Since February 2019 we can talk about the tool using past tense. HipChat WAS a popular messaging and collaboration service owned by Atlassian, launched in 2010 (years before Slack!).
HipChat was a decent Slack competitor for years. Even when Frisco-based SaaS was already picking up steam, HipChat managed to get ahead of its arch-rival a few times. For example, in 2016 the tool introduced team video chat and screen sharing – the features Slack didn’t have back then.
But eventually, HipChat lost the battle. First, it was replaced by Stride. Then, as Slack and Atlassian forged ‘a strategic partnership’ in July 2018, HipChat days became numbered.
HipChat users started getting ‘The end of support’ reminders in January 2019.
‘The end of support’ reminder from Hipchat
As the tool gets discontinued on February 15, 2019, what can its users replace it with? Naturally, HipChat users are provided with a migration path to Slack. But what about other tools?
We’ve analyzed different apps that people are asking Google to compare with HipChat. It turns out not every HipChat alternative people are searching for can replace the discontinued team messenger. Let’s see which apps are real HipChat alternatives and whether they are worth a try.
In 2024, there are many effective HipChat alternatives that offer features suitable for various team needs. The alternatives we explore not only fill the void left by HipChat but also provide enhanced functionalities, helping teams maintain productivity and communication.
Whether you’re considering Chanty, Slack, Microsoft Teams, or any other HipChat competitor, each tool has unique strengths that cater to different organizational requirements. Let’s dive into the top HipChat alternatives and see how they compare.
1. HipChat vs Chanty 
Chanty interface
Can Chanty replace HipChat?
Yes. Chanty is a simple yet powerful team chat our team has created. It’s designed for the needs of small – and medium-sized teams at work.
Here’s a brief comparison of Chanty and HipChat.
How is Chanty different from HipChat?
| Feature | HipChat (as of 2019) | Chanty (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Message history | 25,000 searchable messages on free plan | Unlimited in all plans |
| File storage | 5GB on free plan | 20GB per user in paid plan, 20GB per team in free plan |
| Integrations | Yes | Yes, plus enhanced workflow integrations |
| Video chat | Yes | Yes, including audio calls and voice messages |
| Screen sharing | Yes | Yes |
| AI-powered assistance | No | Yes |
| Task management | No | Yes, with task creation, assignment, filtering, and tracking |
Why Chanty stands out:
- Task management built-in – create, assign, and track tasks without leaving the chat.
- Unlimited message history – never worry about losing important conversations.
- Teambook hub – all your links, files, and pinned messages in one place for easy access.
- Modern communication features – audio/video calls, voice messaging, and AI-powered tools for productivity on the go.
Chanty isn’t just a replacement for HipChat – it’s a complete upgrade for teams looking to stay organized, connected, and productive.
Get to know Chanty and enhance your team’s productivity. Schedule a free demo session with our team today!
2. HipChat vs Slack 
Can Slack replace HipChat?
Yes. Slack is a well-known communication and collaboration tool for teams. The combination of a powerful search, a number of integrations, a slick UI and charismatic copywriting made thousands of teams fall in love with Slack.
How Slack is different from HipChat?
| Feature | HipChat (as of 2019) | Slack (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Integrations | Unlimited in all plans | Unlimited in paid plans, 10 max on free plan |
| Pricing | $2 per user, per month | Pro $8.75 per active user/month (billed annually), Business+ $15 per active user/month |
| Storage | 5GB limit on free plan | 10GB in Pro plan, 20GB in Business+ plan |
| Message history | 25,000 searchable messages on free plan | 90-day message history on free plan, unlimited on paid plans |
| Self-hosted solution | Yes | No |
To wrap it up:
- Slack modernizes HipChat’s core features while adding a robust ecosystem of apps, searchable history, and advanced collaboration tools.
- HipChat was almost four times cheaper than Slack’s paid plans, which made the transition a financial consideration for some teams. Slack did offer a migration discount for former HipChat users, but ongoing costs are higher.
- While HipChat allowed self-hosting, Slack is cloud-based only, which can be a pro or con depending on your team’s preferences.
Slack essentially takes the best-loved aspects of HipChat and builds on them with a modern interface, better integrations, and scalable storage options for growing teams.
3. HipChat vs Campfire(now Basecamp)
Can Campfire replace HipChat?
Yes, but with caveats. HipChat was officially discontinued in 2019, so it’s no longer available. Campfire, originally launched in 2006 as a team chat tool, was merged into Basecamp and the standalone version was discontinued. However, Campfire has been revived as self-hosted software, so if you are using Basecamp – or willing to self-host – you can still use Campfire for team chat. Many major CRMs, including Bitrix24 and Basecamp, now integrate chat functionality directly into their platforms, following this trend.
