Slack App Directory Overview

The Slack App Directory is a marketplace of tools that connect to Slack. It contains thousands of apps — from popular services like Google Drive and Zoom to specialized tools for specific industries. Connecting an app brings its notifications, data, and actions into Slack so your team works in one place instead of jumping between tabs.

How App Integrations Work

WITHOUT AN APP INTEGRATION

  Developer pushes code to GitHub
         ↓
  Team member checks GitHub manually
         ↓
  Team member posts update in Slack
         ↓
  Others read it (maybe hours later)

WITH THE GITHUB APP

  Developer pushes code to GitHub
         ↓
  GitHub app posts automatic update
         in #dev-team instantly
         ↓
  Team sees it in real time ✓

Apps become Slack's messengers — they relay information from external tools into channels, cutting out manual status updates.

Types of Apps in the Directory

CATEGORY              EXAMPLES
─────────────────     ─────────────────────────────────────────────
Project Management    Jira, Asana, Trello, Linear, Monday.com
Communication         Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams
File Storage          Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive
Developer Tools       GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, PagerDuty
CRM / Sales           Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive
Support               Zendesk, Intercom, Freshdesk
HR                    Workday, Greenhouse, BambooHR
Finance               Stripe, QuickBooks, Expensify
Analytics             Datadog, New Relic, Amplitude
Security              Okta, CrowdStrike, 1Password
Bots / AI             Workflow bots, scheduling bots, custom bots

How to Browse the App Directory

1. Click "Apps" in the left sidebar (or find it under More).
2. Select "App Directory".
3. Browse by category or use the search bar to find a specific app.
4. Click any app to see its description, screenshots, and user ratings.

What an App Can Do

Different apps provide different capabilities inside Slack:

APP CAPABILITY            WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU
────────────────────────  ──────────────────────────────────────
Post notifications        Automatic updates in a channel
Slash commands            Type /appname to trigger actions
Message buttons           Click buttons inside Slack messages
    [Approve] [Reject]    to take action without opening the app
Bots                      Automated assistants that respond to
                          questions or commands
Shortcuts                 Quick action menus from the + icon
Modals                    Pop-up forms inside Slack for data entry

How to Install an App

1. Find the app in the directory.
2. Click "Add to Slack".
3. Review the permissions the app requests (what it can read or post).
4. Click "Allow" to authorize the connection.
5. Configure the app (choose which channel it posts to, connect your account, etc.).

APP PERMISSION EXAMPLES

  "Post messages to channels you choose" — safe, limited
  "Read your messages"                   — more access, review carefully
  "Access your workspace's file list"    — reasonable for file apps
  "Manage your workspace"                — only grant to trusted apps

Who Can Install Apps

On free and Pro plans, any member can install apps by default. Workspace admins can restrict this to admins only — a common policy in larger companies for security reasons. If you cannot find the "Add to Slack" button, your admin has enabled this restriction. Submit a request to your IT or Slack admin to get the app approved.

App Limits on Free Plans

FREE PLAN   → Up to 10 apps installed at one time
PRO / UP    → Unlimited apps

On the free plan, you can still use more than 10 apps — but you must remove one to add another once you hit the limit. Choose the 10 most valuable apps for your workspace carefully.

Finding Installed Apps

Click Apps in the sidebar to see all apps already connected to your workspace. Each installed app may appear as a bot in your DMs (for configuration and notifications), a slash command, or a channel integration. Check the App Directory and filter by "Installed" to see everything currently connected.

Removing an App

1. Go to Apps → Manage your apps (or workspace Settings → Apps).
2. Find the app you want to remove.
3. Click Remove or Uninstall.
4. Confirm the removal.

Removing an app revokes its access to your workspace. Any notifications or bot messages it posted remain in channels — only new activity stops.

Key Takeaways

• The Slack App Directory holds thousands of apps connecting Slack to external tools.
• Apps post automatic notifications, respond to slash commands, and enable in-Slack actions.
• Click "Add to Slack" in the directory to install an app and authorize its permissions.
• Free workspaces can have up to 10 apps; paid plans allow unlimited installations.
• Admins can restrict who installs apps — submit a request if the option is unavailable to you.