Which is better to organize your personal life?

Slack and Discord are powerful tools, but not just for work and play. I’ve found that these platforms can help you manage your personal life, from volunteering to planning your next vacation. But which one is better?

Slack: Easy to set up but difficult on older devices

A few months ago, I decided to use Slack to help organize a large volunteer project with over 15 people. Setting up a Slack workspace was remarkably easy—it only took a few minutes to create channels, assign them, invite teammates, and start discussing.

Although the term “workspace” clearly indicates that Slack is for business collaboration, it simply refers to a hub with multiple channels through which members can communicate. To become a member of this hub, you need to create an account associated with the specific workspace.

You can be part of as many workspaces as you want, but you need to use a separate account for each one. But don't worry; you can use the same email address for all of them.

The structure of channels in Slack is easy to learn. You can easily create channels where everyone can contribute, channels where only a few can contribute, private channels with a few members, or individual channels for direct messaging.

However, we soon ran into a problem I hadn’t anticipated: Slack’s hardware/browser requirements. A few volunteers using older devices or older web browsers were unable to join the workspace.

Of course, Slack still offers obvious benefits for coordinating activities. While you can’t create subgroups within channels, you can organize your conversations into threads. Let’s say you want to create a Slack workspace as a home for your book club conversations. You could hold all of your discussions in one channel—say, #book-discussions—and discuss each book in the channel using threads.

Additionally, integrations with business apps like Google Calendar and Zoom bring scheduling and video conferencing capabilities into the mix.

Discord: Lots of extra features, but slower setup process

In contrast to Slack, my experience using Discord has been more positive.

A few months ago, I joined a Christian dating community server—“server” is Discord’s name for what Slack calls a “workspace.”“—It only took a few seconds to sign up. I received a welcome message and was able to enter details including my gender, age, and relationship status. Discord used these details to place me in relevant channels like “Women’s Chat” and “Ladies’ Salon.”

Like Slack, Discord allows you to organize your conversations using topics for easier navigation. However, Discord topics become subgroups, which can lead to more organized discussions. Similarly, posts in forums become subgroups. Let’s take the book club example from above. You could create a book club channel with subgroups for each book you’ll be discussing.

Additionally, you can group your channels into categories. People on the server can compress or expand these categories to access the channels within them. You can also set permissions and roles for a category, and they will be distributed to all its channels.

Additionally, Discord has some social features that Slack doesn’t have. Broadcasting options, voice channels, and Discord platform channels provide opportunities for virtual engagement that in-person communities will appreciate.

The main problem with Discord is that it’s significantly more complicated to set up, especially if you want to enjoy all the features and make it a great hub for your groups, clubs, or communities. Sure, it’s easy to sign up and create a server. However, there’s a slight learning curve if you want to add different categories and types of channels, roles, and permissions, or turn your server into a community server. This is where you’ll get the most integrations and community vibe.

Compare Key Features

Here's a comparison of Slack and Discord features so you can decide which platform is best for you.

Both platforms have clear advantages. I prefer Discord overall, but you should carefully consider your priorities before choosing one.

When Should You Use Slack to Organize Your Personal Life?

Slack may be the perfect solution for you if the following applies to you:

• You need a simple, no-frills platform for direct communication.
• Your group is relatively small and handles technology easily.
• You are looking for a quick setup process.
• The clean, business-like interface attracts you, even for casual projects.

The power of Slack lies in its simplicity. If you run a book club or small volunteer project, its straightforward approach may be just what you need. Slack’s channel-based structure is easy to understand, and you can have your group up and running in minutes.

When Discord is the best option

You should consider Discord if:

• Your group includes members with much older devices.
• You want a platform that offers more fun and interactive features.
• You are organizing a large community with many subgroups.
• It's okay to spend more time on initial setup to get better customization.

Discord is incredibly versatile. Whether you’re organizing a large community of fans or a multifaceted social group, its features—from voice channels to custom roles—can help create a more engaging environment.

While I tend to recommend Discord, I can’t ignore the simplicity of Slack. When making your decision, consider the size and technical expertise of your group. Also consider the level of customization and engagement you’re aiming for, how much you’re willing to spend, and how much time you’re willing to invest in initial setup.