Selecting the best collaboration tool is a very critical and important process for companies and businesses all over the world.
A right tool can significantly increase the overall productivity of any business.
The team members of an enterprise that have a good base of collaboration can express themselves and connect on a personal level as well. This not only increases productivity but also results in successful projects.
What is online collaboration tools?
Let’s consider that you are the head of a digital marketing company, and your content writer or web designer is sitting in some other country. So, how will you collaborate with your employees who work remotely?
How to ensure that all your team members are on the same page and get all the latest updates on the ongoing projects?
It is also very difficult and challenging for both remote as well as in-house team members to keep pace with the ongoing projects.
To solve this problem, both small and large scale organizations use online collaboration tools to manage the workflow efficiently.
The tools empower team members to have transparency with each other to achieve unparalleled collaboration.
Key Features of an online collaboration tool
There are several unique features of a collaboration tool; some of them include the ability to upload and send files, calendar, notifications through the mail, and many more.
Therefore, before getting a tool, you must make sure that it has all the necessary features that will fit your purpose.
Nowadays, it is very common to see businesses hiring people across the globe to work on any project. Thus, with the help of an online collaboration tool, you can remove the gap between the people who are working from far-away locations.
You can also organize meetings online, and ensure that all your remote workers are on the same page.
List of the 15 best collaboration tools you can use in 2019 and beyond:
There are several key factors you need to keep in mind before purchasing a collaboration tool for your business. Some of them are listed below:
- Team size
- Type of project
- Project’s requirements
- Deadlines
Now, let’s look at the top 15 collaboration tools available online which you can use in 2019 and beyond.
1) Flock
Flock is an online collaboration tool which helps teams to communicate with each other efficiently. Using this the team members can discuss project ideas, updates, and accelerate the decision-making process.
With its inbuilt features, enterprises can enhance the overall productivity of the organization.
It organizes all the necessary tools, conversations, and other useful apps in one place so that the team members can focus on the most important parts of the project.
It can also be considered as a virtual office where the different team works together to achieve the desired objectives. This tool is useful for several sectors of industries such as sales, marketing, IT, engineering, customer support, digital marketing, and others.
Key Features
- Enhance collaboration
It is a powerful collaboration tool which helps in bringing teams together and stay connected. It supports direct and group messaging along with public and private channels.
The managers can organize virtual team meetings either through video or audio calls. Teams can collaborate in real-time which helps in finishing a project as soon as possible.
- Increase Productivity
It increases the overall productivity of the team. You can create a virtual office where the employees can collaborate with ease. It also removes all the distractions which are faced in the traditional office setup.
- Comprehensive integration
You can integrate all your productivity apps in one place. It supports more than sixty third-party apps such as Google Drive, Analytics, Dropbox, and many more.
Pricing
Flock is free up to 10k messages and provides 10GB of storage. Its pro plan starts at $4.5 per month in which you get unlimited messages.
2) Slack
It is a messaging application that helps you to communicate with your team members efficiently. It provides real-time messaging and archiving option which increases the productivity of the team.
It also easily integrates with several third-party applications such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and others. With the help of its built-in file sharing option, you can easily share important documents and files with anyone.
Its search function allows you to filter the results according to file type, relevance, and others which is very helpful in finding the exact files or information.
It is also available in both Android and iOS; therefore you can carry it wherever you travel.
Key Features
- Bring all your communication in one place
Slack act as a single place for all your files, information, and messages which saves a lot of time. It also provides searchable history which enhances team productivity further.
- Supports different channels
There are several channels in an organization such as team, client, project, and others. You can add and remove the team members whenever it’s needed, unlike the email chains.
- Face to face communication
You can also perform video and audio conferences directly from Slack. If you need to share your screen with your team members or client, you can do that too.
- File sharing
You can share files, PDFs, images, audio directly from the platform. Also, archive the progress of any project and get reviews from other team members.
Pricing
Slack is available for free with a limit of 10k messages and ten application integrations. Its standard plan starts at $8 per user/month and, plus plan at $12.5 per user/month.
3) Asana
Asana is one of the popular online collaboration tools which has an intuitive interface which facilitates efficient team management and communication.
It also allows you to create mini projects and tasks within a project which you can track and monitor from various devices. You can also add new team members, tasks, and share files and data with them effortlessly.
There is no need to use any third-party application because it provides all the necessary features in its platform. If you make any changes to the tasks, the team members will receive a notification and can like or comment on the update.
You can also create visual project plans to monitor the progress of any project efficiently.
Key Features
- Let’s you to work on important tasks.
The tool allows you to add custom fields and monitor what is essential for you. It is helpful when you have a set of projects and tasks.
- Monitor tasks from beginning to the end.
You can track any tasks and projects until it is finished. It also generates a detailed project report.
- Timely notifications.
A major problem which a team faces is getting notifications and updates of any project in real-time.
Asana solves this problem as it provides timely notifications to all the members of a team if any changes have been made to a task or project.
- Keep the team members accountable.
Asana assigns the responsibilities to each member so that everyone knows their role clearly and there is no need to micromanage.
