Communication apps are the most popular way to talk with your coworkers nowadays. In the office, they serve the purpose of a work-like iMessage, a way to share random thoughts, expert opinions, files, and jokes with your colleagues. With that said, having a good communication app can make life easier at a big corporation; it allows for information to be spread quickly and efficiently while at the same time making it easy to collaborate on files and tasks.
Because of the advantage that communication apps give, most businesses tend to use them. However, for small startups, the cost of a tool like that may outweigh the benefit it provides, so a ton of entrepreneurs start looking for free alternatives to the most popular employee communication apps.
This is what this article is here to offer – a short but comprehensive guide on the best communication tools that let you chat for free.
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Top Five Employee Communication App Alternatives
When you have a startup, money is usually tight, and you want to allocate it to the most critical aspects of your business.
Unfortunately, more often than not, paying for a top-tier communication app is not a priority for owners. That’s why alternatives that allow employees to chat for free are more and more in demand. Nowadays, most businesses operate at least partly online and feature teams that work in different corners of the world.
As we know, it can be hard to find the right app – the one that has just enough features and is still completely free and so we are offering you a look at five apps that we found and think cover all the bases.
Let’s get started.
Discord
Gamers often use this app, and it’s an excellent choice for this list as well. It doesn’t have an incredible amount of features, but it is ultimately free, works on several different operating systems, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux, and is somewhat secure. Discord allows you to create group chats, where you can discuss ongoing projects or issues without requiring any payment, and it’s incredibly easy to use – even kids get used to it in minutes.
Telegram
Telegram has made a name for itself for being encrypted and offering maximum security. Along with that, it’s very lightweight, fast, and packed with valuable features. It enables you to create channels (where news can be shared), groups where people can work on projects, and of course, individual one-on-one texting.
Telegram allows you to share media, files, locations and even conduct polls in groups and in channels. It’s available to download on Windows and Mac computers and has a terrific app for smartphones as well. All in all, Telegram manages to cover all the bases while still being completely free.
Viber
If you’ve been to Europe, you’ve probably heard about Viber. It’s another communication app packed with features and is popular amongst people. It offers end-to-end encryption, video and voice calls, group chats, and integration with Google Assistant and Siri. Along with that, the platform has a Viber Out feature that allows users to call landlines and mobile phones around the world directly.
Viber also allows users to share files, photos, and videos with each other. It’s also available for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS and is incredibly fast and reliable.
Skype
Skype was so popular when I was younger but then it fell off the radar. Now it looks ready to return. It is an instant messaging and video call app all in one.
Unfortunately, it’s difficult to use Skype as a way to communicate in groups and work on projects, which makes it a limiting option for bigger teams. However, the app is still great for one-on-one conversations, both by message or in a video call.
WhatsApp remains the most popular and widely used messaging app on the market. That’s not without reason – it’s a very simple, user-friendly chat for free platform that has anything you need. It allows you to create groups, share photos and files and make calls with other users.
The app can be installed on any device and is supported by all popular operating systems, including even Linux and Web. The only downside to WhatsApp is that it doesn’t offer any special features explicitly designed for collaborations. However, that is to be expected since it’s created as an app to enable everyday communication and not business conversations and collaborations.
Are These the Best Chat for Free Apps?
The answer depends on what you’re looking for. If you just want a tool that covers all the basics, has some useful functionalities, and doesn’t cost anything, then yes, these five apps are amongst the best ones on the market. However, suppose you’re looking for specific functions and business-specific features. In that case, you should check out some of the top-tier employee communication apps that we discuss in our dedicated blog post.