Alterdesk vs Slack

Struggling to choose between Alterdesk and Slack? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Alterdesk is a Remote Work & Education solution with tags like opensource, virtual-desktop, citrix, vmware, browser.

It boasts features such as Open source virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) software, Allows access to virtual desktops and applications through web browser or dedicated clients, Built on open source technologies like OpenStack and Apache Guacamole, Supports major hypervisors like KVM, Xen, vSphere and Hyper-V, Centralized management of virtual desktops and applications, High availability and load balancing capabilities, HTML5 and RDP support for access without plugins, Customizable with REST API and theming options, Granular user permissions and roles and pros including Free and open source, Good performance compared to paid alternatives, Very customizable and extensible, Supports broad range of hypervisors and protocols, Easy to set up and manage, Scales well for large deployments, Large open source community support.

On the other hand, Slack is a Social & Communications product tagged with messaging, channels, teams, collaboration, productivity.

Its standout features include Real-time messaging, Organized channels, File sharing, Integrations, Searchable message archives, Customizable notifications, Video calling, Third-party app integration, and it shines with pros like Intuitive interface, Robust free plan, Great for team collaboration, Highly customizable, Strong security, Powerful search, Numerous integrations.

Feature	Alterdesk	Slack
Overall Score	N/A	3
Primary Category	Remote Work & Education	Social & Communications

Product Overview

Alterdesk

Description: Alterdesk is an open-source virtual desktop alternative to Citrix Workspace and VMware Horizon. It allows users to access virtual desktops and applications through a web browser or dedicated clients. Alterdesk is free, customizable, and offers good performance.

Slack

Description: Slack, the modern messaging platform for teams. Communicate in real-time, organize conversations into channels, and streamline collaboration. With integrations, file sharing, and a user-friendly interface, Slack enhances team communication and productivity.

Key Features Comparison

Alterdesk Features

• Open source virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) software
• Allows access to virtual desktops and applications through web browser or dedicated clients
• Built on open source technologies like OpenStack and Apache Guacamole
• Supports major hypervisors like KVM, Xen, vSphere and Hyper-V
• Centralized management of virtual desktops and applications
• High availability and load balancing capabilities
• HTML5 and RDP support for access without plugins
• Customizable with REST API and theming options
• Granular user permissions and roles

Slack Features

• Real-time messaging
• Organized channels
• File sharing
• Integrations
• Searchable message archives
• Customizable notifications
• Video calling
• Third-party app integration

Pros & Cons Analysis

Alterdesk

Pros

• Free and open source
• Good performance compared to paid alternatives
• Very customizable and extensible
• Supports broad range of hypervisors and protocols
• Easy to set up and manage
• Scales well for large deployments
• Large open source community support

Cons

• Steeper learning curve than proprietary solutions
• Less out-of-the-box features than paid options
• Limited native mobile device support
• May require more hands-on management vs turnkey solutions
• Lacks built-in load testing and autoscaling

Slack

Pros

• Intuitive interface
• Robust free plan
• Great for team collaboration
• Highly customizable
• Strong security
• Powerful search
• Numerous integrations

Cons

• Can be distracting with notifications
• Free version lacks some features
• Steep learning curve initially
• No end-to-end encryption
• Mobile app lacks some desktop features

Pricing Comparison

Alterdesk

• Open Source
• Free

Slack

• Freemium
• Subscription-Based