Top 16 Collaboration Apps For Productive Teams
For almost every organization, teamwork is necessary. However, communication between several individuals within the same organization seems a bit difficult to manage. This is where collaborative tools and apps come into the picture. Today, a collaboration app is treated as the enabler of a more transparent communication channel between teams, departments, and organizations, irrespective of the distance or language gap that lies within.
They have been around for quite a long time. But in the past few years, the popularity of these collaboration apps has been on the rise. People and businesses from various industries have finally come to realize that effective communication within and outside office premises is their biggest advantage in the game. That’s why many are using or planning to use workplace apps for collaboration instead of relying on the exchange of emails to exploit the many pieces of a project.
If you and your team are looking forward to including a collaborative tool into your everyday work and workplace communication, we’ve compiled a list of tools that you would love to consider.
But before we get to it, let’s get out basic clear.
“Keep collaboration aligned with our all-in-one software. Switch to ProofHub today!”
What is the most popular workplace collaboration tool?
Here’s a list of 14 of the best collaboration apps and tools that can support your growing team’s needs:
1. ProofHub
Overview:
ProofHub is an all-in-one software solution. It’s a project management tool that offers a comprehensive suite of collaboration, planning, organization, monitoring, and project management functions. It serves as a single platform where you can organize projects and tasks, plan and monitor projects, discuss progress and share files with colleagues and stakeholders, review and collaborate on files, all using one tool.
Here are some major advantages of using the ProofHub app for your team collaboration and workplace communication needs.
- Real-time communication
- Better task management
- Enhanced teamwork
- Reduce unproductive meeting time
- Eliminate unnecessary email threads
- Seamless file storage and sharing
- Easier project management
- Higher work satisfaction
- Increased engagement
- Increased overall productivity
Pricing:
30-day free trial available
ProofHub Essential: $50/month for unlimited users
ProofHub Ultimate Control: $99/month for unlimited users and unlimited projects
2. Flowdock
Overview:
Flowdock is a hub for social team collaboration. Flowdock comes with an array of collaboration and chatting features for teams and groups. It has more than 35 integrations which allow you to sneak peek in literally every communication pattern and enhance overall productivity. One of the key benefits of Flowdock is that it unites the functions of project management, monitoring and version control, and customer feedback in a single suite.
Pricing:
$3.00 per user/month
3. TimeCamp Planner
Overview:
TimeCamp Planner is a task collaboration and communication tool which facilitates teamwork and enables efficient collaboration with clients. TimeCamp Planner helps plan the workflow and keep your team up to date with the progress of projects. With clearly defined due dates, regularly updated task progress and a dedicated space for discussions about each task, it boosts productivity and helps team members fully focus on what they do best.
On top of the task management feature, TimeCamp Planner gives you an integrated chat platform, where team members can brainstorm or start a one-on-one and group conversations. Various communication features allow you to communicate not only within the team but also with clients and external contributors, who you can invite to TimeCamp Planner as guests.
Here are some of the features you can benefit from using TimeCamp Planner:
- Single source of truth for your team
- Efficient task management based on board
- Unlimited number of project spaces
- Task cards with due dates, assignees, checklists, estimates, tags and more
- Easy monitoring of tasks with an internal calendar
- Sending files up to 100 MB without storage limits
- Possibility to invite collaborators as guests
- Smooth collaboration with an intuitive chat
- Integration with multiple tools, such as: TimeCamp, Gmail, Google Drive, calendars, Dropbox, Zapier, Hangouts
Pricing:
Basic plan: free (up to 5 members)
Premium plan: $5 per user/month
4. Clickup
Overview:
If you’re looking to take your productivity to the next level, then look no further than ClickUp. It’s a free project management and team collaboration software used by companies like Google, Nike and Airbnb.
With features like subtasks, reminders, task priorities, time tracking, Gantt charts, goals, dependencies and custom statuses, ClickUp has everything you could ask for from a top-notch project management app.
Pricing: Free to $9 per user/month
5. INTERNXT
Overview:
Internxt is a secure cloud storage solution emphasizing user security and privacy. It offers a suite of privacy-centric apps, Drive, Photos, and Send, allowing you to store, share, and back up your files quickly and securely with others.
Internxt is available across the web, desktop, and mobile and is compatible with iOS, Android, and Linux-based hardware. You and your teammates can access your files and data from anywhere with an internet connection, as your files are automatically synced across your chosen device.
As you are not limited to a specific device, you can boost your productivity and work on important documents or projects from wherever you like. You can also use the Internxt Send feature to encrypt your files and send them via a one-time, securely generated link to send important files quickly and securely to your chosen recipients.
