Google Chat vs Pumble

Google Chat

• Organizations already paying for Google Workspace
• Teams that work in Gmail and want chat in the same window
• Companies moving chat history over from Slack or Teams

Pumble

• Teams that want a free chat app without a message-history cap
• Companies using Clockify or Plaky, which integrate natively at no cost
• Teams moving from Slack, using the built-in Slack import
• Teams on a budget: paid plans start at $2.49 per seat / month

Google Chat

• Chat is not sold on its own: a business gets it by paying for a Google Workspace plan that also covers Gmail, Drive and Meet.
• Gemini in Chat is left out of Business Starter, and Google marks some listed features as coming soon or limited to Business and Enterprise plans.
• There is no desktop app: computers use the web interface or Chat inside Gmail, and the apps are for phones and tablets.
• Business Starter, Standard and Plus can be bought for a maximum of 300 users.

Pumble

• The Free plan allows only 1:1 meetings; group meetings and screen sharing start on Pro.
• Guest access, user groups and meeting recordings need the Business plan.
• Single sign-on, data retention settings and the audit log are limited to Enterprise.
• Free workspaces get 10 GB of storage in total and up to 3 apps and integrations beyond Clockify and Plaky.

Google Chat

Direct messages and spaces

Chat covers direct messages, group messaging and persistent spaces with threaded conversations. Google says a space can hold up to 500,000 members on eligible plans.

Huddles and voice or video messages

Huddles let teammates connect in real time for drop-in collaboration, and updates can be shared as recorded audio or video messages.

Gemini in Chat

Gemini summarizes conversations, lists action items and translates messages. The pricing table includes it from Business Standard up, not in Business Starter.

Built into Gmail and Workspace

Chat appears in Gmail's left navigation and works with Drive, Calendar, Meet and Tasks, so files, meetings and assigned tasks are handled from a conversation.

Chat apps and API

Chat apps cover tools such as Asana, Jira, GitHub and Salesforce. Custom apps can be built with the Chat API, webhooks and Apps Script, or without code in AppSheet.

Migration and interoperability

Existing data can be migrated from Slack or Teams, and interoperability products from Mio and NextPlane connect Chat with other messaging platforms.

Pumble

Channels, threads and direct messages

Public and private channels, threads for side conversations, and 1-on-1 or group direct messages, with unlimited message history on every plan.

Voice and video meetings

1:1 voice and video meetings are on the free plan. Group meetings start on Pro with up to 50 members and rise to 100 on Business and Enterprise.

Screen sharing and recordings

Screen sharing and on-screen annotations come with Pro, and meeting recordings with Business. Meeting links can be sent to people outside the workspace.

Voice and video messages

Record a voice or video message for teammates to play later, and schedule written messages to be sent at a chosen time.

Guest access

From Business, guests can be limited to chosen channels. Each paid seat includes 5 free single-channel guests; multi-channel guests need their own seat.

Integrations, API and MCP server

Apps for Google Calendar, GitHub, Jira, Zapier and others, a public API and SDK for custom apps, and an MCP server for connecting AI agents.

Google Chat

• Consumer (Google Account)$0

  Chat for consumer Google Workspace users. Google notes that some premium features require a paid subscription.

• Business Starter$7

  per user / month, 1-year commitment, billed monthly

  Google Workspace suite plan that includes Chat, with 30 GB of pooled storage per user. Gemini in Chat is not included.

• Business Standard$14

  per user / month, 1-year commitment, billed monthly

  Suite plan with Chat plus Gemini in Chat to find, summarize and translate conversations, and 2 TB of pooled storage per user.

• Business Plus$22

  per user / month, 1-year commitment, billed monthly

  Suite plan with 5 TB of pooled storage per user, Vault to retain and search data, and advanced endpoint management.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Suite plan with data loss prevention, context-aware access and data regions, with no minimum or maximum number of users.

Pumble

• Free$0

  Unlimited users and message history, 1:1 voice and video meetings, voice and video messages, 10 GB of storage per workspace and up to 3 integrations.

• Pro$2.49

  per seat / month, billed annually ($2.99 billed monthly)

  Group meetings with up to 50 members, screen sharing with annotations, customizable sidebar sections, 10 GB of storage per seat and up to 10 integrations.

• Business$3.99

  per seat / month, billed annually ($4.99 billed monthly)

  Guest access, permissions, user groups, meeting recordings, meetings with up to 100 members, 20 GB of storage per seat and unlimited integrations.

• Enterprise$6.99

  per seat / month, billed annually ($7.99 billed monthly)

  Single sign-on (SAML2, OAuth2), data retention settings, audit log, full organization analytics and 100 GB of storage per seat.

• CAKE.com Bundle$12.99

  per seat / month, billed annually ($15.99 billed monthly)

  Enterprise features of Pumble together with Clockify time tracking and Plaky project management.

Google Chat

• Annual discount

  Save 16% with a 1-year commitment

  Google's pricing page says the Annual plan saves 16% compared with paying without a commitment. The listed prices are the Annual ones, billed monthly.

• Other savings

  Up to 50% off the first 3 months

  New Google Workspace customers get 50% off Starter, 30% off Standard and 20% off Plus for the first 3 months. Google calls it a limited-time offer and gives no end date.

• Nonprofit

  Free Google Workspace for Nonprofits

  Eligible nonprofits get Google Workspace for Nonprofits, which includes Chat, at $0 per user, and Business Standard for $3.50 per user / month on a 1-year commitment.

• Education

  Education Fundamentals at no charge

  Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals, which includes Chat, is available at no charge to qualifying institutions. Education Plus is a paid edition.

Pumble

• Annual discount

  About 2 months free with annual billing

  Pumble's pricing FAQ says paying annually gives roughly 2 months free: Pro is $2.49 per seat / month billed annually against $2.99 billed monthly.

• Other savings

  CAKE.com Bundle with Clockify and Plaky

  The bundle includes the Enterprise versions of Pumble, Clockify and Plaky for $12.99 per seat / month billed annually, which the vendor states is 53% less than their combined price.