15 Best Team Chat Apps in 2024

The modern workplace, in all its variations, runs on quality communication. 

As the working experience continues to shift further away from the traditional office, communication technology assumes a crucial role in team infrastructure. While modern workplace communication takes place in various forms —  from emails to conference calls, the central spot for most teams is occupied by chat apps.

Hence, in this article, I will describe the defining features of 15 great team communication tools. 

Thanks to a close examination of 15 team communication apps that are popular choices for professional teams worldwide, you will be able to choose the one that is most useful for you.

Let’s dive into it!

15 Best team chat apps for 2024

Out of a wide range of available options, I have selected 15 team chat apps that answer a diverse set of team requirements with diverging approaches to providing those answers. 

The 15 best team chat apps for 2024 are the following: 

• Pumble 
• Microsoft Teams 
• Mattermost
• Discord 
• Slack 
• Flock 
• Twist 
• Google Chat
• Ryver 
• Chanty 
• Zoho Cliq
• Rocket.Chat 
• Workplace (by Meta)
• Wire 
• Teamwork Chat 

This list is not intended to rank the apps, but to help teams compare them and make the choice that fits their work best. 

Without further ado, let’s get specific!

A quick review of the best business apps for communication

Team chat app	Best For	Pricing	Biggest Advantage
Pumble	Remote and distributed teams.	– Free plan available;  – Paid plans from $2,49 per user per month.	Comprehensive free plan.
Microsoft Teams	Enterprise organizations with a lot of members.	– Free plan available;  – Paid plans from $4 per user per month.	Excellent integration of various tools.
Mattermost	Large organizations in need of increased data security.	– Free plan available;  – Paid plans from $10 per user per month.	Great data security.
Discord	Informal conversation and audio communication.	– Free plan available;  – Paid plans from $2,49 per user per month.	Easy installation.
Slack	Distributed and remote teams.	– Free plan available; – Paid plans from $7,25 per user per month.	Simple and effective.
Flock	Companies looking for a budget-friendly alternative to Slack.	– Free plan available;  – Paid plans from $4,5 per user per month.	A lot of third-party integrations.
Twist	Companies that look for more than email and less than Slack.	– Free 1-month trial;  – Paid plans from $6 per user per month.	Easy installation.
Google Chat	Professionals who are dependent on other Google apps and tools.	– Free plan available;  – Paid plans from $6 per user per month.	Great integration with other Google apps.
Ryver	Companies that are looking for a team chat app that can serve as a task management tool too.	– Free 14-day trial;  – Paid plans from $69 a month for 12 users.	A user can perform basic task management actions.
Chanty	Teams with a more structured workflow and clearly defined individual tasks.	– Free plan available;  – Paid plans from $3 per user per month.	Cost-effective paid plans.
Zoho Cliq	Companies looking for a budget-friendly and efficient team chat app.	– Free plan available;  – Paid plans from $1,80 per user per month.	Easy setup.
Rocket.Chat	Small teams in need of strong data protection.	– Free plan available;  – Paid plans from $7 per user per month.	Great data protection.
Workplace (from Meta)	Teams who prefer the Facebook-like interface.	– Free 30-day trial available;  – Paid plans from $4 per user per month.	Easy setup.
Wire	Professionals looking for a simple and safe team chat tool.	– Free trial available;  – Paid plans from $5,83 per user per month.	End-to-end encryption.
Teamwork Chat	Teams looking for a task management tool that will serve as the team chat app simultaneously.	– Free 30-day trial available;  – Paid plans from $5 per user per month.	Various project management tools integrated into the app.

Pumble

Pro: Comprehensive free plan 

Con: The guest access feature is only available in the Business Plan 

What is Pumble?

Pumble is a team chat app that enables organizations to structure and conduct their communication in a highly organized and efficient manner. 

Team members can communicate via: 

• One-on-one or group video calls, 
• Audio calls,
• Private chats,
• Private and public channels. 

Pumble also supports simple drag-and-drop file sharing with convenient file and link previews. 

Channel and DM conversations can further branch out into threads, keeping the communication structured and tidy. 

