The Top 18 Collaboration Tools for 2024

Collaboration is essential in any business setting. In addition to helping with problem-solving, efficient collaboration fosters unity, improves communication, boosts morale, and allows team members to learn from one another.

In a world where remote and hybrid teams are the norm, a high level of collaboration is required to function well. These teams can only flourish when the right collaboration tools are in place.

Think of collaboration tools as platforms, applications, and software that allow different parties to work together, communicate, and share resources. As we’ll discover later, you can find collaboration tools for various roles, including project management, document collaboration, content creation, and communication.

Join us as we discuss the best online collaboration tools you can use to boost productivity in your workplace.

Types of collaboration tools

Different collaboration tools can satisfy your needs, whether you’re looking to design something, manage a project, or do video calls with your colleagues.

Some common categories of collaboration tools are communication, project management, document collaboration, creation, and employee recognition software.

We dive more into these collaboration tools in the following sections:

• Communication tools
• Project management tools
• Document collaboration tools
• Creation tools
• Recognition tools
• How to choose the right collaboration tools for your business

Communication tools

As the name suggests, communication tools allow us to pass messages to one another through instant messaging, video conferencing, and email.

Since communication tools work in real time, it’s easy for team members to participate in discussions and decision-making processes, regardless of their location.

We cover some popular communication tools you can adopt in your business.

Slack

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Slack is a messaging platform that allows different stakeholders—including customers, employees, and other partners—to communicate. You can use Slack to send direct messages or even communicate with a larger group through dedicated channels.

Features

• Channels. Slack helps you organize your files, tools, and conversations in a central space where they’re more accessible.
• Apps and integration. Slack makes it more convenient to work by supporting the integrations of popular applications, such as Microsoft Office 365 and Google Drive.
• Automated workflows. Slack improves productivity by allowing you to automate common tasks, such as sending shoutouts, setting up meetings, organizing daily stand-ups, and more.
• Slack Connect. With Slack, you can communicate with individuals outside your organization. This is a nice-to-have feature since it helps coordinate activities between different entities.
• RSS feeds support. Slack helps you update your team with the latest news and information by subscribing to different RSS feeds.

Pros

• Secure. Slack allows you to work securely with your partners due to the low risk of phishing.
• Cross-platform. Slack is available on Windows, Mac, and mobile, making it suitable for teams using different devices.
• Integrations. Slack is compatible with hundreds of applications, making you more productive.
• Search. All content in Slack channels is searchable. You can find past messages to refer to them.

Cons

• Distracting. Unless you manually change your settings, Slack notifies you of any new messages in your workspace. Although this is a positive feature, it might be distracting in certain cases.
• Disorganization. Slack supports many simultaneous conversations, which can be challenging to keep track of.

Pricing

• Free version
• Pro at $7.25 per person per month
• Business+ at $12.50 per person per month
• Enterprise Grid at a customizable price

Google Meet

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Google Meet is a video conferencing application developed by Google. It allows users to participate in collaborative work by holding meetings and sharing presentations with teammates.

Features

• Unlimited meetings. With Google Meet, you can hold many meetings with clients or other stakeholders without incurring extra costs.
• Cross-platform. You can use Google Meet to hold meetings on any device, including Android and iOS.
• Advanced controls. You can mute, pin, or remove participants from a meeting. You can also record your meetings for future reference.
• Live messaging. Google Meet allows you to send messages, files, and links to participants while the meeting is ongoing.
• Screen-sharing. Google Meet makes meetings more engaging by allowing you to share your computer screen with participants.

Pros

• Simplicity. Google Meet features a user-friendly interface that’s easy for beginners to learn.
• A high number of participants. You can invite up to 100 participants to a meeting.
• Cost-effective. Google Meet’s basic features are free, making it appealing for those on a small budget.
• Easy sign-up option. You only need a Google account to use Google Meet.

Cons

• Screen-sharing limitation. Google Meet allows you to share limited screens at a time. This makes showing comparisons or sharing more complex information with your team somewhat difficult.
• Limited tile view. Google Meet displays only the first 16 participants when holding a large meeting. This is fewer than Zoom, which can display up to 49 participants.

Pricing

Prices here include Google Workspace features, such as Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, and more.

• Business Starter at $6 per user per month
• Business Standard at $12 per user per month
• Business Plus at $18 per user per month
• Enterprise at a custom price

Gmail

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Gmail is a popular and free email service offered by Google. About 1.8 billion people worldwide use Gmail for communication.

