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What is Instant Messaging Software?

Companies use Instant messaging software to facilitate communication between their staff members who may be located in different places and countries. Popular websites such as Facebook offer instant chat services for free. Good quality IM solutions provide useful features such as video calling, web conferencing, and VoIP. Show more Advanced platforms offer IP radio, IPTV, and desktop sharing tools. Large enterprises have greater communication needs and therefore they typically invest in installing an internal IM server to serve their thousands of employees. You can read our detailed reviews of leading products in this category including the current anointed topper Glip.Show less

How was this ranking made?

To create this list of best Instant Messaging Software we have analyzed 114 different applications currently available on the market, studying their features, ease-of-use, client support, offered integrations as well as mobile device support using our patented SmartScoreTM rating system. This list has been prepared by Louie Andre, our software expert responsible for the Instant Messaging Software category.

List of Top 12 Instant Messaging Software

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1. Glip

Our score: 9.0 User satisfaction: 92%

A free unlimited video meetings platform with built-in messaging offered by RingCentral.

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2. Mobile Text Alerts

Our score: 8.6 User satisfaction: 94%

An affordable and easy business SMS service that lets online enterprises reach customers in seconds. Designed for small and medium-sized businesses, it allows them to communicate with their clients through messaging.

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3. Slack

Our score: 9.3 User satisfaction: 96%

A communication software that unifies all your channels in one searchable and easily accessible online location. Completely mobile-ready, it supports real-time messaging, voice, and video calling, and allows file sharing and archiving within the platform. It also integrates with over 1,500 external apps, making it highly flexible.

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4. Flock

Our score: 9.1 User satisfaction: 97%

A cloud-based collaboration software explicitly designed to improve team communication and business efficiency, Flock helps unify distributed teams and boost productivity. Suitable for businesses of all sizes, it comes with a team messaging feature designed to speed up communication and maximize team output.

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5. Skype

Our score: 9.0 User satisfaction: 98%

Skype is a software application whose text, voice, and video tools make it simple to share experiences with the people that matter to you, wherever they are. As the flagship communication program of the Microsoft family, Skype brings a level of stability and competence expected from the software giant.

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6. Jabber

Our score: 8.7 User satisfaction: 90%

Jabber is an instant messaging software that allows you to make quick phone calls using your ethernet location and ensures reliable communication with little bandwidth. It uses Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol that offers greater security and encryption.

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7. Zoho Cliq

Our score: 8.7 User satisfaction: 100%

Formerly Zoho Chat, Cliq is a team messaging and collaboration app from Zoho software suite, offered in free and premium editions. Apart from chat, you can now communicate with team members via audio and video for more cohesive and deeper collaboration.

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8. Fuze

Our score: 8.6 User satisfaction: 98%

Fuze is a global cloud communications company that provides a unified communications and contact center experience for the enterprise. With Fuze's enterprise-grade and centralized platform, businesses can take advantage of simplified yet flexible communication tools.

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9. Workplace by Facebook

Our score: 8.6 User satisfaction: 92%

A private social network for businesses that leverages the interface of the most widely-used social media worldwide. With this, employees can create and join work and project groups, post announcements, share files and data, and organize corporate events.

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10. Chatwing

Our score: 8.5 User satisfaction: 95%

Chatwing is a chat application and live communication platform designed for websites and mobile devices. Chatwing allows you to build a custom chatroom for your customers, which you can customize with themes and widgets.

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11. Output Messenger

Our score: 8.0 User satisfaction: 91%

Output Messenger enhances internal communications and can function as a private secure messenger for your office.

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12. PanTerra CloudUC

Our score: 8.0 User satisfaction: 98%

PanTerra's CloudUC is the most comprehensive business-class cloud unified communications solution available today.

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Similar Categories:

In the event you didn't find just the solution you were looking for here's a list of various categories similar to Instant Messaging Software that you might want to browse through:

Instant Messaging Software Guide

Table of contents

Industry Report - Instant Messaging Software for 2022

CloudRank™ system is a unique algorithm that our research team uses to evaluate Instant Messaging Software solutions in a detailed and accurate way. The Spring 2022 edition of the ranking was prepared by Louie Andre, our leading expert in the field of Instant Messaging Software, who has authored 1380+ product reviews in this category. The goal of CloudRank™ is to present an unbiased, multi-layered perspective on Instant Messaging Software, considering a wide range of metrics and factors, and educating potential customers about both opportunities and challenges associated with each piece of software.

