At first sight, Flock seems to be a really good competitor to Slack, considering the cost and functionalities. We will show you all the different aspects of this collaboration platform and compare it to Slack. Check out all of Flock’s amazing features and make up your mind about which tool works best for you!
Flock vs. Slack
Submitted to our merciless test, Flock: a relatively new platform built on the Slack concept. This messaging service and collaboration tool was launched in 2014 and now is available on Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, and web.
First chatting oriented, we have noticed that this app was much more than a mess. Flock is faster, slicker and way richer than Slack. Let’s break this down. Flock starts in an instant and you’re in the conversation before you know it. Don’t be fooled by Slack’s cute little loading screens or all the unnecessary flattering: Flock loads 2.5 times faster on both desktop and mobile.
Flock makes sure your unread messages automatically bubble up, available with a simple “control+tab” and it lets you breeze through your chats. You also get a quick preview of the last message so you don’t have to open each chat tab every single time.
With Slack, even the most routine tasks like reading messages can be painfully slow. Flock’s magic search is accessible at your fingertips and it prioritizes your frequent channels and contacts without you even having to type. You can also easily access recent contacts or even your entire directory.
Using Slack, searching for a channel or contact in large teams can be like finding a needle in a haystack. The Flock designers have taken care of all those tiny details. Flock helps you get work done faster. Right out of the box, Flock is clutter free and its beautiful user interface (UI) will sweep you off your feet. The uber elegant UI lets you easily switch between teams conversations, search for channels and contacts, apps and tons more in contracts.
App integration
Slack feels clunky crowded and complex. Unlike Slack, apps in Flock are the first-class citizens: they are fully integrated into the UI and blend seamlessly with the core product itself. Slack integrations are relegated mostly to cute bots and notifications. Let’s face it, a good UI is everything to make a good messaging service and collaboration tool.
Besides sending and receiving messages, Flock apps can hook into our app launcher side panel, chat tab button attachment bar and much more. This provides a richer integrated experience, all meant to get your work done faster. Don’t just take our word for it, here’s what customers have to say:
Why slack when you can flock? Flock is free for life and the pro version starts at just $3.00.
Flock in details
Collaboration
Start a direct chat or group conversation
With the entire company team at your fingertips, you can begin a chat with anyone. Or, simply create a channel and get everyone to share their ideas. Use a private channel for focused discussions, or a public one to let your teammates easily discover and join meaningful conversations.
Jump onto video calls with just a click
With Flock’s video conferencing tool, it’s easy to connect with remote teams. Get on a video call directly from a chat or channel and share your screen to get into details. Keep everyone on the same page – even on the go.
Share all types of files and find them easily
Need to share multiple images with your teammates? Simply drag and drop files of all types and see previews of shared files as well. Need to find a file someone shared? You can view all shared files and content in one place in Flock.
Manage mailing lists the smart way
Sending email updates to multiple parties can be a pain in the ass. With Flock’s auto-generated mailing lists you can email an entire channel at one go. You can even manage your mailing lists the way you want. Add teammates from other channels or even people who are not on Flock!
Pick up your phone for instant audio conferencing
Running low on internet bandwidth? Or always on the go? With Flock, you can enjoy uninterrupted audio calling and conferencing with your team. Simply pick up the phone, invite your team to join a conference room via a pin on Flock and get talking.
Productivity
Convert discussions to tasks instantly
Launching a new product? You can create a channel for the project and quickly turn those discussions into tasks by creating to-dos for you and your team. Add due dates and simply create your overview. Let the Shared To-dos bot remind you every morning of tasks due on that day. No need to chase deadlines at the last moment.
Make sure everyone gets heard
Wondering where to go for your annual offsite? Post a question on the channel, and allow users to vote anonymously. Take it up a notch and create fun, image-based polls for your team. Polls are automatically updated across channels and you can download a vote tally to get the final word.
Create notes and collaborate with your team on the go
Got a fantastic idea in the middle of a meeting? With the Notes feature, you can quickly jot down your ideas and share with your teammates. Anyone you’ve shared the note with can make edits, and all the changes will be updated across the chats you’ve shared the note in.
Integrations
Access your entire Google Drive from within Flock
Change the way you collaborate with Google Drive’s deep integration with Flock. Access your entire Google Drive from within Flock. Find and share any Google Drive file or folder. Or create new ones from within the app, and share them with your teammates. Make Flock the hub of all your teamwork.
Manage your GitHub repos without switching tabs
With Flock’s deep integration with GitHub, you can access your entire GitHub universe from within the app! Receive personal and team notifications, navigate through all your reports and even share rich GitHub content. Save time spent on switching between apps!