Whether you are employed internally or at an agency, collaboration is an essential aspect of your work. Collaboration is the driving force behind enhanced innovation, improved productivity, superior communication, and ultimately, achieving success.
Collaboration tools facilitate efficient teamwork by enhancing communication, workflow management, alignment, and meeting deadlines, irrespective of whether you and your team are located in the same office or on different continents.
In this guide, we have compiled a list of the top 26 team collaboration tools, each offering distinct features and applications. Certain platforms cater to project management, while others focus on communication. Some are geared towards content creation, while others specialize in handling feedback and approval.
Their shared characteristic is their capacity to assist you and your team in collaborating efficiently and accomplishing remarkable achievements!
Without wasting any more time…
20 Best Team Collaboration Tools
1. Filestage
Filestage is a platform for managing collaborative feedback that allows you to gather feedback on various types of content, such as designs, videos, documents, or live websites, conveniently in one location.
Managing feedback becomes stress-free starting from sharing and ending with sign-off.
You have the freedom to invite any number of people to review your content. Reviewers are able to see what suggestions others have made before giving their own feedback in a manner that is convenient for them.
Pros
- Due dates keep your projects on track and help you meet deadlines
- In-context comments make for clear feedback that shows up in real time
- Visual annotations bring comments to life and make it clear what needs changing
- To-do lists give your team a clear picture of what needs amending
- Version history helps you keep tabs on previous comments and see what’s changed
- Review steps mean your files get approved by the right people at the right stage of the process
- Project dashboards help you keep track of who you’re still waiting to hear from
- Integrations with Dropbox, Google Drive, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and more
- Automations to reduce manual tasks and speed up content reviews
Cons
- No mobile or desktop app
Best for businesses that require efficient and streamlined feedback and approval process
Filestage is a top-notch online collaboration tool designed for companies in industries such as marketing, advertising, media, and entertainment that deal with substantial amounts of multimedia content.
Additionally, it is suitable for remote or distributed teams that require a centralized platform for overseeing the process of reviewing and approving.
2. Asana
Asana provides project managers with a straightforward method for overseeing team projects, processes, and tasks. It promotes collaboration by assisting your team in maintaining productivity and enhancing the efficiency of work delivery.
By thinking in a systematic manner, rephrase the given text while keeping the meaning unchanged. Do not include new information and refrain from omitting any details. The software for team collaboration possesses the capability to assist you in minimizing the time spent on transitioning between meetings, emails, chats, and spreadsheets.
Pros
- It’s easy to share tasks, deadlines, notes, and projects
- The notes are visible, and they can expedite tasks
- The UI and UX are fantastic
Cons
- The pricing structure can be very complex
- The notifications can be intrusive and distracting
- Certain functionalities are complex, so users will need training to employ them
Best for teams of all sizes looking to reduce complexity
Teams of any size who desire to increase velocity, simplify processes, and achieve greater outcomes.
3. Google Docs
Google Docs is a software developed by Google for word processing and document collaboration. It is web-based and enables users to create, edit, and collaborate on documents with others from any location worldwide in real-time.
Users can share documents with team members and set permissions for editing or commenting using its collaborative features. In addition, the commenting feature enables users to provide feedback, ask questions, and track changes and revisions using the version history.
Pros
- It allows multiple users to edit and collaborate on a document in real time.
- It’s available for free with a Google account.
- The tool automatically saves changes as you type, eliminating the need to manually save.
- It keeps track of all changes and revisions, making it easy to revert to a previous version if needed.
Cons
- It has limited formatting options compared to some desktop word processors.
- Some features and formatting can’t be translated seamlessly when exporting to other file types.
- As a cloud-based service, there may be concerns around the security and privacy of sensitive documents.
- There are limited functionalities and features available in offline editing
Best for startups with limited budgets
Google Docs is especially beneficial for small businesses and startups lacking the ability to invest in costly software licenses. Furthermore, it is an excellent choice for remote teams working on documents simultaneously from various locations.
4. Trello
Trello is a versatile tool for project management and collaboration that enables project managers to enhance teamwork. The tool’s user-friendly interface comprising cards, lists, and boards is straightforward, yet it conceals a considerable level of intricacy.
Because it is simple, this tool can serve as a project hub that encourages collaboration by offering a variety of integrations.
Pros
- It’s very easy to get started.
- You can view the progress of key tasks at a glance.
- It offers a way to manage tasks that’s visually satisfying.
Cons
- If you use a lot of boards, it can get overwhelming.