In order to achieve full objectivity the position in our CloudRank™ is based on:

  • Expert Score: which involves extensive analysis by our internal team which carefully examined all key elements of each software and testing it in real-life situations
  • User Score: which involves an aggregated opinion of actual users of each product whose identity was properly verified
  • Market Position: which involves general recognition of a given vendor on the market and reflects its overall popularity and reach
What do the tiers in CloudRank™ mean?

What do the tiers in CloudRank™ mean?

We’ve calculated a score for each product based on the average experience shared by our users in their product reviews and arranged the list in three tiers. You can see the methodology below on how the calculations were made.

  • Leaders: those with a User Score of 8 or higher; this tier includes products that are currently leaders on the market and are appreciated by both experts and actual users. They always represent the best of what the Instant Messaging Software market has to offer and are all worth trying out if you’re looking for a reliable solution.
  • Contenders: those with a User Score between 7.4 and 8; this tier includes high-quality products that still have some minor drawbacks that prevent them from becoming leaders on the market. They always represent well-designed tools that, over time, will most likely develop into market leaders as the missing features are added.
  • Rising Stars: those with a User Score between 6.7 and 7.4; this tier includes products that have high-potential but still lack some crucial features or services expected from a leading solution. They are products with solid foundations and a vision that makes us eager to see what they will become as their solution improves in the future.

Regardless of their tier, all products included in our CloudRank™ are popular, quality products considered top-performers by our team of experts. Make sure you read a more detailed review of each solution to find one that will work best for your specific needs and budget.

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Rising Star
Contenders
Front-Runners

MARKET POSITION

A score between 1 and 10 based on popularity and market reach of each product.

TOTAL score

A score between 1 and 10 based on the average of our Expert Score and User Score.

How does CloudRank™ work?

Arrow top

Market Position

A score between 1 and 10 based on popularity and market reach of each product.

Arrow right

Total Score

A score between 1 and 10 based on the average of our Expert Score and User Score.

CloudRank™ tier

Based on product's total score.

Rising Star

Contender

Front Runners

23 Most Popular Instant Messaging Software

Here is a list of all 23 Instant Messaging Software solutions evaluated with our CloudRank™ analysis. We have compared their features, user satisfaction, market presence and other key factors in an in-depth analysis you can find below:

1. Basecamp

8.60
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:8.60
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

Drag-and-Drop

%

Comments & Links

%

File Sharing

%

Privacy

%

Performance & Reliability

%
Worst features

Notifications & Alerts

%

Personal & Group Chats

%

Searching Filters

%

API/Integrations

%

Instant Messages

%

2. Slack

8.49
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:8.49
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

Tagging

%

API/Integrations

%

Instant Messages

%

Comments & Links

%

Customization

%
Worst features

Searching Filters

%

Uploads

%

Mobile App

%

Reporting & Analytics

%

User, Role, and Access Management

%

3. Cisco Webex

8.43
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:8.43
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

Screen Sharing

%

Instant Messages

%

Personal & Group Chats

%

User, Role, and Access Management

%

File Sharing

%
Worst features

Tagging

%

Performance & Reliability

%

Support

%

Reporting & Analytics

%

Searching Filters

%

4. Zoho Mail

8.34
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:8.34
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

Privacy

%

Instant Messages

%

Tagging

%

User Profiles

%

Coworker Status

%
Worst features

Personal & Group Chats

%

API/Integrations

%

Performance & Reliability

%

Support

%

Reporting & Analytics

%

5. Zoho Cliq

8.29
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:8.29
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

Tagging

%

API/Integrations

%

Instant Messages

%

Drag-and-Drop

%

Notifications & Alerts

%
Worst features

Synchronization

%

Mobile App

%

Reporting & Analytics

%

Conversation History

%

Multimedia

%

6. ClickUp

8.27
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:8.27
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

