Effective communication lays the groundwork for the success of any business, and with remote work on the rise, establishing potent communication channels is especially important.
This is where virtual communication tools come in.
With virtual communication tools, virtual teams can collaborate efficiently to achieve shared business goals and see their business enjoy market success.
In this article, we will walk you through the top 12 virtual team communication tools of 2023 so that you can pick one that fulfills your communication needs and helps you overcome the hurdles of remote working.
What are Virtual Communication Tools?
Virtual communication tools are software, apps, and services that aid remote working and integrate online work with traditional office work.
Virtual communication tools encompass a broad spectrum of technology, including instant messaging, video calling, file sharing, and project management tools.
These communication tools enable face-to-face discourse, team collaboration, and data sharing to promote smooth business communication within an organization.
Why are Virtual Communication Tools Important?
Virtual communication tools, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, have proven to be an important asset to businesses across the globe.
Effective communication is vital for the success of any organization. As remote work becomes increasingly common, investing in virtual team communication tools is recommended to ensure that your team’s performance does not suffer from a lapse in communication.
There are several uses of virtual team communication tools, effective communication is just one use.
Ensure Effective Communication and Collaboration
Effective communication is integral to the success of any team, but this is especially the case for teams working remotely. With virtual team communication tools, you can streamline your communication channels, share information and resources, organize your workflows, and ensure that every virtual team member is on the same page.
Improve Team Productivity
A virtual communication tool creates a platform for remote team members to pitch in, share ideas, and hold meaningful discussions. With instant messaging tools, team members can respond immediately, which helps resolve queries and boosts workplace efficiency and productivity.
Integrate with Other Communication Tools
The best virtual communication tools can integrate with other platforms seamlessly. This integration is essential in decluttering your online workspace, increasing efficiency, and resolving your virtual team communication needs.
Save Time and Money
Choosing the virtual communication tool that meets your business needs grants you greater work efficiency, saving you time and money. Your remote team can direct its time and efforts toward higher-priority tasks.
Provide Flexibility
These tools have played a crucial role in facilitating the transition to remote work. One of the most lucrative aspects of using a virtual communication tool is the flexibility it brings to the workplace. With virtual team communication tools, you can work at any time and from any place.
With so many benefits, using a virtual communication tool sounds like a no-brainer, but how do you know which one is best for your business?
What to Look for in a Virtual Communication Tool
As we have mentioned, there are different types of virtual communication tools, from video conferencing to instant messaging and collaboration and management tools. Selecting a virtual communication tool depends on your business needs, and there are some features that every good communication tool should have.
Ease-of-Use
You want to look for a virtual communication tool with a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate. The last thing you want is to incorporate a tool that’s supposed to make your business run smoother only for it to complicate things. You want something that your employees will adapt to quickly.
Security
Investing in a virtual communication tool with security measures that protect your data and maintain your privacy is strongly recommended. These security features can include encryption and password protection.
Integrations
You’ll want to find a virtual communication tool that integrates smoothly with existing business tools. This comes back to ease-of-use; you don’t want to have to replace all of the tools already in use because they don’t integrate.
Key Features
As the market for virtual communication tools becomes more saturated, each will attempt a competitive advantage by offering the newest and brightest features. Keep in mind that more is not always better. Focus on what your business needs are and choose a communication tool with those features.
The Top 12 Virtual Communication Tools of 2023
Now that we have established the importance of virtual communication tools, let’s take a closer look at some of the best tools of 2023 that you can invest in to bring your workplace communication to the next level.
Monday.com
Monday.com is a project management and CRM tool that caters to remote workers in sales, HR, software development, and IT. If you want to improve virtual communication and promote remote team collaboration, Monday.com is a great option.
As a communication platform, Monday.com enables effective team collaboration and project management by integrating ideas, questions, and updates shared by remote employees under one project workflow.
With Monday.com, users can assign tasks, set due dates, view reports, and track progress. Its communication features allow users to leave comments on each others’ work, add attachments, and effectively work together on projects.
Monday.com’s many collaboration features ensure that the entire team is on the same page, which builds the foundation for effective workplace communication.
Pros:
- Features a visually pleasing, easy-to-use interface
- Offers detailed customizations
- Provides seamless integration with other project management tools
- Permits users to use different templates for projects
- Available for Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS
Cons:
- Mobile version is still a work in progress in terms of performance
- Pricing is confusing because of per-user pricing and with a maximum team size of three
Pricing:
Monday.com offers a 14-day trial, but the only way to use its advanced features is through a paid account. The paid plans are between 24 and 48 USD per month, depending on the features you choose to use and the number of users linked to your account.
BlueJeans
BlueJeans is one of the best video conferencing tools on the market. Its cloud-based interface is available on web browsers, mobile devices, or the Desktop App.
BlueJeans offers high audio and video quality, as well as a noise-canceling feature, making for smooth virtual meetings and video conference calls. With the DolbyVoice system, BlueJeans ensures that the quality of your video calls is never compromised.
