Top 10 Best Team Communication Tools for Business in 2025

Finding the best team communication tools for business can be pretty challenging — what with the hundreds of options we can choose from.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, choosing the most popular app on the market can be a tempting option. However, doing so can also have unintended consequences for your team’s productivity and general satisfaction.

So, what can you do?

Well, you can let someone else narrow down the options for you and go from there.

That’s why I’m here — I researched and tested a lot of team communication tools and chose my favorites. Let’s take a look at the top 10 asynchronous communication tools for remote teams and office-bound companies.

Top 10 team communication tools for business: A quick overview

Before I share my opinions on the best team messaging apps on the market, I wanted to explain how I narrowed down my list of candidates.

Basically, I was looking for apps that had:

• Different communication features, from text to video conferencing and more,
• A clean user interface (UI) that doesn’t require specialized training to understand it,
• Several price tiers as well as a robust free plan, if possible, and
• Scalable features, like storage space etc.

I’ll be sure to point out these features and more in my reviews, but for now, here’s a general overview of the best team communication tools I’ve found.

#1: Pumble — Best for organized team messaging and collaboration

Pumble by CAKE.com is a simple but powerful business messaging app that lets you organize your team’s communication into:

• Public and private channels,
• Threads (showcased in the screenshot below), and
• Direct messages.

The app lets you onboard as many users as you want into your workspace and exchange as many messages as you need to — even on the free plan.

On top of that, Pumble’s UI makes it easy to find your footing and customize your experience by adjusting the sidebar and choosing a color theme.

Available for: Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS

*billed annually

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What makes Pumble one of the best team communication tools for business?

In addition to not limiting its users’ searchable messaging history, Pumble’s free plan also lets you:

• Create an unlimited number of channels,
• Send voice and video messages,
• Have one-on-one meetings through voice and video calls, and
• Take advantage of 10 GB of storage per workspace.

That amount of storage would let small teams share files and documents without much concern. However, you can also expand your storage by moving to one of the paid plans, which come with 10, 20, or 100 GB of storage per seat (allowing for infinite scalability as you onboard more employees).

Of course, Pumble doesn’t make you stick to one type of communication. If you prefer real-time communication, you can also explore the app’s video conferencing features by:

• Sending in-meeting messages,
• Sharing your screen during meetings,
• Inviting external guests with meeting links even if they don’t have an account, and
• Using emoji reactions to respond to what others are saying without interrupting them.

Bring your team together with Pumble

Basically, Pumble is a simple yet comprehensive app that gives you anything you could ever need to communicate and collaborate with your team — without being bloated with unnecessary features. But, if you do end up needing something more, you should be able to get it with integrations.

If I had to nitpick, I’d say that Pumble could add some virtual backgrounds in that pre-meeting screen. While I was testing the app, I could still set one up through my computer’s camera settings, but I’d love to see that feature added to Pumble itself.

What’s new in Pumble?

In the past few months, CAKE.com has been strengthening the integrations between its 3 collaboration tools for teams — Pumble, the time tracker, Clockify, and the project management app, Plaky. On top of that, the company has recently launched the CAKE.com Marketplace, allowing users to create and sell their own add-ons for these products.

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#2: Microsoft Teams — Best for Microsoft 365 users

Microsoft Teams is, without a doubt, one of the most popular team messaging apps on the market. And there are good reasons for that.

Even the free plan I tested offers plenty of features you can use to organize your team’s communication.

However, the app’s biggest advantage comes in the form of Microsoft 365 integrations, which require a paid subscription.

Available for: Web, Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS

*billed annually

What makes Microsoft Teams one of the best team communication tools for business?

The basic version of Microsoft Teams has most of the features I want to see in my free team communication tools:

• Direct and group messages,
• File sharing and search capabilities, and
• Great video conferencing features.

On top of that, free users get 5 GB of storage per user, while paying businesses can expand that to 10 GB per user with the Essentials and Enterprise plans.

Even though Microsoft Teams’ free plan allows you to set up a team chat, it doesn’t have channels or threads or even Teams’ Teams feature (I don’t know why they called it that, either). Those all seem to be paid options that require some setup.

The app generally seems to have a steeper learning curve than Pumble, and the only way that wouldn’t concern me is if my employer provided tech onboarding for the app.

From the perspective of an employer, though, I’ll also say that Microsoft Teams costs a pretty penny when it all adds up — which is why most business owners prefer to look for Microsoft Teams alternatives.

What’s new in Microsoft Teams?

Teams’ most recent updates have focused on perfecting its AI features as well as introducing threads in channels (it was about time). On top of that, Microsoft has also recently introduced the option to trigger workflows with emoji reactions to messages, which is great for automating some of your work tasks.

