The Best Business Instant Messaging - Midmarket Software in 2026
Microsoft Teams is the top-ranked business instant messaging platform of the 24 we ranked (9.4/10, free plan), best for midmarket teams standardizing on Microsoft 365. Slack is the runner-up (9.3/10), and Lark is the next highest-ranked option with a free plan (9.1/10). We researched business instant messaging products using official vendor websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Rankings focus on the category’s core job, value for money, and verified features relevant to midmarket teams choosing a platform for workplace conversations.
Our top picks
-
Top ranked
Microsoft Teams#1 of 249.4/10A broad collaboration hub for teams already working in Microsoft 365.
Free plan
-
Runner-up
Slack#2 of 249.3/10A channel-based work hub with broad integrations, huddles, and workflow automation.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
Lark#3 of 249.1/10A broad work suite that pairs organized team chat with meetings and collaboration tools.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 24 tools, best first
-
Best forMidmarket teams standardizing on Microsoft 365
A broad collaboration hub for teams already working in Microsoft 365.
- Guest access
9.4/10★★★★★Try Microsoft Teams -
Best forTeams wanting a widely adopted, integration-rich hub
A channel-based work hub with broad integrations, huddles, and workflow automation.
- Guest access
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Slack -
Best forTeams seeking chat alongside a broad work suite
A broad work suite that pairs organized team chat with meetings and collaboration tools.
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Lark -
Best forOrganizations using Zoho or needing flexible chat
A flexible business chat service with searchable history, guest collaboration, and Zoho integrations.
- Guest access
Free plan · 14-day trial Our Zoho Cliq verdict → Visit Zoho CliqFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #4 · $69/mo →8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Zoho Cliq -
Best forTeams wanting messaging plus lightweight work tools
Flock combines team chat, calls, and shared productivity tools, with limited history on Starter.
- Guest access
Free plan · 30-day trial Our Flock verdict → Visit FlockFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #5 · $59/mo →8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Flock -
Best forTeams needing self-hosting and searchable chat history
A flexible team chat with self-hosting, searchable history, and operational integrations.
- Guest access
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Mattermost -
Best forTeams prioritizing self-hosting and deployment control
A flexible messaging platform for teams that need control over deployment.
- Guest access
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Rocket.Chat -
Best forTeams needing self-hosted, federated collaboration
Open-source team chat with guest access, federation and collaboration tools for self-hosted teams.
- Guest access
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Nextcloud -
Best forTeams emphasizing meetings alongside messaging
A combined messaging and meetings app for teams that prioritize live collaboration.
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Webex -
Best forTeams that prefer topic-threaded, searchable discussion
Topic-based threads and searchable chat, with cloud and self-hosted options.
- Guest access
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Zulip -
Best forSecurity-focused teams needing encrypted collaboration
A security-focused collaboration workspace with broad deployment options and a small integration set.
- Guest access
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Wire -
Best forBudget-minded teams wanting chat with task boards
Chanty pairs searchable team chat with Kanban task boards, with group features on paid plans.
- Guest access
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Chanty -
Best forCost-conscious teams needing full history and channels
A low-cost team messenger with unlimited history, broad integrations, and tiered controls.
- Guest access
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Pumble -
Best forTeams wanting desktop chat and remote-support tools
Cross-platform team messaging with remote-support tools, but no free plan and limited history.
- Guest access
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Brosix -
Best forRegulated firms needing controlled external messaging
A compliance-focused messaging platform for firms coordinating with clients and market participants.
- Guest access
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Symphony -
Best forTeams that favor asynchronous, topic-based discussion
Topic-based threads and an activity inbox suit teams that prefer asynchronous discussion.
- Guest access
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Twist -
Best forOrganizations needing controlled, encrypted deployment
A deployment-flexible messenger with enterprise controls, calls, and SmartApps.
- Single sign-on
- Guest access
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit eXpress -
Best forMidmarket firms connecting distributed and office teams
A broad employee hub for midmarket firms; messaging is one part of the platform.
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Workvivo -
Best forTeams needing encrypted, self-hosted group messaging
A flexible messaging choice for teams that prioritize encryption and control over conventional channels.
- Guest access
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Element -
Best forSmall teams wanting simple chat with import tools
A straightforward team chat with Slack history import and workspace-based plans.
