Productivity Consultant & Writer
1
The Top 10 Collaboration Tools for Teams in 2024
7 min read
Published: Jan 11, 2023
Revised on: Mar 1, 2024
Here’s our curated shortlist and our reasons for liking each company; please click into each company to get more details:
- Monday.com
- Easy to use and intuitive interface. Many reviewers mentioned how user-friendly Monday.com is.
- Visual project management. Reviewers liked the ability to visualize workflows and track progress through boards and timelines.
- Enhanced team collaboration. Monday.com facilitates task assignment, communication, and real-time updates to improve collaboration.
- Customizable boards and workflows. Users appreciated the ability to fully customize boards and automations to match their needs.
- Centralized hub. Storing all project information and files in one centralized place made managing projects easier.
- Todoist
- Easy to use interface and intuitive task management. Many reviews mentioned how simple Todoist is to use for organizing tasks and projects.
- Available across multiple platforms and devices. Todoist syncs seamlessly across web, desktop apps, mobile apps allowing users to access tasks anywhere.
- Natural language support for adding due dates, recurring tasks etc. Users loved the ability to quickly add tasks using natural language.
- Collaborative features like task assignments, comments, file attachments. Useful for sharing tasks and communicating with teams.
- Motivational elements like karma, goals, and productivity tracking. Reviews highlighted features that helped users stay motivated.
- Assembly
- Easy to use and intuitive interface. Many reviews mentioned Assembly is simple, easy to navigate, and user-friendly.
- Good customer support. Reviews mentioned Assembly's support team is responsive in resolving issues.
- Rewards redemption process is smooth. Users liked the gift card and other reward options that can be redeemed with points.
- Integrates well with Slack and Microsoft Teams. The integration makes giving recognition quick and seamless.
- Good for employee recognition and engagement. Reviews highlighted Assembly's peer-to-peer recognition features that help boost employee morale.
- Airtable
- Flexible and customizable - Airtable is highly customizable, with customizable fields, views, color-coding, etc. This allows users to structure their data how they want.
- Easy to use and intuitive interface - Airtable has a simple, easy to use interface. The spreadsheet-style layout is familiar and intuitive.
- Real-time collaboration - Allows multiple users to collaborate and edit databases simultaneously. Great for teams.
- Integrations - Airtable integrates well with many other apps via Zapier, allowing automation of workflows.
- Templates - Airtable provides many templates to help users get started for different uses like project management.
- Microsoft 365
- Comprehensive suite of productivity apps - Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, etc. Saves having multiple applications.
- Real-time collaboration - Allows teams to co-edit documents and share screens. Enables remote work.
- Accessibility - Can access files and apps from any device with internet. Allows working remotely.
- Security features - Has tools like multi-factor authentication and encryption for data protection.
- Consistent updates - Subscription model provides regular new features and updates. Prevents software obsolescence.
Raise a finger if you spend most of your productive hours exchanging emails with your co-workers. Raise another finger if you struggle with briefing your teammates about your work plans and progress. Raise a last finger if you find yourself constantly exhausted by all of the above with no time to do your actual job. If you raised two or more fingers, we have news for you. The bad news is that your current lifestyle is not sustainable. The good news is that collaboration tools are the answer to all your struggles.
What Are Collaboration Tools?
A collaboration tool helps people to collaborate.” At least, that’s how Wikipedia defines it. However, a more specific definition is that a collaboration tool is any software that allows two or more people to get work done together. Some examples include:
- Messaging apps
- Project management software
- Video conference software
- Online office suites
Are Collaboration Tools Worth It?
The short answer is Yes! The long answer is Yes! Absolutely! Definitely! Collaboration tools are vital because they help teams work together more efficiently and are perfect for streamlining office collaboration. They are also important because they help your organization and team members to:
- Brainstorm and generate new ideas
- Strengthen team bonds
- Save time and resources
- Assign tasks and improve transparency and accountability
- Boost overall productivity levels
What Should I Consider When Choosing a Workplace Collaboration Tool?
We understand that deciding on the perfect software can be a hassle. It’s also important to note that choosing the “right” option largely depends on your business needs. Before making any decision, here are a few questions to consider:
- Is the tool easy to use?
- How many features do you need or want?
- What problem(s) are you trying to solve in your organization?
- Low communication?
- Disjointed project management skills?