Customization

%

Drag-and-Drop

%

User, Role, and Access Management

%

API/Integrations

%

Internationalization

%
Worst features

Performance & Reliability

%

Instant Messages

%

Uploads

%

Support

%

Notifications & Alerts

%

7. Workplace from Meta

8.23
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:8.23
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

Mobile App

%

Notifications & Alerts

%

File Sharing

%

Searching Filters

%

API/Integrations

%
Worst features

Uploads

%

Customization

%

User, Role, and Access Management

%

Support

%

User Profiles

%

8. Skype

8.17
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:8.17
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

User, Role, and Access Management

%

File Sharing

%

Personal & Group Chats

%

Instant Messages

%

Customization

%
Worst features

Performance & Reliability

%

Reporting & Analytics

%

Support

%

Screen Sharing

%

Searching Filters

%

9. Quip

8.11
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:8.11
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

File Sharing

%

Instant Messages

%

Notifications & Alerts

%

API/Integrations

%

Searching Filters

%
Worst features

Security

%

Performance & Reliability

%

Uploads

%

Reporting & Analytics

%

Conversation History

%

10. Teamwork

8.09
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:8.09
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

User, Role, and Access Management

%

File Sharing

%

Drag-and-Drop

%

Instant Messages

%

Searching Filters

%
Worst features

Uploads

%

Reporting & Analytics

%

Notifications & Alerts

%

API/Integrations

%

Support

%

11. RingCentral Video

8.08
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:8.08
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

File Sharing

%

API/Integrations

%

Mobile App

%

Notifications & Alerts

%

Searching Filters

%
Worst features

Instant Messages

%

Security

%

User Profiles

%

Customization

%

Support

%

12. Zoho Meeting

7.90
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:7.90
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

Instant Messages

%

Screen Sharing

%

User, Role, and Access Management

%

Mobile App

%

API/Integrations

%
Worst features

Notifications & Alerts

%

Performance & Reliability

%

Support

%

File Sharing

%

Reporting & Analytics

%

13. GoToMeeting

7.88
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:7.88
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

User Profiles

%

Personal & Group Chats

%

User, Role, and Access Management

%

Mobile App

%

Instant Messages

%
Worst features

Screen Sharing

%

Synchronization

%

API/Integrations

%

Performance & Reliability

%

Customization

%

14. Podio

7.86
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:7.86
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

Instant Messages

%

API/Integrations

%

Customization

%

Searching Filters

%

Drag-and-Drop

%
Worst features

Multimedia

%

Screen Sharing

%

Synchronization

%

Personal & Group Chats

%

Reporting & Analytics

%

15. Bitrix24

7.84
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:7.84
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

Drag-and-Drop

%

API/Integrations

%

User, Role, and Access Management

%

Performance & Reliability

%

File Sharing

%
Worst features

Searching Filters

%

Tagging

%

Synchronization

%

Mobile App

%

Uploads

%

16. Flock

7.79
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:7.79
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

Mobile App

%

API/Integrations

%

File Sharing

%

Personal & Group Chats

%

Reporting & Analytics

%
Worst features

Comments & Links

%

Notifications & Alerts

%

Uploads

%

User Profiles

%

Coworker Status

%

17. Hive

7.77
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:7.77
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

Drag-and-Drop

%

File Sharing

%

Notifications & Alerts

%

Searching Filters

%

API/Integrations

%
Worst features

User Profiles

%

Reporting & Analytics

%

User, Role, and Access Management

%

Privacy

%

Customization

%

18. Yammer

7.67
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:7.67
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

Coworker Status

%

Instant Messages

%

Reporting & Analytics

%

Notifications & Alerts

%

Personal & Group Chats

%
Worst features

Screen Sharing

%

Tagging

%

User Profiles

%

Mobile App

%

Multimedia

%

19. Ryver

7.58
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:7.58
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

Drag-and-Drop

%

Instant Messages

%

User, Role, and Access Management

%

File Sharing

%

Notifications & Alerts

%
Worst features

Performance & Reliability

%

Support

%

Conversation History

%

Privacy

%

Uploads

%

20. Fuze

7.51
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:7.51
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

