Honest Troop Messenger Review 2025: Pros, Cons, Features & Pricing

Troop Messenger Usability and Interface

The essence of implementing communication software is to streamline the way employees connect and collaborate. And for you to achieve this goal, you have to prioritize a solution that’s easy to use. Does Troop Messenger check this critical box? Keep reading to learn what I discovered about the platform’s usability and interfaces. 

Setting Up Troop Messenger

Signing up with Troop Messenger is a cinch. You only need to click “sign up” and follow along with the signup wizard. There are no intricate steps here, so even non-tech-savvy users can create an account. However, you’ll need a branded email address to create an account.

Once you set your password, and verify the email, Troop Messenger takes you straight to your team account. The first thing you see is a feature walkthrough that acquaints you with the chat tool. You’ll learn how to add users, create groups, access chat essentials, and the meaning of chat icons. 

You’ll get a walkthrough the first time you open any feature. Moreover, you can click the “quick tour” option at the top panel for a video walkthrough. I really liked the 9-minute video. It helps you get familiar with the key features, ensuring you’re ready to maximize Troop Messenger’s full potential. 

Adding Users

Troop Messenger allows you to add employees and external users. Simply click the plus (+) at the bottom of the middle column and select “add user.” When adding employees, enter their details, click “add employee,” and that’s it. If you have a large team, save yourself the manual hassle and upload all members at once using the XLSX file option. 

If you’re adding a client, vendor, consultant, or external collaborator, check the “orange member” box. Setting a user as an orange member enables you to impose restrictions on what they can or can’t access. You can prevent external users from making calls, seeing profile info of employees, or being added to groups. 

One thing I liked is that Troop Messenger sends users an invite email with the login credentials. It saves employees the hassle of having to create a password, enabling them to start interacting with colleagues right away. However, I found that the system-generated password doesn’t meet some of the safe password guidelines, which is disappointing.   

Troop Messenger Web and Desktop Apps

I appreciate Troop Messenger’s excellent compatibility with nearly all operating systems. The vendor offers Windows, Mac, and Linux apps in addition to the web app. The desktop and web apps have identical designs and layouts, so the descriptions below apply to both.

Compared to apps like SpikeNow and Slack, the Troop Messenger chat interface looks cleaner and more organized. The layout includes three columns and an additional navigation panel at the top. The left panel is the menu, and it keeps the main features — chat, TM Monitor, admin dashboard, and cattle call — within reach.

The middle column provides a list of 1:1 and group chat calls. It also includes usability tools like chat filters and search. The right column is the chat area, with a text box at the bottom, and calls and ellipsis icons at the top. You can click the ellipsis icon to access video call, screenshare, and code snippet options.

One thing I liked was the ability to customize the chat area’s background. Doing so is a breeze: open the settings and select “wallpapers.” Choose the preferred option from the 62 wallpapers and click “apply.” You can also hide features you don’t need displayed on the menu or rearrange their order to make the interface your own. 

I love the simplified layout because it makes it a cinch for newbies to find their way around without needing to read guides. However, Troop Messenger isn’t aesthetically pleasing. I think the web and desktop apps are a few touches away from matching the polish of leading messaging platforms. 

Troop Messenger Mobile App

The Android and iOS apps mirror the style and theme of their web and desktop siblings. While the interface is clean and clutter-free, it feels a bit behind the curve. It lacks the sleekness and modern polish of today’s top-tier messaging platforms. The minor niggle aside, the mobile app offers solid functionality.

When you launch the app, you land on the no-frills window with a list of private and group chats. You can tap on a chat to respond to unread messages and keep the conversation going. The navigation panel at the top includes an unread message indicator and an ellipsis icon, which provides more options.

The voice and video call options are accessible when you open 1:1 and group chats. I found that Troop Messenger’s mobile app doesn’t have an offline mode or an option to schedule messages. The absence of these functionalities can inconvenience mobile teams working in areas outside the cellular range.

