Messaging & calls app
Slack
Team chat organised into channels, with a free plan that shows 90 days of history.
Slack is a chat app for teams. Conversations sit in channels, one for each project, team or topic, so people can follow what concerns them and skip the rest. Direct messages, voice and video huddles, and shared files sit alongside, and other tools such as Google Drive or a calendar can post updates straight into a channel.
Most people use Slack because their employer does. The workspace belongs to the company, which decides the plan, who can join and what is kept. On the free plan you only see the last 90 days of messages and files, and anything older than a year is deleted. Paid plans keep the full history and add longer calls, more connected apps and admin controls.
01Is Slack free?
Slack’s Free plan covers unlimited members, but you can only see the last 90 days of messages and files, and anything older than a year is deleted. Huddles are one-to-one and you can connect up to 10 other apps. Pro, Business+ and Enterprise Grid are charged per member each month and keep your full history. If your employer runs your workspace, they pay and you do not.
02How to start using Slack
- 1
Accept the invitation from your team, or create a new workspace at slack.com with your work email address.
- 2
Install the Slack app on your computer and phone, so messages reach you in both places.
- 3
Add a profile photo and your name, then set your working hours under Preferences, Notifications, so Slack stays quiet outside them.
- 4
Join the channels for your projects from Channels in the sidebar, and leave the ones you do not need.
- 5
Use @name to get one person’s attention and the thread button to reply without filling the channel.
03Is Slack safe?
Who can read your messages
Slack is a work tool, and the workspace belongs to your employer. On paid plans, owners can export messages, and on some plans that includes direct messages. Write as if your manager could read it.
Two-factor authentication
Turn on two-factor authentication under Account, Security, so a stolen password alone cannot open your account.
Links and files from outside
Slack Connect lets people from other companies message you. Treat unexpected links or files from an external contact with the same care as an email from a stranger.