Pricing
Asana has a free version in which you can add 15 members. It’s premium version starts at $9.99 per member per month if billed annually, and $11.99 per member per month if billed monthly.
4) Plutio
Plutio is a popular project management and collaboration app which help users to manage the tasks, and project in one place.
It has several amazing features such as custom workflows, real-time stats, drag and drop, comprehensive profiles, direct messaging, instant notifications, and many more. You can also visualize tasks in columns or list.
You can also sort tasks in groups, and set milestones, and prioritize tasks with the drag and drop feature.
Plutio allows you to invite clients and engage in productive conversations without leaving the platform so that all the projects can be accessed from a single place.
Key Features
- Multilingual
Plutio is available in more than twenty-five languages including Hebrew, French, Spanish, and others.
- Personalization
You can set time according to your time zone. There are nine default colors to choose from, and you can also set dark mode instead of light setting.
- Secure
The data and information which is transmitted through the application is protected and encrypted.
- Available templates
You can save the tasks and projects as templates and later can use it to create tasks quickly using that template.
- Invoices
It supports multiple payment methods such as Paypal, Stripe, and others. You can also download the PDF version of the invoices or send an email directly to your clients directly from the dashboard.
Pricing
Plutio pricing starts from $15 per month. There are two additional plans; their charges are $20 per month and $30 per month.
5) ClickUp
It is an intuitive collaboration tool which is suitable for both small scale and big organizations. It is not only user-friendly and straightforward but also has all the core functionalities of any business processes,i.e., marketing, development, and sales.
It is considered as a hybrid project management solution which has several customizable features. You can modify the settings to tailor according to your needs and requirements.
Key features
- A single solution
ClickUp has all the necessary features which will ease your work including development, marketing, and sales.
- Simplified processes
It organizes the project in a hierarchic approach which takes out any confusion between the team members.
- Machine learning capabilities
It creates realistic and accurate timeframes of the projects with the help of machine learning capabilities.
Pricing
It has a free plan which offers 100MB storage and can manage one project. Its business plan starts at $9 per month with unlimited storage, projects, and apps.
6) Wrike
Wrike is considered one of the leading project management and collaboration tool available in the market. It helps you to schedule, discuss, and monitor tasks in real-time which improves the overall efficiency of the work.
Wrike gives full control over the assigned tasks and has several collaborative functionalities which help to increase the productivity of the organization efficiently.
It provides an intuitive platform which enables multifunctional groups to work together and achieve the desired results.
Key Features
- Organizes project efficiently
It helps you to break broad goals into small pieces. You can also add a task into multiple folders to share with other team members.
- Edit files and documents live
You can upload any files and edit them in real-time without saving it on your computer.
- Monitors time and budget
It also tracks how much time is spent on each project and is the budget is managed efficiently or not.
- Pre-defined templates
You can duplicate any project and save it as a template so that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
Pricing
Wrike has a free plan which has a limit of 5 users. Its professional plan starts at $9.80/user/month, business plan at $24.80/user/month, marketers plan at $34.60/user/month.
7) Trello
It is a collaboration and project management tool which is based on the Kanban methodology. In this, the projects and tasks are visualized as boards which have a drag-and-drop functionality.
If you are looking for a simple application without any confusing and complex features, then Trello should be your first choice.
It is well organized, easily filtered, and it also assigns the tasks to the team members automatically.
Key Features
- Simplicity
Although it looks very simple on the surface, it has all the necessary features which are required for managing a project.
- Add any number of team members
Trello allows you to invite and add as many members as you need for your project, all for free.
- Real-time notifications
If there are any changes in the project, it notifies the team members via email, desktop browser, and mobile push notifications.
Pricing
Trello has a free plan in which you can add unlimited boards, members, cards, lists, etc. Its premium plan starts at $9.99 per user/month.
8) JIRA
JIRA is a collaboration tool which was developed to assign and set priorities to achieve the goals and objectives.
With its help, you can monitor the complete process of project development from start to finish.
You can also create stories, and discuss tasks with your team members in real-time.
Key Features
- Flexibility
JIRA is an agile and flexible project management tool which captures data at every stage and process. It helps in increases in the engagement of the team and ensures that the whole team is on the same page.
- Match your needs
You can easily make changes to the workflows, or can even create a custom workflow for more specific cases.
- Unparalleled connectivity
It is flexible with the JAVA APIs and supports more than 700 plugins of the Atlassian marketplace.
Pricing
It offers a free trial; however, it’s premium Cloud plan is available at $10 monthly flat fee.
9) Basecamp
Basecamp is a simple and popular collaboration tool which is very easy to set up. It allows users to assign tasks, and track progress from the get-go.
It has seventeen years of development experience, and Basecamp was the first company to introduce remote project management.
The user interface of the application is intuitive and user-friendly which you can understand in a very short time.
Key Features
- 24/7 technical assistance
It provides customer support 24/7 which is one of the best features of the application. It also has a large community where you can ask your questions.