Troop Messenger Core Functionalities

Troop Messenger tries to stand out by offering an extensive suite of communication tools. I put the features through the wringer to uncover key strengths and weaknesses. Keep reading for the inside scoop: 

Team Messaging 

Troop Messenger has all the features I have come to expect from today’s messaging software. To begin with, it lets users start 1:1 and private group conversations. The app lets you send text, audio, and video messages, which is impressive. 

I found it easy to send an audio and video message. Simply tap or click the microphone or video icon in the text box. Record your message and hit the send icon. Voice and video messages are useful when talking is more convenient than typing long messages. They help explain something detailed that could be easily misinterpreted in text messages. 

You can use mentions to draw attention to specific users in group chats, ensuring they don’t miss important messages. Interestingly, Troop Messenger lets you mention non-group members in a group. 

Troop Messenger also offers a nice library of emojis, but there’s a caveat. While you can add emojis to new messages, you can’t use them on the mobile app or to react to messages. 

I also noted that some features are weirdly named, like message flagging. The name evokes a sense of moderation or reporting of inappropriate messages. However, in the real sense, it’s a function for ‘starring’ important messages to make them accessible from a centralized place. 

Unique messaging tools

Beyond the standard messaging tools, I found an array of unique features, including: 

• Burnout: This isn’t a tool to prevent burnout, as the name might suggest. Instead, it’s a private chat window where users can chat for a predefined time. Once that time elapses, Troop Messenger automatically deletes the conversation. This makes it ideal for private and confidential conversations. 
• Forkout: This feature enables you to send a message to multiple users without having to create a group. I found it incredibly easy to do so. Simply type your message, click or tap the forkout icon, select the recipients, and send the message. It’s ideal for one-off group communications.
• Messaging indicators: In my opinion, Troop Messenger gives you a WhatsApp-like experience. You can see when a colleague is online or typing in the chat window. The app also offers received ind(two gray ticks) and read indicators (two green ticks). 
• Respond later: This tool comes in handy when you don’t have time to respond to important messages but don’t want them buried in the noise. It allows you to mark messages with a dotted red circle so you can spot and respond to them when you have time. 

• Read receipts: The tool helps ensure no message slips through the crack. Simply tap or click the circle icon, type the message, and send. Troop Messenger adds the read-receipt icon beside the message. The icon turns solid blue on both ends when the recipient taps it to acknowledge the message. 

Group Chats

To create a group or channel, go to the admin dashboard and open the “groups” tab. Click the “add group” button, and add the group’s name, description, and members. Once you click “create,” Troop Messenger will create a group accessible via the chat window. 

One thing I noted is that Troop Messenger supports private groups. It’s ideal for sensitive discussions, such as when you need to discuss confidential company decisions with the utmost privacy. Private groups also suffice for team-specific collaboration or when you need to restrict access to certain information.  

My gripe is that Troop Messenger doesn’t support public groups or channels. If you need to create channels for company-wide announcements, you’ll have to create a private group and add all employees manually. This can be tedious and inconvenient because every time you have new hires, you’ll add them to groups manually. 

That aside, Troop Messengers has a feature called the air-time group. This is a private group where only admins and moderators can send messages. The other members can only read messages but can’t react or reply. 

Audio and Video Calls

Troop Messenger has created lightweight audio and video call features that work seamlessly on any device. However, Premium plan subscribers can only start audio and 1:1 video calls, and group calls are only available on the Enterprise and Superior plans. 

Starting a 1:1 or group call is pretty straightforward. Open the 1:1 or group chat and click the audio call icon or the three dots at the top right to access the video call option. Troop Messenger notifies the employee or group members when you start a call. The employee will only need to click “join now” to join the conversation. 

During my testing, the audio was crisp even when the other call participants were miles away. The videos were interruption-free, ensuring no awkward delays impacted the natural flow of our conversation. I think Troop Messenger’s call features are better suited for distributed teams that want to make meetings more interactive and productive.

