Show HN: Dock – Slack minus the bloat, tax, and 90-day memory loss
Recorded: Jan. 19, 2026, 10:03 a.m.
| Original | Summarized |
Dock — Team chat that doesn't suck [dock] pricing now accepting early access Your time. Your decisions. Your sanity. #engineering 🧑💻 🧔 Sarah Chen finally fixed that auth bug 🎉 🧑💻 Mike Torres nice! merging to main? Sarah Chen yep, tests are green ✓ 🎉 2 🧔 Alex Kim deploying to prod now 🚀 Message #engineering scroll // core features ⚡ async + sync 🧵 Thread: API redesign Sarah Chen Should we go with REST or GraphQL for the new API? 🧑💻 Mike Torres GraphQL gives us more flexibility for the mobile app Alex Kim Let's go with GraphQL. I'll set up the schema tomorrow. 💬 Reply in thread // killer feature ⚡ no limits Find any message, from any time. No 90-day cutoff. No upgrade required. Your entire team history, always at your fingertips — completely free. ∞ $0 api keys| 🔑 Shared the API keys for staging 2 years ago 📝 Updated API keys rotation policy 18 months ago 🚀 New API keys for production deploy 6 months ago 🏠 home base No learning curve. No feature overwhelm. Create a channel, invite your team, start talking. It's chat — we didn't reinvent it. A Inbox 🧵 🎯 Channels # 🔒 # # # Direct Messages Sarah Chen 🧑💻 Mike Torres Alex Kim // the problem 💸 ✓ 🤖 ✓ 🎪 ✓ // pricing starter $0 Up to 5 team members get started free most popular $15 Up to 20 team members join waitlist scale $50 Up to 100 team members join waitlist 100+ members? Contact us Have questions? Read our FAQ → Ready to ditch the bloat? get early access © 2025 dock. your team's home base. |
Dock positions itself as a team communication platform designed to address the shortcomings of existing solutions like Slack, emphasizing efficiency, simplicity, and user control. The documentation outlines a clear value proposition: a tool that prioritizes "your time, your decisions, your sanity" by eliminating the friction and complexity associated with traditional team chat systems. Central to this is a focus on asynchronous and synchronous communication, decision tracking, data security, and an uncluttered interface that avoids the "feature circus" of competing platforms. The platform’s core features are structured around three pillars: flexibility in communication workflows, transparency in decision-making processes, and robust data governance. These elements are framed as solutions to common pain points experienced by teams, particularly around message retention, decision accountability, and the financial and functional constraints of free-tier offerings. One of Dock’s foundational claims is its approach to communication modes, which blends asynchronous and real-time interactions. The documentation describes this as "work your way," allowing teams to engage in deep work through async messages while maintaining real-time collaboration when necessary. This balance is presented as a response to the "noise" of constant notifications and the inefficiencies of rigidly structured communication. The platform also addresses the challenge of decision-making in team environments, where critical choices often get lost in chat threads. Dock introduces a "Decisions inbox" feature that enables users to mark important decisions with a single click, ensuring they are easily retrievable months later. This functionality is positioned as a direct counter to the "lost in chat" problem, offering a structured way to document and reference decisions without disrupting ongoing conversations. By integrating this into the workflow, Dock aims to reduce ambiguity and improve accountability, particularly in fast-paced engineering or product development settings. Data security and user control are emphasized as non-negotiable aspects of Dock’s design. The platform asserts compliance with SOC 2 standards, ensuring that data is encrypted both in transit and at rest. This commitment to security is paired with a "no lock-in" policy, allowing users to export their data at any time through one-click import/export tools. This approach contrasts with the perceived vendor lock-in and opaque data practices of some competitors, particularly in the context of cloud-based services. The documentation also highlights the absence of hidden costs or mandatory AI features, which are framed as unnecessary expenses in Slack’s pricing model. By removing these elements, Dock positions itself as a platform that prioritizes transparency and user autonomy, avoiding the "AI tax" that some users may find burdensome. The platform’s search functionality is presented as a standout feature, particularly in comparison to Slack’s paid offerings. Dock guarantees "unlimited history" and "no 90-day cutoff," allowing users to access their entire communication archive without restrictions. This is contrasted with Slack’s $8.75/user/month fee for advanced search capabilities, which Dock labels as a "Pro tax" for basic functionality. The documentation emphasizes that this feature is included in all pricing