Best Free Team Chat App for UK Small Business 2026
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The Problem With “Free” Team Chat Apps
You’re running a small business. You need your team to stop emailing each other about everything and start communicating properly, but you’re not ready to pay per person per month just to send messages. Fair enough.
The trouble is that almost every team chat app markets itself as free while burying the real limitations in the small print. Message history disappears after 90 days. Storage fills up. Group video calls turn out not to be included at all. These aren’t minor annoyances — they’re the things that decide whether the tool works for you.
This article compares what the free tiers actually give you in 2026, and it corrects a few claims that circulate widely and aren’t true. It also does something most roundups skip: tells you what the cheapest paid step up costs, because for several of these tools that figure is low enough to change the decision entirely.
What We Compared, and Why It Matters
- Message history retention — can you scroll back six months, or does your history vanish?
- Number of users — is there a cap on how many people can join?
- Storage — how much file storage for shared documents and images?
- Video calling — and specifically whether group calls are included, because on several free tiers they aren’t
- Guest access — can you invite a client or contractor without paying for a seat?
- Integrations — how many other tools can you connect, because free tiers cap this more tightly than you’d expect
The Best Free Team Chat Apps for UK Small Businesses in 2026
1. Pumble — Best Free Tier for Message History
Free plan includes: Unlimited users · Unlimited message history · Unlimited channels · 10 GB storage per workspace · 1:1 voice and video meetings · Voice and video messages · Import from Slack · Up to 3 apps and integrations
Pumble’s free tier is genuinely strong on the thing that matters most, and weaker than commonly reported on two things that also matter. Let’s take both honestly.
What’s remarkable: unlimited users and unlimited message history. A team of two or a team of forty can use it at no cost, and that conversation from six months ago about a client brief is still searchable. Almost every competitor restricts one or the other, usually both. Pumble restricts neither, and for a small business where chat doubles as an informal record, that’s the single most valuable free feature available anywhere on this list.
You also get import from Slack included on the free plan rather than gated behind a paid tier, which makes trying it genuinely low-risk if you’re currently on Slack.
What’s widely misreported: you’ll frequently see claims that Pumble’s free plan supports group video calls for up to 25 participants, and that guest access is included. Neither is correct. Free covers 1:1 voice and video meetings only — group meetings sit behind the Pro tier. Guest users are a Business-tier feature, two steps up. If group video or client guest access is part of why you’re switching, budget for a paid plan from the start.
The integration cap is the other thing to check: free allows up to three apps and integrations, rising to ten on Pro and unlimited from Business. Clockify and Plaky integrations are included natively, which is useful if you already use them. But three slots is fewer than Slack’s free tier allows, and if you’d want your calendar, your project board and your accounting software connected, you’re at the ceiling immediately.
The interface is clean and intuitive — anyone who has used Slack will feel at home in minutes. The mobile app is functional rather than as polished as Slack’s.
Best for: Small businesses and sole traders whose priority is searchable history and unrestricted team size, and who don’t need group video or many integrations.
2. Slack — More Polished, and Better on Integrations Than Pumble
Free plan includes: Unlimited users · 90-day message history · 1:1 audio and video calls · Up to ten app integrations · 1:1 external messages
Slack is the name most people reach for, and it’s genuinely excellent software. The interface is polished, the mobile app is superb, and the integration ecosystem is enormous.
The honest limitation is history. The 90-day cap means anything older than three months drops out of view, which is a real problem for referencing project decisions, client discussions or anything approaching a compliance record. It exists to push you to a paid plan, and it works.
Group video calls also require a paid plan — free covers 1:1 only, exactly as with Pumble.
But here’s the comparison most roundups get backwards: Slack’s free tier allows up to ten integrations against Pumble’s three. If your workflow depends on connecting several tools, Slack’s free plan is the more capable one. That runs directly against the received wisdom, and it’s worth weighing against the history difference rather than assuming Pumble wins across the board.
Best for: Teams who need to connect multiple tools, or who are already familiar with Slack and communicate primarily in text within a rolling three-month window.
3. Microsoft Teams (Free) — Good If You’re Already in the Microsoft World
Free plan includes: Group video calling, chat, file sharing via OneDrive integration, guest access
Teams Free is a solid option, particularly if your team already uses Word, Excel or Outlook. File sharing integrates naturally with OneDrive and SharePoint, and that integration deepens considerably on a paid Microsoft 365 plan.
Its genuine strength against both Pumble and Slack is group video calling on the free tier, which neither of those offers at all. Message history on the free plan is time-limited, and meeting duration is capped — confirm the current limits with Microsoft, as these have been revised more than once.
The interface is complex at first but becomes familiar quickly, especially for teams already living in Windows and Microsoft products.
What’s missing: advanced admin controls, meeting recordings and phone system features all require a paid Microsoft 365 plan.
Best for: Teams already using Microsoft apps who need group video meetings more than long-term message history.
4. Google Chat — Only Really Makes Sense Inside Google Workspace
One clarification first, because it’s commonly misunderstood: there is no free tier of Google Workspace. Business Starter costs £5.90 per user per month ex-VAT, which is £7.08 with VAT. Google Chat is bundled into paid Workspace plans, and while it’s accessible with a personal Google account, that isn’t a business product — no custom domain, no admin controls.
So Google Chat isn’t really a free team chat app for a business in the way the others here are. If you’re already paying for Workspace, it’s a convenient chat layer with seamless Docs, Sheets and Drive integration, and Google Meet handles your video. If you’re evaluating from scratch and want something free, it isn’t the starting point.
Best for: Teams already paying for Google Workspace who want chat without adding another platform.
