10 Best Online Collaboration Tools Free in 2023

Teams can work on various general and specialized activities with the help of the best online collaboration tools free to use in 2023.

Employees are no longer expected to operate independently; collaboration is the new norm. The emphasis on cooperation should result in enhanced productivity and efficiency, but this can only be done if you have the best tools to begin with(opens in new tab).

These solutions might provide everything from video conferencing for online meetings to cloud document storage for managing everyday activities. They all function just as well on mobile devices as on desktops and laptops.

There are solutions for practically every scenario; some online collaboration tools are superb all-around, while others specialize in a particular area.

What to Consider While Choosing Collaboration Tools Free in 2023

Your Budget: Are you interested in collaboration solutions that are free or ones that have more expensive features and support?
Your use case: Do you require solutions for communication that enable distant workers?
Your Expected Needs: Do you require collaboration software that can accommodate an infinite number of users?

We’ll review the top online collaboration tools free in 2023 with these in mind to get your team working like a well-oiled machine.

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10 Best online collaboration tools free in 2023

Below, we’ll break down the top free team collaboration platforms for small businesses.

Wrike
Asana
Slack
Flock
Samepage
Trello
Microsoft Teams
Airtable
Fleep
nTask

1. Wrike

Wrike is a scalable desktop and iOS/Android mobile team collaboration platform created to boost employee productivity, facilitate interdepartmental communication, and clarify tasks and responsibilities for team members.

Basic task creation, real-time progress updates, activity streams, board and spreadsheet views, and customizable open-source templates/dashboards are all included in the free plan for up to 5 users.

The activity streams are made to seem like social media feeds to make using them as simple as possible. Users can slide boards to reorder specific jobs according to dates or priority. To avoid having to sift through unrelated information to find notes or updates on tasks they have been assigned, users can establish specific activity stream filters.

While Wrike interfaces with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Google Hangouts, and Slack as of this writing, neither a native video calling function nor a chat messenger tool are available (though users can leave comments and tag co-workers on Wrike boards.) Users must connect their favorite device to Wrike to make video calls, share screens with others, or use chat messenger services.

Additional premium add-on capabilities from Wrike include Wrike Resource and Wrike Integrate.

Key Features

Sort your work into tasks, folders, and projects.
User tagging and task, folder, and project commenting
Up to 2GB of file storage and file sharing
Instant Live Editor
Massive movements for tasks (bulk tasks status updates)
Filters for functions based on quality, assignee, and deadline
Table (spreadsheet) (spreadsheet) view the integrations of cloud storage
User notification inbox
Integrations with Google Drive, Outlook, Office 365, and Dropbox

Website

2. Asana

One of the most well-known online collaboration tools free in 2023 is Asana, especially considering that a Facebook co-founder developed it. It provides a bird’s-eye view of impending tasks and projects, real-time progress and status updates, important files, and specific teams via its user-friendly interface.

It provides a variety of task views, including file views, calendar views, and to-do list views. They can sort tasks by priority, date assigned, due date, and other factors. Users of Asana can also update task progress, add subtasks, establish task dependencies, assign task verticals, and change task descriptions.

It should be noted that although numerous people can be added as collaborators, we can assign only one individual to one job. Users can add files, tag team members, and provide task notes.

Similar to Wrike, users must incorporate tools with such features into Asana in order to perform video calls, use a messaging feature, or share a screen with others in real-time.

Numerous video conferencing applications, including GoToMeeting, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams, are easily integrated with Asana. Additionally, it interacts with Slack, Office 365, G Suite, Adobe Creative Cloud, PDF files, Dropbox, and other well-known communication applications.

Key Features

limit of 15 users
Board and task list views
Creating and allocating tasks
Calendar function
Scheduling capabilities
Templates for projects
Client inboxes
Creating a team
Pin or star-specific tasks
Simple user/task reports
Android and Mac desktop and mobile versions have in-app comments and user tagging.

Website

3. Slack

Slack is one of the preferred team communication platforms for over 10 million daily users since it includes its own built-in 1:1 audio/video calling services and chat messenger, unlike some of the other solutions on this list.

The tool is typically used as a chat messaging software. Still, the free and commercial versions offer a wealth of features and app connectors that easily turn it into a highly-customizable communication and task management tool.

Users can build direct chat message channels, public and private groups, and groups based on topics, departments, projects, and more. Users can tag one another, upload files in various formats, respond with emojis, and reply to messages directly in a thread within those chats.

