ClickUp Chat vs Slack: Which One Should You Choose?

Author

Hina Sohrab
March 05, 2025

Hey Optimisers!

This week, we're diving into one of the hottest topics in productivity tools: ClickUp's new Chat feature vs Slack. I've analyzed both platforms to help you decide if making the switch could help you reclaim valuable time in your week.

🔍 The Big Picture

ClickUp Chat (currently in beta) promises to eliminate the constant toggle between your project management and communication tools. But is it worth the switch? Let's break it down.

🤖 NEW: ClickUp Chat Agents (Beta)

Want to save even more time? ClickUp's new Chat Agents (in beta) are AI-powered assistants that can automate your team communication. Here's what they can do:

1. Answers Agent (Save 2-3 hrs/week)

  • Automatically answers common team questions

  • Pulls info from your docs and connected apps

  • Keeps everyone aligned without interrupting key team members

2. Triage Agent (Save 3-4 hrs/week)

  • Monitors chats for action items

  • Creates and connects tasks automatically

  • Ensures nothing slips through the cracks

3. Custom Agents (Save 2+ hrs/week)

  • Build specialized agents for your workflow

  • Automate repetitive communications

  • Create custom response patterns

💡 Quick Setup Tip: Start with the Answers Agent for your most frequently asked questions. Document the time team leads spend answering repeated questions, then measure the difference after one week.

⏱️ Time-Saving Potential

Where You're Losing Time Now:

  • 15-20 mins daily switching between apps

  • 30+ mins searching for context across platforms

  • 25 mins daily converting chat discussions into tasks

  • 20 mins syncing project updates across tools

Potential Time Saved with ClickUp Chat:

  • Instant Context (2hrs/week)Chat messages automatically linked to tasks

    • Project information available right in chat

    • No more searching across platforms

    • Automated Task Creation (1.5hrs/week)One-click task creation from messages

    • AI automatically creates and assigns tasks

    • Context preserved automatically

    • Streamlined Communication (2hrs/week)Discussions happen where work lives

    • No more copy-pasting between tools

    • Direct access to project timelines

    • Smart Catch-Up (2.5hrs/week)AI-powered conversation summaries

    • Quick access to relevant tasks

    • Automated meeting notes and action items

🔥 Power User Tip: Combine Chat Agents with Make.com

Stack these tools to supercharge your productivity: 

When: Chat Agent creates a task

Do:
1. Notify relevant team in Slack
2. Update project timeline
3. Add to weekly report
4. Schedule follow-up check

Estimated additional time saved: 2 hrs/week

🛠️ Quick Win: Make.com Automation Recipe

Save an additional hour per week with this simple automation: 

When: New message tagged #action

Do: 
1. Create ClickUp task
2. Assign to mentioned person
3. Set due date from message
4. Send confirmation

💡 Pro Tip

Start with a hybrid approach: Use ClickUp Chat for internal project discussions while maintaining Slack for external communication. This lets you test the waters without disrupting existing workflows.

🎯 Action Steps for This Week

  1. Enable ClickUp Chat (join waitlist if needed)

  2. Choose one project team for testing

  3. Set up these three time-saving features:

    • AI CatchUp for daily summaries

    • Task creation from messages

    • Message-to-task relationships

  4. Track time saved for one week

📊 ROI Calculator

For a team of 5:

  • Current time spent switching tools: 40 hrs/month

  • Time saved with ClickUp Chat: 32 hrs/month

  • Additional time saved with Chat Agents: 28 hrs/month

  • Monthly value reclaimed (at $50/hr): $3,000

Bonus: Reduce new team member onboarding time by up to 50% with Answers Agent handling common questions! For a team of 5:

  • Current time spent switching tools: 40 hrs/month

  • Potential time saved with ClickUp Chat: 32 hrs/month

  • Monthly value reclaimed (at $50/hr): $1,600

🤔 Should You Switch?

Consider Switching If:

  • You're already using ClickUp for project management

  • Your team loses time switching between tools

  • You need better task-communication integration

Stay with Slack If:

  • You heavily rely on external collaboration

  • Your team uses many Slack-specific integrations

  • You need enterprise features like HIPAA compliance

💪 Next Week's Challenge

Document your current tool-switching time for one day. This baseline will help you measure improvements as you optimize your workflow.

🔗 Want More?

Check out my full blog post for an in-depth comparison and detailed implementation guide.

Did this help you optimize your workflow? Hit reply and let me know! And remember, every minute saved is a minute earned toward that extra day in your week.

Best,

Hina

P.S. Need help setting up these automations? Book a discovery call and let's optimize your workflow together!