If your business associates or clients don’t use Pumble, you can always invite them thanks to the guest access feature. Once they accept the invitation, they will appear in your workspace as long as you need them there. 

Administration and permission management are simple and efficient, and onboarding for the platform is a piece of cake. 

What’s new? 

Pumble has recently included video calls, which facilitate effective communication between team members.

Also, it has enabled users to migrate from Slack and save: 

• Existing group members, 
• Messages, and 
• Organized channels.  

Why use Pumble?

Pumble is a great all-around team communication app that’s applicable in a broad range of professional settings.

It is ideally suited for remote and distributed teams.

Pumble’s highlight feature: 

A comprehensive free plan that does not limit fundamental features and a highly affordable Pro plan for teams that wish to maximize the advanced feature set. 

Available for:

Desktop — Windows, Mac, and Linux

Mobile — Android and iOS

Microsoft Teams

Pro: Excellent integration of various tools

Con: Limited number of private channels per organization

What is Microsoft Teams?

Microsoft Teams is a comprehensive team chat app that boosts its basic chat functionalities with: 

• An abundance of collaboration features, 
• Third-party integrations, and 
• Enterprise-centric functionalities. 

It is available for free as a stand-alone app or as a part of variously priced Microsoft Office 365 packages. 

However, I noticed that the free version significantly limits available features and functions as a fairly bare-bones team chat. 

For example, with the free plan, I couldn’t: 

• Give guest access,
• Use 250 third-party apps, 
• Organize a team conference with more than 100 people, or
• Schedule video calls that last for more than 60 minutes. 

Teams is fully integrated with other Office products, making it a great choice for existing Microsoft users. 

On the other hand, if your team is not familiar with the Office ecosystem, it might find Teams a bit too Microsoft-centric, while the wealth of options may be seen as confusing and complex if you are looking for a basic chat tool. 

What’s new?

Town Hall feature — Premium users can schedule huge virtual events with up to 20,000 participants. 

However, the introduction of Town Hall means that the famous Teams Live Events will be retired in September 2024. 

Why use Microsoft Teams?

Microsoft Teams is favored by many enterprise-level organizations and other teams that can benefit from its: 

• Extensive collaboration, 
• Task management, and 
• Reporting options.

Microsoft Teams’ highlight feature:

Tight and harmonious integration with other Microsoft products.

Available for:

Desktop — Windows, Mac, and Linux

Mobile — Android and iOS

Mattermost

Pro: Great data security

Con: Paid plans are a bit pricey 

What is Mattermost?

Mattermost is a team chat app that focuses heavily on data security as an exclusively self-hosted solution. 

As a chat tool, it has all the standard features that help structure and organize team communication:

• Channels, 
• Unlimited message history, 
• Video calls, and 
• Screen sharing option. 

It also provides several enterprise-centric features such as compliance reporting or e-discovery resources. 

Furthermore, the platform can be customized and enhanced with a bit of DevOps expertise for features such as webhooks and custom slash commands. 

However, I think the paid plan might be a bit pricey. 

The price ($10 per user per month), coupled with a relatively complex setup and maintenance, could put off smaller teams without a need for enhanced data protection.

Why use Mattermost?

Mattermost is best suited for large organizations dealing with sensitive and personal information (i.e. hospitals, government agencies, law firms, etc.) and any organizations in need of increased data security. 

Mattermost’s highlight feature:

Simple and efficient compliance reporting functionality.

Available for:

Desktop — Windows, Mac, and Linux

Mobile — Android and iOS

Discord 

Pro: Easy installation 

Con: Direct messages are not saved in your company’s server

What is Discord?

Discord is a communication app that offers text messaging, voice and video calls, as well as limited file and media sharing. 

The free version provides all the basic chat functionalities (including video and audio), with no real need to upgrade to a paid plan unless you want to share files bigger than 50 MB. 

The app is primarily associated with the gaming community, but it has recently grown popular in the professional realm as well. 

As a business chat tool, it is effective in its basic functionalities, particularly for teams that prefer audio communication. 

