Business chat is a tool to streamline work communication. In particular, business chat, which is available for free, has the advantage of reducing costs and streamlining business operations.
In this article, we will start with an overview of business chat.We will thoroughly compare and explain up to 10 recommended business chat services that you can continue to use completely free of charge.We will introduce the important points, advantages and disadvantages, and precautions when introducing business chat, so please refer to it.
Comparison list of business chat companies
The following products areA business chat tool that you can continue to use completely free of charge.It is.
| product name | Main features | Paid version price (Estimated monthly basis) | Cloud Free user limit free disc | On-premise | Android/iOS | supported language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chat&Messenger | (Internet) chat Web Conference Schedule task management document management Equipment reservation attendance management | On-premise 150 yen and up Cloud From 300 yen | 〇 Free up to 50 users 1GB free per user | 〇 | 〇 | Japanese (language) English Chinese |
| Chatwork | (Internet) chat voice call video call File sharing task management Schedule | Business From 700 yen enter prize From 1,200 yen | 〇 Free up to 100 users 5GB free for organizations | – | 〇 | Japanese (language) English Chinese Vietnamese |
| Slack | (Internet) chat voice call video call screen sharing External app collaboration | Professional From 925 yen plus From 1,600 yen | 〇 – 5GB free with workspace | – | 〇 | Japanese (language) English Korean 5 other languages |
| LINE WORKS | (Internet) chat WEB conference BBS Schedule Task Management survey | Standard From 450 yen advanced 800 yen~ | 〇 Free up to 30 users 5GB free for organizations | – | 〇 | Japanese (language) English Chinese Korean |
| Microsoft Teams | (Internet) chat file sharing WEB conference collaborative editing Task Management workflow | basic 540 yen Standard 1,360 yen Office365 E3 2,170 yen | 〇 – 10GB free for organizations | – | 〇 | Japanese (language) English Chinese Over 30 other languages |
| direct | (Internet) chat voice call video call file sharing survey To-do list User management | basic 6,000 yen plus 12,000 yen Premium 27,500 yen Max 50,000 yen | 〇 inquiry | 〇 | 〇 | Japanese (language) English |
| Skype | (Internet) chat voice call video call WEB conference | Monthly plan starting from 485 yen | 〇 inquiry | – | 〇 | Japanese (language) English Chinese Over 30 other languages |
| IP Messenger | (Internet) chat file sharing Receiving emails Notification timeline | 0 yen | – | 〇 | Android only | Japanese (language) English |
| Rocket.Chat | (Internet) chat voice call video call WEB conference file sharing guest access | enter prize *Inquiry required | 〇 inquiry | 〇 | 〇 | Inquiry required |
| Mattermost | (Internet) chat file sharing Message edit External software cooperation Task Management | Professional $10/month enter prize *Inquiry required | 〇 inquiry | 〇 | 〇 | Japanese (language) English Chinese 17 other languages |
What is Business Chat?
Business chat is a tool to make communication at work more efficient. Not only can you communicate more quickly than by email or phone, you can also organize groups by project, share files, and make voice and video calls.
By making good use of business chat, communication and information sharing will become smoother, and you can expect to improve productivity and motivation.
Basic functions of business chat
Business chat basically has the following functions:
chat function
The chat feature allows you to exchange messages with individuals or groups in real time.
You can add emojis, stamps, reactions, etc. to messages, making communication easier than email. Additionally, messages can be marked as read or unread, making it easy to see the recipient's reaction.
Voice call/video call function
Voice and video calls allow you to talk directly, so they are suitable for emergencies or important topics that are difficult to communicate via chat. Video calls also allow for presentations and demonstrations using screen sharing and whiteboard features.
File Sharing Functions
It is also possible to share files and images via chat. Sending files is easy with drag-and-drop or the attachment button, and shared files are saved with your chat history so you can find them later.
Thread function
The thread feature allows you to organize conversations related to a specific message by replying to that message. This makes it easier to follow the flow of the conversation and allows you to focus on specific topics.
Points to consider when choosing business chat
Here are 7 points to check when choosing a business chat.
Is there a free plan?
The first thing to consider is whether there is a free plan.
Business Chat, which has a free plan, can keep costs down as there are no initial costs or monthly costs. We also recommend that you use the free plan to try it out to see if it suits your company.
However, free plans often have limitations on available features, number of users, storage capacity, etc., so it's a good idea to check in advance whether they can meet your company's needs.
On-premises or cloud type?
The next thing to consider is on-premises or cloud-based.