Mobile App

%

Conversation History

%

Coworker Status

%

Security

%

Instant Messages

%
Worst features

User, Role, and Access Management

%

File Sharing

%

Multimedia

%

User Profiles

%

Reporting & Analytics

%

21. Taskworld

7.42
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:7.42
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

Customization

%

Drag-and-Drop

%

File Sharing

%

Performance & Reliability

%

Support

%
Worst features

Coworker Status

%

Notifications & Alerts

%

Uploads

%

Reporting & Analytics

%

Tagging

%

22. Lifesize

7.22
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:7.22
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

Screen Sharing

%

Mobile App

%

Instant Messages

%

File Sharing

%

Privacy

%
Worst features

Notifications & Alerts

%

Reporting & Analytics

%

Support

%

Multimedia

%

API/Integrations

%

23. Troop Messenger

7.19
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Our score and features analysis:

Total User Satisfaction

Total Expert Score

Market Position

} CloudRank™
Score:7.19
Customers company size

No. of employees:

1-10 11-50 51-100 100+
Best features

Searching Filters

%

File Sharing

%

Notifications & Alerts

%

Mobile App

%

API/Integrations

%
Worst features

Multimedia

%

Screen Sharing

%

Conversation History

%

Security

%

User, Role, and Access Management

%

Our report covered 23 most popular products from the Instant Messaging Software category. We’ve analyzed their features, performance, integration, customer support, pricing, and several other key buying factors and combined it with feedback from user reviews to come up with the current list of best solutions:

Basecamp is a project management and collaboration tool for remote work. The tool is web-based and features all the tools a team will need to get projects running from ideation to planning to execution. Simplicity is Basecamp’s way of getting things done—keeping track of project priorities and actionable items.

Basecamp’s set of tools includes message boards and real-time group chats, to-dos, file storage, schedules, and automatic check-ins. The feature list may seem sparse compared to other similar products but Basecamp is highly customizable. Its features can be turned off and personalized, or integrated with 3rd party apps for accounting, time tracking, and even software development for a custom-built project planning tool.

Basecamp is used across different organizations—individual freelancers to startups to non-profits to established brands. The tool lets clients see how the project is going with shareable views of the project that keeps both sides organized providing a centralized record of decisions, files, deadlines, and project communications. Subscriptions are in two packages: Basecamp Personal which has limited features but is free and Basecamp Business which has a flat rate of $99 for unlimited projects and unlimited users and includes all features.

Most users of Instant Messaging Software solutions confirm that in most cases these tools allow them to reach the following business goals:

  • It allowed managers to govern and direct communication and monitor interoperability, so that all distractions would be eliminated. [ 85.4% of users ]
  • It empowered fast, reliable, and engaging communication between employees. [ 86.2% of users ]
  • It empowered the delivery of friendly and more personal customer service 24/7. [ 85.0% of users ]
  • It replaced expensive international calls, and saved money and time. [ 87.4% of users ]
  • It stored and protected corporate data in a role-accessible internal system. [ 85.3% of users ]

How did we select products for this Instant Messaging Software report?

The Spring 2022 version of the report includes a total of 23 Instant Messaging Software products that were compared and analyzed by our team. We selected them based on the following factors:

  • Popularity of a given brand in the SaaS market (based on our own market research)
  • How popular a given brand is among FinancesOnline users (based on number of mothly readers for each review page)
  • Availability of statistical data generated from user reviews of a particular product (we excluded products with not enough data to draw meaningful conclusions)
  • The current listing reflects the state of our database and research as of April 2022. An updated version of the report will be released quarterly to keep data fresh and incorporate information about shifts and changing trends in the market.

What are the current Instant Messaging Software trends?

More and more companies nowadays utilize the use of bot and messaging technologies. Such technologies are used to assist hotel and tickets booking, provide internal support, assist in personal banking, and respond to customer requests among others. 

Below are the top instant messaging trends to expect this coming year. 

Instant messaging

Messengers not only allow the exchange of messages and funny emojis, it has now become a key communication tool for companies to connect with their customers as well as improve communication within their organizations. In 2020, instant messengers are gaining popularity as they give many opportunities – to communicate with customers on behalf of brands, newsletter, channels, and public accounts. The market of messenger is continuously growing so it’s crucial for entrepreneurs and marketers to know about the important tools and trends in order for them to keep up with the fast-changing markets.