Features

• Email filters. Apart from sending and receiving emails, Gmail allows you to sort incoming messages into different groups, including promotions, social, forums, and primary.
• Smart compose. Gmail provides numerous text suggestions to help you communicate more effectively.
• App integration. With Gmail, you can increase productivity by syncing your data across different applications, including Google Maps and Google Calendar.
• Confidential mode. Switching to confidential mode allows you to send emails that can’t be copied, forwarded, or downloaded.
• Reminders. Gmail can remind you if certain emails are left unopened or go answered.

Pros

• Free. Gmail is available for free.
• Secure. Gmail has numerous security features to protect you from different threats.
• Stable. With Gmail, you don’t have to worry about regular crashes that impact your workflow.

Cons

• Hard to recover passwords. Gmail has efficient security measures to protect your data. However, these policies make recovering an account if you forget a password challenging.
• Ads. Gmail can display targeted ads on its interface, which can be distracting.

Pricing

Gmail is available for free.

Project management tools

Project management tools enhance collaboration by ensuring all members have clear responsibilities and goals.

These tools also help in project planning, resource allocation and management, project monitoring, and data-sharing. You can also use project management tools to monitor your budget.

Here are some top project management tools you can use.

Trello

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Whether dealing with a small or large project, Trello provides the tools to manage your workflow. With Trello, you can break down complex projects into smaller tasks and assign them to teammates.

Features

• Integrations. You can add most apps that your team uses to the Trello workspace.
• Automation. Trello makes it easy to manage projects by recognizing repetitive actions and automating them.
• Trello views. Trello provides different interfaces to track and monitor your projects, including Dashboard, Map, Timeline, Table, Board, and Calendar.

Pros

• Task management. Trello allows you to define tasks and set their priority status. You also receive regular notifications regarding task statuses.
• User-friendly. Trello features a simple design that’s easy to use, even for beginners.

Cons

• Limited storage. If you’re using the free version, your file upload size is limited to about 10MB. You have to upgrade to access more storage.

Pricing

• Free
• Standard at $5 per user per month
• Premium at $10 per user per month
• Enterprise starting at $17.50 per user per month, lower with more users

Asana

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Asana is one of the most comprehensive tools for managing projects, assigning tasks, and tracking progress. You can also use Asana for other workflows, including campaign and Agile management.

Features

• Automation. Asana helps you focus on more meaningful tasks by automating repetitive actions.
• Shared calendar. Asana allows you to view the schedule of your teammates using the shared calendar. This information enables you to allocate tasks more effectively.
• Reporting. Using charts, timelines, and dashboards, you can visualize a project’s progress.
• Time-tracking. Asana enables you to set deadlines for different tasks, which is crucial for work management.
• Real-time collaboration. Asana improves project collaboration by allowing users to send private messages, comment on tasks, and engage in project and task conversations.

Pros

• Support for third-party tools. Asana boosts productivity by allowing you to integrate other functionalities using third-party tools.
• Collaboration-focused. From real-time messaging to comprehensive task management, Asana provides numerous features allowing you to collaborate with colleagues.
• Free plan. Small teams with limited budgets can access Asana’s features for free.

Cons

• Complexity. Asana has many great features but can get complicated due to the different settings involved.

Pricing

• Personal for free (for teams up to 15 people)
• Starter at $10.99 per user per month
• Advanced at $24.99 per user per month
• Enterprise at a custom price depending on your needs

Basecamp

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As a project management software, Basecamp reduces complexity in work by allowing you to centralize communication, track work, and measure progress.

Features

• Real-time group chat. You can ask questions and get fast feedback from teammates using Campfire (Basecamp’s messaging tool) instead of emails.
• Grid view. Basecamp organizes all your projects and assignments into one dashboard, allowing you to find your desired workspace easily.
• File-sharing. Basecamp features a space where you can create and share different files.
• Hill charts. You can use Basecamp’s hill chart feature to visualize and understand your project’s progress.
• Cloud-based storage. Basecamp allows you to save files online since it supports Notion, Adobe, Dropbox, and Figma.

Pros

• Huge file storage. Basecamp offers between 500GB to 5TB storage space for documents and other files.
• Unlimited projects. You can manage any number of projects without extra costs, regardless of your pricing plan.
• Simple. Basecamp features a minimalist design that’s easy for beginners to understand and use.

Cons

• Distracting. Basecamp sends users notifications on everything happening in their workspace. Although this is an excellent feature, it might be distracting since some messages don’t require immediate attention. However, this can be turned off and notifications can be customized.

Pricing

• Basic at $15 per user per month
• Pro Unlimited at $ 299 per month for unlimited users

ClickUp

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Whether in engineering, marketing, finance, Human Resources (HR), or any other field, Clickup provides the right tools to help customize your workflow, collaborate on designs, track and assign requests, and more.