5. Discord — Surprisingly Capable for Informal Teams
Discord was built for gaming communities, but plenty of small informal teams — creative agencies, freelance collectives, early-stage startups — use it as lightweight team chat, and it holds up better than you’d expect. Unlimited users, generous history retention, and a channel structure that maps reasonably well to how teams work.
The significant limitation is a low per-file upload cap on the free tier, low enough that a single high-resolution image or a graphics-heavy PDF can exceed it. You’d routinely need Drive or similar to share anything substantial. Check the current limit, as Discord has revised it several times.
The interface is also a barrier in some professional contexts. If you’re inviting a corporate client into a call, Discord’s gaming-influenced aesthetic may raise eyebrows.
Best for: Creative teams and startups comfortable with a less traditional interface who don’t share large files.
Quick Comparison Table
| App | Users | Message history | Storage | Group video on free | Integrations on free |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pumble | Unlimited | Unlimited | 10 GB per workspace | No — 1:1 only | Up to 3 |
| Slack | Unlimited | 90 days | Check current | No — 1:1 only | Up to 10 |
| Microsoft Teams | Check current | Time-limited | Via OneDrive | Yes, with duration cap | Basic |
| Google Chat | Requires paid Workspace from £5.90 | Per Workspace plan | Via Drive | Via Google Meet | Google tools |
| Discord | Unlimited | Generous | Low per-file cap | Yes | Limited |
The row that changes most people’s thinking is group video on free. Neither Pumble nor Slack includes it. If remote meetings are a core requirement, your realistic free options are Teams or Discord — or a paid plan.
If Free Doesn’t Work: What the Cheapest Upgrade Costs
Worth knowing, because the numbers are lower than the intro to most of these articles suggests. Per user per month:
- Microsoft Teams Essentials — £3.10 ex-VAT. The cheapest confirmed route to a paid chat and meetings tool, standalone from the rest of Microsoft 365.
- Slack Pro — currently £3.50, discounted from a £7 list price. That buys unlimited history, unlimited integrations and group meetings. Note the discount is promotional, so budget on £7 unless you can confirm how long it runs.
- Pumble Pro — €2.49 billed annually, or €2.99 monthly. Pumble prices in euros, so add currency conversion and check whether your business account charges a foreign transaction fee.
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic — £5.40 ex-VAT, which bundles Teams with business email on your own domain and the web and mobile Office apps. £4.20 without Teams.
Two things fall out of that list. First, group video costs around £3 a month per person, not the £6 to £12 that gets quoted. Second, at £5.40 Microsoft 365 Business Basic gives you chat, video, professional email and Office apps for barely more than a chat tool alone — if you don’t yet have business email sorted, that’s the better-value comparison.
FAQ
Is it really safe to use a free team chat app for business communications?
For most small business conversations — project updates, quick questions, announcements — yes, the major platforms are secure enough, using encryption in transit and at rest. If you handle sensitive client data, medical information or anything regulated, check the provider’s data processing agreement and confirm UK GDPR compliance. Free tiers typically don’t include advanced security controls or audit logs, which regulated businesses may require.
Which free plan gives me group video calls?
Not Pumble and not Slack — both limit free users to 1:1 calls. Microsoft Teams Free includes group video with a duration cap, and Discord supports group calls. If group video matters and you’d rather stay on a mainstream business tool, Teams Essentials at £3.10 per user per month ex-VAT is the cheapest paid route.
Does Pumble’s free plan really have no restrictions?
No, and this claim circulates more than it should. Unlimited users and unlimited message history are real and genuinely valuable. But free is limited to 1:1 video calls, guest access requires the Business tier, and integrations are capped at three. It’s a strong free tier, not an unrestricted one.
Will these apps work for remote UK teams across different locations?
Yes. All work in the browser and have iOS and Android apps, so location isn’t a barrier. Teams and Google Chat may be more reliable in organisations where staff use company-managed devices, since IT policies often already cover them. Pumble and Slack both have solid Windows and Mac desktop apps.
Do any of these help with Making Tax Digital or HMRC compliance?
Not directly — team chat apps are communication tools, not accounting software. Some businesses use them to coordinate around bookkeeping, but for MTD you need MTD-compatible accounting software such as Xero, QuickBooks or FreeAgent.
What happens to my data if I stop using the free plan?
Each provider differs, so read the terms. Generally, if you delete your account or the workspace goes inactive, data may be deleted after a set period. Slack gives workspace owners a window to export first. If retention matters for compliance or continuity, check each provider’s export policy before you commit.
Conclusion: Which Free Team Chat App Should You Choose?
The answer depends on which restriction you can live with, because every free tier here has one.
Choose Pumble if searchable history is your priority. Unlimited users and unlimited message history at no cost is the strongest single free feature on this list, and nothing else comes close. Accept that you’ll have 1:1 video only, no guest access, and three integration slots.
Choose Slack if you need to connect several tools. Ten free integrations against Pumble’s three is a real advantage that gets overlooked, and the product is more polished. Accept the 90-day history wall.
Choose Microsoft Teams Free if group video is essential and you’re already in the Microsoft world. It’s the only mainstream option here offering group calls without paying.
Discord suits informal creative teams who can live with the file size limit and the aesthetic.
Google Chat isn’t a free option — it needs a paid Workspace plan from £5.90 per user ex-VAT.
The bottom line: work out which limit will actually bite you on day 90, and check whether the cheapest paid upgrade fixes it. At around £3 per user per month for Teams Essentials or Slack Pro’s current rate, paying may be a smaller decision than choosing the wrong free tier.
Pricing and features correct at time of writing. Plans and capabilities are subject to change — always confirm current details on the provider’s website before purchasing.