Best Team Chat Tool for Business: HipChat

In this comprehensive review, we’ll discuss some of the key factors that were used to determine the winner of this award.  (Hint: it wasn’t easy choosing from some of the most effective team chat tools, including Lync, Yammer, and Slack!)

We’ll also provide some insights into why Atlassian’s internal communication tool came out on top, and how you can use this application effectively in your business’s day-to-day operations.

The HipChat Origin Story

HipChat was first launched in 2010.  Its mission was to give businesses of all sizes an ultra-effective chat service that harnessed the power of group chat and the simplicity of IM services and afforded the administrative control that many SMBs and enterprise-level businesses require.

Just two years after its initial release, HipChat was acquired by Atlassian, the very same successful enterprise software company that brought you Jira.  After joining the Atlassian family, HipChat moved its base of operations to San Francisco, where they are still located today.

Key Features and Functionality

HipChat offers a wide array of features for any size business. With the basic HipChat package, you’ll enjoy:

  • One-on-one messaging
  • Private group chat
  • Searchable chat history
  • File sharing
  • Unlimited users and integrations

And like most team chat applications on the market today, HipChat is accessible on any device, including Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and even Linux. Whether you’re at your desk or on the go, HipChat is right at your fingertips.

 

Plus, you’ll have access to an emoticon for every mood or situation. (That probably wasn’t on your team chat tool wish list…but it is now, right?)

 

All jokes aside, HipChat’s level of efficiency and functionality - even at the non-subscription level - is impressive.  HipChat’s intuitive platform includes invaluable features like drag and drop file sharing for easy file sharing and unlimited chat rooms to help you get the right people together at the right time.

HipChat Plus

HipChat also offers a paid subscription, HipChat Plus, which includes advanced features such as video chat, screen sharing, and more for just $2 per user/month.  The addition of video chat sets HipChat apart from some its top competitors, including Slack.

HipChat Server

For enterprise-level companies, HipChat also offers an invaluable feature: the ability to deploy HipChat on your own server for additional security and control.  When you run HipChat on your own server, you’ll have the power to audit all traffic that travels in and out of your server.

If you start off using HipChat’s cloud server, don’t worry - migration is a breeze.  HipChat’s easy-to-use Importer tool makes it easy to move all of your chats and data to your own servers.

HipChat Integrations

When it comes to integrations, HipChat definitely reigns supreme.  This internal communication tool syncs with 93 tools (and counting) that many businesses use in their day-to-day operations, including Google Drive, Jira, Desk.com, Trello, and more.

If you use a tool or application that is not already compatible with HipChat, you can use the HipChat API to create your own.

Customer Support

Much like Slack, another team chat tool for business, HipChat offers a great catalogue of articles and support documentation to help you make the most of the application.  If you can’t find what you need, you also have the option of contacting support via email.

The only real issue with HipChat’s Help Center is its lack of organization, especially compared to Slack’s Knowledge Base.  HipChat offers up a few popular articles, but really encourages you to search for your particular problem, rather than organizing articles and support documentation by subject.

Conclusion

When you're working with a team, communication is key.  And in order to facilitate good communication within your organization, you need an effective team chat tool.

There are a lot of options on the market aside from HipChat, such as Slack, Lync, Yammer, and Skype, just to name a few.  Most of these applications offer the features you'd expect from an internal communication tool, including one-on-one IMs, group chat, and basic file sharing.

But, there are a few key features that really set HipChat apart in this highly competitive space:

  1. HipChat Plus offers in-platform video chat (which is crystal clear, by the way), so you don't have to integrate yet another tool to take advantage of this feature.
  2. HipChat's easy screen sharing tool lets you collaborate in real time, no matter where you are.

And last, but certainly not least:

HipChatprovides businesses of all sizes with the option to the platform on their own servers, allowing for maximum security and reliability.  This is a major differentiator that makes HipChat the perfect option for businesses who need real-time collaboration and airtight security.

If you're ready to learn more about HipChat, you can visit them online and start chatting for free!