- Innovative solution
All the projects and tasks are scheduled and organized in the form of lists which helps in avoiding any confusion.
- Increase project engagement
It is a great platform where you can discuss an idea, or have a conversation with your team members so that everyone is on the same page.
Pricing
It offers a 30-day free trial, and then there is a flat fee of $99 to use the features of the application.
10) Bitrix24
Bitrix24 is a well-known collaboration application which provides a unified platform for your tasks, projects, files, and messages.
Its some of the main solutions include CRM, file sharing, social network, scheduling, email, and HR management.
It also has a marketplace where you can create your applications or use the existing ones.
Key Features
- Comprehensive functions
Bitrix24 has several comprehensive functionalities such as employee directory, work reporting, visual structure, and others.
- All in one place
It provides an intuitive platform for all the internal and external operations so that the user can perform all the work related to a task from a single place.
- Availability
It is available in both Andriod and iOS, and it also offers virtual telephone calling.
Pricing
Bitrix24 is available for free which supports 12 users and 5GB storage. Its plus plan starts at $39/month, standard plan at $99/month, and professional plat at $199/month.
11) Wunderlist
Wunderlist is a simple and effective project management and collaboration tool which is perfect for businesses who wants to get things done in a short time.
It has a user-friendly interface, with menus laid out clearly so that they are easy to spot and organize.
Some of the things you can do with this toll are scheduling, filter tasks, insert items, and others.
Key Features
- Simple user interface
Wunderlist has a very simple drag and drop interface which makes the process easy and smooth.
- Effective communication
The team members can collaborate, organize, share files, lists, and other things easily with this application.
- Supports various devices
It works seamlessly in all the major devices so that you can work from anywhere.
Pricing
Wunderlist’s free version provides 256-bit SSL Sync with unlimited comments. Its pro version starts at $4.99 a month, and business plan at $4.99 per user/month.
12) Fleep
Fleep is one of the most robust collaboration tools and business messengers which provides an effective means of communication between teams.
It easily integrates with well-known email clients to efficiently share files, documents, among businesses.
It is a multiplatform application and is available in Android, Mac, iOS, and Windows.
Key Features
- Flexible communication
With the help of its open architecture, you can easily communicate with other users in the same as well as other organizations. It also allows you to see whether your team members are online or not.
- Audio and video call
You can also converse with the team members through audio or video call. It is really important when you want to discuss the details of a project.
- Email compatibility
Fleep has integrated several popular email clients in its platform; therefore you can add anyone in your conversation if they have a valid email id.
Pricing
Fleep’s basic plan starts at €0 which provides 10GB file storage and unlimited conversations. Its business plan starts at €5.
13) Notion.so
The notion is an integrated collaboration tool which is used as an all-in-one workspace for all the activities of a team.
With the help of this too you can write and organize your tasks so that all the team members are on the same page.
It has a simple workflow with a drag-and-drop feature to manage all your tasks easily.
Key Features
- Bring clarity to your team
It is a light, fast, and distraction-free tool which helps to bring clarity within the team members. There are also several keyboard shortcuts available which you can use while working in the tool.
- Simpler workflow
The workflow of Notion.so is very simple. It seamlessly blends Google Docs and Trello which helps teams from context switching.
- Embed your current tools
It embeds more than fifty other applications which make your life easy.
Pricing
Notion’s free version has a limit of 5MB file upload with unlimited members. Its pro version starts at $4 per month.
14) Chanty
Chanty is one of the easiest to use collaboration tools which is used for effective communication between team members.
It has tons of features which increase the team productivity to a whole new level. It’s UI is also simple, clean, and easy to use.
Key Features
- Lightweight and use to use
Chanty is a lightweight collaboration tool which has no limits to message history. This is very helpful if you are working with a team for the long term.
- Easy to share files
You can easily share files, links, and media contents with the team members.
Pricing
Chanty is available for free with unlimited searchable history, one on one audio calls, public and private conversations, and many more. Its premium version starts at $3 per month.
15) ProofHub
ProofHub is a collaboration and project management tool which is used by both small and larger enterprises. Some of the popular companies which use ProofHub include Wipro, TripAdvisor, and Harvard University.
It acts as a single platform for clients and teams to discuss, share information for effective collaboration.
ProofHub has several amazing features such as SSL encryption, custom roles, privacy protection, IP restriction, and many more.
Key Features
- Easy to use
The functions are easy to use even for a non-technical user. You can also set a milestone for the assigned tasks, and specific notifications just for yourself.
- Versatility
It easily syncs with Outlook, Google Calendar, and other applications which save time and increases productivity. You can also upgrade or downgrade your plan depending upon your requirements.
- Extensive customer support
It provides video tutorials, FAQs, and other documentation for all your queries. They also keep their website updated with all the latest features of any software.
Pricing
ProofHub does provide a free trial, but its premium version starts at $50/month.
Conclusion
Apart from the 15 best collaboration tools which have been listed above, there are many other online tools available in the market which you can use in 2019 and beyond.
All you need to do is select the best one which meets the needs and requirements of your project.