On-premise business chat is a product where you operate your own servers and software, which has the advantage of being able to manage data and strengthen security. However, some products require specialized knowledge and skills to install and operate, and the disadvantages are that they tend to be expensive, so you need to be careful.
Cloud-based business chat is a product that uses services over the Internet, and has the advantage of being easy to install and operate, and low cost. However, please note that organizations that handle personal or confidential information may not be able to use this service due to security policies.
Does it have functions that match your company's objectives and operations?
Business Chat has a variety of features, but not all of them are necessary. For example, when working remotely, features such as voice calls, video calls, and screen sharing are important. When managing projects, it is useful to have features such as schedules, to-do lists, and task management. Determine the features your company needs and choose a product that meets your needs.
Is it easy to operate and use?
Business chat is easy to use and easy to use, so frontline staff can use it without stress, improving the efficiency and quality of communication. To judge whether a product is easy to use and easy to use, you should pay attention to the following points.
- Is the interface simple and easy to understand?
- Can it be operated intuitively?
- Are functions such as search and filters easy to use?
- Is there sufficient help and support?
Is it mobile compatible?
Business chat is mobile-friendly and can be used from smartphones and tablets, so you can communicate regardless of location or time. Also, dedicated apps are usually easier to use than browsers, so if you often use them outside the company, it's a good idea to choose a tool that supports dedicated apps.
Is there a sufficient time limit for chat log history?
Business Chat, which has a well-managed chat log, can record and save information such as chat content and file sending and receiving. This allows you to check past interactions, search for them, and use them as evidence.
To determine whether your chat logs are well managed, it's best to pay attention to the following points:
- Are the storage period and capacity of logs and browsing history sufficient?
- Are logs and browsing history search and filter easy to use?
- Can I delete or edit logs and browsing history?
Can I feel safe in terms of security?
Business chat offers peace of mind in terms of security, as chat content, files, images, and other data can be encrypted and protected. You can also use the permission settings function to restrict sending and receiving, and two-step authentication to prevent unauthorized access.
Are security technologies such as encryption and authentication up to date?, ,Are security terms and policies clear?, etc., and choose a safe product.
Useful features in business chat
Business Chat has various functions, but here we will introduce three functions that are useful in addition to the basic functions.
Web Conference Function
Web conferencing is a function that allows you to exchange audio and video over the Internet and have real-time conversations with multiple people in remote locations. With the web conferencing function, you can save time and money on business trips, and you can smoothly conduct urgent meetings and reports. In addition, by using screen sharing and whiteboard functions, you can share materials and co-create ideas.
Schedule function
The schedule function allows you to check and adjust your own and other members' schedules. With the scheduling feature, you can reduce the amount of email and phone calls, and you can quickly communicate changes or cancellations to your plans. You can streamline your work by using one tool to handle everything from communication to scheduling.
Survey function
The survey function is a function that allows you to easily create and respond to surveys within chat. Survey functionality allows you to make decisions and gather feedback faster, and easily understand member opinions and satisfaction levels. Additionally, by using features such as polls and quizzes, you can liven up the chat and have fun while learning.
Which is better for business chat, free or paid?
Whether the free version or the paid version of Business Chat is better depends on your purpose and scale.
The free version has basic features, but is recommended for small teams and individuals as it has limits on number of people and capacity, security and support.
The paid version has a variety of functions, and has enough support for the number of people and capacity. It also offers a high level of security and support, making it suitable for large organizations and projects.
Comparison of 10 recommended free business chats
Here we will introduce 10 products that you can continue to use completely free of charge.
Chat&Messenger
Product overview and features
Chat&Messenger is a multifunctional business chat tool that includes business chat, web conferencing, file sharing, schedule/task management, and more.
Since it is compatible not only with the cloud but also on-premises, it has been used by organizations such as government agencies, hospitals, and large companies that handle highly confidential data. Additionally, since various functions are integrated into one, you can expect significant cost reductions and operational efficiency improvements.
Features available with free plan
What you can do with the paid plan
Reviews and reputation
There were many positive reviews regarding the ease of use of the chat and messenger functions.
“You can smoothly send large files that are difficult to send via email.”
“Easy to understand notifications when messages arrive”
“Convenient to check read status and resend to offline users”
Chatwork
Product overview and features
Chatwork is a communication tool that allows you to use functions such as chat, task management, file sharing, video calling, etc. in one app.
Features include the ability to manage members in each chat room and create tasks with deadlines. Additionally, you can easily connect with people inside and outside your company by simply sending an invitation email, so you can start using it immediately after registering.