The audio and video quality is good, but there’s a caveat. Troop Messenger’s participants’ limits are abysmal. I was disappointed to learn that the provider allows only 10 participants in audio calls and 6 in video calls. The limits fall short for some startups and small businesses, let alone large enterprises. 

Unique call features

Ordinarily, many communication software lets you start a virtual call to share your screen, and Troop Messenger isn’t any different. But besides the in-call screen sharing tool, the app offers a reverse option.

It lets you start by sharing a screen for quick demonstrations without a full meeting. With this option, the camera and microphone are turned off by default. However, if you need to talk with the team members, you can turn them on with a click.  

I was also impressed by the jointly code tool. As the name suggests, the feature helps virtual development teams work on the same code simultaneously, while conversing over the video call as if they were in the same location. 

Teams can work on code in over 100 languages on  desktop and mobile devices. Just bear in mind that due to ‌participant limits on video calls, only six developers can collaborate on a project. 

Collaboration and Productivity Features 

Troop Messenger also offers an array of collaboration and productivity features. My stand-out tool is location tracking, which is a rarity with communication software. It lets you request users to share their location for a few minutes. 

If an employee approves the request, you can click the “eye” icon to see their real-time location. Once the timer stops, you can no longer monitor the user’s location. The feature can be helpful for businesses that need to track customers’ and mobile employees’ locations for accurate dispatching. 

Other notable features include:

• Quick response panel: It collects 30 of your last shared files, images, URLs, and more. You can quickly pick and share any item from the list across 1:1 and group chats.  
• Mute conversation: Let’s mute notifications with a click of a button when you need to focus on the tasks at hand.
• Attachment preview: If you don’t have time to download files, images, videos, and documents, fret not. You can quickly preview them on Troop Messenger’s UI. 
• Integrations: Integrate Google Drive and Dropbox to store and organize your files in the cloud. The integrations let you access, edit, and share files with ease. Troop Messenger also supports Zapier integrations.  

Troop Messenger Security Features

Troop Messenger supports three user roles — user, admin, and orange members — each with different permissions and access levels. For example, an orange member is an external user with limited access to groups, chats, and calls. The restrictions prevent sensitive data from reaching the wrong people. 

Beyond ‌user-based permissions and access levels, you can prevent users from sharing, forwarding, or copying different types of files, messages, and URLs. However, there are no global settings for these controls and restrictions. As a result, you have to configure them one by one, which can be boring and tedious. 

When it comes to encryption, the protocol at your disposal depends on the Troop Messenger service you choose. A support agent told me that the cloud-based service uses the transport layer security (TLS) 1.3 cipher to protect data and messages in transit. 

TLS prevents hackers and other cyber criminals from intercepting your chats and calls. However, I didn’t find any information regarding the encryption of video calls. Moreover, the agent informed me that end-to-end encryption is solely available on the on-premise service. 

Troop Messenger supports AES-256 encryption cipher on the on-premise service. However, this encryption protocol is only available as an add-on, which adds to your subscription cost. The add-on is worth every penny because AES-256 is the most secure encryption algorithm. 

Additionally, the on-premise service allows you to host the software on your own servers. This reduces the exposure of data to external threats, enhancing security. You can also implement your own firewalls, encryption, and access controls tailored to your specific needs. This is particularly helpful for businesses in regulated sectors like healthcare and finance. 

Troop Messenger Customer Support

When you hit a snag, help is available through the help center, phone, live chat, WhatsApp, email, and a web form. I liked the variety of support options; but not the experience they deliver. 

The help center isn’t a typical knowledge base; it’s a library of how-to guides, FAQs, and videos. You can switch between different tabs to access the resources you need. You can also click one of the tags on the help center home page to find a self-service solution. Alternatively, use the search function to quickly find relevant guides.  

The live chat doesn’t seem to be functional. Given Troop Messenger’s claim to offer 24/7 support, I expected support agents to respond to my issues almost instantly. However, I never got a reply via live chat during the week of testing, which was disappointing. 