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Most popular global mobile messaging apps 2020

Most popular global mobile messaging apps 2020
WhatsApp: 2000

WhatsApp

Most popular global mobile messaging apps 2020
Facebook Messenger*: 1300

Facebook Messenger*

Most popular global mobile messaging apps 2020
Weixin / WeChat: 1206

Weixin / WeChat

Most popular global mobile messaging apps 2020
QQ: 648

QQ

Most popular global mobile messaging apps 2020
Snapchat*: 433

Snapchat*

Most popular global mobile messaging apps 2020
Telegram: 400

Telegram

Statista

Designed by

Chatbots As Customer Service Tool

The development of Natural Language Processing and AI mean that bots can be used in a number of applications with a greater chance of success. Businesses are now recognizing chatbots as a tool to help them in upselling opportunities as well as a more personalized customer experience. Bots or chatbots automate dialogues and can be helpful in customer service especially for repeat questions or pre-qualification customer enquiry.

Statista

Increase Demand For UCaaS

Factors like the development of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies increase the demand for Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS). Nowadays, a lot of businesses plan to put forward their own devices (BYOD) services for their employees, which in turn initiate the increase in the demand for UCaaS.

The increase in tablet and smartphone use, coupled with the ongoing application of 5G technology, are also key factors to the growth of UCaaS market size.

Businesses nowadays base decisions on relaying real-time information back and forth, which is exactly how instant messaging & chatting became a top corporate utility. The nature of this software is a social-networking one, but unlike private communication, it helps enterprise collaboration, and supports daily business routines.

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Instant messaging tools have the distinctive advantage of displaying relevant information in no time, which keeps business parties connected wherever they are. In that way, instant messaging tools extend a business’s online network, and turn collaboration into a remarkable business adventure (unlike conventional office interactions with professional tone, which are de-motivating, to say the least).

The best part of the adventure is that software markets are packed with outstanding platforms and it won’t be difficult to capture the best instant messaging software tools for enterprises, medium and small businesses.

A good way to start your search for the best chat software programs is to register for the free trials or demo offered by leading instant messaging software for business providers. This will give you a chance to test drive their key features free of cost and a general comparison of different products. You can register for the free trials of the following list of apps that have received the highest SmartScore rankings and user satisfaction rating in our instant messaging & chat software reviews: Jive reviews, Skype, and Jabber.

Targeted Businesses

  • Instant messaging services can be useful for startups and small businesses.
  • Mid-sized companies can use this software for secure and private communication.
  • Large enterprises can make use of the solution to unite offices and multiple locations.

What are Examples of Instant Messaging Software?

  • Jive: Jive is a social collaboration app for small business and large companies that links team members, upper management employees and others.
  • Skype: Skype is a web-based communications app that offers texting, video chat, and international calls.
  • Jabber: Jabber is a novel technology concept for open instant messaging (IM). It is also offered as a wireless app for mobile devices.

Types of Instant Messaging Software

  • Single-Protocol IMs – Ideal for beginners to instant messaging and general IM users.
  • Multi-Protocol IMs – Ideal for users who have more than one IM account.
  • Web messengers – Meant for public computer users such as at a library or internet café.
  • Mobile IM clients – Meant for users who like to chat on the go.
  • Enterprise IM clients – Perfect for companies and their employees and their customers.
  • Portable IM Clients – For IM users who cannot download IM software or prefer not to do so.

Key Features of Instant Messaging Software

When choosing an IM program, make sure it has all of these features:

  • Drag-and-drop sharing – Makes it easy to share files and documents
  • Unlimited chatting – Ideal for enterprise use
  • Security (Secure guest access) – Makes sure your conversations are secured
  • Screen capture sharing – Helps to troubleshoot issues
  • Searching filters – Helps users to easily find what they want
  • Synchronization – Synchronize your work for better productivity
  • Privacy – Ensures all your conversations are kept private
  • Customization – You should be able to customize the software to your needs

Before you choose software, define what you need

Long story short, best chat software should enable three activities: Private chat; sending/receiving files; and integration. The ‘heavy’ part of choosing one will be to focus on tiny nuances, because that’s what distinguishes one system from the other. Being completely honest, all IMs are built on the same concept and similar practice, which is why the decisive factor is almost always their appearance.

