7 Best Employee Communication Apps for Internal Comms in 2024
Lisa Ardill
Content Editor at Workvivo
26 Aug 2024
Healthy communication among employees is absolutely crucial for any business that wants to survive.
But keeping everyone aligned and engaged, particularly remote or hybrid teams, can feel like an uphill battle. You might be facing challenges like miscommunication, lack of engagement, or even a disconnect between departments – all of which can hinder your organization’s growth and success.
The good news? The right employee communication app can make all the difference.
But with so many solutions flooding the market, finding the perfect fit for your team can be overwhelming. Draining. Boring as heck.
Trust us, we get it.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the seven best employee communication apps to help you navigate the options and choose the tool that will truly enhance connectivity, collaboration, and overall team success.
Let’s go!
1. Workvivo — Best for building a connected company culture
Workvivo is a comprehensive employee communication platform that enhances engagement, collaboration, and a sense of community within organizations. It’s particularly suited for organizations looking to improve employee experience, enhance onboarding, and align team members with company culture, regardless of their location.
Unlike traditional communication software, Workvivo integrates social media features such as activity feeds, shout-outs, and community updates to create an immersive digital workplace that encourages employees to connect on both professional and personal levels.
The platform also serves as a central hub for all internal communications, bringing together tools for announcements, document sharing, and collaboration into one unified space.
Its social media-like environment enables employees to post updates, share information, and interact with colleagues through comments and reactions.
This social engagement is complemented by a strong focus on organizational alignment, with features like goal tracking, recognition, and feedback loops that tie individual contributions to company objectives.
Why do customers love Workvivo?
Reviews from G2 also say the same:
- User-friendly design: Workvivo’s design is highly user-friendly, making it easy to navigate. It offers various tools for productivity and fun, allowing users to showcase their skills, share moments, and connect with others.
- A social hub for workplace updates: Users can post pictures, follow colleagues, and gain followers within the organization. Additionally, the platform offers useful features like quick access to company links and the ability to share process improvement ideas.
Key features of Workvivo
- Social intranet: Workvivo elevates the traditional intranet experience by embedding social media functionalities directly into the platform. This feature allows employees to share updates, engage in discussions, and interact with each other’s content, creating a familiar social environment.
- Engagement analytics: With advanced analytics tools, Workvivo tracks and analyzes employee interactions and sentiments across the platform. This data provides leaders with detailed insights into engagement trends and employee moods, enabling them to make informed decisions that drive engagement strategies and improve employee retention.
- Recognition & rewards: This built-in recognition and rewards system encourages employees to publicly give shout-outs to colleagues for their achievements, thereby boosting morale and fostering a positive employee experience.
- Customizable news feed: Delivers personalized content to different teams, departments, or individuals. Employees receive updates that are relevant to them, which keeps them engaged and informed without being overwhelmed by unnecessary information.
- Mobile app: The app (available on both iOS and Android) provides full access to all platform features, including news feeds, recognition, and event management, making it ideal for remote workers. Also features push notifications that keep users informed of important updates in real-time, ensuring no one misses out on critical information.
- Event management: The platform allows you to create events, manage RSVPs, send reminders, and gather post-event feedback. This feature supports both virtual and in-person events, making it easier to maintain company culture even in a distributed work environment.
Integrations
- Productivity tools: Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive), Microsoft 365 (Teams, Outlook, Calendar, Azure, OneDrive).
- Communication platforms: Zoom, Slack.
- Content creation: Open Broadcaster Software (OBS), Wirecast.
- Social media: Twitter, GIPHY.
- Enterprise management: Atlassian, Drupal.
- HR systems: Personio, Workday, HiBob, BambooHR.
Spotlight: 84% of employees registered. 83% Active every week. 83% active every month.
Royal Berkshire NHS: Revolutionizing Internal Comms for Hospital Employees.
2. Slack — Best for streamlined team communication
Slack is a collaboration hub that streamlines communication and enhances productivity within organizations. Originally conceived as a messaging app, Slack has evolved into a solution that integrates various aspects of workplace communication, making it the go-to solution for teams looking to centralize their operations.
The platform is built to support both synchronous and asynchronous communication, making it ideal for distributed teams across different time zones. Its robust notification system ensures that critical messages are not missed, while customizable settings allow users to manage their focus and reduce distractions.
For example, Slack provides channels where teams can organize conversations by topic, project, or department, ensuring that information is easily accessible and structured.
Large teams can also leverage Slack’s advanced search functionality to quickly locate important conversations, documents, or files from any point in time.
