Honest Spike Review 2025: Pros, Cons, Features & Pricing

Spike Usability and Interface

The team communication app space is packed with options, and sometimes it’s the little things — like ease of use  — that can inform your buying decision. I tested Spike’s usability and interface to determine how easy it is to use. In this section, I will describe my hands-on experience, from signing up to setting up a team. 

Setting Up Spike

I found the Spike signup process pretty straightforward. To sign up, I only needed to click “create teamspace” and follow along with the signup wizard. During the signup process, Spike requires you to pick a domain for your teamspace email address, set up your username, and verify your phone number. 

Just bear in mind that some users may be unable to verify their phone numbers due to Spike’s geo-restriction. For example, I was unable to verify my ‌account with a Kenyan mobile number. I had to get a U.S. virtual number to sail past this hurdle. 

Once you land on the team space, Spike requires you to set your role, team size, and nature of work to personalize your team account. You should also create your first channel and pick the features you need. I chose all the available features to get a proper feel for the product. 

Spike’s guided tour will come in handy for beginners who dread exploring the product on their own. Upfront, I will tell you that this isn’t the most detailed tour. However, it familiarizes you with the key tools and aspects to flatten the learning curve, ensuring you start collaborating right away.

Adding Team Members

Adding team members is a breeze. I only needed to paste their email address in the field and click “invite.” What really impressed me was that you can paste as many addresses as you like, essentially letting you invite all team members at once. Alternatively, you can also invite team members via a link.  

Employees will only need to click the link in the email to complete their account setup. Spike also shares a link to the mobile app store via the user’s registered phone number, not the email‌ address. Sounds peculiar, but regardless, it helps employees find and download the Spike mobile app with ease. 

Spike Web App and Desktop App

Spike web and desktop apps have identical designs and layouts, so the descriptions below apply to both. The apps feel modern and intuitive, with a navigation panel to the left and a chat area to the right. The menu panel lists your most recent 1:1, Group, and channel conversations, allowing you to quickly dive in and keep up with discussions. 

Icons for features like search, timeline, new messages, and groups are plastered at the top and bottom of the navigation column. Spike has done an excellent job of reducing the clutter on the interface. The main features, although in a single column, don’t look confusing or overwhelming at all. 

Plus, when you hover the cursor over an icon, Spike displays the feature’s name. This simplifies navigation, especially when you’re new to the software. This eliminates guesswork, allowing you to quickly access the features you need to collaborate and connect with colleagues. Other tools like creating new channels and inviting employees are also easily accessible. 

Spike Mobile App

The mobile app mirrors the web app design, but its layout ditches the chat area column. As a result, it adopts and modifies the navigation panel of the web app to be its main window. This results in an interface that fits nicely on different mobile screen sizes.  

The downside is that all the features are packed into the small screen. Compared to apps like Slack, the layout looks a tad cluttered, but that doesn’t necessarily make it confusing. New users will find their way around the mobile app, without having to read guides or needing assistance. 

When you open a direct message (DM), public channel, or private group chat, Spike takes you to the chat area. Here, you’ll have everything you need to send voice and text messages, start video calls, react to messages with emojis and GIFs, and much more. 

Like other team messaging apps, Spike doesn’t have an offline mode. However, you can type and send messages without an internet connection. This lets you type when your thoughts are fresh on the idea, and have the message delivered once your device is reconnected. Alternatively, you can schedule the message to be delivered later.

Menu Item	Admin		Employee
	Website	Mobile App	Website	Mobile App
Feature (i.e. Time Tracking)
Timesheet	❌	❌	❌	❌
Time Tracker	❌	❌	❌	❌
Calendar	✅	✅	✅	✅
Schedule	❌	❌	❌	❌
Expenses	❌	❌	❌	❌
Time off	❌	❌	❌	❌
Analysis
Dashboard	❌	❌	❌	❌
Reports	❌	❌	❌	❌
Activity	❌	❌	❌	❌
Management
Kiosks	❌	❌	❌	❌
Approvals	❌	❌	❌	❌
Projects	❌	❌	❌	❌
Team	✅	✅	✅	✅
Clients	❌	❌	❌	❌
Locations	❌	❌	❌	❌
Tags	❌	❌	❌	❌
Invoices	❌	❌	❌	❌
Settings	❌	❌	❌	❌

Spike Core Functionalities

Spike brings a unique take to team messaging and email communication. In addition to the standard collaboration tools, it uses AI to simplify the way your teams communicate and collaborate. Read on to learn how the main Spike features work. 

