What Is a Slack Bot & How To Use Slackbot

From simple automation to AI-powered assistants. Discover how bots transform Slack into an intelligent workspace that works for you 24/7.

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Understanding Slack Bots: From Rule-Based to AI-Powered

A Slack bot is an automated software application that lives inside your Slack workspace, listening for events and responding with actions. Think of it as a digital teammate that never sleeps.

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Core Definition: A Slack bot is an event-driven program that monitors your workspace for triggers (messages, commands, reactions) and executes predefined actions (posting messages, creating tasks, fetching data). Modern bots leverage AI to understand natural language and context.

Old School Bots

Simple IF-THEN logic. Responds only to exact keyword matches. Cannot understand context or natural language. Limited to predefined responses.

Modern AI Bots

Powered by Large Language Models (LLMs). Understands natural language and intent. Learns from interactions. Can synthesize information across multiple sources.

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Business Impact: Teams using Slack bots report saving 32 minutes per day per user by automating repetitive tasks, reducing context switching between apps by 40%, and deflecting up to 50% of routine helpdesk tickets.

Three Categories of Slack Bots

Each bot type solves different problems. Understanding the distinction is crucial for choosing the right automation strategy.

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Native Slackbot

Built into every workspace. Handles reminders, custom responses, and system notifications. Free forever but limited in scope.

Free No Setup

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Third-Party Bots

Pre-built apps from the Slack Marketplace. Connect external tools (Asana, GitHub, Salesforce) to Slack. 2,600+ available.

Freemium 5 Min Install

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Custom Bots

Built for your unique workflows. Full control over features, logic, and integrations. Requires development resources.

Custom Price Dev Required

Master the Native Slackbot: Command Reference

The /remind command is Slackbot's superpower. Create reminders for yourself, teammates, or entire channels with natural language.

Command

What It Does

Example

/remind me

Personal reminder sent via DM

/remind me to review PR in 2 hours

/remind @user

Send reminder to specific teammate

/remind @sarah to submit report by 5pm

/remind #channel

Post reminder in public channel

/remind #team standup every weekday at 9am

/remind list

View all your pending reminders

/remind list

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Natural Language Processing: Slackbot understands phrases like "in 3 hours", "tomorrow at 2pm", "next Monday", "every Friday at 3pm", and "on the 1st of every month". You don't need to use rigid date formats.

Setting Up Custom Auto-Responses

Configure Slackbot to automatically reply when someone types specific keywords. Perfect for FAQs and quick info distribution.

Navigate to Settings

Click workspace name → Settings & Administration → Customize → Slackbot tab

Add New Response

Click "Add New Response" button. Define your trigger keywords (comma-separated for multiple)

Write Response

Enter the message Slackbot should post. Use multiple lines for random responses. Include links and emojis.

Save and Test

Click "Save Response". Test by typing the trigger in a DM to yourself before deploying to channels.

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Limitations: Custom responses only work in public channels (not private channels or DMs). They don't work in Slack Connect. They're based on simple keyword matching with no conditional logic or context awareness.

Essential Third-Party Bots for Every Team

Pre-built bots from the Slack Marketplace that solve common workflow problems without custom development.

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Asana

Free Tier

Turn Slack messages into Asana tasks. Get notifications on updates, deadlines, and comments directly in channels.

Create tasks from messages
Real-time status updates
AI-generated summaries

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GitHub

Free

Subscribe to repositories and receive updates on commits, PRs, and issues. Take actions without leaving Slack.

PR and commit notifications
Close/reopen issues
Code review reminders

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Donut

Paid

Automate virtual coffee chats and peer mentoring. Pairs team members for random conversations to build culture.

Random pairing algorithm
Onboarding buddy system
Cross-team connections

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Polly

Freemium

Create polls and surveys directly in Slack. Gather team feedback, make decisions, and run pulse checks.

Instant poll creation
Anonymous responses
Real-time results

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PagerDuty

Paid

Critical incident management. Get alerts, acknowledge issues, and resolve incidents without leaving Slack.

Real-time incident alerts
On-call schedule integration
AI-powered insights

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BirthdayBot

Free

Automate birthday and work anniversary celebrations. Upload dates via CSV and let the bot handle the rest.

Automatic celebrations
CSV bulk import
Custom messages

Choosing Your Bot Strategy: Native vs Third-Party vs Custom

The right choice depends on your workflow complexity, budget, and technical resources.

Native Slackbot

Free Forever

Zero setup required
Reminders and notifications
Custom keyword responses
Works on all plans
No external integrations
Simple keyword matching only
Can't notify private channels

Best For: Basic automation, FAQs, reminders

Third-Party Bots

$0-50+/month

2,600+ apps available
Quick 5-minute install
Connect external tools
Many free tiers
Monthly subscription costs
Limited customization
Vendor lock-in risk

Best For: Standard workflows, tool integrations

Custom Built Bots

$10,000-50,000+

Full feature control
Proprietary integrations
Custom logic and AI
Maximum security control
High upfront cost
Requires dev resources
Ongoing maintenance

Best For: Unique workflows, enterprise security

Transform Slack Into Your Ticketing System

Suptask is a Slack-native bot that turns conversations into trackable tickets. Create, assign, and manage support requests without leaving your workspace. No external tools, no context switching.