Key features
- Channels: These are dedicated spaces for conversations organized by topics, teams, or projects. Channels can be public, allowing everyone in the organization to join, or private, limited to specific team members.
- Direct messaging: This is for one-on-one or small group conversations. Users can send text, images, files, and even integrate third-party apps directly within these messages. Direct messages can also be grouped into threads, making it easier to track specific conversations.
- Slack connect: Allows users to collaborate with partners, vendors, or clients in a shared Slack channel. This reduces reliance on email and enhances effective internal communication across different companies.
- Bots: Slack’s built-in bots, such as Slackbot and Workflow Builder, help automate routine tasks and provide reminders, reducing manual work and improving efficiency.
- Search and archiving: Allows users to find messages, files, and documents quickly, even across archived channels. Search results can be filtered by user, date, or channel, making it easier to retrieve important information no matter how old it is.
Integrations
Slack integrates with Google Drive, Trello, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Asana, Dropbox, GitHub, and over 2000 other tools.
User reviews (according to G2)
- Effective communication and integration: Slack provides customizable channels and groupings that are instrumental in maintaining communication. Its ability to integrate with third-party services such as Google Calendar, Polly surveys, Drive, Asana, and Canva enhances functionality, allowing for comprehensive file and information sharing.
- Cost concerns with scaling: The limitations of Slack's freemium plan and the escalating costs of its paid version as more users are added pose financial challenges for growing teams, making it less viable for companies with a large number of team members.
- User-friendly interface and privacy options: Users appreciate Slack’s user-friendly interface, which includes a variety of themes and features like Huddles, Canvases, Lists, and Channels. There’s also the flexibility to set channels as private or public, ensuring information security across different groups within the organization.
Pricing
- Free plan: $0 per month
- Pro: $7.25 per user/month
- Business+: $12.50 per user/month
- Enterprise grid: Custom quote
3. SnapComms — Best for high-priority internal communications
SnapComms is an internal communication app designed specifically for delivering high-priority messages to employees across various devices.
The platform is ideal for organizations that need to convey urgent updates, policy changes, or critical alerts in real-time. This is particularly useful in environments where timely information dissemination is crucial, such as in healthcare, finance, government, or large enterprises.
SnapComms also offers a range of communication channels to ensure that messages are seen by employees, whether they are at their desks or on the go. The platform’s unique delivery methods include pop-up alerts, screensavers, and scrolling desktop tickers, which grab attention immediately and ensure that important messages are not missed.
Administrators can also use SnapComms to track message delivery, engagement rates, and employee responses in real-time, ensuring continuous improvement in communication strategies.
Key features
- Desktop alerts: High-priority messages are delivered directly to employees’ screens as pop-up alerts, ensuring immediate visibility. These alerts can be customized with different formats, colors, and urgency levels, making them suitable for various types of communications from emergency alerts to important reminders.
- Screensavers: SnapComms can turn idle screens into communication tools by displaying key messages, announcements, or reminders as screensavers. This ensures continuous engagement with important content even when employees are not actively using their devices.
- Scrolling tickers: A scrolling ticker bar at the bottom of the screen displays real-time updates, news, or urgent messages. This feature is ideal for keeping employees informed without interrupting their workflow.
- Emergency notifications: These notifications can override other activities on the screen and are designed to be impossible to ignore, ensuring that all employees are informed instantly.
- Targeted messaging: Allows administrators to target messages to specific employee groups based on location, department, or job role.
Integrations
SnapComms integrates with key systems such as Active Directory, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Outlook, and other enterprise platforms.
User reviews (according to G2)
- Efficient and customizable: Users appreciate the available customization options on the platform, which allow for tailored communication experiences within the organization.
- Intuitive design and responsive support: The platform features an intuitive user interface that simplifies the process of creating and receiving notifications. There’s also technical support with quick response times, ensuring issues are promptly addressed.
- Limited search functionality: The search function in SnapComms is restricted to scanning only the titles of announcements, not the content within the messages. This limitation hinders the ability to retrieve specific information when it's needed.
Pricing
- Inform: Request a quote
- Engage: Request a quote
4. RingCentral — Best for unified communication and collaboration
RingCentral (often compared against Nextiva) is a communication solution that combines messaging, video conferencing, and phone services into a single unified solution.
It offers a full suite of tools that facilitate real-time communication and teamwork, enabling teams to connect, share, and work together efficiently, whether they are in the office, working remotely, or on the go.
For example, the ‘Global Office’ feature provides local numbers, international calling plans, and regional compliance, making it easier for businesses to operate seamlessly across multiple locations and countries.
