Communication Tool Pricing 2026
Slack raised prices twice in three years. Microsoft Teams is now free with M365 subscriptions millions of companies already pay for. Discord is free but targets communities. Zoom pivoted to an everything platform. Here's what you actually pay.
⚠️ Watch out: Teams is often "free" but hidden
Microsoft Teams is included in Microsoft 365 Business Basic ($6/user/mo) — but many teams pay for it without realizing, since it's bundled. Meanwhile, Slack charges $7.25–$12.50/user/mo on top of your other tools.
Quick Price Comparison
| Tool | Free Plan | Entry Paid | Business/Pro | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slack | 90-day history limit Limited | $7.25/user/mo | $12.50/user/mo | Custom |
| Microsoft Teams | Free (limited) Free | $6/user/mo (M365 Basic) | $12.50/user/mo (M365 Business Standard) | Custom |
| Discord | Unlimited Free | $2.99/mo (Nitro Basic) | $9.99/mo (Nitro) | N/A (no enterprise) |
| Zoom | 40-min limit Limited | $13.32/user/mo (Pro) | $18.32/user/mo (Business) | Custom |
| Google Meet | 60-min free meetings Free | $6/user/mo (Workspace Starter) | $12/user/mo (Business Standard) | Custom |
| Loom | 25 videos limit Limited | $12.50/user/mo (Starter) | $16.67/user/mo (Business) | Custom |
* Prices shown are billed annually. Monthly billing costs 15–30% more.
🔔
Get alerted when communication tool pricing changes
Slack, Teams, and Zoom all raised prices in the last 2 years. Be first to know next time.
Try Free →
🔍
See all 8 customer support tool prices side-by-side
Intercom, Zendesk, Freshdesk, Crisp and 4 more — per-seat costs, pricing models, and who raised prices recently. Free tool.
View Support Tools Watchlist →
Head-to-Head Comparisons
→
Comparison
Slack vs Microsoft Teams
The classic business messaging battle. Full feature and cost breakdown.
→Comparison
Slack vs Discord
Business communication vs community platform — where does the line blur?
→3-Way Comparison
Slack vs Teams vs Discord
Full 3-way battle: messaging, pricing, and which team type each suits best.
→Comparison
Zoom vs Google Meet
Video conferencing pricing: Zoom's full feature set vs Meet's simplicity.
Individual Pricing Pages
→
Individual
Slack Pricing
Pro ($7.25), Business+ ($12.50), Enterprise Grid — full breakdown and team cost calculator.
→Individual
Zoom Pricing
Pro, Business, and add-ons (webinars, phone). What you actually pay for video.
→Individual
Loom Pricing
Async video messaging — Starter, Business, and Business+ plans explained.
Which Tool for Which Team
Slack
Best for: Tech startups, product teams, integrations-heavy workflows. Worth the cost if you live in it all day.
Microsoft Teams
Best for: Enterprises already on M365, companies needing deep Office integration, regulated industries.
Discord
Best for: Developer communities, gaming, creator communities, open-source projects. Basically free.
Zoom
Best for: Video-first teams, webinars, external client calls, teams without an existing video solution.
Google Meet
Best for: Teams already on Google Workspace — Meet is included, no extra cost.
Loom
Best for: Async-first teams, remote teams avoiding unnecessary meetings, code review videos.
Real Cost for a 25-Person Team (Annual)
| Tool | Plan | Cost/Year (25 seats) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slack Pro | $7.25/user/mo | $2,175/yr | Annual billing required for this rate |
| Slack Business+ | $12.50/user/mo | $3,750/yr | For SSO, compliance exports |
| Microsoft Teams | Included in M365 | $0 extra | If already paying for M365 Business Basic ($6/seat) |
| Zoom Business | $18.32/user/mo | $5,496/yr | Includes Zoom Phone add-ons |
| Discord | Free server | $0/yr | Individuals pay Nitro optionally |
📊
Track communication tool pricing changes automatically
Slack raised Pro prices 3x in 4 years. PricePulse alerts you the moment any of these tools change pricing.
Get Free Alerts →
Free Alternatives
Browse Other Categories
→
Category Hub
Project Management Pricing
Asana, Monday, ClickUp, Notion, Linear, Jira — full pricing hub.
→Category Hub
Developer Tools Pricing
GitHub, GitLab, AWS, Linear, Stripe, Zapier — dev-focused tools.
→Category Hub
CRM Pricing
HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, Zendesk — CRM pricing compared.
Prices verified May 2026. All prices in USD. Actual costs may vary based on billing cycle, region, add-ons, or negotiated enterprise agreements. PricePulse monitors these tools for pricing changes.
Related Reading
- Why SaaS Companies Are Raising Prices in 2026 — the 4 forces behind the wave: AI infrastructure costs, free tier squeeze, investor pressure, and market consolidation
- How to Budget for SaaS Price Hikes in 2026 — practical guide: the 15–20% buffer rule, renewal calendar, negotiation scripts, and when to switch
- SaaS Price Hike Leaderboard — GitHub Copilot +90%, ClickUp +58%, Typeform +67%: every major increase ranked
💬 Get alerts in Slack — Connect your Slack workspace → free