- It doesn’t regularly add new features.
- Some of its basic functionalities can only be achieved through integrations.
Best for marketing teams looking for a simple task management solution
Teams, regardless of their size, require a task management solution that is easy to use, can be adjusted as needed, and is cost-effective.
5. Bit
Bit is a software for project management that facilitates real-time collaboration among teams, as well as centralizing all project assets for convenient and swift access. Within Bit documents, teams have the ability to embed content from a wide range of over 70 applications.
Bit can be utilized by project managers for:
- Interactive project spec documentation
- Product strategy
- Internal guides
- Customer-facing guides
- Product requirement documents
- Roadmaps
- User journeys
- Prototypes
- KPIs
- Competitive analysis
Pros
- Robust smart search to find anything quickly
- Content and knowledge management
- Simple and modern UI
- Document Tracking
Cons
- No mobile app
- Absence of Gantt charts
- Untimely notifications can be a bit distracting
Best for SMBs looking for cost-effective solutions
Bit is an ideal choice for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) as it provides a centralized platform for content management and team collaboration.
Teams that need flexibility and agility in their workflows, like marketing, project management, and content creation teams, find it especially beneficial.
6. Basecamp
Basecamp brings together all the necessary tools for teams to complete their work, which includes message boards, scheduling features, to-do lists, group chat, file storage, and other functionalities.
By consolidating all of these separate features, this collaboration software facilitates teamwork and enhances efficiency.
By thinking step by step, it ensures that tasks do not slip through the cracks and prevents team members from getting confused.
Pros
- It has competitive pricing, given its functionality.
- It’s user friendly for admins and project managers.
- It’s easy to see which files are associated with which projects.
Cons
- The export feature suffers from a range of problems.
- The UX can be confusing for non-administrators.
- Basecamp requires a big commitment from every project member.
Best for SMBs looking for an affordable solution
Basecamp is the ideal choice for small and medium-sized businesses that need a centralized platform to efficiently manage their projects and collaborate with their team members.
This is especially beneficial for teams such as creative agencies, software development teams, and consulting firms who need a project management tool that is easy to use and uncomplicated.
7. Monday.com
Monday.com is a collaborative software that provides assistance to managers and team members in synchronizing, planning, organizing, and tracking tasks throughout a project.
Teams find it easier to collaborate because these features have a very pleasant UI, enabling them to easily understand the assignees and responsibilities for each task.
Pros
- Thanks to its clean UI, it offers clear visibility into projects.
- Its simple drag-and-drop functionality gets everyone involved.
- It offers various calendar views that suit the needs of all users.
Cons
- Some of its features are superfluous and distracting.
- It can be difficult to predictably calculate the pricing.
Best for businesses of all sizes that need a comprehensive project management platform
Monday.com is a suitable choice for businesses in need of customized solutions for their workflows, such as HR, finance, and sales teams, due to its customizable features and integrations.
8. ProofHub
Proofhub offers various features that assist users in enhancing collaboration within their team. These features comprise group chats, discussions, workflows, project reports, and additional functionalities.
These features enable teams to easily collaborate and communicate using a variety of devices in a flexible manner.
Pros
- It’s very easy to use.
- The cost is reasonable, compared to its competition.
- It offers a suite of practical features.
Cons
- It could be too simple for larger projects.
- Its Gantt charts can be difficult to create and use.
- Its documentation isn’t very helpful to new users.
Best for freelancers and SMBs looking for an affordable solution
ProofHub is the ideal choice for individuals and businesses of small to medium size, including freelancers, who are in need of a cost-effective and user-friendly solution for project management and team collaboration.
It is especially beneficial for creative teams, marketing teams, and remote teams who need a comprehensive solution for managing their projects and workflows.
9. Slack
Slack is a widely used software for communication and collaboration that enhances team effectiveness. It serves as a centralized platform where team members can send messages, share files, work together on documents, and handle projects.
Slack’s ability to organize communication into channels makes it an amazing tool for customer support. This feature helps customer support teams to work efficiently and ensure prompt addressing of all customer inquiries.
Pros
- Real-time communication helps you get quick responses to customer queries and issues.
- Its centralized platform streamlines customer interactions and helps you make sure there are no missed conversations.
- Seamless collaboration with other departments improves efficiency.
- It’s customizable and offers a range of integrations with other applications for more personalized and relevant support.
- It helps you improve transparency and accountability by keeping records and easily referencing previous conversations.
Cons
- Slack can be distracting with messages coming from various channels.
