Why Teams Switch from Slack
| Slack Limitation | Trilo Solution |
|---|---|
| Just chat (need Asana for tasks) | Built-in task management |
| Just chat (need Notion for docs) | Built-in knowledge base |
| Just chat (need Zoom for video) | Built-in video calls |
| Just chat (need Calendly for booking) | Built-in booking pages |
| Per-user pricing scales up | Flat workspace pricing |
| Slack AI costs $8.75/user extra | AI coworkers included |
Migration Philosophy
Unlike document or task migrations, chat history migration is often not recommended. Here’s why:Start Fresh vs. Import History
| Approach | When to Use |
|---|---|
| Fresh start | Most teams - clean slate, no clutter |
| Export for reference | If you need to search old conversations occasionally |
| Full import | Rarely needed - only for compliance requirements |
Before You Start
Create your Trilo workspace
Sign up for Trilo and set up your Areas and Projects.
Map your channel structure
Identify which Slack channels become Trilo Projects (each project has its own chat channel).
Exporting from Slack (Optional)
If you need to preserve chat history for reference:Standard Export (Admin)
What Gets Exported
| Content Type | Free/Pro Plan | Business+/Enterprise |
|---|---|---|
| Public channels | Yes | Yes |
| Private channels | No | Yes (with approval) |
| Direct messages | No | Yes (with approval) |
| Files | Links only | Links only |
Slack exports are JSON files. They’re useful for searching old content but not for importing into other tools. Store them as archives.
Setting Up Trilo Chat
Channel Structure
In Trilo, chat is organized around Projects:| Slack Concept | Trilo Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Public channels | Project channels (visible to project members) |
| Private channels | Private projects or DMs |
| DMs | Direct Messages |
| @channel | @everyone in project |
| Threads | Threaded replies (infinite nesting) |
Creating Your Project Structure
Create Areas
Map Slack channel categories to Trilo Areas (e.g., “Marketing”, “Engineering”, “General”).
Create Projects
Each Slack channel typically becomes a Trilo Project. The project automatically gets a chat channel.
| Slack Channel | Trilo Structure |
|---|---|
| #general | General Area → Company-wide Project |
| #engineering | Engineering Area → Main Project |
| #eng-frontend | Engineering Area → Frontend Project |
| #marketing | Marketing Area → Main Project |
| #marketing-campaigns | Marketing Area → Campaigns Project |
Feature Comparison
What’s Similar
| Feature | Slack | Trilo |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time messaging | ✓ | ✓ |
| Threaded replies | ✓ | ✓ (infinite nesting) |
| Emoji reactions | ✓ | ✓ |
| File sharing | ✓ | ✓ |
| @mentions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Search | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile apps | ✓ | ✓ |
What’s Better in Trilo
| Feature | Slack | Trilo |
|---|---|---|
| Tasks | Requires Asana/Jira | Built-in |
| Documents | Requires Notion/Confluence | Built-in |
| Video calls | Huddles (limited) or Zoom | Full video with AI transcription |
| Calendar | Requires Google/Outlook | Built-in with booking pages |
| AI assistants | Slack AI ($8.75/user extra) | AI coworkers included |
| Pricing | Per-user | Flat workspace fee |
What You Gain by Switching
Everything in One Place
Instead of:- Slack for chat
- Asana for tasks
- Notion for docs
- Zoom for video
- Calendly for scheduling
AI Coworkers, Not Just Chatbots
Slack AI answers questions. Trilo AI coworkers:- Join team conversations and provide insights
- Create tasks from discussions
- Transcribe meetings automatically
- Work on projects autonomously
Simpler Pricing
| Team Size | Slack Pro + Tools | Trilo |
|---|---|---|
| 5 users | ~$100/month | $25/month |
| 10 users | ~$200/month | $25/month |
| 20 users | ~$400/month | $25/month |
Migration Checklist
Week before switch
Week before switch
- Announce migration date to team
- Export Slack data (optional, for reference)
- Set up Trilo workspace structure
- Create all Areas and Projects
- Invite team members
Day of switch
Day of switch
- Post final message in Slack announcing move
- Set Slack to read-only or archive channels
- Send welcome message in Trilo
- Share quick-start tips with team
First week
First week
- Be active in Trilo to encourage adoption
- Answer questions and provide support
- Set up first team tasks
- Create initial documentation
- Schedule a video call using Trilo
After two weeks
After two weeks
- Gather feedback
- Make adjustments based on usage
- Consider archiving/canceling Slack
Tips for Smooth Transition
Lead by example
Lead by example
Admins and team leads should be active in Trilo first. When people see important conversations happening in Trilo, they’ll follow.
Don't run both tools long-term
Don't run both tools long-term
Parallel tools cause confusion. Set a firm date to stop using Slack. Two weeks of overlap is usually enough.
Highlight what's new
Highlight what's new
Show your team features Slack didn’t have: built-in tasks, docs, video calls, AI coworkers. Make the switch feel like an upgrade.
Create a 'Getting Started' doc
Create a 'Getting Started' doc
Write a quick guide for your team covering: where to find things, how to create tasks from chat, how to start a video call.
Common Questions
Can I import Slack messages to Trilo?
Can I import Slack messages to Trilo?
Direct import isn’t supported, and we don’t recommend it. Old chat history rarely provides value and clutters your new workspace. Export from Slack for reference if needed, then start fresh in Trilo.
What about Slack integrations?
What about Slack integrations?
Trilo has its own integrations including GitHub, Gmail, and more. The key difference: these integrations work with AI coworkers, so the AI can actually use them to do work.
Can I still use Slack for some things?
Can I still use Slack for some things?
You can connect Slack as a Trilo integration to send notifications to Slack channels. But for team communication, pick one tool to avoid confusion.
What if my team resists the change?
What if my team resists the change?
Focus on what they gain: no more tool switching, AI that actually helps, video calls without Zoom. The consolidation benefit usually wins people over.