Team Messaging

I really like Spike’s flexibility because it enables companies to adapt communication to unique team needs. Whether you want to start 1:1 communication, confidential group conversations, or company-wide announcements, Spike has you covered. I have found 1:1 conversations ideal for sharing sensitive and personalized information. 

Invitation-only private groups fit the bill when sharing information with a specific department or team. What I liked about Spike’s groups was the ability to invite people outside your company. It helps keep clients and external collaborators updated and in the loop. Just bear in mind that new users cannot view previous group conversations. 

Spike channels are ideal for company-wide announcements and updates. Channels don’t offer the confidentiality of private groups because they include all users in your team space. Still, they are effective for celebrating employee milestones, announcing new hires, and sharing strategic decisions.

One caveat though, Spike doesn’t organize threaded replies within the original message. Replies appear indented or linked to the original messages. However, you can’t open the original message to view all the replies, like you do in Slack. With scattered replies, discussions aren’t organized, making it difficult for users who join conversations later to follow.

Voice Messages

Beyond text messages, it’s easy to send voice messages with Spike on mobile, desktop, and web apps. On the mobile app, tap the voice icon to record your messages. On desktop and web apps, the voice icon is tucked under the plus (+) sign in the message field. 

What stood out for me was the clarity and quality of each recording. You can rest assured that employees will receive the information clearly, including the tone, emphasis, and context you convey in the message. This makes Spike’s voice notes ideal for explaining nuanced information that might be harder to convey in text. 

Handy Messaging features

Spike also offers the handy tools I have come to expect from team messaging software. It lets you attach files from your device or the cloud, use emojis and GIFs, @mention specific users in group chats, and filter messages using read or unread labels. The following standout tools add some gravy to the suite: 

• Message templates: Spike doesn’t provide a pre-made library of message templates. However, it lets you create templates for the most common communications to speed up future conversations. I have found adding templates to be straightforward. 
• Translate: Spike’s built-in translation tool helps teams overcome language barriers, without relying on third-party tools. It lets employees translate messages into their native language, so they never miss any point. 
• Advanced search: Spike’s search function lets you find attachments, messages or contacts hidden in your message log in minutes. The feature scours your message history to serve up relevant information based on the keywords used. The only minor drawback is that free users can only search messages from the past 60 days.
• Schedule messages: Spike also lets you schedule messages to send later. I found this helpful when managing teams across time zones. It helps you deliver information when team members are likely to engage. 

Audio and Video Meetings

While I was happy with the way the call features worked, I think their implementation could be improved. During my testing, audio and video calls worked smoothly for the most part. I have found Spike to be a lightweight video conferencing platform. As a result, videos and audio calls work without a hitch, even on slow networks and old devices. 

The call feature is tucked within groups, channels, DMs, and contacts. For example, to start a call with an employee, open their DM and click/tap the camera icon to the top right. Click voice call or video meeting, depending on what you want. Spike will start a video or audio call and notify the employee instantly. 

The process is pretty much the same when starting a call with a private group or public channel. Free users can only start 1:1 audio calls, but paid users can hold group audio and video calls with up to 50 participants. I think the participant’s limit works for most mall businesses. 

Spike also has built-in screen-sharing capability on web and desktop apps. It lets you share your screen during video calls to present, demonstrate ideas, or provide real-time walkthroughs. 

Spike Teamspace doesn’t let you send a meeting invite. As a result, starting a group call can sometimes be cumbersome. For example, a content manager looking to start a meeting with a writer and editor, has to first create a private group with these participants. This can prove difficult, especially for users who have hit the group limit on free plans.  

