Google Chat - 2026 Pricing, Features, Reviews & Alternatives

Reviewers appreciate Google Chat's real-time chat feature for its instant communication, enhancing collaboration and productivity. They find it user-friendly and effective for quick decision-making and seamless teamwork. Users report the ability to send private or group messages, with notifications indicating when someone is typing. They also value the integration with Gmail for searchable conversations. Some mention occasional delays or lag, but overall, they find it valuable for maintaining timely communication. Of the 156 Google Chat users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Real-Time Chat, 98% rated this feature as important or highly important.

Users report that Google Chat's mobile access is highly convenient, allowing them to stay connected and collaborate on-the-go. They appreciate that the mobile app is available on both Android and iOS devices, and that it syncs well with the desktop version. Reviewers indicate that mobile access helps them manage work from anywhere, receive timely notifications, and maintain productivity even when away from their desks. They find it essential for remote work and traveling. Of the 196 Google Chat users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Mobile Access, 94% rated this feature as important or highly important.

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“Since this is for real time communications, the ability to use it seamlessly on mobile IOS or Android is crucial. You can even attend meetings through mobile.”

Iyer A.

National Sales Manager

“I always have my phone with me, so the ability to chat and receive notifications when I am mobile is critical to ensure I receive important communications.”

Chris C.

Manager, Apps Development

Reviewers highlight the effectiveness of Google Chat's alerts and notifications in keeping them informed about new messages, mentions, and updates. They appreciate the ability to customize notifications for different channels or chats, ensuring they only receive relevant alerts. Users report that notifications are timely and help them respond quickly to important messages. Some mention the need for improved options to mute conversations more easily, but overall, they find the notification system reliable and helpful. Of the 150 Google Chat users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Alerts/Notifications, 93% rated this feature as important or highly important.

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“It helps us to always updated whenever any messages and calls come through their alert and notifications features. It helps us always updated when any new activity happens.”

Vivek Y.

DevOp Enginner

“Alerts and notifications work well. You can customize them based on channels or chats, ensuring you're notified only about relevant messages without being overwhelmed.”

MP

Matteo P.

Graphic Designer

Users appreciate Google Chat's Single Sign-On (SSO) for simplifying access and enhancing security. They find it convenient to log in with existing Google credentials, reducing password fatigue and streamlining the authentication process. Reviewers indicate that SSO saves time by allowing seamless switching between Google programs and maintaining a single login across devices. They also value the added layer of security provided by two-factor authentication. Of the 82 Google Chat users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Single Sign On, 83% rated this feature as important or highly important.

Reviewers find Google Chat's search and filter capabilities valuable for quickly locating specific messages, files, or keywords within chat history. They appreciate the integration of Gmail-like search functions, allowing for refined searches by sender, date, or attachment. Users report that this capability enhances productivity by making it easier to reference past discussions and content. Some mention that the search function could be more robust, but overall, they find it helpful for managing large volumes of communication. Of the 100 Google Chat users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Search/Filter, 82% rated this feature as important or highly important.

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“You can search for specific messages, files, or keywords within your chat history, helping you find and reference past discussions and content quickly.”

AM

Alex M.

Software Engineer

“Google chat have implemented their gmail search or filter feature in this app also which will help us to search things by giving specific conditions such as "from" , "said in" , "attachment" ,"Has link" etc , which very much helpful and I haven't find such filter feature in any other chatting application.”

Ananthu K.

Senior Automation Engineer

Users report that Google Chat's file sharing feature streamlines collaboration by allowing easy exchange of documents, images, and other files within the chat interface. They appreciate the integration with Google Drive for seamless access to shared files. Reviewers indicate that file sharing supports various formats and enhances productivity by reducing the need for emails. Some find the process slightly cumbersome compared to other platforms, but overall, they value the convenience and efficiency it provides. Of the 116 Google Chat users who gave detailed accounts of their use of File Sharing, 82% rated this feature as important or highly important.