Enterprise Communications

The Top 8 Instant Messaging Apps For Business

Explore the top Instant Messaging Apps for Business known for their secure communication, collaboration features, and integration with productivity tools to enhance team coordination and efficiency.

The Top 8 Instant Messaging Apps For Business include:
  • 1. Basecamp
  • 2. Google Workspace Chat
  • 3. Mattermost Channels
  • 4. Microsoft Teams
  • 5. Slack
  • 6. Webex Messaging
  • 7. Workplace Chat from Meta
  • 8. Zoho Cliq

Instant Messaging (IM) apps for business have quickly grown in popularity due to their convenience, speed, and improved collaboration capabilities. They allow for real-time communication, facilitating instantaneous document and file sharing amongst team members, regardless of their geographical location. From project collaborations to casual office-wide communications, instant messaging apps have revolutionized the ways in which businesses operate. 

Given the range of options on the market, it can be a challenge choosing the right instant messaging app for your business. In this guide, we will narrow down the top instant messaging apps for business based on their features, user-friendliness, flexibility, and security. We’ll evaluate these platforms based on their key features, usability, and effectiveness.

Basecamp Logo

Basecamp is an integrated project management platform, designed to promote usability and functionality. The tool is structured around a single page dashboard, exhibiting all project-related information including assignments, work progress, and schedule.

Key features of Basecamp include real-time group chat, which promotes fast and interactive communication by facilitating discussion and eliminating the need for project specific emails. This solution also integrates an efficient tracking system to determine work progress and to establish deadlines. Additionally, the platform enables the creation and sharing of documents and files, both physical and cloud-based, as well as providing unique features including ‘Mission Control’, which gives an overview of project status and indicates projects needing attention. ‘The Lineup’ offers a broad perspective of ongoing projects from their start dates to end dates. The solution also features ‘All-access’ where anyone in your Basecamp account can view and join projects.

Basecamp stands out as an impactful and easy-to-use project management tool that offers a broad spectrum of features. It streamlines workflow, enhances team collaboration, and promotes efficiency, proving to be a valuable addition to any project management toolbox.

Basecamp Logo
Google Logo

Google Workspace Chat is a messaging platform dedicated to business communication and collaboration. It allows workspace users to interact in real time, thereby enhancing productivity and workflow management. With customizable features like emojis, reactions, GIFs, and rich text formatting, Workspace Chat enhances user experience and adds a personal touch to professional communication.

Notable features of Google Workspace Chat include the creation of a shared “Space” for team updates and project collaboration, and the ability to connect large groups – up to 500K members. It also provides helpful integrations with other Workspace applications, including Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Meet, and Groups for a seamless working experience. Google Workspace Chat supports external app integration, like Asana, Jira, PagerDuty, Workday, and GitHub, and enables the creation of custom apps without coding through Gemini for Workspace. Google Workspace Chat ensures the privacy and security of your data with the same robust phishing and malware protection that safeguards Gmail users. It uses intelligent governance strategies, enabling security policies to adjust based on user context, and provides real-time data loss prevention to avoid the inadvertent sharing of sensitive information.

Google’s Workspace Chat is a comprehensive tool for streamlined business communication, offering customizable features, extensive integration, and dependable security.

Google Logo
Mattermost Logo

Mattermost is an open-source, self-hosted online communication platform, offering a secure and reliable alternative to mainstream collaboration tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams. This platform is designed for enterprise corporate communication, promoting improved productivity and team collaboration.

Key features of Mattermost include secure collaboration options, allowing teams to communicate seamlessly. It provides persistent channels and direct messaging, integrated meeting facilities, voice calls, and file sharing capabilities across multiple platforms including web, desktop, and mobile devices. Additionally, the platform supports synchronous editing, markdown formatting, and syntax highlighting for collaborative coding. Beyond regular communication tools, Mattermost integrates automation and actions like slash commands, bots, tasks, and repetitive processes. It also seamlessly interfaces with many developer tools like GitHub, Jenkins, Jira, and ServiceNow, providing developers with a familiar and efficient environment.

Mattermost is a sophisticated communication suite offering a wide range of interaction and collaboration tools. It not only allows unlimited team and channel creations, but also provides extensive history search and automation functionalities. Promoting a single source of truth on all team-related communications and activities, it is a real asset for developing and maintaining software.

Mattermost Logo
Microsoft Logo

Microsoft Teams is a platform known for fostering efficient communication and collaboration among team members. It facilitates real-time interactions, whether in a one-on-one setting or group environment, enhancing team engagement and productivity.

This platform provides a range of useful features for bolstering communication. Users can send direct messages, initiate group chats, engage in calls, and share screens. Teams also boasts a mobile app proficiency, enabling users to voice record messages and promptly respond to chats from anywhere. Organizing conversations, files, and apps all at a centralized location ensures a seamless workflow within teams. A unique attribute of Microsoft Teams is its ability to reduce email clutter. This is achieved through the migration of email threads into swift chats, and the sharing of pictures and documents for real-time collaboration. This eradicates barriers to communication, and fosters a conducive space for brainstorming, message capturing, and ideas sharing.

