18 Best Instant Messaging Software in 2021

What is Instant Messaging Software

The latest trends about instant messaging indicate the demand for high quality, real-time communication over the internet. For businesses and enterprises of all sizes, instant messaging software is playing a major role in virtual decision making and remote collaboration. Individuals equally prefer instant messengers for video calling capabilities and quick group chatting. Overall, instant messaging software’s combined capabilities for data encryption, file sharing and screen sharing make it worth a try.

Instant messaging software further integrates with other chat networks and plugins to ensure hassle-free collaboration and higher productivity. Instant messaging technology makes it possible to interact online through texts transmitted over the internet.

Instant Messaging for Business – Explore the Best Examples of Instant Messaging Software

Sending instant messages or goal-oriented project collaboration requires instant messaging applications that provide rapid communication technicalities. The best platforms for work instant messaging to ensure efficient collaboration amongst remote teams are:

Pidgin

Pidgin is a free open source work instant messaging software solution, which is compatible with all desktop operating systems. It also works efficiently with multiple chat networks and plugins, the key features of the software are:

• Buddy icons
• Custom smileys
• File transfer
• Away messages
• Typing notifications
• Bug reports

Instant Bird

Instant Bird is an easy to use platform for managing work instant messaging, social media accounts and emails. Receive automatic alerts and report for spam messages through Instant Bird instant messaging software. Its key features are:

• Spell checker
• Chat encryption
• Dictionary
• Smart contacts
• Limitless extensibility
• Customizable conversations

Trillian

Trillian instant messaging software is compatible with operating systems such as Windows, Linux and Mac OS X and mobile as well. It helps send private or group messages through a HIPPA compliant platform. It’s a free instant messaging software and offers features such as:

• Multiple tabs for conversation
• Emojis
• Third party services
• Web browser chats
• Screen capture

WeChat

WeChat is an instant messenger used for chats, groups and private. Available on both desktop and mobile the work instant messaging offers free text messaging and video calls capabilities. Some of its other features are:

• QR codes
• Localization services
• News feed
• Picture messaging
• Video calling

Benefits of Instant Messaging Software

Instant messenger tools are user friendly and effective business solutions for ensuring uninterrupted text communication between your team members. Communication is the key when it comes to meeting deadlines, setting targets and creating a solution-oriented approach. Aside from these advantages, the other key benefits of using instant messaging platforms are:

Task management

Paid and free office instant messaging software helps with better task management and smooth workflow with uninterrupted online chatting over the internet. You can set reminders, create to-do lists and arrange tasks in an ordered format such as individual tasks, one-one duties and team collaboration tasks with instant messenger for Windows and mobile.

Internal mails

Internal mailing can be done with members of a team through paid or free office instant messaging software. Send and receive such internal emails along with all the necessary attachments. You can also set priority reminders with instant messaging software.

History logs

Instant messenger for Windows, PC or mobile lets its end users access the log history for managing work-related responsibilities. The platform uses keyword filters of the specific date range for going through past chat logs. More importantly, you can be assured of receiving timestamps for each message sent/received along with the attachment.

OTR messaging

OTR or off the record messages are highly confidential messages shared amongst members of a team. Such messages sent or received do not get logged either in servers or at client site. As you close a chat window after sending such OTR messages, these would get automatically removed from the system and without the possibility of getting retrieved.

Quick alerts

Get quick instant alerts about the work status of your team members with the instant messenger for Windows and mobile. Available or unavailable, busy or idle, you will get notifications of all status changes/updates done by your teammates.

Hide groups/users

Hide users or groups who don't belong to your department to avoid unnecessary status updates and notifications. There is a Hide feature attached to the display details section, wherein with one click you can select groups for hiding. There is also a separate section available for hiding users.

Auto reply

In case you are in a meeting or traveling, avoid all sorts of communication gaps with auto-reply feature. Auto replies would be immediately sent to contacts that approach you for work or other such priorities. All you got to do is set the message section to auto-reply mode and you are done.

