The terms ‘collaboration’ and ‘engagement’ got a makeover as remote and hybrid work became the norm. People no longer meet physically to drive business goals; they do so in digital spaces.
You need communication and collaboration tools to encourage open communication and foster a strong sense of teamwork. Business communication software is a centralized space for collaboration with access to digital tools for video meetings, refining your file sharing in one place, or allowing 1:1 interactions over personal and private channels.
Choosing the right business communication software is challenging but critical. This post will compare the leading business communication platforms and tools and evaluate the differentiating features, limitations, and overall benefits.
Ready? Let’s go.
Best Business Communication Software for Team Messaging
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat Should You Look for in Business Communication Platforms?
- Video calls and screen sharing: Along with the usual text messaging (chat), look for a team communication platform that offers video conferencing and screen sharing. For remote teams, such as marketing and sales, that require going through a report during virtual meetings, these features promote effective communication
- Project management: Project management tools integrated with communication tools ensure that nothing falls through the cracks, everyone knows the team’s tasks, goals, and timelines, and allows managers to monitor progress from a single dashboard
- Secure file sharing: Find a team collaboration tool that supports file-sharing to make working with remote and hybrid teams easier. Everyone has access to the same documents, SOPs, and policies in a centralized library, saving them the time to search for relevant folders when needed. For industries requiring enterprise-grade security, secure file sharing on the communication platform is crucial
- Audio conferencing: The best business communication tools offer audio conferencing over direct voice and audio calls. When your team members need to clarify something or quickly follow up on a conversation, they can invite team members to an audio call right from their desktop or mobile application without setting up an external line of communication
- Company intranet: A social intranet is a central portal where everyone can communicate with each other. From sharing company-wide updates to keeping your team moving on individual projects, it streamlines team communication
- Integrations: An excellent business communication software integrates with third-party applications that your departments use, including the sales, marketing, CRM, and accounting tech stack
- User-friendly interface: Opt for a communication platform with an intuitive and easy-to-use interface that all team members can easily navigate, promoting holistic adoption
Summarize this article for me pleaseTop 12 Business Communication Software for Efficiency
1. ClickUp
If you are tired of juggling multiple project management and communication platforms, use ClickUp for Team Operations. ClickUp’s collaboration tools and features bring internal and external team communication under one roof.
For example, real-time and asynchronous collaboration features like ClickUp Chat keep everyone aligned with instant messaging as well as audio and video calls. At the same time, Clip by ClickUp lets you record quick video messages within the platform.
Unified communication avoids silos and helps teams find solutions to their bottlenecks quickly. The integrated AI quickly provides summaries, transcripts, and translations and identifies next steps for you.
ClickUp’s Dashboards provide a bird’s-eye view of workflow updates, project status changes, and task assignments. Whether using collaboration tools for internal use or client communication, ClickUp allows you to create shareable links and manage permissions.
ClickUp is a business communication platform that combines chat with task management and collaboration. This enables you to create a collaborative workplace environment, resulting in increased productivity, morale, creativity, and team spirit.
ClickUp key features
- ClickUp Chat seamlessly integrates messaging within tasks, ensuring all project conversations are consolidated and easily accessible. Share files, add tasks, start a video call with SyncUps, assign tasks and check status with FollowUps—no more switching between apps
- ClickUp Views like Gantt charts, Kanban boards, and Calendar views visualize project progress and communication, providing clearer contexts and facilitating discussions
- Ensure everyone’s on the same page and take action with @mentions and task comments. Tag team members directly within tasks and comments, share updates, and prompt action, resulting in clear and efficient communication throughout your projects.
- Streamline your email by integrating your Google Workspace, Outlook, and Google Calendar with ClickUp to send and receive emails directly from your tasks
- Use project communication plan templates to create detailed checklists, subtasks, and priority markers to break down complex tasks and track progress visually
- Write meeting summaries, extract subtasks from meeting notes and agendas, and pre-fill templates for easy knowledge sharing with ClickUp Brain as your second brain
ClickUp limitations
- ClickUp’s vast array of features and options can be overwhelming for new users
ClickUp pricing
- Free Forever
- Unlimited: $7 per member per month
- Business: $12 per member per month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
- ClickUp Brain: Available on all paid plans for $7 per Workspace member per month
ClickUp ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (9400+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (4000+ reviews)
Also Read: Best AI Communication Tools
2. Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is a comprehensive business communication software built for on-site, remote, hybrid, or commercial travelers. No matter where you are, you can stay connected and in the loop with your projects with web and mobile applications.
