9 Best Instant Messenger software/app for Business (Free & Paid)

The standard text messaging is now passé, especially with the explosion of messaging applications that give businesses a new way to connect with employees, team members, and all stakeholders.

For businesses, cloud-based instant messaging programs are crucial for communication and project collaboration, especially when the employer is working with remote employees, freelancers, or on projects that require round-the-clock attention.

That’s why the majority of companies are using instant messaging for business.

What is Instant Messaging Programs?

Put simply; instant messaging programs allow the users to exchange messages in real-time. Both small and large-scale businesses today are using IM to share information, collaborate with team members, and forge a virtual decision-making platform.

The primary purpose of using instant messaging for business is to ensure a customized workplace collaboration with secure and rapid communication between all stakeholders.

Knowing how Instant Messaging apps are the need of the hour, we evaluated the features of Fourteen favorite instant messaging tools and reviewed them based on the functionality. Through this article, we’ll share with you the business messenger applications your team can choose for external and internal communication.

Follow this article for an in-depth analysis of each of these applications.

Having powered up the external messaging requirements, your next initiative towards streamlining business communication should be to strengthen the communication and collaboration within the company.

This can be easily achieved through the internal instant messaging program as described below:

Troop Messenger

Free — Group Chats — limitation (5)

Paid — Unlimited ($1/user/month)

Of course, we’re biased, but hey — it is our blog. Here’s our #1 Instant messaging Software. If you are looking for an all-in-one business messaging app, Troop Messenger can be the perfect tool for your business requirements. Packed with contemporary features, this user-friendly office messaging application has interactive features like:

• Unlimited Groups, Unlimited message history, and message retrieval are some of the best features.
• The tool allows screen sharing and face-to-face interaction over presentations and projects, To-Dos, and deadlines.
• Admin can have complete control over users’ accessible features. The dashboard feature allows for easy supervision.

Rocketbots

Free — Unlimited messages

Paid — Unlimited ($19 /user/month)

Rocketbot is an all-in-one messenger for business. It is a useful tool that lets you manage all the chats in one CRM with AI-powered messaging, broadcasts, and surveys. If you’re looking for a WhatsApp Business Solution, Rocketbots is a great choice.

• Rocketbot is a perfect medium for organizing all the messaging apps in one place.
• It functions with AI that supports over 15 languages and suggests AI smart replies during a conversation.
• Target broadcast features and chat automation let users craft and deliver messages to the right people within the right time.
• One can deploy Rocketbot on WeChat, Slack, Facebook Messenger, Kik, and other similar platforms.
• The tool combines the personality of humans and the speed of computers to create a powerful messaging platform that facilitates communication in the most efficient way.

Skype

Skype is FREE for use by up to 25 people.

Starting from: $2.00/month

There’s a solid reason why hundreds of millions of employers use Skype to collaborate with their clients and employees. Skype is the ultimate solution for smooth communication.

Audio and Video HD calling, smart messaging, Screen sharing, call recording, private conversations, Live subtitles, and phone calls- you can do it all with Skype.

• Skype allows editing of sent messages or deletion of messaging all-together.
• It is compatible with Phone, Tablet, Desktop, Web, Xbox, and Alexa too.
• Some of the exclusive features of Skype include Skype call forwarding, Chat history back-up, location sharing, background blurring, Voicemail, and Skype call recording.
• Skype also allows users to search for specific texts within a conversation. This can be done by selecting a find button under the chat header or pressing Command + F on Mac, and Ctrl + F on Windows.
• Skype for Business is a great way of hosting professional online meetings. With Office 365 in-built integration, the host can access and share all office apps including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote, and Outlook.
• Skype for Business has powerful features like Whiteboard, PowerPoint upload, Built-in IM, Screen Sharing, URL invites, and an unlimited number of meetings.
• The Office 365 Business plan starts at $8.25 per user per month.

Slack

File Storage — 5GB per workspace

Message Visibility — 10K most recent messages

Slack is the ultimate tool for business communication and collaboration. Businesses all over the world rely on this tool to streamline work irrespective of the geographical locations of the team members. Use slack for business because:

• Apart from direct messaging and threading features, Slack has an integration directory of over 1500 applications.
• Slack supports two-factor authentication for additional security and data encryption features too.
• Slack allows collaboration beyond colleagues by enabling users to share channels with clients, partners, and vendors.
• With Slack, users can customize communication-based on topic, team members, projects, and other factors.
• Slack is one of the highly secured communication tools, for it uses robust measures like SSO and 2FA to encrypt the data and protect it against cyber threats.

