15 Best Online Collaboration Tools in 2024 (Free & Paid)

Everyone’s a ‘team player’ on their resumes until it comes down to actually working with distributed teams. That’s when all your collaboration and communication skills come into play and undergo rigorous testing—your moment of truth.

As someone who has seen the mightiest of teams fall due to poor communication or discordant coordination, I am a staunch supporter of leveraging collaboration apps and other tools to bring teams on the same page. 

Effective online collaboration tools can significantly improve how your team members (especially those in a remote or hybrid work arrangement) connect, communicate, and work with each other. Given that so many of us now don’t work out of the office five days a week, organizations would do well to invest in high-quality online collaboration tools that helps remote teams to work together and be productive.

I have tried several of these team collaboration software across different projects, stakeholders, and industries in my years of experience. Some have been absolute lifesavers, connecting global teams, keeping them focused on the goal, and driving collective results. And then there are other apps—let’s just say that they failed to impress me with their lackluster performance. 

Given my good, bad, and ugly experiences, I’ve compiled a list of the top 15 online collaboration tools and mobile apps I’ll highly recommend in 2024. Let’s take a look.

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What Should You Look for in Online Collaboration Tools?

Remember those high-energy conference room meetings where everyone is involved and brainstorming on a topic to make it highly productive? Well, capturing the same energy in a distributed and remote workforce is no easy task. You need to get everyone on the same page, avoid distraction, and ensure that everyone is able to be an active participant to improve collaboration in the workplace.

Online collaboration tools are great for getting the team together to brainstorm and work on a document or project, but there is much more to them than meets the eye. To pick the best option, you must go beyond simply adding a tool to your arsenal. Your option needs to fit into your unique requirements and existing processes. Here are some of the factors we have considered when curating the top online collaboration tools:

• Requirements and use case: Consider why you need a particular tool or platform. How will it be used in your organization, and what purpose will it solve? The tool you pick has to meet your specific demands and actually add value to your organization. For example, say you’re looking for a centralized platform to manage your content program end to end—in this case, you might prioritize being able to manage everything in one place and store your content files safely
• Features for teams: Once you’ve identified the need, select a tool with all the right capabilities. An online collaboration tool should have all the features crucial for effective collaboration and teamwork. This can include task management and tracking, real-time communication channels, file-sharing capabilities, collaborative document editing, video conferencing, and more. For example, if you’re running an agency, you’d also want online review and approval processes to be solved for 
• Easy to use: Speaking from experience—new processes or tools can take the entire team some time to get used to and learn. So, when picking team collaboration software, always go with something easy to use. That’s exactly why we have picked the tools in this list. Even though each has exceptional features, they are all easy to use, implement, and learn
• Integrations: In addition to usage and implementation, the collaborative communication platform you choose should work smoothly with your existing applications and systems. I dislike context switching and, thus, prefer digital collaboration tools that allow me to integrate my go-to apps as well
• Budget: Make sure the tool you pick fits into your budget and allows you to customize pricing based on your unique needs. You can even compare the free version with paid options to help pick the best online collaboration software. Do remember to factor in all the costs that affect pricing, including one-time costs, implementation costs, recurring expenses, add-on features, and others—something that I missed doing in my early years
• Data security: The best collaboration tools are no good if they compromise your data. Make sure your chosen software includes robust security features, such as two-factor authentication, data encryption, access controls, and other ways to protect your data

With these factors in mind, we’ll review the best online collaboration software to get your team firing on all cylinders. 

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The Best Online Collaboration Tools at a Glance

Before I talk about each platform, here is a quick overview of all the tools we’ve shortlisted and how they can be used to improve team synergy:

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The 15 Best Online Collaboration Tools to Use in 2024

I’m now going to give you a more in-depth look at the main features and limitations as well as the unique proposition of each collaborative software:

1. ClickUp: The best all-in-one online collaboration tool

Before I started working at ClickUp, my collaboration tech stack was a mishmash of team collaboration tools. I used Slack for quick updates, emails for longer exchanges, organized notes over Google Docs, Microsoft Teams for video conferences, and Miro for whiteboards. Sure, it was a lot of things to juggle at once, but that’s just how I thought things ran—the ways of the world.

And then came ClickUp, the one app to replace them all, quite literally.