- Low team synergy?
- Does the tool sync easily with other business software?
- What are the tool privacy options?
- What are the tool file-sharing options?
Top 10 Collaboration Tools for Teams
Pricing
$8.00 per user/month
- Free version
- Free trial available
- No Seat Minimum
Monday.com, a cloud-based collaboration software, can be accessed from any device with an internet connection. With its flexible and customizable platform, users can create and assign tasks, set deadlines, track progress, and collaborate in real time. In addition, teams can also use Monday.com to manage their schedules, track time spent on tasks, and set up meetings. Whether you’re working in person or across a distributed team, this app can help your entire team stay in sync.
Why We Love Monday.com:
- It’s easy to customize workflow and dashboards to fit your specific needs
- Multiple view options, including a calendar and timeline view. These give a bird’s eye view of ongoing projects
- Intuitive and simple-to-use interface
- Seamless integration option, thus allowing ease of use across several platforms
Something to Note:
- As a result of its multiple features, Monday.com can come off as overwhelming to people new to collaboration tools
Pros
- Easy to use and intuitive interface. Many reviewers mentioned how user-friendly Monday.com is.
- Visual project management. Reviewers liked the ability to visualize workflows and track progress through boards and timelines.
- Enhanced team collaboration. Monday.com facilitates task assignment, communication, and real-time updates to improve collaboration.
- Customizable boards and workflows. Users appreciated the ability to fully customize boards and automations to match their needs.
- Centralized hub. Storing all project information and files in one centralized place made managing projects easier.
Cons
- Steep learning curve. Some reviewers found the initial setup and learning process time-consuming and complex.
- Limitations of free plan. Key features like automations are only available on paid plans.
- Integration issues. Some users faced challenges integrating Monday.com with other tools they use.
- Slow performance. A few reviewers complained about occasional lagging or platform slowness with heavy usage.
- Price. Monday.com's pricing model makes it cost prohibitive for larger teams to use all features.
2
Todoist
Pricing
$4.00 per user/month
- Free version
- Free trial available
- No Seat Minimum
Todoist allows users to create and share to-do lists and track projects. It is perfect for individuals and small teams who need to manage work tasks together but do not require a comprehensive project management app. With Todoist, users can create, assign and track assignments and communicate with team members to ensure that work is going smoothly. It is an ideal solution for people who want a simple tool to help them stay organized and on top of their work.
Why We Love Todoist:
- It has a free version and a moderately priced paid version
- Ability to personalize task views to suit your work style/preferences
- Smooth integration with email, calendar, and files
- Ability to visualize and track productivity streaks
- Todoist works offline
- Try a full demo here
Something to Note:
- Todoist has limited features on the free plan
Pros
- Easy to use interface and intuitive task management. Many reviews mentioned how simple Todoist is to use for organizing tasks and projects.
- Available across multiple platforms and devices. Todoist syncs seamlessly across web, desktop apps, mobile apps allowing users to access tasks anywhere.
- Natural language support for adding due dates, recurring tasks etc. Users loved the ability to quickly add tasks using natural language.
- Collaborative features like task assignments, comments, file attachments. Useful for sharing tasks and communicating with teams.
- Motivational elements like karma, goals, and productivity tracking. Reviews highlighted features that helped users stay motivated.
Cons
- Limitations of free version like lack of reminders. Important features locked behind paywall was a common complaint.
- Steep learning curve and complexity. Some users found the extensive features overwhelming initially.
- Syncing issues faced occasionally. A few reviews mentioned problems with syncing between devices.
- No calendar view available. Ability to see tasks on a calendar view was lacking.
- Pricing model and cost. While affordable, some users felt the premium plans were expensive for features offered.
3
Assembly
Pricing
$2.80 per user/month
- Free version
- Free trial available
- Seat Minimum: 1 User
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Assembly’s automation software can help users plan, structure, and streamline their workflow processes. It is a flexible tool with numerous use cases, such as project management, internal communication, performance management, employee engagement, and employee productivity. Although designed for easy use, it has advanced features capable of handling complex projects. Generally, Assembly is a powerful collaboration tool that allows teams to work together more effectively and efficiently.
