Alternatives · Team Chat
Rainbow alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the best Rainbow alternative for most people is Slack (2.8 GPA), first in our ranking of team communication apps. The best free one is Microsoft Teams (3.0 GPA). The catch, in its listing's words: "Microsoft Teams (free) is for one person."
Rainbow compared with 5 alternatives: Microsoft Teams, Webex, Zoom, Wire and Slack.
Rainbow's current pricing could not be confirmed from its own site. All 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
Listings checked up to Nov 12, 2026 · Where the facts come from
Black Friday: is there a Rainbow sale?
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| RainbowThis tool | Paid | No | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Microsoft Teams | Free plan · from $4.00/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Webex | Free plan · from $12/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Zoom | Free plan · from $14.16/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Wire | Free plan · from €7.45/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Slack | Free plan · from $7.25/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
How each one differs from Rainbow
Microsoft Teams
Chat, video meetings and calling tied into Microsoft 365
- Microsoft Teams starts at $4.00 per user / month, paid yearly.
- Microsoft Teams has a free plan, which Rainbow lacks.
- Microsoft Teams also covers transcription, noise cancellation, whiteboard and file sharing.
Suits: Organizations that already pay for Microsoft 365
Webex
Cisco's app for video meetings, messaging and calling
- Webex starts at $12 per user / month, billed annually ($144 a year).
- Webex has a free plan, which Rainbow lacks.
- Webex also lists a Linux app.
- Webex also covers noise cancellation, whiteboard, screen recording and file sharing.
Suits: Organizations that equip rooms and desks with Cisco devices
Zoom
Video meetings bundled with team chat, phone and AI notes
- Zoom starts at $14.16 per user / month, billed annually ($169.90 a year).
- Zoom has a free plan, which Rainbow lacks.
- Zoom also lists a Linux app and a browser extension.
- Zoom also covers meeting notes, whiteboard and booking links.
Suits: Teams whose main need is video meetings with chat alongside
Wire
End-to-end encrypted messaging and calls for organizations
- Wire starts at €7.45 per person / month, paid annually.
- Wire has a free plan, which Rainbow lacks.
- Wire also lists a Linux app.
- Wire is open source, self-hostable and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Wire also covers file sharing.
Suits: Organizations that need end-to-end encryption for messages, calls and files
Slack
Channel-based team messaging with huddles, workflows and AI
- Slack starts at $7.25 per user / month, billed annually.
- Slack has a free plan, which Rainbow lacks.
- Slack also lists a Linux app.
- Slack also covers workflow automation, documents and file sharing.
Suits: Teams that want conversations organized by channel rather than email threads
Limits worth knowing in Rainbow
- No prices are published on the pages read; pricing is unverified and likely sold through Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise.
- The vendor describes an a la carte service, so which features come with which licence is not stated on the pages read.
- Rainbow is aimed at organizations, not individuals or very small teams.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Rainbow?
The alternatives to Rainbow in this directory are Microsoft Teams, Webex, Zoom, Wire and Slack. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Rainbow.
Is there a free alternative to Rainbow?
Yes. Microsoft Teams, Webex, Zoom, Wire and Slack have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Rainbow alternatives work on Linux?
The Rainbow listing does not include a Linux app. Webex, Zoom, Wire and Slack list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to Rainbow?
Wire is described as open source on its own site.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.