Top 12 Email Alternatives For Better Business Communication in 2024

Up until recently, email was the go-to solution for communication in business. And while email still has, and probably will continue to have, a place in the professional world, it’s just not a great solution for a fast-paced environment. 

Bloated email threads, overflowing inboxes, endless spam, and let’s not even talk about trying to have a conversation with several people in the same thread–in short, things get chaotic very quickly. Thanks to a huge host of email alternatives, we don’t have to deal with those messy emails anymore and business communication can now be simpler, more streamlined, and faster than ever.

We’ve collected the 12 best email alternatives of 2024 so you can spend less time digging through your inbox and more time on growing your business.

In a Hurry? The Top Email Alternatives for 2024

1. Connecteam: Best all-in-one communication app
2. Chanty: Best for organized and easy messaging
3. Flock: Best for cross-department communication
4. Wire: Best for end-to-end encrypted messaging 
5. Basecamp: Best for entrepreneurs to brainstorm together 

Connecteam is packed with features. It covers all possible business scenarios with a malleable all-in-one design that brings forward many many communication outlets in an intuitive, fast, and easy way. Skip to the comparison table below to see all the options side-by-side. If you’d like to gain a better understanding of what an email alternative should even look and feel like, beforehand, then go ahead and check out our recommended section “What To Look For.” 

The Top 12 Alternative Email Communication Tools of 2024

With a built-in chat on all parts of the platform, the connection among your team is never lost with Connecteam (hence the name). With a designated communication hub, you can rest assured knowing all work scenarios are doable and covered by this platform’s detailed and well-rounded features. Connecteam supports business communication with a mindset that time is of the essence. This large step away from the way email operates is what makes Connecteam our top email alternative for 2024.

Range of Chat Options

From 1:1 to group chats, to topic channels, Connecteam offers it all. This range is fundamental to the changing needs and hands of work communication. With Connecteam, you have unique control as upper management: 

• Monitor messages
• Filter messages overloaded in large groups. 
• Assign groups based on predefined categories (i.e. company department, job title). 

Shortcuts

Constantly wasting time clarifying yourself all day long or micromanaging your employees can become tiresome. Getting straight to the point of what needs completion and pointing employees in the right direction can all be solved with what Connecteam calls a shortcut key. A shortcut key is a way to direct attention to another task without having to deal with more back and forth or any search time on the app itself.

Read Receipts 

Half of business communication is knowing when everyone is on the same page. Without that people are behind and moving forward becomes messy. With Connecteam, you will know once a message has been read. You can proceed with follow-up reminders to those you are aware of who have not acknowledged the update or new information.

Employee Feedback

Knowing what employees feel and think may sound like a lot of extra work, but it’s not when you can send out as many employee satisfaction surveys to as many people as need be. Surveys can help you better tailor your workplace in ways that can satisfy your employees. Happy employee, happy you. As a bonus, employees can feel at ease that they stay anonymous so you can have true answers to pain points. This can be as simple as asking what employees are looking to learn more about or what snacks they want to see more of in the break room. The possibilities are endless. 

Connecteam cuts everything to the gist of what needs taking care of. That’s priceless. You and your employees are a team, so strong communication is the remedy to that, and that’s exactly what Connecteam achieves with its delivery of tools from employee personal information directory services, to built-in chat, to knowledge base center, to shortcuts, and to many detailed features that make junk stay out and the conversation at hand front and center.   

Key Features

• In-house phone directory 

• Built-in chat feature

• Employee surveys

• Share and store files 

• Company-wide updates

Pros & Cons

• Seamless communication through interconnected features

• Positive workflow changes credited to employee feedback

• Fast chat group set-up based on predefined characteristics

• Employees can shut off notifications once work is over

• Not all employees are granted permission to post news feed (company-wide) updates

Price

• Pricing starts at: Fixed rate of $29 month for first 30 users. 

• Free trial: Yes, 14 days. 

• Free plan: For up to 10 users, without limitations

Chanty is an email alternative to continuous conversation, also known as long threads. Instead of stacks of back and forth email, that can grow endlessly long, you can let your ideas flourish with Chanty. Chanty brings words to action and makes it easy to track the timeline of a string of thoughts to bring everything together at the end of the day. 

