Banter

Banter is a culture-building tool specifically designed for remote and distributed teams operating on Slack. In an era where remote work is the new norm, the spontaneous 'watercooler' conversations that forge strong work relationships have diminished. Banter aims to bring back that dynamic by creating a dedicated space for fun, non-work-related interactions, helping to build trust, friendship, and a stronger sense of community within teams.

Developed by a bootstrapped team passionate about the future of work, Banter integrates seamlessly into your Slack workspace. It acts as an automated team-building assistant, sparking spontaneous group conversations with a wide variety of handcrafted icebreakers. From thought-provoking questions and brain teasers to lighthearted polls and photo-sharing prompts, Banter ensures there's always something to get your team talking. The tool is trusted by over 50,000 team members and is officially approved by Slack, ensuring security and reliability.

How to use Banter

Getting started with Banter is incredibly simple and takes just a minute. The process is designed to be effortless for any team administrator:

1. Add Banter to Slack: Install the Banter app from the Slack App Directory with a few clicks. The installation is secure and only requests the minimum permissions needed to function.
2. Configure Your Settings: Choose the specific public channel where you want Banter to post. Select the types of topics you're interested in (e.g., Getting to know you, Opinions, Brain Teasers) and set a custom schedule for when the prompts should be sent.
3. Enjoy Automated Team Building: Once set up, Banter's bot will automatically post the icebreaker games as scheduled. Team members can then participate in the conversation threads at their own leisure, making it an inclusive activity for both introverts and extroverts.
4. On-Demand Fun: For an instant laugh, any team member can use the slash command /banter joke to have the bot deliver a freshly generated AI joke directly in the channel.

Core Features of Banter

• Handcrafted Icebreaker Library: Access a vast and constantly growing collection of work-appropriate icebreakers, polls, brain teasers, and team award prompts. New content is added weekly to keep interactions fresh.
• Full Customization and Scheduling: Add your own custom icebreakers, including inside jokes and team-specific references. You can preview, edit, schedule, or delete any upcoming prompts to perfectly tailor the experience.
• AI-Powered Jokes: Inject humor into the workday with an on-demand AI joke generator, accessible via a simple slash command.
• Asynchronous and Inclusive: Banter posts in a group channel, not via annoying DMs. This allows team members to respond when they want to, creating a low-pressure environment for everyone to participate.
• Privacy-Focused and Secure: As a Slack-approved app, Banter respects your privacy. It cannot read any of your team's private conversations and only requires the necessary permissions to post messages in the designated channel.
• Unlimited Users: A single subscription covers your entire workspace, regardless of the number of users.

Use Cases for Banter

Banter is ideal for any organization looking to enhance its remote or hybrid work culture:

• Remote-First Companies: To proactively build the social fabric that is often missing in a distributed workforce.
• Hybrid Teams: To bridge the gap between in-office and remote employees, ensuring everyone feels connected.
• New Team Onboarding: To help new hires integrate quickly and get to know their colleagues on a personal level.
• Project Kickoffs: To break the ice and foster collaboration within newly formed project teams.
• Revitalizing Quiet Channels: To bring energy and engagement back to underused Slack channels.

Advantages of Banter

Banter offers a simple, effective, and affordable way to improve team dynamics. It automates the process of team building, saving managers time and effort. The content is carefully curated to be safe for work, avoiding sensitive or edgy topics. By fostering regular, positive interactions, Banter helps develop deeper trust and camaraderie, which can lead to improved collaboration, higher morale, and better employee retention.

Pricing and Plans

Banter offers a simple and transparent pricing model with a generous free trial.

• Free Trial: All users can start with a 30-day free trial of the Premium plan. No credit card is required to start. After the trial period, the bot will simply pause sending messages.
• Premium Plan: For $19 per month (billed monthly), you get full access to all features, including unlimited channels, multi-day scheduling, the ability to add and edit your own icebreakers, premium topics and games, and on-demand AI jokes for unlimited users.
• Annual Plan: You can save 20% by opting for the annual subscription, which is billed as one payment for the year.

You can cancel your subscription at any time directly from the billing page.