Searching for the appropriate communication and collaboration tool can be quite a challenge.
The abundance of business communication apps in the market can be overwhelming, making the selection process seem like an insurmountable task.
Nevertheless, in today's era, embracing online tools is inevitable, particularly as they increasingly become a favored solution for workplace communication.
So, to effectively communicate and collaborate with your colleagues, you need to find the right business messaging tool.
We acknowledge that, initially, all communication apps may appear similar. However, with a more in-depth analysis, we aim to guide you through the seemingly endless array of features.
In this blog post, we will compare two of the most popular team chat apps in the market—Crew App and Slack. To begin, we'll provide a brief overview of both applications.
- Pricing plans,
- Interface,
- Communication,
- Notifications,
- Search,
- File sharing and storage,
- Integrations,
- Support, and
- Security.
Finally, we’ll see which team chat app is better and help you reach an informed decision!
Crew App vs Slack: Main features comparison
The main differences between Crew App and Slack are that Crew App was created for frontline and shift workers, while Slack was created for office and technology workers.
Below, you can see and compare the features of both Crew App and Slack.
Crew App
- Free (up to 5 users)
- Pro: $30 per month
- Built for mobileGroup and 1:1 conversations
- Basic search: search for a conversation name or people but cannot search keywords across all your conversations
- Unlimited total storage but there is a 50mb file-size limit
- Limited integrations & scheduling features
- Dedicated support line in the paid plan
Slack
- Free (90 days worth of message history and file storage)
- Pro $8.75 per user, per month
- Business+ $15 per user, per month
- Built for desktop but does have a mobile app
- Special places for group conversations — Channels
- Advanced search — allows you to search within a specific time frame. Search within documents–
- 5 GB file storage for free tier and 10 GB+ per user for Pro and Business
- 2,400+ integrations in paid plans
- Customer success teams in paid plans
- No scheduling product
Now that we got familiar with the most prominent features of these apps, it’s time to give them a closer look in a more comprehensive comparison.
Crew App vs Slack pricing plans 1:0
For teams comprising up to 5 members, Crew App provides a complimentary version with the following features:
- Unlimited public and private conversations, along with search history
- Built-in task management
Should you find that your company has outgrown this package and opt for a paid plan, namely the Pro plan priced at $30 per month, you'll receive all the elements included in the free plan, plus:
- Permissions & Scheduling
- Profanity filter
- Enhanced permissions and controls
- Daily email reports
- Shift schedule history
- SMS relay
- Access to deleted chats
- More Gold Stars
- Dedicated support from the Crew support team
On the flip side, Slack's free plan offers:
- Access to the most recent 90 days of message history
- 10 integrations with other apps
- 1:1 voice and video calls
- 5 GB of storage per workspace
Slack's initial paid plan, the Pro package priced at $8.75 per user per month, is slightly more expensive than Crew App's paid plan. However, it provides:
- 10 GB of file storage per member
- Voice and video calls for up to 15 members
- 24/7 support
In summary, Crew App emerges as the clear winner in this category, offering a superior deal at a more affordable price, even prior to the adjustment in Slack's pricing plans. Now, let's take a brief look at the pricing plans of both applications.
Crew App vs Slack interface (1:1)
Whether your company operates under a remote, hybrid, or in-office work model, chances are you devote a significant amount of time communicating with your colleagues.
This underscores the importance of an app's interface when selecting a communication tool that aligns with your requirements.
The foremost consideration is an intuitive and user-friendly interface, as nobody wants to invest hours deciphering a tool. With this in mind, let's explore what Crew App and Slack bring to the table in terms of user experience.
Crew App is tailored specifically for deskless and shift workers, while Slack was designed for technology companies and individuals working on computers. This makes Crew App particularly advantageous for businesses in the food & beverage, hospitality, healthcare, and services industries where employees may lack access to traditional desktop computers or office spaces.
On the other hand, Slack is better suited for remote and office-based teams. Crew App incorporates features such as shift scheduling and announcements that are not present in Slack.
In this round, we have a tie because whether you should use Crew App or Slack depends on what type of business you using it for.
Crew App vs Slack notifications 1:1
When utilizing a team chat app, finding the delicate balance between avoiding distraction from excessive messages and staying informed about important team communications can be challenging but essential. This is where the role of notifications becomes crucial.
The positive aspect is that both Crew App and Slack offer customizable notification settings. Let's start with Crew App:
This communication and collaboration tool will alert you when:
- Someone sends you a new message,
- Someone mentions you, or
- A task is updated.
Fortunately, you have the option to prevent message overload by muting specific conversations.
Slack's notification system is not vastly different from Crew App's. It notifies you when:
- You receive a direct message,
- You get mentioned,
- You receive a message from Slackbot, or
- You get a reply to a thread you're following.
In this round, we have a tie because both Crew App and Slack offer advanced options for customizing notifications.
Crew App vs Slack search (0:1)
Ever experienced that sinking feeling when your search for information or a specific file proves fruitless? The frustration associated with such searches can be disheartening, but it doesn't have to be when your chosen tool boasts an exceptional search feature.
Fortunately, both Crew App and Slack offer solutions that spare you the distress and save valuable time, thanks to their advanced search capabilities.
In Crew App, you can explore and search within:
- Conversations
- Group names
- People
In contrast, Slack empowers you to search through:
- Messages
- Files
- Channels
This allows for easy retrieval of what you're looking for, although it's essential to note that, in the freemium plan, access and search capabilities are limited to the most recent 90 days of message history.
Given its more sophisticated search modifiers, Slack emerges as the victor in this category.
Crew App vs Slack integrations 0:1
Seamless integrations with various apps prove to be a convenient means of enhancing productivity and ensuring an improved remote work experience. Currently, Crew App integrates with around 10 applications, including DocuSign, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Everbridge, Cornerstone On Demand, and others.
On the other hand, when it comes to Slack, the outlook is considerably more promising. Rarely does any other app offer a more extensive array of integrations than Slack. With over 2,400 integrations available in Slack's paid plans, you can effortlessly explore them as they are neatly organized into categories.
Thanks to its wealth of integrations, Slack unquestionably emerges as the clear winner in this category.
Crew App vs Slack Verdict 3:4
The results are in, and the undisputed winner is Slack. Nevertheless, we would like to add a caveat to these findings by noting that if your business involves shift or frontline workers, Crew App might be the more suitable choice for you. Slack excels in catering to the needs of office, remote, or technology workers.
Having meticulously considered the key factors that could influence your decision on selecting a communication and collaboration tool, we've arrived at our verdict. However, the ultimate decision rests with you.
Certainly, both applications present compelling features that may sway your preference toward one or the other. Yet, if you find both of these apps slightly above your budget, we have an alternative suggestion for you.
Looking for a Crew App or Slack alternative? Try Breakroom
If neither Crew App nor Slack has won your heart, you could have a go with Pumble, a business messaging platform.
The most compelling reasons you should choose Breakroom are the following features it offers:
- A clean and intuitive interface,
- Unlimited users and chat history,
- Easy-to-use mobile app
- A built-in, full featured scheduling product
Aside from that, Breakroom’s paid plan is just $30 per month, matching Crew App Pro plan and much cheaper than Slack's per user cost.
So, sign up for a free trial for Breakroom now and see for yourself.