Why We Love Assembly:
- Feature-rich free version
- Price discounts for charity and educational organizations
- It has several work templates that users can choose from
- Easy-to-use and intuitive platform
- Access to a wide range of tools to keep your workforce engaged
Something to Note:
- The number of features on Assembly can be overwhelming to new users
Pros
- Easy to use and intuitive interface. Many reviews mentioned Assembly is simple, easy to navigate, and user-friendly.
- Good customer support. Reviews mentioned Assembly's support team is responsive in resolving issues.
- Rewards redemption process is smooth. Users liked the gift card and other reward options that can be redeemed with points.
- Integrates well with Slack and Microsoft Teams. The integration makes giving recognition quick and seamless.
- Good for employee recognition and engagement. Reviews highlighted Assembly's peer-to-peer recognition features that help boost employee morale.
Cons
- Limitations in analytics and reporting features. Some reviews wanted more detailed analytics and user statistics.
- Creating flows and automations can be tricky. Reviews noted workflows and automations are sometimes hard to setup.
- Limited customization options for recognitions. Users wanted more ways to customize recognitions with images/GIFs.
- Lack of mobile apps earlier on. Reviews mentioned lack of mobile apps made it hard to use when not by a computer.
- Confusion due to branding changes. Reviews noted frequent name changes of the reward units was confusing initially.
4
Airtable
Pricing
$20.00 per user/month
- Free version
- No Seat Minimum
Airtable is a collaboration software that allows users to create, share, and work on databases. Its uses include task management, event planning, tracking and organizing inventories, etc. Airtable also has features like comments and file sharing — all of which facilitate team collaboration. Airtable’s competitive advantage, especially relative to older legacy database software, is that it requires little to no technical expertise.
Why We Love Airtable:
- User-friendly interface
- Option to create unlimited bases in the free option
- 2 GB worth of free space on the free plan too
- Easy to customize
- It integrates with a wide range of work software
Something to Note:
- Airtable has a few formatting limitations
Pros
- Flexible and customizable - Airtable is highly customizable, with customizable fields, views, color-coding, etc. This allows users to structure their data how they want.
- Easy to use and intuitive interface - Airtable has a simple, easy to use interface. The spreadsheet-style layout is familiar and intuitive.
- Real-time collaboration - Allows multiple users to collaborate and edit databases simultaneously. Great for teams.
- Integrations - Airtable integrates well with many other apps via Zapier, allowing automation of workflows.
- Templates - Airtable provides many templates to help users get started for different uses like project management.
Cons
- Steep learning curve - Despite intuitive interface, some features like formulas can have a steep learning curve.
- Pricing model - Per user pricing can get expensive for larger teams. Upgrade costs add up.
- Limitations on free plan - Advanced features like automation only available on paid plans. Free plan has limits.
- Can get disorganized - With lots of views and data, databases can become cluttered and disorganized.
- Mobile and tablet apps lack full functionality - The mobile and tablet apps don't have all the functionality of the web app.
Pricing
$6.00 per user/month
- Free version
- Free trial available
- No Seat Minimum
Formerly known as Office 365, Microsoft 365 lets you “create, share and collaborate all in one place with your favorite apps.” Living up to its mission statement, Microsoft 365 boasts household names like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. It also hosts lesser-known work solutions like Outlook, OneDrive, and OneNote. When combined, the Microsoft 365 ecosystem provides an encompassing digital solution ranging from communications to cloud storage to backup and syncing and a host of productivity apps.
Why We Love Microsoft 365:
- Superior operating ecosystem and syncing experience across devices
- Highly secure cloud storage features
- Wide range of collaboration tools to suit your specific needs
- Excellent customer support and software updates
- Total value for money
Something to Note:
- The standard and premium packages are expensive when compared to other competitors
Pros
- Comprehensive suite of productivity apps - Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, etc. Saves having multiple applications.
- Real-time collaboration - Allows teams to co-edit documents and share screens. Enables remote work.
- Accessibility - Can access files and apps from any device with internet. Allows working remotely.
- Security features - Has tools like multi-factor authentication and encryption for data protection.
- Consistent updates - Subscription model provides regular new features and updates. Prevents software obsolescence.
Cons
- Cost - Subscription pricing seen as expensive, especially for individuals and small businesses.
- Learning curve - Advanced features can have a steep learning curve for new users.
- Dependence on internet - Being cloud-based means internet outages disrupt access.