ClickUp is an intuitive online hub that brings teams together to ideate, plan, and execute their work easily. I know this because ours is a remote and hybrid workforce. So, whether my team members were in the same room or spread across continents and time zones, we still had no trouble getting things done!

Honestly, moving from a patchwork of software solutions to a unified platform was a breath of fresh air. The only problem was getting used to ClickUp’s learning curve because it packs a bunch of features into one powerful online collaboration software. But the onboarding was smooth, and I found my way around it. 

Once I was comfortable with ClickUp, I found myself a lot more productive—coordinating with teammates on two continents, managing big and small marketing projects, collecting and analyzing inputs from various stakeholders, and leading the team. 

My team and I use ClickUp’s collaboration features, like ClickUp Whiteboards to brainstorm content and campaign ideas, ClickUp Chat View to exchange messages in real-time, ClickUp Docs to create everything from SOPs and contracts to internal wikis, ClickUp Clips to screen capture shareable videos—the list goes on (hop over to the key features section if you want a TL;DR). And, of course, we manage all tasks under every campaign and every project with ClickUp Tasks.

Whether setting task reminders or checking progress updates, ClickUp takes care of all the admin tasks for you (and your team) so that you can focus on the more high-value work. 

What also stands out for me is its AI-powered assistant, ClickUp Brain. This powerful feature was designed specifically to improve collaboration and help you get more out of your workspace. I use it every day to write better, but it can also search and analyze information across your tasks, docs, communication (chat, comments), and connected apps to identify connections and answer your questions.

This G2 review reflects exactly why ClickUp is number one on my list—

The ClickUp Templates library is one of my most-used features—who wouldn’t like pre-existing and completely customizable frameworks to get a headstart on action plans? Don’t count me in!

While I am guilty of experimenting with virtually every ClickUp Template (okay, maybe not every one, considering there are nearly thousands of them!) I would recommend these for managing team collaboration:

Download This Template

• ClickUp Client Success Collaboration Template: Want to start building successful customer relationships? Then, this template is perfect for you. I’ve used it to craft smooth onboarding processes for new clients, establish clear lines of communication with stakeholders, and centralize project tasks, deliverables, and deadlines. This template sets up a visual collaboration platform where you can track progress, ensure transparency, and facilitate stakeholder alignment for an excellent client experience

Download This Template

• Timeline Template by ClickUp for International Collaboration Projects: Erase geographical boundaries and time zones with this amazing template that brings international teams together. Take stock of the entire workflow with a clear timeline, assign tasks and define due dates, and collaborate with your team while maintaining transparency and cultural sensitivity

Download This Template

• ClickUp CRM Template: The CRM template has helped our marketing teams build and nurture strong customer relationships. We use it to organize leads, track deals across the sales cycle, and work closely with the sales teams. The centralization of data, automation of repetitive tasks, and data-driven insights are an added plus

The CRM template is just one of the many project-specific templates on ClickUp. Whether you’re developing software or planning an event, ClickUp has a template for all your collaboration needs!

ClickUp best features

• Create, assign, and track tasks with ClickUp Kanban boards, and automate workflows with ClickUp’s advanced task management features
• Work together on documentation using ClickUp Docs, which lets you make real-time edits, add comments, and provide detailed feedback to teams
• Plan, organize, and collaborate on multiple projects using ClickUp Tasks to visualize your entire project activities and team workspace
• Share specific information and create quick videos using ClickUp Clips, the new feature that helps you record the screen, capture video, and communicate visually
• Manage your entire team using the ClickUp Remote Work platform. It lets you align on shared goals, track progress, and manage your distributed and cross-functional teams stress-free
• Generate automated project updates, unearth information across the platform, automate day-to-day work, and craft engaging copy with ClickUp Brain 
• Replace scattered chats and emails with ClickUp Chat for instant, real-time conversations threaded within tasks, docs, and projects
• Brainstorm and have effective team meetings using whiteboard templates to capture ideas, create mind maps, add notes, and more
• Integrate all your platforms like Google Sheets, CRMs, and 1000+ apps into a single workspace using ClickUp Integrations

ClickUp limitations

• Its rich set of features can create a learning curve for some users
• Limited views available in the mobile app

ClickUp pricing

• Free Forever
• Unlimited: $7/month per user
• Business: $12/month per user
• Enterprise: Contact for pricing
• ClickUp Brain: Add to any paid plan for $5 per Workspace member per month

ClickUp ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.7/5 (9,000+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.7/5 (4,000+ reviews)

What users have to say about ClickUp

2. Google Docs: The best free collaboration tool with cloud storage services

As I sat typing this in Google Docs, I realized that it’s a platform that needs no introduction. It’s the go-to document collaboration software for anyone using Google Workspace—and that’s basically everyone!

