In the fast-paced world of business, communication is key. As we move into 2025, team chat apps have become essential tools for fostering collaboration and boosting productivity in the workplace. From seamless messaging to integrated file sharing, these apps are designed to streamline operations and keep teams connected, no matter where they are. Here, we explore the 10 best team chat apps that are set to revolutionize business communication.
Must-have Features of A Good Team Chat App
Before we begin the hunt for the best team chat app, the question of what makes a group chat app good requires an answer. One can argue that there are many important features a great team chat app should possess. Moreover, these features range from software compatibility to its interface to security. Some of the must-have features are given below:
- Universal Search Filter: Any good team chat app should have a universal search filter that allows you to search through all chats. It can be very time-consuming and unproductive to scroll down thousands of chats to find needed info. Thus, a universal search filter will make teamwork easier.
- Immaculate Organizing: All the features and functions of a great team chat app will be organized perfectly. You should be able to find all the related tools within the feature itself. Similarly, it should also separate the different types of conversations to ensure people don’t need to deal with unnecessary stuff.
- Collaborations: If a team chat app doesn’t allow live collaboration between team members, it can’t be called the best. Live collaborations are what make remote working feasible. This feature, when available, should be powerful enough to allow users to complete projects without issues.
- Voice and Video Chat: Having the ability to support high-quality voice and video chat is also an indicator of a great team chat app. These chats should be supported by both individuals and groups. During the calls, users should also be able to share screens, files, and their inputs.
- Security: The best team chat app is also the one with the best possible data security. All of your media on the platform must be encrypted and secured. Since most team chats are about business affairs, any data leak can prove fatal for the company.
What are the Best Apps for Team Chats?
There are multiple apps on the internet with support for team chat features. Most of these apps gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic when everyone was forced to work from home. Below we have provided an overview of the top 10 group chat apps:
1. Microsoft Teams
The best team chat app for large organizations, Microsoft Teams is an excellent choice for Windows users. It is available as part of Office 365 Suite or as a stand-alone app. Microsoft Teams has deep integration with MS Office, allowing you to edit Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents directly in the app. This tool offers powerful text, voice, and video chat support.
Users with small businesses or at an individual level might find it too complex to handle. Its free version also has the bare minimum number of features compared to the paid version.
2. Slack
Among the most well-known group messaging apps, Slack has been dominant in the market even before the pandemic. It is the first app that established instant messaging as the way to communicate between teams replacing emails. While not a proper project management tool, it can be easily integrated with most project management tools available in the market.
Slack is also available as an app for iOS and Android devices. The free version of this tool has limited features, while the paid version is more expensive than its competitors.
3. WhatsApp
If there is one app that deserves the title of best group chat app for friends and teams, it is WhatsApp. With over 2.4 billion users worldwide, it has consistently topped the most-used app charts. In this group chat app, you can create groups and share media like audio, video, images, documents, contacts, locations, and more.
WhatsApp allows you to create group voice and video calls. It is also completely free with no charges whatsoever. Additionally, it offers a specialized app for businesses called WhatsApp Business.
4. Facebook Messenger
Facebook Messenger is an app for talking to your Facebook friends. Since Facebook is the world’s most popular social media platform, Facebook Messenger has been a widely used messaging application. It allows you to create group chats with your friends where you can also do voice and video calling. Furthermore, you can also freely share the media like videos, images, documents, etc.
It is also a free team chat app with no charges. However, there is a drawback that general chats don’t have end-to-end encryption. You will need to start private chats to make your conversation secure.
5. Discord
It is a group chat app most popular with gamers and online communities. Discord allows its users to communicate with each other via text, voice, and video chats. In this app, users can create servers about any specific topic, activity, or company. Within the server, users are able to create channels where people can share media and have voice and video calls.
Discord is a great group video chat app supporting high-quality video and voice calling. Moreover, users can also define roles and permissions for the people within a server or channel.
6. WeChat
With over 1.2 billion users, WeChat is a great choice for a group chat app. In this app, you can send text messages, voice messages, photos, videos, and other media during group chats. Moreover, it also supports high-quality group voice and video calls. This chat app is a great option if most of your team members or business clients are from China.
WeChat is the most used chat app in China and works as a medium for most things like chatting, calls, payments, booking, etc. Moreover, it offers a dedicated business mode focusing on B2C and B2B commerce.
7. Signal
Probably the most secure free group chat app, Signal is becoming increasingly popular. Funded and released under a non-profit organization, it is the go-to choice of people for private and secure chats. Unlike other apps, all chats on this platform have end-to-end encryption enabled. For group chats, you can talk to your friends or teammates through text, voice, or video messages in a secure environment.