Key Features

• Task management

• Permissions differ over messages 

• Additional 3rd party integrations 

• Voice and conference call options 

• Topic-based threads for clear organization

Pros & Cons

• Self-sorts messages. 

• Uses @mentions to keep everyone notified.

• Choice of kanban or other views.

• Lack of customization (customer reviews).

• Doesn’t present statuses (i.e. OOO, away at lunch).

Price

• Pricing starts at: $4.00 per user/month.

• Free trial: No.

• Free plan: Yes (up to 10 members). 

Flock is a superb email alternative, as it allows for more than just messages to be sent. Alongside the content itself, links, files, images, and more are all implementations possible with Flock. Flock keeps the conversation moving and it does so with features that keep everyone alert to incoming messages. There is a quick search filter that allows users to have more control over past conversations and use that to grow on. Instead of searching an email inbox, you have everything in one place. 

Key Features

• Video-based conference calling

• Word-based search through messages 

• Direct chat messaging 

• Invitation for guests to conference

• Voice sent communication recordings

Pros & Cons

• Easy to install and use. 

• Seamlessly integrates with any workflow. 

• Easily transitions to remote work. 

• Limited integrations. 

• Overdone notifications (according to customers). 

Price

• Pricing starts at: $4.50 per user/month.

• Free trial: Yes, 30 days. 

• Free plan: Yes, (1-20 members). 

Email can fall short with all the spam and hacks that users should be careful of when talking about sensitive business information. With Wire, security comes first. Wire operates its staff communication through face-to-face video chat mainly. With unlimited conferencing calls and a focus on team collaboration, this is a way to make sure work conversations are taken care of on the fly. With end-to-end encryption, you can even send messages that self-delete. 

Key Features

• Security breach alerts.

• Contact permissions to outside guests. 

• Connects to your current calendar. 

• Timed self-deleted messages. 

• Choice between messages and conference calls. 

Pros & Cons

• Top-notch conferencing quality. 

• Proves itself as secure.

• Understandable from the first second.  

• Pricey for what it offers  Doesn’t show read receipts (customer review). 

• Pricey for what it offers  Doesn’t show read receipts (customer review). 

Price

• Basic Plan starts at: $7.65 per user/month.

• Free Trial: 30-day trial.

• Free-for-life Plan: Yes (up to 5 users plus other restrictions).

Basecamp has communication and email alternative internal communication tools for entrepreneurs specifically. It’s an online platform that brings people together to make project completion an easy and done task from anywhere. To make this possible, basecamp has two specific features designated for communication. One is the direct group chat where immediate conversation can take place and the second is the message board which essentially acts like a news feed page where updates and feedback take central focus.

Key Features

• Organized docs & files

• Messaging board

• Instant chat

• Customizable workdays 

• Project trackings 

Pros & Cons

• Easily track others’ work. 

• Project management from start to finish.

• Value for the money spent (customer review). 

• Upgrades have downgraded the products.

• Some comments are not erasable. 

Price

• Basic Plan starts at: $99.00 per /month flat rate.

• Free Trial: 30-day trial

• Free-for-life Plan: Yes, for personal use only (not business).

Redbooth puts an emphasis on organization. Through tags that sort tasks, you’re free to manage a team with clear communication with a filing system that lets employees maintain awareness of their own responsibilities. On another note, Redbooth easily integrates with Zoom, to offer conference chatting as another way to get real-time delegation out in the open. 

Key Features

• Notes for comments

• Dashboard overview

• Regular messaging

• 3rd party integrations (conference calling)

• Kanban board style

Pros & Cons

• Dependable notification center.

• Doesn’t differentiate itself from other platforms.

• Communication is strong for task completion. 

• Not efficient at tracking per employee.

• Difficult integration to current workflows. 

Price

• Basic Plan starts at: $12.00 per user/month.

• Free Trial: Yes,14-day.

• Free-for-life Plan: Yes (limited). 

15five is an assessment based tool. You can really understand where the leaks and holes in your business are coming from through direct evidence and research. 15five puts you in the right mind as to where you need to focus your attention, and from there you can use integration tools such as Jira, Microsoft Teams, Slack, and many others. It doesn’t operate as a communication tool on its own but with its straightforward approach, you can get more information through 3rd party communication tools alongside 15five, which measures your communication. 

