Instant communication between team members is essential to keep the ball rolling on any project. There used to be a time when coworkers exchanged emails to communicate within the team. Over time, project communication via unwieldy email threads has virtually become a thing of the past.
Today’s digital workplace favors messaging apps and chat tools for seamless, efficient team collaboration. Of course, they’re also great for sending your coworker cat pics! ?
My team and I spent a lot of time evaluating the most popular team chat apps available in the market. Based on their features and user experiences, we’ve compiled this list of the ten best team chat apps for you to choose from.
Let’s get started! ?
10 Best Team Group Chat Apps for Businesses in 2024
- What Should You Look for in Team Chat Apps?
- The 10 Best Team Chat Apps to Use in 2024
- 1. ClickUp (Best collaboration and project management tool)
- 2. Slack (Best instant messaging and collaboration tool)
- 3. Microsoft Teams (Best enterprise team collaboration and video conferencing platform)
- 4. Google Chat (Best for Google Workspace users)
- 5. Pumble (Best free Slack alternative for SMBs)
- 6. Chanty (Best messaging and task management tool)
- 7. Twist (Best asynchronous communication tool for remote teams)
- 8. Flock (Best collaboration hub for organizations)
- 9. Troop Messenger (Best communication app for remote teams)
- 10. Zoho Cliq (Best team communication app for organizations on the Zoho ecosystem)
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat Should You Look for in Team Chat Apps?
Team chat apps are the hub of all workplace activities. Here are some of the parameters you can use to evaluate chat apps:
- Instant messaging: This one’s a given. A team chat app is meant to enable real-time, direct communication between individual users and groups
- Group chat: You should be able to create groups to communicate and share files with multiple team members simultaneously
- Notifications: The team chat app should instantly notify users of new messages and activity to allow them to respond without delay
- File sharing: A team messaging app or chat platform must provide a quick and efficient way to share files—documents, images, and more—to get quick feedback and keep things moving
- Dedicated apps across platforms: Users should be able to access the messaging app from the web, desktop, and mobile apps on Windows/Mac and Android/iOS
- User-friendly interface: The chat app’s UI should be intuitive enough for users to navigate the app’s functionalities without the need for a training program.
- Integrations: Your team chat app should be integrated well with the tools you use in your daily workflows, such as your CRM, calendar, video conferencing solution, etc.
Now that you know what to look for in a team messaging app for your business, let’s move on to our top ten recommendations.
Summarize this article for me pleaseThe 10 Best Team Chat Apps to Use
1. ClickUp (Best collaboration and project management tool)
ClickUp is an all-in-one tool for team communication, collaboration, and project management.Â
While many team chat apps offer basic messaging capabilities, they fall short in areas like project management and task tracking. To understand a chat message in its project context, teams are forced to juggle multiple tools, leading to fragmented conversations and reduced productivity.Â
However, with an all-in-one tool like ClickUp, your team can streamline communication, collaboration, and project management in a single platform, thereby saving time and enhancing efficiency.
By using ClickUp Chat, you can centralize and contextualize team and project-related discussions, making it a holistic solution for communication and collaboration. You can add files, tasks, videos, images, audio clips, and more to the chat view and make sure your message is heard, loud and clear.
This way, you reduce context switching, boost productivity, and streamline productivity.Â
ClickUp Brain, ClickUp’s built-in AI-powered assistant, transforms your workspace into a searchable knowledge base. Get quick answers about tasks, documents, and other project-related information without leaving your chat. It saves time by automating repetitive tasks like creating project summaries, progress updates, and status reports so you can focus on work that truly matters.
ClickUp best features
- Project-specific chat channels: Engage in real-time discussions with your team on tasks and project updates by creating dedicated channels for each project using ClickUp Chat View
- Contextual communication: Mention tasks or attach documents directly in the chat to provide context to your conversations. This feature ensures everyone is on the same page without leaving the chat for more information
- Real-time messaging: Keep the conversation flowing without leaving ClickUp. The Chat View allows you to have instant discussions about tasks and updates
- Task management: Break down larger project goals into manageable tasks and sub-tasks, assign them to team members, set due dates, add audio and video files, and update the task status to maintain visibility into project progress using ClickUp Tasks
- In-chat task creation: Quickly turn ideas from your chat into tasks with just a few clicks
- Document management: Create and share well-structured documents with ClickUp Docs to capture and organize your team’s ideas for easy access.