Here are some features you can benefit from using Internxt:
- 10GB of free cloud storage
- Access to Drive, Photos, and Send
- Easily organize and management of files
- Easy to create an account and get started on the platform
- Zero-knowledge and end-to-end encryption ensures your files are kept private
- Video and Audio streaming preview of media files
- Multiple servers mean your files are uploaded quickly and efficiently
- A range of free tools, such as a password generator and checker, virus scanner, and temporary email
Pricing:
Monthly, annual, and lifetime plans are all available, and plans start from $0.99 per month. No credit card is required.
6. ScreenRec
Overview:
ScreenRec is a simple but powerful team communication tool that helps you share ideas, report bugs, exchange feedback, assign tasks, create tutorials, and much more. You can think of ScreenRec as an upgrade to traditional emailing or an alternative to virtual meetings. It removes the need to type a wall of text when you need to explain something or schedule a meeting. Instead, you can use this tool to record a quick video of your screen or take and annotate a screenshot. When you’re done, you get a private sharing link immediately thanks to the Cloud Recording technology.
Besides recording your screen, with ScreenRec you can also capture system audio, microphone sound and your webcam. This app is as simple as they come. All you have to do is remember one hotkey (Alt + S). Built on top of the all-in-one business video platform, StreamingVideoProvider, ScreenRec comes with advanced encryption and other security features to protect your privacy.
Here are some of the features you can benefit from using ScreenRec:
- Record your screen, audio, microphone and webcam and share immediately
- Grab screenshots, annotate them and paste them as images or links
- Extremely simple — capture your screen, get a sharing link and paste it in a chat, an email, in a comment, or wherever you like
- Get 2Gb of free cloud storage when you create a free account
- Very lightweight program that doesn’t lag
- Enable asynchronous communication and help your team get more focused time
- Send personalized demos and proposals to clients
- Quickly report bugs or create tutorials for customer service
- Replace long emails and meetings with quick videos and screenshots
Pricing:
Free
7. WP Project Manager
Overview:
WP Project Manager is a sophisticated all in one WordPress Project Management tool. It was developed by weDevs and has been in existence since 2014. WP Project Manager is a task manager and a team collaboration software that can readily integrate with your existing website as opposed to creating an external site for your project management projects.
It is not just another WordPress project management software but it is a game-changer in the Project Management tools industry.
Here are some of the features of WP Project Manager:
- It allows you to easily add projects using the WordPress interface
- Collaborate with team members based on their user levels
- It provides an overview of all your project list with a calendar functionality
- You can control user roles, assigning managers, co-workers, and clients
- You can segment the whole task into individual sub-tasks
- Assign creators and limit project visibility
- See current project statuses
- Archive completed projects
- See all files associated with a single project in one place
- Provides advanced reports for full insights about everything
WP Project Manager is a complete solution for all Project Management Steps. It allows you to efficiently manage all your WordPress project management life cycle from start to finish. Go give a check now!
Pricing:
Free: Always free
Personal: $79/yearly
Professional: $149/yearly
Business: $249/yearly
8. Flipsnack
Overview:
Flipsnack is a complete collaboration solution you can use for your business. Our tool lets you create, publish and share interactive documents securely and privately with your team. Whether you want to use Flipsnack to upload PDFs and transform them into interactive documents or create new ones, the process is straightforward. Our online design tool has an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface; you can create any document within minutes.
For instance, you could add a virtual tour of your office in an onboarding document for new team members or maybe amazing images and videos from your last team building in your monthly newsletter.
Also, you can share them instantly with your teammates and keep them updated with the latest news regarding your company.
Regarding privacy and security, you can share your documents public, unlisted, password locked, and private.
You can even enforce 2FA and share your documents with SSO read-only access for better control over all.
Here are some examples of internal communication documents you can make with Flipsnack:
HR documents
Onboarding documents
Internal guides
Employee benefits guides
Employee handbooks
Health & well-being documents
Company newsletters
Reports
Pricing:
Flipsnack has various plans, including an annual plan that starts from $14/month. You can try Flipsnack for 14 days. No credit card required.
9. Connecteam
Overview:
Connecteam is an all-in-one employee management app with robust, effective communication tools for businesses and teams — whether your team is in the office, out in the field, or is working from home. Streamlining communication with Connecteam is easy, no matter what industry you’re from — retail, manufacturing, cleaning, healthcare, and much more are just some of the industries that greatly benefit from Connecteam’s communication tools. Connecteam is the collaboration app that moves work forward and keeps your team connected in the click of a button.