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#3: Google Chat — Best for Google Workspace users

If you’re already using Google Workspace tools to collaborate remotely with your team, why not try Google’s messaging app too?

Granted, even though I’ve been seeing that chat icon every time I went to check my work emails, I’ve never actually tried this messaging tool before this point.

Still, I was pleasantly surprised by the features I found, which included:

• A minimalist user interface,
• Direct messages, mentions, and Spaces (which is Google’s version of channels), and
• Integrations with Google’s tools and third-party apps.

Available for: Web, Android, and iOS

*billed annually

Looking for a Google Chat alternative? Try Pumble

What makes Google Chat one of the best team communication tools for business?

Before I start this review, I ought to mention that the version of Google Chat I tested was a paid one, so it may be more feature-packed than what you might see on the free plan.

Still, after seeing what Google Chat looks like on my private Google account, which isn’t on a paid plan, I found it fairly similar to what I got from the paid version.

Of course, it’s also important to note that Google Chat functions as a simple messaging app — your voice and video calls will still be connected through Google Meets.

But then, that’s exactly what you’d expect from Google’s messaging tool. Most of the other collaborative features, such as task management, are also outsourced to the relevant Google Workspace apps. For example, any task you assign to someone within a Google Chat Space will appear in the Google Task app as well as your Google Calendar.

So, even though Google Chat lacks some of these features, it is well-supported by the rest of Google’s ecosystem — for better or for worse.

What’s new in Google Chat?

Like most tech giants, Google has been busy spearheading the AI revolution by integrating Gemini into each of its products, including Google Chat. So, if you like having a bot summarize chats and finish your sentences for you, you’ll love that addition.

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#4: Zoom — Best for collaborative video events

Most people know Zoom as the tool they need to host and participate in web conferences, but that’s not all there is to the software.

Just like Google and Microsoft, Zoom actually offers a large suite of team communication tools for business. Though Zoom Meetings is a part of that suite, Zoom Team Chat is also pretty good, letting users:

• Send text, audio, and video messages in DMs and channels,
• Share files and links, and
• Easily find them thanks to the intuitive search feature.

Available for: Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS

*billed annually

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What makes Zoom one of the best team communication tools for business?

Zoom Team Chat offers users enough features to get by with its Basic, free plan. I found the app easy enough to use and even aesthetically pleasing.

My one gripe on that count would be that the 4 color themes only affected the top bar of the app.

Going back to the actual features, though, it’s important to note that Zoom also has built-in Mail and Calendar apps, and Meetings are just a tab away as well. Free users get:

• Unlimited number of 40-minute meetings for up to 100 participants,
• Screen sharing, virtual backgrounds, and breakout rooms, and
• 3 editable whiteboards and 5 Zoom Clips (editable video messages).

However, if you’re able to cough up some (serious) cash, you’ll be able to enjoy added benefits like:

• 30-hour meetings,
• 10 GB of storage per licence,
• An AI companion,
• Integrations, and
• Unlimited clips.

I’ll admit that I got a bit lost for a minute there while I was diving through the settings of the app, so there’s something to be said about tech bloat here. But, overall, I find Zoom a great option for teams who prioritize collaborative meetings.

What’s new in Zoom?

Like Google and Microsoft, Zoom has been going all in on AI, so many of its recent updates have focused on that feature. Most recently, Zoom introduced their Auto Dialer, an AI-powered feature that streamlines outbound sales.

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#5: Slack — Best for streamlining different tasks and apps

Though some people have become (understandably) disillusioned with Slack due to the limitations of its free plan, we can’t deny that the app is still one of the best team communication tools for business.

I originally wanted to test the app’s free plan, but Slack actually forced a free trial of their Pro plan on me. Because of that, I found plenty of useful features in Slack, including:

• Messages that could be sent through channels, threads, and DMs,
• Meetings, or huddles, which could be easily started within the app, and
• Plenty of customization options and color themes.

Available for: Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS

*billed annually

Enjoy an unlimited messaging history for free with Pumble

What makes Slack one of the best team communication tools for business?

Slack is one of the best collaboration tools for teams that aren’t afraid of using apps with a somewhat steep learning curve.

Though the app’s UI is a bit too cluttered for my taste, it’s also chock-full of useful features and customization options.

On top of that, the app also has some project management features, allowing users to:

• Track tasks with Lists,
• Create content with Canvases, and
• Create workflows with Automations.

Though Slack’s pricing is quite steep, it also increases the functionality of these apps, in addition to adding various AI-powered features and security upgrades.

Still, though my surprise upgrade to Slack’s Pro plan prevented me from experiencing the limits of its free plan, after that promotion ends, I’ll be back to:

• A 90-day messaging history,
• Up to 10 app integrations, and
• One-on-one meetings and external messages.

What’s new in Slack?