- Digital whiteboards: Invite team members over chat for brainstorming sessions and visual collaboration with ClickUp Whiteboards. Start collaborating with your team on a blank canvas, create mindmaps and workflows, annotate and add notes to iterate on and develop ideas
- Screen recording: Record quick walkthrough videos or communicate your ideas and instructions with your team via video using ClickUp Clips. Share these Clips over chat
- Streamlined notifications: Personalize notifications to stay updated on what matters most. ClickUp allows you to fine-tune what alerts you receive, so you’re not overwhelmed by chatter while still in the loop
ClickUp limitations
- Not all of ClickUp’s advanced features are available on the mobile app
ClickUp pricing
- Free Forever
- Unlimited: $7/month per user
- Business: $12/month per user
- Enterprise: Contact for pricing details
- ClickUp Brain: Available as an add-on to any paid plan for $7 per user per month
ClickUp ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (9,000+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (4,000+ reviews)
2. Slack (Best instant messaging and collaboration tool)
Slack is a widely used chat app that integrates with over 2000 tools and seamlessly fits into any organization’s tech stack.
Slack’s user-friendly mobile app offers advanced functionalities so you and your team can continue work conversations from anywhere, anytime. You can streamline team communication by creating dedicated channels (starting with ‘#’) for specific topics, discussions, or purposes.Â
Slack best features
- Create channels that are public or private. You can add select teammates to a channel to have focused discussions around a project or initiative
- Add new members to the discussion by ‘@’ mentioning them in a reply, and every user who participates in a thread is notified of new replies or activity
- Share images, videos, documents, and file previews in a direct message or a channel via fast uploads and downloads
- Start instant video meetings or huddles, or send voice notes right from the app
Slack limitations
- Slack’s pricing structure can make it unaffordable for small teams. The free version offers limited message history and supports fewer integrations
- Lacks advanced features for video conferencing such as meeting scheduling and in-meeting notes
Slack pricing
- Free Forever
- Pro: $8.75/month per user
- Business+: $15/month per user
- Enterprise Grid: Custom pricing
- Slack AI: Add to any paid plan at a premium of $10 per user
Slack ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.5/5 (32,000+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (23,000+ reviews)
3. Microsoft Teams (Best enterprise team collaboration and video conferencing platform)
While Microsoft Teams has a messaging interface, it was built as a tool that primarily focused on video conferencing for large teams. You can schedule video meetings and join online meetings and video chats from a web browser, a desktop application, or a mobile app. Microsoft Teams also provides live annotations and captions for video conference meetings. Â
Built for the enterprise market, Teams comes bundled with Office365 and works seamlessly with that ecosystem of applications.
Microsoft Teams best features
- Exchange messages with teammates via private conversations or group chat
- Share files and links with users or groups. A dedicated Files tab pinned to the top of a conversation makes it easy to locate your files
- Start audio and video calls from within a private conversation, create instant video conference meetings in a group chat with up to 300 participants, or schedule an online meeting using the Calendar or Outlook integrations
Microsoft Teams limitations
- Some users may find it difficult to integrate Teams into their tech stack if their organization is not on Office365
- It does not support advanced task and project management
Microsoft Teams pricing
- Microsoft Teams Essentials: $4/month per user
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic: $6/month per user
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard: $12.50/month per user
- Microsoft 365 Business Premium: $22/month per user
Microsoft Teams ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.3/5 (15,000+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (9,400+ reviews)
4. Google Chat (Best for Google Workspace users)
Google Chat is a simple yet functional chat app suitable for teams that need instant messaging and real-time video conferencing features. Like most other chat apps, you can add audio and video files and create ‘spaces’ to house team-, topic- or project-related discussions.
It allows for one-on-one conversations and large-scale group chats with up to 50,000 participants.
Google Chat best features
- Works seamlessly with the rest of the Google Workspace apps: Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, etc
- Facilitates in-line threaded discussions
- Helps find information across chat conversations using the search tool
- Summarizes conversations with Google Assistant
Google Chat limitations
- Lacks advanced chat functionalities such as the ability to copy links to specific messages
- Storage is limited in lower-tier plans
Google Chat pricing
- Google Workspace Essentials: Free forever
- Google Workspace Business Starter: $7.20/month per user
- Google Workspace Business Standard: $14.40/month per user
- Google Workspace Business Plus: $21.60/month per user
- Google Workspace Enterprise: Custom pricing
Google Chat ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.6/5 (42,000+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (2,300+ reviews)
5. Pumble (Best free Slack alternative for SMBs)
Pumble organizes team communication into channels for specific teams, projects, or topics. You can host voice or video meetings 1:1 with users or large groups. With unlimited message history, it makes it easy to access messages and files.
Pumble’s user interface design, features, and functionalities closely mirror those of Slack. So, if your team needs a Slack alternative that helps you avoid the high user fees without compromising communication features, look no further than Pumble.
Pumble best features:
- Get unlimited users and message history on the ‘Free Forever’ plan
- Facilitate a smooth adoption for teams with a Slack-like, user-friendly interface
- Send instant messages privately or to groups, create messaging threads, and share files
Pumble limitations
- Support for integrations is limited on the lower pricing tier
- Screen sharing on video calls is supported only on the paid plans
Pumble pricing
- Free Forever
- Pro: $2.99/month per user
- Business: $4.99/month per user
- Enterprise: $7.99/month per user
Pumble ratings and reviews
- G2: Not enough reviews
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (100+ reviews)
6. Chanty (Best messaging and task management tool)
Chanty is a team chat and communication platform with built-in task and project management features that set it apart from most other tools on this list. It can be used for company-wide announcements and private messaging with scheduled and disappearing messages.