Features

• Everything view. With ClickUp’s Everything view, you can search for any information in your project.
• Nested subtasks and checklist. ClickUp allows you to break down projects into simpler, more manageable subtasks.
• ClickApps. ClickUp provides more than 35 apps you can use to extend functionalities in your project.
• Templates. You can save time by applying preexisting ClickUp templates for different uses.

Pros

• Automation. ClickUp enables you to automate routine processes and manage to-do lists, allowing you to focus more on work.
• App integration. You can add your favorite third-party tools to ClickUp and use them to manage your project.
• Real-time monitoring. You can monitor your project’s progress using the ClickUp Dashboard.

Cons

• Steep learning curve. ClickUp has rich features that may require time to get used to.

Pricing

• Free forever
• Unlimited at $7 per member per month
• Business at $12 per member per month
• Enterprise for a custom price
• Talent on Upwork can get 20% off Unlimited, Business, and AI plans

Monday.com

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Monday.com is a collaboration platform that shapes and customizes your workflow by centralizing key processes and tools, boosting efficiency and productivity.

Features

• Document creation. Monday allows you to create and coedit documents in real time. You can use Monday’s drag-and-drop interface to embed elements in your docs.
• Visualizations. With Monday, you can monitor and track your projects and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) visually using Gantt charts and an intuitive dashboard.
• File management. Monday enables you to manage work files in a flexible and collaborative space. You can edit and control who accesses files, among other functions.
• Kanban boards. Monday helps you create kanban boards for prioritizing tasks depending on available capacity.

Pros

• Flexible. Monday provides various tools to help you manage projects of different sizes and complexities. You can customize these tools to fit your project requirements.
• Task delegation. You can assign tasks to teammates and monitor their progress using Monday.
• Enhanced communication process. Monday boosts collaboration by ensuring that communication occurs in a centralized space. As a result, it’s easy for employees to receive messages and work as a team.

Cons

• Limited mobile app. Monday’s mobile app isn’t as detailed as the desktop or web versions. So, users may have trouble accessing certain content.

Pricing

• Individual plan available for free, up to two seats
• Basic at $9 per seat per month, minimum of three seats
• Standard at $12 per seat per month, minimum of three seats
• Pro at $19 per seat per month, minimum of three seats
• Enterprise at a custom price

Document collaboration tools

Document collaboration tools boost productivity for remote teams by facilitating real-time document-sharing, efficient brainstorming, and simultaneous access to projects or docs.

Below are some of the common document collaboration tools used today.

Google Docs

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Google Docs is an online word processor for creating, editing, saving, and sharing documents.

Features

• Shareable links. You can share your docs with teammates using links.
• Multiuser access. Google Docs allows multiple users to edit and add comments to a document in real time.
• Smart compose. Google Docs supports voice typing, document translation, and grammar and spelling suggestions, which can help you write faster and better.
• Version control. Google Docs helps you track changes made to a document by all users.

Pros

• Google Drive support. Google Docs saves your documents online, meaning you can work from any device or location without data loss.
• Offline support. You can still work on documents out of range and share them with teammates when you come online.

Cons

• Prone to tampering. Anyone with your doc’s link can make changes to it. This may throw you off, especially when unaware of the edits.

Pricing

Prices here include Google Workspace features, such as Gmail, Calendar, Meet, Sheets, and more.

• Free for personal use
• Business Standard at $12 per user per month

Notion

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Notion is a comprehensive workspace that allows you to create documents, take notes, and manage projects and tasks.

Features

• Images and videos. You can embed videos and images into your Notion docs and share them with your team.
• Templates. Notion provides different templates to help you get started with your work.
• Team spaces. Notion stores all your files in a common area, making them more accessible to other members.
• User tagging. You can get your teammates’ attention by typing “@” followed by their usernames.

Pros

• Rich features. Apart from creating documents, you can use Notion for project and task management.
• Centralized file storage. Notion stores all your documents and other files in one location, making them easy to retrieve.

Cons

• Tricky navigation. Unlike other document collaboration tools, such as Google Docs, Notion has a more complex interface, which may take users longer to get accustomed to.

Pricing

• Free version
• Plus at $8 per user per month
• Business at $15 per user per month
• Enterprise at a custom price
• Talent on Upwork can get a 30-day free trial of all Notion Plus and AI features

Dropbox Paper

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Dropbox Paper is a lightweight document collaboration tool that allows you to create and coedit docs, connect with people, and get feedback.

Features

• Calendar integration. You can connect Dropbox Paper to your calendar, ensuring you always have the right docs for a meeting.
• Task management tools. With Dropbox Paper, you can write to-dos, mention people, and set deadlines using the docs.