Its beauty lies in its simplicity. It has a clutter-free interface that’s remarkably close to the familiar UI of the OG document processor, MS Word, except that it’s all cloud-based. All the document creation, editing, and organization takes place directly in Google Drive, which further expands its accessibility. So, it’s not just me or my team, but virtually all stakeholders who can be part of the process. At the same time, I enjoy granular control over who can view the file, edit it, or comment on it. 

Integrating Google Docs with ClickUp has been a game-changer as my team can:

• Attach Google Drive files to ClickUp Tasks
• Browse and search personal and team drives without leaving the platform
• Create Google files within ClickUp and have them saved automatically in your Google Drive

And Docs is just one part of the vast and expansive Google app suite. My teams have collaboratively converted documents into presentations and spreadsheets and vice versa.

We agree that Google Docs is pretty neat for writing and editing projects with others, but it lacks other communication and coordination features teams can use.

Google Docs best features

• Work on and edit documents simultaneously with other team members 
• Manage all your files and documents in safe cloud storage using Google Drive, with advanced features like version control and access controls to keep your data safe and secure
• Add comments, make edit suggestions, and collaborate on live documents
• Integrate with other Google Workspace apps like Sheets, Slides, and more
• Leverage Google Gemini, the AI assistant, within Google Docs to write better

Google Docs limitations

• Limited formatting options and hard to customize the look compared to other dedicated word processing software. 
• Not many other collaborative project management features beyond document editing
• Security for sensitive documents might be a concern as links can be easily shared with an external third-party

Google Docs pricing

Google Docs is a part of the Google Workspace, which is available for:

• Free: Upto 15 GB of Drive space
• Business Starter: $7.20/month per user 
• Business Standard: $14.40/month per user
• Business Plus: $21.60/month per user
• Google Gemini is available as an add-on starting at $18 per user per month, with a 1-year commitment

Google Docs ratings and reviews

• G2: NA
• Capterra: 4.7/5 (28,125)

What users have to say about Google Docs

3. Slack: The go-to chat & collaboration tool

Ask any team which online tools they use for collaboration and chat, and Slack will probably be on the list. This popular platform for real-time team messaging allows you to share updates, collaborate on projects, and create a connected online workplace through channels, direct messages, group conversations, and video calls. I like its ease of use and user-friendly UI. You can use it for team discussions as well as one-on-one chats, and I often use it to share ideas and communicate with internal teams as well as external stakeholders (using specialized groups that you can create with Slack Connect).

ClickUp integrates natively with Slack, so you can create tasks directly from conversations and receive notifications within your Slack channels, keeping everything organized. However, I find the search feature on Slack pretty basic, especially when I compare it to ClickUp’s Universal Search. 

Slack best features

• Create and use team chat channels dedicated to specific projects or topics
• Get a single platform to manage direct messaging for private conversations
• Share files and create custom integrations (through tools like Zapier) for enhanced functionality
• Make video and voice calls with your Slack connections
• Simplify information sharing and project updates through dedicated channels
• Use Slack AI to quickly find your information in Slack, summarize conversation threads, and get a recap of missed messages

Slack limitations

• Can become overwhelming with a high volume of messages and channels
• Limited collaborative project management features beyond communication
• Searching for older messages can be cumbersome with large teams
• AI is only available with the Enterprise plan as a separate add-on

Slack pricing

• Free (unlimited messaging with 90-day message history)
• Pro: $7.25/month (for small teams who want better collaboration)
  Business+: $12.50/ month (For businesses that want to increase productivity and keep teams connected)
• Enterprise Grid: Custom pricing (For larger enterprises who want to get more done and improve productivity at every level)
• Slack AI is available as a separate add-on but only for Enterprise plans

Slack ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.5/5 (32,500+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.7/5 (23,200+ reviews)

What users have to say about Slack

4. Zoom: The best video conferencing tool

Zoom is the pandemic baby of online collaboration tools. Even though it was launched in 2011, very few people knew about it. Fast-forward to 2020, and it’s a staple at almost all organizations.