Chanty best features
- Create and assign tasks from messages, organize them on Kanban boards, set due dates, and get reminders for deadlines
- Discuss updates with your team using text and voice messages
- Make audio and video calls, and present your screen for faster collaboration
Chantly limitations
- There is no calendar view to visualize tasks on a timeline, so users have to sift through task due dates manually
- It has a limited number of native integrations
Chanty pricing
- Free Forever
- Business: $4/month per user
Chanty ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.5/5 (40+ reviews)
- Capterra: Not enough reviews
7. Twist (Best asynchronous communication tool for remote teams)
Twist is a team communication app built to make remote teams more productive through asynchronous conversations. Instead of posting messages directly in channels, users create or contribute to threads within a channel as they would participate in a forum. The interface is designed to minimize clutter so that no conversation gets lost.
Twist best features
- Keep conversations focused and organized with asynchronous threads
- Format your text replies using the message editor and react to messages using emojis
- Send direct messages to teammates and have 1:1 private conversations
- Find information across threads quickly using the powerful search feature
Twist limitations
- No real-time communication
- If your team is used to instant messaging, adapting to async threaded conversations can be harder
- Limited native integrations with third-party software
Twist pricing
- Free
- Unlimited: $8/month per user
Twist ratings and reviews
- G2: Not enough reviews
- Capterra: Not enough reviews
8. Flock (Best collaboration hub for organizations)
Flock Team Messenger packs all the essential features you would expect from a team chat app—conversation channels, video conference calls, file sharing, etc.
It also helps track tasks with notes, reminders, and to-dos. Because of several similarities in the interface and navigation, it can be a great Microsoft Teams alternative.
Flock best features
- Streamline conversations with your entire team using channels, and create discussion threads by replying to posts in a channel
- Make audio and video calls in private conversations or a channel for group calls
- Share files securely with users or teams, and quickly access all files shared across your workspace
Flock limitations
- Some users reported that poor image quality affected communication during crucial meetings
- It may not integrate with all the specific tools or applications your team relies on, requiring manual workarounds or additional steps
Flock pricing
- Free
- Pro: $6/month per user
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Flock ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.4/5 (200+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (300+ reviews)
9. Troop Messenger (Best communication app for remote teams)
Troop Messenger is a collaboration and instant messaging tool built for teams seeking a secure platform for business communication and task management. It facilitates team communication via chat, voice, and video calls with screen sharing. Troop’s USP is security so you can even send confidential messages in a private chat window that self-destructs and doesn’t leave any chat history.
Troop best features
- Secure your work conversations with end-to-end encryption
- Send messages and files simultaneously to multiple users without creating additional channels
- Share files in 1:1 conversations or group chats and see previews of shared files
Troop Limitations
- The mobile version can be slower than the desktop application
- There is no free plan; Troop only offers a seven-day free trial
Troop Pricing
- Premium: $2.50/month per user
- Enterprise: $5/month per user
- Superior: $9/month per user
Troop ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.6/5 (70+ reviews)
- Capterra: Not enough reviews
10. Zoho Cliq (Best team communication app for organizations on the Zoho ecosystem)
Cliq is the business messaging app from the Zoho suite of applications. It is a lightweight, fast team chat software that integrates seamlessly with the Zoho suite of business apps. You can turn important conversations from a channel into a private direct message and host video streams to make important announcements or host town halls.
Zoho Cliq best features
- View multiple conversations in a single window
- Host unlimited audio and video calls with screen-sharing options
- Share files with channels and have threaded discussions via comments
Zoho Cliq limitations
- Lack of options to customize notifications or the chat window layout
- No support to markup or annotate PDFs and images
Zoho Cliq pricing
- Free
- Standard: $18/month per user
- Professional: $2/month per user
- Enterprise: $4/month per user
Zoho Cliq ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.4/5 (200+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (80+ reviews)
Summarize this article for me pleaseUse ClickUp for Effective Team Communication
Team chat apps offer many features that can streamline communication in your organization: instant messaging, audio and video calls, file sharing, etc. However, workplace communication often revolves around tasks and projects. If your team chat app does not support task management, your team’s conversations will be scattered across multiple tools.
We know context switching between multiple apps can significantly drain productivity. And that’s where ClickUp helps as an all-in-one solution. It combines task and project management, team collaboration, and team chat into a single platform.
Your team can get started with ClickUp today. Tasks, sprints, Kanban boards, docs, whiteboards, and real-time chat are available on all plans, including the Free Forever plan.
Everything you need to stay organized and get work done.