RingCentral is also highly customizable, allowing organizations to configure their communication system according to specific business requirements. This includes integrating with existing tools, setting up custom workflows, or even expanding to support a growing workforce.
Key features
- Team messaging: Allows users to create channels for specific projects, departments, or topics. Team members can also share files, send direct messages, and collaborate in real-time.
- Video conferencing: The platform supports high-definition video calls for up to 200 participants, complete with screen sharing, meeting recording, and virtual backgrounds. These features make it easy to conduct virtual meetings, webinars, and training sessions regardless of the participants’ locations.
- Cloud phone system: Provides advanced call management features, including auto-attendant, call forwarding, voicemail-to-email, and call analytics.
- Integrated contact center: Includes a fully integrated contact center solution that supports omnichannel communication, allowing businesses to manage customer interactions across voice, chat, email, and social media from a single platform.
- Task management: Within the messaging interface, users can create tasks, assign them to team members, and track progress, all without leaving the chat window. This integration streamlines project management and keeps teams aligned on their objectives.
Integrations
RingCentral integrates with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce, Slack, Zendesk, Trello, and over 200 other business applications.
User reviews (according to G2)
- Seamless transition: The platform offers a seamless experience for users who need to switch between calls and video conferences frequently.
- Poor customer support: Users report inconsistencies in the quality of customer support, with difficulties in obtaining timely help for more complex issues such as number porting.
- Challenges with TCR SMS registration: Users encountered significant difficulties with the TCR SMS registration process due to an API error that the customer service team could not resolve, causing weeks of delay.
Pricing
- Core: $9.99 per user/month
- Advanced: $25 per user/month
- Ultra: $35 per user/month
5. ContactMonkey — Best for internal email and employee engagement
ContactMonkey is an internal communication tool designed to enhance employee engagement through effective email management and internal newsletters.
Specifically tailored for organizations using Outlook and Gmail, ContactMonkey integrates directly with these email clients, allowing communicators to create, send, and track internal emails without leaving their inbox. The platform is ideal for HR teams, internal communications specialists, and managers who need to reach employees efficiently and measure the impact of their communications.
The platform features robust tracking capabilities that provide insights into open rates, click-through rates, and overall engagement, helping organizations refine their messaging and improve employee communication strategies.
Key features
- Email template builder: ContactMonkey’s drag-and-drop email template builder allows users to create visually engaging internal emails without any coding skills. The builder includes customizable templates for newsletters, announcements, and surveys.
- Real-time email tracking: The platform offers detailed email tracking and analytics, providing insights into open rates, click-through rates, and overall engagement.
- Interactive content: Supports multimedia interactive content within emails, such as surveys, polls, and feedback forms. Employees can engage directly with these elements without leaving their inbox, making it easier to collect insights and feedback.
- Personalized email templates: ContactMonkey offers customizable email templates that can be personalized for different employee segments.
- Employee feedback tools: Allows organizations to gather real-time feedback from employees on various topics.
Integrations
ContactMonkey integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Outlook, Gmail, and other email platforms, allowing organizations to continue using their existing email infrastructure while enhancing their communication capabilities.
User reviews (according to G2)
- Limitations with media and integration: Users face limitations in embedding media such as videos and desire more sophisticated folder organization for better management of images and emails created by teams. Additionally, the platform struggles with integrating various email software, which can be inconvenient and sometimes leads to unresolvable glitches and bugs.
- User-friendly design and professional output: The platform enables users, especially those without enough technical experience, to easily create visually appealing and professional-looking emails.
- Compatibility issues with G-suite and scalability challenges: Some functionalities of the platform are optimized for Outlook rather than G-Suite (now Google Workspace), leading to compatibility issues. Challenges also arise when scaling email setups or managing distributions from multiple senders, often requiring manual processes with CSV files.
Pricing
- Essential: Price available on request
- Plus: Price available on request
- Enterprise: Price available on request
6. Blink — Best for frontline workforce communication
Blink is an all-in-one employee communication app specifically for frontline workers and remote teams. Recognizing that traditional communication tools often overlook the unique needs of deskless employees, Blink provides a mobile-first solution that ensures seamless connectivity and engagement across the entire workforce.
This ensures that those who often lack access to corporate email or intranet systems can still participate in company-wide communications and access essential updates and resources.
In addition, the platform also integrates messaging, file sharing, and employee engagement features into a central hub. This covers all organizational updates, allowing employees to access critical information such as company announcements, shift schedules, and training materials.