It’s also a shame that Spike doesn’t mark meeting links as “ended” in groups. This can mislead members joining the conversation later into thinking the meeting is still active long after it’s over. 

Spike AI

The integration of artificial intelligence technology gives Spike a leg-up over other communication apps. While the Magic AI is still in its early stages, I was impressed by the way it streamlines messaging and collaboration. The two AI-powered tools that stood out for me were: Magic Reply and Magic Summary. 

If you constantly find yourself typing and retyping your reply, the potent Magic Reply will save you the hassle. Simply click the Magic Reply icon in the message field, type what’s in your mind, and click “generate.” Spike AI will generate a reply in a second, and you can vary the length of the reply to your liking. 

I was amazed by the tool’s ability to generate replies that were on point all the time. It saved me hours of manual replies while ensuring my message was contextually attuned. But like every other AI writing tool, Magic Reply is only as accurate as the prompts you feed into it. 

Magic Summary is another great time-saver. This tool lets you summarize group conversations, a specific message, or a chat attachment, like links and PDFs. The AI tool condenses long messages into shorter versions, simplifying complex information. This lets you grasp the most important points without reading the entire message.

While the tool does an excellent job condensing messages, it’s not all roses. I have had instances when the tool inadvertently missed important context and nuances, leading to misinterpretation of the message. Another thing is that free users get 10 AI queries with each feature. 

Spike Email App

In addition to Teamspace, Spike offers an Email app that brings a chat-like interface to your email inbox. The app lets you access all your emails in a single interface, instead of switching between multiple applications. For example, you can combine Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Yahoo Mail, and IMAP email service inboxes. 

My favorite tool is the shared inbox, which lets users access information and coordinate directly within one inbox. This can be helpful, such as when you have an online service that requires email verification during login. You can set up a shared inbox so that employees using the online service get the verification email on Spike.

Spike Email App also offers other notable features like Magic AI, voice messages, notes, unified inboxes, and video calls. You can also schedule video meetings, which isn’t possible with Spike’s Teamspace. 

That said, the app sorts emails by users, not threads. I like this approach because it fosters ongoing conversations between employees. However, chat-like conversations can become problematic, especially when some of the people you’re talking to aren’t on Spike. There’s a risk of sending messages without subject lines, or worse, replying to questions in the wrong thread.

Spike Security Features

Spike claims to take your data security seriously, and this isn’t a vague claim. The vendor uses an AES 256-bit encryption cipher to safeguard messages sent and received on the platform. This is arguably the most robust security protocol, and it should give you peace of mind while you communicate.

Bishop Fox audited the provider’s security infrastructure. Third-party auditing is a good way of pinpointing and patching security flaws. My only concern is that Spike doesn’t make the results of that audit available publicly. As a result, it’s difficult to tell whether the security firm gave the app the seal of approval.   

Moreover, Spike supports the standard email-password logins for the web app. However, you’ll need a one-time PIN sent to your phone number to access the mobile or desktop app. Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of protection, blocking any unauthorized access to your account. 

I also found that Spike supports Touch ID/Face ID login, in addition to Android and iOS device security to protect mobile accounts. This way, even if a stranger gets hold of your phone, they can’t access your communication on Spike. 

Additionally, when connecting to your email account, Spike doesn’t store your passwords. Instead, it uses the OAuth protocol to authenticate that connection. If your email service doesn’t support OAuth, Spikes encrypts your password. This ensures that no one — not even the platform itself — has access to the password. 

Spike Customer Support

When it comes to the variety of customer support options, Spike falls short. The provider offers support via a web form and Knowledge Base. The web form leaves a lot to be desired, as it lacks vital tools like file attachment. It’s ideal for finding help on non-technical issues. 

Spike’s Knowledge Base doesn’t provide the most comprehensive library of help articles I have seen. However, the articles are organized by categories to simplify the search. What I really like is that you don’t have to open some category pages to find relevant guides. You can access help guides on the knowledge base without using the search bar.  

That said, it’s disappointing that Spike doesn’t offer phone and live chat support. These support options provide instant help, especially on emergency, technical issues. As it stands, the web form is the fastest way to get in touch with Spike support agents. 

