Discord vs. Slack for Businesses in the SaaS Space (Comparison)

Are you a SaaS business that needs a reliable messaging app for communication? You have a variety of options. However, teams often gravitate towards two giants: Slack and Discord.

Originating from distinctly different backgrounds, Slack emerged from the corporate world, while Discord was initially created for the gaming community. Despite their origins, both platforms have evolved to offer similar functionalities, including text channels, voice, and video calls.

But which one comes out on top?

In this blog post, we compare Discord and Slack head-to-head to see which chat app serves the needs of modern businesses better.

Slack vs. Discord at a glance

At first glance, you might think Slack and Discord are playing in different leagues. But when it comes down to what matters—helping teams talk and work together—they're more similar than you'd think.

Slack is all about making work communication smooth. It's organized, just like a tidy office, where finding what you need is easy. One of Slack's big wins is how well it works with other business apps you might use for work, like project management or file sharing.

Discord might have started with gamers, but it's got a lot to offer for work teams too. It's great at handling big group chats without breaking a sweat. The way Discord is set up, with different channels in one server, is perfect for keeping different projects or team chats separate but still under the same roof. Plus, Discord lets you keep all your messages and share files without paying extra, which is great if you're trying to keep costs down.

The real difference comes down to the little things: Slack's got a ton of integrations and a focus on business, while Discord feels more relaxed and is easier on the wallet.

As we dive into the details, think about what your team needs. The best choice is the one that fits into how you work, making teamwork easy, no matter where everyone is.

Discord: Pros and cons

Discord does some things well such as voice communication and generous storage even on free plans which can be useful for SaaS teams on a budget. Here are the tool’s main perks and limitations for SaaS teams:

Best features for SaaS teams:

• Cheap: Jumping onto Discord doesn't cost you anything. For small SaaS teams or startups, that's huge. You can allocate those precious budget dollars elsewhere while still getting a solid platform for team chats. The paid plans, Nitro Basic and Nitro, which offer additional functionalities, start at $2.99 and $9.99, respectively.

• Generous storage for files and messages: With Discord, you're getting unlimited message history and storage on the house. This means your team can share away and always find what was discussed last week, last month, or even last year, without hitting a wall.

• Voice chat that just works: Discord’s voice communication is smooth and reliable, making it perfect for those who prefer talking over typing. Whether it's quick catch-ups or long strategy sessions, voice channels keep everyone connected and engaged.

Limitations:

• Not built with business in mind: Discord was made for gamers, so if you're looking for a tool that screams "professional," this might not be it. The platform's interface and features might not fit perfectly with more traditional business operations.

• Watch the file sizes: Even though you get unlimited storage, there's a cap on how big each file you upload can be. For SaaS teams that need to share large files frequently, this could mean juggling additional tools just for file sharing.

• Support is a bit slow: The free version of Discord doesn't come with priority support. For SaaS companies that need quick fixes to keep things running smoothly, not having fast access to help can be a bit of a headache.

Verdict ⚖️: Excellent voice chat functionality but not built to support businesses with complex workflows.

Now, we'll take a closer look at Slack’s upsides and downsides.

Slack: Pros and cons

Slack is synonymous with business communication. But is it the ultimate tool? Let’s compare.

Best features for SaaS teams:

• Purpose-built for business: Unlike its counterpart, Slack was designed from the ground up to support business communication. This focus is evident in its user interface and features, which cater specifically to the needs of professional teams.

• Threaded conversations: Slack's threaded conversations keep discussions organized and contextual. This feature is invaluable for teams dealing with multiple projects or topics, as it prevents the main chat from becoming cluttered and helps maintain focus.

• Advanced search modifiers: Finding information in Slack is a breeze thanks to its advanced search modifiers. Teams can quickly retrieve past discussions, shared files, and specific messages, making it an effective tool for managing knowledge and resources.

• Strong integration with other business tools: Slack boasts robust integrations with the most popular business tools, from project management software to CRM platforms. This ecosystem turns Slack into a central hub for team collaboration and communication.

• Generous free version: Slack offers a comprehensive free tier that includes access to many of its core features, making it accessible for small SaaS teams looking to leverage professional communication tools without the upfront cost.

Limitations:

• Limited message history in the free version: The free version of Slack comes with a cap on accessible message history. For growing SaaS teams, this limitation can be a hurdle, as accessing older conversations or files may require upgrading to a paid plan.

• Audio and video calls only in paid version: Essential communication features like audio and video calls are restricted to paid tiers. For teams heavily reliant on these forms of communication, the upgrade to paid plans might be unavoidable.

• It can get expensive: While Slack is an invaluable tool for business communication, its pricing structure can become a financial strain for larger teams or organizations. The cost scales with the number of users, which may prompt larger teams to consider the overall value against the investment.

Verdict: The integration with other business tools gives Slack the advantage. But, unlike Discord, you have to pay for some features like audio calls.

Having compared both tools side by side, let’s shift gears. Next up, we’re going to see what the actual users of both tools have to say.

Feedback from actual users of Slack and Discord

When it comes to choosing the right communication tool for your SaaS team, nothing beats hearing from those who've been there, and done that.

After sifting through numerous reviews on platforms such as Capterra, GetApp, and TrustRadius, here are some insights that you might find useful:

Discord–easy to use but not built to support complex business operations

Many users have noted that Discord offers excellent value for team communication. They find it straightforward to set up and use, and the voice chat functionality is particularly impressive.

However, there's room for improvement in terms of integrating with other business tools, which can lead to some back-and-forth switching. Additionally, there are concerns among several users regarding the app's security features.

Slack—built for seamless business communication but can get expensive for larger teams

Users really like using Slack for work chats whether internally or with customers in Slack Connect channels. It's easy to use and has a bunch of cool features that make teaming up on projects a breeze.

But, when it comes to the price tag, especially for big teams, not everyone's thrilled. As the number of teammates goes up, so does the cost. Still, most teams think Slack is worth it for keeping everyone in sync and making work feel a bit more fun, no matter how big or small the team is.

Slack vs. Discord: A Feature Showdown

Slack vs. Discord: Which tool wins?

Both platforms offer compelling features designed to enhance team communication, but the best choice depends heavily on your specific needs, team dynamics, and business context.

Discord stands out for teams on a tight budget and those that value a strong sense of community. However, its casual, gamer-friendly interface and limited business tool integrations may not work for your business in the long run.

Slack, on the other hand, is the powerhouse of business communication, offering an extensive range of integrations and features like advanced search modifiers and threaded conversations that cater to more structured and formal team interactions. Furthermore, it allows you to invite external organizations, meaning you can use Slack as a customer support tool, which is a double win.

If you decide to go with Slack, pair it with Thena—the ultimate B2B customer engagement platform. Thena uses AI to detect customer requests in Slack channels, automatically generating a support ticket and routing it to the appropriate team member for resolution.

The tool also provides in-depth customer service analytics, enabling you to gain better insights into your customer service strategy and team performance.

The best part? Thena integrates with popular CRM tools and email ticketing systems, allowing you to access customer information and handle requests directly within Slack.

‍Sounds good? Then, try Thena at no cost.