The 10 best chat apps for business in 2024

There’s a level of communication within teams that emails can’t fully achieve and project management software often misses out on. It’s the digital equivalent of leaning over to ask one of your colleagues for a specific piece of information or to discuss a project. Providing another channel through which your team can find their rhythm and build a rapport can help make them more efficient and comfortable. Chat apps for business can facilitate those conversations.

Chat apps aren’t just a social media thing anymore. Dedicated chat apps for business are made for the modern workplace. They’re tools that allow you to build an environment that promotes collaboration, communication, and clarity. Here are the best chat apps for business as well as an analysis of what makes them unique.

• Zoom Team Chat for robust workplace collaboration
• Slack for customization
• Discord for voice chat and screen sharing
• Microsoft Teams for Microsoft 365 integration
• Google Chat for simplicity
• Element for security and privacy
• Flock for task management and internal collaboration
• Ryver for all-in-one chat and project management
• Troop Messenger for a feature-rich solution
• Zoho Cliq for an affordable business chat app

Zoom Team Chat

Best for

Robust workplace collaboration

G2 Rating

Pros

• User-friendly interface
• Continue your Zoom meeting chats after the call is over
• Easily add external users
• Unified communication hub

Cons

• Teams new to Zoom may face a brief learning curve.

Key features

• AI-powered search and AI companion (only available with eligible paid accounts)
• Whiteboard collaboration
• File sharing and threaded conversations

Starting price

• Included with all Zoom Workplace plans, including Zoom Basic (free)

Zoom Team Chat contains compelling functionalities specifically designed to enhance team communication. Unlike emails, which can be slow, chat enables instant, real-time updates and responses. This helps maintain momentum so that projects aren’t slowed down when teammates are dispersed in different time zones or locations. It allows your team to brainstorm ideas, troubleshoot problems, and make decisions together.

Here are some features that make Zoom Team Chat shine:

• Threaded conversations: Zoom’s threaded conversation format keeps discussions organized and easy to find. You can create different channels that cater to specific projects and keep different conversations or chats separate. All your work-related conversations, file sharing, and quick check-ins happen on one platform.
• Message scheduling and chat reminders: You can schedule messages to be sent at a specific time, be it to cater to specific recipients’ timezones or to make sure that information is delivered when it’s needed.
• Continuous meeting chat: With Zoom Team Chat, your meeting chat histories are saved and accessible, even after meetings end. This enables teams to continue the conversation in the days following a meeting.
• Zoom AI Companion: Zoom’s generative AI assistant provides a measure of automation that can save a lot of time otherwise spent on tedious tasks. It can summarize chat threads, translate messages in real time, and even compose chat messages based on your conversations. Available with eligible paid plans*, AI Companion stands out as a tool that’s centered around innovation and efficiency.
• Media embedding: Say goodbye to relevant information getting buried in chat threads. Zoom Team Chat allows users to embed different types of media into chats. You can pin links, whiteboards, and resources to the top of chats for easy reference.
• Security and privacy: The platform uses TLS 1.2 to encrypt in-transit Team Chat messages between users and the Zoom Cloud Platform, as well as at-rest messages stored in it. This helps keep your data safe and secure.

Zoom Team Chat is an all-you-need chat app for businesses that comes with a robust set of workplace collaboration features and integrated video conferencing functionality. It’s connected to numerous features that cover email, docs, and whiteboards, making it easier than ever to share resources in a variety of formats. It also gives users the opportunity to leverage Workflow Automation** to customize the user experience and perform common tasks. 

The platform feels like it was built around every conversation a team could have. It goes beyond just sending messages. Features like GIFs, emojis, and polls can inject a touch of fun and informality into serious work talk, fostering a more positive and engaging work environment. This can be especially helpful for remote teams that might not have as many opportunities for casual interaction.

At its core, Zoom Team Chat is more than just a chat app. It’s part of Zoom Workplace, an open collaboration platform that takes communication beyond the basics of chat apps.