Key Features

• Review system called: 360 Degrees

• Manage per employee performance

• Feedback in real-time

• Requests for feedback feature

• Personal agenda to follow

Pros & Cons

• Positive reinforcement work culture

• Open communication

• Keeps everyone on target

• Complicated to learn

• Complicated to learn Repetitive features and details (customer review). 

Price

• Pricing starts at: $4.00 per user/month (other options have more features). 

• Free trial: Yes. 

• Free plan: No. 

Google Chat is designed for business communication, and cherry on top, it’s free–that is if you already paid for Google Workspace (google calendar, Gmail, Google Drive, etc.) Google Chat has a similar layout to Gmail, considering it’s owned by the same company. Figuring it has shared concepts, Google Chat still has a layout that one could argue lacks clarity. Everything is in one place and that can cause confusion when it comes to deciphering where a previous conversation has taken place and when.

Key Features

• Chats sendable data or wifi

• Share quality files and images

• Midst-typing visibility

• Optional read- receipts

• Message reactions available

Pros & Cons

• Reminders keep everything on schedule

• Reliable and secure 

• Search box, speeds up conversation

• Web version is very slow

• Need to sign-out to be unavailable  

Price

• Basic Plan: Free.

• Free Trial: No.

• Free-for-life Plan: Yes, it’s free.

Slack, although well-known for it’s level of team engagement, has some downfalls of its own and it’s not so obvious until one actually comes to live and breathe it. Available on both the mobile and the desktop, this communication system literally follows users everywhere–Slack leads to real burnout. There is no denying that Slack is great for office communication. The huddle is a more casual approach to the overly used Zoom call, and the channels on top of the group/1:1 options keep all possible options open, but it’s still important to consider how this application could drain employees. 

Key Features

• Drag & drop capabilities

• Integrates well with project mgmt tools

• Shows online and offline

• Huddle (call feature)

• Search bar

Pros & Cons

• Fun & comfortable functionality 

• Instantaneous notification & replies

• Spirited extras (Giphs, Emojis, etc.)

• Etiquette from messenger doesn’t work with slack

• Overwhelming useless channels 

Price

• Pricing starts at: $15.00 per user/ month (business account)

• Free trial: Yes.

• Free plan: Yes.

Workplace Chat is essentially Facebook for the business world. While the app has all the benefits of the well-known Facebook Messenger, that’s also its main drawback. If you have a bone to pick with Facebook’s lack of privacy and their overdone advertisements, then you won’t enjoy the space that Facebook provides for your business owners.

Key Features

• Audio calling

• Direct messaging

• Manage communication system

• Forums for discussion

• Notes and comment access

Pros & Cons

• Customizable to your brand 

• Intuitive from past FB experience

• Simple and straightforward

• Heavily associated with FB 

• Aggravating notifications (customer review)

Price

• Basic Plan: $4.00 per user/month (optional adds, cost more).

• Free Trial: 30-day trial. 

• Free-for-life Plan: No.  

Whatsapp is a popular messaging application, and although it works beautifully for personal communication, it can get extremely tricky when it comes to business talk. Why? Well, it’s not that WhatsApp is restricted, it’s just that when you’re talking business, everything should be secure, directed to the appropriate channel, and have information available within a moment’s notice–that’s simply not what WhatsApp was built for.

Key Features

• Ignore bothersome messages with archives

• Optional read receipts

• Optional last active

• Direct reply to message with a swipe

• Send voice notes, call, or video

Pros & Cons

• Customizable personal settings

• Intuitive to use

• Cost-friendly

• Low security (data sold black market)

• Not organized for business filters

Price

• Basic Plan: Free for Download!

• Free Trial: Yes. 

• Free-for-life Plan: Yes.

Sling makes it possible for management and co-workers to communicate at all times of the workday. All users have the access to start messages with anyone in the company; either direct 1:1 messaging or as a group. That same freedom is allotted to everyone in the company to share updates on the news feed page where employees can interact and all come to the same conversation at the same moment without mass over-crowded messaging. As a manager, notify the company of new updates and have everyone alerted not to miss these. 

Key Features

• Pin-worthy conversations

• Private or group chats

• Share updates to all viewers

• Announcement board

• Notification center

Pros & Cons

• Keeps the team engaged.

• Easy to find everything; all in one place.

• Positive team and individual experience.

• No transparency with private messaging for management.

• Lack of filtering; can get messy.