The no-frills interface doesn’t fare well in terms of design and customization, but the user-friendliness makes up for it. Microsoft Teams is an effective team communication software if you’re already using Microsoft Workspace products.
Microsoft Teams key features
- Boost productivity with built-in task management with other Microsoft tools such as Planner and To Do. Create, assign, and track tasks directly within the platform, facilitating easy communication and collaboration
- Share documents and calendars to leverage cross-departmental teamwork and build a connected workforce for your remote teams
- Identify group vs. individual messages with unique notification markers that instantly reveal who the message is for, ensuring you stay on top of what matters most
Microsoft Teams limitations
- There’s a cap on the number of channels and groups you can join
Microsoft Teams pricing
- Microsoft Teams Essentials: $4/month per user (billed annually)
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic: $6/month per user (billed annually)
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard: $12.50/month per user (billed annually)
Microsoft Teams ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.3/5 (14,000+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (9000+ reviews)
3. Chanty
Chanty offers an intuitive user interface, making it easy to learn and comprehensively use the wide range of features, including instant messaging, file sharing, and task management.
Chanty integrates with the major third-party applications used by a business, such as Gmail, Dropbox, Trello, Mailchimp, Slack, etc. With a free plan, Chanty is a good business communication tool for small teams and startups with a restricted budget.
Chanty key features
- Chanty’s ‘Teambook’ is a searchable hub that centralizes your conversations, pinned messages, and files
- Foster dynamic brainstorming sessions and drive team alignment with group calls
- Share screens with real-time annotations for online meetings with Chanty’s video conferencing
- Create tasks from messages
Chanty limitations
- Requires integration with third-party apps for advanced video chat and project management features
- Users have reported that video calling can be glitchy
Chanty pricing
- Free plan
- Business plan: $4/month per user
Chanty ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.5/5 (40+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (30+ reviews)
Also Read: Top 10 Asynchronous Communication Tools
4. ProofHub
ProofHub is a project management tool that enables teams to assign tasks, manage team roles, centralize product discussions, manage company projects, and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
While it primarily enables real-time collaboration, several marketing and app development agencies use ProofHub as a two-way communication platform between their internal teams and clients.
ProofHub key features
- Create tasks and task lists, assign them to team members, and add start and due dates to ensure tasks are completed on time
- Simplify communication with in-app chat and announcements
- Keep projects on track with insightful reports that uncover bottlenecks, identify areas for improvement, and develop effective strategies to operate at peak efficiency
- Collaborate on creative assets in real-time or asynchronously using the chat feature
ProofHub limitations
- Limited integration options restrict the usage of multiple tools from a unified workspace
- Some users may initially struggle with understanding and utilizing ProofHub’s expansive features and capabilities
ProofHub pricing
- Essential: $50/month
- Ultimate control: $99/month
ProofHub ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.6/5 (100+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (110+ reviews)
5. Filestage
Filestage is a cloud-based project management platform for client-servicing creative agencies and projects. Its expansive list of supported file formats eliminates configuration issues for agencies working on multiple projects.
If you are a project manager in a marketing agency, collaboration platforms like Filestage allow you to share feedback across all departments and deliver campaigns faster with fewer review rounds.
The centralized workspace automates approval workflow and helps cross-departmental teams with file sharing, feedback tracking, and document collaboration.
With this communication tool, work on all projects from a single platform and invite relevant stakeholders to review changes through customized access granting.
Filestage key features
- Streamline your review process by uploading files, sharing them with internal and external stakeholders, setting due dates, and receiving feedback directly on the file
- Automated review workflows simplify the collaboration process and showcase a significant reduction in review turnaround time and back-and-forth emails for approvals
- Easily compare different versions of files and creatives
- Automate simple daily tasks like sending reminders for due dates
Filestage limitations
- Limited options for customization
- It lacks critical features such as online video conferencing and in-app phone calls
- Large video uploads can quickly reach your data limit, potentially requiring an upgrade
Filestage pricing
- Free plan
- Basic: $129/month
- Professional: $369/month
- Enterprise: custom pricing
Filestage ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.6/5 (240+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (100+ reviews)
6. Troop Messenger
Use the business communication software Troop Messenger for team collaboration through its SaaS delivery model, on-premise servers, chat API, or custom app.
