10 Best Communications Software & Apps of 2024

Connecteam is an all-in-one employee management application designed to streamline operations, enhance communication, and address HR needs for mobile-first businesses. It includes a personalized company news feed, secure instant messaging, employee surveys, and an employee-facing knowledge base.

Why I picked Connecteam: I selected Connecteam due to its comprehensive features that facilitate real-time oversight of operations, a characteristic that sets it apart from other tools in the market. Connecteam offers a unique blend of communication, operation, and training tools all in one place, which is not commonly found in other software.

In addition to communicating directly with your employees or teams, you can also use Connecteam for time tracking, shift management, and task monitoring, making it an ideal solution for businesses seeking greater oversight of mobile or field-based operations.

Connecteam Standout Features & Integrations

Standout features for Connecteam include their communication and task management tools. Managers can communicate directly with employees through their secure instant messaging, then assign them follow-up tasks directly within the app, including additional comments and attachments. Employees can mark them as complete as they work, giving their managers an up-to-date progress report as they go about their tasks.

Other useful features include a dedicated employee communication channel with targeted updates, team engagement features, a digital suggestion box to collect employee feedback, a searchable company directory, and an organizational chart.

Integrations include Paychex, Xero, Gusto, QuickBooks Payroll (online + desktop), Google Calendar and others.

Slack is an all-in-one platform that facilitates communication and collaboration among team members. 

Why I picked Slack: I included Slack because I really like its channels feature. It helps me stay on top of all my work-related tasks and activities in an organized way. With channels, I can easily communicate with others in different departments, offices, and even other companies.

I also appreciate how customizable channels are, as they allow relevant people and information to be grouped together in one place. Whether I need to link two organizations through a shared channel or separate teams and projects, channels make communication clear, efficient, and organized. I also love how channels act as a dynamic archive, making accessing past discussions and identifying important messages incredibly easy. 

Slack Standout Features and Integrations:

Some of the standout features of this platform include group messaging, allowing for discussions between multiple team members simultaneously. Additionally, the file-sharing function makes it simple for team members to share important docs and files with instant notifications. When face-to-face communication is necessary, the video conferencing feature allows teams to hold online meetings and collaborate in real-time.

Integrations include Google Drive, Trello, Asana, Zoom, Salesforce, Jira, GitHub, Dropbox, and Microsoft Teams. You can also connect Slack to a paid Zapier account to build additional integrations.

Hub is an advanced employee communication software designed to enhance internal communication and employee engagement within organizations. It offers personalized alerts to keep staff updated on company news, events, and content.

Why I picked Hub: Hub includes tools for gaining insights into employee wellbeing through forms, surveys, and polls. It facilitates resource sharing and collaboration across multiple locations in a secure digital workspace, and tracks engagement with features like likes, comments, and usage reports. Hub prioritizes security, being hosted on Google Cloud and ISO27001 certified, with robust features like single sign-on and two-factor authentication. It provides unlimited cloud storage for easy management of company resources and enables targeted communications through intelligent tagging and tailored emails.

Hub supports two-way communication and collaboration with its feedback and group forum features. Additionally, it simplifies event management and is fully mobile responsive, allowing remote access to all features. Continuous upgrades based on customer feedback ensure that Hub remains a cutting-edge solution for internal corporate communications.

Hub also champions sustainability, and will plant 50 trees for each new HUB sold, with a focus on community-based reforestation projects that support communities affected by climate change.

Hub Standout Features & Integrations

Standout features include a range of benefits as an intranet solution, designed to be easy-to-use, affordable, and adaptable to various business needs. Key features include access to all areas with no hidden costs or add-ons, free upgrades ensuring users always have the latest version, and a user-friendly interface designed for simplicity and ease of navigation.

Hub can be set up rapidly, often within 48 hours, providing a fully branded intranet experience. It has been recognized for improving internal communications, with awards such as 'Best Internal Comms' at the CIPR PRide Awards.

Integrations include Single Sign-On, Gmail and Microsoft Outlook email and calendar accounts, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, SharePoint, third-party feeds and HTML widgets, and Enabler email marketing software.

MyHub is a cloud-based intranet software solution designed to support internal communication and collaboration within organizations.

Why I picked MyHub: MyHub provides a centralized platform where organizations can create, share, and manage content to enhance internal communication. It includes features such as discussion boards, blogs, and news feeds that facilitate interactive communication among team members. The tool also offers a staff directory and profiles, which help employees connect and collaborate more effectively. 

Additionally, MyHub supports file sharing and document management, enabling teams to access important information and resources in a secure environment. The platform's calendar feature also allows for the scheduling and promotion of events, ensuring that all team members are informed of upcoming activities and deadlines. MyHub is accessible from any device with internet connectivity, making it particularly suitable for remote and distributed teams.

MyHub Standout Features and Integrations:

Beyond traditional communication, MyHub incorporates social features like forums, blogs, and polls, fostering a sense of community and enhancing engagement across the organization. MyHub also emphasizes data protection and offers advanced security options, including two-factor authentication and custom access levels.

Integrations include Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce, Vimeo, Microsoft Power BI, Dropbox, YouTube, Single Sign-on, Canva, and Box.

Troop Messenger is a real-time messenger application that helps businesses manage team collaboration and communication.

Why I picked Troop Messenger: I selected Troop Messenger because of its burnout function, which provides an exclusive method for private chatting. You can set a timer, and once the time is up the message disappears. This is a clever way to have a discussion without any evidence left behind. Another exceptional feature is forkout, which lets you send a single message or attachment to numerous people without creating a group.

