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3 leading team chat apps available today

by Canto  |  November 25, 2020

3 min. read
An illustrated team chat app.

Today, contemporary teams are taking advantage of online communication software to get work done on time. An effective team chat application positively impacts productivity and connects employees across entire departments – and remotely. As companies become digitally focused, choosing an adaptable team chat app is crucial to effective collaboration.

Here are three leaders in the chat app space, and some considerations when looking to give teams a productivity boost.

1. Slack

Slack is a user-friendly chat app with secure communication and premium plugins. Channels encourage communicative spaces focused on specific user needs. Click and drag options make sharing files and documents simple. A single click also provides video and phone call access.

Powerful integrations like Zoom and Office 365 integrate with Slack. Present to your entire team and then hop into a Zoom conference with global team members. These actions are easily maneuvered and in an instance. Utilize one of 2,000 other app integrations that include workflow software such as Asana.

Slack is the market leader when it comes to a unified workplace for people to communicate effectively in a global online setting.

slack interface image of coffee on a table

2. Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams fully integrates with Office 365, allowing users to work smarter with familiar Microsoft products such as Outlook and Word. Staff can collaborate in separate threads without disturbing the larger discussion points in a channel. This is a particular benefit if you’re looking to create a marketing group, for example, and then break out into team channels like ‘organic growth’ or ‘social media’ for specific departmental needs.

Like Slack, integrations can be accessed directly from the interface of Microsoft Teams. Recent updates include a ‘raise your hand’ option in video meetings, providing structure to passionate team discussions between employees. You can also pin your favorite chat channels to your user interface as a reference. Pop-out view options help better manage your programs while multitasking.

In the digital workplace, Microsoft Teams cloud-based service comes with big data storage and additional AI features that help keep a business agile. Although not as flexible or user-friendly as chat app rival Slack, Microsoft Teams is an established powerhouse of online communication.

microsoft team interface

3. Google Chat

Google Chat is especially beneficial for organizations currently using Gmail or Drive. The chat app will feel even more fluid if integrated with other Google applications. Instead of ‘channels’, Google Chat presents ‘rooms’ that contain conversation threads – this keeps discussion points focused and silos group chats if required.

A link share option in a chat room automatically changes user privileges so team members are granted access.

It’s the integrations with existing Google applications that make this chat app shine. Tagging employees with Google Meet to quickly schedule a meeting is a particularly user-friendly feature. Searches come with multiple filter options, and as you’d expect, results are displayed instantly.

Third-party apps like Salesforce and Jira consolidate notifications according to the department’s need. Google Chat is a team app that works seamlessly when collaborations involve Google workspace products like Sheets, Slides and Docs. Chat channels can host an arena-filling 8,000 members per room and accommodates up to 28 languages. Enjoy the additional benefit of 24/7 support with a smooth application that has a simple interface, and much of what users love about Google products.

google chat interface

Team chat apps transform collaboration and unify organizations – a must-have for the digital age.