Keeping remote teams connected is tough, but the right tools can make all the difference. Here’s a quick guide to the best platforms for sharing company-wide updates, tailored for distributed teams. We’ve compared seven tools to help you decide:

• Pebb: A free all-in-one platform with chat, news feeds, video calls, and integrations. Premium starts at $4/user/month.

• Slack: Popular for real-time messaging but lacks robust news-sharing tools. Paid plans start at $7.25/user/month.

• Microsoft Teams: Strong video conferencing and Office 365 integration, but basic for announcements. Costs $4-$22/user/month.

• Workvivo: Social media-style intranet with rich media options, but pricing is custom and higher.

• Staffbase: Enterprise-grade communication, starting at $30,000/year.

• Simpplr: AI-powered intranet with custom pricing.

• Blink: Mobile-first platform for frontline workers at $4.50/user/month.

Quick Comparison

Bottom Line: For a cost-effective, all-in-one solution, Pebb is a top choice with robust features and transparent pricing. Platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams excel in messaging and collaboration but may lack advanced news-sharing tools. Workvivo, Staffbase, and Simpplr cater to larger enterprises, while Blink is ideal for frontline teams.

Tools for Remote Work: Must Have Apps and Software to Stay Connected

1. Pebb

Pebb stands out as the only free all-in-one communication platform tailored for distributed teams. While most platforms charge steep fees for even basic features, Pebb combines everything teams need - chat, news sharing, collaboration tools, and more - into a single, user-friendly platform that works effortlessly across all devices. Let’s dive into how Pebb’s features are designed to support distributed teams.

Communication Features

Pebb offers everything you’d expect in a communication platform: chat, voice, and video tools. Group and one-on-one chats come with unlimited message history, so conversations are always accessible. Built-in voice and video calling eliminates the hassle of juggling multiple conferencing tools.

To keep things organized, Pebb uses private and public clubs. These clubs group conversations by teams, projects, or shared interests, cutting down on unnecessary noise and making it easier to find what you need. Whether it’s a quick team update or a cross-department discussion, these clubs ensure communication stays streamlined.

"Pebb has entirely redefined our communication. It feels like Facebook, but for work." - Loren Johnson, Restaurant Group

News Sharing Capabilities

Pebb’s news feed acts as the go-to spot for company-wide announcements and updates. It’s designed to keep critical information front and center for all team members. Admins can control who posts, ensuring the feed stays organized and relevant.

The platform also includes polls, which allow leaders to gather employee feedback and insights on company initiatives. This two-way communication keeps leadership connected to their teams and helps guide decisions with real input from employees.

Integrations

Pebb integrates with over 50 tools, including Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Zoom, Salesforce, BambooHR, Workday, HiBob, and Gusto. These integrations simplify HR, payroll, and onboarding processes.

The apps wall provides instant access to these tools, so teams can work efficiently without constantly switching between platforms. Everything you need is just a click away within Pebb’s interface.

"It combines everything - chat, tasks, news feed, knowledge, library - into one place and it's incredibly affordable." - Christina Matthews, Constructions

Pricing

Pebb’s pricing is built with distributed teams in mind. The free Standard plan supports up to 1,000 employees and includes essential features like work chat with unlimited history, a news feed, a knowledge library, task management, a calendar, apps, and unlimited clubs. This plan offers robust tools without straining budgets.

For teams needing more, the Premium plan costs only $4 per user per month. It adds advanced analytics, unlimited admins, permissions control, enhanced chat features, voice and video calls, premium support, integrations, and enterprise SSO. Unlike competitors, Pebb doesn’t require long-term contracts or charge setup fees - its pricing is straightforward and transparent.

"I found it to be the perfect communication platform for remote teams. Pebb helped us unify communication in one place without the cost or complexity of bigger tools." - Sofia Marquez, Lawyer firm

When compared to alternatives, Pebb’s affordability is clear. Microsoft Teams starts at $4 per user per month, but advanced features can push costs up to $10 per user. Other platforms, like Simpplr, often start at $7.50 per user per month, with additional fees for scaling. Pebb offers a complete solution at a fraction of the cost, solving the communication challenges that distributed teams often face.

2. Slack

Slack is a go-to collaboration tool for 80% of Fortune 100 companies, thanks to its Slack Connect feature, which supports both internal and external communication. While it’s best known as a messaging platform, Slack also offers tools that help businesses share news effectively across their teams.