Troop Messenger Standout Features and Integrations:

One standout feature of Troop Messenger is the 'info' function, which provides information on each message sent and received, such as the time it was read and delivered. The 'recall' feature allows users to delete a message on both the sender and receiver's end, but only within ten minutes of sending it.

Additionally, messages can be marked as important, and the 'Respond Later' option allows users to set a reminder to reply when they have more available time.

Integrations through Zapier include Asana, GitHub, Gmail, Zoom, Google Calendar, Freshdesk, HubSpot, ClickUp, and Microsoft Outlook.

AlertMedia is an emergency communication and mass notification software that helps companies notify employees of emergencies and ensures the right people receive critical information when needed.

Why I picked AlertMedia: I chose AlertMedia because of its unwavering dedication to keeping employees safe. This all-inclusive solution offers mass notifications and a 24/7 monitoring team for added assurance. The Employee Safety Monitoring App sets AlertMedia apart because it turns a standard mobile phone into a powerful safety device with one-touch access to law enforcement. Another important factor for me was the app's capability to read and respond to urgent organizational messages. 

AlertMedia Standout Features and Integrations:

AlertMedia provides standout features that improve communication in both directions, enabling individuals to confirm their well-being or share information about current events. Users can effortlessly send notifications through various channels. AlertMedia also offers pre-made message templates that ensure consistent responses during emergencies, saving valuable time.

Integrations are available with the Fusion Framework System.

GoToConnect is an all-in-one phone, meeting, and messaging software built for small buisenesses. 

Why I picked GoToConnect: I selected GoToConnect for its easy-to-use and advanced VOIP calling abilities, which enable teams to deliver excellent customer service from anywhere. With features like virtual receptionists and voicemail, connecting with clients and teammates is always possible. The virtual voicemail allows you to listen to messages from anywhere, making it easy to prioritize important ones. 

GoToConnect Standout Features and Integrations:

GoToConnect lets businesses quickly set up new phone numbers or use their current ones. They offer audio conferencing for businesses, supporting calls with up to 250 people. Their video conferencing is safe and can be used from anywhere and on any device. 

Integrations include Zendesk, Salesforce, Miro, Microsoft Teams, Google Calendar, Salesforce Lightning, Prezi, Docebo, and CirQlive.

Flock is a communication and collaboration tool designed to streamline team communication and enhance productivity.

Why I picked Flock: I selected Flock because of its impressive ability to widen the circle of collaboration. Inviting guest users ensures that decisions aren't just made based on internal opinions but also factor in valuable feedback from external stakeholders. 

Another distinguishing feature is its voice notes option. There are moments when typing can't capture the nuances of a message, so sending voice notes helps compare and judge tones, making it easier to determine the context or emphasis of a conversation.

Flock Standout Features and Integrations:

One of the standout features of Flock is its channel messaging system, which allows users to organize their conversations. With this feature, users can create channels for specific projects and priorities, making it easier to hold strategy meetings and brainstorming sessions and get instant feedback. Flock also supports in-app video and voice conferencing, enabling teams to meet even in different locations. Furthermore, the integrated search feature in Flock helps users find necessary information quickly. 

Integrations include Asana, Dropbox Business, GitHub, Google Analytics 360, Google Drive, Google Workspace, Jira, Mailchimp, Trello, and Twitter.

Asana is a task management and project collaboration tool that helps teams stay organized and on track. It is designed to streamline workflows and improve productivity by providing a centralized team communication and task management platform.

Why I picked Asana: I chose Asana because of its Intelligence feature that just blew me away. It's like having a personal helper that optimizes everything, ensuring tasks are streamlined and easy to handle. Communicating about tasks directly on the task is easy with a high-level overview. Comments and changes are automatically sent to all relevant project parties. And when things get a little tricky, it proactively alerts me and helps me communicate better with its writing assistance. Not to mention, it provides a coach who gives me personalized advice and project insights. 

Asana Standout Features and Integrations:

Asana has a great workflow builder feature, which lets teams create automated processes to keep everyone on the same page. Also, the timeline feature allows users to quickly create visual Gantt charts that show project timelines. The Boards feature is like Kanban boards, which helps keep tasks organized and easy to track. Furthermore, the Calendar feature gives teams a clear view of all tasks and deadlines so nothing gets missed.

Asana integrates with over 100 apps, including Azure Active Directory, GitHub, Google Drive, Instagantt, Notion, Okta, Salesforce, Slack, Tableau Reporting, Trello, WhatsApp, and Zoom.

Microsoft Teams Frontline Workforce is a communication and collaboration platform specifically designed for frontline workers who primarily interact with customers and need to stay connected with their organization.

Why I picked Microsoft Teams: I went with Frontline Connect because it's a great tool for keeping workers connected, especially those who aren't stationed at desks. It helps them stay in touch with the right people and access the necessary resources to complete their tasks. Plus, it acts as a hub for teamwork, allowing teams to communicate via messaging, email, file sharing, and even calls all in one place. 

It's smart to have all the company news and resources in a single, branded app, making it easy for workers to find what they need. I also really appreciate that leaders can send important messages directly to workers in specific locations or roles, ensuring that the right people always get the information they need.

Microsoft Teams Standout Features and Integrations:

One standout feature I really like is called “Shifts,” which is a schedule management tool that helps frontline managers and workers seamlessly manage schedules and stay connected. Another unique feature is the Walkie-Talkie functionality, which allows for instant voice communication between team members, enhancing real-time collaboration.

Integrations include Microsoft Office 365 services such as SharePoint, OneDrive, Viva Engage, and Stream. Additionally, Teams can integrate with third-party workforce management systems through managed Shifts connectors.