The fastest way to find solutions to urgent issues was through the WhatsApp chat. The agent responded in less than a minute to all my queries, which was impressive. The support agent was friendly and always gave satisfactory answers. However, it’s funny how a support channel that’s not listed on the website was the most reliable. 

What are Troop Messenger’s Review Ratings from Review Sites?

(As of February 2025)

Capterra: 4.8/5
G2: 4.6/5
Software Advice: 4.8/5
TrustRadius: 9.8/10
GetApp: 4.8/5
Google Play Store: 3.5/5
Apple App Store: 4.4/5

Troop Messenger App Review 

Troop Messenger’s performance is below par. While the app sports a vast range of features, from text and calls to file and location sharing, none stood out as best-in-class. The app’s design and layout don’t stand in the way of usability, but could be revamped to enhance the user experience. 

The messaging module offers standard communication features. All the usual suspects are there, including, mentions, file attachments, voice messages, and emojis. I was also impressed by the extras like forkout, burnout, read receipt, and location tracking. My only gripe is the inability to create public channels and use emojis on Android app. 

The audio and call module covers the basics well but comes up a bit too short on the advanced features front. I liked the crisp audio and lag-free videos, they enable teams to hold meetings without interruptions. However, the 10 participants limit in audio and six participants limit in video calls is a dealbreaker for many teams.  

Connecteam: The Better Troop Messenger Alternative

Connecteam stands out as the best Troop Messenger alternative for companies looking to improve team communication. While it doesn’t offer built-in audio and video calling tools, its Chat and Updates features are incredibly powerful. Read on to learn why Connecteam is a favorite for managing deskless workforces. 

Easy-to-Use Chat

I thoroughly tested the Connecteam chat feature and found features that make it a better communication app for the deskless workforce than Troop Messenger. The app offers all the basic functionality, including emojis, GIFs, and attachments. In addition to text messages, you can send a video message to share information with a dash of emotion for better engagement. 

My favorite chat feature is the ability to schedule messages. For example, you can record a video message sharing job instructions and schedule it to be delivered at the start of employees’ shifts. This way, everyone gets to understand what’s expected from the word go. It boosts productivity and enables employees to prioritize tasks, ensuring work is completed in time.  

Moreover, Connecteam lets you segment teams by department, location, project, and custom groups. This ensures your messages strike a chord with the right audience. It also reduces unnecessary noise so unrelated members aren’t disrupted by irrelevant notifications.  

Company-Wide Updates

The Connecteam Updates feature lets you share company-wide announcements. You can use updates to share strategic decisions, announce new hires, broadcast policy changes, or celebrate employees’ milestones like birthdays and work anniversaries. 

What I really love is that you can create an update from scratch or use a template. Connecteam has created an impressive library of templates, including new features, birthdays, employee of the month, and holiday templates. You can customize the color, add attachments, pin location, or add a live poll to updates. 

I was impressed by the option to schedule updates. It helps you publish the updates when all (or most) employees are active to maximize the reach. Additionally, employees can comment or react to updates with emojis. You can also see engagement rates and remind employees to view the update with only a click of a button. 

All-in-One Workforce Management Software 

Besides the powerful chat features, Connecteam offers an all-in-one workforce management suite for businesses with deskless employees. Some of the notable features include:

• One-click auto-scheduler
• Time tracker with geofence and facial recognition

• GPS location tracking 
• Job and task management
• HR and skills management

I also love Connecteam’s reasonable pricing. The free forever plan suffices for teams with up to 10 members. For $0 per month, you get access to all the‌ features, albeit with some generous limits. The paid plans start at $29 per 30 employees, which works out to less than $1 per employee. 

Start a free account today or a 14-day free trial to get a firsthand feel for Connecteam’s features. No credit card is required – simply create your account and start managing your team. 

Get started with Connecteam for free today!