Brosix

Pro Plan — $ 2.10 per user/m

Ultimate — $ 2.99 per user/m

With Brosix as an instant messenger, you get to do a lot more than texting and multimedia sharing. Using Brosix as a business messaging application, your company can gain complete control of a business network and have an encrypted communication channel.

• Brosix has a complete range of collaboration features that facilitate business communication: offline messages, video and voice chat, whiteboard, file transfer, screen sharing, malware and virus protection, real-time monitoring.
• Communication channels are fully-encrypted for additional security. Brosix uses the P2P file transfer to keep user’s data safe from being breached.
• With unlimited file sharing, you are sure to witness efficient collaboration, productivity benefits, and easy project management.
• Employers or team managers can have full control over users’ accessible features, privileges, and contact lists.
• It is a perfect instant messaging tool for those who want a strong, secure, simple, cost-effective, and reliable business communication solution.

Google+ Hangouts

Free 14 Day Trial

Basic — Professional office suite with 30GB storage

Given the reputation of Google Applications, you can safely rely on Hangouts for all your internal communication. Not only does this tool offers a user-friendly chat service, but it is also packed with some of the amazing features listed below:

• Hangouts as an office messenger allow deep integration with G-suite application, which is a perfect way of supporting your business needs.
• It is compatible with Android, Windows, Apple devices, and computers: which makes it the perfect tool for handling communication needs of corporate environments.
• Hangouts’ integration with Gmail supports threaded messages and create bots with the app itself. It has no trouble integrating with major business applications and systems.
• Hangout supports group conferencing for up to fifteen people, screen sharing options, and phone call.
• For companies that require video broadcasting, Hangout on Air Feature is a great feature. It is an efficient way for businesses to conduct talk shows, live seminars, and stream video calls live through YouTube.

Flock

Free Plan — Search up to 10K messages

Paid — Unlimited ($2.13 /user/month)

Flock is recommended for the companies that wish to make teamwork conversations effortless. With a significant number of collaborative features, Flock can be an integral part of your business network. The users get to stay on top of their project, create and share notes within the chatbox. Other features include:

• Integration with third-party apps your team needs. For example- GitHub, Google Drive, Jira, Trello, Google Calendar, Twitter, and many more.
• Create polls, get feedback and opinion, and set reminders to enhance your team’s productivity.
• With drag and drop features, communicate with your team through visual aids, and pin important files and messages, and access them whenever needed.
• Flock also allows users to build their own applications via Flock API. From pop-ups and widgets to sidebar and slash commands, you can add distinctive features to these apps.
• Flock has strict control over user rights and data through TLS 1.2 data encryption and Amazon Web Services hosting.

Ryver

FREE 14-Day Trial

Paid — $49 /user/month up to 12 user/mo

Business Collaboration has never been easier. With Ryver, you can manage your team’s interaction in a simple, easy, and affordable manner.

• Group messaging allows unlimited file sharing, unlimited chats, and infinite conversation searching.
• With Ryver, you can avail unlimited free calling, crisp and clear audio and video call with shared screen space.
• Task management feature includes unlimited personal and team task board, tags, checklists, and assignments.
• Ryver employes Active Response Technology which reduces error-prone human response and eliminates slow reaction by replacing it with an automated and powerful response system.
• Easy integration with other tools like Dropbox, Evernote, Gmail, Hangouts, and more.

Wrike

Free — 5 User

Paid — 5–20 User ($9.80/user/month)

For those of you who want a lot more than instant messaging, Wrike should be the ultimate pick. Bundled with great interactive features, Wrike lets you communicate with your team members, share updates, and work together on the projects. Here’s what makes Wrike interesting:

• Consolidate to-dos, customize the dashboard, create gnat charts, set a timeline and manage daily work with ease.
• Wrike has a collaborative proof tool that allows users to approve and review digital documents and eliminate all chances of miscommunication.
• Share interactive, real-time reports, and edit, or review them regularly.

What do you think?

Communication and collaboration play a crucial role in all facets of the business. Not only does regular communication helps build a capable team, but also contributes to the development of the company.

The reason businesses use these instant messaging tools is to generate leads, engage with employees and team members virtually, and manage tasks efficiently. But do keep one thing in mind, when choosing the appropriate instant messaging for business, it’s essential to consider your company’s culture, team size, and the project types.

Of all these nine tools, which one do you think works well for business communication? Do you have any suggestions for us to include on this list?

Originally published at https://www.troopmessenger.com.