- Tech support issues - Support can be difficult to reach, unreliable, or provide unclear solutions.
- Occasional glitches - Some users report lags, crashes, or bugs, especially during updates.
6
Slack
Pricing
$7.25 per user/month
- Free version
- No Seat Minimum
Slack needs no introduction. As one of the most successful collaboration tools in the world, it has earned its bragging rights. On the surface, Slack appears like a simple messaging app that allows teams to work together in real time and asynchronously. But closer inspection reveals a behemoth with features such as video calling, audio calls, and a tonne of cool customizations and integrations. Beyond these, Slack also has excellent task management features like assigning tasks to users, setting up task reminders, running polls, and calculating results. This succession of impressive features makes Slack hard to beat.
Why We Love Slack:
- Slack supports secure and private communications
- Search options are available for messages
- Easy to integrate with a lot of other apps
- It has audio and video capabilities
- Intuitive interface
Something to Note:
- It is relatively pricey compared to other options available in the market
Pros
- Easy to use interface and intuitive navigation. Many reviews mentioned Slack is simple to get started with and user-friendly.
- Facilitates team communication and collaboration. Slack provides channels, threads, and direct messaging for organizing conversations and working together.
- Integration capabilities. Slack seamlessly integrates with many apps like Google Drive, Trello, Zoom etc.
- Customizable notification settings. Users can customize notifications to control interruptions.
- Powerful search function. Slack's search allows quickly finding messages, files, and conversations.
Cons
- Can be distracting with too many notifications and channels. This was a common downside mentioned in reviews.
- Expensive compared to competitors, especially for larger teams. Pricing was seen as a drawback.
- Message history limitations in free version. The free plan only stores 10,000 messages.
- Learning curve. Slack has many features so completely mastering it takes time.
- Privacy concerns and data security risks were also cited as potential issues.
7
Trello
Pricing
$5.00 per user/month
- Free version
- Free trial available
- No Seat Minimum
If you’re looking for a simple-to-use collaboration tool, then Trello may be the perfect choice for you. Trello is useful for organizing, tracking, and managing simple workflow and tasks. Its simplicity makes it a strong option for big teams working with plenty of contractors or non-permanent staff. Trello’s use case, and by extension complexity, can also be increased by integrating more features into it.
Why We Love Trello:
- Easy to use
- Plenty of free features
- Abundant integration options
Something to Note:
- Because of its simplicity, many features — including time-tracking and reporting — require add-ons
Pros
- Intuitive and easy to use interface. Many reviews praised how simple Trello is to get started with and how the drag-and-drop functionality makes managing tasks incredibly convenient.
- Flexibility and customization. Users like that they can customize workflows, boards, lists, cards, labels, etc. to suit their specific needs. Trello can be adapted for personal or business use.
- Collaboration features. Reviews highlighted the ability to assign tasks, share boards, leave comments, and get notifications as key features that enable teams to work together seamlessly.
- Integration with other apps. The ability to connect Trello with tools like Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc. enhances workflows and productivity.
- Free plan with robust features. Even the free version provides enough functionality for many users' needs, especially smaller teams and personal use.
Cons
- Limitations of free plan. The free plan has restrictions like a cap on the number of boards, attachments size, etc. which can be limiting for larger teams.
- Steep learning curve initially. Some users found Trello confusing at first and it took time to learn how to best organize boards and workflows.
- Can get visually overwhelming. As the number of boards/cards increases, the visual interface can become cluttered and hard to navigate.
- Lack of advanced features. Users noted a lack of time tracking, resource management, reporting, etc. for handling complex projects.
- Performance issues. Some reviews mentioned occasional slowness in loading or syncing, especially with larger volumes of data.
8
Teamwork
Pricing
$5.99 per user/month
- Free version
- Free trial available
- Seat Minimum: 3 Users
The teamwork app exists to reduce the headaches that come with project management. It has an intuitive interface and a host of features — invoicing, time tracking, and guest accounts — that make work easier. Thanks to the Teamwork app, you can manage all your client work in one place.
Why We Love Teamwork:
- Free account option available.
- It has growth-leaning features like time tracking.
- User-friendly and colorful platform.
- Ability to sign up without any credit card commitment
Something to Note:
- The free version has limited features compared to the other free plans on the market
Pros
- Easy to use interface and intuitive workflow. Many users found Teamwork easy to navigate.
