Best Online Collaboration Software

Updated:
November 30, 2022
By:
Laura Smith

Why do companies use online collaborative productivity software?

Regardless of the size of your business, you will want to reach other team members in a fast and efficient method - even if there are only two of you!

Whether via instant messaging to improve overall team efficiency or via workloads to track projects and tasks - we have got you covered.  Post covid, the days of collaborative working are here to stay. In order to make the most out of your team, regardless of its size, here's our pick of the best online collaboration software available. 

Best collaboration tools for startups

What are online collaboration tools?

From instant messaging to video conferencing tools, we trawl the market for the best alternative to face-to-face meetings and sitting next to each other in a conventional office setting. 

How does online collaboration software work?

Online collaboration tools help teams and businesses improve their workflow by keeping track of team members' tasks. Some collab tools have specific uses, such as bug reporting, while others are used for messaging, video calls or file sharing. Integration is key to not only efficiency and productivity, but also when it comes to providing support for remote workers. 

Collaboration software to help small businesses manage projects remotely

Do small businesses need online collaboration tools or software?

Giving remote workers the tools they need to collaborate in real-time using a platform that makes that as simple as possible and allows everyone to get on with their day-to-day tasks is absolutely key in 2022.

You may have a team of 20 or it may simply be that you are a one-person team who collaborates with clients and freelancers.  Regardless you want communication to be slick, quick and seamless. Productivity and efficiency can quickly take a big drop if the software used is not fit for purpose.  The benefits of collaboration software include better project management, higher employee engagement, enhanced communication and efficient workflows.

Online collaboration can work, and work well, but it needs some planning and prep. Check our top picks of the best online collaboration tools out there today.

Google Chat

COST: FREE!

To use this you need a Google Workspace account, which is currently open to all Google users. You do not need a paid Workspace account to use Google Chat; it's available even for free users.

Perfect for smaller businesses Google chat is a quick and easy way to communicate. Securely connect with anyone you work with and share images and files, make audio and video calls, or send links.

Notion

COST: Pricing Plan Available

Their plan range from free for individuals all the way through to enterprise which requires a chat with their sales team for a quote.

Notion allows you to capture thoughts, plan, manage projects, and easily communicate with a wider remote team. Use Notion in various ways depending on the situation. You can use the @ mention in several places within your Notion workspace to tag teammates and set reminders.

Slack

COST: Starting at £5.75

Per person per month including unlimited message history, apps and integrations.

Slack is an instant messaging program and has fast become known for being a single place for messaging, tools and files.  You can start a meeting, screen share and chat. Everything's in real-time, so you can manage different project conversations and issues simultaneously.

Trello

COST: FREE!

Free for individual or teams looking to organise projects.

Trello organises your projects into boards and quickly tells you what's being worked on and who's working on what. Trello is so great for collaboration as it is so simple to use: anyone can begin using Trello from day one! This means there's no training time for new users saving you time and money.

Teams

COST: FREE!

Unlimited one-to-one meetings for up to 30 hours long, unlimited group meetings for up to 60 minutes and up to 100 participants per meeting

Microsoft has some nifty collab software called Teams. If you haven't heard of Teams at some point during the pandemic then that is a miracle!  This collaboration app helps members of the biz use any device to stay organised and connected. You can use Teams to have immediate conversations with your team or guests outside your organisation. You can also make phone calls, host meetings, and share files

So, who comes out on top as the BEST online collaboration software?

BTS Winner: Google Workspace

We use it and we genuinely love it here at BTS headquarters! Google Workspace includes remote collaboration tools including Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and communication tools that really do make working closely with your team, from literally anywhere easy. 

Google Workspace's document collaboration allows you to simultaneously work on documents with your team, and see each other's live edits - all while the documents are auto-saving and safe.  Hop onto chats quickly between emails and join a VC whenever needed.

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