Communication Features

Slack’s channel-based communication system is its backbone. It allows teams to set up spaces for company-wide announcements, department updates, or project-specific discussions. With over 700 million messages exchanged daily, Slack facilitates communication through features like @mentions, threaded conversations, huddles, voice calls, and clips. These tools ensure that teams can communicate in real-time or asynchronously, depending on their needs.

Slack Connect takes it a step further by enabling collaboration with external partners, clients, and vendors through shared channels. Procore, for example, has significantly expanded its Slack Connect usage - growing by 700% since December 2020 and averaging one new shared channel every day.

News Sharing Capabilities

Slack integrates company announcements into its broader communication structure. Many organizations create dedicated channels for leadership updates or major announcements. However, with so much activity happening in Slack, key updates can sometimes get lost in the mix. To address this, Slack AI provides tools like channel summaries and daily recaps, which reportedly save users an average of 97 minutes per week. That said, Slack’s focus on general communication means it doesn’t offer some of the specialized features found in tools like Pebb, such as content scheduling, advanced media options, or detailed analytics.

Integrations

One of Slack’s standout strengths is its ability to integrate with a wide range of tools. It connects seamlessly with platforms like Google Drive, Office 365, Salesforce, Box, and Trello, ensuring that updates from these systems can flow directly into Slack channels. With over 13,400 custom internal apps available, Slack’s app ecosystem is robust and adaptable. These integrations, combined with automation capabilities, help users save time - Slack customers report a 29% increase in time savings and a 91% positive ROI within just 10 months.

"We've replaced 30-minute check-in calls with five-minute Slack conversations." – Nolan Frazier, Account Executive of Strategic Accounts at Procore

Pricing

Slack’s pricing model operates on a per-user, monthly basis, which can add up for larger organizations. While Pebb offers a free plan for up to 1,000 users and a premium plan at $4 per user, Slack’s free tier comes with limited features, often prompting businesses to upgrade to paid plans. This difference in pricing structure makes Slack a more expensive option compared to Pebb’s all-in-one, cost-effective solution.

3. Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams has become a go-to communication platform for organizations around the globe, boasting an impressive 320 million monthly active users. As Microsoft's all-in-one collaboration hub, Teams combines chat, video conferencing, file sharing, and app integration into a single workspace. This setup is particularly effective for teams spread across different locations.

Communication Features

Teams provides a wide range of communication tools that go beyond simple messaging. Its persistent, multimedia chat feature allows users to seamlessly switch between chats and channels, making navigation easy. Whether it’s channel-based discussions or private direct messages, Teams caters to both group and one-on-one communication.

For real-time interactions, Teams supports instant messaging, voice calls, and video conferencing. Its meeting tools allow participants to share audio, video, chat, and presentations all at once. Plus, integration with Microsoft Outlook simplifies scheduling and sending meeting invites. These features make it an ideal platform for hosting engaging company-wide updates.

News Sharing Capabilities

One standout feature in Teams is Storyline, which allows leaders to share updates and their vision with employees across the organization. The Engage app, available on the Teams mobile platform, ensures that both frontline workers and remote employees stay informed, no matter where they are. With advanced filtering options and a consolidated @mention feed, Teams helps users stay on top of announcements without missing important updates. Additionally, the ability to record and attach video clips to messages and posts makes asynchronous communication more engaging.

"Microsoft Teams isn't just our platform for chatting or for making video calls. It's our hub for teamwork across applications and devices. Teams literally makes hybrid work work at Microsoft."
– Nathalie D'Hers, corporate vice president, Microsoft Digital

Integrations

Microsoft Teams shines when it comes to integrations, offering tools that simplify collaboration. These integrations can be added as tabs in channels, used as interactive bots, or set up with connectors for notifications and updates. Popular options include Polly for employee surveys, Trello for project management, GitHub for code collaboration, and Adobe Creative Cloud for design feedback. Teams also supports custom workflow automation through the Microsoft Graph API and enables cross-platform communication with solutions like Mio, which bridges Teams, Webex, and Slack. This extensive integration ecosystem ensures that distributed teams can stay connected and aligned.

Pricing

Microsoft Teams often comes bundled with Microsoft 365 subscriptions, making it a budget-friendly choice for organizations already using Microsoft's suite of productivity tools. For those seeking an alternative, Pebb offers an all-in-one solution at just $4 per user. This package includes essential features like work chat, news feeds, groups, and voice and video calls, providing a competitively priced option for businesses.

4. Workvivo

Workvivo takes a fresh approach to workplace communication by blending the familiar feel of social media with professional-grade tools. This employee communication platform is designed to bring together distributed teams, offering a dynamic space where corporate updates meet interactive engagement.

