# External people: guests versus Slack Connect

*Slack Administrator Study Guide · User Lifecycle Management · Last updated October 21, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/slack-administrator/user-lifecycle-management/external-people-guests-versus-slack-connect*

When to bring an outsider in as a guest and when to use Slack Connect, who provisions and pays for each, how invitation types set an external person's access, how to cut off one external person with the External people dashboard, and how to end a guest's access on a set date.

- Certification: Salesforce Slack Administrator
- Exam section: User Lifecycle Management
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/slack-administrator

**Official exam objective:**

> Identify and assign the appropriate access level for users provisioned using Slack Connect or Guest accounts.

## What the exam expects

- Choose between a guest account and Slack Connect from who the outsider is, whether their company uses Slack, and how many people are involved.
- Explain who provisions, authenticates, pays for and keeps records of each kind of external account.
- Pick the Slack Connect invitation type that gives external people the access a policy allows.
- Cut off one external person completely with the External people dashboard.
- End a guest's access automatically on a known date.

Key terms:
- **Guest**: an account in your workspace or org with limited channel access (Multi-Channel or Single-Channel, defined in Account types: members and guest roles).
- **Slack Connect**: channels and DMs shared between separate organizations, each working from its own Slack.
- **External person**: someone from another organization in your Slack Connect conversations, managed by their own organization.
- **Invitation type**: Permission only to post, or Permission to post, invite, and more.
- **Disconnect**: removing an external person from every Slack Connect conversation your organization hosts.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Guests need a paid plan | Guests are only available on Slack's paid plans | [Guest roles](https://slack.com/help/articles/202518103-Understand-guest-roles-in-Slack) |
| Partner already on Slack | Use Slack Connect instead of guest accounts | [Guest roles](https://slack.com/help/articles/202518103-Understand-guest-roles-in-Slack) |
| Slack Connect accounts | Provisioned, authenticated and governed (session, MFA) by the external organization | [Maximize Access & Security](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/identity-management-in-slack/explore-access-and-security-controls) |
| Records after the relationship ends | Guests: only the host keeps content; Slack Connect: each company can keep a record | [Guests vs Slack Connect](https://slack.com/resources/slack-for-admins/guests-vs-channels-in-slack-connect) |
| Slack Connect cost | Channels and DMs shared externally at no cost | [Guests vs Slack Connect](https://slack.com/resources/slack-for-admins/guests-vs-channels-in-slack-connect) |
| Permission only to post | Messages, files, workflows; no adding people, apps or workflows | [Invitation settings](https://slack.com/help/articles/1500012572621-Manage-Slack-Connect-channel-invitation-settings-and-permissions) |
| Remove from channels | Does not revoke DMs or other connected channels | [External people dashboard](https://slack.com/help/articles/5682545991443-Use-the-Slack-Connect-external-people-dashboard) |
| Disconnect an external person | Removes them from channels and DMs your organization hosts | [External people dashboard](https://slack.com/help/articles/5682545991443-Use-the-Slack-Connect-external-people-dashboard) |
| Guest deactivation date | Time limit or custom date; reminder five days before; can be extended | [Guest roles](https://slack.com/help/articles/202518103-Understand-guest-roles-in-Slack) |

## Check yourself

- Why is Slack Connect the better choice for a vendor whose employees already use Slack?
- When does removing an external person from all your channels leave them able to reach your employees?
- Which invitation type lets external people post and add files but not add people or apps?
- Who gets a reminder before a guest's custom deactivation date?

## Sources

- [Understand guest roles in Slack](https://slack.com/help/articles/202518103-Understand-guest-roles-in-Slack)
- [An introduction to sharing channels and guest accounts](https://slack.com/resources/slack-for-admins/guests-vs-channels-in-slack-connect)
- [Maximize Access & Security in Slack](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/identity-management-in-slack/explore-access-and-security-controls)
- [Use the Slack Connect external people dashboard](https://slack.com/help/articles/5682545991443-Use-the-Slack-Connect-external-people-dashboard)
- [Manage Slack Connect channel invitation settings and permissions](https://slack.com/help/articles/1500012572621-Manage-Slack-Connect-channel-invitation-settings-and-permissions)
- [Change a member's role](https://slack.com/help/articles/218124397-Change-a-members-role)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 5 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Slack Administrator pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams