Comparing threaded conversations across chat tools

Compare Slack, Microsoft Teams and Google Chat using the same conversation and retrieval test below: how replies attach to a message, who is notified, and whether an absent colleague can find the final answer.

Use the same conversation in each tool

Use a safe sample: a project lead asks about a revised delivery date, two colleagues raise different concerns and the lead gives a final response. Add a related reply and an unrelated update.

Then ask someone who did not participate to find the final response using the intended account and settings.

Compare the reply models

Slack: threads. Slack's help page "Use threads to organise discussions" describes replying in a thread from any message; ticking the box below a reply also sends it back to the channel's main view. Threads are available to all members and guests on all subscriptions.

Microsoft Teams: two channel layouts. Posts layout places replies beneath a post. Threads layout supports immediate back-and-forth and side conversations; a reply can go to the thread alone or to both the thread and the main channel. Replies remain attached to the original message and can be followed by anyone reading it.

Everyone with access to a channel can see its messages on the Posts or Conversation tab. Microsoft notes that using Posts layout for a threaded channel can make some posts appear out of order and may affect channel notifications.

A notice channel may suit Posts; an active working channel may suit Threads. Some guests, external users and people on older Teams clients see threaded channels in Posts layout, and EDU accounts use Posts. Check the layout the intended audience actually sees.

Google Chat: threads. In a Chat space you can reply to any message to start a separate thread, which can hold up to 500 replies. For search, you can find messages in conversations you've joined or can join, but not in spaces created by someone from a different organisation, even if invited.

Notifications differ by default. In Slack channels with several people, you are notified of new thread replies if you started the thread, replied to it or were mentioned. Google Chat automatically follows a thread for its author, anyone who replies or is mentioned, and people whose conversation setting is "All".

For a like-for-like notification comparison, use the same participants and message and reply actions in Slack, Teams and Google Chat. Record which people are notified and where each alert appears under the settings in use.

Check history as well as layout. On Slack's Free plan, messages are saved and searchable for 90 days, so an old thread may not be retrievable at all.

Retention and Accessibility Limits

Judge the outcome

Ask the same questions in each tool:

If the answer matters beyond the thread, surface it in the channel or put the approved wording in the team’s maintained record.