Communication Features

Workvivo provides multiple ways for employees to stay connected, including chat, email, and livestreams. Whether it’s a formal announcement or a casual interaction, the platform ensures seamless communication. Its news feed mirrors popular social networks, allowing employees to share updates, images, and videos across the organization. For company-wide updates, Workvivo TV broadcasts news directly to employees, while targeted messaging and urgent push notifications make sure critical information reaches the right audience. This is especially useful for frontline workers who may not regularly access computers. The platform also supports over 90 languages with its auto-translate feature, making it a practical choice for global teams.

News Sharing Capabilities

Workvivo is particularly effective at delivering targeted announcements to specific groups or teams. Its impact is evident in real-world examples: Royal Berkshire NHS transitioned from fragmented communication channels to Workvivo, achieving an 84% staff registration rate and 83% weekly active users among more than 7,000 employees. Keyloop reported 92% employee registration and 80% weekly active users within just three months of adopting the platform. Nordell achieved 100% employee coverage, including manufacturing staff without regular computer access, leading to 85% weekly active users and a 50% reduction in communication delays.

"Workvivo gets our message straight into the hands of our employees immediately. No fuss."
– Tanya Waldron, Head of Internal Communications, Bus Éireann

Integrations

Workvivo integrates seamlessly with over 40 essential business tools. This includes major platforms like Zoom, Google Workspace, and Microsoft 365, as well as CRM systems like Salesforce. It also connects with popular HR tools such as Workday, UKG, and BambooHR, and supports document management systems like SharePoint, OneDrive, Google Drive, Box, and Confluence. Additionally, it works with identity management solutions like Active Directory and Okta, offering a streamlined experience for digital workplaces.

Pricing

Workvivo's pricing details aren’t publicly available and are provided upon request. For businesses looking for transparent and cost-effective solutions, Pebb offers a compelling alternative at $4 per user. Pebb’s plan includes features like work chat, news feeds, groups, a people directory, and voice and video calls - all without hidden fees. While Workvivo excels in rich media and advanced communication tools, platforms like Pebb provide a strong value proposition for distributed teams. Up next, we’ll weigh the strengths and weaknesses of these platforms against others in the market.

5. Staffbase

Staffbase is an employee communication platform designed with corporate environments in mind. It brings together various communication channels into one solution, making it easier for organizations to connect with both office-based and frontline employees.

Communication Features

Staffbase offers a range of tools to support communication across all levels of an organization. These include an intranet, a mobile app, email and SMS notifications, and even digital signage. The platform also supports engagement through features like communities, social walls, surveys, and feedback forms. One standout feature is its AI Companion, which suggests personalized content based on employee needs. Together, these tools create an efficient way to distribute company news and foster engagement.

News Sharing Capabilities

The platform ensures employees have real-time, mobile-friendly access to important updates. Its advanced intranet analytics and centralized control center make it easy for administrators to monitor how employees interact with company news.

"Our colleagues need to have all information, systems, and processes quickly accessible. This is now possible with Staffbase Intranet." – René Weiß, Head of Content & Editorial, Heraeus

Integrations

Staffbase integrates seamlessly with a variety of platforms to enhance its functionality. It works with Microsoft 365 tools like Teams, SharePoint, and Viva, as well as HRIS systems and custom API/SDK solutions. Additional integrations include eduMe, Google Analytics, Microsoft OneDrive, SurveyMonkey, Facebook, and Google Calendar.

Pricing

Unlike Pebb's straightforward pricing model, Staffbase requires custom quotes, which can often lead to higher costs. In comparison, Pebb offers a comprehensive solution for just $4 per user, including features like work chat, news feeds, groups, a people directory, and voice/video calls.

6. Simpplr

Simpplr is a modern intranet platform designed to simplify internal communication for distributed teams. It brings company information together in one place, offering tools that help remote and hybrid employees stay connected and well-informed.

Communication Features

Simpplr organizes information through personalized content hubs and interactive features, ensuring employees receive updates tailored to their role, location, or department. The platform promotes engagement with tools like commenting, sharing, and "likes" on posts. It also includes a social newsfeed, a newsletter builder, surveys, and an employee recognition feature. A leadership center allows executives to communicate directly with their teams. Additionally, Simpplr incorporates AI to create posts and analyze sentiment, and its Simpplr One tool provides secure instant messaging. These features make for an engaging and interactive communication experience, offering a unique approach compared to other platforms.

News Sharing Capabilities

Simpplr stands out with its ability to distribute news across multiple channels, including mobile, desktop, chat, email, and digital displays. Its drag-and-drop newsletter builder integrates dynamic intranet content, making it easy to create polished updates. The platform also supports video creation, hosting, and sharing, adding a dynamic element to communications. Integrated pulse and engagement surveys help collect meaningful employee feedback, ensuring communication remains two-way and effective.

Integrations

Simpplr connects seamlessly with popular tools like Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Google Workspace. It also integrates with Dropbox, Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Microsoft OneDrive, Box, Google Drive, YouTube, Microsoft SharePoint, Okta, Workday HCM, ServiceNow, and video platforms such as Vimeo, Vidyard, Brightcove, and Wistia. For businesses with specific needs, the platform supports pre-built, low-code, and no-code integrations. A notable example is Nutrition Warehouse, which in March 2025 used Simpplr's custom apps to consolidate more functionality into their core system, the Scoop.

"By utilizing custom apps, we've been able to centralize more functionality within our core system, the Scoop. I'd highly recommend this solution to anyone looking to centralize operations and improve cross-functional efficiency." – Duncan McHugh, Chief Operating Officer at Nutrition Warehouse

Pricing

Unlike Pebb’s straightforward $4 per user plan, Simpplr operates on a custom pricing model based on a company's specific needs and employee count. While Pebb offers a flat rate with features like work chat, news feeds, groups, a people directory, and voice/video calls, Simpplr's custom quotes allow for a tailored approach, albeit with added complexity in pricing discussions.

7. Blink

Blink stands out as a mobile-first platform designed specifically for frontline and distributed teams. Its focus is on providing seamless communication for employees who aren’t tied to desks, ensuring they stay connected and informed no matter where they are.

Communication Features

Blink’s suite of communication tools is built around three key features aimed at keeping teams connected:

• News Feed: This feature delivers company updates straight to employees’ smartphones using a social media–style interface. It comes with built-in analytics for tracking engagement and allows administrators to highlight critical updates with featured posts. Companies have reported a 90% reduction in non-essential tasks while seeing an increase in frontline productivity.

• Secure Chat: Teams can communicate efficiently through group or one-on-one messaging, sharing images, videos, PDFs, and other documents. The chat feature also allows users to start voice or video meetings directly, making it easy to switch from text to real-time discussions. This functionality supports virtual Employee Resource Groups as well.

• Blink Assist: Powered by AI, this tool simplifies lengthy updates and refines messages for better clarity. Additional features like Stories and Communities foster collaboration and allow targeted messaging for specific groups.

Blink’s effectiveness is evident in real-world use cases. For example, JD Group achieved a 74% adoption rate among 20,000 users within the first 10 days of their pilot program. This success led to thousands of messages being exchanged and allowed the company to eliminate traditional noticeboards and paper handouts.

News Sharing Capabilities

Blink’s mobile-first approach excels in delivering company-wide news to employees on the go. From safety alerts to shift schedules and operational updates, the platform ensures critical information reaches employees quickly and efficiently. The familiar, user-friendly News Feed format encourages engagement and keeps everyone in the loop.

The platform’s adoption rates speak for themselves, with some companies reporting up to 95% employee engagement. Stagecoach, for example, reduced employee turnover by 26% after implementing Blink. Nathan Ward, Performance and Development Manager at Stagecoach, shared:

"Blink made management approachable. It streamlines communication and gives staff the opportunity to talk to us meaning that we get a real feel for what they think."

Integrations

Blink integrates smoothly with a variety of essential business tools, such as Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday, ADP, Zoom, SharePoint, Dropbox, Box, Slack, and Trello. For companies with unique needs, Blink also offers an API for custom integrations, allowing businesses to tailor the platform to their existing systems.

Care Synergy experienced significant benefits by consolidating multiple tools into Blink, which eliminated employee hesitation about adopting the platform. Evan Hyatt, Vice President of Marketing and Development at Care Synergy, explained:

"Combining so many tools in one app has resolved any employee hesitation around using Blink."

Pricing

Blink operates on a custom pricing model based on company size and specific needs, which contrasts with Pebb’s straightforward $4 per user rate. Pebb’s pricing includes features like work chat, news feeds, groups, a people directory, and voice/video calls, all at a transparent cost. Blink, however, requires companies to request a quote tailored to their requirements.

Despite the custom pricing, Blink’s setup process has been praised for its efficiency. Salutem, for instance, found the implementation process far easier than with competitors. John Godden, CEO at Salutem, shared:

"The team promised us Blink would be really easy to set up... And they were right! Competitors required months of setup and significant internal resources; Blink's implementation was far more efficient."