What are Spike’s Review Ratings from Review Sites?

(As of February 2025)

Capterra: 4.7/5
G2 Crowd: 4.6/5
Software Advice: 4.7/5
TrustRadius: 4.4/10
GetApp: 4.7/5
Google Play Store: 4.6/5
Apple App Store: 3.6/5

Spike App Review 

Spike is an easy-to-use communication app for small and growing teams. I found it reliable as it offers the essential features today’s users expect in a messaging app. It allows you to send voice and text messages, use emojis, and attach files to foster collaboration. Moreover, the video and audio call features work seamlessly but could be better. 

What I think sets Spike apart are the translation and Magic AI tools. The translation tool lets users translate messages into their native languages. This way, even if your team spans languages and regions, you can rest assured that each message will hit home. The Magic Reply and Summary tools let you use AI to speed up communication. 

That said, Spike imposes some unsuitable usage limits on its free plan. For example, free users can only search messages from the past 60 days. This limit is abysmal compared to apps like Chanty and Pumble, which offer unlimited message history on the free plan. 

Connecteam: The Better Spike Alternative

Spike is a reliable communication app, but it’s not apt for all use cases. While it ticks the boxes for creative agencies and professional service businesses, I wouldn’t recommend it for deskless workforces. Instead, use Connecteam — the best Spike alternative for non-desk workers. Some of the reasons Connecteam topples Spike, include: 

Social-Media-Like Company Updates

Say goodbye to ‌boring, chat-style company updates. Connecteam Updates brings a social-media-like touch to your company’s messages, making them resonate with the modern workforce. Making your updates relatable, captures the attention of employees, enhancing engagement.

What I really love about Connecteam is that there are templates for just about any company update. Whether it’s employee birthdays, new hire announcements, Thanksgiving, weekly announcements, or Holidays, you can pick a template and publish the update with only a few clicks. 

Moreover, you can share news and updates with a specific team, department, or everyone in the company. The other thing I like as an admin is the ability to assign updates to a listed topic. This makes it easy for employees to find and comment on relevant updates with ease. 

Comments are organized under the original message. This minimizes clutter in the channel while making it easy for users to track replies and follow discussions without having to search through the message history.     

Easy-to-Use Chat App

Connecteam Chat App enables employees to start 1:1 or private conversations. Employees get the essential tools to keep the conversation going. They can attach files, add GIFs, share links, and pin their location in the chat — which is helpful for mobile and field employees. 

My favorite feature is the ability to record and share video messages. This is an incredibly helpful tool for delivering information with visual and emotional context that text and audio messages often lack. It enables deskless workforce managers to share instructions and updates in a quick and more effective way. 

Connecteam Chat also offers privacy you don’t get with traditional messaging apps like Spike. For example, you can set the app to allow only authorized users to start chats. Moreover, you can restrict users from sharing file attachments outside the app. This is particularly helpful in cases where compliance, data security, and operational integrity are critical. 

And so much more: 

Beyond team communication, Connecteam streamlines other aspects of your business, eliminating the need to use disparate solutions.

It’s an all-in-one employee management solution with features like: 

• Accurate time tracking: Use geofencing to eliminate off-site punching, and enhance time card accuracy. Track overtime and break in full compliance with the underlying labor laws. 
• Real-time GPS location tracking: Connecteam location tracking helps you monitor worker location in real-time. You can leverage Connecteam’s breadcrumb to recreate an employee’s route during work hours. 
• Employee auto-scheduling: Create hundreds of shifts in minutes based on employees skills, qualification, and availability. 
• Human resource management: Streamline employee onboarding and training with mobile-friendly quizzes, courses, and step-by-step guides. Connecteam HR suite’s intuitive design makes it easy for employees to learn anytime, anywhere. 

The cherry on ‌top is that Connecteam pricing is very competitive. For example, teams with up to 10 employees can access all premium features on the free plan. Even better, paid pricing starts at $29, which works out to less than $1 per employee.

Get started with Connecteam for free today!