However, I noticed that text communication can get a bit cluttered quickly as the number of channels and participants grows. 

Furthermore, I missed work-specific features, although bots can help connect the app to other popular tools. 

Finally, the biggest disadvantage of using Discord is that employees who have quit would still be able to direct message their former colleagues because DMs are not saved on your company’s server.  

What’s new? 

One of the newest Discord features is Teen Safety Assists. 

Its purpose is to alert current users and blur any kind of media sent by a user you haven’t talked to before. 

Although it is primarily introduced to increase the safety of teenagers who use Discord for gaming, it is available for adults and professionals as well. 

It may be useful to remind you that unknown users might cause potential phishing attacks. 

Why use Discord?

Discord is great for informal, low-importance conversations, as well as for teams who prefer occasional or constant audio chatting over text.

Discord’s highlight feature:

Excellent audio features for almost lag-free voice communication.

Available for:

Desktop — Windows, Mac, and Linux

Mobile — Android and iOS

Slack

Pro: Simple and effective 

Con: Expensive paid plans 

What is Slack?

Slack is the first team chat app that managed to introduce instant messaging as an efficient business alternative to email. 

It offers structured real-time text communication, as well as file sharing, audio/video, and screen sharing options. 

I like it because it is highly customizable and offers countless integrations for most other popular collaboration, task management, and other work tools. 

On the downside, its free plan is quite limited, while the paid plan is rather pricey compared to many other Slack alternatives.

What’s new?

Slack has recently included an innovative Canvas feature that enables you to gather all the important media and information about a particular Slack channel, company project, or anything else in one place.

This is particularly important when a new employee joins a certain channel and wants to find out more about it or a specific project that has been discussed. 

Why use Slack?

Slack is an all-purpose team chat app that can be applied in a broad range of professional settings.

Slack’s highlight feature: 

A large number of third-party integrations allow teams to use other important work tools within the Slack framework. 

Available for:

Desktop — Windows, Mac, and Linux

Mobile — Android and iOS

Flock

Pro: Various integrations with third-party apps 

Con: Busy interface

What is Flock?

Flock is a team communication tool that aims to bridge the gap between the ease of use of Slack and the jam-packed feature set of Microsoft Teams. 

Aside from the video conferencing feature and the common messaging options, the app provides collaboration-focused features such as: 

• Task lists, 
• Reminders, and 
• Notes. 

However, the attempt to bring “the best of both worlds” results in, for me, a fairly confusing and busy interface. 

It also pales in comparison to the robustness of Teams and their extensive features.

Why use Flock?

Flock aims to be a budget-friendly alternative to the more popular Slack and Microsoft Teams, offering more work-focused features than Slack without the complexity of Teams. 

Flock’s highlight feature: 

An extensive list of third-party integrations.

Available for:

Desktop — Windows, Mac, and Linux

Mobile — Android and iOS

Twist

Pro: Easy installation

Con: Not suited for fast-paced communication

What is Twist?

Twist is a team chat app that aims to replace the hectic pace of Slack’s quickfire communication with a more considered and less urgent approach. 

It comes across as a halfway point between email and instant messaging. 

The user interface, consisting of email-like subject lines for each conversation and lofty typing areas, discourages short and fast pace of communication. 

Furthermore, it has no audio/video calls and screen-sharing options.  

However, it was quick and easy to install, so less tech-savvy members of your team would probably appreciate it. 

What’s new?

Twist’s team has recently reorganized their interface a bit, so now, threads are neatly organized by date. 

Another great thing I have discovered is that you can pick your favorite channels and group them together. 

Why use Twist?

Twist is a great choice for distributed teams that primarily engage in asynchronous communication, as well as teams that favor focused work without the distraction of ubiquitous notifications of Slack and similar apps. 

Twist’s highlight feature: 

Excellent out-of-office settings. 

Available for:

Desktop — Windows, Mac, and Linux

Mobile — Android and iOS

Google Chat

Pro: Tightly integrated into other Google apps 

Con: Not so attractive interface

What is Google Chat?