Used by 1,000+ teams • 14-day free trial • No credit card required

Frequently Asked Questions About Slack Bots

Everything you need to know about using and managing bots in your workspace.

What is the difference between a Slack app and a Slack bot? +

A Slack app is the overarching term for any integration that extends Slack's functionality (includes slash commands, webhooks, etc.). A Slack bot is a specific type of app designed for conversational interaction. All bots are apps, but not all apps are bots. Bots have a user presence, can be mentioned, and interact via messages.

Can I use Slackbot's custom responses in private channels? +

No. This is a key limitation of the native Slackbot. Custom keyword responses only work in public channels and your personal DM with Slackbot (for testing). They don't function in private channels, multi-person DMs, or Slack Connect channels with external organizations.

How do I evaluate a third-party bot's security before installing? +

Before installation, Slack shows you all permission scopes the bot requests. Review these carefully. Check the app's Marketplace page for a Security & Compliance tab with info on data retention, privacy policy, and certifications (SOC 2, ISO). Only install from trusted developers with transparent security practices. Enable App Approval in workspace settings to require admin review for all new apps.

What is the difference between old-school and AI-powered bots? +

Old-school bots use simple IF-THEN logic, responding only to exact keyword matches with no understanding of context. AI-powered bots (using LLMs) can understand natural language, interpret user intent, learn from interactions, and synthesize information from multiple sources. Modern AI bots are conversational and context-aware, while legacy bots are rigid and keyword-dependent.

Can I build a custom bot without coding? +

Yes, for simple workflows. Use Slack's native Workflow Builder (available on paid plans) to create no-code automations. For more complex cross-app workflows, use low-code platforms like Zapier or Workato. These tools let non-technical users build sophisticated automations with visual interfaces. For truly custom bots with unique logic, you'll need development resources.

How much does it cost to build a custom Slack bot? +

Costs vary widely based on complexity. A basic bot with simple logic and one integration: $10,000-20,000. A moderately complex bot with multiple integrations and custom workflows: $20,000-35,000. An advanced bot with AI capabilities, multiple integrations, and sophisticated logic: $35,000-50,000+. Plus ongoing maintenance costs (hosting, updates, bug fixes).

What are the most common use cases for Slack bots? +

Top use cases: (1) IT helpdesk automation (password resets, access requests), (2) HR workflows (onboarding, PTO requests, policy Q&A), (3) Project management (turning messages into tasks, status updates), (4) DevOps (CI/CD notifications, incident management), (5) Sales support (CRM integration, approval workflows), (6) Team culture (virtual coffee chats, birthday reminders, pulse surveys).

Can bots read all messages in my workspace? +

No, bots only access channels they're invited to and only receive messages they're subscribed to via scopes. During installation, you approve specific permission scopes that define what the bot can see and do. Modern bots use granular scopes for minimal access. Always review requested permissions before approving. Admins can revoke access anytime.

What is Slack AI and how does it relate to Slackbot? +

Slack AI is transforming the native Slackbot into an AI-powered agent. New capabilities (paid plans only) include: conversational channel/thread summaries, natural language Q&A that searches your entire workspace, personalized daily recaps, and AI-generated meeting notes from Huddles. This makes Slackbot competitive with third-party knowledge management bots but requires additional per-user cost.

Should I use a ready-made bot or build custom? +

Start with ready-made bots from the Marketplace for standard workflows (project management, tool integrations, culture building). They're fast to deploy and cost-effective. Build custom only if: (1) you have unique workflows that can't be solved with existing apps, (2) you need to integrate with proprietary internal systems, (3) you have strict security/compliance requirements, or (4) you have the budget ($10K-50K+) and dev resources for ongoing maintenance.

What Is a Slack Bot & How To Use Slackbot

Understanding Slack Bots: From Rule-Based to AI-Powered

Old School Bots

Modern AI Bots

Three Categories of Slack Bots

Native Slackbot

Third-Party Bots

Custom Bots

Master the Native Slackbot: Command Reference

Setting Up Custom Auto-Responses

Navigate to Settings

Add New Response

Write Response

Save and Test

Essential Third-Party Bots for Every Team

Choosing Your Bot Strategy: Native vs Third-Party vs Custom

Native Slackbot

Third-Party Bots

Custom Built Bots

Transform Slack Into Your Ticketing System

Frequently Asked Questions About Slack Bots

Start Automating With Slack Bots Today

Get started with Suptask

Turn Slack into your team’s helpdesk.