- Single sign-on
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit HansaChat -
Best forTeams needing push-to-talk and operational alerts
A secure operations messenger with alerts, push-to-talk and flexible hosting.
- Guest access
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit Teamwire -
Best forTeams combining chat with forums and task tracking
Ryver brings threaded discussions, task management, file sharing, and calls together.
- Guest access
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit Ryver -
Best forPrivacy-minded small teams wanting encrypted chat
Encrypted team chat with self-hosting, but a narrower feature set than broad collaboration suites.
- Self-hosted option
- Retention controls
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Prose -
Best forGoogle Workspace users evaluating a chat option
A Workspace-connected chat option with spaces, threads, tasks, and guest access.
- Guest access
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit Google Chat
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Message history | Guest access | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft Teams | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | 9.4 | |
| 2 | Slack | Yes | $7.25/user/mo | Limited | Yes | 9.3 |
| 3 | Lark | Yes | Limited | 9.1 | ||
| 4 | Zoho Cliq | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | 8.9 | |
| 5 | Flock | Yes | Limited | Yes | 8.8 | |
| 6 | Mattermost | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 7 | Rocket.Chat | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 8 | Nextcloud Talk | €71.29/user/yr | Yes | 8.5 | ||
| 9 | Webex App | Yes | 8.4 | |||
| 10 | Zulip | Yes | $3.50/user/mo | Limited | Yes | 8.3 |
| 11 | Wire | Yes | €7.45/user/mo | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 12 | Chanty | Yes | $3/user/mo | Unlimited | Yes | 8.1 |
| 13 | Pumble | Yes | $2.49/seat/mo | Unlimited | Yes | 8.0 |
| 14 | Brosix | No | $6/user/mo | Limited | Yes | 7.9 |
| 15 | Symphony | No | Yes | 7.8 | ||
| 16 | Twist | Yes | $6/user/mo | Limited | Yes | 7.6 |
| 17 | eXpress | Yes | Yes | 7.5 | ||
| 18 | Workvivo | No | 7.4 | |||
| 19 | Element | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | 6.9 | |
| 20 | HansaChat | Yes | €39/mo | Unlimited | 6.9 | |
| 21 | Teamwire | No | €3.45/user/mo | Yes | 6.8 | |
| 22 | Ryver | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | 6.7 | |
| 23 | Prose | Yes | €5/user/mo | Unlimited | 6.6 | |
| 24 | Google Chat | Yes | $7/user/mo | Yes | 6.5 |
Head-to-head All 7 comparisons →
- Microsoft Teams vs Nextcloud Talk
- Slack vs Nextcloud Talk
- Lark vs Nextcloud Talk
- Zoho Cliq vs Nextcloud Talk
- Flock vs Nextcloud Talk
- Mattermost vs Nextcloud Talk
- Rocket.Chat vs Nextcloud Talk
Buyer's guide
How much do business instant messaging platforms cost? Of the 24 we ranked, 19 have a free plan and 7 publish a paid starting price. Among the 6 priced per user per month, the lowest is $3/user/mo (Chanty); a typical starting price is about $6/user/mo. Prices checked September 2026.
Which business instant messaging platforms have a free plan? 19 of the 24 we ranked list one. The highest-ranked are Microsoft Teams (9.4/10), Slack (9.3/10) and Lark (9.1/10).
Explore other topics All topics →
- AI Tools 304 directories · 8,306 tools ranked AI Writing Tools · AI Video Generators · Text-to-Speech Software
- Web Hosting & Domains 275 directories · 6,107 tools ranked Shared Web Hosting · Managed Cloud Hosting · Dedicated Server Hosting
- Productivity 157 directories · 4,948 tools ranked Note-Taking Apps · Calendar Apps · Project Management Software
- Marketing 135 directories · 3,977 tools ranked SEO Tools · Influencer Marketing Platforms · Email Marketing Software
- Sales & CRM 152 directories · 4,161 tools ranked Real Estate CRM Software · CRM Software · Proposal Software
- Customer Service 55 directories · 1,547 tools ranked Chatbot Builders · Knowledge Base Software · Call Center Software
How we rank business instant messaging - midmarket software
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026
Last updated · How we research and update