The Chatwork Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Chatwork in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Chatwork
The Insider’s Guide
Business group chat with built-in tasks, files and video calls
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among team communication apps, read from Chatwork’s own pages.
Made by kubell Co., Ltd. · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Chatwork’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Chatwork’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 8 of the 33 other team communication apps we grade
Chatwork is a business chat service from the Japanese company kubell. Conversations are organized into group chats, direct chats and a personal My Chat, and each chat can carry assigned tasks and shared files. Voice and video calls with screen sharing are built in, and contacts at other organizations can be added to the same chats.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Chatwork, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for chatting with clients outside your company
Chatwork is a business chat from Japan where every chat can carry tasks and files as well as messages, and clients at other companies can sit in the same rooms as your team.
- 2
Paid plans start at $7 a month for each person
As its pricing page puts it: $7 per user / month, on an annual subscription.
- 3
There is a free plan
Up to 100 users, unlimited group chats, messages viewable for the last 40 days, 10GB of storage per organization, 1:1 video calls and 20 outside contacts per user.
- 4
It runs on 5 platforms
Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
- 5
Group, direct and personal chats
A group chat is set up for each team or project, direct chats reach anyone in your contact list, and My Chat is a private space for your own notes and files.
- 6
Tasks inside chats
Assign tasks to yourself or to colleagues from the chat screen and review them by due date. The person who assigned a task is notified when it is completed.
- 7
File sharing and management
Upload Word, Excel and image files to a chat, preview them in the browser, and see every file shared in a group in one list.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 8 of 33
That is against the other team communication apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Chatwork you would be making chat that a whole team counts on staying up. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Chatwork at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $7 per user / month, on an annual subscription
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 1-month free trial of paid plans, per the Japanese pricing page; the English page does not mention one
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
- Made by
- kubell Co., Ltd., since 2004
- Category
- Team Communication
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for chatting with clients outside your company
Chatwork is a business chat from Japan where every chat can carry tasks and files as well as messages, and clients at other companies can sit in the same rooms as your team. Free takes up to 100 users. But Free only shows the last 40 days of messages, group video calls are paid, integrations stop at Zapier and IFTTT, and the English and Japanese pricing pages don't match.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Standard is $7 a user a month on an annual subscription, or $8.40 paid monthly. $7 is bang on the middle of what team chat charges, so you're paying the going rate: unlimited history, group video calls and 10GB of storage per user. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Free takes up to 100 users, which sounds huge until you notice the 40-day window: older messages simply aren't viewable. Add 10GB of storage shared by the whole organization, 20 outside contacts each and 1:1 video only. |
| Features | C | The basics: group, direct and personal chats, tasks you assign from the chat screen, a file list per group, calls with screen sharing. But the listing's integrations are Zapier and IFTTT and nothing else, and the plan with the extra security controls appears only on the Japanese page, in yen. |
| Ease of use | C | No App Store rating on record. There's a workspace to set up before anyone talks: an admin adds and removes people from a management screen, and outside contacts go in one at a time by email or Chatwork ID. |
| Platforms and integrations | A | Web, Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, with a public API for developers on top. The one gap is Linux: the download page doesn't list a desktop app for it, so there it's the browser. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Chatwork is for
- Fits if you chat with clients and partners at other companies as much as with your own team
- Works for teams that assign tasks right inside the conversation
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you need to look up old messages without paying, as Free only shows the last 40 days
- Tight if your team meets on video and isn't paying, because Free is 1:1 calls only
- Not for you if you want a lot of apps plugged in, since Zapier and IFTTT are all that's listed
- Watch out: the free 10GB is shared by the whole organization, with 20 outside contacts per user
- Watch out: the trial and a Professional plan appear only on the Japanese pricing page, in yen, and there's no Linux app
Good to know
Good for
- Teams that chat with clients and partners outside their own company
- Small groups starting at no cost: the Free plan covers up to 100 users
- Teams that want task assignment inside the conversation
Worth knowing
- Free plan members can only view messages from the last 40 days, and its 10GB of storage is shared by the whole organization.
- Group video calls need the Standard plan; the Free plan is limited to 1:1 video calls.
- No Linux desktop app is listed: the download page covers Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and web browsers.
- The English pricing page lists only Free and Standard; the Japanese page adds a Professional plan with security controls, priced in yen.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$7
A month to start, for each person. There is a free plan too
Chatwork has a free plan. Paid plans start at $7 per user / month, on an annual subscription.
Free
$0
Up to 100 users, unlimited group chats, the last 40 days of messages, 10GB of storage per organization and 1:1 video calls.
Standard
$7
per user / month, annual subscription ($8.40 billed monthly)
Unlimited users, outside contacts and message history, group video calls, 10GB of storage per user, bulk user import from CSV and dedicated support.
The free plan
Up to 100 users, unlimited group chats, messages viewable for the last 40 days, 10GB of storage per organization, 1:1 video calls and 20 outside contacts per user.
Trying it first
1-month free trial of paid plans, per the Japanese pricing page; the English page does not mention one
Read from go.chatwork.com on Oct 6, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
About 17% less on an annual subscription
Standard costs $7 per user / month on an annual subscription against $8.40 on a monthly one, a saving of about 17%.
Stated on go.chatwork.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android
Business group chat with built-in tasks, files and video calls. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, tasks, team chat, video calls, file sharing.
