Companies are faced with an important decision when it comes to their internal communications: Slack or Discord? For us the answer is clear: It’s Discord. Since making the switch, we’ve experienced a significant improvement in our team’s communication and collaboration. Discord has made communication much more fun and engaging and has helped us to work more efficiently.
With the rise of remote work, it has become crucial for any company to choose the right tool for internal communications if they want their teams to stay organized, collaborate effectively, and achieve their goals. Slack is a cloud-based collaboration tool that was specifically built for businesses, while Discord is a relatively newer platform that was originally designed for the gaming community. In recent years it has gained popularity among businesses, though. Both platforms provide features, such as text and voice chat, file sharing, or customizable settings. However, there are some key differences between the two. We believe that Discord is the superior platform for internal company communications, and here’s why…
1. Superior Voice and Video Chat Capabilities
One of the biggest advantages of Discord over Slack is its built-in voice and video chat capabilities. Discord’s voice and video call features are easy to use and reliable. Users can create channels for voice and video calls, which can be used for team meetings, one-on-one conversations, or conference calls, without having to switch to a separate platform. Besides, the voice and video chat can be used across multiple servers and channels, making it easy for users to collaborate with different teams or departments. The audio and video quality is excellent, with minimal latency and clear sound quality, making communication smooth and efficient. More advanced features offer noise suppression and the ability to adjust individual user volume levels. Users can also switch between voice and video calls seamlessly which facilitates real-time communication. Finally, Discord allows users to share their screens during calls, which is a useful feature for presentations or training sessions.
Slack’s voice and video chat is reliable and easy to use, with features such as screen sharing and recording. The voice and video chat can be integrated with other Slack features, such as direct messages and channels, which can make it easy for teams to collaborate effectively. However, when compared to Discord, Slack’s voice and video chat capabilities are inferior. While it may be reliable and easy to use, it does not offer the same high-quality audio and video capabilities that Discord does. Besides, businesses can only do video or voice calls through third-party integrations such as Zoom or Google Meet which can be inconvenient for teams that want to keep all their communications in one platform. Slack’s video chat is limited to 2 participants on the free version, while Discord can accommodate up to 25 participants. Overall, Slack’s voice and video chat capabilities are functional, but Discord’s implementation is more powerful and user-friendly, giving teams a more seamless and efficient communication experience.
2. Customizable Permissions
Discord allows for a high degree of customization when it comes to permissions. This means that teams can give specific users or roles access to certain channels or features, while restricting access for others. This is particularly useful for companies with large teams or multiple departments, as it allows for more granular control over who can see and do what.
Slack’s customizable permission system allows team owners to grant specific permissions to team members, such as limiting access to certain channels or files. This can help to keep confidential information secure and ensure that team members only have access to the information they need to do their jobs. Slack’s permission system is relatively easy to use and can be customized on a granular level, giving team owners fine control over who has access to what information.
Nevertheless, Slack’s permission customization options are not as comprehensive as those in Discord. Discord’s permission system is more robust and offers even more granular control over permissions. In Discord, users can be assigned specific roles with custom permissions, which can be applied to channels or entire servers. This can be especially useful for teams with large or complex organizational structures, where different users require different levels of access.
3. Better Server Organization
Discord’s server organization system is more intuitive and user-friendly than Slack’s workspace system. In Discord, teams are organized into servers, which can contain multiple channels. Teams can create custom server categories, which can be used to group servers by department, project, or any other criteria that makes sense for the team. This makes it easy to navigate and quickly find specific conversations or topics. Additionally, users can be members of multiple servers at once, making collaboration with multiple teams or departments a breeze.
Slack’s server organization is less intuitive and user-friendly, especially for new users. Slack’s servers are organized into workspaces, which can make it difficult for teams to maneuver and find specific conversations or topics, especially if they are members of multiple workspaces. Also, Slack does not offer a system for organizing servers into categories, which can lead to cluttered and disorganized servers. This can make it more complicated for users to find specific conversations or stay focused on their work. Slack’s server organization system is definitely functional, but Discord’s implementation is more user-friendly and visually appealing, offering more customization and personalization options for teams.
4. Accessible Pricing
Let’s talk money! While both platforms offer free and paid plans, Discord’s free plan includes more useful features, and its paid plan is significantly cheaper than Slack’s. This can be especially beneficial for small businesses or startups that are looking to save money on their communication tools.
Discord’s free plan offers its full range of features to all users, with no limitations or restrictions. This means that users can take advantage of Discord’s voice and video calls, customizable user interface, advanced permission system, bot integration, screen sharing, community engagement features, emojis, and file sharing system, without having to pay anything. Discord’s Nitro Classic plan, which starts at $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year, includes all the features of the free plan, as well as custom emojis and profiles. The Nitro plan starts at $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year, and includes features such as custom emojis and profiles, larger file uploads, and high-quality screen sharing.
