Effective internal communication is crucial for companies embracing remote work and hybrid workplace models. With employees dispersed across locations, an employee communication platform is essential to keep everyone connected, engaged, and productive.
In this comprehensive guide, we will compare the top 13 employee communication platforms to help you find the right solution for your business.
Why Invest in an Employee Communication Platform?
An employee communication platform centralizes workplace communication and serves as a "digital HQ" for hybrid and dispersed teams. Key benefits include:
- Enables instant messaging, document sharing, townhalls and social connection
- Surfaces real-time company news, events and announcements
- Measures readership, engagement levels and sentiment
- Works across devices with mobile compatibility
- Integrates with existing apps like Slack, Microsoft Teams etc.
With a fragmented workforce, an employee app fills the communication gap – leading to more aligned, engaged and productive employees.
Key Features to Look For
When evaluating an employee communication platform, key capabilities to look for include:
- Instant messaging for quick conversations and camaraderie
- Document sharing from PDFs to videos
- Integrations with tools like Slack, Salesforce, Microsoft 365 etc.
- Analytics to measure engagement and optimize communication
- Mobile apps to enable communication from anywhere
Now let‘s overview the top 13 platforms that deliver these essential features for next-gen employee communication.
#1 Workvivo
Workvivo is an employee communication platform designed to mimic the connections and culture of the physical workplace for remote employees.
- Activity feeds to share posts, news and recognition
- Communities to connect by topics, projects and teams
- Polls, events and surveys for two-way dialogue
- Full mobile compatibility across devices
With an intuitive, familiar interface, Workvivo makes it easy for employees to stay engaged and connected to each other, goals and accomplishments.
Best For: Media, tech companies and modern enterprises with dispersed, digital-savvy workforces.
#2 Staffbase
Staffbase offers an employee app with robust communication features for deskless and corporate employees alike.
Capabilities include:
- Individualized news feeds based on interests and teams
- Surveys, polls and live Q&As
- Access to workplace resources and document storage
- Integration with Microsoft 365, Slack and Salesforce
Staffbase makes it easy to segment and personalize communication across the organization.
Best For: Large companies across industries – from manufacturing to insurance to retail and beyond.
#3 LumApps
LumApps is an integrated digital workplace blending communication, collaboration and engagement capabilities for more aligned and productive employees.
Features include:
- Corporate directory with user profiles and expertise
- Curated news feeds by interest and team
- Instant messaging and video calls
- Analytics on engagement, clicks and conversions
With strong user segmentation and analytics, LumApps optimizes the digital employee experience for performance.
Best For: Mid-market and large multi-national companies that value data-driven insights.
#4 TalkFreely
TalkFreely focuses on frontline-centric communication to give deskless workers the information access and voice often lacking today. Capabilities include:
- Granular targeting of campaigns by region, department, team
- Gamification through points, badges and leaderboard
- Two-way dialogue via quick polls and surveys
- Metrics on message open rates across devices
TalkFreely amplifies frontline communication and participation for more inclusion and better decisions.
Best For: Retailers, restaurants, hotels and large franchise businesses.
#5 OakEngage
OakEngage provides a full-spectrum intranet and employee app in a highly intuitive interface. Key features:
- publishers to distribute news globally or to specific teams
- Robust audience segmentation and targeting
- Native video calling and conference capabilities
- Single sign-on and integration with Microsoft and Google
OakEngage enables authentic connections, allows easy content sharing, and provides tools that help employees work better together.
Best For: Medium-large businesses seeking an easy-to-use, highly customizable solution.
#6 Beekeeper
Beekeeper offers specialized communication capabilities catered to frontline workers in key industries. Features include:
- Policies, manuals and training content distribution
- Automated, trigger-based information alerts
- Surveys and pulse checks for quick feedback
- Gamification and peer recognition
By giving frontline workers greater access and voice, Beekeeper drives higher engagement across high-turnover, deskless teams.
Best For: Manufacturing, healthcare, retail and hospitality businesses.
#7 Unily
Unily is an adaptable employee experience platform companies can mold to their specific culture and audience personas. Capabilities include:
- Customizable news feeds, profiles and communities
- Multi-channel delivery via email, mobile, digital signage
- Granular segmentation and personalization
- APIs to embed Unily into existing environments
Unily enables companies to extend their culture into the digital, distributed workplace – with relevant content and experiences for every employee.
Best For: Companies that want to mirror the look, feel and culture of their physical HQs online.
#8 Happeo
An intranet built for the digital workplace, Happeo enables content sharing, conversations and access to workplace resources. Features include:
- Activity streams for news updates and banter
- Workspaces for teams and topics to collaborate
- Polls, events and surveys for two-way dialogue
- Metrics on content performance and user engagement
Happeo provides the tools and platform for an intranet tailored to company culture and remote user needs.
Best For: Fast-growing startups that need to scale internal systems and dialogue.
#9 Simpplr
Simpplr delivers intranet capabilities with an emphasis on surfacing real-time people insights through AI. Key features:
- Sentiment analysis to detect culture and morale
- Recommendation engine to connect colleagues
- Nudge engine for personalized notifications
- Advanced analytics across 200+ data points
For executives seeking a pulse on employee alignment amid business change, Simpplr provides unparalleled visibility.
Best For: Enterprise leaders who value actionable data to guide cultural and operational decisions.
#10 Haiilo
Purpose-built as both an internal comms platform and external employee advocacy tool, Haiilo drives alignment and amplifies employer brand.
- Central news and dialogue hub
- Employee highlighting and kudos
- Content amplification to social networks
- Surveys and quick polls for feedback
For companies focused on culture and external brand, Haiilo checks all the boxes in one holistic platform.
Best For: Cause-driven organizations across non-profit and commercial sectors.
#11 PeopleOne
An intranet built natively on Sharepoint, PeopleOne helps companies maximize existing Microsoft investments. Features include:
- Multi-channel publishing across devices
- Employee highlight reels
- Chat forums and threads
- Easy integration with Microsoft suite
For businesses running on Sharepoint, PeopleOne boosts adoption and impact through a highly engaging newsfeed and robust profiles.
Best For: Microsoft-centric organizations seeking to activate Sharepoint.
#12 HubEngage
HubEngage provides comprehensive tools to inform, connect and align employees across the organization. Capabilities include:
- Central news hub with multi-media publishing
- Myriad ways to segment and personalize
- Robust dialogue via polls, surveys, threads
- Data and analytics on content and users
HubEngage enables leaders to reach the right people at the right time to drive desired outcomes.
Best For: Large enterprises across industries – from finance to pharmaceuticals.
#13 SnapComms
With multi-channel delivery and industry-leading adoption metrics, SnapComms ensures critical communications reach 100% of intended recipients.
- Messaging across email, digital signage, mobile
- Emergency notification capabilities
- Read confirmation and response metrics
- Scheduled and automated communication
During organizational change, M&A or crisis, SnapComms ensures messaging clarity, comprehension and compliance.
Best For: Highly regulated industries like finance and healthcare where certainty of delivery is critical.