Zoom is undoubtedly one of the most easy-to-use video conferencing tools. It definitely made remote work a lot easier. With Zoom you can make video calls and give online demos, host webinars, and collaborate with your teams virtually.

But its simplicity doesn’t mean it lacks advanced features. Zoom gives you almost anything you’d ever need in a video conferencing tool, like selective screen sharing, meeting access controls, password-protected join (we all remember Zoombombing, don’t we?), online whiteboards, etc. This makes it the ideal team collaboration software for brainstorming, collaborating, and having productive discussions in a remote environment.

A major plus for me is that Zoom integrates with ClickUp as well, which makes taking meetings remotely a breeze.

Zoom best features

• Enjoy high-definition video conferencing with screen-sharing 
• Host meetings, webinars, online events, and even create breakout rooms for smaller group discussions within larger meetings
• Record meetings, add notes and polls, brainstorm sessions, and work on documents with screen-sharing
• Use the integrated Zoom AI Companion to generate messages and summarize meetings

Zoom limitations

• The free plan is rather limited as you can host or attend meetings not longer than 40 minutes
• The tool’s UI and UX are in dire need of improvement, with crucial features tucked out of sight

Zoom pricing

• Basic: $0 (ideal for creators and solopreneurs who don’t mind meetings limited to 40 minutes)
• Pro: $14.99 per host per month (for smaller teams of 1-9 users)
• Business: $21.99 per month (for mid-size businesses with teams of up to 100)
• Business Plus: $26.99 per month (Enterprises and larger organizations with more collaborative requirements)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing (For larger organizations of 100+ with specific requirements for their meetings, collaboration, webinars, and more)
• The AI Companion is available at no extra cost with all paid Zoom accounts

Zoom ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.5/5 (55,200+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.6/5 (13,800+)

What users have to say about Zoom

5. Asana: The best task management & online collaboration tool

Asana is a task and project management tool that helps teams work effectively, collaborate on daily tasks, and connect all their work in one place. It doesn’t just help you assign tasks to team members but also makes it easier to notify them of important projects and track milestones for every team member. 

What I liked about Asana is its simple interface and focus on being the ultimate collaboration tool for managing multiple projects. It helps you get started quickly with an easy-to-use workflow builder and also offers a range of templates to speed up your work.

Many users agree that Asana is a great option for those who need specific enterprise project management capabilities. A Reddit user said,

Asana best features

• Simplify task creation, assignment, and due dates for clear project organization
• View projects across views like Kanban, Lists, Timelines, Calendars, and Gantt charts
• Automate time-consuming tasks such as notifications, reminders, and approval processes
• Set up workflow automation easily using Forms, Rules, Bundles, and Templates
• Simplify team communication with features like commenting, attachments, and @mentions
• Automate status updates and get quick answers to questions about your work in Asana with the Asana Intelligence AI assistant
• Connect Asana with 200+ apps (including ClickUp) to help you with team collaboration, file storage, project management, and more

Asana limitations

• No support for multiple assignees and assigned comments
• Limited customization options, project views, team size, and projects for the free plan
• Floods you with messages for all projects. You can’t select which notifications you wish to receive
• Asana Intelligence has very limited capabilities so far and is only available with paid plans

Asana pricing

• Personal: Free
• Starter: $13.49/month per user
• Advanced: $30.49/month per user
• Enterprise: Custom pricing
• Enterprise+: Custom pricing

Asana ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.3/5 (9910+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.5/5 (12,500+ reviews)
  

What users have to say about Asana

6. Trello: The best project management & collaboration tool

I’ve used Trello while working on smaller projects for clients on a budget. I like how the card view makes task visualization a breeze. Trello’s simple layout to view task status and updates engage even those stakeholders who may be tech-averse. This facilitates effortless collaboration. Not to mention, it’s quite rewarding to move a tile from the ‘To Do’ to the ‘Done’ pile. 

No more status updates and email chains. It’s a great tool for agile teams that value clear communication and visual progress tracking. However, that’s all that there is to Trello. If you’re working on complex projects and have advanced requirements, then Trello is not for you.

