Skip to content

10 Best Communication Tools in 2026

By Toolradar Team · Updated February 2026

Team messaging and video conferencing tools

Key Takeaways
  • Guilded is our #1 pick for communication in 2026.
  • We analyzed 9 communication tools to create this ranking.
  • 2 tools offer free plans, perfect for getting started.

How the Top Communication Tools Compare

The communication category is highly competitive in 2026, with Guilded and Vonage both scoring 0/100 on Toolradar's editorial assessment, followed closely by MessageBird at N/A/100. The tight scores reflect how mature this market has become.

Pricing varies significantly among the top picks: Guilded (freemium (free tier available)) offers free access, while Vonage and RingCentral require a paid subscription. Teams on a budget should start with Guilded, which scores null/100 despite its free tier.

1
Guilded logo

Guilded

Chat platform for gaming communities

Freemium

Guilded is a communication platform designed for gaming communities, now owned by Roblox. It offers features similar to Discord but with enhanced tools for competitive gaming teams including scheduling, calendars, and tournament brackets. Guilded supports voice, video, and text chat with unlimited message history on the free tier. The platform differentiates with built-in recruiting tools, team management features, and streaming capabilities specifically designed for esports and gaming groups.

2
Vonage logo

Vonage

Cloud communications and messaging APIs

Paid

Vonage provides cloud communications APIs for SMS, voice, video, and messaging. Enables businesses to build communication features into their applications with programmable APIs.

3
MessageBird logo

MessageBird

Omnichannel communication platform

Usage-based

MessageBird is a cloud communications platform offering SMS, WhatsApp, voice, and other messaging channels through a single API. Helps businesses engage with customers across multiple channels.

4
RingCentral logo

RingCentral

Cloud communications and contact center solutions

Paid

RingCentral is a cloud-based business communications platform offering VoIP phone systems, video conferencing, messaging, and contact center solutions for businesses of all sizes.

5
Jitsi logo

Jitsi

Free open source video conferencing

Open_source

Jitsi is a collection of free open-source projects for video conferencing. Jitsi Meet provides secure, fully encrypted video calls that work in browsers without apps or accounts.

6
Toky logo

Toky

A modern, integrated VoIP business phone system for seamless customer communication.

Paid

Toky is a cloud-based business phone system and integrated VoIP service designed to modernize how businesses communicate with their customers. It allows teams to make and receive calls and messages via phone, app, or desktop, integrating with existing business tools like CRMs to streamline workflows. Toky aims to provide a turn-key communication solution for sales, support, and customer-facing teams. The platform offers features such as virtual local and mobile numbers in over 60 countries, custom IVR menus, and flexible call routing. It's accessible across various devices (laptops, tablets, mobile phones, PCs, Macs) and works for in-office, remote, and mobile employees. Toky also provides cross-system monitoring and real-time data insights to help businesses make informed decisions, improve productivity, and enhance customer satisfaction by syncing communication activities directly to customer records in integrated CRMs. Toky is ideal for businesses of all sizes looking for an easily scalable, accessible, and integrated communication solution. It helps sales teams log activities and sync interactions, enables support teams to offer personalized experiences, and allows businesses to be easily reachable through virtual numbers and website click-to-call buttons.

7
Ooma logo

Ooma

Intelligent communications solutions for business and home, made simple.

Paid

Ooma provides advanced VoIP phone services and communication solutions for both businesses and residential users. For businesses, Ooma Office offers a comprehensive suite of features including business phone, video conferencing, and messaging, designed to be customizable for any size company. It supports hybrid working models, simple call center capabilities, and CRM integrations, aiming to enhance productivity and customer interaction. For home users, Ooma offers reliable home phone service and smart security solutions, allowing users to stay connected from anywhere. They also provide solutions for replacing traditional POTS lines, catering to various needs from basic home phone service to more advanced options with LTE connectivity and battery backup. Ooma aims to deliver easy-to-use, feature-rich communication tools with a focus on reliability and customer support.

