Is Let's Get Coffee a drop-in replacement for Donut?

If your goal is automated 1:1 introductions that actually turn into coffee, yes. The difference is reach: Donut runs inside Slack or Teams, while Let's Get Coffee also works on the open web, so it fits communities, schools, and alumni networks that don't live in a workplace chat tool.

Do we need Slack or Microsoft Teams to use it?

No. You can run a coffee round entirely over email or a single shared link. Slack and Teams delivery are available on our Corporate plan for companies that want it, but they're never required.

Can people without accounts take part?

Yes. Guests can join an event and get matched from a link or QR code without creating an account. That's useful for one-off events, conferences, and member communities where a sign-up wall would lose people.

Is it really free for our community?

Communities run free while we're getting started. We charge companies that need SSO, HRIS sync, integrations, and dedicated support.

Looking for a Donut alternative?

Coffee chats for your whole community, not just Slack.

Donut is great at Slack and Teams coffee chats. Let's Get Coffee brings the same warm, automated introductions to communities, schools, and alumni networks, on or off Slack, and even for members without an account.

Bring it to your community How it works

No Slack required. Free for communities.

At a glance

Works on the open web, no Slack or Teams needed
Guests join by link or QR, no account
Built for clubs, cohorts, alumni & communities
Free for communities to run

Switch in an afternoon.

First, the honest part

Different tools for different rooms

If your whole organization already lives in Slack or Microsoft Teams, Donut is a genuinely good fit: it's native, fast, and well-loved. Let's Get Coffee is for the rooms that aren't a workplace chat tool: the alumni network, the student cohort, the member association, the community that gathers everywhere but Slack.

Side by side

Let's Get Coffee vs Donut

Capability	Let's Get CoffeeCommunities & teams	DonutSlack & Teams
Built for	Communities, schools, alumni, associations & teams	Slack & Teams workplaces
Works without Slack or Teams	YesYes	Needs Slack or Teams
Account-less guest join	By link or QR, no account needed	NoNo
Event-anchored coffee rounds	YesYes	NoNo
Automated weekly matches	YesYes	YesYes
Organizer dashboard & connection analytics	YesYes	YesYes
“Why you two” match explanations	YesYes	Limited
Your logo & colors	YesYes	Limited
Free plan for communities	Free for communities	Limited free plan
Best when	You want an org or community to actually meet, on or off Slack	Your whole org already lives in Slack/Teams

Comparison based on publicly available information about Donut as of June 2026. Donut is a trademark of its respective owner; we're not affiliated. Check their site for the latest features and pricing.

Why teams switch

What you get beyond a Slack bot

Meets people where they already belong

Donut lives inside Slack or Teams. A club, cohort, alumni network, or church usually doesn't, so Let's Get Coffee runs on the open web, by email or a single shared link.

No account? Still in the round

Guests can join an event and get matched from a link or QR code, no sign-up wall. That's how you reach members who'll never install a workplace bot.

Free for communities, honestly

Clubs, schools, and communities run free. We make our living from companies that need SSO, integrations, and dedicated support.

A warm introduction, not a notification

Every match comes with a clear reason it matters and a couple of conversation starters, built to feel like a thoughtful intro, not another ping in a busy channel.

Where it fits

Made for the rooms Slack can't reach

Anywhere more people belong than could ever meet by chance. Not all of them are in your workspace.

Schools & universities

Cohorts, first-years, faculty

Alumni & associations

Networks, chapters, members

Companies & teams

Onboarding, cross-team, hybrid

Questions

Switching, answered

The honest answers people ask before moving a community over.

Is Let's Get Coffee a drop-in replacement for Donut?: If your goal is automated 1:1 introductions that actually turn into coffee, yes. The difference is reach: Donut runs inside Slack or Teams, while Let's Get Coffee also works on the open web, so it fits communities, schools, and alumni networks that don't live in a workplace chat tool.
Do we need Slack or Microsoft Teams to use it?: No. You can run a coffee round entirely over email or a single shared link. Slack and Teams delivery are available on our Corporate plan for companies that want it, but they're never required.
Can people without accounts take part?: Yes. Guests can join an event and get matched from a link or QR code without creating an account. That's useful for one-off events, conferences, and member communities where a sign-up wall would lose people.
Is it really free for our community?: Communities run free while we're getting started. We charge companies that need SSO, HRIS sync, integrations, and dedicated support.

Free to start

Bring coffee chats to your community.

Start a round, invite your people by link, and let the right introductions happen: no Slack, no rollout project.

Start free

No credit card Works without Slack