Here are some massive advantages of using the Connecteam app for team collaboration and internal communication needs.
- Publish company news, updates, and documents and get feedback with comments and likes
- Real-time collaboration with group chat or private dialogue
- Add content, share files, videos, GIFS, & pictures
- Facilitate two-way communication & boost employee engagement, morale & productivity
- Directory for work contacts
- In-app suggestion box
- Send push notifications to make sure everyone gets the message
- Be customized with your company branding
Pricing:
Connecteam has a free for life plan!
10. GoToMeeting
Overview:
GoToMeeting is a simple and straightforward conferencing system packed with features that make it an ideal option for workplace collaboration, both internal and external. It serves as an excellent solution for businesses that have outgrown common video conferencing tools and need a more heavy-duty alternative to popular collaboration apps like Skype, Hangouts, and Facetime. The solution is compatible with PCs, Macbook Pro, and iOS devices as well as mobile devices, giving you more flexibility to create or join online meetings anytime, anywhere, and on any device.
Pricing:
Free: Free
Starter: $19/month
Pro: $29/month
Plus: $49/month
11. Slack
Overview:
Slack is a popular messaging app that gives teams one platform for all their communications, real-time messaging, file sharing, archiving, and more. The application is designed to meet the needs of a modern team and it works quite well. The solution comes with fully native apps for iOS and Android.
Pricing:
Free: Free
Standard: $8 per user/month
Plus: $15 per user/month
Enterprise: By quote
12. Rocket.Chat
Overview:
Rocket.Chat is a secure team collaboration tool that improves your team’s productivity. The chat itself is designed with extra security in mind, so it’s suitable for privacy-conscious organizations in highly-regulated industries.
Users love Rocket.Chat due to its simplicity and intuitiveness. Admins love it because of the flexibility and customization stemming from its open-source code.
Rocket.Chat can also be used as an in-app chat to increase user engagement.
Pricing:
Basic plan: free
Enterprise Plan:
$7/user/month (Minimum of 25 users)
$35/agent/month (Minimum of 5 agents)
13. Bynder
Overview:
Bynder is the easiest way to professionally enables frictionless movement of your digital assets from everywhere they were created to anywhere they need to be utilized. You just need to drag, drop, and done! Also, teams can quickly find the right files, collaborate with real-time edits and approvals, and distribute content to a variety of channels. With Bynder, brands have full control over their marketing and brand operations via one central portal.
Pricing:
To request pricing, you need to contact their consultants and they will be in touch to help you choose the right plan for your company.
14. NetHunt CRM
Overview:
NetHunt CRM is a Gmail CRM for small- and middle-sized businesses and startups. Among its main benefits, you will find a quick and hassle-free onboarding process, unlimited data storage, a well-designed mobile version, and even a personal assistant.
From adding the data to your CRM account to a massive email merge, NetHunt CRM allows you to automate dozens of repetitive tasks. It serves equally good for sales, marketing, and customer support teams and synchronizes the work of all company departments. It also brings remoted employees and freelancers to the same page with the office-based team. NetHunt CRM has an intuitive interface that makes your interaction with CRM as simple as drinking a glass of water. High productivity is guaranteed!
Pricing:
Trial Version: Free
Professional: $24 per user/month
Professional Plus: $28 per user/month
Enterprise Plan: $48 per user/ month
15. Asana
Overview:
Asana is a robust work management and collaboration platform. With Asana, you can stay focused on the goals, projects, and daily tasks as you grow your business. It helps you get your work organized, planned and delivered in a way that’s best for you. It handily lets you and your team collaborate, share details and assign tasks — all in one place. It helps to keep everyone aligned on goals, eliminate roadblocks, and meet deadlines as expected, even when plans change.
Pricing:
Free: Free
Premium plan: $9.99 per member/month
Enterprise Plan: By quote
16. Monday.com
Overview:
Monday.com is one of the smartest collaboration and communication apps you can use to get everyone in sync in one place. The app specializes in streamlining discussions and contributions and keeping teams on the same page throughout the project management process. It displays progress in a comprehensive manner, allowing anyone in the team to track the progress of common operations, anytime.
Pricing:
Basic Plan: $5/month
Standard Plan: $8/month
Pro Plan: $12/month
Enterprise Plan: $24/month
17. Trello
Overview:
Trello is a project management and workplace collaboration solution that utilizes the concept of boards (which correspond to projects) and cards (which represent tasks). It’s a well-integrated and reasonably priced solution on the market. Trello aims to simplify collaboration by organizing and tracking all your tasks, files and information in one central place.