How Campfire is different from HipChat?
| HipChat (as of 2019) | Campfire (as of 2019) | |
| Notifications settings | You can customize your notifications and even set the volume at which you’d want to receive them | Notifications are not highly customizable. You can either receive them about everything or be notified only when someone sends you a Ping or @mentions you. |
| Conversations | You can see all the conversation rooms at the left sidebar of your chat | You need to open the Campfire menu to see all the conversations and notifications |
| Switching to another conversation | One-click | Several clicks |
As you can see, while HipChat was a standalone app with more flexible notifications, Campfire today exists mostly as part of Basecamp or as self-hosted software. Its functionality has shifted from a standalone chat platform to being integrated with broader project management tools.
4. HipChat vs Flowdock
Can Flowdock replace HipChat?
Flowdock cannot replace HipChat anymore. Flowdock, founded in 2009 and acquired by Rally Software in 2013, was shut down in 2022. It was a simple team communication tool with a unique approach to threads, using color-coded conversation flows to help users keep track of discussions. While it once offered free access for small teams of five and students, the service is no longer available.
How Flowdock is different from HipChat?
| Feature | HipChat (as of 2019) | Flowdock (until 2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $2 per user/month | Free for teams under 5 and students; $3–$9 per user/month for paid plans |
| Built-in calls & screen sharing | Yes | No native support; required third-party integration with Appear.in |
| Notifications | Desktop push | Desktop push, mobile push, email, SMS |
| Threaded conversations | No color-coded threads | Color-coded threads to track discussions easily |
Flowdock’s unique threaded conversations and intuitive interface were appealing, but it lacked native audio/video calls and has been discontinued as of 2022. Teams now need to look for modern alternatives like Chanty or Slack for a fully supported and actively maintained solution.
5. HipChat vs Mattermost
Can Mattermost replace HipChat?
Yes, if you are not looking for a public cloud solution. Mattermost positions itself as an open-source private cloud Slack alternative. In simple words, it means you can’t download the Mattermost app and launch it on your computer like you’d do with HipChat. Instead, you’ll have to deploy and install it on your own company server. Due to the number of contributors to this open-source platform, Mattermost is also available in more than 10 languages.
How is Mattermost different from HipChat?
| Feature | HipChat (as of 2019) | Mattermost (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Only on Data Center plan | Yes, available for all plans |
| Public cloud | Yes | No |
| Pricing | $2 per user/month | Free TEAM plan; Professional E10 $10/user/year; Enterprise E20 – price on request |
| Multi-language support | No | Yes: English, German, French, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, Polish, Turkish, Russian, Chinese, Korean & Japanese |
| Searchable message history | 25,000 messages free, unlimited in paid | Unlimited in all versions |
The Mattermost app would definitely require a system administrator from your team to set it up. However, if you choose to use their free version, you can still enjoy the unlimited number of integrations and searchable messages. The number of languages Mattermost supports is a significant benefit which makes it a good fit for multilanguage teams all over the world.
6. HipChat vs. Microsoft Teams
Can Microsoft Teams replace HipChat?
Yes. Microsoft Teams is a comprehensive collaboration platform that excels at instant messaging, making it a direct alternative to HipChat. It offers a wide range of features, including video conferencing, file collaboration, and integration with Microsoft 365 apps. The ability to create channels for different projects improves organization and communication, addressing many of the same pain points experienced by HipChat users.
How is Microsoft Teams different from HipChat?
| Feature | HipChat (as of 2019) | Microsoft Teams (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $2 per user/month | Free plan available; Teams Essentials $4/user/month; Microsoft 365 Business Basic $6/user/month |
| Video & audio conferencing | Limited or add-ons | Built-in high-quality video and audio calls |
| File sharing | Available in chat | Integrated with OneDrive for seamless collaboration |
| Task management | Limited | Integrated task assignments and planning through Planner and To Do |
| Integration options | Limited | Extensive, including Microsoft 365 apps and third-party tools |
The Microsoft Teams app is a comprehensive platform that works best when fully integrated with Microsoft 365. Channels for projects help teams stay organized and improve communication across departments. With native video conferencing and file sharing, there’s no need for extra third-party tools. Task management features keep your team productive without leaving the platform. Overall, Microsoft Teams takes the core collaboration features HipChat offered and expands them into a full-fledged productivity hub, making it a great fit for teams already using Office apps.
7. HipChat vs. Flock
Can Flock replace HipChat?
Yes. Flock is designed as a messaging platform that emphasizes team collaboration, making it a true alternative to HipChat. With instant messaging at its core, Flock also includes additional features like reminders, polls, and task management, enhancing its utility for teams that value organized communication. The user-friendly interface allows teams to communicate effectively while maintaining their focus.
| Feature | HipChat (as of 2019) | Flock (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $2 per user/month | Free plan available; Pro plan $4.50 per user/month |
| Task Management | Not available | Built-in task management tools |
| Video Conferencing | Not available | Supports video calls for team discussions |
| File Sharing | Available for chat | Simple file-sharing capabilities |
| Integration Options | Limited | Moderate integrations with various productivity tools |
Flock takes the simple chat experience HipChat users loved and upgrades it with built-in collaboration features, video conferencing, and productivity integrations – making it a modern alternative for teams looking to consolidate communication and task management in one tool.