- You have limited control over customer data privacy and security, especially when using third-party integrations.
- It’s difficult to prioritize and manage a high volume of customer inquiries and requests.
Best for remote teams working in the tech sector
Slack is well-suited for companies of any size, especially those with remote teams or multiple departments that need efficient communication.
It is especially appropriate for technology, media, and marketing companies, as success depends on real-time communication and effective collaboration.
Jira, developed by Atlassian, is a project management and issue tracking software that is widely utilized. It provides various features that effectively assist teams in organizing, tracking, and managing tasks and projects.
In order to provide customer support, the tool allows for the creation of a dedicated project to monitor and handle customer inquiries, issues, and requests. Jira offers customizable issue types and fields that can be utilized by teams to establish tailored workflows and processes that meet their support requirements.
Pros
- The tool provides a centralized platform for tracking and managing customer inquiries and requests, enabling teams to respond promptly and efficiently.
- Its customizable workflows allow teams to create processes that fit their specific support needs, ensuring that customer inquiries are handled appropriately.
- Thanks to the collaboration features teams can work together to resolve customer issues, improving the speed and quality of support.
- You’ll have insights into customer support performance through reporting and analytics, enabling teams to identify trends and areas for improvement.
- You can integrate it with other tools and applications, such as CRM systems, social media, and email, providing a seamless customer support experience.
Cons
- The tool can be complex and require significant training for new users.
- Jira can be expensive, especially for small businesses with limited budgets.
- Customizing the platform requires technical expertise and additional time.
- The range of features can be overwhelming for small teams with simple support needs.
- Their customer support may not be sufficient for businesses with complex support needs.
Best for large companies with complex support needs
The tool is suitable for companies of any size that need a complete and customizable solution to manage and track customer inquiries and issues.
It is especially suitable for larger companies that deal with a higher number of support tickets, intricate workflows, and need advanced reporting and analytics capabilities.
11. Slab
Slab is a tool for knowledge management collaboration that enables teams to generate, arrange, and distribute internal documentation. It offers a centralized platform for storing information, guaranteeing accessible knowledge for all team members.
Teams can utilize this tool for customer support by creating a knowledge base that consists of articles and resources. These materials assist customers in finding answers to frequently encountered problems. Information can be arranged into topics and categories, facilitating customers’ search for pertinent information.
Moreover, its search feature enables support agents to easily locate articles and distribute them to customers.
Pros
- The tool provides a centralized platform for organizing and sharing information, making it easy for customers to find solutions to their issues.
- Teams can create and customize articles to fit the needs of their customers, ensuring that information is relevant and helpful.
- Its collaboration features enable teams to work together to create and update articles, improving the accuracy and quality of information.
- Teams are provided with insights into how customers are using the knowledge base, enabling them to identify trends and areas for improvement.
- You can integrate your account with other tools and applications, such as CRM systems and support tickets, providing a seamless customer support experience.
Cons
- The tool primarily focuses on knowledge management and may not offer as many support channels as other customer support software.
- Its customization options are limited compared to other knowledge management software.
- Slab may require some time to learn how to use effectively, especially for teams new to knowledge management software.
- It offers limited automation capabilities, which may make some support processes less efficient.
- The pricing may be a bit expensive for smaller businesses, especially those with limited budgets.
Best for mid-sized and large companies with complex customer support needs
The tool is especially valuable for companies that have a high number of customer inquiries and require a knowledge base that is searchable. Although companies of any size can utilize it, the pricing may be more appropriate for medium to large businesses.
Smaller businesses that have less complex support needs may discover that Slab’s range of features exceeds their requirements.
12. Help Scout
Help Scout is a software designed for customer support. It offers several features to assist teams in handling and addressing customer inquiries. These features include a shared inbox for managing customer conversations, a knowledge base for storing information and articles, and reporting tools for overseeing team performance.
Teams can make the best use of this tool for customer support by using the shared inbox to manage customer inquiries and ensure timely and consistent responses.
Pros
- Help Scout provides a shared inbox, allowing teams to manage customer inquiries and collaborate on responses.
- The tool offers automation tools to streamline support processes and reduce response times.
- It consists of reporting tools that help teams track key metrics and identify areas for improvement.
- You can integrate it with a variety of other tools, such as CRM systems and chatbots, to provide a seamless customer support experience.
- The tool’s knowledge base enables teams to provide customers with helpful information and reduce repetitive responses.
Cons
- It has limited customization options compared to other customer support software.