The Signal doesn’t have any paid or premium tiers, and there are no ads either. The company behind this app also doesn’t store your data or engage in data-harvesting practices.
8. Telegram
When looking for the best group chat app perfectly suitable for businesses and individuals, the recommended app is Telegram. Its group chat feature encompasses the needs of both regular users and companies. Moreover, you can create a private group for specific people or teams, and you can also create public groups for all targeted people.
For businesses, Telegram also supports a bulk forwarding feature which is helpful in marketing and delivering important announcements. While free, there is also a premium tier with many unique features.
9. Snapchat
Widely used to share life moments and stories, Snapchat also supports great group chat features. It allows you to add up to 100 people in a group chat for quick discussions. During the group chat, you can also use voice and video calls, media sharing, reactions, and many other options. The chats on this team chat app provide secure and encrypted communications.
Snapchat also offers a feature for disappearing messages where the conversation will automatically disappear after a while. Moreover, it also supports a map feature which keeps you aware of the general location of your friends.
10. LINE
LINE is a popular group chat app with amazing features for group chat. It is widely popular in Southeast Asia with millions of customers. Working as both a chatting app and a social media platform, it offers many unique features. Users can engage in text, voice, and video chats on this app. Moreover, it also allows users to share media, send stickers, and make payments.
It is most popular in Japan, Thailand, and Taiwan. Additionally, users can also customize this group chat app using thousands of available themes.
How Can ZEGOCLOUD Help for Team Chat App Development
If the apps with team chats feature aren’t to your liking, you can always build your own. If you think it will be a long and complex process, then don’t worry, as we will introduce you to an easy way to build your team chat app with ZEGOCLOUD in-app chat API. The quickest technique of creating the best team chat for the team chats is through ZEGOCLOUD APIs & SDKs.
ZEGOCLOUD allows you to create the most secure group chat app there is with the latest encryption techniques. You will also get over 10000 free minutes to stay connected with your team. It also offers over 20 pre-built UIkits to help you create your desired app quickly. The APIs can also be integrated into your platform within minutes, saving you time and money.
Major Features of ZEGOCLOUD to Keep in Mind
Multiple unique features make ZEGOCLOUD the best choice when developing a team chat app. A few of its major components are given below:
- Video Call
Using the video calling API/SDK of ZEGOCLOUD will allow you to make 4K live video calls with your team members. With an ultra-low latency of 300ms, all of your communications between team members will be smooth and lag-free. If you ever need to, you can create a video call with up to 10000 participants. It also allows you to record video calls for future use.
- Voice Call
With ZEGOCLOUD Voice Call API, your team members will be able to make high-quality audio calls at 48kHz. Adding spatial audio and AI noise reduction will make the audio calls as realistic as direct conversation. You will also be able to monitor the call quality in real-time to ensure there are no issues. There are also many fun audio effects available to lighten up heavy situations.
- In-App Chat
Your team members will be able to ask quick questions and quires using the in-app chat functions of ZEGOCLOUD. It has many features like push notifications, unread message counters, and offline messages to ensure important messages are delivered. If any of your team members want, they can browse their message history effortlessly to find old info.
- Wide Compatibility
When using ZEGOCLUD APIs and SDKs, you can create apps for all available platforms like Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. It provides support for over 15000 devices across all platforms. Users can even make audio calls using their smartwatches. For developers, it will provide complete support during the complete development process of the team chat platform.
Final Thoughts
The COVID-19 pandemic was a wake-up call for businesses across the globe that they should always be ready to deal with any unexpected situations. If you run a business, having the right team chat app will ensure you can work from home. Creating your own team chat app using ZEGOCLOUD APIs & SDKs will ensure that the app meets your requirements.
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FAQ
Q1: What app is best for group chats?
The best app for group chats varies based on user preferences and requirements. WhatsApp is widely used for its simplicity and reliability. Slack is preferred in professional settings for its integration capabilities and organizational features. Discord is favored by gaming communities for its voice chat and server customization options.
Q2: How much does GroupMe cost?
GroupMe is a free service; there are no charges for using the app or its features. However, standard text messaging rates may apply if you’re using SMS to participate in chats without the app.
Q3: Which is the best online chatting app?
The best online chatting app depends on your needs. WhatsApp is excellent for personal communication with its end-to-end encryption. Slack is ideal for team collaboration in professional settings. Telegram offers robust features and is known for its security and speed.
Q4: What is the best site to chat privately?
For private chatting, Signal is highly recommended due to its strong emphasis on privacy and security, offering end-to-end encryption for all communications. Telegram also provides secure chats with optional end-to-end encryption.
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