Google Chat is a simple and efficient team chat app available both as a stand-alone app and as a part of Google’s Workspace package. 

On its own, it is efficient, but a bit basic. 

However, as a part of Workspace, it makes the most of Google’s ecosystem, as it is tightly integrated with apps such as: 

• Google Meet,
• Google Docs, 
• Google Drive, 
• Google Calendar, etc.

What’s new? 

Google Chat has recently included new third-party apps which, together with other apps that have already been integrated into Chat (such as Asana, Jira, and Zendesk), make the app more efficient than ever.  

Another great new feature of Google Chat is Duet AI which provides you with: 

• Proactive suggestions, 
• Summaries of missed conversations, and 
• Various updates and insights.  

Why use Google Chat?

Google Chat will be the default choice of teams already familiar with and dependent on other products featured in Google Workspace.

Google Chat’s highlight feature: 

Smooth integration with other Google products.

Available for:

Desktop — Windows, Mac, and Linux

Mobile — Android and iOS

Ryver

Pro: Efficient team communication app and task management tool in one software

Con: No free plan (outside of a free trial) and complicated process of deactivation

What is Ryver? 

Ryver aims to be a team chat app and a task management tool in one efficient package. 

As a chat tool, it has all the standard functionalities. 

Conversations are divided into: 

• People (direct messages), 
• Teams (private group channels), and 
• Forums (public channels), with a further delineation of chats (ongoing conversations) and topics (more structured conversations around specific topics). 

Ryver also offers video and audio calls — which are still in the beta stage though.  

As a task management tool, I noticed that it is rather basic, resembling a detailed to-do list rather than a comprehensive task management tool. 

The app offers no free plan (outside of a free trial), and its paid plan is similar to the more established competitors I have tested.

Why use Ryver?

Ryver could be the app of choice for teams that wish to track and manage their tasks from within a chat app. 

Ryver’s highlight feature:

 The team chat-task management combo.

Available for:

Desktop — Windows, Mac

Mobile — Android and iOS

Chanty 

Pro: Cost-effective paid plan

Con: It could be better integrated with third-party apps

What is Chanty?

Chanty is a messenger for work that aims to separate itself from the competition by focusing the conversations on specific tasks. 

The concept is simple — team members have their tasks, and all conversations take place under the roof of said tasks. 

I wouldn’t define it as a task management tool, but as a strong task management supplement for teams focused on tasks and objectives. 

The app also incorporates some AI functionalities for improved search options and better navigation.

Why use Chanty?

Chanty is a good choice for teams with a more structured workflow and clearly defined individual tasks (e.g. software development).

Chanty’s highlight feature: 

It offers focused, task-oriented communication.

Available for:

Desktop — Windows, Mac, and Linux

Mobile — Android and iOS

Zoho Cliq

Pro: Easy setup

Con: The interface might look too complicated at the beginning 

What is Zoho Cliq?

Zoho Cliq is a team communication tool with a standard approach to team chat and just enough stylistic innovation to help it stand out. 

Although its interface might look complicated to new users, which is the biggest disadvantage of Zoho Cliq, after some time, I have become familiar with it and the app itself became pretty practical.

Its most obvious calling card is the multi-column design that allows you to view multiple conversations simultaneously. 

In the feature department, the app includes all standard text communication features, as well as audio/video calls and screen sharing. 

The app works well with other Zoho-developed products, such as their project management and CRM solutions. 

It is also one of the most affordable team chat apps out there, with a sliding pricing scale that charges less as more users join a workspace. 

What’s new?

The biggest change Zoho Cliq introduced is that now, admins can retrieve any data at any time. In case of intellectual theft or lawsuits, this feature can be a life savior. 

Why use Zoho Cliq?

Zoho Cliq is a budget-friendly team chat app that’s efficient, well-structured, and cleverly designed.

Zoho Cliq’s highlight feature:

A unique paneled design that allows a strong overview of multiple ongoing conversations.

Available for:

Desktop — Windows, Mac, and Linux

Mobile — Android and iOS

Rocket.Chat

Pro: Great data protection

Con: Complex setup process

What is Rocket.Chat?

