10 Best Staffbase Alternatives for Internal Communications

Staffbase is an employee communications platform known for its mobile-first approach and integration capabilities with systems like SharePoint and Microsoft Teams. It offers a user-friendly mobile app that effectively reaches frontline workers and integrates well with existing enterprise tools. 

However, there are some limitations to consider, such as its less intuitive interface, limited AI-driven personalization, and challenges with maintaining consistent messaging across multiple channels. In this review, we look at some of the best internal communications tools to help you find the best Staffbase alternative for your organization.  Whether you aim to improve internal communication, enhance employee engagement, or find a digital workplace solution that better supports your team’s unique needs, this guide will offer valuable insights.

1. Firstup 

Firstup’s combination of AI-driven personalization, intelligent delivery,and robust analytics makes it the top choice for enhancing employee communication and engagement compared to Staffbase and other alternatives. Firstup aims to unify the employee experience by connecting various communication channels and delivering the right content at the right time.

Firstup infuses AI to enhance employee engagement and experience by providing hyper-personalized communications. “Firstup allows for very advanced targeting of content to team members by location, role, shift, and more.” Trust Radius

Pros:  

Best-in-class features for modern enterprise companies looking to improve their employee experience:  

• Robust and Flexible Targeting Capabilities: The platform allows for advanced targeting of content based on location, role, shift, and other factors.
• Omni-Channel Reach: The platform excels at delivering content across various channels, ensuring employees receive information wherever they are.
• Intelligent Delivery: Firstup’s Intelligent Delivery uses behavioral data and AI to optimize scheduling and delivery, ensuring employees receive relevant information at the right time.
• Consumer Grade User Experience: Both users and administrators benefit from a visually striking and simple interface, making content creation and consumption effortless.
• AI Content Creation: Firstup’s platform includes easy-to-use AI-powered tools to create content and branded templates regardless of the publisher’s skill level.
• Automated Journey Campaigns: Firstup’s automated triggered campaigns are the best in the industry and allow users to easily personalize campaigns for each employee’s journeys, like onboarding, open enrollment, and manager development.
• Comprehensive Analytics: Firstup offers some of the best analytics in the industry, providing detailed insights into audience lifecycle, user performance, and campaign effectiveness.
• Cross-Channel Integration: Connects various communication channels for a seamless employee experience.
• Global Recognition: Firstup has been named the top choice in employee communications for two consecutive years, highlighting its industry-leading position.
• Strong Customer Support: Firstup is known for its top-notch customer success team, which is always available to help users maximize the platform’s potential.

Cons: 

Enterprise focus may keep Firstup out of reach for some smaller companies. 

• Complexity: Might require a learning curve for new users to fully utilize all features, though Firstup’s focus on onboarding helps to lessen the curve.
• Cost: Higher price point compared to some simpler communication tools.

Key Features:

• Universal Employee Profile for robust and flexible segmentation
• Creator Studio for designing and managing campaigns
• Intelligent Orchestration for optimized message delivery
• Employee Engagement Intelligence for real-time engagement insights

Verdict:

Firstup stands out as a top Staffbase alternative due to its AI-driven personalization and robust analytics capabilities, making it ideal for large enterprises looking to enhance their employee communication strategies.

Staffbase vs Firstup

	Firstup	Staffbase
AI-Driven Channel Delivery	Advanced AI-powered Orchestration Engine for personalized content delivery.	Limited AI-driven features, focusing more on manual customization.
Analytics and Insights	Superior analytics with detailed insights into user engagement and content effectiveness.	Basic analytics capabilities with limited depth in engagement insights.
Cross-Channel Integration	Seamless integration across multiple communication channels (mobile, email, intranet).	Strong mobile-first approach, but less robust cross-channel integration.
AI Content Creation	AI-powered and intuitive content creation tools are suitable for users of all skill levels.	User-friendly, but less advanced in content creation capabilities.
User Experience (UX)	Highly intuitive mobile interface with visually appealing design, easy for both admins and end-users.	User-friendly mobile app, but the interface may not be as intuitive or visually engaging.
Customization and Branding	Highly customizable to align with brand identity, offering more flexibility.	Customizable, but may have limitations compared to Firstup.
Customer Support	Highly rated customer support with dedicated success teams.	Good support, but not as widely recognized for customer service excellence.
Deployment and Setup	Comprehensive onboarding with support to reduce learning curve.	Straightforward setup, but may require more effort to fully optimize.

Simpplr 

Simpplr bills itself as a modern intranet solution designed to improve internal communication and employee engagement. It focuses on providing an intuitive and personalized user experience to help companies connect their workforce effectively.

Pros:

• User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive design that makes it easy for employees to navigate and use.
• Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly integrates with popular business tools and applications.
• Social Features: Enhances engagement through features like employee recognition and social interaction.