Trello best features

• Use Kanban boards with drag-and-drop functionality for visual task management
• Collaborate with teams on projects using lists and cards to assign tasks within projects
• Communicate with teammates on tasks with comments, attachments, and mentions
• Manage your tasks in a simple and intuitive interface and keep everyone informed on project progress
• Generate and summarize text with integrated Atlassian Intelligence

Trello limitations

• Communicating through boards and cards gets unsustainable the moment the project scales
• Atlassian Intelligence has limited capabilities and is only available with the Premium and Enterprise plans
• Lacks discussion or chat features that let teams discuss tasks or particular projects within the app
• Keeping private items like personal notes distinct from shared team boards is tricky, which will leave you confusing the two while collaborating

Trello pricing

• Free: $0 (ideal for freelancers and individuals looking to organize a project)
• Standard: $6/month per user (for small teams or those who wish to scale collaboration)
• Premium: $12.50/month per user (For teams that need to track and visualize multiple projects in several ways, including boards, timelines, calendars, etc.)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing (For organizations that need to connect work across teams with more security and controls)

Trello ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.4/5 (13,520+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.5/5 (12,500+ reviews)

What users have to say about Trello

7. Miro: Best online whiteboard tool

As a visual learner, I’m all for online collaboration tools that convert concepts into flowcharts, freehand drawings, and mind maps. I call it the great equalizer because you don’t have to deal with terminologies or jargon to get your thoughts across. And Miro is a great option for project visualization.

Miro’s whiteboard has virtual sticky notes, frames, interactive objects, and rich media to keep your team’s creative juices flowing during brainstorming sessions. My team has used it for workshops, design sprints, and visual problem-solving sessions, and it has done pretty well every single time.

Our experiences are not isolated; many small teams and individuals love it, too; as one user on G2 mentions,

Miro best features

• Brainstorm with your teams using the real-time online whiteboard and mind maps 
• Get creative with sticky notes, whiteboarding pens, and shapes 
• Improve communication with a centralized platform to capture, organize, and revisit ideas
• Generate simple text, mindmaps, and insights with the help of the AI assistant, Miro Assist
• Gather team inputs and ideas using voting and feedback features

Miro limitations

• Limited collaboration features, as the tool is primarily geared towards brainstorming and whiteboarding
• Learning curve for some users who might not be familiar with online whiteboarding tools
• The free plan has limitations on board size, collaborators, and features
• Miro Assist is currently available in beta mode on all plans but is likely to become a paid feature later

Miro pricing

• Free: $0 (for students, individuals, and small groups with basic collaboration needs)
• Starter: $10/month per user (For those who want unlimited and private boards along with essential features)
• Business: $20/month per user (Go beyond with advanced security and features, ideal for small organizations)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing (ideal for larger teams who want to collaborate across the entire organization, with support, security, and control)

Miro ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.8/5 (5500+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.7/5 (1520+ reviews)

What users have to say about Miro

8. GitHub: The best code-sharing & collaboration platform

Ask any developer about their go-to online collaboration tools, and GitHub is sure to be right at the top. However, unlike other team collaboration tools that help internal teams communicate effectively, GitHub connects an entire community—mainly software engineers and developers.

It is a code-sharing and community-building platform with collaborative features, where software developers can manage version control of their code. This includes managing code collaboratively, tracking changes, and ensuring smooth project development through code sharing and branching functionalities. 

Users love collaborating with other coders and programmers, as this Reddit user mentions.

GitHub best features

• Manage code development workflows through version control and code sharing
• Enable smooth collaboration among geographically dispersed developers
• Improve code quality through pull requests and code review features
• Get a centralized platform for managing code, issues, and project communication
• Code faster and collaborate better with the GitHub Copilot AI tool

GitHub limitations

• Largely geared toward developers and coders, not a good option for non-technical teams
• Its primary role is code management and not collaboration or communication
• Has a steep learning curve, especially for users unfamiliar with Git version control concepts

GitHub pricing

• Free: $0
• Team: $4/month per user
• Enterprise: $21/month per user 
• GitHub Copilot is available as an add-on starting at $10/month per user

GitHub ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.7/5 (2090+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.8/5 (5990+ reviews)

What users have to say about GitHub

9. Figma: The best design & team collaboration tool

Working in marketing exposes me to the singular creative types who are fiercely independent and prefer working autonomously. Working with others may not come naturally to some, but when they’re part of a team, you must do all you can to help them collaborate.  With Figma, collaboration becomes easy for creative teams.