Slack’s newest addition to the app comes in the form of Templates, which are a mix of canvases, lists, and workflows that can be added to channels.

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#6: Chanty — Best for organizing tasks and conversations

Like some of the other communication tools for remote teams we’ve discussed, Chanty positions itself as a hub of team communication and collaboration.

The app lets users:

• Send messages and replies, which show up both in the main channel and in the message thread,
• Create tasks, which come up as separate channels in the side bar, allowing you to discuss the way these tasks are handled with everyone involved, and
• Make audio and video calls (one-on-one in the free plan).

Unfortunately, Chanty’s free plan is only available for teams with up to 5 members.

Available for: Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS

*billed annually

What makes Chanty one of the best team communication tools for business?

Like Pumble, Chanty’s free plan lets users create as many channels as they need and keep all their messages accessible forever, thanks to the app’s unlimited message history. So, even though limiting free plan users to teams under 5 members is a pretty harsh move, I can still recommend the app.

After all, both free and paying users get to experience Chanty’s minimalist user interface, which was a breath of fresh air for me, especially after experiencing Slack’s cluttered interface.

Discover Pumble — a free Chanty alternative with unlimited users

Even with the additional channels that were added for every one of my test tasks I created, I still found it easy to get around the app.

In fact, the only thing I didn’t really like about the UI was the way the threads and the conversation details panels covered the main messages when I opened those elements. I suspect that those visibility issues could make users miss important messages in the chat.

And, if I’m sharing complaints, I should also note that Chanty only has a light and dark theme, but that’s not necessarily a dealbreaker — just a personal preference thing.

What’s new in Chanty?

The most recent update the team behind Chanty has introduced to the app is the ability to assign tasks to multiple team members.

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#7: Flock — Best for simple task tracking and collaboration

Flock is another one of those team messaging apps that offer integrated project management features.

However, unlike Chanty, new to-dos don’t appear as separate channels — though they can be opened in separate lists and assigned to different team members.

Overall, Flock has pretty basic features, letting users:

• Send messages and voice notes in channels and direct chats,
• Share files and collaborate with to-dos and polls, and
• Use reminders to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.

Available for: Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS

*billed annually

What makes Flock one of the best team communication tools for business?

As soon as I made my Flock account, I found the app pretty easy to navigate, even though it could get a bit cluttered when I had the sidebars extended.

Still, with only a few clicks, I could make sure I only saw the messages I wanted to focus on.

Aside from the direct messages and channels, users are also able to send replies, though I could have used the added organization I get from Pumble’s thread feature.

Much like its main communication features, Flock’s video conferencing features were pretty simple, so your team won’t have to worry about learning how to handle complicated tech.

Notably, I was using the Pro version of the app because I was automatically placed on the 1-month trial. However, if you’re going to use the free version, you should know that, like Slack, Flock’s free plan also limits users to:

• 10,000 searchable messages,
• 10 public channels, and
• 5 GB of storage per team.

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Naturally, these features are expanded on the paid plans, which also increase your storage space to 10 or 20 GB per team member — depending on your plan.

What’s new in Flock?

According to the release notes on Flock’s website, the web, Mac, Linux, and Windows versions of the app haven’t received any updates since 2023.

Pumble — Like Flock, but better

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#8: Twist — Best for teams that prioritize asynchronous communication

Twist is a charming messaging app with a fresh perspective on team communication and collaboration.

This app is certainly one of the best asynchronous communication tools I’ve seen, as its main features practically discourage users from engaging in real-time communication.

Reducing distractions is the point of this app, which is also supported by its simple UI.

Available for: Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS

*billed annually

Pumble lets you keep all your messages forever — for free

What makes Twist one of the best team communication tools for business?

Like I said, Twist takes a new approach to team communication, which is mainly reflected in its use of threads.

Namely, Twist users can’t send messages directly to channels. Instead, all communication is organized in threads, which makes team communication look a bit like emailing (and that Inbox tab on the sidebar doesn’t help that association).

In any case, users must give their thread an appropriate subject line and explain what will be discussed in the replies below. As you talk, you can also easily assign certain messages as tasks through your Todoist account. And, once your team has reached the end of the discussion, you can close the thread and even write the conclusion of the conversation when you do.

At that point, the thread will disappear from the channel that hosted it (unless you make closed threads visible through the channel settings).

Of course, if the topic ever needs to be revisited, you’ll be able to find the thread through the search feature and reopen it by simply adding a reply.

This is only one of the ways in which Twist prioritizes asynchronous communication. To name another, I only need to mention that the app doesn’t even have built-in video conferencing capabilities — though that feature is still present thanks to the app’s Jitsi Meet integration.

A much more concerning con would be the fact that free plan users only have access to a month of their comments and messages.