Rocket.Chat is another open-source team communication app with the option of self-hosting. 

It utilizes end-to-end encryption and complies with all relevant data privacy standards and regulations. 

In terms of its team chat features and user interface, it closely resembles Slack and similar products. It also boasts several advanced features for more technologically adept teams. 

However, the universal practical value of many of these features can be brought into question, and it makes it a bit more difficult to navigate the basic chat functionalities. 

The pricing depends on the choice of Self-hosting or SaaS, with multiple tiers for each option.

Why use Rocket.Chat?

Rocket.Chat could be a good choice for technologically advanced teams with a strong concern for data privacy. 

Rocket.Chat’s highlight feature:

It has a strong focus on data protection.

Available for:

Desktop — Windows, Mac, and Linux

Mobile — Android and iOS

Workplace (from Meta) 

Pro: Easy setup

Con: Few integrations

What is Workplace?

Workplace represents Meta’s (formerly Facebook) foray into business communication. 

Its interface strongly resembles Facebook. 

With an almost identical fundamental structure, you can: 

• Message your teammates, 
• Create user groups, 
• Share posts, and 
• Make audio/video calls. 

The app also allows users to “go live” and broadcast video without previous scheduling and invitations, and other team members can get notified and tune in. 

Workplace from Meta boasts Facebook’s AI-powered newsfeed that brings the latest information from relevant professional areas. 

However, the social network’s principle of “always something happening” can be quite distracting in a work setting.

In the negatives department, third-party integrations are few, and it took me a lot of time to create groups in my workspace, although the internet connection was stable. 

Why use Workplace?

Workplace is a good choice for teams familiar with the Facebook framework, as well as teams that wish to encourage employee engagement and interpersonal relationships.

Workplace’s highlight feature:

Simple and effective live video broadcasting.

Available for:

Desktop — Windows, Mac, and Linux

Mobile — Android and iOS 

Wire

Pro: End-to-end encryption

Con: Interface might be too basic

What is Wire?

Wire is a communication app that places great value on user privacy. 

Initially designed mainly for personal use, it shifted its focus in recent years towards enabling team-level communication and better collaboration. 

Wire boasts end-to-end encryption and comes with other privacy-oriented options, such as disappearing messages. 

It also has all the standard communication features, from text messaging to video conferencing. 

However, in case you want the Wire mobile app, you might face various bugs according to many users who have reviewed it. 

Unfortunately, I can agree with that. It took a lot of time to finish the process of setup and the app would occasionally bug without any particular reason. 

What’s new? 

One of the latest and most innovative features Wire has included is the Guest room. 

It enables you to communicate with an external party without asking them to download anything or create an account. 

Why use Wire?

Wire offers high-level data security packed into an efficient, easy-to-use communication tool. 

Wire’s highlight feature:  

Safe and secure access for guest users.

Available for:

Desktop — Windows, Mac, and Linux

Mobile — Android and iOS

Teamwork Chat

Pro: Various project management tools integrated into the app

Con: More focus on tasks and projects than communication

What is Teamwork Chat?

Teamwork Chat is a team group chat app belonging to the broader family of Teamwork productivity apps, which also includes: 

• Project management, 
• CRM, and
• Interactive document editing solutions, among others. 

The chat itself has all the usual bells and whistles: 

• One-on-one and group chats, 
• Video calls, 
• Theme-oriented channels, 
• File sharing, 
• Searchable history, etc. 

Nevertheless, its key strength lies in its smooth integration with other Teamwork products for a comprehensive productivity package.

For example, you can follow your active tasks and set: 

• Due Date, 
• Budget, 
• Assignee, and 
• Other things that task management tools like Plaky already offer. 

However, if you need a simple messaging app suitable for a fast-paced working environment, Teamwork Chat might not be the perfect solution. 

Namely, its strength, integration with various productivity tools, turns into its weakness if used in a hectic environment where you need a simple interface intended for quick business communication. 

Why use Teamwork Chat?