Key features
- Instant messaging: Blink offers secure instant messaging that allows frontline workers to communicate quickly with their teams and supervisors. Messages can be sent individually or within group chats.
- News feed: A customizable news feed that delivers company updates, announcements, and other critical information directly to employees’ mobile devices. This ensures that all employees, regardless of their location, are kept in the loop and informed about important company news.
- Task management: Enables managers to assign tasks, set deadlines, and track progress all within the app.
- Document sharing: Employees can access and share important documents, such as policies, procedures, and training materials, directly from their mobile devices.
- Employee surveys: Includes tools for creating and distributing surveys to gather feedback from frontline employees. These surveys can be used to measure engagement, collect opinions on company initiatives, or gauge overall employee sentiment.
Integrations
Blink integrates with popular tools such as Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, SharePoint, and various HR and payroll systems, enabling organizations to maintain consistent communication across all platforms.
User reviews (according to G2)
- Need for content moderation: Users are concerned about the lack of content moderation, which can lead to inappropriate posts that breach company policies. Implementing a moderation feature for posts could help maintain professional standards and enforce social media policies more effectively.
- Centralized information hub: Blink serves as a central hub for company updates, documents, and day-to-day tools, tailored to meet specific workplace needs.
- Challenges with broad feeds: The broad feeds on Blink can become cluttered with non-essential content, sometimes overshadowing important messages.
Pricing
- Business: Price available on request
- Enterprise: Price available on request
Related → 5 remote team management tools for enhanced communication
7. Connecteam — Best for managing deskless workforce operations
Connecteam is a mobile workforce management platform designed to meet the specific needs of deskless employees. The solution is tailored for industries such as construction, retail, hospitality, and healthcare, where employees are often on the move.
Connecteam also offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies task management, scheduling, time tracking, and internal communication, ensuring that all employees, regardless of their location, stay productive.
Businesses can also use Connecteam to send targeted messages, updates, and announcements directly to employees’ mobile devices, ensuring that everyone receives important information in real-time.
Key features
- Employee scheduling: Offers a scheduling feature that allows managers to create, modify, and distribute employee schedules in real-time. Employees can view their schedules, swap shifts, and request time off directly from the app.
- Time tracking: Enables employees to clock in and out from their mobile devices, with GPS tracking to verify their location. This feature also supports timesheet management and integrates with payroll systems to streamline the payment process.
- Task management: Allows managers to assign tasks, set deadlines, and track progress all within the app.
- Communication tools: Offers a range of communication tools, including instant messaging, push notifications, and announcements.
- Digital forms and checklists: Allows organizations to digitize their paperwork by creating custom forms and checklists that employees can complete from their mobile devices.
Integrations
Connecteam integrates with popular payroll and HR systems such as QuickBooks, Gusto, and ADP, as well as communication tools like Microsoft Teams and Slack.
User reviews (according to G2)
- Mobile app limitations and scaling challenges: The mobile app’s functionality does not fully match the desktop version, particularly for administrative tasks like customizing shifts or viewing detailed employee schedules. Additionally, as companies grow and exceed the user threshold, the platform becomes more complex and costly, which can complicate decision-making regarding feature needs and package selections.
- Enhanced engagement: Connecteam boosts employee engagement and offers tailored solutions for different departments, from shift scheduling to sending rewards. The real-time chat support and comprehensive tutorials aid in maximizing the platform's utility.
- Effective time management features: For small business owners, especially in industries like construction, Connecteam's timecard features provide crucial oversight of employee activities, helping to prevent fraudulent time reporting.
Pricing
- The small business plan: $0 per user/month
- Basic: $29 per user/month
- Advanced: $49 per user/month
- Expert: $99 per user/month
Workvivo: Your solution for streamlined employee communication
If you’re struggling to keep your team connected, engaged, and informed, you’re not alone.
According to a recent report, the top impacts of poor communication are hindered productivity and lost business – two things you definitely don’t want to experience.
Many organizations face the challenge of maintaining clear communication, especially in hybrid and remote work environments.
Here at Workvivo, we understand these challenges and offer a solution that’s designed to eliminate communication barriers, bringing your team together. Our integrated platform fosters real connection and engagement, ensuring important updates reach everyone – from the office to the front line.
Whether it’s creating a sense of community or amplifying your company culture, Workvivo provides the tools you need to address the communication gaps that hold your team back.
Don’t let communication challenges stand in your way – choose Workvivo and take the first step toward a more connected, engaged, and productive team.
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Join the companies that have already improved their communication with Workvivo.