Let’s take a deeper look at the features you should expect from these systems:

  • Mobile-friendliness: An IM app is not supposed to stay in the office, but to be ‘carried’ around to make people accessible at all times. Consider that there will be many users who need to install it on their devices, and look for a product that can be used on any of those. Practically, this would mean an app available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS.
  • Unplug options: Having the app on your phone doesn’t mean you will be available all the time. You get to choose when you’re going to use it, so feel free to unplug it once out of the office.
  • Important integrations: The system has to integrate with the services you’re already using, and there can be no compromise about that. An app where you can’t import Google Hangouts information, for instance, won’t be of any use to you, so check for similar integrations.
  • Alerts & notifications: We all have a social networking-inherited fear that we’re going to miss on an important message, a hazard that is even more dangerous when communicating for business purposes. You need an app that will notify you about a new message instantly, instead of letting that message slide through the cracks and be forgotten.
  • Entertainment: Business IMs serve a professional purpose, that stands, but it doesn’t have to mean that employees should chat in dull, plain white windows. Choose an entertaining system with a cute and friendly interface, ideally one with multiple emoticons, animated GIFs, feeds, and social notifications. You will be surprised by how positive this can be to your employees’ attitude.

Benefits of Instant Messaging Software

Our detailed comparisons show that there are a lot of business benefits to be related to IM software, all because of the common conception that people need to be ‘put’ in one place when sharing their assignments. These systems unite strangers, build teams and coalitions, and come up with original solutions because few heads reason better than one head. At a corporate level, companies get to collaborate and learn from each other, which is priceless in terms of savings and competition.

In bits and pieces, this is what you will get from a reliable IM program:

  • Savings: Multinational companies are the principal beneficiaries of IM software, due the fact that they maintain international employee bases that need to stay connected. Their budget allocators know firsthand how daunting long distance charges can be, and would therefore appreciate a tool to replace international calls. Brokering organizations and shipping agencies should consider it as well, the same as every other company looking to keep team members connected.
  • Speed: Saving time is probably the most visible benefit of using IMs, having in mind how convenient they are to every member of the team. Think about it: didn’t it happen to you that a colleague stops replying his phone because he’s busy, or simply annoyed? A message appearing on his screen won’t be half-that intrusive, and it will come with a bunch of emoticons to make it more involving.
  • Outstanding customer services: Why not think outside the box, and perceive the IM system as something else than an internal tool? Communicating with customers this way, namely providing support via chat services can make interaction friendlier and more personal. The thing customers will love about it is that they get to contact you anywhere, at any time.
  • Controlled interoperability: Managers in their system administration roles love IM software. They get to control and orientate collaboration, and limit interoperability to what is really important for the working process. With an IM on board, managers can count on the fact that employees don’t need a different social network to communicate, and won’t be distracted by it.
  • Protected information: Your instant messenger will be your internal system, and it will only allow information to circulate within high security premises empowered by a realistic risk assessment.

Downsides of IM & Chat Software

There aren’t almost any downsides to connecting people and letting them communicate, unless you’re communicating with the wrong person.

Sharing information via IM services is a great idea for colleagues and business associates, but it can be misused in many ways if it falls into the wrong hands. Internet hackers won’t stop trying to use this ‘open port’ to your computer, and to extract sensitive and valuable information from it. What makes the problem worse is that messages can be intercepted without anyone having a clue about it, and you can only imagine what type of damage this could cause to your company. Therefore, take care!

Pricing Overview

Most IM systems are free, based on the vendors’ assumption that you’re going to buy extra sets of freebies and emoticons, or pay for security and customization. Free doesn’t have to mean insecure or low quality – browsing the web for some time will show you that there are many that do an excellent job without costing anything.

The paid ones, on the other hand, have more advanced features, high-priority support, and a stronger security policy, as they grant access only to registered users. Most of the time, vendors sell one-time licenses for unlimited usage, and they accept all payment options (bank wire transfers included). The price depends on the number of users/observers you want to include, and varies between $10 and $1000.