8
Phone.com logo

Phone.com

Seamlessly manage business calls, texts, video, and voicemail from any device, anywhere.

Paid

Phone.com provides a comprehensive VoIP business phone service and phone system designed for businesses of all sizes, from startups to enterprises. It offers a unified platform for managing calls, texts, video meetings, and voicemails, allowing users to separate personal and business communications. The service is accessible from any device, ensuring business continuity and flexibility for remote or on-the-go teams. The platform aims to be cost-effective and feature-rich, providing advanced capabilities typically found in big-enterprise phone systems without the complexity or high cost. Key benefits include a dedicated business phone number (local, toll-free, or vanity), 24/7 expert support, and scalability to accommodate business growth. Phone.com simplifies setup, eliminates the need for special hardware, and integrates with existing devices, making it an accessible solution for small businesses looking to professionalize their communication.

9
SuprSend logo

SuprSend

Centralized platform for building and managing multi-channel notifications with exceptional user experience.

Freemium

SuprSend provides a comprehensive notification infrastructure designed for developer and product teams. It offers a centralized platform, APIs, and components to quickly build and easily manage multi-channel notifications across email, SMS, Slack, push, and in-app inboxes. The platform aims to simplify the complexities of notification management, allowing teams to deliver high-quality, personalized, and timely communications without re-inventing the wheel. The product is ideal for companies looking to streamline their notification strategy, reduce engineering overhead, and improve user engagement. It offers powerful workflow automation, a flexible template engine with visual editors, and robust observability features. SuprSend helps businesses create dynamic, event-based, and personalized notifications, ensuring they reach users on their preferred channels and at optimal times, ultimately enhancing the overall user experience and driving business outcomes.

Best Communication For

Related Categories

What is Team Communication Software?

Team communication software enables workplace collaboration—instant messaging, video calls, file sharing, and async communication. These tools replaced email as the primary way teams work together, especially since remote work became standard.

Slack revolutionized workplace communication with channels, integrations, and a less formal tone than email. Microsoft Teams bundled similar features with Office 365 and now rivals Slack in usage. Beyond these giants, specialized tools serve specific needs—Discord for community, Loom for async video, Notion for documented communication.

The best communication tools reduce noise while ensuring important messages get through. They integrate with your other tools, support both sync and async communication, and have mobile apps that don't feel like afterthoughts.

Editor's Take

“After evaluating 9 team communication software? tools, Guilded stands out. For budget-conscious teams, Guilded (null/100, free tier available) delivers strong value. The competition is fierce — the gap between top tools is narrower than ever, so the best choice comes down to your team's specific workflow and priorities.”

— Toolradar Editorial Team · February 2026

Key Data Points

9+
Tools analyzed on Toolradar
2
Offer free or freemium plans
N/A/100
Top editorial score

According to Toolradar's analysis across 9+ products, 22% offer free or freemium plans. The top-rated tools average a score of 0/100, with Guilded leading at /100.

Essential Communication Features

Channels & Direct Messages

Organized conversations by topic, project, or team. Private and public channels with direct messaging for 1:1s.

Video & Audio Calls

Built-in video conferencing for meetings and quick calls. Screen sharing, recording, and virtual backgrounds.

Integrations

Connect with other tools—GitHub notifications, Google Drive sharing, calendar sync. Live where your team already works.

Search & History

Find past conversations and decisions. Good search is essential as communication volume grows.

Async Features

Status settings, scheduled messages, and video messages. Support different time zones and work styles.

Mobile Apps

Full functionality on mobile devices. Critical for teams not always at desks.

Who Uses Communication Software?