What’s new in Twist?

According to Twist’s website, the developers are taking a hiatus from adding new features to Twist.

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#9: Chatwork — Best for basic team communication

If you’re on the hunt for collaboration tools for remote teams that have built-in task management tools, you may like Chatwork.

Though a pretty niche pick, Chatwork has most of the features you’d need to communicate as a team:

• Direct and group chats where you can send messages, quote replies, and schedule reminders,
• A task management system that lets you assign team members and due dates to tasks, and
• Voice and video calling features (granted, some of them are locked behind a paywall).

Available for: Web, Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS

*billed annually

What makes Chatwork one of the best team communication tools for business?

Chatwork’s paid plan lets you enjoy secure messaging with:

• An unlimited number of users, direct and group chats, and viewable messages,
• File sharing and management options,
• Group voice and video calls, as well as
• 10 GB of storage per user.

Contacts can be added through email or via Chatwork ID, which means you can contact people outside of your organization (as long as they have a Chatwork account). This makes Chatwork a good choice for job interviews and similar communication situations.

However, I should note that the app’s free plan, which I have tested, is pretty limited, as users can:

• Onboard up to 100 team members,
• Access messages sent within the last 40 days, and
• Have limited user management options.

Try a free app that lets you access all your messages

On top of that, the app aggressively advertises its paid plans — but I’ve found that that’s somewhat common during my testing.

Overall, though, the app is pretty easy to use, so it can be a good option for those who found flaws in one of the other free team messaging tools we’ve discussed.

What’s new in Chatwork?

The team behind Chatwork has recently added scheduled messages and mentions, and has been working on deploying those features to the mobile versions of the app as well.

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#10: Discord — Best for voice communication

Discord markets itself as a group chat app that’s all fun and games — but that shouldn’t make you dismiss the platform as a potential collaboration tool for your team.

In fact, I know some people who use Discord to communicate with their coworkers. Granted, they work on pretty small teams, but they’re on call all day while they work — sometimes muted, sometimes in active communication.

Available for: Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS

What makes Discord one of the best team communication tools for business?

Like the other team messaging apps we’ve discussed, Discord offers its users:

• An unlimited message history in direct chats, channels, and threads (which appear in the sidebar under the channel they belong to), and
• The option to send voice and video messages, as well as screen recordings.

However, the app definitely prioritizes voice and video calls, and many people use it to stay on a call and coordinate with others while gaming.

Because of that, Discord has some pretty whimsical features (like the fact that its emoji picker icon changes to a different emoji every time you hover your cursor over it). Generally, the platform seems to embrace the chaotic nature of its original purpose, which is also reflected in its cluttered UI.

Still, Discord’s always-on calling feature might also make it a great solution for distributed teams that want to feel more connected or professionals who have to be available around the clock — like security teams.

Try Pumble — a free Discord alternative

But, keep in mind that, while voice calls can be joined by any number of users, video calls can host up to 25 people in a standard voice channel.

Speaking of which, I found that Discord’s free plan had plenty of useful features — which is a good thing, because its paid plans certainly don’t add anything in terms of professional tools.

Rather, they just add account personalization options, which reminded me that the platform is, ultimately, not made for professional use.

What’s new in Discord?

Discord recently added Server Tags, which can be attached to usernames to show which servers they belong to. They also made it so users can access 6 of their past profile pictures (or avatars, in Discord terms) and play Wordle within servers.

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How to choose the best team communication tool for your business

At this point, you should be able to find a business messaging app that lets your employees communicate effectively and enhance their productivity.

Though there are many flashy options out there, your search should really focus on the value you’ll be getting from the app.

In other words, you should think about what you really need from your team communication tool, whether it’s:

• Certain messaging functions (such as message scheduling, which Pumble has, but, for example, Discord does not),
• Video and voice calling features (like screen sharing, in-call messages, or emoji reactions), or
• Task and project management features (which can also be added to some apps through integrations, like the Plaky integration for Pumble).

After all, when you’re running a startup or a small to medium-sized business, it’s better to use tools that are easy to master and that can support, rather than hinder, your ambitions.

On top of that, it’s always good to choose an app that won’t drain your resources. In my opinion, these are the exact benefits you’ll experience after choosing Pumble.

Of all the team communication tools I’ve tested, Pumble has the best features for professional communication even on the free plan. Moreover, its solid built-in features can be further expanded through integrations — especially with its sister apps, Clockify and Plaky.

So, if you’re interested in seeing what those 3 can do, check out the CAKE.com Productivity Suite to save 53% on Clockify, Pumble, and Plaky subscriptions.

Or, if you’d rather try a piece of CAKE.com before devouring the whole thing, you can start using Pumble for free.

Onboard as many users as you want and enjoy an unlimited message history right from the start.

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