Features available with free plan
What you can do with the paid plan
Reviews and reputation
There were many opinions that appreciated the ability to easily connect with people outside the company.
“Easy to contact people outside the company”
“Many companies have adopted it, so communication is easy.”
“Since there is a free plan, it is easy to add members from other companies to the group.”
Slack
Product overview and features
Slack is an online chat tool for businesses that allows you to create channels for each project or topic to communicate with your team members. It has many features such as modifying and deleting messages, notification functions, and search functions, and the fact that it can be used on multiple devices is also a big attraction.
How to use it for free
What you can do with the paid plan
Reviews and reputation
Many people said that it was easy to use, with features such as collaboration with external apps and a wide variety of stamps.
“Convenient because it can be used in combination with various solutions”
“I was impressed by how smooth the collaboration with external apps was.”
“There are a lot of stamps, so it’s easy to communicate with stamps.”
LINE WORKS
Product overview and features
LINE WORKS is a business chat tool that allows you to use voice and video calls, as well as talk functions similar to LINE. In addition to communication functions, it also has groupware functions such as email, calendar, and file sharing, as well as team collaboration functions. It is also possible to link with many external services such as AI chatbots, workflows, and reception systems.
Full functionality can be used not only on PCs but also on smartphones, so you can expect increased efficiency in your work.
How to use it for free
What you can do with the paid plan
Reviews and reputation
In the reviews, many people said that it is easy to use because there are many people who use LINE for private purposes.
“Groupware can be used as an extension of LINE, so it is easy to explain.”
“You can use it in the same way as the LINE you are used to.”
“Easy to use with the same operational feel as LINE”
Microsoft Teams
Product overview and features
Microsoft Teams is an online platform for efficient teamwork.
Communicate with your team members in real time through chat and video conferencing, or create channels to organize information by project or topic. Additionally, you can integrate with Microsoft 365 applications and external apps to smoothly share and edit files, manage tasks, and coordinate schedules.
How to use it for free
What you can do with the paid plan
Reviews and reputation
We found reviews that praised the online meeting function and automatic translation function.
“Automatic translation function during meetings is convenient”
“Good to use as a meeting tool”
“The good thing about web conferences is that you can change the background and image quality.”
direct
Product overview and features
direct is a business chat tool that is strong in on-site DX. In addition to chatting and calling, it has a wide range of convenient functions that meet the needs of field staff, such as photo and video sharing, and survey functions. The biggest feature is that it can automate office work such as creating daily reports and reports by linking with chatbots. In addition, we provide a safe and secure security system with domestically produced and domestically managed servers.
How to use it for free
What you can do with the paid plan
Reviews and reputation
There were many reviews that praised the ease of operation and ease of use.
"It's intuitive to use if you've used a messaging app before."
“Simple to use, no training required”
"Easy to use even for people who are not good with machines"
Skype
Product overview and features
Skype is a service for online communication. In addition to chatting and video conferencing, Skype also offers features such as file sharing. Skype's biggest feature is its voice translation function that allows you to talk to foreigners in real time, and currently it is possible to translate conversations from 60 languages to 11 languages.
How to use it for free
What you can do with the paid plan
Reviews and reputation
It is a pioneer in online communication tools, and many people said that it was safe to use.
“A well-known and reliable service”
“I have been using it for a long time and it is stable with no problems”
“A pioneer in web conferencing tools that I still use today.”
IP Messenger
Product overview and features
IP Messenger is a business chat tool that allows you to exchange messages and files within a LAN. PCs belonging to the same network can communicate with each other even if they are not connected to the Internet, and security features such as encryption and password protection are also available.
It has a simple and easy-to-use interface and is also attractive because it is free to use.
How to use it for free
What you can do with the paid plan
Reviews and reputation
Many people praised the fact that it poses a low security risk because it can be used offline.
“Since it can be used in a closed network, there is less risk of information leakage.”
“An indispensable closed network PC chat that can be used for free”
“Basically, communication can only be done within the LAN, so security is safe.”
Rocket.Chat
Product overview and features
Rocket.Chat is an open source web chat platform that can be built on-premises. One of its features is the ability to flexibly customize apps, websites, and workspaces using a chat engine and marketplace. You can also use real-time translation, which supports over 50 languages, for smooth global communication.
How to use it for free
What you can do with the paid plan
Reviews and reputation
There were many comments that appreciated the on-premises version.
“Freely available on-premises”
“Since it is on-premises, we can overcome internal security issues.”