For teams that already use Teamwork project management apps, Teamwork Chat is an obvious choice.

Teamwork Chat’s highlight feature:

Close integration with the Teamwork task management software.

Available for:

Desktop — Windows, Mac, and Linux

Mobile — Android and iOS

_______

After I have analyzed all the best team chat apps nowadays, let’s learn what makes them great! 

What makes a team chat app great?

Team chat apps come in many shapes and forms, in line with the diverse demands of different professional teams. 

A great team chat app is one that answers the primary communication and collaboration needs of a team. One team’s great app could be entirely unsuited for a different team. 

However, while the choice of a team chat app should be entirely dictated by the team’s specific needs, there are several universal requirements that great apps should fulfill, such as:

• User-friendliness, 
• Solid structure,
• Cost-effectiveness,
• Cross-platform availability, 
• Data security, and 
• Work-related features.

Let’s learn why these requirements are important. 

#1: User-friendliness

This should always be the primary requirement. 

If team members struggle to adopt a communication tool, then it’s probably the wrong tool. 

Navigation and use should be simple and intuitive for users, while setup, role, and access permissions should be easy for administrators.

#2: Solid structure

An app should enable a team to structure communication in a logical and orderly manner. 

This includes having simple and efficient moderation functionalities that separate: 

• One-on-one communication, 
• Segmented group conversations, and 
• General, organization-wide communication.

#3: Cost-effectiveness

Allocation of team budget resources is always a delicate balancing act. 

Ideally, teams will want their communication tools to be highly affordable and/or provide added value that justifies the price. 

#4: Cross-platform availability

Teams should be able to communicate on their preferred devices. 

A great team chat app should work on all popular desktop and mobile platforms, allowing team members to stay connected regardless of their preferred devices and platforms. 

#5: Data security

The question of data privacy and protection has grown in importance since the pandemic caused almost all businesses to adjust. 

Great team chat apps adhere to relevant data protection standards and best practices. Some even offer self-hosting to ensure the highest degree of data privacy and protection. 

#6: Work-related features 

This is not a specific set of features, but a variety of options and approaches that different apps utilize to enable better collaboration. 

These features can include: 

• Audio/video conferencing, 
• Screen sharing, 
• Third-party integrations, 
• Smart notifications, 
• Task management and tracking options, etc.

The choice of a perfect team chat app for any team lies in the balance between satisfying these fundamental expectations and fulfilling specific team requirements.

How to choose the best one for your team? 

First, I recommend choosing an app with a quality video call feature. Sometimes, you will spend almost the whole of your workday on video calls, so you want this feature to be flawless. 

Secondly, think about the number of employees you currently have, and how many new people you plan to hire in the future. 

This is important because some apps might have a limit on the number of participants in video conferences.

Thirdly, if you own or work in an IT company there is a high chance that you’d need a team chat messenger with various third-party app integrations. 

Hence, check out what apps offer the biggest number of available integrations, and which programs they intend to include in the future. 

Finally, check how much money you have at your disposal and purchase a paid plan with features that will enable you to further improve the communication in your team. 

After all, the team chat app should enable more streamlined communication between your team members and enhance the team’s productivity.

Looking for the best team chat app? Try Pumble 

I hope this selection has helped you grasp the abundance and diversity of team chat apps available in the market today. 

If you are looking for a team chat app that bears all the high-quality necessities at a fair price – try Pumble!

Its robust features and easy-to-use interface will meet all your needs and preferences and streamline efficient communication for your team. Utilize its:

• Direct messages, for quick one-on-one communication with your teammates,
• Channels, as dedicated spaces for team communication that allows you to organize your work and boost productivity,
• Threads, that keep communication streamlined and your workspace clutter-free,
• Video calls, for one-on-one or group meetings with teammates or external guests, 
• Voice calls, that help you save time and stay connected with your coworkers, all the while staying on top of your workload, and
• Screen sharing, that will deepen your team collaboration and keep everyone in sync.

These and many other Pumble features can help boost your productivity and prevent miscommunication in the workplace.

Want to see how Pumble can enhance your team communication? Try it today!