  • Chatbots. In 2020 and beyond, up to 85% of businesses will be using chatbots. Advances in AI and natural language processing will make them more useful than ever for answering customer queries in instant messengers.
  • Complete CX in instant messengers. Chatbots won’t be the only new thing in instant messaging. Customers will soon have a complete customer experience in instant messaging apps, from social media to actual purchases. Facebook has already rolled out Facebook Pay to select markets, which enables the full range of shopping experience on WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.
  • SMS 2.0. SMS is decades old, and a new protocol will soon supersede it. One of it is the RCS, or the Rich Communications Services. Similar to iMessage, it’s going to replace SMS and load it with additional functions. At the moment, though, iMessage (for iOS) and RCS for everything else are competing, but a messaging protocol that will replace SMS will soon be on the horizon.

Best Practices in Instant Messaging

  • Agree on ethical and appropriate use. From the outset, set some ground rules on how your instant messaging application will be used in your office. Can you use it exclusively for internal matters or for customers? Is private messaging allowed that’s not strictly for business matters? Make sure everyone has read and agreed to these rules to avoid confusion.
  • Availability. Just because someone is online (or green on the members list) doesn’t mean they’re available. It’s a good idea to make a virtual “knock on the door” to see if they’re ready to discuss your concern. This is especially useful if you’re opening a chat with your superior or someone you don’t really know.
  • Get straight to the point. One of the advantages of IM is that you can cut to the chase and eliminate the filler, unlike emails or a phone call. Be straightforward and concise. After all, the purpose of an instant message is to convey information as quickly as possible, and you should take advantage of it.

List of Instant Messaging Software Companies

Order by:

Newest
  • Newest
  • Score
  • User Score
Product name:
Category:
Smart Score:
Price:
User Satisf.
User reviews:
Chative reviews

Chative

Instant Messaging Software
8.0
$8
96%
ProTexting reviews

ProTexting

Instant Messaging Software
8.0
$49
94%
Texting.io reviews

Texting.io

Instant Messaging Software
8.0
$25
97%
Innoinstant reviews

Innoinstant

Instant Messaging Software
8.0
By quote
98%
Twilio SMS to CRM reviews

Twilio SMS to CRM

Instant Messaging Software
8.9
$194
96%
SMS-iT reviews

SMS-iT

Instant Messaging Software
8.0
$299
97%
ONNE reviews

ONNE

Instant Messaging Software
8.0
Free
96%
EntComm reviews

EntComm

Instant Messaging Software
8.0
By quote
96%
Mobile Text Alerts reviews

Mobile Text Alerts

Instant Messaging Software
8.6
$24
94%
Dexatel reviews

Dexatel

Instant Messaging Software
8.0
By quote
98%
WikiPro reviews

WikiPro

Instant Messaging Software
8.0
$24
100%
Rheobot reviews

Rheobot

Instant Messaging Software
8.0
$10
94%
Leverice reviews

Leverice

Instant Messaging Software
8.0
$5
95%
Zangi reviews

Zangi

Instant Messaging Software
8.0
$20
97%
Messagenius reviews

Messagenius

Instant Messaging Software
8.0
By quote
100%

Things to consider when you invest in a SaaS

First, be clear about the reasons why you want to use a SaaS system. You should also have a good understanding of your existing infrastructure and business processes. This information will assist you to effortlessly integrate the SaaS program with your existing infrastructure without any problems.

The second consideration is a follow up to the first one. Ask yourself what you want the SaaS product to do for your organization. Then, be clear about the features the app should have. For example, if you want enhanced data collaboration between different business units you need a solution that can be accessed by multiple users. However, if you need an efficient system that is similar to an on-premise solution, you need to invest in a SaaS product that can be accessed by only a few users at a time.

After you pick a suitable provider, do not sign an agreement before you take a good look at the Service Level Agreement (SLA). The SLA will clearly describe what the SaaS vendor is offering and the reimbursement they will pay if they do not deliver the agreed services. Read and comprehend the SLA thoroughly to know what you are getting into and to avoid issues later.

Frequently asked questions about Instant Messaging Software

What is the best instant messaging software?