BlueJeans boasts a range of collaboration features that allow users to record meetings, share screens, and conduct recurring meetings with live questionnaires and in-session polls.
If you’re looking for video conferencing tools that promise a smooth online experience with improved engagement, you might want to give BlueJeans a try.
Pros:
- The Dolby Sound system guarantees premium-quality audio throughout your video conference
- BlueJeans is available on Mac, Windows, Linus, iOS, and Android
- Includes features like screen share, whiteboard, calendar integration, and annotation that increase engagement in online meetings
Cons:
- Installing BlueJeans on your device may be a time-consuming process
- You cannot share files on BlueJeans
Pricing:
BlueJeans offers a 7-day free version, after which you can choose between a standard pricing plan set at 12.49 USD per month and a pro pricing plan set at 17.49 USD per month.
Skype
Designed in 2003 by Microsoft, Skype is often considered the predecessor of video conferencing tools. With its state-of-the-art VoIP technology, there is undoubtedly merit to Skype’s popularity as a virtual communication tool.
Skype offers a robust video conferencing software that simplifies large-scale international calls, group chats, and video meetings. With HD video and premium-quality audio, Skype creates an engaging working environment for remote teams.
As one of the most popular IP communication tools, Skype can hold large-scale team meetings that comprise up to 50 members. Skype can also be used in group chats and permits users to share files and photos of any size.
Another great feature Skype offers is giving users a local phone number in 26 countries. This can be used to make landline and mobile phone calls all across the globe.
Pros:
- Skype offers a translator feature allowing users to translate calls and messages simultaneously
- Features a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate
- The app is easy to install and has desktop and mobile phone versions
- Skype’s OneDrive integration allows file sharing in bulk
Cons:
- The quality of your call depends on the stability of your internet connection
- The break-out rooms have little support
Pricing:
Skype’s basic video call features are free, and its paid phone plan starts at 2.99 USD per month. Skype also offers a month-long free trial.
Pumble
One of the best virtual team communication tools on the market is Pumble. As a chat and collaboration app, Pumble is an excellent way for remote workers to communicate effectively.
You can use Pumble for video calls, one-on-one voice calls, instant messaging, and screen sharing. With Pumble’s guest access feature, users can invite external partners, contractors, or freelancers to work on a project.
With Pumble, communication has never been more accessible. Not only can you send instant messages, but you can also share files, photos, and videos. Plus, Pumble syncs well with any device, letting you work remotely from anywhere.
Pros:
- Features an easy-to-use interface
- Allows unlimited users
- Offers unlimited chat history
- Includes 10GB cloud storage in its free version
- Available on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux
Cons:
- No group calls
- Lacks integrations with other third-party tools
- The guest access feature is only available through the paid version
Pricing:
Pumble is a free team communication tool. Their advanced features, such as guest access and screen sharing, are only available through the paid plan. Pumble’s paid plan is 1.99 USD per user per month.
Slack
Slack is a popular Cloud-based instant messaging and team communication tool that makes project management and remote work easy.
Slack helps you manage tasks as a central point for all team communication. This effectively streamlines your workflow as you can now chat, share project files, and collaborate all on one platform.
With Slack’s public and private communication channels, you can easily divide conversations and tasks between team members. You can also create Slack channels specific to certain clients or projects, which helps organize your workspace. As if this wasn’t enough, Slack’s video conferencing function enables you to engage in video calls for effective communication.
One feature that sets Slack apart from other virtual team communication tools is its integration with other virtual communication tools. It helps you manage your activities more efficiently, as you don’t need to switch between apps.
Pros:
- Slack can integrate with multiple virtual communication tools like Google Drive, Zoom, ClickUp, and Asana
- Slack gives you real-time updates and text message notifications
- HD video and high-quality audio make Slack a great platform for video conferences
- Enables screen-sharing during video calls
Cons:
- Slack has limited customization options
- Slack allows limited file sharing
Pricing:
Slack offers a free version that supports up to 1000 messages and 10 integrations. The paid plan starts at 3.20 USD per user per month and offers features like guest accounts and unlimited message archives.
Google Meet
Google Meet is one of the best video conferencing software in the market, and it’s completely free. Formerly known as Google Hangouts, Google Meet allows you to conduct online meetings without downloading any new software or app.
You can use Google Meet by opening a web browser window and entering your meeting’s URL. The group chat and screen-sharing options allow team members to communicate more effectively.
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Works efficiently on Google Chrome
- Allows users to join from any location
- Can be used across multiple devices simultaneously
- Integrates well with other Google platforms like Gmail
Cons:
- You need to have a Google account to use Google Meet
- The quality of your video calls is dependent on your internet connection
Pricing:
Google Meet is a free video-conferencing tool. It offers two pricing plans, the basic plan is 6 USD per month, and the enterprise plan is 25 USD per month.
Trello
Trello is a lightweight project management tool that’s especially great for small to medium-sized businesses. Trello uses the Kanban Method to streamline virtual teams’ communication and collaboration.
Trello uses Kanban boards and cards to assign tasks, organize workflows and track your team’s performance. Trello’s checklists help you stay on top of your work and ensure you meet all deadlines.
Trello is popular among team collaboration tools because of its visually pleasing, easy-to-navigate interface and high customizability.
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Very customizable
- Features over 100 integrations
- Offers a free version that is great for personal use
Cons:
- Has limited functions on its mobile phone version
- Lacks tutorials
- Not well-equipped for large-scale team projects
Pricing:
Trello offers a free version with limited features and paid plans that range between 5 USD per user per month and 17.50 USD per user per month, depending on the features you opt for.
GoTo Meeting
GoTo Meeting is a video conferencing tool that allows you to conduct online meetings with remote teams and international clients.
GoTo Meeting’s crisp audio and crystal clear video quality make video conferences smooth and engaging and help it stand out amongst other virtual team communication tools.
With features like screen sharing, meeting recording, and conference room equipment, GoTo Meeting is adept at meeting your virtual team communication needs.
Pros:
- Around-the-clock customer support
- Integrates with multiple tools
- Allows document and file sharing
- Features meeting recording and transcriptions
- Allows users to host large meetings
Cons:
- GoTo Meeting’s video chat options are limited
- The quality of your video call depends on the stability of your internet connection
Pricing:
GoTo Meeting offers a free version with features like dial-in numbers, scheduling, and meeting recording. More advanced features are available in the paid plan, which ranges from 14 to 19 USD per user per month.
Asana
Similar to Monday.com, Asana is a project management tool that helps virtual teams communicate, collaborate, and organize and manage their tasks.
With Asana, you can create visual lists and plans to map your project workflow, monitor your team’s performance, and stay on top of deadlines. Asana makes communication between team members easy, as each team member can share their ideas on project conversation hubs.
Asana allows you to create and delegate tasks, distribute responsibilities, and set deadlines to create an organized workflow that prioritizes efficiency.
Pros:
- Allows virtual team collaboration
- Great for managing projects
- Features a user-friendly, intuitive interface
- Lets you set task reminders
Cons:
- Customer support works on a ‘ticket system’ and can be inefficient
- Lacks customizability and flexibility
Pricing:
Asana offers a free version with its basic set of features. Their paid plan includes advanced features and ranges from 10.99 to 24.99 USD per user per month.
Google Drive
Google Drive is the best communication tool when it comes to file sharing and storage. Its Cloud storage system allows you to store and share large volumes of data through an online drive system.
Google Drive files can be shared with anyone at any location. All you need is user access and a web browser. Google Drive also integrates with other Google platforms, like Google Docs, Google Calendar, and Gmail.
With its high upload and download speeds, and drag-and-drop feature, you can operate between multiple files at the same time. Moreover, you get up to 15 GB of free storage space with Google Drive.
Pros:
- Accessible from any location
- Allows you to share documents and files across devices
- Supports multiple file types
- Enables real-time collaboration
- Features a user-friendly interface
Cons:
- Requires a stable internet connection
- No backups of deleted files
- Requires a Google account
Pricing:
Google Drive offers a free plan with 15 GB of cloud storage, after which you can pay 2 USD monthly for every 100 GB.
Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 is a communication tool subscription that offers a range of Microsoft programs, such as Microsoft Word, OneNote, Outlook, and Excel.
Microsoft Word is an excellent tool for collaborating on documents. It offers a mobile version, which works on- or offline and allows you to edit documents on the go. With Word’s dictate feature, you can quickly transcribe your voice into written text.
Pros:
- Access to multiple communication tools
- Makes collaboration with team members easy
- Works very effectively with Microsoft’s settings
Cons:
- The speed may lag at times
- Microsoft Word may not handle 100-plus page documents very effectively
Pricing:
Microsoft 365 offers a free trial, after which you need to buy the subscription, starting at 5 USD per month, billed annually.
ClickUp
ClickUp is an easy-to-use communication tool that is great for managing projects and improving collaboration between virtual teams.
With ClickUp, you can schedule online meetings, send out invitations, create and customize agendas, add notes, and upload documents and photos. With collaboration features like assigned comments, you can tag team members and create tasks with the click of a button.
What makes ClickUp one of the best virtual communication tools on the market is its ability to support real-time collaboration. With ClickUp, you can check to see other team members working on the same project as you. Multiple members can even edit a document simultaneously.
Pros:
- Features a user-friendly and highly-customizable interface
- Integrates well with other communication tools like Slack and Google Drive
- Offers clear and concise onboarding videos
Cons:
- ClickUp’s file-sharing options are limited
- It may be difficult to adjust the scalability of your project
Pricing:
ClickUp offers a free trial, after which you can choose between paid plans ranging from 5 to 19 USD per user per month.
Conclusion
As working online becomes the norm, reliance on virtual communication tools is also expected to rise. This is why choosing a virtual team communication tool that meets your business needs and matches your budget is essential.
With the vast array of options in the market, finding the solution to your virtual communication needs requires time and effort.
But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. This article has all the information you need to know to pick out the right communication tool for your business.
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