Slack is a channel-based messaging platform. With Slack, people can work together more effectively, connect all their software tools and services, and find the information they need to do their best work — all within a secure, enterprise-grade environment.

Your Slack workspace

A Slack workspace is made up of channels, where team members can communicate and work together. Keep reading to learn about four key features of Slack.

💬 Organized conversations

In Slack, team members send messages and share files in channels. Create channels for teams, projects, office locations, or anything else that’s relevant to your organization. You can make channels private for conversations that shouldn’t be open to all members, or you can use shared channels to collaborate with external organizations from your own workspaces.

🔎 Searchable history

When messages and files are shared in public channels, information flows transparently throughout Slack. You can search your team's conversation history in Slack to find relevant messages, files, channels, and people. With Slack’s searchable history, conversations can become common institutional knowledge.

🤖 Connected apps

Add apps to your workspace to connect services or tools you're already using to Slack. With the right apps installed, you can do your work without ever leaving your Slack workspace. Find thousands of apps to help you stay productive, organized, and efficient in the Slack App Directory.

📞 Slack calls

You can start a voice or video call with any other members of your workspace right from Slack. Share your screen to show your teammates exactly what you see on your computer — you can even draw on your screen while you’re screen sharing.

 

Your team in Slack

Every Slack workspace has a team of members with varying administrative permissions. As a whole, a workspace is typically comprised of the following people:

👑  Workspace Owners
Create the workspace and set permissions

🤖  Workspace Admins
Assigned by Workspace Owners to help manage the team

👥  Members
Can send messages and files to any team members in their workspace

🙋  Guests
Can send messages and files in specific channels

In an Enterprise Grid organization, there are also Org Owners and Org Admins, who set policies and permissions for all of the workspaces within their organization.

Who’s who in Slack? Read more about roles and permissions.

 

Slack's pricing plans

The free version of Slack gives your team access to Slack’s basic features. For more advanced features, choose from one of our three pricing plans:

Standard
For small and medium-sized businesses

Plus
For larger businesses or those seeking advanced administration tools

Enterprise Grid
For very large businesses or those in highly regulated industries

The right plan for every team: Learn more about Slack’s pricing plans.

Get to work in Slack

Does your company already use Slack?

Read our guide to getting started for new members to learn how to download the Slack app, join your workspace, and set up your profile.

Are you looking to set up Slack for your company?

Read our guide to getting started for workspace creators to learn more about how to set up your workspace, what it means to be a Workspace Owner, and how to invite team members.

Ready to keep learning?

Find detailed how-to articles in our Help Center (hey, you’re already here!) or dig in to our Slack 101 lessons to find product walkthroughs, tips, and videos that will help you get to work in Slack.