Platform Comparison: Pros and Cons

Selecting the right platform for company-wide news sharing means carefully evaluating each tool's features and limitations. Here's a breakdown of how the leading platforms measure up in areas that matter most for distributed teams.

Key Insights on Each Platform

Pebb stands out with its all-in-one approach, combining chat, news feeds, groups, and video calls into a single, affordable solution. Its free tier supports up to 1,000 users, and the premium plan at $4 per user per month delivers features like voice/video calls, analytics, and unlimited admins. This makes Pebb a cost-effective choice for organizations looking for a comprehensive tool.

Slack is a leader in real-time collaboration, offering excellent messaging and threading capabilities. However, it falls short when it comes to structured tools for company-wide announcements, which can lead to important updates getting buried among channel conversations. For teams prioritizing news sharing, Slack may not be the ideal fit.

Microsoft Teams delivers reliable video conferencing and file sharing, but its full functionality often depends on additional Office 365 licensing. While it supports basic announcements, it lacks the engagement features needed for dynamic internal communications.

Enterprise-focused platforms like Staffbase and Simpplr offer advanced features tailored for large organizations. However, their high costs - such as Staffbase's starting price of $30,000 per year - can be a barrier for smaller teams.

Blink is designed with mobile-first engagement in mind, making it a great option for frontline workers. Its news feed encourages high engagement rates, but at $4.50 per user per month, the cost is slightly higher than Pebb's premium plan.

Why Pebb Stands Out

Each platform has its strengths, but Pebb's combination of transparent pricing, robust features, and user-friendly tools makes it a standout choice for distributed teams. With seamless communication and structured news sharing, Pebb strikes the right balance for organizations looking to connect their workforce effectively.

Conclusion

When selecting a communication platform, it's important to weigh the costs, features, and ease of setup. For many US businesses, Pebb stands out as a strong choice.

Pebb offers a free tier for up to 1,000 users, and its premium plan is just $4 per user per month - a price point that's hard to beat compared to most competitors. Its all-in-one approach eliminates the need for multiple tools, combining work chat, a live news feed, voice and video calls, and employee directories in one platform. While Slack shines in real-time messaging and Microsoft Teams often ties into additional Office licensing, Pebb simplifies everything into a single, cohesive solution.

Another key factor to consider is how quickly a platform can be implemented. Enterprise tools like Workvivo and Simpplr often require weeks or even months to deploy, along with significant training for users. In contrast, Pebb's setup is straightforward and can be completed in just a few days, with minimal technical requirements.

For small and medium-sized businesses working within tight budgets, Pebb's intuitive design encourages high adoption rates, and its robust feature set grows alongside your team.

If your organization needs a cost-effective way to improve communication and share updates across distributed teams, Pebb offers a practical and efficient solution.

FAQs

Why is Pebb the best communication platform for distributed teams?

Pebb is the go-to communication platform for distributed teams, offering a free, all-in-one solution packed with tools like real-time chat, voice and video calls, a news feed, and a people directory. These features make it easy for both remote and frontline workers to communicate and collaborate effortlessly.

What sets Pebb apart is its affordability. While many platforms cater to large enterprises with expensive plans, Pebb keeps things simple and budget-friendly with its premium plan priced at just $4 per user. It’s a cost-effective way to keep your team connected, informed, and working together without stretching your budget.

How does Pebb’s pricing compare to tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams, and what features are included?

Pebb offers affordable pricing at just $4 per user per month, delivering a full range of features like chat, news feed, groups, a people directory, voice and video calls, and more - all included in the base price. This makes it an excellent choice for distributed teams looking for an all-in-one communication tool that doesn’t break the bank.

For comparison, Slack’s standard plan starts at $7.25 per user per month, but it comes with limited message history and fewer integration options. Microsoft Teams also has a starting price of $4 per user per month, but many essential features require an additional Microsoft 365 subscription, which can quickly drive up the cost. Pebb, on the other hand, provides a complete feature set at a straightforward price, with no hidden fees or costly add-ons - offering transparency and outstanding value for your team.

Does Pebb work with the tools and platforms my team already uses, and how easy is it to set up?

Yes, Pebb works effortlessly with more than 50 well-known tools, including Google Drive and various HRIS systems. The setup is straightforward, making it easy for your team to link their current platforms without any interruptions.

By bringing communication and collaboration tools together in one place, Pebb helps streamline workflows and boost productivity. Plus, it offers incredible value with its premium plan priced at just $4 per user.

Related posts

• 7 Ways to Boost Remote Team Communication in 2025

• social intranet

• internal communication platforms in 2025

• The Ultimate Guide to Managing a Distributed Team in 2025