A Google Chat alternative with meetings, docs and tasks included
Google Chat is Google's team chat, bundled with Google Workspace. Here is when Dock is a better fit and when it is not.
Why teams look for a Google Chat alternative
Hosted only
Messages live in Google's cloud.
Tied to Workspace
Chat works best when everyone has a Google account.
Per-seat cost
Workspace is priced per user; check Google's page.
What Dock adds
Meetings in the same app
Video calls with recording, transcripts and AI summaries.
Docs, tables, tasks and calendar
Not just chat.
AI agents
An MCP server so Claude Code and others can read and post in channels, plus Notion, GitHub, Claude and Codex connections.
Simple to run
One Node process and one SQLite file.
What to check first
Google Chat is strongest inside Google Workspace with Gmail, Drive and Meet. Dock does not replace Gmail or Google Docs; it replaces the chat-and-meeting layer. If your team lives in Google Workspace, check how much you would give up.
Questions
Is Dock a drop-in replacement for Google Chat?
No. Check the feature list for the integrations and admin controls you rely on.
What does Dock cost?
No per-seat licence; you pay for your own server.
Can I run both?
Yes. Pilot Dock with one team before deciding.