Top 6 Online Team Collaboration Software Options

As businesses are upping their game and offering more unique products and services, centralization is the key factor that can bind teams together. With centralized resources, projects, and tasks, individuals can amplify their own skills and better collaborate toward shared goals.

As you’re turning your attention toward possibilities for online team collaboration software, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to discard the tools you already have. Rather, the best software platforms integrate apps and tools into a central hub for easy accessibility and ultimate collaborative functionality. While you may be carrying over some of your team’s favorites, an all-in-one platform streamlines your tools overall to reduce wasting time and free up creative potential.

Core Features of Online Team Collaboration Software

Don’t assume that all team software packages offer the necessary project management benefits. You need a good balance of task management, tools for communication and collaboration, and productivity features—all in an intuitive, flexible, and enjoyable workspace. Consider the following features:

• Collaborative Task Management: From a centralized space, you need the ability to optimize workflows, monitor larger projects, and connect team members.
• Chat Features: Communication is the glue that holds collaborative projects together. So, you need handy chat tools that allow you to organize conversations around tasks and help teammates stay connected.
• Flexibility: Especially as more teams are operating remotely and in different time zones, flexibility cannot be overrated. Regardless of the team structure, flexibility gives individuals the freedom to work in ways that promote greater productivity and satisfaction.
• Integrations: Even as you consolidate your collaborative toolbox, you’re still going to want to take advantage of familiar tools that can continue to work well for your team in the future. So, you’ll need an online team collaboration software that has robust integration capabilities.
• Visual Design: Since your team will be spending every day in this workspace, it needs to be welcoming and inspiring. Ideally, it has a universal appeal and it organizes the many tools and features simply and accessibly.
• Ease of Use: Don’t let a new collaboration platform scare your team off before they’ve had a chance to really access the benefits. A powerful tool doesn’t need to be difficult to learn and to master—but some of them have a steeper learning curve than others.

Comparing Your Options for Collaboration Platforms

Considering the important features we’ve discussed—plus the important element of price—we’ve rated some of the best options for you to explore here:

Trello Trello has competitive pricing and provides more features than many other tools. Best of all, the features won’t overwhelm you, and its simple platform will minimize learning curves. It’s a great option for small or mid-size teams. The tiered pricing plan is competitive with other options, but the enterprise version is pricier. Collaboration: B Chat Features: C Team Flexibility: B Integration: B Visual Design: C Ease of Use: A Pricing: B

Asana Asana is one of the most powerful collaboration tools on the market, but it can be hard to use at first. Once familiar, users can take advantage of flexible tools that track workflows and tasks with ease. Asana does not have a chat feature but offers integration with Slack—and a host of other tools and apps.  Collaboration: B Chat Features: D Team Flexibility: A Integration: B Visual Design: B Ease of Use: D Pricing: B

Wrike Wrike is a handy tool in terms of streamlining communications and improving productivity. But it doesn’t offer the same integrative benefits as other software packages. Also, be prepared for a lengthy learning commitment, especially in order to bring your whole team up to speed with the software. It does have a simple chat add-on that creates tasks and allows users to get to work right away. Collaboration: A Chat Features: B Team Flexibility: B Integration: D Visual Design: B Ease of Use: D Pricing: A

Monday.com Monday.com isn’t a project management app. Instead, it’s a work management app. If you need a system that establishes start dates and end dates, you may want to look elsewhere. But it creates an atmosphere where you can track projects and tasks. Monday.com has no chat feature, but you can integrate it with Slack. Be aware that the convoluted pricing structure may confuse you. Instead of charging per person, Monday.com charges per group. Be sure to read the details carefully to see which pricing model fits your business. Collaboration: C Chat Features: D Team Flexibility: B Integration: A Visual Design: A Ease of Use: B Pricing: D

Clickup Clickup has a wide array of customizable features. Because of this, the learning curve can be steep. It offers more than enough features (arguably too many), which require additional time to learn. Also, the visual design can seem daunting with unneeded spaces and empty panes that may cause confusion. The murky colors and small text can make reading difficult. On the plus side, it’s a stellar project app for groups and individuals. It also comes with a universal connector that will connect with any app. Collaboration: B Chat Features: A Team Flexibility: B Integration: A Visual Design: C Ease of Use: D Pricing: B

Flow If you’re looking for a comprehensive project management app, look no further than Flow. It’s especially useful for small and mid-sized teams, allowing for truly streamlined processes and customizable work styles. A built-in chat function is particularly handy for collaboration and productivity. And, overall, it is an elegantly designed and easy-to-learn platform. It also comes with a free 30-day trial‒giving you enough time to learn the software, compared to many other apps that offer only two weeks free. Flow’s prices are also more competitive than other apps. Collaboration: A Chat Features: A Team Flexibility: A Integration: A Visual Design: B Ease of Use: B Pricing: A

Elevating Your Team’s Collaboration and Productivity 

The best online team collaboration software has the potential to enhance communication and expand flexibility. But collaborative software isn’t just about creating a dynamic team setting; it also highlights individual skill sets and makes team members feel valued. With supported communication and better organization, your team can streamline workflows and free up resources for the most important tasks.

Not to mention, your company can take advantage of these benefits while also meeting a tighter budget—as a single software package can consolidate resources and streamline administration. Even though pricing is important, don’t get hung up on cheap prices. Instead, consider the best software package that will help you reach your goals faster, even as your team becomes more connected.

With Flow, you can improve your workflows and enhance communication between team members. A centralized platform will help you establish a firm foundation for success. Take advantage of our free trial offer today!