Pricing:
Free: Free
Business Class: $9.99 per user/month
Enterprise: $20.83 per user/month
18. Igloo Software
Overview:
Igloo Software is a collaboration system that is helping thousands of workgroups collaborate and manage their projects and workflows. The software solution is built for the modern intranet users. It opens up communication channels and improves sharing capabilities to build a strong culture centered around collaboration.
Pricing:
Basic: $8/user per month
Professional: $12/user per month
Enterprise: By quote
“Enhance your ability to work together toward a common vision with the #1 collaboration app. Try ProofHub!”
What is a collaboration app?
If you’ve ever had a project in which you’ve had to work with multiple people, you probably have a sense of how collaboration and teamwork work. Collaboration is the art of working with another individual or group in order to achieve the same goal. And a collaboration tool is the technology that can be used to make this process of working together and achieving the same goal easier. These are the tools that are used by teams and organizations to brainstorm, solve problems and get a job done together.
Why do we use collaboration tools?
Mentioned below are some common reasons that you and your organization should consider when you’re struggling with the idea: “Do I really need a collaboration tool?”
- A collaboration app helps to stop wasting time being in meetings
- A collaboration app helps to increase your team’s productivity
- A collaboration app helps to eliminate organization issues
- A collaboration app helps to stay on top of the team’s progress
- A collaboration app helps to get a clear vision of different deadlines
- A collaboration app helps to stay connected even on the go
What are the different types of collaboration tools?
Depending on the types of teams and their collaboration needs, a collaborative tool can be categorized into the following groups:
- Calendar sharing tools: The shared calendar facilitates the organization of appointments and meetings without the need to consult all participants. The person organizing the event finds a time interval and can check the availability of the other participants, the meeting room and then send out an invitation. These tools save a lot of time for facilitating teamwork.
- File sharing tools: File sharing tools allow you to transfer files, distribute them and give access to them. Shared files can be various kinds; software, books, videos, documents, etc. These tools avoid transferring everything via email and saturating inboxes with heavy files.
- Instant messaging: Instant messaging allows you to exchange text messages and online files in real-time via a computer. The dialogue is interactive and most applications allow the exchange of video files, voice communication, and video conferences.
- Document synchronization: Document synchronization aims at matching two documents. This means that any modification, addition or deletion of a document in a directory will also be effective in the second directory. This way, employees have the latest version and the information remains the same everywhere. The two documents remain exactly identical.
- Cloud storage: Storage can be done within the organization but also in the cloud. Cloud storage exploits the power of the server’s information storage system which lives in the cloud. The data is stored remotely via a telecommunications network.
- Video-conferencing: A method of communicating with a live, visual connection by means of a video with multiple people across multiple locations. In-person meetings can be replaced with videoconferences so the team can still get the “feeling” of seeing each other as they communicate.
- Whiteboards: An online whiteboard is a literal replacement of the classic whiteboard. Collaborators can take turns communicating visual information via text, drawings and graphics on this whiteboard then erase it as you would with an actual dry eraser.
How do you find the best collaboration tool for your team?
Effective collaboration is the key to success — but things can easily turn ugly if you chose the wrong collaboration app. Need help? Here are a few parameters that you can consider using while making your pick for the best collaboration or team messaging app.
- Prefer multiple features: Some tools offer excellent service but are only focused on one aspect of team collaboration. Give some thought to how efficient this really is. Teams may end up spending time changing between complementary software. It’s better to look for a tool that’s feature-rich and allows people to use it in many different ways.
- Look for ease of use: This is obviously one of the most important criteria. If a service works but takes a lot of time to get used to, it won’t help teams (especially fast-growing teams.) Request a demo and keep an eye out for an intuitive interface and simple navigation.
- Pay attention to privacy options: Collaborating with teams doesn’t mean all conversations and files should be public. Sometimes, you’ll want team members to have private conversations or work on sensitive projects. Make sure you look at privacy options before you choose a service.
- Opt for the cloud: Cloud-based technology has many advantages. It can solve your version control headaches by allowing you to see recent edits and activity. All information is stored online so everyone can be on the same page, no matter where they are.
- Ask for integration and compatibility: Remember that it’s better to use a tool with multiple features? Well, not always. Occasionally, you discover a tool that does one thing perfectly. Integrations are key. Look for tools that seamlessly integrate with other apps or software. Compatibility is also important. For example, your tools should support all the file types your team normally uses.
Your turn…
Which of the above collaboration app would you try first? Or are you already using a collaborative tool that deserves to have a spot in our list of top eight collaboration apps for productive teams? If yes, then tell us all about it in the comments section.
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