With cross-platform accessibility (for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and web), Troop Messenger is used by defense, government, and federal agencies that require enterprise-grade security for their business communication tool.
The intuitive interface and features, such as bulk messaging, audio/video conferencing calls, remote screen sharing, file sharing, and task management, ensure data security during virtual communication.
Troop Messenger key features
- Initiate confidential, one-on-one self-destructing chats with colleagues with ‘Burnout’
- With Troop Messenger’s Forkout, you can send a single message or attachment to many users and groups at once
- Record your work updates in Troop Messenger’s audio messaging and send it across group chats or 1:1
Troop Messenger limitations
- Counterintuitive and time-consuming workflows because bulk deleting or updating content is a multi-step process
Troop Messenger pricing
- Premium: $2.5/month per user
- Enterprise: $5/month per user
- Superior: $9/month per user
- TM Monitor: Available at an additional cost
Troop Messenger ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.6/5 (70+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.8/5 (10+ reviews)
7. Dropbox
Document collaboration is the cornerstone of modern workplaces, where teams collaborate in real-time, share ideas, and keep projects moving faster toward completion regardless of whether they are in the same location or geographically distributed.
Dropbox is a document collaboration and cloud storage platform that allows businesses to secure, store, share, and collaborate on files in the cloud.
Dropbox key features
- Store, edit, share, sign, record screens, comment, and track engagement from a unified space
- Reduce miscommunication and ensure everyone can access the latest versions with trackable links
- Use Dropbox Capture to give and receive feedback and provide context to complicated topics using screen recordings, voiceover, and screenshots
- Sync your files across devices and benefit from automatic backups
Dropbox limitations
- Lacks real-time cross-platform instant messaging
- When your storage quota is over, Dropbox stops syncing
- Limited storage for free users
Dropbox pricing
- Basic: Free
- Plus: $11.99/month
- Essentials: $19.99/month
- Business: $18/month per user
- Business Plus: $30/month per user
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Dropbox ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.4/5 (28,000+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (21,600+ reviews)
8. RingEx (formerly RingCentral MVP)
RingEx, formerly known as RingCentral MVP, is a cloud-based communication service that helps businesses of all sizes consolidate and streamline their team communication channels into a single, centralized platform.
This business communication software encompasses voice calls, video conferencing, messaging, and faxing, helping teams stay connected and productive from anywhere. It includes an AI assistant that can transcribe calls and translate chats.
RingEx is a good choice for businesses that want to bring their customer service offerings and business communication software to the same AI-powered interface.
RingEx key features
- Unify communication through multiple channels, including business calls, SMS, fax, and team messaging in a single location
- Integrate multiple communication and collaboration tools, such as project management, video conferencing tools, and instant messaging apps, into a single cloud communications platform
- Make informed decisions about your team communication infrastructure and resource allocation with comprehensive visual reports
- Save time with AI support for meeting notes and translations
RingEx limitations
- Users can’t customize the conference call greeting message
- There is no way to mix and match service plans based on the needs of different teams, employees, or locations
- No moderator tools for video calls and chats
RingEx pricing
- Core: $30/month per user (up to 100 users)
- Advanced: $35/month per user (up to 100 users)
- Ultra: $45/month per user (up to 100 users)
- Custom pricing for 100+ users on any plan
RingEx ratings and reviews
- G2: 4/5 (900+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.2/5 (1100+ reviews)
9. Basecamp
Basecamp is a messaging platform that promotes quality teamwork. It is known for its simple and user-friendly tools.
The software helps businesses communicate effectively through topic pages, a message board for asynchronous discussions, and ‘Pings’ or direct messages. You can customize post types, include files, and choose whom to share them with.
To-do lists and sub-lists with comments and notifications keep everybody informed of priorities. Tracking the progress of to-dos with Hill Charts ensures that all stakeholders have complete visibility into progress and bottlenecks.