*  May not be available for all regions and industry verticals

** Available to eligible paid Zoom users at no additional cost. May not be available for all regions and industry verticals

Slack

Best for

Customization

G2 Rating

Pros

• Highly customizable
• Robust search functionality
• Channel-based organization

Cons

• Information/integration overload
• Limited features in the free plan
• Standalone chat app

Key features

• Channels and threads
• Real-time messaging and file sharing

Starting price

• Free plan
• Pro plan: $8.75/month

Slack is one of the original chat apps a business can leverage. It’s great for teams that want a customizable platform to create workflows and automate repetitive tasks. 

Beyond that, Slack comes with extensive integration capabilities that allow you to pull in project management tools, cloud storage solutions, code repositories, and a wide variety of other services to bring all your workflows into one central hub.

You can even build or integrate custom bots to perform specific actions within Slack. These bots can answer frequently asked questions and provide updates on project statuses.

While Slack’s customization may make it preferable to teams that want total autonomy over settings and workflows (think software developers), achieving that level of personalization can be a complex endeavor. Find out how Slack compares to Microsoft Teams and Zoom Team Chat.

Discord

Best for

Voice chat and screen sharing

G2 Rating

N/A

Pros

• Rich server organization
• Simple and intuitive UI

Cons

• Informal atmosphere
• Limited file size uploads
• Features designed for building communities over companies

Key features

• Low-latency voice chat
• Screen sharing and video calls

Starting price

• Free
• Nitro subscription: $4.99/month

Discord rose to prominence as the gamer’s best friend — the audio, video, and text chat app most geared toward those particular needs. The platform works on a server basis, meaning users create an account and must then be added to a server and given permission in order to contribute.

For example, your team creates a server for a project you’re working on. You’re able to create multiple text channels, voice channels, and knowledge hubs. You can also set permissions based on roles and adjust everyone’s access to specific channels.

Discord also allows you to integrate other tools such as bots, whether they’re for music, polls, welcoming messages, or notifications. Users can hop into a Voice Channel for quick chats and even share their cameras, videos, and screens.

But what makes Discord a contender for this list is its ability to provide the same kind of professional environment despite not being built for it. Sure, there’ll be a bit of an informal feel to the platform, and it may take some time to get used to the different features, but all in all, Discord is capable of being the chat app your business needs.

Microsoft Teams

Best for

Microsoft 365 integration

G2 Rating

Pros

• Microsoft 365 integration

Cons

• Vendor ecosystem lock-in
• Learning curve

Key features

• Feature-rich platform (polls, tasks)
• Enterprise-grade security

Starting price

• Free plan
• Microsoft Teams Essentials: $4.00/user/month

Microsoft Teams has always been a notable presence in the business chat arena. With a comprehensive suite of features that integrate with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, it offers a natural extension if your team already uses Microsoft products like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 

While you can collaborate on documents in real-time, share files from OneDrive, and schedule meetings directly from your Outlook calendar, Teams and Outlook are two separate applications with two separate calendar features. 

As far as functionality is concerned, Teams also includes video conferencing, polls, screen sharing, and a robust set of collaboration tools, all within a single platform.

One potential issue with Microsoft Teams also happens to be one of its biggest perks. Its seamless integration with Microsoft 365 products may just put you in a position where you’re locked into a vendor’s ecosystem. You get Teams, then you get other Microsoft products it integrates with, and before you know it, everything your team uses is Microsoft.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but you risk missing out on some really impressive tools and products that cater to your biggest pain points but don’t fit in the Microsoft ecosystem. At the same time, a lot of other chat apps for business do a great job of providing Microsoft-based integration.

Google Chat

Best for

Ease of use

Capterra Rating

N/A

Pros

• Easy to learn and use
• AI features available with Business and Enterprise plans

Cons

• Limited features compared to competitors
• Limited customization

Key features

• Simple and intuitive interface
• Google Workspace integration

Starting price

• Free with Google Workspace

Similar to Teams, Google Chat is a great chat app that is most powerful within its Google Workspace ecosystem. It integrates with other Google applications like Gmail, Drive, and Calendar, creating a centralized hub for communication and collaboration.

Google Chat is a simple chat tool that’s readily available within your workspace, and it’s very easy to navigate and learn. While it offers core chat functionalities, it lacks some of the advanced features available in competitor apps like Zoom Team Chat, Slack, or Microsoft Teams. Features like robust search functionality, custom integrations, and in-depth analytics are absent in this tool.