Figma is design collaboration software with real-time editing and prototyping features that help teams collaborate on design projects. I find this Figma feature the most exciting, as teams can work simultaneously on mockups and prototypes, which helps accelerate design iterations.

It is also widely used for its whiteboard, which allows users to create vector graphics and prototypes that go beyond simple images.

Figma best features

• Get a real-time collaborative design platform to create and edit user interfaces (UI), website pages, and other prototypes with your team
• Design for multiple projects using high-fidelity mockups and design assets
• Collaborate on designs with other designers and stakeholders using a centralized design management system
• Improve communication and feedback using comments, presentation features, and real-time editing options

Figma limitations

• The free plan has limited projects, prototypes, and collaborators
• Primarily focused on UI/UX design and might not be suitable for other teams
• No AI assistant or feature as yet

Figma pricing

• Free: $0
• Professional: $15/month per user
• Organization: $45/month per user (billed annually)
• Enterprise: $75/month per user (billed annually)

Figma ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.7/5 (1090+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.7/5 (720+ reviews)
  

What users have to say about Figma

10. Airtable: The best database management & collaboration tool

Airtable is a document and database management solution with a difference. It uses building blocks to enable teams to build their spreadsheets or databases as they want. I personally found this very helpful, as it supports my strategic vision. From managing project planning to social media calendars and even financials, we have used it for just about everything.

The best part of Airtable is that it can be used to define relationships with other blocks, collaborate on projects and reports, and even create views explicitly tailored for specific work. It is like a Google Sheet or Excel workbook, but it has excellent add-on features that make it ideal for several use cases.

They’ve also introduced a new AI feature recently called Airtable AI, which helps you generate text and formulas, summarize comments, etc.

Airtable best features

• Use the flexible relational database structure for organizing and managing various data types (text, numbers, attachments, etc.)
• Visualize data in custom views like Kanban boards, calendars, and forms 
• Automate repetitive tasks using powerful automation features 
• Create text, generate formulas, build AI-powered automation, and summarize comments with Airtable AI
• Enhance collaboration through shared views, commenting, and task assignments on records

Airtable limitations

• Steep learning curve as you need to understand how blocks and relationships work
• Requires planning and upfront setup to design the ideal database structure
• The free plan has limitations on base size, collaborators, and features

Airtable pricing

• Free: $0 
• Team: $24/month per user
• Business: $54/month per user
• Enterprise Scale: Custom pricing
• Airtable AI is available with all paid plans, starting at $7/month per user

Airtable ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.6/5 (2240+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.7/5 (1980+ reviews)

What users have to say about Airtable

11. Monday.com: The best work operating system

Monday.com is a popular project management software that promotes transparency and collaboration. It helps you manage and view all your team’s tasks. Teams can use this tool to collaborate, build workflows, track project progress, and analyze project-related information. 

The platform gives you the choice of switching between different views like Gantt charts, Kanban boards, and a calendar view.

My only grievance is that integration with other software tools is a challenge, and this can be a deal-breaker for me. Also, I think screen recording is an essential capability for collaboration, and Monday doesn’t offer this.

monday.com best features

• Efficiently manage projects, teams, and workflows
• Assign tasks and track goals for yourself and your team
• View your tasks in Kanban boards, calendars, and 10+ views for project organization
• Create and share customizable dashboards with 30+ widgets 
• Leverage AI and automation to simplify repetitive tasks and improve efficiency
• Collaborate with your team using features like commenting, mentions, and file sharing

monday.com limitations

• Extensive customization options might require time and effort to set up 
• The free plan limits you to only two seats and doesn’t allow guests or viewers  
• Might feel overwhelming for simple project management needs
• The AI assistance can only do very limited things at this point

monday.com pricing

• Free: $0
• Basic: $36/month per user
• Standard: $42/month per user
• Pro: $72/month per user
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

monday.com ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.7/5 (10,672 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.6/5 (4,723 reviews)

What users have to say about monday.com

12. Microsoft Teams: The best video conferencing tool

Before the Zoom boom, many of us used Microsoft Teams as our primary video conferencing tool. And I still enjoy it, for it has several features that help internal teams collaborate, sync up, and even set reminders for each other. 

