Connect Google Chat to Shift so you can merge all your web apps into your browser
Download ShiftWhat is Google Chat?
Google Chat is Google Workspace’s messaging and collaboration app for teams and individual Google accounts. It supports direct messages and persistent Spaces with threaded conversations, file sharing, tasks, and connections to Google Drive, Meet, Calendar, and Gmail for working with messages, files, and meetings from the same Google Workspace environment.
Google Chat can be extended through the Google Chat API, webhooks, Apps Script, AppSheet, and other services to automate notifications, create Chat apps, and connect external systems. Gemini features can provide capabilities such as conversation summaries and assistance with drafting messages when Gemini is available for the user's Google Workspace account and administrator settings. Workspace administrators can also manage security, retention, external collaboration, and other organizational controls based on their edition and configuration. It pairs well with other Shift apps so you can keep Google Chat, Gmail, Drive, Calendar, and related work tools in the same workspace.
How Google Chat works in Shift
Adding Google Chat to Shift gives each Chat account a dedicated place alongside the Google and third-party apps used with it. Add Google Chat as an app from the Shift sidebar, then use app tiles and Spaces to organize Chat with Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Meet, Docs, or other tools for a specific project, client, or Google Workspace account.
Use Shift's multi-account functionality to stay signed into personal and multiple Workspace accounts at the same time without repeatedly signing in and out. For example, you can create a Space for a project that contains the relevant Google Chat account, Gmail inbox, Drive files, Calendar, and project management app. Side-by-side views can keep a Chat conversation open while you reference an email, document, or other project information.
Shift's session persistence keeps signed-in accounts available across restarts, while Smart Links can help open supported Google links with the appropriate account. Focus Mode can also be used when you want to work within one Space without other workspace activity competing for your attention. Google Chat's own notification and access settings still apply, so message notifications, Space permissions, and administrator restrictions are controlled by Google and your Workspace configuration.
Alternatives to Google Chat
- Slack — A channel- and thread-based team collaboration platform with a large third-party app ecosystem, workflow automation, and AI functionality; teams choose Slack when they need extensive integrations and collaboration workflows outside Google Workspace.
- Microsoft Teams — A collaboration suite tightly integrated with Microsoft 365 that combines chat, meetings, file storage, and enterprise administration; organizations commonly choose Teams when Microsoft identity and Office apps are central to their workflows.
- Discord — A server-and-channel communication platform focused on real-time voice, video, text, and community features; consider Discord when persistent voice channels and community-oriented communication are priorities.
- Mattermost — An open-source, self-hostable team messaging platform designed for organizations that need greater control over their infrastructure and data; consider Mattermost when self-hosting, security controls, or data sovereignty are important requirements.
- Rocket.Chat — An open-source communication platform that supports internal team messaging as well as omnichannel customer communication; teams may consider Rocket.Chat when self-hosting, customization, and combining internal and external communication are priorities.
FAQ
1. What are the pros and cons of Google Chat?
Google Chat integrates closely with Google Workspace and provides direct messaging, threaded Spaces, file sharing, tasks, and connections to services such as Drive and Meet. It can also be extended with APIs, webhooks, and Chat apps. Compared with some dedicated collaboration platforms, its third-party ecosystem may be more limited, and access to certain security and Gemini capabilities depends on your Google Workspace plan, account eligibility, and administrator configuration.
2. Does Google Chat cost money to use?
Google Chat is available for personal Google accounts and is included with Google Workspace subscriptions. The specific collaboration, administration, security, and AI capabilities available depend on your account and Workspace edition.
3. What are Google Chat features?
Google Chat includes direct messages, group conversations, persistent Spaces, threaded discussions, file sharing, tasks, search, and integrations with Google Drive, Meet, Calendar, and Gmail. Organizations can also use the Google Chat API, webhooks, Apps Script, and Chat apps to automate messages and connect other services.
4. Is there a difference between Google Messages and Google Chat?
Yes. Google Messages is primarily an SMS and RCS messaging app for phone-based conversations, while Google Chat is a collaboration and team messaging service for Google accounts and Google Workspace organizations.
5. Can I use Google Chat across multiple accounts in Shift?
Yes. Shift's multi-account functionality lets you stay signed into multiple Google Chat accounts and organize them separately using Spaces and app tiles. Each account continues to use its own Google permissions and Workspace policies, so access to conversations, files, and external Spaces depends on the Google account currently in use.
6. How do Google Chat notifications work in Shift?
Google Chat's notification preferences continue to determine which conversations and Spaces generate notifications. Workspace administrator policies may also affect notification behavior or account access. In Shift, you can keep separate Chat accounts signed in while managing each account's Google Chat notification preferences independently.
7. How do bots and integrations work in Google Chat?
Google Chat supports integrations through the Chat API, webhooks, Apps Script, Chat apps, and other supported Google services. These integrations can post notifications, respond to events, automate actions, or connect external systems, subject to the permissions and restrictions configured for your Google Workspace account.