In contrast, Slack’s free plan has several limitations, and users must pay to access more advanced features. The free plan only includes basic features such as direct messaging, file sharing, and 10 integrations with other apps. Users have a limited search history, and they can only access up to 10,000 of their team’s most recent messages. To access more advanced features such as screen sharing and voice and video calls with more than two participants, users have to upgrade to Slack’s paid plans. Paid plans start at $6.67 per user per month and can go up to $12.50 per user per month, depending on the features and services needed.
While Slack’s paid plans offer more features than Discord’s, they are significantly more expensive. Besides, Discord’s pricing is more straightforward and transparent, which can make it easier for teams to budget and plan for their communication expenses. Overall, Discord’s cost-effectiveness is a key advantage over Slack, especially for teams that are looking to save money on their communication tools but don’t want to cut on quality.
5. Bot Integration
Bot integration, which can automate tasks and save time for teams, is possible on both platforms. However, Discord’s bot integration is more seamless and user-friendly which makes it more accessible to teams of all skill levels. The bot system is designed to be used by non-developers, which means that teams can easily set up and use bots without having to have a dedicated developer on staff.
Slack’s bot integration is a useful feature for teams that want to automate tasks and save time. Yet, it can be more difficult to set up and use, especially for non-technical teams. The bot system is designed for developers, which means that teams without a dedicated developer on staff may struggle to make the most of the feature. In conclusion, while Slack’s bot integration can be useful, Discord’s bot integration is more accessible and user-friendly.
6. Rich Embeds
Both platforms allow for rich embeds, which means that links to websites, videos, or other media can be displayed within the chat window. This eliminates the need to switch between different chats to share information and resources. Rich embeds can be especially useful for teams that need to share information quickly and efficiently. Discord’s rich embeds are easier to use and customize. Slack’s rich embeds can sometimes break or display incorrectly. Besides, they are limited in terms of the media types that can be embedded, which can make it difficult for teams to share certain types of content.
7. User-Friendly Mobile App
Discord’s mobile app is more user-friendly than Slack’s for a few reasons. First, the design of the app is well thought-out and intuitive, making it easy for users to navigate and find what they need. The app’s interface is also consistent with the desktop version of the platform, which means that users who are already familiar with Discord’s desktop version can easily transition to the mobile app. So, teams can stay connected and collaborate from anywhere. This includes voice and video chat, custom emojis and reactions, and the ability to view and manage channels and servers. With Discord, teams can be sure that they can stay connected and collaborate effectively when they are on the go or working remotely.
It is more complicated to navigate Slack’s mobile app, especially for users who are not familiar with the desktop version. The mobile app does not include all the same features as the desktop version, which can limit its usefulness for teams that need to collaborate on the go. Discord’s user-friendly mobile app is a key advantage over Slack, especially for teams that need to collaborate regardless of their location.
8. Gaming-Inspired Features
As a platform originally designed for gamers, Discord includes features that are inspired by gaming culture. For example, it allows for custom server icons and backgrounds, as well as customizable role colors. These features can add a fun, personalized touch to team communications and help to create a sense of community.
Slack, on the other hand, is more focused on business use and does not include these types of gaming-inspired features. Slack’s gaming-inspired features, such as custom emojis or user profiles, are limited in number and size, and cannot be organized into custom emoji sets like they can on Discord. User profiles are more basic and do not allow for the same level of customization. While Slack may be more focused on business use cases, its gaming-inspired features are limited in comparison to Discord’s, which can make Slack feel more sterile or formal.
9. More Emojis and Custom Reactions
Discord’s emoji and reactions system is one of its most popular features. It is highly customizable, allowing teams to create their own unique emoji sets and add a fun, personal touch to their conversations. Users can also add custom reactions to messages, meaning they can react to messages with any custom emoji, rather than being limited to a set list.
Slack’s custom emojis and reactions are limited compared to Discord’s. While Slack does allow users to create and upload custom emojis, the size and number of custom emojis is limited, and they cannot be organized into custom sets. Furthermore, custom reactions are limited to a set list and cannot be customized or expanded beyond this list.
Discord Is The Best Platform for Internal Company Communications
While Slack has long been the go-to platform for team messaging, we firmly believe that Discord is the best platform for internal company communications, offering a range of features that make it the ideal tool for modern businesses. At Bright Development, we’ve found that Discord has significantly improved our team’s communication. The platform is easy to use, and many of our developers were already using it for other personal interests, which made the transition seamless. Using Discord has contributed to a more fluid and enjoyable culture within our team, making it easy to stay connected and collaborate on projects, as well as to bond on a personal level. We use Discord for everything from daily stand-ups and project updates to casual conversations and team building activities. Overall, Discord has proven to be an effective and cost-efficient communications tool, and we recommend it to any business looking to streamline their internal communications and improve team collaboration.