But Google Chat does its job all the same. It might not be as advanced or complex, but for direct communication between team members, it’s a great mini tool to get the job done.

Element

Best for

Security and privacy

G2 Rating

Pros

• Secures sensitive data
• Flexible

Cons

• Steeper learning curve
• Limited integrations

Key features

• End-to-end encryption
• Open-source platform
• Cross-platform availability

Starting price

• Starter plan: free
• Business plan: $5/user/month

While other chat apps take the medal for robust collaboration features or well-made integrations, Element carved itself a reputation for security and privacy. This open-source platform offers end-to-end encryption for all communication, making it a compelling option for businesses handling sensitive data.

Element encrypts all messages, calls, and file transfers by default, providing an extra layer of security. Its open-source code makes it a flexible option that fosters transparency and makes independent security audits easier. 

While it excels in terms of security, Element has a few downsides. It comes with a steeper learning curve than other chat apps. Its integration capabilities are also basic at best, and it doesn’t have the expansive third-party app integrations available on competing platforms like Zoom Team Chat, Slack, or Microsoft Teams. 

However, Element is a strong choice for organizations that prioritize security and privacy above all else. If you’re considering this tool, make sure to weigh its limitations against its security benefits.

Flock

Best for

Task management and collaboration

G2 Rating

Pros

• Unifies team communication and task management
• Advanced collaboration features

Cons

• Learning curve for complex workflows
• Limited free plan features

Key features

• Integrated task management
• Centralized communication hub
• Seamless integrations

Starting price

• Starter plan: free
• Pro plan: $4.50/user/month

Flock integrates to-do lists and task management features within its chat interface, allowing you to assign tasks, set deadlines, and track progress, all within a single platform.

It provides value beyond simple chats, with features like file sharing, polls, and dedicated channels that come together to create a central hub for your team. Flock also offers the ability to integrate many third-party tools, from project management and collaboration software to cloud storage. This way, your team can connect their workflows and centralize communication across their apps.

Flock is a strong choice for many use cases, but not all teams will find its value as apparent. If you already have established task and project management workflows on another platform, chances are you won’t need all the features that make Flock impressive.

Ryver

Best for

Chat and project management

G2 Rating

Pros

• Strong visual collaboration tools
• Flexibility and customization
• Project management functionalities

Cons

• Pricing structure
• Feature overload

Key features

• All-in-one chat and project management

Starting price

• Starter plan: $34.50/month for the first 3 months, then $69/month

While most chat apps focus on their core functionality and attempt to provide value around it, Ryver has gone for the more holistic approach, creating a comprehensive platform that integrates chat and project management into one hub.

It takes all of its communication tools (chat, video conferencing, and file sharing) and blends them with project management features (task creation, assignment, and progress tracking) for a central hub that manages all aspects of a project.

While that sounds great on paper, the abundance of features can be a bit much, especially for teams that are simply after a basic chat solution that complements existing tools and workflows.

That said, the visual collaboration tools available like Kanban boards and whiteboards would be handy in a quick team chat about an active project.

The one point of hesitation with Ryver is its pricing structure. It’s not uncommon to see custom pricing for large-scale software, but it seems unnecessary for a business chat app to lock certain basic features behind a “custom quote.”

All in all, Ryver is a comprehensive solution for both chat and project management. Creative agencies, marketing teams, and companies that thrive on collaborative workflows can benefit from Ryver’s centralized hub approach.

Troop Messenger

Best for

A feature-rich solution

G2 Rating

Pros

• Cost-effective option
• Feature powerhouse

Cons

• Limited brand customization
• Limited integrations

Key features

• Forkout messaging feature
• Feature-rich communication (polls, location tracking)
• Security and scalability

Starting price

• Premium plan: $2.50/user/month

Troop Messenger packs a lot of features in its product. Users can manage tasks with to-do lists, conduct quick polls, track team locations (with permission), and share files. Additionally, Troop offers chat-specific features like message scheduling and self-destructing messages. These tools can be very useful to teams with sensitive data or a strict communication policy.

The Forkout feature stands out as one of those handy tools you don’t know you need until you do. It allows you to instantly send the same information to multiple recipients, be it a message, video, attachment, or any other format. And you'll be able to control how information is distributed in one click.

