Slack vs Mattermost (2026 comparison)
Slack and Mattermost are both team chat apps. Slack is best for channel-based messaging with deep integrations (free plan; paid from about $7.25 per user per month billed annually). Mattermost is best for self-hosted, open-source team messaging (free limited self-hosted edition, Cloud free for up to 10 users; paid Professional from about $10 per user per month, Enterprise quote-based).
Pricing and features verified against each vendor's published information on 2026-09-03. Sources linked below.
At a glance
| Feature | Slack | Mattermost |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing from | Free plan; paid from about $7.25 per user per month billed annually | Free limited self-hosted edition, Cloud free for up to 10 users; paid Professional from about $10 per user per month, Enterprise quote-based |
| Best for | channel-based messaging with deep integrations | self-hosted, open-source team messaging |
| Founded | 2013 | 2016 |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux | Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux |
Quick verdict
Choose Slack for channel-based messaging with deep integrations. Choose Mattermost for self-hosted, open-source team messaging. Both are compared on published information only, so confirm current pricing at each source below.
More options
Sources
FAQ
- Is Slack or Mattermost cheaper?
- As published, Slack starts at Free plan; paid from about $7.25 per user per month billed annually and Mattermost starts at Free limited self-hosted edition, Cloud free for up to 10 users; paid Professional from about $10 per user per month, Enterprise quote-based. Verify current pricing at each vendor.
- Does Slack have a free plan?
- Yes, Slack has a free plan as of 2026-09-03.