For businesses using the Microsoft Office suite, Microsoft Teams is the go-to app for video calls, chats, and other team collaboration needs. It has a user-friendly interface, can easily work with other Microsoft apps, and allows you to maintain all your discussions on a single platform.

ClickUp integrates with Microsoft Teams, allowing you to create ClickUp tasks directly from Teams conversations, receive notifications within Teams channels, and maintain a centralized hub for project communication and task management.

Microsoft Teams also offers a mobile app so you never miss a notification. The app has basic collaboration features, including screen-sharing and audio and video calls. 

Microsoft Teams best features

• Use dedicated channels for project-specific discussions, file sharing, and real-time collaboration
• Host online meetings, presentations, or virtual huddles with screen-sharing capabilities
• Integrate with OneDrive and SharePoint to work with your team on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations
• Assign tasks, track progress, and collaborate on projects directly within Teams
• Make and receive voice calls and send direct messages, eliminating the need for separate phone systems
• Summarize meetings and recap action items discussed with the integrated Copilot AI

Microsoft Teams limitations

• The free plan has limitations on storage, features, and meeting durations
• Can feel overwhelming with a large number of channels and integrations
• Might not be ideal if you are not using the rest of the Microsoft Office solutions

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 365 Business Premium: $22/month per user (billed annually)
• Copilot AI assistance is available as a paid add-on for Business and Enterprise plans

Microsoft Teams ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.3/5 (14,900+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.5/5 (9440+ reviews)

What users have to say about Microsoft Teams

13. Canva: The best design collaboration tool

Canva is a fantastic tool for design collaboration. My teams use it to create stunning visuals without needing extensive design expertise. Its intuitive interface and vast library of templates make it a popular choice for creating everything from social media graphics to presentations and marketing materials. 

Even if you are someone like me (i.e., not a designer or familiar with design concepts), you can use Canva to create professional-looking creatives. Trust me, I’ve used it to create marketing collateral (and the occasional event e-invites) in a pinch, and some of my creations have left the graphics team feeling jealous!

Plus, I love experimenting and playing with their new AI feature, Magic Studio! My favorite has to be the text-to-video feature. For my work, I tried using its Magic Write feature, which works similarly to ClickUp Brain’s AI Writer. However, it doesn’t act as a virtual assistant or knowledge manager like ClickUp Brain. 

Canva best features

• Design anything using the drag-and-drop design interface with user-friendly features
• Collaborate on designs with other team members for co-editing or approvals
• Maintain a brand marketing kit to ensure that all designs are consistent across projects
• Create and schedule social media posts using Content Planner 
• Leverage pre-made templates and design assets to save time and resources
• Simplify design workflows and communication in a single platform
• Integrate the tool with multiple CRMs and project management tools

Canva limitations

• Limited design customization options compared to professional design software
• The free plan has limitations, such as the inability to use AI features like Magic Write, Magic Studio, Background Removal, or other features. It also has a storage limit of 5GB, and the premium stock images or templates are only available with the Pro option  
• Primarily focused on creating static visuals, with limited collaboration and brainstorming features

Canva pricing

• Canva Free: $0
• Canva Pro: $14.99/month for one user
• Canva for Teams: $29.99/month for the first five users
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Canva ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.7/5 (4620+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.7/5 (11,780+ reviews)

What users have to say about Canva

14. Notion: Best customizable & collaborative workspace

I discovered Notion thanks to the many online creators who use it and even sell ready-to-use Notion templates for specific use cases. So, be it project planning, visualization, or other requirements, it can be your go-to app.

However, we have included Notion in our list because it offers a powerful all-in-one workspace that can be molded to fit your team’s specific collaboration needs. Whether you’re managing projects, brainstorming ideas, or building a knowledge base, Notion lets you create a centralized hub for your team. Moreover, now there’s Notion AI, which can answer your work questions, write for you, and autofill data into tables. 

I must mention though, I struggled quite a bit to create customized templates and projects at the beginning as it wasn’t the easiest tool to use.  

