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Best Business Instant Messaging - Midmarket Software in 2026

Business instant messaging tools give midmarket teams a place for workplace messages and file sharing across web, Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux. This list is for readers comparing software for a business communication setup.

22 apps
Research read 28 Sept 2026
How the order is worked out

1

Rocket.Chat
by Rocket.Chat
Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+5

Rocket.Chat offers core messaging features on a free plan, with named options describing additional deployment and administrative choices.

8.8 Free plan Visit site
2

Zulip
by Zulip
Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+5

Zulip provides channel-based team chat across common desktop and mobile platforms, with guest access and numerous listed integrations.

8.5 Free plan · paid from $3.50/user/mo Visit site
3

Chanty
by Chanty
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+5

Choose Chanty if your team wants chat, task management, calls, and integrations in one tool, with a free plan for up to five members.

7.7 Free plan · paid from $3/user/mo (annual) Visit site
4

Element
by Element
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+4

Element combines broad platform availability, guest access and unlimited message history. Its self-hosted option and integrations may appeal to organizations, while plan prices are not listed.

7.6 Free plan Visit site
5

eXpress

Free plan AndroidExtensioniPhone+5

eXpress combines messaging, conferencing, and employee access to business systems, with deployment choices for corporate customers.

7.6 Free plan · 30-day trial Visit site
6

Flock
by Flock
Free plan AndroidExtensioniPhone+4

Flock offers a free entry point and plan descriptions for different team sizes, alongside a broad integration list and multiple platform options.

7.5 Free plan · paid from $4.50/user/mo (annual) · 30-day trial Visit site
7

Google Chat

Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3

Choose Google Chat if you want messaging integrated with Google Workspace, broad platform support, and collaboration spaces that can accommodate up to 500,000 members.

7.5 Free plan · paid from $7/user/mo (annual) · 14-day trial Visit site
8

Lark
by Lark
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+4

Lark combines workplace messaging, collaboration, automation, and developer tools across major desktop and mobile platforms.

7.4 Free plan Visit site
9

Microsoft Teams
by Microsoft Teams
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3

Teams covers messaging, calls, and meetings across platforms, with a free plan and business options that list expanded meeting and support features.

7.4 Free plan Visit site
10

Nextcloud Talk
by Nextcloud Talk
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+5

Choose Nextcloud Talk if you want communication integrated with Nextcloud collaboration tools, with self-hosting and external service bridges.

7.4 Open source · 30-day trial Visit site
11

Pumble

Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+4

Pumble covers team messaging, file sharing, and meetings, with unlimited message history on the free plan.

7.3 Free plan · paid from $2.49/user/mo (annual) · 7-day trial Visit site
12

Ryver
by Ryver
Free plan AndroidExtensioniPhone+4

Ryver brings multiple conversation types, project tasks, and workflow automation into shared collaboration spaces. The free plan covers up to six users, while larger teams have paid plan options.

7.2 Free plan · 14-day trial Visit site
13

Slack

Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3

Slack combines channel conversations, app integrations, automation and built-in AI features across a wide range of platforms.

7.2 Free plan · paid from $7.25/user/mo (annual) Visit site
14

Twist

Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3

Choose Twist if your team wants channel-based messaging, guest access, and apps across desktop and mobile platforms.

7.1 Free plan · paid from $6/user/mo (annual) Visit site
15

Wire
by Wire
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3

Wire brings messaging, conferencing and file collaboration together, with deployment choices that include offline or air-gapped on-premises environments.

7.0 Free plan · paid from €7.45/user/mo (annual) Visit site
16

Zoho Cliq
by Zoho Cliq
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3

Zoho Cliq combines business chat with meetings, administration, workflow, and developer features. Compare group-size and searchable-message limits across plans against your team’s needs.

6.9 Free plan · 14-day trial Visit site
17

HansaChat

Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3

6.5 Free plan · paid from €39/mo (annual) · 14-day trial Visit site
18

Prose

Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac+2

6.2 Free plan · paid from €5/user/mo Visit site
19

Brosix
by Brosix
Paid AndroidiPhoneLinux+3

Brosix offers channels, guest access, and a broad platform and integration list. Teams should weigh its limited message history and paid pricing against their needs.

6.1 From $6/user/mo (annual) · 14-day trial Visit site
20

Teamwire
by Teamwire
Free trial AndroidAPIiPhone+5

Teamwire pairs business messaging with calling and alerting tools for teams coordinating important work. The Standard plan has a 25-user minimum, and hosting options vary by plan.

6.0 From €3.45/user/mo (annual) · 15-day trial Visit site
21

Workvivo

Paid AndroidAPIiPhone+1

Workvivo brings employee communications, intranet content and engagement tools together, with mobile access and a broad set of listed integrations.

5.4 Pricing on request Visit site
22

Symphony
by Symphony
Paid AndroidAPIiPhone+3

Symphony combines regulated-market messaging with workflow automation, broad integrations, and compliance-oriented controls.

5.2 Pricing on request Visit site

#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price

Check free plans, trial periods and paid-from prices before choosing. If you need to read or change code, review the open-source licence and self-hosted option. Compare message history, guest access, single sign-on, maximum file size and retention controls as well.

Questions

Do these messaging tools have free plans?

A free plan is offered by tools in this category. Check the plan's limits and included controls before relying on it for business use.

Which tools list a free trial?

eXpress lists a 30-day trial, Google Chat and HansaChat list 14-day trials, and Pumble lists a 7-day trial.

What platforms do these tools support?

Platforms represented in this category are web, Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux. Confirm support for the devices your staff use.

Can I find open-source or self-hosted options?

Open-source code and self-hosted options are offered by tools in this category. Check the licence and hosting details for the product you are considering.

What business features should I compare?

Compare message history, guest access, single sign-on, maximum file size and retention controls, along with free-plan and paid-from pricing.

Questions

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