Pros

• Easy to use. Dropbox Paper features a friendly interface for users to create, edit, and share documents.
• Cloud storage. All documents created using Dropbox Paper are stored in the Dropbox cloud. You can access your files at any time, regardless of your location.

Cons

• No previous versions. Dropbox Paper doesn’t allow you to revert to a previous version once your changes are saved.

Pricing

Dropbox Paper is available for free.

Miro

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Miro is a visual workspace for remote or distributed teams. You and your teammates can collaborate with text, sticky notes, flowcharts, and more.

Features

• Flexible interface. You can turn Miro’s blank workspaces into any kind of collaboration tool you need.
• Live collaboration. If you’re working on a Miro board at the same time as someone else, you’ll be able to see their cursor—labeled with their name—moving around as they make changes or reference part of a document on a call.
• AI assistance. The built-in Miro AI is useful for summarizing the results of a big creative brainstorming session.
• Talktracks. This Miro feature lets you record yourself as you explain what’s on a board.

Pros

• Work the way you want. You can use Miro synchronously as an add-on to your Zoom calls, or async if you’re collaborating across time zones.
• Easy to use. Miro works in your web browser and is easy to pick up thanks to its menus of shapes, connectors, sticky notes, and more.

Cons

• Limited free plan. Miro’s free plan limits you to just three boards.

Pricing

• Free version
• Starter plan at $8 per user per month, billed annually
• Business plan at $16 per user per month, billed annually
• Custom Enterprise plans are available
• Talent on Upwork can get a 30-day free trial of premium Miro features

Creation tools

Creation tools help you customize your creative actions, share files, interact with other creators in real time, and store projects in the cloud, where you can retrieve and work on them later.

Here are examples of creation tools you can use in your workplace.

Google Slides

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Google Slides enables you to create online presentations to share with your teammates.

Features

• Easy-to-use presenter view. Using the integrated presenter view, you can add speaker notes and live captions to slides.
• App integrations. You can import objects from other Google apps and add them to your slides.
• Assistive features. Using features like smart compose, Google Slides helps you build slides with fewer errors.

Pros

• User-friendly. Google Slides has a simple interface, making it easy for beginners to create presentations.
• Online storage. Like other Google apps, Google Slides stores all your files on the cloud, making sharing them with team members easy.

Cons

• User restriction. Users need a valid Google account to use Google Slides.

Pricing

Prices here include Google Workspace features, such as Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, and more.

• Free version
• Business Standard at $12 per user per month

Figma

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Figma is a creation tool for producing designs for mobile and web applications, logos, and other multimedia content.

Features

• Modern tools. Figma simplifies the design process by providing suitable tools, including vector networks, design clocks, auto layouts, and basic shapes.
• Plug-ins. You can boost your productivity by adding plug-ins and extensions to Figma.
• Cloud storage support. Figma stores all designs online, protecting you from data loss. It also allows your team to access files from any location.
• FigJam whiteboard feature. For an additional cost, FigJam allows you to brainstorm and collect thoughts and ideas collaboratively—all in one place.

Pros

• Unlimited viewership. You can invite any number of teammates to view and comment on your designs.
• Drag-and-drop editing. Figma’s drag-and-drop editing tool saves time and effort by enabling you to add components to your designs.

Cons

• No version control. Tracking your teammates’ changes to the design can be challenging.

Pricing

• Starter for free
• Professional at $12 per editor per month
• Organization at $45 per editor per month
• Enterprise at $75 per editor per month

Canva

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Canva is a digital creation tool useful for creating presentations, docs, whiteboards, videos, GIFs, and social media graphics.

Features

• Team invitation. Canva makes working with teammates easy by inviting and adding them to your workspace.
• Ready-to-use templates. The numerous templates and components available on Canva allow you to create presentations with minimal effort.
• Single sign-on. Canva’s single sign-on feature allows teams to log in to the platform quickly and remain secure.
• Content management system. Canva provides unlimited and shareable folders for teams to manage their files.

Pros

• Pay as you grow. Canva offers flexible billing, enabling you to pay for features required by your team as you expand.
• User-friendly interface. Whether you’re a highly experienced creator or just starting, it doesn’t matter. Canva’s simple interface allows you to create your desired content without struggling.

Cons

• The free version is limited. You may not have complete control of intellectual rights to designs when using the free version

Pricing‍

• Free version
• Free for schools and certified non-profit organizations
• Pro at $120 per person per year
• Teams at $100 per person, per year (minimum of three user seats required)

Visme

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Visme is an all-in-one creation tool for creating presentations, data visualizations, documents, infographics, and other media content.

