As remote and hybrid teams continue to grow, building strong connections between team members becomes increasingly important.

While Slack serves as a core communication tool, it often doesn’t encourage casual, spontaneous interactions that strengthen team bonds.

In fact, 69.5% of employees said they would be happier with deeper connections with their colleagues.

Although Donut is a popular Slack integration for fostering these connections, many teams are seeking alternatives that offer more variety and engagement.

In this article, you’ll discover the best Slack apps for better team building in 2025 and how these tools can improve your team’s engagement and boost morale.

What Is Donut?

Donut connects team members by randomly pairing them for virtual coffee chats and informal meetups.

It’s especially useful for distributed teams, encouraging employees to engage outside their regular work tasks. By promoting casual conversations, Donut helps build stronger relationships and creates a more connected team culture.

However, unlike Donut, many teams want something more interactive, like games or activities, to foster better team building. Donut focuses mostly on one-on-one meetups, which may not satisfy teams seeking more structured activities and group and employee engagement.

This limitation has led many teams to explore Donut for Slack alternatives that offer a broader range of tools for team bonding.

6 Donut Alternatives for Team Building

These are the six best Donut alternatives:

1. Braid

Braid brings energy and excitement to remote and hybrid teams by offering a growing library of engaging games directly within Slack (and soon-to-be Microsoft Teams). Boost engagement, team culture, and productivity right from your team's existing workspaces!

Whether you want to break the ice, spark creativity, or strengthen team bonds, Braid makes it easy to turn your Slack workspace into a hub for team connection.

Designed for teams of all sizes—whether it’s two people or 200+—Braid adapts smoothly to your group’s needs.

Its user-friendly design lets anyone get started in just a few clicks, removing barriers to participation and making team-building a part of everyday work.

To start playing, simply add Braid to Slack, grant the necessary permissions, and explore the six available games in the games library. You can browse and select a game manually or use the /braid slash command to launch one instantly.

Braid currently offers six games to keep teams engaged and connected:

Key Features

• Games library - Access a variety of fun, interactive games for your team dynamics.

• Slack integration - Launch games with simple slash commands like /braid.

• Support for large teams - Host games for 200+ members, with options for smaller groups.

• Easy game initiation - Anyone can start a game, easing the pressure on hosts.

• Live score tracking - Engage with live leaderboards and performance dashboards.

• Automated game scheduling - Set recurring games and reminders for regular team-building.

• Regular updates - New games are added monthly to keep the experience fresh.

Pricing Plans

• Free plan - $0/month with four games, basic leaderboards, and standard insights.

• Premium plan - $7/user/month ($5 when billed annually) with new monthly games, customization, and detailed reports.

• Enterprise plan - Custom pricing for teams of 1,000+ users with dedicated support and extra admin controls.

Schedule a demo today!

2. Ricotta

Source: Ricotta.team

Ricotta is a Slack-based team engagement app that focuses on gamified experiences, such as daily trivia, quizzes, and word games.

It’s a lightweight, easy-to-use alternative to Donut, allowing team members to bond over friendly challenges while fostering a collaborative culture.

It is suited for companies looking for a simple, self-service way to engage employees without complex setups or external platforms.

Key Features

• Daily trivia and quizzes - Offers regular challenges for the team.

• Automated leaderboards - Tracks scores and fosters friendly competition.

• Slack integration - Easy access and play within Slack channels.

Pricing Plans

• Basic plan - $34/month for up to 50 users with standard features.

• Standard plan - $39/month with extended customization for up to 50 users.

• Growth plan - $59/month for up to 200 users with advanced tools.

• Enterprise plan - $99/month for up to 500 users with premium features and priority support.

3. Confetti

Source: Withconfetti.com

Confetti is a virtual event platform that specializes in live, hosted team-building experiences.

It also provides structured activities, such as trivia competitions, escape rooms, and interactive workshops, led by professional facilitators.

It’s suitable for teams that prefer curated, high-quality engagements rather than self-guided games. Confetti is often used by HR and team managers to organize company-wide activities and celebrations.

Key Features

• Hosted events - Provides live, guided team activities.

• Customizable options - Adjust activities to match team preferences.

• Wide activity selection - Includes trivia, escape rooms, and more.

Pricing Plans

• Pay as you go - $150/event with small event budgets.

• Plus plan - $2,500/year with access to multiple events throughout the year.

• Pro plan - Custom pricing for teams with multiple planners.

4. Doozy

Source: Doozy.live

Doozy is a Slack-based platform that offers team-building games, video call features, and engagement tools to help remote teams stay connected.

Unlike Donut, which focuses primarily on pairings and casual coffee chats, Doozy improves team culture by incorporating interactive elements like quizzes, polls, and surveys.

With its calendar integrations, Doozy helps teams schedule engagement activities effortlessly while keeping track of milestones and achievements.

Key Features

• Team games - Includes trivia and other engaging activities.

• Event celebrations - Celebrate milestones and achievements within your Slack channels.

• Custom integrations - Syncs with calendar apps like Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook.

Pricing Plans

• Starter plan - $2/month with two trivia games, basic leaderboards, and standard insights.

• Team plan - $4/month per user for up to 1,000 users, including introductions, polls, surveys, celebrations, quizzes, time off tracking, and HRIS integrations.