Price

• Pricing starts at: $2.00 per user/month.

• Free trial: Yes. 

• Free plan: Yes. 

Quick Comparison Table of the Top 12 Email Alternatives

What to Look for in a Work Email Alternative?

It’s painful to wait on standby for a response from a colleague when you know there’s something that has gone off plan and needs immediate attention. That frustration is a good place to start when thinking about what makes for a proper work email alternative. 

Email has some promising features, but in the end, it is just the digital version of snail mail. Moving forward, you should find an alternative that takes all of the positives from emailing but brings it to the 21st century. Your email alternative should have some or all of these features:

• Easy to exchange information in form of words, images, files (attachments) 
• A source for all co-worker contact information for immediate connection
• Control settings differs for management vs. employees
• Instantaneous communication directed to only business conversation
• Feedback tools that leverage each employees’ voice
• Deliver educational information in an organized manner that’s limitless in accessibility 
• Information segmented towards department and job description for accuracy
• Employee satisfaction through employee feedback

How does one stack all these options against one another to find the best one for you and your team? Think of the present and in the long term, what your company will need in the future. It’s important to understand the tangles that come from a lack of two-way connectivity, foresee the issues, and then come up with a solution, and that is to move onto some email alternative that works with the productivity that is expected in this day and age. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Email Alternatives

Yes. There are free email alternatives. Looking at the options we’ve listed as potential alternatives, you can already see which provide a free version. As you probably guessed, the free version is going to come with its limitations. 

If you’re curious about free plans, because you’re interested in testing out these potential processes, then find one that provides a free trial; one that provides a full range of motion for a reasonable amount of time. Going forward, it’s fair to assume you’re looking for cost-friendly options. One of the top reasons Connecteam came in first for email alternative options in the market is for its company promise to provide a selection of features based on your unique tailored needs, so you’re never overpaying for useless features and that’s to make sure you’re never put in a situation where you’re breaking your wallet to stay with the times of fast and furious demands of your business. 

Mobile apps versus email. These two opponents share some similarities, but the biggest one to pay attention to is the speed at which messages are sent, read, understood…and even acted on.  

The chain reaction here needs to move from start to finish before you let the stain set in. What does this mean? There is a point of no return where time and money are lost because there is too much time in-between conversations, and that’s what happens when email comes into play. 

Additionally, mobile apps are normally more feature-filled. The purpose of email has always begun with its straightforward approach to bringing mail electronically. But today we understand that email is limited with all the possibilities out there. 

With Connecteam for example, the benefits far exceed what a typical email has to provide. When on the go the buttons and the processes to communicate in the manner in which you choose, are intuitive and easy to operate, unlike the alternatives. See in real-time who has read something and when you need to re-alert (poke) an employee with another notification!

Many. Statistics show that there is a harmful impact on email and slowly but surely, managers are hoping to step away from email knowing it doesn’t solve internal communications problems. In fact, some are even going so far as to ban it. 

These new generations of managers are who Connecteam can serve best. It’s important to keep up strong conversation and strong communication channels, and with feedback surveys, news feeds, group messaging and one on one messaging, there is everything one could ever ask for– all on the mobile. Connecteam is a communication solution for deskless industries stepping away from office work and who understand that gmail is a vortex where mail gets lost and transparency is never to be found. 

The Bottom Line On Alternative Email Options

Somehow, the world still depends on email but with new platforms that have changed this school of thought, many businesses are rightly looking elsewhere. Now that remote employee work has become that much more popular from the effects of COVID-19, working on the go for the new generation of managers is in high demand. The world has proven itself that working from afar is not only doable but even has its advantages. 

The mobile-first technology can assist this new wave of change to remote work and leaving the desktop email. Connecteam is the best free task manager software and is a perfect example of new technology that can uphold the demands of this world’s deskless work industry needs. Connecteam specializes in communication with its hub that features an employee directory, update announcements, anonymous surveys, a knowledge base spot for resources, and of course a chat– everything in one place so that it’s easy to access.

Like email, where everything imaginable is shareable, safe, secure, and a two-way street to both you the business owner, and the employee, just on the go and limitless when it comes to the niche benefits of communication such as targeted announcements, the filtered controls for task management. Connecteam has everything that’s good about email, but with upgrades in all the important areas that are lacking for the direction in which the world is going. 

Work Together As A Team!