Additionally, Slack users can upload polls for chat, make shortcuts, set reminders, and change their status. It’s simple to make sure you keep on top of all communications while avoiding interruptions when necessary by muting and staring messages.

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Key Features

Create as many channels as you want
Add up to 10 apps.
Keeping and searching the last 10,000 messages
Make two-factor authentication available.
Share files and keep up to 5 GB of storage on your screen (Paid Plan)

Website

4. Flock

A free version of Flock’s platform for team messaging and cross-collaboration offers one-on-one video conversations, chat communication channels, and task management features.

Although Flock’s UI resembles that of Slack, only public chat message channels are supported in the free version.

When a user returns to Flock after leaving it, it shows them all of the new messages they have been included in, which is one of its best features. Thanks to this, users no longer need to search through old communications for crucial information.

Voice Notes, a feature that allows mobile users to send each other recorded audio messages, was recently added to Flock.

Task management features include shared to-dos with automatic alerts, to-do lists with user tagging and task assignment, reminder setting, due dates, and task prioritization.

Although Flock’s free plan does provide a video calling capability, users can only have 20 minutes of one-on-one discussions at a time. It is also challenging for consumers to locate a free screen-sharing software that connects with Flock because screen-sharing is only available with a premium Flock account.

Despite this, Flock continues interacting with various apps like Jira, GitHub, ToDoist, Asana, Trello, and Zapier. You may also create your own original apps and integrate them with the Flock dashboard.

Key Features

10 public channels maximum
Specific poling
Muting the channel
Fill integrated calendars with tasks
A single autojoin channel
Broadcast channel
Many linkages with external parties
Storage space of 5 GB and file sharing
Note-taking software
A chat pin
Many one-on-one audio and video calls
Unlimited group messages for Team Admin
10,000 searchable messages maximum

Website

5. Samepage

Businesses should seriously consider Samepage if they’re seeking the most comprehensive online collaboration tools free to use or if they have more communication needs than others.

Team leaders may schedule and monitor the progress of numerous projects at once using Samepage’s native task management software features, including free audio and video chats with screen-sharing capabilities.

Additionally, it offers seamless interaction with applications like Salesforce, Slack, Google Drive, and even Facebook and Twitter for social networking.

Even while there are paid choices available, the great majority of businesses probably won’t need to pay for a SamePage subscription with a free option this extensive.

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Key Features

Unlimited chat and message search history
Unlimited number of users and guests
Screen Sharing
File sharing and editing
Group audio and video calls
Group texting
Up to 2 GB of storage
Unlimited pages and folders
Surveys
Calendar
Ability to create/assign tasks

Website

6. Trello

Trello has a few distinctive features, such as its “Trello cards,” which allow users to attach files, create to-do lists, assign tasks and subtasks, and update task progress. Users of Trello can then pin their cards to a shareable project board as a whole. In order to view, edit, update, and share files on each card, users can then be joined to team boards.

Task assignments, task updates, deadlines, attachments, and even conversations can all be found in cards. Consider each card to be its own project ecosystem. Trello also provides a vast collection of board themes for various purposes, including project management, remote work, marketing, and educational environments.

The “Command Run” function of the program, which enables users to automate actions like setting due dates, creating schedules, and adding team members to cards, is handy.

Trello interacts with Google Hangouts, Zoom, and Zoom competitors despite lacking native video conferencing or screen-sharing facilities. Slack, Yammer, Flock, Glip, Asana, and other communication apps are also integrated.

Trello refers to integrations as “Power-Ups,” and the free plan only permits one Power-Up per board.

Key Features

Unrestricted cards, lists, and personal boards
Calendar and timeline views
No more than 10 team boards
Simple automation
50 command runs each month
Using two factors to authenticate
Mobile apps for Apple and Android

Website

7. Microsoft Teams

A platform for business communication and collaboration, Microsoft Teams is a component of the Microsoft 365 family of products.

Users can collaborate and store data within the Microsoft 365 workplace, meet via video, chat, and share files using instant messaging, call one another over audio, and more (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, etc.) For no more than 60 minutes, video conferences can accommodate up to 100 participants.

There are additional options for screen sharing, organizing meetings, and unrestricted chat messaging.

Microsoft Teams would probably come out on top if we had to pick the best free alternative for team communication tools for businesses that prioritize video and audio calls.

Teams, however, fail to offer the most fundamental work management tools.