Team communication needs vary by organization type:

Remote & Hybrid Teams: Communication tools replace physical proximity. Need excellent async features, video quality, and time zone support.
Tech Companies: Heavy users of chat-based communication. Need strong developer integrations—GitHub, Jira, alerting.
Enterprises: Security, compliance, and scale. Often choose Microsoft Teams for Office integration or Slack for culture.
Agencies & Consultants: Client communication alongside internal. Need external channel capabilities (Slack Connect, client guests).
Small Teams & Startups: Need simplicity and low cost. Free tiers matter; complexity hurts small team adoption.

How to Choose Communication Tools

Your communication tool shapes company culture—choose thoughtfully:

  1. 1Match the tool to your culture. Slack is casual and startup-friendly. Teams is corporate and Microsoft-integrated. Discord is community-oriented. The tool sends cultural signals—make them intentional.
  2. 2Evaluate existing ecosystem. Microsoft shop? Teams is practically free with Office 365. Google Workspace? Meet and Chat are bundled. Don't pay separately for what's included.
  3. 3Consider integration depth. What tools need to post notifications? Slack's integration ecosystem is deepest. Teams integrates well with Microsoft. Check your specific tools.
  4. 4Test video quality. Video call quality varies. Test with your actual team sizes and internet conditions. Zoom often beats bundled solutions.
  5. 5Plan for scale and cost. Free tiers are great for small teams. Slack's Pro is $7.25/user/month; Teams is often 'free' with Microsoft 365. Calculate costs at your current and projected team size.

Team Communication Market in 2026

Slack and Teams dominate, with Teams growing faster due to Microsoft 365 bundling. AI features are emerging—meeting summaries, thread recaps, and smart notifications. Async communication tools are growing as remote work matures. The 'digital HQ' concept is expanding communication tools into broader collaboration platforms. Video fatigue has increased demand for async alternatives. Enterprise security and compliance features continue improving.

Related Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Slack vs Microsoft Teams: which is better?

Slack has better UX, superior integrations, and is preferred by tech companies. Teams has better value (often included with Microsoft 365), native Office integration, and dominates enterprise. If you're already paying for Microsoft 365, Teams is hard to ignore economically. If communication tool quality is critical, Slack is worth the cost. Neither is wrong; match to your context.

Should we use Zoom or the video in Slack/Teams?

Slack Huddles and Teams meetings handle most small meetings well. Zoom still wins for larger meetings, webinars, and recording quality. Many teams use Slack/Teams for quick calls and Zoom for scheduled meetings or external calls. The 'one tool for everything' ideal often loses to 'right tool for each job' in practice.

How do we reduce notification overload?

Encourage thoughtful channel design—not everything needs a channel. Set expectations about response times. Use threads to contain conversations. Configure notification schedules and priority channels. Some teams institute 'quiet hours' or no-meeting days. The tool can't fix cultural problems—lead by example in communication habits.

Is Discord good for business communication?

Discord works well for community-focused organizations, gaming companies, and teams wanting a more casual vibe. It's less polished for business features (SSO, compliance, enterprise support) but has excellent voice channels and community features. Best for startups, communities, and creative teams; less suitable for regulated industries or formal environments.

Do we need separate tools for async communication?

Depends on how much async work you do. Fully remote and distributed teams benefit from dedicated async tools—Loom for video updates, Notion for documented decisions, Threads or P2 for long-form discussion. Co-located or same-timezone teams often do fine with Slack alone. Don't add tools until synchronous communication becomes a bottleneck.

Quick Facts About This Category

#1
Guilded
Top rated
2
Free Tools
With free or freemium plans
9
Tools Reviewed
In this category
2026
Last Updated
February

Related Categories

Explore specialized subcategories:

Our Ranking Methodology

At Toolradar, we combine editorial expertise with community insights:

40%
Editorial Analysis
Features, UX, innovation
30%
User Reviews
Real feedback from verified users
15%
Pricing Value
Cost vs. features offered
15%
Integrations
Ecosystem compatibility

Have experience with these tools?

Your review helps thousands of others make better decisions.

Write a Review