The basics: group, direct and personal chats, tasks you assign from the chat screen, a file list per group, calls with screen sharing.
- Group, direct and personal chats
- A group chat is set up for each team or project, direct chats reach anyone in your contact list, and My Chat is a private space for your own notes and files.
- Tasks inside chats
- Assign tasks to yourself or to colleagues from the chat screen and review them by due date. The person who assigned a task is notified when it is completed.
- File sharing and management
- Upload Word, Excel and image files to a chat, preview them in the browser, and see every file shared in a group in one list.
- Voice and video calls
- Start a call with screen sharing from a chat, on desktop or phone. The Free plan covers 1:1 video calls; group video calls need Standard.
- Contacts outside your organization
- Add people at other companies by email address or Chatwork ID. The Free plan allows 20 outside contacts per user; Standard removes the limit.
- Admin and security controls
- Admins add, remove and edit users from a management screen. Two-factor authentication is on both plans, and uploaded files are encrypted with AES-256.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Zapier
- IFTTT
Chatwork is made by kubell Co., Ltd., and has been around since 2004.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
8/33
Other team communication apps it is graded above
Chatwork's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 8 of the 33 other team communication apps we grade, and level with 11.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (A, above 15 of 33) and worst on free plan and trial (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $7 a month for each person, against a middle price of $7 for the category: 12 of the 28 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 5 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 34 team communication apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Chatwork’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 2 of 33
- CFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 33
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 33
- CEase of useAbove 6 of 33
- APlatforms and integrationsAbove 15 of 33
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 31 team communication apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Chatwork is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Chatwork you would be making chat that a whole team counts on staying up. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 14 of the 33 other team communication apps grade higher. It costs $84 a year.
What you could make
- Tasks: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Chat that a whole team counts on staying up.
- Video calls.
- Storing and serving files for other people.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- It is priced for each person, which means accounts and billing for a team.
- It plugs into other products, Zapier and IFTTT among them, and has an API.
What this rests on. Chatwork’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Slack, Microsoft Teams, Lark, Pumble and Chanty
The 5 tools Chatwork is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Slack
Free plan · from $7.25/mo
Channel-based team messaging with huddles, workflows and AI.
- Only Slack lists a Linux app.
- Chatwork also covers tasks.
- Slack also covers workflow automation and documents.
- 3.0GPA
Microsoft Teams
Free plan · from $4.00/mo
Chat, video meetings and calling tied into Microsoft 365.
- Chatwork also covers tasks.
- Microsoft Teams also covers transcription, noise cancellation and whiteboard.
- 2.2GPA
Lark
Free plan · from $6/mo
All-in-one suite of chat, meetings, docs, email and workflows.
- Only Lark lists a Linux app.
- Chatwork also covers tasks and file sharing.
- Lark also covers transcription, wiki, calendar, workflow automation and documents.
- 3.6GPA
Pumble
Free plan · from $2.49/mo
Team chat with unlimited message history on the free plan.
- Only Pumble lists a Linux app.
- Chatwork also covers tasks.
- 2.8GPA
Chanty
Free plan · from $3/mo
Team chat with built-in tasks, calls and AI agents.
- Only Chanty lists a Linux app.
- Chanty also covers kanban boards and AI agents.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Chatwork free?
Chatwork has a free plan. Up to 100 users, unlimited group chats, messages viewable for the last 40 days, 10GB of storage per organization, 1:1 video calls and 20 outside contacts per user.
How much does Chatwork cost?
Chatwork lists 2 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Chatwork work on?
Chatwork is available on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
Does Chatwork offer any discounts?
Chatwork publicly lists the following: About 17% less on an annual subscription.
Does Chatwork have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Chatwork is listed for Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
Is Chatwork open source?
Chatwork is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
Does Chatwork have an API?
Yes. Chatwork offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Chatwork integrate with?
Chatwork's listing names Zapier and IFTTT. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does Chatwork have a free trial?
Yes. 1-month free trial of paid plans, per the Japanese pricing page; the English page does not mention one.
Who makes Chatwork?
Chatwork is made by kubell Co., Ltd. It dates from 2004.
What are the alternatives to Chatwork?
The closest alternatives to Chatwork in our directory are Slack, Microsoft Teams, Lark, Pumble and Chanty.
How does Chatwork compare with other team communication apps?
Chatwork's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 8 of the 33 other team communication apps we grade, and level with 11.
Is Chatwork good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Chatwork C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $7 a month for each person, against a middle price of $7 for the category: 12 of the 28 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Chatwork?
To replace Chatwork you would be making chat that a whole team counts on staying up.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Chatwork’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Chatwork's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-04-02.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by kubell Co., Ltd. Prices change, so check go.chatwork.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Chatwork, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/chatwork
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Chatwork: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/chatwork
Know someone choosing between team communication apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/chatwork/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded team communication apps after Chatwork, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Team Communication Insider's GuideEvery one of the 34 team communication apps we grade, compared
- Discord Insider's GuideFree text, voice and video chat built around servers3.6 GPA
- Pumble Insider's GuideTeam chat with unlimited message history on the free plan3.6 GPA
- Zoho Cliq Insider's GuideTeam chat, calls and meetings from the Zoho suite3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Chatwork’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Chatwork is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by kubell Co., Ltd. Prices and plans change: check go.chatwork.com before you buy.