Side by side
Google Chat vs Stoat
Both stand on team chat apps. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Choose Google Chat if you want messaging integrated with Google Workspace, broad platform support, and collaboration spaces that can accommodate up to 500,000 members. Look elsewhere if you need a paid plan with a published Enterprise price or need the Base plan to support more than 20 users.
Visit Google ChatStoat combines community chat and moderation features with web, desktop, and mobile platform listings, plus an option to self-host. Readers should consider the stated data collection and the limits of privacy-policy enforcement on self-hosted instances.
Visit StoatThe facts
| Google Chat | Stoat | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Android, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows | Android, API, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Business Starter: $7 a month | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 6 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | workspace.google.com | stoat.chat |
| On team chat apps | #25 of 63 | #29 of 63 |
Google Chat: what it does well
- Included with Google Workspace at no additional cost.
- Available on web, desktop, and mobile platforms.
- Persistent spaces support up to 500,000 members.
- Connects with Workspace apps and listed third-party services.
- Administrators can set the default message history behavior.
What to know first
- Business Starter's annual commitment costs $7 a month.
- The Base plan supports a maximum of 20 users.
- Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales.
Stoat: what it does well
- Free plan includes custom emojis and animated avatars.
- Group DMs support up to 50 members.
- Offers roles, moderation tools, and bots.
- Public API supports bots and custom clients.
- Can be used without hosting or self-hosted.
What to know first
- Free plan file uploads are limited to 20MB.
- Self-hosted instances are outside Stoat's policy enforcement.
- iPhone and iPad instructions install the web app through Safari.
- Privacy supplement lists IP addresses and message content among collected data.
Alternatives to Google Chat Alternatives to Stoat The whole list