Basecamp key features
- Keep everyone informed and aligned in real time with dedicated message boards for each project
- Create clear to-do lists, assign tasks with due dates, and track progress visually with Hill Charts
- Organize, store, and share files, images, and docs for private and public channels
- Create group chats with sounds, video, emojis, and @mentions with the Campfire feature
Basecamp limitations
- Essential project management features such as task statuses are missing
- Too basic to handle the complexity and comprehensive roadmap and workflow systems in case of medium-sized businesses
- No free plan
Basecamp pricing
- 30-day free trial
- Basecamp: $15/month per user
- Basecamp Pro Unlimited: $349/month per user
Basecamp ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.1/5 (5300+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.3/5 (14,400+ reviews)
Also Read: Basecamp Alternatives & Competitors
10. Workvivo
Without an internal employee communication platform, the teams have no visibility into other business operations and initiatives. Communication with the team is only possible in monthly meetings and emails.
That’s where an employee experience platform like Workvivo by Zoom allows everyone to interact easily. It will enable teams to collaborate, share, and empower engagement across the business, removing dependencies on email.
Workvivo key features
- Private spaces for pre-defined team members act as a safe and secure way for the team to huddle remotely
- Tag relevant people, celebrate achievements, and showcase employee contributions over Workvivo TV
- Engage your entire workforce with chat and push notifications
Workvivo limitations
- Users can’t personalize notifications, leading to irrelevant pop-ups and information overload
- High-quality video playback on the mobile app experiences glitches and freezing
Workvivo pricing
- Custom pricing
Workvivo ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.8/5 (1900+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (120+ reviews)
11. Skype
Skype is a cloud-based communication platform from Microsoft. Skype is one of the pioneers in online communication, offering robust features for video calls, messaging, and file sharing. It’s widely used by individuals and businesses for both casual and professional communication.
With Skype, teams can share messages and make video and audio calls with screen sharing. It also allows calls to landlines and mobile phones, as well as paid international calls.
The integration of the Bing chatbot into Skype gives you an AI chatbot within your messaging platform. It can summarize and translate your voice calls, video calls, and instant messages in real time.
Skype key features
- Make secure audio and video calls across any device
- Record Skype calls with live captions
- Hold conference calls with up to 100 people
- Get the tone of your messages right with Tone Selection in chat
- Make team calls fun with Snap-powered AR (augmented reality) lenses
Skype limitations
- Users can’t personalize notifications, leading to irrelevant pop-ups and information overload
- High-quality video playback on the mobile app experiences glitches and freezing
Skype pricing
- Skye-to-Skype: Free
- International dialing subscription costs vary according to the destination
Skype ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.3/5 (23,400+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.2/5 (490+ reviews)
Also Read: Top Skype for Business Alternatives
12. Zoom Workplace
Zoom Workplace is a powerful video conferencing tool that consolidates meetings, team chat, and scheduling in one app. It’s particularly well-suited for hybrid and remote workforces, enabling seamless communication and collaboration across teams of all sizes.
Tools like the Zoom AI Companion enhance productivity, offering meeting summaries, transcription, and action items from your Zoom meetings. Over 2,500 app integrations, including Microsoft Teams, ClickUp, and Salesforce, streamline workflows and reduce app switching.
Zoom Workplace key features
- Run effective audio and video meetings with HD audio, noise suppression, backgrounds, screen-sharing, and team chat
- Record meetings and share recordings and transcripts with secure links
- Leverage the built-in cloud-based VoIP phone system for calls, voicemail, and SMS messaging
- Collaborate together using whiteboards, notes, and chat channels
- Summarize meetings and takeaways with AI Companion
Zoom Workplace limitations
- The Basic plan only allows meeting durations of up to 40 minutes
- The AI Companion is only available in paid plans
- Recording transcripts are only available in the Business plan
Zoom Workplace pricing
- Basic: Free
- Pro: $15.99/month per user
- Business: $21.99/month per user
Zoom Workplace ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.5/5 (55,900+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (14,000+ reviews)
Summarize this article for me pleaseDrive Efficiency With the Right Business Communication Software
Choosing a business communication software that fits your business needs will increase employee and stakeholder engagement, productivity, and overall sentiment. Start by analyzing the state of your business and collaboration tools.
For example, if you want a unified platform for project management, communication, and task management, a project management tool like ClickUp would best serve your needs.
With the integrated AI, ClickUp will be your everything app for work. Try it for yourself for free.
Sign up on ClickUp today.
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