Troop also comes equipped with end-to-end encryption and data residency options, and its scalability paves the way for growing teams — from small startups to large enterprises.

Troop’s free plan contains a decent number of features, which means it can be a great fit for budget-conscious teams that want to try the platform before committing.

Zoho Cliq

Best for

An affordable business chat app

G2 Rating

Pros

• Seamless integrations

Cons

• Limited features in the free plan
• Prone to information overload if not managed properly

Key features

• Contextual conversations

Starting price

• Free plan
• Standard plan: $16.20 for up to 25 users/month

Zoho Cliq does things a little differently by focusing on contextual communication, which works hand in hand with Zoho Books to centralize conversations around a specific element. 

For example, you can create a Contextual Chat and add Zoho Books users. From there, you can initiate discussions, share images and documents, start video and audio calls, and discuss specific “modules” like items, customers, quotes, sales orders, invoices, credit notes, vendors, expenses, and more.

As a chat app, Zoho Cliq ticks all the boxes but doesn’t stray too far from the norm, except for Contextual Chats and how they seamlessly integrate with other Zoho products. All in all, it’s a solid choice for companies discovering their footing in communication, but it’s an especially good choice for teams already using Zoho products.

With multiple well-known options and names in the business world to choose from, it’s important to know what to look for in a chat app, especially if you’re unfamiliar with what these solutions can do. Here’s what makes a chat app a solid choice for your company:

• Ease of use: A good chat app for business needs to be intuitive, user-friendly, and easy to learn regardless of your team’s technical expertise. A chat app that’s a constant struggle to use and figure out can waste more time than sending an email. 
• Team chat and direct messaging: These core functionalities of a chat app are fundamental to facilitating communication about projects.
• Video conferencing: In a professional landscape of remote and flexible teams, video chat capabilities are essential for creating direct face-to-face interaction. No number of features or in-depth chat functionalities can make up for that element, which makes platforms focused on unified communications an ideal pick.
• File sharing: Choose a platform that creates a frictionless file-sharing experience. More often than not, teams need to collaborate on certain projects, and sometimes that requires sharing files and resources. Make sure your chat app facilitates attachment sharing for a smoother collaboration workflow.
• Search functionality: Teams grow, change, and adapt over time. This means that sooner or later, someone will need a document, resource, or message that has already been shared. A robust search functionality allows your team to minimize search time and find relevant information quickly.
• Channel organization: Not all conversations are relevant to all team members. Being able to create different channels and organize access depending on who’s involved can streamline conversations and minimize confusion or overload. Your chat app needs to cater to your team’s organizational needs.
• Task management: Depending on your workflows, you might want your chat app to include a workflow automation or task management functionality, or at least the ability to integrate with one. The ability to assign or manage tasks can turn short, meaningful conversations into actionable steps.
• Integrations: Integrations can be as simple as calendars or as complex as premium project management solutions. Pick a solution that offers the integrations your team needs to level up their work.
• Data security: Your business data, whether it’s client details, project communications, or invoicing documents, needs to be protected from leaks, hacks, and third-party access. 
• Mobile access: It’s important to stay in the loop on the go. Chat apps for business with dedicated mobile apps put your entire workspace and team at the tip of your fingers.

The way we approach work has gone through a dramatic shift. Remote and flexible models are becoming increasingly common, and with that, seamless and efficient communication is now more critical than ever.

Zoom Team Chat can help bridge that communication gap. Given that it’s nested within the Zoom Workplace platform, it provides a unified communication solution that’s designed to simplify your team communication and enable collaboration in both digital and physical workplaces. With features like chat compose with AI Companion, real-time messaging, integrated video conferencing, and document collaboration tools, your team has access to everything they need in one hub.

Imagine a scenario where a team member has a quick question about a project deadline. With Zoom Workplace, they can hop into the dedicated team channel, ask their question in real-time, and get a response (video, text, file) from a colleague within the same platform. Quick video calls become a natural and easy part of the day, and project-specific information becomes readily available to everyone involved.

Whether your team is fully remote, flexible, or entirely in-office, Zoom Workplace can be the key to fostering a more collaborative and productive environment.