Features

• Ready-to-use templates. Whether you’re creating documents, spreadsheets, presentations, or infographics, Visme provides templates you can import and use in your project.
• Real-time communication. Visme allows you to participate in teamwork, share ideas, and develop content from anywhere.
• Asset management. Visme’s centralized storage space allows you to import, organize, or search through your team’s assets.

Pro

• Educational resources. Although other tools have some documentation you can follow, Visme creates more detailed learning materials (e-books, video tutorials, and live webinars) you can use to create appealing designs.
• Royalty-free tracks. Visme offers more than 5,000 royalty-free audio tracks you can use to improve your presentation.

Cons

• Not mobile-friendly. Visme doesn’t have mobile apps that individuals can use to access their content.
• Expensive. Users have to pay more to access the Visme for Teams version.

Pricing

• Basic available for free
• Starter at $12.25 per month billed yearly
• Pro at $24.75 per month billed yearly
• Visme for Teams available at custom price

Recognition tools

As a manager, you want your employees well-motivated and rewarded. Recognition tools help you monitor remote work benefits and facilitate employee engagement and interactive team collaboration.

Here are top recognition tools you can use to motivate employees.

Bonusly

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Bonusly assists businesses in decreasing turnover costs through employee engagement and recognition. Managers can use Bonusly to recognize where employees excel and the appropriate rewards they should receive.

Features

• Bonus feed. Bonusly shows all the bonuses employees have earned in a public feed to boost the team’s morale.
• Global catalog. Bonusly features a rich catalog of gift cards from popular companies that employees can redeem with their points.
• App integration. Bonusly allows you to share updates regarding employee recognition on different apps, including Microsoft Teams and Slack. This allows employees to feel valued regardless of their workspace.

Pros

• Gift suggestion. Bonusly’s gift catalog saves you time since you don’t spend much time looking for rewards.
• Helps build a strong culture. Besides improving employee happiness, Bonusly helps managers promote certain values and behaviors that can be positive add-ons to the organizational culture.

Cons

• Expensive. Bonusly charges a monthly fee per user, which can be costly for a large organization.

Pricing

• Free
• Pro at $5 per user per month
• Custom pricing options

Nectar

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Nectar is a tool for creating a culture of recognition in the workplace. It boosts employees’ morale by helping them feel appreciated and engaged.

Features

• Gift basket. Nectar offers gift suggestions that managers can give to employees.
• Meaningful shoutouts. You can use Nectar’s built-in communication tool to send messages to employees, showing them you recognize and value their efforts.
• Custom rewards. Nectar recognizes that companies are different and allows you to add your preferred rewards.
• Autopilot. By sending automated messages, Nectar helps you celebrate employees’ milestones, including birthdays and anniversaries.

Pros

• Redeemable points. With Nectar, employees can receive points to redeem for various gifts and rewards.
• Supports greater interactions. Nectar allows you to create custom challenges, wellness activities, and other initiatives to boost employee engagement.
• Detailed analytics. Nectar provides key metrics that allow you to gain insight regarding popular challenges and employee recognition rates.

Cons

• Complexity. Some users complain that Nectar’s point system is a bit complicated and challenging to differentiate between expired and valid points.

Pricing

• Standard at $2.75 per user per month
• Plus at $4.00 per user per month

How to choose the right collaboration tools for your business

Choosing the right team collaboration software can be challenging because the market is filled with many good tools. So, it’s helpful to assess a tool’s features, pros, and cons before deciding to use it.

Check out these other tips for choosing the right collaboration and productivity tools for your business needs:

• Assess your team’s specific needs
• Consider scalability
• Look at the integrations and third-party apps that can be added to the tool
• Evaluate the security status and requirements of the collaboration tool
• Consider the cost of the tool

Collaborate with professionals on Upwork

Online collaboration tools have brought huge improvements to the modern workplace. Software like Asana, Google Docs, Bonusly, and video conferencing tools allow teams to communicate, manage products, create and share documents, and hold meetings from anywhere. (Looking for more great tools to use by yourself or with a team? Check out Upwork’s Apps and offers page for more discounts and trials.)

Whether you have a big or small business, you should integrate online collaboration tools into your workspace to leverage their benefits. Consider working with business automation specialists on Upwork to identify the right collaboration tools for your organization.

If you’re an automation expert looking for automation jobs, Upwork can help you find clients and earn extra income. Get started today.

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Upwork is not affiliated with and does not sponsor or endorse any of the tools or services discussed in this article. These tools and services are provided only as potential options, and each reader and company should take the time needed to adequately analyse and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation. Prices are current at the time of writing and may change over time based on each service’s offerings.