Chat Instant Messaging Software Features

Chat and instant messaging is the backbone of any business. With instant messaging software, you can connect with teams remotely for effective work collaboration. The following features make instant messaging apps so apt for remote collaborative tasks:

Group chat

Work collaboratively by creating groups big and small for streamlined workflows. Instant messenger software assures of complete safety and security of group online chats so that the information shared is well secured. Group chats are a good way of improving communication productivity amongst people or a team.

File sharing

It is not just the chats that are encrypted but also files and documents that you share over the network. The security of your documents is critical and the best instant messaging software solutions ensure safe file transfers. Moreover, you can also transfer big data and large-size files to ensure an uninterrupted workflow.

Screen sharing

Screen shares let end users showcase facts, data and critical information in real-time to all those present during the virtual meet. For screen sharing with the attendees, you are free to select a part of the screen or the entire desktop.

Video chat

The video chat feature is a crucial part of the best chat and instant messaging software when it comes to working with remote teams. Video chats improve the quality of communication amongst team members, operating from far-off locations. Moreover, the possibility of miscommunication is greatly reduced with the video calling feature of instant messaging software.

Scanning

Most chat and instant messaging applications scan the files and other information received with the help of software already installed in your system. This further enhances the security of data that you share and saves it from external threats of all kinds.

Data synchronization

Chats and instant messages get stored in cloud storage. Now whether you use the instant messenger in a tablet or a PC, irrespective of the device any changes that you make in a file on your system gets automatically synchronized.

Offline support

Many platforms supporting chat and instant messaging provide for offline chat support as well. This feature is especially useful when the internet connection is unstable, slow or unavailable. It also helps improve the loading time.

Day/night mode

When you are traveling, saving the battery of your device is important. In such a case, use the day/night mode capabilities of instant messaging software to reduce battery consumption. Night mode is known to save a significant amount of battery discharge.

Instant Messaging Online: Latest Trends

Instant communication is one of the paramount features of instant messaging software. Some of the latest trends that are redefining the demand for instant messaging software are:

Chatbots

Chatbots are being used by instant messengers for instant real time communication between businesses and their customers. Increasingly, people have started using online chat communication to enquire about their product/services requirements. Chatbots ensure instant messaging even when your service reps are not available.

Encryption

Encryption is the latest trend in the world of instant messaging for business, used extensively for guarding texts, chats and online exchange of information. To save data from malware and cyber attacks, data encryption is being implemented in the best paid and free chat and instant messaging platforms. Encryption helps encode messages in random sequences and these sequences can be accessed only by typing a special password/key.

Feature rich collaborative tools

It is beyond doubt that virtual meets and video calls improve productivity and communication. Instant messengers have served their purpose well in this regard and as a result these applications are to be found embedded with feature-rich collaborative tools. Group chats, interesting icons, dictionary support, etc. are some such features most commonly found in instant messaging software.

How to Find the Best Messaging Service for Business

Are you looking for instant messaging platforms that help fulfill the communication requirements of your business? Here are some of the important determining factors that you can consider for selecting the best instant messaging software.

Seamless integration

Instant messaging platforms need to support seamless integration with such chat plug-ins so that the communication flow is uninterrupted. Moreover, in such a scenario, geographical location is never a limitation and real time individual/group chats become possible.

Two-factor authentication

Most instant messengers offer data encryption technicality to keep the data safe. Ensure that the platform that you choose has support for two-factor authentication so that the information shared over the network is safe, secure and free of malware attack.

Group conferencing

Obviously, when you choose instant message software for communication, it must have the group chat support feature enabled. Along with group chat support features, you will also need other functionalities such as screen sharing, call recording, private messaging and offline chatting.

Drag and drop features

With drag and drop features, an end-user can set reminders for the team over an upcoming deadline. Then there are visual tools also available such as add notes, pin tags, etc. to make the workflow more organized. You can also create polls for collecting feedback or individual opinions.

Instant Messaging Software Solution Cost