• Enterprise plan - Custom pricing for teams of 1,000+ users, offering unlimited users, SAML & Okta integration, Slack Atlas custom fields, and calendar system accounts.

5. Trivia

Source: Trytrivia.co

Trivia is a quiz-based team engagement tool designed for Slack and Microsoft Teams.

It gamifies team interactions by offering a variety of trivia games, including pre-made quizzes and custom quizzes tailored to a team's interests. Trivia makes meetings and breaks more engaging by introducing an element of friendly competition.

This tool is useful for teams looking to enhance collaboration without disrupting productivity, as it integrates smoothly into Slack and Microsoft Teams.

Key Features

• Pre-built quizzes - Choose from various ready-to-play categories.

• Custom quizzes - Create quizzes tailored to your team's interests.

• Leaderboards - Track scores and spark friendly competition.

Pricing Plans

• Basic plan - Free, with access to basic quizzes and features.

• Standard plan - $1 per user/month, with a minimum of $29 billing, featuring more advanced quizzes.

• Pro plan - $2 per user/month, with a minimum of $49 billing, offering advanced features and premium games.

• Enterprise plan - Price on request, designed for larger teams with additional support.

6. Gatheround

Source: Gatheround.com

Gatheround is a Slack and video-based team engagement tool designed to create meaningful connections within organizations.

Unlike Donut, which focuses on random coffee chats, Gatheround introduces guided prompts and structured one-on-one pairing activities.

It is suitable for teams looking for more structured engagement activities that go beyond casual Slack conversations.

Key Features

• Conversation prompts - Get teams talking with thoughtful questions.

• Random pairings - Pair team members for one-on-one interactions.

• Simple setup - Easily integrates into Slack for a seamless experience.

Pricing Plans

• Premium plan - $60/month for up to 50 participants, with unlimited meetings, pre-built agendas, and 10+ activity types.

• Enterprise plan - Starts at $5,400/year for up to 200 participants, SSO support, security features, and engagement programs.

Why Slack Needs Apps for Better Team Building

Slack is great for communication, but its standard Slack features don’t support informal interactions or build team culture. Its focus on work tasks leaves little room for casual conversations that strengthen relationships, especially in remote and hybrid teams.

As teams grow across time zones, employees often feel isolated, which affects morale and collaboration. Apps like Donut and alternatives such as Braid help teams bond through activities outside of work. Braid, for example, offers interactive team-building games to keep teams engaged and connected.

While Donut supports casual meetups, it doesn’t address every need. Many teams look for tools that include employee wellness, recognition, and structured team-building. Alternatives like Braid provide a wider range of features to build stronger personal connections.

How to Choose the Right Donut Alternative for Your Team

When selecting the right donut for Slack alternative, consider these factors:

• Team size and structure - For large teams or those looking for scalability, Braid is ideal with its ability to host games for 200+ members.

• Type of engagement - If you want structured team-building activities, Braid offers a variety of interactive games to keep teams engaged.

• Budget - Braid provides a free plan with limited features, and its premium plan offers more customization and tools for a small fee.

• Ease of use - Braid integrates seamlessly with Slack and has a simple setup, making it easy for everyone to get started.

Make Team Building Simple and Fun With Braid!

Creating a connected and motivated team doesn’t have to be difficult, even in remote or hybrid work settings. Braid makes team building simple and fun by offering engaging games directly within Slack.

With features like interactive games, live leaderboards, and automated scheduling, Braid keeps teams engaged and connected effortlessly.

Whether you’re organizing icebreakers, celebrating milestones, or planning group activities, Braid seamlessly integrates into your workflow, ensuring team-building becomes a regular part of your routine.

Start building stronger connections today—schedule a demo now!

FAQs About Donut for Slack Alternatives

Is Donut for Slack free?

Yes, Donut offers a free plan with limited features, such as basic introductions and watercooler chats. However, if you need more advanced features like automated team pairings, custom workflows, or integrations beyond Slack, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan.

Is there a better alternative to Slack?

If you're looking for an alternative to Slack, it depends on what you need. Platforms like Microsoft Teams offer built-in video conferencing, document collaboration, and integrations with Office 365, making them a strong choice for businesses that already use Microsoft tools. However, Slack remains a top pick for teams that prioritize quick messaging, workflow automation, and integrations with apps like Slack Donut for team bonding.

What is a Donut on Slack?

A "Donut" in Slack refers to the Donut Slack app, which helps teams connect by randomly pairing coworkers for virtual coffee chats, mentorship meetings, or icebreaker activities. It’s designed to encourage team bonding, especially for remote teams that don’t get many casual interactions.

How do I add a Donut to my Slack channel?

To add Donut to your Slack channel:

1. Go to the Donut Slack app page in the Slack App Directory.

2. Click Add to Slack and follow the setup instructions.

3. Select the channel where you want Donut to run.

4. Customize pairing frequency, match types, and notifications.

5. Start connecting your team!

If you’re exploring alternatives to Slack Donut, tools like Braid offer even more flexibility, with automated team pairings, fun icebreaker prompts, and easy Slack integration. Whether you're on Slack or considering Microsoft Teams, the right tool can make team bonding effortless.

Can Twine integrate with Slack for team-building?

Twine Web Service doesn’t integrate directly with Slack but can complement Slack apps like Donut by hosting larger, more formal team-building sessions alongside Slack-based interactions.