Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Slack · 👥 community
Slack vs Huly
Combines project management, team chat, virtual office, and collaborative docs into a single platform. A self-hostable alternative to Linear, Jira, Slack, and Notion. Here is how Huly ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Slack ($15/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Huly is a verified EPL-2.0-licensed open-source replacement for Slack. Switching from Slack ($15/mo) saves $180/yr per solo seat, or $900/yr for a 5-person team. Deployment: Runs on Self-host.
The catch: Huly's hosted service is gone and its self-hosted issue-doc-chat stack is more technical and less client-friendly than Basecamp's simple project spaces, check-ins, and email participation.
Slack vs Huly Specifications
facts verified 2026-11-07
| Dimension | Slack (Paid) | Huly (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $15 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $180 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $180) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $900 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $900) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $1,800 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $1,800) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source EPL-2.0 |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Self-host (your server) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | webself-hostedself-host, real ops |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 28.1k (active nov 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Slack to Huly
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
Huly's hosted service is gone and its self-hosted issue-doc-chat stack is more technical and less client-friendly than Basecamp's simple project spaces, check-ins, and email participation.
How to deploy Huly
Run the official Huly Selfhost Docker Compose stack on Linux, using its setup script plus Nginx/TLS for production
What it takes to run
The first obstacle is the production-sized stack: Linux, Docker Compose, Nginx and certificates plus CockroachDB, Redpanda, Elasticsearch, storage volumes, backups, and enough RAM.
Where your data lives
The self-host stack uses CockroachDB for account/workspace data, Elasticsearch for search indexes, Redpanda for event streams, and persistent volumes for uploaded files; optional services may add MongoDB. The public hosted Huly service announced its shutdown, so new use means self-hosting.
Why fork Huly instead of vibe-coding a Slack clone?
Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for Slack or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 19 battle-tested open-source alternatives like Macro Chat.
Slack vs Huly FAQ
Is Huly a good free alternative to Slack?+
Yes. Huly is a verified open-source (EPL-2.0) replacement for Slack. Combines project management, team chat, virtual office, and collaborative docs into a single platform. A self-hostable alternative to Linear, Jira, Slack, and Notion.
What is the catch when switching from Slack to Huly?+
Huly's hosted service is gone and its self-hosted issue-doc-chat stack is more technical and less client-friendly than Basecamp's simple project spaces, check-ins, and email participation.
How much do you save switching from Slack to Huly?+
Slack costs $15/mo ($180/yr) per seat, whereas Huly is $0/mo. Switching saves $180/yr for a solo user, $900/yr for a 5-person team, and $1,800/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host Huly instead of Slack?+
Install: Run the official Huly Selfhost Docker Compose stack on Linux, using its setup script plus Nginx/TLS for production. Setup: The first obstacle is the production-sized stack: Linux, Docker Compose, Nginx and certificates plus CockroachDB, Redpanda, Elasticsearch, storage volumes, backups, and enough RAM.
