What is the difference between Google Chat and Pumble?

Google Chat is best for Teams already using Google Workspace, while Pumble is best for Teams wanting a free Slack alternative. Google Chat starts at $6/user/mo and Pumble starts at Free.

Is Google Chat or Pumble cheaper?

Google Chat starts at $6/user/mo. Pumble starts at Free and is free.

Is there a free alternative to Google Chat?

Yes, Pumble offers a free tier.

Google Chat vs Pumble

Google Chat is team messaging built into Google Workspace with Spaces, threads, and deep Google app integration, while Pumble is free team messaging app with unlimited message history, channels, and 1-on-1 video calls. The biggest difference up front: Pumble is free, while Google Chat starts at $6/user/mo. Google Chat is built for teams already using google workspace, whereas Pumble targets teams wanting a free slack alternative.

At a glance

	Google Chat	Pumble
Best for	Teams already using Google Workspace	Teams wanting a free Slack alternative
Starting price	$6/user/mo	Free
Free tier	—	✓
Open source	—	—
Free tier available	—	✓
Open source	—	—
Bots	✓	—
Channels	—	✓
File Sharing	✓	—
Google Workspace	✓	—
Spaces	✓	—
Threads	✓	✓
Unlimited History	—	✓
Video Calls	—	✓

Google Chat

Strengths

Seamless integration with Google Workspace
Clean, simple interface
Included with Google Workspace subscription
Good mobile experience

Weaknesses

Limited features compared to Slack
Fewer third-party integrations
Not available as a standalone product
Threading can be confusing

Try Google Chat → Full review

Pumble

Strengths

Unlimited message history on every plan — nothing gets lost or archived
Organizes conversations into channels so discussions stay focused and searchable
The core product is free with no paywalled essentials
Includes video calls alongside the core feature set — fewer separate tools needed

Weaknesses

May lack some advanced features
Some advanced features require upgrading to a paid plan
Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
Notification overload is a real problem as the number of channels grows

Try Pumble → Full review

The bottom line

Pricing: Pumble is completely free, which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. Google Chat starts at $6/user/mo. That cost buys you a more polished or feature-rich experience, so it comes down to whether the extras justify the spend.

Feature gaps: Google Chat offers Bots, File Sharing and Google Workspace that Pumble lacks. Pumble brings Channels, Unlimited History and Video Calls that Google Chat does not have. Both share Threads.

Team fit: Google Chat is geared toward any size teams, while Pumble is aimed at small teams teams. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.

Where each tool shines: Google Chat's biggest strengths are: seamless integration with google workspace. clean, simple interface. Pumble's biggest strengths are: unlimited message history on every plan — nothing gets lost or archived. organizes conversations into channels so discussions stay focused and searchable.

Watch out for: With Google Chat, users commonly note that limited features compared to slack. With Pumble, the main complaint is that may lack some advanced features.

Choose Google Chat if...

Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams already using google workspace
You specifically need Bots and File Sharing
You care about clean, simple interface
Your team size fits the any size profile Google Chat is designed for

Choose Pumble if...

Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams wanting a free slack alternative
Budget is a hard constraint — Pumble is free, Google Chat is not
You specifically need Channels and Unlimited History
You care about organizes conversations into channels so discussions stay focused and searchable
Your team size fits the small teams profile Pumble is designed for