tiers, including the free plan, making it a significant differentiator. The ability to search "everything, forever" is framed as essential for teams that rely on historical data for project continuity, compliance, or knowledge management. This functionality is further enhanced by the platform’s focus on simplicity, avoiding the clutter of additional tools or workflows that might complicate the user experience. The problem statement section directly critiques Slack’s free tier, highlighting its limitations as a "trap" for teams that eventually outgrow it. Key issues cited include the 90-day message limit, hidden costs for AI features, and an overabundance of unnecessary tools like workflows, canvases, and huddles. Dock positions itself as a solution to these challenges by offering a free tier with no expiration, unlimited search capabilities, and a streamlined interface. The documentation also critiques the "feature circus" of Slack, arguing that its complexity dilutes the core purpose of team chat. In contrast, Dock’s approach is described as "just chat," focusing on essential elements like channels, DMs, threads, and files without adding extraneous features. This simplicity is presented as a way to reduce cognitive load and improve productivity, particularly for teams that prioritize efficiency over extensive tool integrations. Pricing is structured as a flat-rate model, with no per-seat charges that escalate as teams grow. The documentation outlines three tiers: Starter (free), Growth, and Scale, each tailored to different team sizes and needs. The free tier accommodates up to five members with unlimited message history, search, and all features, including a one-click Slack import. The Growth tier, priced at $15/month or $100/year, targets teams of up to 20 members and includes priority support. The Scale tier, at $50/month or $300/year, serves larger teams of up to 100 members with additional benefits like dedicated onboarding. All tiers emphasize transparency, avoiding hidden fees or upgrade walls that force teams into higher-priced plans as they expand. The documentation also notes that teams with over 100 members can contact Dock directly for custom solutions, indicating a flexible approach to scalability. The platform’s emphasis on simplicity extends to its user interface and onboarding process. The "home base" section describes Dock as a space that requires no learning curve, allowing teams to create channels, invite members, and start conversations immediately. This is contrasted with the "feature overwhelm" of other platforms, where users must navigate complex settings or workflows to achieve basic tasks. The documentation also highlights the absence of AI-driven features that are not explicitly requested, reinforcing the idea that Dock prioritizes user control over automated enhancements. This approach is intended to appeal to teams that value minimalism and avoid the distractions of AI-powered tools unless they are directly relevant to their workflow. In the context of team collaboration, Dock’s design philosophy is rooted in respecting users’ time and budget. The documentation repeatedly emphasizes that the platform does not "reinvent" chat but instead builds on familiar concepts like channels, DMs, and threads. This is presented as a way to reduce friction for users who are already accustomed to existing communication tools. The platform’s focus on decision tracking, data security, and search functionality is framed as a way to enhance productivity without introducing unnecessary complexity. By addressing these pain points, Dock aims to create a communication environment that is both efficient and empowering for teams of all sizes. The overall tone of the documentation reflects a clear understanding of user frustrations with current team chat solutions, particularly around cost, functionality, and usability. Dock positions itself as a platform that listens to these concerns and offers targeted solutions without compromising on core principles. The emphasis on transparency, simplicity, and user control is consistent across all aspects of the documentation, from pricing to features to data governance. This holistic approach is intended to build trust with potential users who are looking for a reliable, affordable, and intuitive alternative to more established platforms. For teams that prioritize efficiency and avoid unnecessary complexity, Dock presents a compelling case. Its combination of asynchronous communication, decision tracking, and unlimited search capabilities addresses common challenges in team collaboration while maintaining a focus on user autonomy. The platform’s pricing model and data policies further reinforce its appeal, offering a transparent and scalable solution that aligns with the needs of growing teams. By avoiding the pitfalls of "feature overload" and hidden costs, Dock aims to redefine what team chat can be—less about bloat and more about clarity, control, and purpose. |