Top HipChat Alternative Solutions for Team Communication
HipChat, an instant messaging service designed for companies and teams, has long been a go-to for persistent chat rooms, one-to-one communication, searchable history, and file sharing. However, with the evolving landscape of team collaboration, many organizations are seeking robust HipChat alternative solutions that offer enhanced features, different pricing models, or open-source flexibility. If you're looking to switch from HipChat or explore new possibilities for your team's communication, you're in the right place.
Best HipChat Alternatives
The market is flooded with excellent collaboration tools, each offering unique strengths. Here's a curated list of top HipChat alternatives that can elevate your team's productivity and communication efficiency, whether you prioritize video conferencing, extensive integrations, or self-hosting options.
Skype
Skype is a well-known instant messaging app offering online text message and video chat services. Available across a wide range of platforms including Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, Android, and iOS, it's a solid HipChat alternative for teams needing reliable video and voice calls. Key features include screen sharing, video conferencing, and integration with Microsoft Office, making it a versatile choice for a global workforce.
Slack
Slack has become synonymous with real-time team communication, offering powerful messaging, archiving, and search functionalities. As a popular HipChat alternative, Slack provides robust group chat, multi-channel support, and extensive app integrations, enhancing team collaboration. It's available on Freemium and paid tiers across Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and iPhone, and features like HIPAA compliance and direct file uploading make it a strong contender for modern teams.
Matrix.org
Matrix.org defines open APIs for decentralized communication, making it an excellent open-source HipChat alternative for those valuing privacy and control. It supports secure, persistent chat rooms with end-to-end encryption and real-time collaboration. Available for free on Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, Android, and iOS, Matrix is ideal for teams looking for a customizable and decentralized communication platform with features like voice and video chat.
Mattermost
Mattermost is an open-source, self-hosted Slack alternative that serves as a powerful HipChat alternative for organizations prioritizing data sovereignty and on-premises deployment. It offers robust group chat and team collaboration features, Markdown support, and a plugin API for extensibility. Mattermost is available on Freemium and paid tiers for Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and iPhone, perfect for teams needing a secure and private messaging solution.
Viber
Viber is a mobile-first application offering free phone calls and text messages, making it a viable HipChat alternative for quick and casual team communication. It supports group chat, video calling, and voice calls, available on Freemium models for Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and iPhone. While less focused on enterprise-grade collaboration than other options, its ease of use for quick communications makes it appealing for certain teams.
Zulip
Zulip distinguishes itself with its unique threading model, organizing messages by topic to facilitate long-running, organized conversations. This open-source HipChat alternative is available on Free Personal and paid tiers for Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, Android, and iPhone. Its features include integrated file sharing, Markdown support, and self-hosting options, making it ideal for teams that generate a high volume of diverse discussions.
Rocket.Chat
Rocket.Chat is a free and open-source web chat server developed in JavaScript, making it a compelling self-hosted HipChat alternative. It offers group chat, live chat, video conferencing, and bots, with extensibility via plugins. Available on Mac, Windows, Linux, and Cloudron, Rocket.Chat is perfect for teams seeking full control over their communication platform, including integrated file sharing and screen sharing.
Ringcentral Glip
Ringcentral Glip offers instant messaging for teams and businesses, combining communication with task management. As a Freemium HipChat alternative, it integrates chat with a built-in file manager, calendar, and task management features. Available on Windows, Web, Android, and iPhone, Glip is ideal for teams looking for an all-in-one productivity suite that merges conversations with workflows.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is a comprehensive team collaboration software by Microsoft, featuring robust chat, voice, and video communications. As a Freemium and paid HipChat alternative, it integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Office 365, offering shared calendars, SharePoint integration, and Trello integration. Available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and iPhone, Teams is a strong choice for organizations deeply invested in the Microsoft ecosystem.
Gitter
Gitter is a free and open-source chat and collaboration tool particularly popular among developers and open-source communities. It provides unlimited public chat rooms and real-time collaboration, making it a unique HipChat alternative for tech-focused teams. Available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, and Android, Gitter emphasizes public community discovery and cross-platform accessibility.
Choosing the best HipChat alternative depends on your team's specific needs, budget, and desired features. Whether you prioritize open-source flexibility, advanced video conferencing, or seamless integration with other tools, there's a perfect solution out there to enhance your team's communication and collaboration.