Best chat software for businesses in 2024

Is team communication important to you?

Do you think chat is much more effective than email?

Are you looking to improve communication in your company? 

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Check out our top 10 best chat solutions for businesses:

1. Talkspirit
2. Slack
3. Google Chat
4. Microsoft Teams
5. Rocket Chat 
6. Mattermost
7. Flock
8. Chanty
9. Brosix
10. Zoho Connect
    

And choose the one that suits you best.

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1. Talkspirit

Much more than a chat room: a collaborative nugget 100% made in Europe

Talkspirit is a versatile French collaborative platform. In addition to enabling employees to work efficiently on a daily basis with tools such as task assignments or the online file co-editing in real timeTalkspirit integrates into its platform a chat which is the core functionality. For some of our clients such as Agence Bergamote (editorial communication), this chat has resulted in a 95% reduction in internal emails. Don't doubt the efficiency of chat to improve communication in your company! 

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Key features:

• chat with:

• reactions to messages
• direct responses to a message
• @mentions    
• bookmarked conversations
• customizable thematic groups

• video conferencing / audio conferencing 
• access without email possible to integrate ALL your employees
• available on mobile 
• responsive customer service and user support (FR and EN) seven days a week
• GDPR : data hosted in the EU (at OVHcloud)
  

Limitations / disadvantages:

• Talkspirit is an all-in-one collaborative tool that will meet all your needs in terms of team communication. Nevertheless, Talkspirit is not the ideal solution if you are only looking for a chat.
  

Pricing: 

• paid plans from €5/month per user (and less with 500 users or more, and with preferential conditions for associations)  
• free trial (15 days) 
• free personalized demo 
  

Learn more from Talkspirit users' feedback 

2. Slack 

The platform for communicating with your team and carrying out your tasks

Slack is a chat application for businesses. Known for its customisable themed chat channels and wide range of integrations, Slack transforms organizations' communication by making everyday exchanges more fluid. 

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Key features:

• easy-to-use tool
• conversation channels
• numerous and powerful integrations
• web and mobile applications

Limitations / disadvantages:

• the multiplication of channels and the rhythm of notifications can quickly become counterproductive
• publisher subject to the Cloud Act* 
  

Pricing: 

• from €6,25/month per user, with a free version available

3. Google Chat 

The team chat developed by Google

Google Chat is the chat module integrated into the collaboration suite Google Workspace. Its goal? To simplify individual exchanges and group messages. 

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Key features:

• group chat
• discussion thread
• chatbot 
• powerful search function
• HD video calls and screen sharing 
• instant subtitles 
  

Limitations / disadvantages:

• G Suite does not offer a desktop application 
• regular updates imply a certain adaptability of the users
• publisher subject to the Cloud Act* 

Pricing: 

• Business Starter plan at €4.68 per month per user 
• Business Standard plan at €9.36 per month per user
• Business Plus plan at €15.60 per month per user 
• Enterprise plan on quotation from the sales department
• 14-day free trial 

4. Microsoft Teams 

The Office 365 team chat solution

Microsoft Teams is an online collaborative workspace that, among other features, allows its users to take advantage of an integrated chat and to participate in audio and video calls: useful tools for smoothing daily team communication. 

Key features:

• instant messaging 
• good integration with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem of tools
• storage, sharing and co-editing of documents
  

Limitations / disadvantages:

• no access without email possible
• publisher subject to the Cloud Act* 
  

Pricing: 

• from €3.40 ex VAT Microsoft Teams Essentials with a freemium version

5. Rocket Chat

Open sourceteam chat

Rocket Chat is an open source software created in 2015 that allows you to communicate and collaborate with your team, share files, chat, and hold audio and video meetings online. 

Key features:

• instant messaging 
• possibility to @mention a member 
• intuitive handling 
  

Limitations / disadvantages:

• notification system needs to be improved 
• important and too frequent bugs (according to user reviews)
  

Pricing: 

• free plan
• Pro plan at $3 per month per user 
• Enterprise plan on request

6 . Mattermost  

The secure communication platform for DevOps 

Mattermost is an open source chat (its code is publicly available) mainly used by DevOps teams. The platform allows to unify communications and therefore to collaborate more efficiently.

Key features:

• team chat
• unlimited storage 
• numerous customization options 
  

Limitations / disadvantages: 

• limited number of integrations
• mobile application to be improved
• requires the application to be installed locally (on-premise)
• publisher subject to the Cloud Act* 
  

Pricing: from $3.25 / month per user. With a free version.

7. Flock  

Collaborative chat for teams

Flock is a chatroom accessible from PC and mobile. It allows your teams to communicate instantly by exchanging in individual chat rooms but also in groups. It also allows you to participate in audio and video calls. More than 40 integration possibilities exist on Flock. 

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Key features:

• chat with group organization
• videoconferencing
• public and private groups
• integrations with Google Drive, Github, Trello, Asana, etc. 
  

Limitations / disadvantages:

• technical support to be improved 
• search tool (messages, photos...)aren't very efficient
  

Pricing: 

• free plan
• Pro plan at $4.50 per month per user
• Enterprise plan on request
• 30-day free trial

8. Chanty

Collaborative software for team communication

Chanty is an easy-to-use team chat that allows your employees to communicate and collaborate more effectively—both within and between teams. Chanty brings together all aspects of communication in one place: chat, video and audio calls, screen sharing...

Key features:

• affordable solution 
• easy to use 
  

Limitations / disadvantages:

• system of integrations to be developed
• number of features to be developed 
  

Pricing: 

• free plan
• Business plan at $3 per month per user 

9. Brosix

Secure chat for businesses

Brosix is an ideal tool for companies looking for advanced encryption for their business discussions. Among other features, Brosix chat allows teams to exchange messages securely and more agilely than with traditional email. 

Key features:

• usability
• increased security 
  

Limitations / disadvantages:

• ergonomics to be modernized for a better user experience
  

Pricing: 

• free startup plan
• Business plan at $4 per month per user
• Premium plan at $6 / month per user

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10. Zoho Connect 

The chat that facilitates team collaboration

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Zoho Connect is a relatively comprehensive tool that includes a chat room. Employees can use this chat to communicate through different channels that can be customised according to their daily business needs. 

Key features:

• very versatile tool with different modules (e.g. Kanban module, calendar, etc.) 
• knowledge management 
  

Limitations / disadvantages:

• ergonomics to be reviewed to simplify the user experience
  

Prices: from €1.20 / user month. With a free version. More information on the publisher's website.

*CloudAct: the Cloud Act is a 2018 US federal law that allows the Department of Justice to order a US internet service provider (including any SaaS vendor) to access data stored on its servers, even on those located outside the US. A law to which Talkspirit, a French publisher, is obviously not subject.

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Now it's up to you to make a choice! :) 

Each of these chats has its advantages and disadvantages. Choose the one that best suits your organization. Do not hesitate to take advantage of the free trials that these solutions offer or contact us for more information!