Microsoft Teams serves as an efficient tool for enhancing internal communication and collaboration. Essential features include chat translation, video clips, GIFs, priority notifications, schedule send, and suggested replies. These features make the platform conducive to streamlined workflows and bolstered team productivity.

Microsoft Logo
Slack Logo

Slack is a Salesforce-owned team communication platform operating on the cloud, which aims to streamline team interactions to improve productivity and performance. Slack assists with the facilitation of effective and organized team discussions in an online environment.

The solution offers flexible communication modes including text, voice, and video, thereby accommodating diverse communication preferences or requirements and gives users the option to connect other work tools to Slack. This supports enriched and informed conversations, whilst ensuring that all essential updates are addressed within a single platform. The platform generates channels that act as open spaces for messaging, sharing files, equipment, and people. Slack further refines its organization feature by allowing the creation and arrangement of channels based on different parameters like projects or clients. This approach provides every conversation with a specific location for easy retrieval and follow up. In addition, it ensures all private messages or open conversations are safely stored and searchable, enabling users to reference previous discussions to feed into current tasks or projects effectively.

Slack’s desktop and mobile applications ensure that users can access their conversations, updates, and tasks from any location. Slack is an optimal solution for teams looking to eliminate communication barriers and enhance their collaborative efforts seamlessly.

Slack Logo
Webex Logo

Webex by Cisco is a versatile web conferencing platform that enhances collaboration through high-quality video conferencing, messaging, and contact center services. This solution allows effortless engagement and collaboration by offering features like file-sharing and co-edition.

Key functionalities of Webex encompass integrated file sharing and collaborative capabilities that encourage team engagement irrespective of physical location or time zone. The service integrates smoothly with a range of popular third-party business applications, thereby fostering seamless and secure workplace operations. In addition to its core functions, Webex also promotes an inclusive work culture by leveraging spaces where users can portray their unique self and maintain professional relationships. The platform ensures clear communication across tasks with features that allow message editing, pinning, and forwarding. There’s also the ability to safely co-edit documents, schedule meetings, or collaborate with external stakeholders right from the platform.

Webex by Cisco is an all-encompassing tool for companies looking to enhance productivity, while keeping up with the dynamic needs of a hybrid workforce. Through features like flexible messaging, seamless collaboration, and protection for content sharing, Webex makes remote or hybrid work efficient and more enjoyable.

Webex Logo
Workplace Logo

Workplace by Meta is a versatile online collaboration tool, providing instant messaging, file sharing, and video/audio conferencing services. Designed to foster enhanced connectivity and collaboration within any organization, Workplace presents a user-friendly platform irrespective of location.

Key features of this software include Workplace Chat, which enables straightforward communication among team members via text, audio, or video. It also has a “Pin To Top” function that ensures high-priority chats stay in view, and a “Do Not Disturb” function for focus times. A user-friendly “Dark Mode” also aids in readability and reducing eye fatigue. Workplace delivers a robust set of additional functions. It allows polls and surveys to be created and shared, file sending, location sharing, and task automation right within the chat interface. Cross-device functionality ensures access on mobile, desktop, or tablet across iOS, Android, PC, and Mac platforms.

Workplace by Meta offers a comprehensive and intuitive platform for improved team collaboration. It’s a secure, mobile-first application that is compatible with existing tools such as Google Drive, Office 365, DocuSign, and Azure AD. This makes it an optimal solution for connecting all employees, regardless of their work environment or location.

Workplace Logo
Zoho Logo

Zoho Cliq is a secure chat platform purpose-built for facilitating professional collaborations. The product is well-suited to fit numerous operational types and disciplines, ranging from traditional businesses and enterprises to specialized sectors such as software development and education.

Key features of Zoho Cliq include enterprise-grade security and administrative controls, offering safe and secure avenues of communication throughout your organization. Its built-in collaborative software provides a range of utilities, making it suitable for a variety of professional settings. Its developer tools, for example, allow teams to share code snippets, find bugs, review progress, and iterate – all within the Cliq platform. Beyond its key utilities, Zoho Cliq excels in facilitating hybrid work environments. Its online tools enable seamless collaboration across different time zones. For education providers, the platform offers capabilities such as virtual meetings, screen sharing, whiteboard collaboration, dedicated channels, and file-sharing to conduct online training sessions, courses, and webinars.

Zoho Cliq serves as a multifunctional, secure, and user-friendly communication platform adaptable to various business settings. Its simple setup procedure enables organizations to quickly establish internal communication, assisting in cooperative tasks wherever your team might be located.

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The Top 8 Instant Messaging Apps For Business