Effective online communication and collaboration platforms are essential for remote teams. Instead of going over endless email chains, instant messaging or chat platforms are handy when you just want to convey a quick update, have a one-on-one chat, or group discussion with your team.

In this article, we have enlisted the best instant messaging to help you seamlessly communicate with your remote team.

1. Slack

slack

Slack is one of the most popular messaging platforms for teams. The platform has channels or conversation spaces to help you and your remote team organize your workspace and communicate easily. Slack allows you to send messages, share files, and have one-to-one or group conversations through channels. You can also send your messages right away or schedule them to send later.

Using Slack, you can integrate many third-party apps and collaboration tools, including Asana, Trello, Microsoft Teams, and more. Although the platform is easy to use, if you're trying it for the first time, we have a guide to help you understand how Slack works.

You can use the platform in the browser or download it on your desktop and smartphone devices. Slack is available for free for up to 10,000 messages. However, you can choose to go for a paid subscription with Pro, Business+, and Enterprise Grid, ranging from around $6.67 to $12.50 per month.

2. Microsoft Teams

microsoft teams

Microsoft Teams is another popular chat-based platform you could try for your remote team. The platform allows you to create Teams or groups to collaborate, chat, and hold meetings. The chat function allows you to instantly have one-on-one or group conversations with your remote team.

You can upload and send documents to your teammates on the go. Additionally, you can multitask or attend a meeting while continuing your chat in a separate window. Microsoft Teams includes Free, Essential, Standard, and Business plans. The free version offers unlimited text conversations and pretty much everything you need.

You can upgrade to a monthly paid subscription from $4 to $12.50 to get additional features in meetings, webinar hosting, and increased cloud storage. Like Slack, the platform is available to access in your browser as well as a desktop and smartphone app.

3. Discord

discord

Discord is best known as a leading chat platform for gamers. With 140 million active users and amazing features, the platform has expanded into other functions, including effective remote team communication. Discord servers are channels where you can have group conversations with your remote teammates.

You can chat, share files, start private threads including only a few members in the channel, use slash commands, use voice channels, share animated reactions for fun, and much more. Check out the best Discord tips and tricks to get the most out of the platform.

You can use the platform in your browser or download it on your desktop or smartphone. Discord is free to use but also comes with a paid version, Discord Nitro, for $99.99 per year or $9.99 per month.

4. Workplace by Meta

workplace

Workplace has great collaborative features to help your remote team stay connected with an intuitive interface that would remind you of Facebook. Workplace offers features like Groups and Chats that allow you to communicate with your team and engage in discussions, share files, or have brainstorming sessions. The platform also has a News Feed that shows you various updates and posts from the entire company.

Workplace offers a Core plan at $4 per person monthly with a free 30-day trial. You can include paid add-ons further with additional features like enhanced support, better video streaming quality, and more.

5. Webex by Cisco

webex

Webex has spaces allowing you to have group conversations with your remote team. You can connect with anyone from your company or even outside your company from the same space using direct messages. Further, it allows you to audio or video call, share files, co-edit, and collaborate with your remote teammates from the same space.

The platform is available for free and also offers paid subscription plans with enhanced features. You can switch to paid subscription plans ranging from $13.50 to $25, including control of participants in messaging and various other advanced video meeting features.

6. Google Chat

google chat

Google Chat is a part of Google Workspace, allowing you to seamlessly start group conversations, communicate in spaces, and have private discussions with your remote teammates. The platform shines because of the integration of the Google ecosystem of apps, making it easy to create and share documents and presentations without worrying about granting permissions.

Further, it allows you one-click video meetings to communicate with Google Meet. Check out these useful tips to help you get the most out of Google Chat. You can access the platform using your browser and as a mobile app for Android and iOS.

7. Pumble

pumble

Like most platforms on this list, Pumble is divided into different channels where you can have group conversations and direct messages where you can have a one-on-one discussion.

It also allows you to create private channels, which can only be joined by invitation. Further, you can branch out a conversation into a thread, save or pin your messages, share files, engage in voice calls, and hold video meetings on the platform.

Pumble comes with a free plan with unlimited users, message history, one-on-one video and voice calls, and more. You can upgrade to the Pro version for guest access, screen sharing, enhanced storage, customizations, and more.

8. Twist

Twist is an async messaging platform for your team to focus on productivity by using threads and tagging only the relevant people instead of everyone. This allows you and your team to keep conversations organized.

Further, your inbox only shows you the thread activity with you tagged in where you can choose to read, respond, and mark it done to empty your inbox. This helps you have a clutter-free inbox, allowing you to focus on priorities.

Twist offers a plan at $6 per user monthly or $8 per user annually with unlimited history of messages, integrations, file storage, and much more. You can try Twist for free for up to a month before you decide to go for the paid subscription.

9. Chanty

chanty

Chanty offers a simple yet intuitive user interface to communicate with your remote team in public or private conversations. Further, Chanty adds a collaborative feature by allowing you to assign a task to any of your teammates. You can edit, delete the tasks, and also have a related thread to discuss on it.

Moreover, the platform allows you to share files, snooze notifications, and make an audio or video call to your teammates. Chanty is free to use with unlimited private, public conversations, and more with up to 10 team members. The platform offers a Business plan at $4 per user monthly with unlimited messages and history, added support for more team members, and other enhanced features.

10. Mattermost

mattermost

Mattermost is one of the best collaboration platforms for developers with a combined workspace including Channels, Boards, and Playbooks. Channels are used for having group conversations with your remote team along with direct messages, file-sharing, threads, and more.

Mattermost also offers a collaborative feature with Boards to track your tasks and Playbooks to streamline workflows and automate your process for effective teamwork. Mattermost offers Free, Business, and Enterprise plans.

The free plan includes one workspace team, unlimited users, channels, and more required to get you started. You can choose to upgrade to the Business plan at $10 per user monthly for enhanced storage and more exclusive features.

Communicate Seamlessly With the Best Chat Platforms for Remote Teams

The above-mentioned instant messaging platforms will help you stay connected with your remote team on the go. Moreover, using these platforms, you can collaborate effectively with your teammates and stay productive.