- The pricing may be higher than some smaller businesses can afford, especially those with limited budgets.
- It doesn’t offer as many features as other customer support software, making it less suitable for more complex support needs.
Best for smaller companies with less complex customer support needs
Help Scout is an ideal choice for companies of small and mid-sized proportions that prioritize providing personalized support to customers through email.
This software is suitable for companies that prefer simple and customizable software with a primary focus on managing shared inboxes, rather than opting for more intricate and adaptable alternatives.
13. InVision
InVision is a platform for digital product design that allows teams to create and work together on designs for websites, mobile apps, and other digital products.
The text offers various tools that aid design teams in enhancing their efficiency, such as real-time collaboration, the ability to comment and provide feedback, as well as prototyping tools.
In order to optimize the use of InVision for graphic design, teams can utilize the vector editing and shape tools available within the platform to develop intricate designs. Additionally, they can utilize the advanced prototyping tools provided by InVision to simulate the visual and interactive aspects of the design when it is in use.
Pros
- The tool allows multiple team members to collaborate on designs in real-time, making it easy to share feedback and make changes quickly.
- Its advanced prototyping tools allow designers to create interactive prototypes of their designs, helping them to visualize how the design will look and feel in use.
- It integrates with other popular design tools, such as Sketch and Adobe Creative Cloud, making it easy to import and export designs.
- It offers version control, enabling designers to track changes to their designs over time and roll back to previous versions if needed.
- The platform helps streamline the design process, allowing designers to move from ideation to prototyping to production more efficiently.
Cons
- This isn’t a full-fledged design tool and is limited in design capabilities compared to software like Sketch or Adobe Creative Cloud.
- The tool requires some time to learn how to use effectively, especially for teams new to the software.
- Its customization options are limited compared to other design tools.
- It’s costly for small design teams or freelancers.
- It’s primarily focused on digital product design, so it may not be the best choice for designers working on print projects.
Best for digital product design teams that need to streamline their workflow
InVision is a platform that is ideal for design teams who specialize in various digital products like mobile apps, websites, and software, regardless of their size.
InVision’s advanced collaboration features make it easy for digital design teams who value collaboration and real-time feedback to work together and share designs.
14. Miro
Miro is an online collaboration tool designed to assist remote teams in working on a variety of projects, such as graphic design. Miro’s platform offers graphic designers a selection of tools such as vector editing, drawing tools, and sticky notes, which aid in the conceptualization and refinement of designs.
Miro’s platform enables easy collaboration with team members and clients by providing real-time feedback and iterations. In addition, design teams can utilize Miro to produce and distribute mood boards and wireframes, enhancing the visualization of their designs.
Pros
- The platform allows design teams real-time collaboration and feedback for more efficient collaboration.
- It’s a flexible platform that can be adapted to a range of design workflows, making it suitable for teams of all sizes.
- It provides a range of tools for graphic designers, including vector editing, drawing tools, and sticky notes, enabling teams to effectively ideate and iterate on designs.
- It can integrate with other design tools like Sketch and Figma, allowing teams to streamline their workflow.
Cons
- While it provides a range of tools for graphic design, it is not as feature-rich as some dedicated graphic design software.
- It can be complex, and new users may need time to learn how to use it effectively.
- It has limited export options, and users may need to use other tools to convert their designs into different file formats.
- While it offers a free plan, some of its more advanced features require a paid subscription, which can be expensive for all design teams.
- It doesn’t offer extensive version control features, leaving teams to implement their own processes for version control and collaboration.
Best for remote teams of all sizes
The tool is especially beneficial for remote teams because it allows design teams to collaborate in real-time. Miro is also a flexible platform that can be customized to various design workflows, making it suitable for teams of any size.
15. LucidChart
Lucidchart is a software for creating professional-grade visualizations, including graphic designs, in a cloud-based environment. It offers users a variety of design tools and features, such as a drag-and-drop interface, templates, and custom shapes.
In order to begin, users have the option of selecting a template or creating a personalized canvas. Afterward, they can incorporate design elements such as icons, images, and text. The tool also provides the functionality for designers to collaborate in real-time, allowing them to collaborate on designs and make revisions. Additionally, designers can share their designs with stakeholders to receive feedback and obtain approval.
Pros
- Wide range of design tools and features
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface
- Cloud-based software accessible from anywhere
- Real-time collaboration with team members and stakeholders
- Ability to create and share professional-grade visualizations and designs
Cons
- Limited customization options for shapes and objects
- No built-in image editing tools
- Not as robust as traditional graphic design software
- Can be slow to load and process large designs
- Limited export options for high-resolution graphics.