Microsoft Teams requires app integration or purchase to access project management tool features, much as team leaders must integrate some of the collaboration tools listed here with video conferencing software to share screens and virtually meet face-to-face.

Key Elements

Audio calls
Hazy background
Individual backgrounds
Unlimited users of the chat messenger
A limitless and searchable history of group chats
File exchange (2 GB maximum per user, 10 GB per team)
Greater than 250 app integrations
Notation/editing of files

Website

8. Airtable

Users can create, personalize, and share their databases using the web platform known as Airtable.

Its spreadsheet (Grid) view is its most well-known feature. Each item may appear as a straightforward line on an Excel spreadsheet, but these lines are very interactive. Users can create tasks, rearrange them using a drag-and-drop tool, add pertinent data, set deadlines, list key contacts, exchange notes, and upload files to each task line.

Grids and tables that are pertinent can be compiled into an Airtable Base. For instance, a customer satisfaction Base could include grids for past support cases, present problems, previous conversations with support agents, or specific clients.

Kanban, Gantt, Gallery, and Form views can all be switched between at any time if the Grid view is not the best option.

Unlimited bases with a maximum of 1,200 records per base and 2GB of storage per space are included in Airtable’s free plan.

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Key Features

Monthly 100 automatic runs
2-week running record
50+ ready-made Airtable applications
iOS and Android mobile applications for one manual table sync.
Checkboxes, dropdowns, attachments, and more field kinds are available.

Website

9. Fleep

Fleep is a platform for file sharing, task management, and chat messaging that arranges channels according on Conversations.

Users can highlight significant updates, files, links, or notes that they want everyone on their team to see and be able to amend on the specific Pinboard that corresponds to each Conversation. Keep in mind that you can look up external users in the Fleep database and have them added to your workspaces automatically.

Fleep provides sophisticated chat features including user presence, last-online information, read receipts, and user presence to make sure you always know who has and has not seen your messages. A writing indicator is included in Fleep.

Users can make list-based tasks, assign them, add pertinent files to the task File Drawer, mark the most crucial tasks, and track the progress of their tasks. A weekly Fleep progress report also offers information on tasks, finished projects, and impending projects.

Key Elements

Updates to user status
Message history
Zapier, Slack, Google Drive, JIRA, and other integrations
Storage of 10 GB
User-specific chat history search Complete message history
Unlimited 1:1 interactions
Integrations of video
3 Maximum Conversations

Website

10. nTask

Project management, time tracking, resource allocation, budgeting, and team communication are all made easier with the help of the task management and online meeting software nTask.

Task management capabilities provide predicted project budgets by allowing users to define billing methods based on fixed and hourly charges, cost per work, and the cost of resources and supplies.

In addition, users may specify task deadlines, dependencies, and subtasks, make to-do lists, and calculate how long each task will take. A single job can be given to several individuals, and assignees can collaborate and share documents in real-time while also receiving instant alerts of comments and work updates. Users can change task status and assign tasks’ categories, tags, and priority levels.

To access video conferencing, users must sign in to a Zoom account.

Key Features

100 MB of space
Gantt diagrams
Create regular tasks
Importing and exporting tasks to.csv files
Grid, calendar, list, or Kanban views
tasks’ checkpoints
5 individuals per team
Tasks and workplaces are limitless
Timesheets, Issue tracking, and Meetings

Website

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Google collaborate free?

With 15 GB of Drive storage for hundreds of file formats, including Microsoft Office files, you can collaborate on Docs, Sheets, and Slides while staying in touch with secure video conferencing and Chat. You and any team members you invite are free to attend.

Which app is used for collaboration?

Google Workspace is a top choice for the greatest collaboration app. Google Workspace offers communication capabilities like Hangouts Meet and Chat as well as remote collaboration tools like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

Is Canva a collaborative tool?

You can invite your team to work together on designs in a few different ways with Canva for Teams. With a team, a shareable link, design files, or email, you can quickly get everyone to cooperate in a method that suits them.

Conclusion

It’s time to start thinking about using free collaboration tools to leverage communication and productivity at work. With the competition in online collaboration tools, business owners and remote workers can choose from a wide range of online collaboration tools.

References

The 10 Best Free Online Collaboration Tools – getvoip.com
50+ Best Online Collaboration Tools For 2023 – clickup.com

10 Best Online Collaboration Tools Free in 2023 | Pros & Cons

What to Consider While Choosing Collaboration Tools Free in 2023