“Communication is possible without leaking information”
Mattermost
Product overview and features
Mattermost is an open source business chat tool with talk features and audio/video calling. In addition to communication functions, it is also equipped with a playbook function that allows collaboration with external tools and automation of repetitive tasks, and task management functions. In addition, it is compatible with both on-premises and cloud, so you can choose according to your security requirements, implementation costs, and other conditions.
How to use it for free
What you can do with the paid plan
Reviews and reputation
There were many reviews that praised the low cost implementation and easy communication.
“If you use the on-premises version, you can use it for free and it is comparable to competing business chats.”
“I was worried about the increase in usage fees for other companies' products, so I decided to switch.”
“I introduced it because I wanted to make the budget cheaper.”
Advantages of introducing business chat
Implementing business chat has the following benefits:
Can communicate in real time
By using business chat, you can contact the other party more quickly than by email, and by replying immediately, you can communicate as if you were having a face-to-face conversation.
Additionally, by using group chat and channel features, you can share information and exchange opinions with multiple people at the same time. This will allow for smooth project progress management and problem solving.
Communication hurdles are lowered
In business chat, you can send not only text but also emojis and stamps. These functions can convey the nuances and atmosphere of communication that are difficult to convey with text alone, and have the advantage of allowing you to easily react.
Also, unlike email, there is no need for a subject line, seasonal greetings, signatures, etc., so you can easily send messages, and you can expect this to have the effect of reducing the distance between staff and departments.
Centralized information management and improved searchability
Business chat allows you to save past communications and files. You can also search by keyword, date, sender, etc. This allows you to quickly find the information you need and makes it easier to organize and manage information compared to email or paper-based methods.
Security risk reduction
Business chat uses security measures such as encrypted communication, two-step authentication, and access restrictions based on IP address. It is also possible to restrict the files sent and received by setting permissions, and cancel the sent data. This reduces the risks of information leaks and unauthorized access.
Disadvantages of business chat
Miscommunication or unclear communication
Business chat allows for quick communication, but written communication is prone to misunderstandings. In particular, it can be difficult to convey emotions and nuances, and the recipient may not understand the exact intent of the message. This can lead to misinformation and unnecessary conflict.
More chat notifications
With Business Chat, many messages are exchanged in a short amount of time. This puts important information at risk of getting lost among many messages and being overlooked. Also, frequent chat notifications can cause work interruptions and loss of concentration.
Decrease in face-to-face communication
As business chat increases, face-to-face communication tends to decrease. Face-to-face interactions foster trust-building and deeper understanding through nonverbal communication. A lack of these can lead to a decline in team cohesion and creativity.
Collapse of work-life balance
Because business chats can be accessed anytime and anywhere, the line between work and personal life can become blurred. Especially as working from home becomes more common, messages may arrive outside of work hours, which can lead to stress and overwork.
security risk
Online communications involve security risks. When confidential information is exchanged over chat, there is a risk of unauthorized access and data leakage. Companies need to take strict security measures for their chat systems.
Increased informal communication
Business chats have a low formality, which increases informal communication. While this creates a friendly working environment, it also tends to devalue the importance of official documents and reports. Additionally, if the decision and discussion process is not documented, it can be difficult to track and confirm it later.
Points to note when introducing business chat
When implementing business chat, you need to pay attention to the following points:
Field staff checks usability
When introducing business chat, check with actual field staff to see how it feels and get their opinions. Business chat is used by many field staff, so it is important that it is easy for anyone to use.
By reflecting the voices of on-site staff in tool selection, it is likely that the adoption will go smoothly after implementation.
Organize the functions your company needs
Business Chat has a variety of features, but you may not need all of them. Therefore, it is important to determine the necessary functions according to your company's business content and objectives.
For example, if you often communicate with others, video calls and shared screens can be useful. On the other hand, if your focus is on internal communication, a product with enhanced task management and workflow would be a good choice.
By organizing the functions your company needs, you can reduce costs and implement them efficiently.
Establish operational rules and manners
In order to use business chat effectively, it is important to establish operating rules and etiquette. For example, you can reduce the burden and confusion of communication by deciding in advance the deadline and time for replies, and how to express importance. It is also a good idea to refrain from talking about personal topics or inappropriate behavior, and to respect privacy.
Improve the speed and quality of communication with business chat
Business chat is a tool that can improve the speed and quality of communication.
However, just introducing it will not produce its full effect. When using business chat, it is important to understand the benefits and precautions and use it in a manner that suits your company.
Improve work efficiency and results by introducing a business chat that suits your company's needs and using it effectively.