The best instant messaging software is Slack. Slack is a robust instant messaging software that consolidates all channels in one convenient platform. It archives your messages in real-time and indexes them so they’re searchable and referenced. It has support for real-time messaging, audio calls, and video conferences, plus file sharing and integration with over 1,500 third-party applications.

What are the benefits of instant messaging software?

The benefits of instant messaging software include:

  • Savings: Multinational companies are the principal beneficiaries of IM software, due to the fact that they maintain international employees who need to stay connected. Their budget allocators know firsthand how daunting long distance charges can be, and would therefore appreciate a tool to replace international calls. Brokering organizations and shipping agencies should consider it as well, the same as every other company looking to keep team members connected.
  • Speed: Saving time is probably the most visible benefit of using IMs, having in mind how convenient they are to every member of the team. Think about it: didn’t it happen to you that a colleague stops replying his phone because he’s busy or simply annoyed? A message appearing on his screen won’t be half that intrusive, and it will come with a bunch of emoticons to make it more involving.
  • Outstanding customer services: Why not think outside the box and perceive the IM system as something else than an internal tool? Communicating with customers this way, namely providing support via chat services, can make interaction friendlier and more personal. The thing customers will love about it is that they get to contact you anywhere, at any time.
  • Controlled interoperability: Managers in their system administration roles love IM software. They get to control and orientate collaboration, and limit interoperability to what is really important for the working process. With an IM on board, managers can count on the fact that employees don’t need a different social network to communicate and won’t be distracted by it.
  • Protected information: Your instant messenger will be your internal system, and it will only allow information to circulate within high security premises empowered by a realistic risk assessment.
What are the features of instant messaging software?

The features of instant messaging software include:

  • Drag-and-drop sharing – Makes it easy to share files and documents
  • Unlimited chatting – Ideal for enterprise use
  • Security (Secure guest access) – Makes sure your conversations are secured
  • Screen capture sharing – Helps to troubleshoot issues
  • Searching filters – Helps users to easily find what they want
  • Synchronization – Synchronize your work for better productivity
  • Privacy – Ensures all your conversations are kept private
  • Customization – You should be able to customize the software to your needs
What is the easiest instant messaging software to use?

Easy instant messaging solutions include:

  • Flock. Flock is a communications software similar to Slack, with mostly the same functions. It’s leaner and cleaner, emphasizing collaboration and shared workspaces.
  • Chatwing. Chatwing offers businesses and customers a hassle-free channel where they can converse about a certain product or service. It uses chat rooms and widgets, all synced across devices in real-time.
  • Zoho Cliq. Formerly Zoho Chat, it’s part of the Zoho family of products. It uses video and audio calling on top of the text conversations it used to have, all using Zoho’s trademark user-friendly interface and navigation.
What is a good free instant messaging software?

Good free instant messaging software include:

  • Viber. Viber is a mobile messaging service that enables users to place phone calls and send text messages to all other Viber users without any cost. With Viber, users are not only limited to voice calls and chat; they can also exchange images, video and audio media using the platform.
  • Skype. A pioneer of the video conferencing age, Skype is also a free instant messaging platform. It supports all communication channels and serves as the flagship customer communications software of Microsoft.
  • Google Hangouts. Google Hangouts is the built-in messaging platform across the diverse suite of Google products, including Gmail. It supports multimedia and text and has native apps for iOS and Android.
Louie Andre

By Louie Andre

B2B & SaaS market analyst and senior writer for FinancesOnline. He is most interested in project management solutions, believing all businesses are a work in progress. From pitch deck to exit strategy, he is no stranger to project business hiccups and essentials. He has been involved in a few internet startups including a digital route planner for a triple A affiliate. His advice to vendors and users alike? "Think of benefits, not features."

Updated

Why is FinancesOnline free? Why is FinancesOnline free?

FinancesOnline is available for free for all business professionals interested in an efficient way to find top-notch SaaS solutions. We are able to keep our service free of charge thanks to cooperation with some of the vendors, who are willing to pay us for traffic and sales opportunities provided by our website. Please note, that FinancesOnline lists all vendors, we’re not limited only to the ones that pay us, and all software providers have an equal opportunity to get featured in our rankings and comparisons, win awards, gather user reviews, all in our effort to give you reliable advice that will enable you to make well-informed purchase decisions.

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