Best for businesses that require simple and effective design solutions
Lucidchart is most suitable for companies that require the creation of high-quality visualizations and diagrams, along with basic graphic designs. It proves especially advantageous to remote teams seeking a collaborative platform for design projects.
While lacking the same level of customization and advanced features as traditional graphic design software, this versatile and user-friendly tool can be utilized by both designers and non-designers to create a wide range of designs.
16. Hive
Hive is regarded as one of the top online collaboration tools due to its ability to combine all work components in a unified dashboard. Its features enable team members to efficiently handle their task lists, communicate instantly with others, coordinate schedules, distribute files, and record project advancements. With native chat, email integrations, and collaborative notes, individuals can remain connected within the platform and avoid the need to switch between different tools.
Teams at Starbucks, Comcast, Toyota, and others are currently benefiting from Hive, an exceptional collaboration platform for teams of all sizes.
Hive encompasses several features.
- Flexible project views, including Gantt, Kanban, calendar, table, and portfolio view
- Ability to add comments, sub-actions, dependencies, and attachments to action cards
- Proofing and approvals
- Over 1,000 integrations with tools like Jira, Salesforce, Zoom, and Adobe Photoshop
- Time-tracking and timesheets
- Goal-tracking application
- Analytics for tracking project completion and productivity on the individual or team level
- Accessible via web, desktop, and mobile apps
17. Google Slides
Google Slides enables teams to create, edit, collaborate, and present slideshows from any location, making it an exceptional collaboration tool. The business plan, offered through Google Workspace, enhances the features of the traditional Google Slides tool. The plan grants teams additional safeguards and controls over presentations, facilitating seamless collaboration both internally and externally.
Google Slides has several features.
- Templates make it easy to start with pre-made pitches, portfolios and other presentations
- Cloud storage lets you access documents from anywhere
- Offline editing and presentation options
- Auto-save feature prevents work from being lost
- Real-time editing, commenting, and chatting within presentations
- Share with anyone (internally or external) with a variety of permission options
18. Planable
Planable is your simple yet powerful project management solution that enhances your team’s workflow, whether you’re crafting viral social media posts, scheduling content, or creating impactful newsletters.
With the real-time collaboration features provided by Planable, your team can easily collaborate on writing blog articles, creating briefs and emails, and giving and receiving feedback. All of this can be done on one user-friendly interface. The calendar view gives you a broad overview of your content marketing strategy, including blog posts, emails, and social media posts, to make sure nothing is missed.
Planable’s Universal Content has several features.
- Rich-text editor for content finesse.
- Live collaboration for seamless teamwork.
- Annotations for pinpoint precision.
- One-click approvals to expedite your workflows.
- Multi-level approval workflows for comprehensive content sign-off.
19. NuovoTeam PTT
The NuovoTeam Push to Talk (PTT) app provides a complete range of team collaboration and communication services. By using this app, you can enhance communication and collaboration for your frontline workers and employees who work outside of an office. Additionally, it offers efficient task management features. Through group chats, one-on-one conversations, video calls, and Push-to-Talk functionality, NuovoTeam enables you to enhance employee engagement.
The following are a few characteristics of NuovoTeam PTT:
- 1-1 and 1-to-Many PTT call with any individual from your organization.
- Desktop PTT empowers administrators and managers to get to PTT functionality directly from their dashboard.
- Experience super quick press-button connectivity anywhere, anytime.
- Empower your field force or forefront employees to clock in and clock out their work hours using the mobile application on their phones.
20. Bit.ai
Bit.ai is a top-notch and highly effective tool for collaborating on documents, enabling teams to work together and generate interactive notes, documents, deliverables, wikis, training guides, and various other types of content. These collaborative documents boast a contemporary and aesthetically pleasing design and support seamless integration of text, video, spreadsheets, and more. Users have the flexibility to arrange elements in endless combinations. Within a document, users can simultaneously edit and provide real-time comments on elements.
Bit.ai has several features.
- Option to create workspaces around projects, teams, and clients
- Enrich documents with any kind of digital content, including: videos, social content, music, cloud files, maps, charts, surveys/polls, code, graphic design prototypes, presentations
- Connect team members with @mentions, real-time notifications, shared workspaces, permissions, and guest access
- Tracking analytics provide real-time insights on shared documents
- Customized lead capture form on documents