Notion best features

• Use Blocks to manage text, to-do lists, tables, databases, and Kanban boards—and even mix and match these to create customized workspaces
• Organize information with a variety of page layouts—columns, cards, calendars, etc.
• Edit, add comments, and add @ mentions to ensure everyone stays on the same page
• Jumpstart projects with a vast library of pre-built templates for meetings, project plans, wikis, etc.
• Save snippets from the web directly into your Notion workspace for easy reference and organization
• Integrate with various tools like Slack, Google Drive, and Calendar to streamline workflows
• Save time with Notion AI by quickly writing copy for messages, etc. and creating tables with data

Notion limitations

• Can feel overwhelming and time-consuming, especially when creating projects from the ground up
• Multiple official and user-created templates are available for various use cases, but finding the ideal one can be difficult. Some templates are paid, and you will have to pay extra even if you have a premium plan
• The free plan only allows up to 10 guests and a 7-day page history
• The mobile app is somewhat clunky to use

Notion pricing

• Free Plan
• Plus: $10/month per user
• Business: $18/month per user
• Enterprise: Contact sales for pricing
• Notion AI: Add to your workspace for $10 per month per user

Notion ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.7/5 (5260+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.7/5 (2160+ reviews)

What users have to say about Notion

15. Dropbox: Best for secure cloud storage & file sharing

The OG file-sharing and storage platform! I still find myself going back to Dropbox for its simplicity. 

Dropbox is a pioneer in cloud storage, offering a reliable and secure platform to store, access, and share your files from anywhere. While not strictly a collaboration tool, Dropbox integrates smoothly with various collaboration platforms so that your teams can work efficiently with shared documents and files.

I liked that Dropbox integrates with ClickUp, allowing me to attach Dropbox files directly to ClickUp tasks, collaborate on documents within Dropbox, and maintain a centralized hub for file storage and project management.

Dropbox best features

• Enjoy secure cloud storage with robust data encryption and access controls
• Manage your files in a user-friendly interface 
• Access your files from any computer, phone, or tablet with the Dropbox app
• Track changes and identify who made edits to your files
• Share files and folders with team members or external collaborators
• Integrate with various productivity and collaboration tools like Slack, Zoom, and Microsoft Office

Dropbox limitations

• The free plan offers limited storage space (only up to 2GB)
• File size upload limit for free plan users
• Primarily focused on file storage and sharing, not robust collaboration features like editing or commenting within the platform

Dropbox pricing

• Basic: Free (up to 2GB)
• Plus: $11.99/month
• Essentials: $19.99/month
• Business: $19/month per user
• Business Plus: $30/month per user
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Dropbox ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.4/5 (26,840+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.5/5 (21,560+ reviews)

What users have to say about Dropbox

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The Best Online Collaboration Tool (All-In-One)

That deep dive into the world of online collaboration tools was an eye-opener. There are some fantastic options out there, each with its own strengths and target audience.

We have explored the 15 best online collaboration tools available today, each with its own distinct use case. While every tool excels in its focus areas, there is one collaborative tool that stands out for its ability to unify communication, collaboration, and project management—ClickUp.

With ClickUp in your toolkit, you possibly won’t need any other online collaboration tools from our list. You’ll get real-time chat, document management, in-app whiteboard, and other project collaboration power tools as a part of the ClickUp suite. Plus, you get a boost from automation, customization, integration, and my very favorite—artificial intelligence.

ClickUp is not merely a collaboration or communication platform—it is a full-fledged project management platform. In fact, it’s one of the best project management tools out there. Don’t just take our word on it; here’s what users have to say:

You may customize ClickUp to match your changing needs and scale up or down at no significant cost. Plus, you can always use the free version to get hands-on experience of ClickUp’s impact on your business. Most importantly, ClickUp adapts to your business workflows and processes, and not the other way around.

Whether you’re a small startup or a large enterprise, ClickUp is for all. 

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Improve Online Collaboration with ClickUp

So, while you can mix and match the many online collaboration tools that are masters at their specialized domains, the one tool that can bring it all together for your organization is ClickUp. It combines project management, collaboration, task management, and communication to offer you a single, comprehensive solution.

Give it a try and discover how ClickUp can become your one-stop shop for improved collaboration and peak productivity. After all, conquering your goals shouldn’t require juggling a multitude of tools. ClickUp can help you to do it all and do it better. Sign up for a free account to unlock peak productivity and simplify collaboration for your teams.

Everything you need to stay organized and get work done.

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