Chanty

Overview

Chanty is a team collaboration platform that combines instant messaging with integrated task management and audio/video calling. Designed as a simpler and more affordable alternative to Slack, Chanty features 'Teambook,' a unified hub for managing all team assets, and leverages AI to suggest responses and convert messages into tasks, helping small teams stay productive without the complexity of enterprise suites.

Founder story

Founded in 2017 in Kharkiv, Ukraine, by Nick Dvornikov. The team was frustrated by the high price and feature-bloat of existing chat tools. They built Chanty to prove that professional communication could be simple, fast, and accessible to every small business, regardless of their budget.

What it does

• Provides unlimited searchable message history (even on the free plan)
• Features 'Teambook' to centralize tasks, links, and files
• Includes built-in Kanban boards for project management
• Supports 1-on-1 and group audio/video calls with screen sharing
• Uses an AI bot to automate repetitive communication and task creation.

Who it's for

• Small-to-medium businesses
• Distributed teams
• Startups
• Agencies

Why it works

• Affordability: At $3/user, it is significantly cheaper than Slack or Microsoft Teams for small businesses
• Searchability: Unlike Slack's free tier, Chanty provides a full history of messages forever
• Consolidation: Removes the need for a separate task manager (like Trello) by baking Kanban boards directly into the chat
• User Experience: Extremely clean, decluttered UI that requires zero onboarding time for new hires.

Growth strategies

• Positioned aggressively as the 'best Slack alternative' in organic search and comparison guides.
• Used a product- led approach by offering a high-value free tier for teams up to 5 members.
• Targeted regulated industries like healthcare and retail that need simple, secure communication.
• Maintained a bootstrapped, capital- efficient model focused on user retention and organic word-of-mouth.

Alternatives

• Slack
• Microsoft Teams
• Discord
• Rocket.Chat

Comparison overview

• Slack: Chanty is much more affordable and includes native task management; Slack is for larger enterprises with massive integration needs.
• Discord: Chanty is professional and workspace-focused, while Discord is community and gaming-centric.
• Chanty is the #1 choice for SMBs that want Slack-like communication without the enterprise price tag.