Effective chat tools are essential in today’s age of remote work. They simplify communication, collaboration, and task management. Chat platforms aren’t just for communicating; they can also be used to file-share, make audio and video calls, manage projects, and many other features.
We will highlight 14 chat tools that businesses should use to eliminate meetings and keep remote workers motivated and encourage teamwork in both remote and in-house teams.
What are chat apps?
Chat apps are dynamic tools that allow employees to communicate with each other, share ideas, solve company problems, and plan for the future of their business. Many chat apps offer features such as task management, chat, and video calling, along with other communication and productivity tools.
What are the top chat tools for small businesses?
There are many business chat apps that offer different advantages and disadvantages. Consider your budget and your needs when choosing the right tool for your business. These are the 12 top chat tools you should consider.
12 Top chat tools for
1. Slack
Slack is a powerful, and popular chat tool that small businesses can use. Slack offers group and one-on-one chats, and Slack include individual and group audio calls, and video conferences.
Collaboration is easier with Slack than with other chat platforms. Slack allows users to organize multiple projects, teams, and other items by using hashtags. Users can also share files via Google Drive, Dropbox, or other secure file-sharing services.
All chats and files are synced, archived, and searchable for future reference. Edit on the screens of others is possible.
Slack also offers many third-party integrations such as Google Docs and Sheets. These are useful for viewing and sharing files in conversations and calls.
Slack offers a free version that can be used by unlimited users. Premium versions cost $8 per month.
2. Chatwork
Chatwork is a social networking platform for businesses. Chatwork is a social networking tool that allows you to communicate with clients and teams from around the world. Chatwork also provides task management software, video chat capabilities, and contact management software.
Chatwork’s personal version is $4 per user per month, while the more powerful business version is $20 for 10 users.
Also read: Top 10 Collaboration Apps for Your Business
3. Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams (software as a Service) SaaS offering, which ties directly with the productivity giant’s Office 365 subscription. It provides a chat-based workspace that allows for real-time collaboration. This includes notes, chats, Office, Planner, and Power BI extensions, as well as chat.
Slack’s Slack-like Team looks and works similarly. There are threaded persistent chats that can be private or open, and they can also be used as an open channel for sharing information. You can integrate Teams with Microsoft’s Skype video services and invite others to join chats.
There are many pricing options available for Teams, with prices starting at free or $12.50 per user per month. Teams could be the right choice for you if your business is Microsoft-focused.
4. CA Flowdock
Flowdock allows teams to communicate and collaborate in a central location. You can chat privately with your team members one-on-one, or in groups. There are also threaded discussions. The Team Inbox feature organizes and stores messages and emails related to customer support, project management, and other sources.
Flowdock can be accessed from any device, including the web, Windows, macOS, and iOS mobile apps. Push notifications are available across devices and platforms so that everyone can receive an important message, email, or chat request. You can also use @ mentions to draw attention to a particular user, hashtags, and chat histories that include searchable transcripts.
Flowdock charges $3/month per user and offers a 30-day free trial.
5. Chanty
Chanty is known for providing valuable business communication features and combining them with an intuitive interface. The tool features a high-quality messaging system that allows you to organize workplace discussions according to the context. Chanty also includes a video conferencing function that allows you to chat with your entire team while on the move.
Chanty’s Free Tier allows you to add up to 10 people, while the Business Package costs $3 per month.
6. Workplace from Meta
Formerly known as Facebook Workplace, Workplace from Meta allows you to communicate with your business using the company’s intranet. It offers chat, video, and group collaboration tools. Workplace can be used on both mobile and desktop computers using the familiar Facebook interface.
Workplace can also be integrated with existing business tools such as Google Drive, Office 365, and DocuSign. The core tier is $4 per user per year, and add-ons are available. It is also available for free for one month.
7. Amazon Chime
Amazon’s Chime Basic features are free and include screen sharing, one-to-one voice calls, screen sharing, and access to the chat feature with 30 days history for messages. Chime automatically calls all participants when a meeting begins, eliminating the need for meeting IDs or passwords. It also provides a visual list of everyone in the call. You can also see who is talking and you can put someone if they are speaking too loudly.
The Pro plan, which is the higher tier of Chime’s plans, offers many useful user management tools. Pro includes all of the Basic plan’s features plus screen-sharing and custom meeting URLs. It also allows you to host up to 250 people and schedule them. Users can lock and record meetings. Pro is $3 per user per hour and $15 per month.
8. Twist
Twist is a chat tool by Todoist and is the most popular to-do app. This chat app is different than other chat apps in that all communication and chats are made on the app threads. There are two options for commenting: you can either comment on an existing thread or create a new one.
Twist’s Free Tier gives you unlimited access to comments and messages for a month. The Unlimited Tier ($6 per user per month) allows unlimited access to members, integrations, and guests.
9. Flock
Flock is a chat app that works on a channel basis. For project planning and organization, you can separate conversations into channels. Businesses can use Flock to communicate more effectively with their workers and maintain transparency.
Flock is available for free to teams of up to 20 members. A more advanced Pro version costs $4.50 per month.
10. Discord
Discord is a free voice chat application for businesses. Discord lets workers communicate by voice, rather than typing in a forum, chat room, or thread. Discord has voice channels that are always available so you can talk quickly with your team. Standard chat windows allow for simple communication.
Also read: Top 14 Benefits of Chatbots In the Business Sector
11. Cisco Webex
Webex (formerly Webex Teams), is Cisco’s complete chat solution for small businesses. It includes a chat tool as well as meeting software, whiteboard collaboration tools, and an organized calendar. The chat app allows you to use images dynamically and the whiteboard application is great for creative collaboration.
Webex pricing is based on the needs of a business and can range from free to $25 per user monthly.
12. Zoho Cliq
Zoho Cliq offers much the same power and interface as other chat apps but has a completely different interface. Instead of being restricted to one chat at a time, Zoho Cliq allows you to open and view multiple windows or rooms at once. This allows for easier communication between multiple teams.
Zoho Cliq offers a free version that has limited features, and an Unlimited version for $2.70 per month. This includes up to 500 users.
What makes chat apps so beneficial?
Chat apps are faster than email communication. Chat apps allow for multiple workers to communicate simultaneously in real time, which allows for efficient information sharing.
These are just a few of the many benefits chat tools offer:
- Less needless meetings: Unnecessary meetings are workplace distractions that kill productivity. Chat apps can be used to reduce the need for unnecessary gatherings and provide a convenient means of delivering updates.
- Mobile access: Many chat apps allow users to access the platform via their mobile phones. This allows employees to keep up-to-date while on the move.
- Quick communication: Chat applications include useful notification systems and set an expectation for shorter messages. It’s easy to communicate with colleagues.
- Employee engagement: Although emails from the workplace can be important and provide updates about company news, they can also prove difficult to read. Chat app messaging allows for quicker communication and keeps employees focused.
- Improved task management: There are many chat apps that allow employees to create to-do lists, track their progress, and keep track of their projects. This makes it easier for you to achieve your goals.
Clear communication is key
Sometimes, minor misunderstandings can lead to more serious problems within a company. Although email and phone calls are good options for clearing things up, they can take too long to provide small updates.
business chat apps give you a platform for brief-but-informative communication. You can keep everyone connected to the company and in touch throughout the team by using chat tools.
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