Mattermost vs Slack: Full Comparison (2026)
Pricing, features, scores, and a clear verdict on which one is right for you.
The bottom line
Mattermost positions itself as "secure collaboration for mission-critical work" while Slack goes after "where work happens" — so the right pick depends on which problem you're actually solving. Both tools compete in the team communication category. Check the feature comparison below to see which capabilities matter most for your specific use case.
At a glance
| Mattermost | Slack | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 74/100 | 86/100 |
| Starting price | $10/mo | $8.75/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Secure collaboration for mission-critical work | Where work happens |
Pricing comparison
Mattermost
Pricing verified 2026-04-16
Slack
Pricing verified 2026-04-16
Calculate your cost
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | Mattermost | Slack |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | Yes | Yes |
| Direct messages | Yes | Yes |
| Threads | Yes | Yes |
| File sharing | Yes | Yes |
| Search | Yes | Yes |
| Voice calls | Calls plugin | No |
| Huddles | No | Yes |
ai
| Feature | Mattermost | Slack |
|---|---|---|
| AI Copilot | Plugin (any LLM) | No |
| Thread summarization | Copilot plugin | No |
| Meeting recording summaries | Copilot plugin | No |
| Action item extraction | Copilot plugin | No |
| Slack AI summaries | No | Pro+ |
| Reusable AI-Skills | No | Pro+ |
| Semantic search | No | Pro+ |
| Meeting transcription | No | Pro+ |
| AI thread summaries | No | Pro+ |
collaboration
| Feature | Mattermost | Slack |
|---|---|---|
| Playbooks (workflows) | Yes | No |
| Custom slash commands | Yes | No |
| Webhooks | Yes | No |
| Markdown support | Yes | No |
| Code snippets | Yes | No |
| Workflow Builder | No | Yes |
| Canvases | No | Yes |
| Clips (video/audio) | No | Yes |
| Split view | No | Yes |
| Scheduled messages | No | Yes |
integrations
| Feature | Mattermost | Slack |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub | Yes | Yes |
| GitLab | Yes | No |
| Jira | Yes | Yes |
| Jenkins | Yes | No |
| PagerDuty | Yes | No |
| Zapier | Yes | No |
| Custom bots | Yes | No |
| Salesforce | No | Yes |
| Google Workspace | No | Yes |
| Microsoft 365 | No | Yes |
| Zoom | No | Yes |
| Slack MCP server | No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
What the data tells us
Key capabilities you'd miss
Choosing Mattermost means going without Huddles, Slack AI summaries, Reusable AI-Skills (which Slack offers). Choosing Slack means losing Voice calls, AI Copilot, Thread summarization. These are the features that typically drive the final decision — check whether your workflow depends on any of them before committing.
What company size tells you
Slack (3,000+ employees) has the engineering bench to ship features across many fronts but may iterate slower on individual requests. Mattermost (200-500 employees) typically ships faster on its core product but may lag on peripheral features. Consider which matters more for your roadmap.
Choose Mattermost if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- Getting strong value for money is a priority
Choose Slack if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
Frequently asked questions
Is Mattermost or Slack better?
Slack scores 86/100 compared to Mattermost's 74/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — Mattermost excels at ease of use (6/10) while Slack scores 9/10.
How much does Mattermost cost compared to Slack?
Mattermost starts at $10/mo (free tier available). Slack starts at $8.75/mo (free tier available). Slack is the more affordable option.
Does Mattermost or Slack have a free plan?
Yes, both Mattermost and Slack offer free tiers, so you can try each before committing to a paid plan.
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