unhangout▲79

    An open source platform for running unconferences online

    2015 · its alternatives →

13. 13PA
    Postways, a Message Management System for Transactional Messages▲5

    2016 · postways.com · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Slack▲16

    Real time messaging for teams.

    2014 · slack.com · its alternatives →

15. 15AA
    Android and iOS SDKs for building messaging with self-hosted server▲5

    2015 · actorapp.ghost.io · its alternatives →

16. 16VM
    Volatile messaging (self hosted and open source)▲5

    2014 · volatile-msg.herokuapp.com · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Slack▲31

    Platform for team communication

    2015 · slack.com · its alternatives →

18. 18SM
    Simple messaging solution for apps▲5

    2015 · jiver.io · its alternatives →

19. 19
    chatleads▲8

    A Conversational Experience Platform

    2018 · its alternatives →

20. 20SA
    Simple app-to-app messaging with a hosted server and common interface▲6

    2014 · dropfrog.io · its alternatives →

21. 21S2
    Spiral 2.0 – A Reddit-inspired local message board app▲5

    2014 · sprlr.com · its alternatives →

22. 22BI
    Bloop: Information-theoretically secure, expiring messages▲9

    2014 · bloop.mit.edu · its alternatives →

23. 23AH
    A hybrid messaging/photo message board▲9

    2021 · mebeam.com · its alternatives →

24. 24PS
    People's Voicemail – a voice-based message board▲7

    2020 · peoplesvoicemail.com · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →