How Plug and AI Works
Plug and AI is a multi-model Slack app. It routes your prompts to providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, xAI, and more. Think of it as a universal AI interface for Slack.
- Pick the best model for each question — switch mid-conversation
- Pay per use — no monthly subscription, no per-seat fees
- Works on free Slack plans (most features)
- $1.00 free credit to get started — no credit card required
Table of Contents
The Rankings
Plug and AI
300+ models in Slack · Pay-per-use · Works on free Slack plans
Plug and AI takes the top spot because it solves the biggest pain points with AI in Slack: vendor lock-in, expensive per-seat pricing, and paid Slack plan requirements. Instead of locking you into one model, it gives you access to 300+ models from every major provider — and you only pay for what you use.
Pros
- 300+ models including GPT-5.2, Claude Opus 4.6, Gemini 3 Pro
- Pay per use — no per-seat fees
- Works on free Slack plans
- $1.00 free credit to get started
- Image generation + vision
- Switch models mid-conversation
- Unified workspace billing
Cons
- Newer platform, smaller community
- No built-in thread summarization (yet)
ChatGPT for Slack
Official OpenAI integration · Slack App ID: A097V82EGG2
ChatGPT for Slack is the official OpenAI integration. It brings GPT-5.2 directly into your workspace with thread summarization and content creation. The downside: it requires a ChatGPT subscription and some features may require a paid Slack plan.
Pros
- GPT-5.2 quality
- Thread summarization
- Content creation
- Slack message search
- Syncs with ChatGPT desktop
Cons
- Requires ChatGPT subscription (pricing varies by plan)
- GPT models only
- Paid Slack plan may be required
- Per-seat pricing
- Semantic search limited to Business+ Slack
Claude for Slack
Official Anthropic integration · Slack App ID: A08SF47R6P4
Claude for Slack is Anthropic's official integration, bringing Claude's excellent reasoning and writing capabilities into your workspace. It supports DMs and thread mentions, with Claude Code routing for developer tasks.
Pros
- Excellent reasoning and writing
- Claude Code routing for dev tasks
- DM and thread mentions
- Strong safety guardrails
Cons
- Claude models only
- Pricing unclear (likely requires Anthropic business plan)
- No image generation
- Single provider lock-in
Perplexity for Slack
AI search in Slack with citations · Slack App ID: A07NV1D07QT
Perplexity for Slack is best understood as an AI search engine inside Slack. It excels at research tasks with web-sourced answers and inline citations, but is less suited for creative, coding, or general assistant tasks.
Pros
- Web-sourced answers with citations
- Query conversation history
- Cross-platform with perplexity.ai
- Good for research
Cons
- Paid Slack plan may be required
- Search-focused (weak at creative/coding tasks)
- Not HIPAA compliant
- Limited model selection
Manus for Slack
AI agent for Slack · Slack App ID: A099N0AHEH1
Manus for Slack positions itself as an AI agent — not just a chatbot. It can handle multi-step tasks like research, slide creation, and message summarization. However, it's a newer platform with less transparency around which models power it.
Pros
- Research and analysis capabilities
- Creates presentation-ready slides
- Message summarization
- Autonomous task completion
Cons
- Paid Slack plan may be required
- Not HIPAA compliant
- Newer platform, less proven
- Limited model transparency
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Plug and AI | ChatGPT | Claude | Perplexity | Manus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Models | 300+ (all providers) | GPT models only | Claude models only | Limited selection | Undisclosed |
| Pricing | Pay per use | Per-seat subscription (varies) | Anthropic plan req. | Subscription | Paid Slack may be required |
| Free Slack Plan Support | Yes | Paid plan may be required | Paid plan may be required | Paid plan may be required | Paid plan may be required |
| Per-Seat Fees | None | Yes (per-seat) | Likely yes | Yes | Unclear |
| Image Generation | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Vision / Image Analysis | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Model Switching | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Thread Summarization | Not yet | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Web Search | Yes (via models) | Yes | No | Core feature | Yes |
| Privacy / Data | No long-term conversation storage by Plug and AI | OpenAI data policies | Anthropic data policies | Not HIPAA compliant | Not HIPAA compliant |
Pricing Comparison
| App | Monthly Fixed Cost | Per-Seat Cost | Slack Plan Required | Team Cost (Est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plug and AI | $0 | $0 (pay per use) | Free plan works | Varies by usage |
| ChatGPT for Slack | ChatGPT subscription | Per-seat subscription (varies) | Paid plan may be required | Scales with seats |
| Claude for Slack | Anthropic plan | Not publicly listed | Paid plan may be required | Varies |
| Perplexity for Slack | Perplexity subscription | Per-seat | Paid plan may be required | Scales with seats |
| Manus for Slack | Varies | Unclear | Paid plan may be required | Varies |
Best For Each Use Case
| Use Case | Best Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall Value | Plug and AI | 300+ models, pay per use, no lock-in |
| Best for Teams on a Budget | Plug and AI | $0 fixed + pay-per-use, works on free Slack |
| Best Model Quality (Single Model) | ChatGPT for Slack | GPT-5.2 quality + native summarization |
| Best for Research | Perplexity for Slack | Web search + inline citations |
| Best for Code Assistance | Claude for Slack | Claude Code routing for dev tasks |
| Best for Creative Tasks | Plug and AI | Access all models + image generation |
| Best for Autonomous Tasks | Manus for Slack | Multi-step tasks, slides, research |
| Works on Free Slack Plans | Plug and AI | Only AI app that supports free Slack plans |
Our Verdict
Plug and AI — Best Overall AI App for Slack in 2026
No other Slack AI app gives you this combination: 300+ models from every major provider, pay-per-use pricing with no per-seat fees, and compatibility with free Slack plans. Whether you need GPT-5.2 for writing, Claude Opus 4.6 for reasoning, or Gemini 3 Pro for analysis, Plug and AI lets you pick the right model for every question — all from one app.
For teams that want the best single-provider experience, ChatGPT for Slack (#2) and Claude for Slack (#3) are excellent choices. For research, Perplexity (#4) stands out. And for autonomous multi-step tasks, Manus (#5) shows promise. But for the best overall value and flexibility, Plug and AI is our clear winner.
Includes $1.00 free credit · No credit card required
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best AI app for Slack in 2026?
Plug and AI is the best overall AI app for Slack in 2026. It gives you access to 300+ AI models including GPT-5.2, Claude Opus 4.6, and Gemini 3 Pro — all in one Slack app. It uses pay-per-use pricing with no per-seat fees and works on free Slack plans. For dedicated single-model use, ChatGPT for Slack and Claude for Slack are also strong choices.
Which AI Slack app works on free Slack plans?
Plug and AI works on free Slack plans for core features. Most features — including @mentions, direct messages, /ai commands, thread conversations, image analysis, image generation, and App Home — work on all Slack plans including free. Other Slack AI apps may require paid Slack plans for full functionality.
Is there a Slack AI app with all models?
Yes. Plug and AI provides access to 300+ AI models from all major providers — OpenAI (GPT-5.2), Anthropic (Claude Opus 4.6), Google (Gemini 3 Pro), xAI (Grok), DeepSeek, Meta (Llama), and more — all through a single Slack app. You can switch models mid-conversation to find the best fit for each task.
What is the cheapest AI app for Slack?
Plug and AI is a cost-effective AI app for Slack. It has $0/month fixed cost with pay-per-use pricing and a $1.00 free credit to get started. Costs scale with usage, while per-seat subscriptions scale with team size. Other AI Slack apps may also require paid Slack plans.
Can I use ChatGPT and Claude in the same Slack workspace?
Yes. With Plug and AI, you can access both ChatGPT (GPT-5.2) and Claude (Opus 4.6) — plus 300+ other models — in the same Slack workspace through a single app. You can switch between models mid-conversation without installing separate apps. This is one of the biggest advantages of Plug and AI over single-provider apps.