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 that 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.
💬 Organised 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 organisation. 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 organisations 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 that 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, organised 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 to 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
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 subscriptions:
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 subscription for every team: Learn more about Slack’s pricing subscriptions.
Find detailed how-to articles in our Help Centre (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.