- Robust task management features. Users liked the ability to create, assign, and track tasks efficiently.
- Real-time collaboration tools. Features like messaging and file sharing facilitated team communication and alignment.
- Time tracking functionality. Users appreciated the ability to log time spent on tasks for billing purposes.
- Integrations with other tools. Integration with Google Drive, Slack, etc helped users leverage their existing workflows.
Cons
- Steep learning curve initially. The extensive features can be overwhelming for new users.
- Limited customizability of UI. Lack of ability to customize the UI to user needs and preferences.
- Unreliable mobile app. The mobile app was seen as glitchy and lacking key features.
- Confusing pricing model. Some users felt the pricing tiers were not aligned to team sizes/needs.
- Reporting limitations. Users wanted more advanced reporting functionality for data insights.
9
Asana
Pricing
$10.99 per user/month
- Free version
- Free trial available
- No Seat Minimum
Asana is ideal for people and teams who require a lot of flexibility in designing collaboration tools. It is perfect for simple task management, making lists, and tracking workflows. Asana’s flexibility and customization options set it apart from the competition.
Why We Love Asana:
- Flexible, fast, and intuitive tool to use.
- Generous functionalities in the free version.
- Easy to understand timeline view
Something to Note:
- Asana’s open-ended/blank nature can make the initial setup process daunting
Pros
- User-friendly and intuitive interface
- Powerful features for task management and project tracking
- Enables easy collaboration through task assignment, file sharing, and real-time communication
- Customizable workflows and views like Kanban boards and Gantt charts
- Integrations with other tools like Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox etc.
Cons
- Steep learning curve, especially for beginners
- Can be overwhelming with extensive notifications
- Limitations in advanced reporting capabilities
- Expensive pricing plans for larger teams
- Lack of robust time tracking and resource management features
10
Basecamp
Pricing
$15.00 per user/month
- Free version
- Free trial available
- No Seat Minimum
Basecamp is a project management and collaboration software that helps teams stay organized and communicate effectively. The app design provides a central location for teams to track tasks, deadlines, announcements, files, and everything work-related. With Basecamp, users are constantly updated on task progress and never have to miss a beat.
Why We Love Basecamp:
- Supports integration with a wide range of services
- Easy to use and get started
- It is easy to access on any device with an internet connection from anywhere in the world
- It has a wide range of communication, organization, and productivity features
- 24/7/365 customer support service
Something to Note:
- Basecamp’s plans are considerably higher than those of its competitors. Conversely, the flat pricing model, regardless of the number of users, makes it a steal for big companies.
Pros
- Easy to use interface and intuitive navigation. Many reviews mentioned Basecamp is user-friendly with a clean and simple interface, allowing for a short learning curve.
- Centralized communication and collaboration. Multiple reviews liked having one place to store conversations, files, and tasks related to projects, improving teamwork and transparency.
- Task management features. Reviews highlighted useful capabilities like assigning tasks, setting due dates, tracking progress, and managing to-do lists across projects.
- Affordable pricing. Several reviews said Basecamp provides good value, with one flat monthly fee regardless of number of users or projects.
- Mobile app accessibility. Some reviews appreciated being able to access Basecamp via iOS and Android apps, enabling remote work and availability on-the-go.
Cons
- Reporting and analytics limitations. A common complaint was Basecamp lacks robust reporting features to get detailed insights on project progress.
- Steep learning curve. Despite the simple interface, some reviews mentioned new users still face a learning curve in fully leveraging all of Basecamp's functionalities.
- Limited customization options. Multiple reviews wanted more ability to customize projects, workflows, notifications and integrate with other tools.
- Chat limitations. Compared to dedicated chat tools, reviews cited Basecamp's chat functionality can be basic and inconvenient.
- Lack of key PM features. Reviews noted limitations around time tracking, calendars, Gantt charts, dependencies, and workflows for larger projects.
Conclusion
It is clear that collaboration tools are essential for the success of any organization. Whether it’s through document sharing, project management, instant messaging, or video conferencing software, these tools help to align team members toward shared goals and objectives. Without collaboration tools, teams risk working in silos which can result in miscommunication, missed opportunities, and ultimately, missed targets. If you’re still on the fence regarding the usefulness of these tools for your business, remember that only "teamwork [can] make the dream work."
