Smooth communication in the workplace is crucial for any business, whether team members are working in the same space or hundreds of miles away. With the rise of remote work, instant messaging apps have become even more essential for getting work done and helping employees connect with one another.
Having a reliable messaging system means that one employee can type a brief message, receive a short reply, and move on with the task at hand. This saves a lot of time and effort. But choosing the right communication tools can be challenging, especially now that there are so many types of messaging apps available.
We’ve compiled a list of the best instant messaging apps your team can use.
Best Messaging Apps For The Workplace
Good internal communication is essential for task management, collaboration, and improving employee experience. Individual businesses and teams naturally have unique communication needs. But generally, there are features each business messaging app needs to have:
- Instant messaging
- Engagement and response tracking
- Easy implementation and use
- Ability to set reminders, tasks, goals, or events
Here are the messaging apps for communication that will help you be more productive and collaborative in 2022.
Slack
Slack is among the most popular workplace messaging SaaS tools, and it’s not hard to see why. Slack covers your basic collaboration and communication needs with an intuitive interface, options for one-on-one or team calls and chats, and file-sharing capacity. Additionally, it has tons of integration capabilities, allows users to choose and sort channels they join, and has a handy search tool. The ability to respond with emojis allows Slack users to react quickly and engage more meaningfully with each other’s messages. However, cons include the work email requirement and the price (almost $7 a month per person if billed annually) for unlimited chat history, screen-sharing, and video calls. You can still use the free version with limited storage, though.
Troop Messenger
Troop Messenger allows one-on-one or group conversations, voice or video calls, audio messaging, screen sharing, and more. Employees will be able to send files, filter content, and mark “favorite” messages and files for organization and easy retrieval. It has an impressive storage size, robust security, and an option for self-hosting. Beyond internal communication, Troop Messenger can also be used to temporarily add clients and vendors to conversations and remove them when the transaction is finished. However, after a one-week free trial, Troop Messenger will cost you anywhere from $5 to $25 per user.
Connecteam
Connecteam is great for streamlining internal communication, especially if you’re looking for tools for remote teams. Since it’s easy to use, your team members can use the app without training. Its features include group or private chat, push notifications, an in-app directory, social functions (likes and comments), and survey tools. All data is secured in Connecteam’s cloud with no storage limit. It’s also very affordable at $29 a month for up to 200 users.
Chanty
An intuitive team app that has chat, audio and video calling, and screen sharing options, Chanty has it all. You can also do light project management by turning messages into tasks. Valuable integrations with Trello, Dropbox, and Google Drive make the app even more convenient. Chanty stores all your messages, contacts, and tasks in one, easy-to-access place: the Teambook. For only $3 per user per month, Chanty is on the affordable side. Chanty is perfect for smaller businesses that want to manage conversations and tasks in one place.
Discord
Not all team “chats” are done through text. Tools like Discord stand out because of their high-definition screen sharing option and always-available voice chat. Though the platform was initially designed for gamers and live streamers, it has now become a popular option among companies.
Discord allows for invite-only channels and requires user permissions like most chat platforms, but its voice and video call capabilities are amazing for a 100% free tool. However, since it’s not a business-oriented app, it’s not as secure and lacks typical business integrations. But for startups and other companies with a lighter work culture, Discord is a great way to work while having fun.
Conclusion
Depending on your company’s budget and needs, you’ll be able to find an ideal instant messaging app among the many options available today. Slack is the go-to app for most enterprises because it’s intuitive and covers the essentials. Troop Messenger is more secure but pricier, while Connecteam and Chanty are more affordable yet equally effective alternatives. Discord is best for teams that prefer a light-hearted atmosphere and emphasize communication via audio and video rather than text.
About The Author
Regi Publico is a full-time writer and an artist for fun. She takes pride in her towering collection of books and loves reading about anything under the sun. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge through every article that she writes.