8. HipChat vs Skype 
Can Skype replace HipChat?
No. Although Skype is often used for communication at work, its open ecosystem doesn’t allow private team communication and collaboration. Moreover, there are no direct integrations with third-party apps (if you are technical though, you can use Skype API to create bots). There is also no file storage, so every time you need to send or resend a file, you’ll be going back and forth doing it multiple times. It also means you won’t be able to perform a file search in Skype unlike HipChat.
Both HipChat and Skype are now part of the history of team communication tools. HipChat ended in 2019, and Skype was retired in 2025, marking the close of two early platforms that shaped modern workplace messaging.
9. HipChat vs WhatsApp 
whatsapp.com
Can WhatsApp replace HipChat?
No. Even though WhatsApp isn’t a team communication tool, we were surprised to discover people often compare HipChat and WhatsApp. To start with some clarity, they are very different products. While both apps are communication tools, they are used for different purposes. WhatsApp is mostly for personal use while HipChat is designed for communication at work. Moreover, WhatsApp is connected to your phone number and it is mostly used on mobile, and there’s a WhatsApp web version too. It would be definitely a challenging task to communicate and manage a development team using WhatsApp.
10. HipChat vs Yammer
g2crowd.com
Can Yammer replace HipChat?
No. Comparing Yammer to HipChat is more like comparing Twitter and Skype. Yammer is basically a microblogging platform – a social network for team communication within a company with ‘like’ and ‘share’ options for the messages. Launched in 2008, Yammer was acquired by Microsoft in 2012. Starting from January 2017 you can’t get a standalone Yammer subscription any more as it’s now a part of Office 365 package where the plans range between $5 and $12.5. The good thing – you can integrate Yammer with other Microsoft Office products in a seamless and easy way. You can also check out our article on Yammer alternatives.
11. HipChat vs Hangouts
thenextweb.com
Can Hangouts replace HipChat?
No. Hangouts is not a team communication platform like HipChat, Chanty or Slack. It would be wiser to compare it to personal chats like Skype or Viber. If you have a Gmail account you already have Google Hangouts by default. The tool is well-known for its high quality video conferencing functionality. Many companies that used HipChat preferred to integrate Google Hangouts rather than using the built-in options for calls.
Hangouts, though, is not the only team collaboration tool developed by Google. There’s Hangouts Meet as a way to schedule video calls, and Google Chat for continuous text chat with your team about your products. And on the consumer side, Google’s combining its messaging efforts into the new Google Chat app.
Hangouts might be closed soon, as explicitly confirmed by Scott Johnson, the product lead in Google Workplace. Hangouts users will be eventually transferred to Google Chat and Hangouts Meet.
12. HipChat vs. Twist
Can Twist replace HipChat?
No. Twist works on a fundamentally different communication model to HipChat. Twist emphasizes asynchronous communication, focusing on organized, threaded conversations rather than fast-paced, real-time messaging. In Twist, discussions are organized into threads, making it easier for teams to follow specific topics and avoid the overwhelming flow of messages that is common in real-time chats. This structured approach benefits teams that work in different time zones or prefer a slower, more organized style of communication.
However, this focus on asynchronous communication makes Twist less suited as a direct replacement for HipChat, which was known for its fast, real-time messaging. Twist’s design helps reduce notification overload and distractions, but it may feel limiting for teams that rely on quick interactions, instant responses, or casual conversations. As a result, Twist may not fully satisfy the needs of teams that enjoyed the dynamic, fast-paced communication that HipChat provided.
The true and false HipChat alternatives
While all the apps we’ve reviewed in this article are tools used for communication, being a workplace chat means creating a closed team universe that is used exclusively for communication and collaboration at work. HipChat itself has now gone into history, but many of the features users loved – searchable message history, organized conversation rooms, integrations, and notifications – live on in modern, updated alternatives. Having analyzed the 12 different apps that people often compare HipChat with, it’s time to sort things out and decide which of them are real competitors. The ‘True’ column means the app is an instant messenger, serving the same purpose and solving similar pain points as HipChat did. ‘False’ means the app serves a different purpose and isn’t actually a viable HipChat alternative.
Alternatives
| True | Why? | False | Why Not? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chanty | Team chat with task management & strong collaboration features | Yammer | Enterprise-focused internal network, not chat-centric |
| Slack | Feature-rich, supports real-time messaging & integrations | Skype | Primarily for video calls, lacks team chat structure |
| Mattermost | Open-source, self-hosted, secure for IT teams | Consumer-focused, lacks advanced team collaboration tools | |
| Campfire | Simple team chat with an emphasis on focus & minimalism | Google Hangouts | Casual messaging & video calls, lacks structured collaboration |
| Flowdock | Threaded messaging, ideal for software & project teams | Microsoft Teams | Heavy on meetings & file-sharing, not lightweight chat-focused |
Even though HipChat is no longer available, the spirit of its functionality continues in these modern apps, allowing teams to keep using the features they valued most in a more updated and supported environment.