Cons:

• Customization Limits: May have limitations in terms of deep customization compared to some competitors.
• Scalability: Might be less suited for very large organizations with complex needs.
• Lack of Native Calendars:  This makes some scheduling tasks more difficult.
• Limited Functionality in Mobile App:  The mobile app does not allow users to create new content like pages, albums, or events nor manage files.
• Video Calls Not supported:  Unlike some competitors, video calls are not supported.
• Branding Limitations:  Within the platform, some users have had difficulty customizing Simpplr for their brand.

Key Features:

• Customizable dashboards
• Social interaction features
• Integration with enterprise applications
• Analytics to measure content engagement

Verdict:

Simpplr is a strong Staffbase alternative for companies looking for a user-friendly and socially engaging intranet solution, particularly for smaller to mid-sized organizations.

Workvivo

Overview

Workvivo is an employee experience platform designed to connect and engage employees by combining communication, collaboration, and social networking features. It is particularly focused on enhancing workplace culture by fostering a sense of community and belonging.

Pros:

• Focus on Culture: Workvivo excels at building and maintaining a strong workplace culture with social networking tools.
• User-Friendly Interface: The platform is intuitive and easy for employees to use, encouraging high engagement.
• Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly integrates with popular enterprise tools, enhancing workflow.

Cons:

• Limited Analytics: Compared to other platforms like Firstup, Workvivo’s analytics might not be as comprehensive.
• Scalability: May struggle to scale effectively in very large organizations with complex needs.
• Customization: Limited deep customization options might be a drawback for companies with specific branding needs.

Key Features:

• Social networking and communication tools
• Newsfeeds and activity streams
• Employee recognition and feedback
• Integration with major enterprise applications

Verdict:

Workvivo is a strong Staffbase alternative for organizations looking to enhance workplace culture through social networking and communication tools, particularly in mid-sized companies where culture and engagement are top priorities.

Axios HQ

Overview

Axios HQ is an internal communications platform that uses AI to help organizations create clear, concise, and impactful content for their employees. It focuses on improving the quality of internal communications by providing tools for writing and distributing tailored newsletters and updates.

Pros:

• AI-Driven Content Creation: Axios HQ’s AI-powered tools help create concise and engaging content, enhancing the effectiveness of internal communications.
• Ease of Use: The platform is designed with simplicity in mind, making it easy for non-technical users to create and distribute content.
• Impact Measurement: Provides analytics to measure the reach and effectiveness of communications, ensuring that messages resonate with employees.

Cons:

• Limited Feature Set: Compared to more comprehensive platforms like Firstup or Staffbase, Axios HQ has a narrower focus on content creation and may lack broader communication features.
• Scalability: May not be as well-suited for very large organizations with complex communication needs.
• Integration: Limited integration capabilities with other enterprise systems might be a limitation for some companies.

Key Features:

• AI-driven content creation tools
• Analytics and impact measurement
• Easy-to-use interface for non-technical users
• Customizable templates for newsletters and updates

Verdict:

Axios HQ is a valuable alternative to Staffbase for organizations focused on improving the clarity and impact of their internal communications, especially those looking for AI-enhanced content creation tools.

Connecteam

Overview

Connecteam is an all-in-one employee management app designed for mobile workforces. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools to manage communication, tasks, scheduling, and training, making it particularly well-suited for organizations with a large number of deskless or remote employees.

Pros:

• Mobile-First Design: Connecteam is optimized for mobile use, making it ideal for remote and on-the-go employees.
• Comprehensive Management Tools: Includes features for communication, task management, scheduling, and training, all within a single platform.
• Ease of Use: The platform is intuitive and user-friendly, reducing the learning curve for employees.

Cons:

• Limited Customization: May not offer the same level of customization as other platforms like Staffbase or Firstup.
• Basic Analytics: The platform’s analytics are more basic compared to other alternatives, potentially limiting insights into employee engagement.
• Feature Overlap: Some users may find that the extensive feature set leads to overlaps or confusion between tools.

Key Features:

• Mobile communication and messaging
• Task management and scheduling
• Employee training and development tools
• Time tracking and shift management

Verdict:

Connecteam is an excellent Staffbase alternative for organizations with a mobile or remote workforce, offering a comprehensive suite of tools to manage communication and daily operations effectively.

Slack 

Slack is a well-known collaboration hub that connects people with the information they need. It is widely used to enhance team communication and collaboration, offering real-time messaging and file sharing.

Pros:

• Extensive Integrations: Integrates with numerous apps and services to streamline workflows.
• Real-Time Communication: Facilitates instant messaging and quick information sharing.
• User-Friendly: Known for its ease of use and intuitive interface.

Cons:

• Information Overload: Can lead to an overload of notifications and messages if not managed properly.
• Limited Structured Communication: Primarily a messaging tool, which might not be sufficient for all communication needs.
• Limited Content Creation Tools: Not designed as a comprehensive internal communication tool. 
• Analytics Limitations: Not as comprehensive as top internal communication tools.

Key Features:

• Real-time messaging
• File sharing
• Channels for organizing conversations
• Robust search capabilities

Verdict:

Slack is an excellent tool for enhancing real-time communication and collaboration within teams, especially for organizations that need to integrate multiple workflows.  Slack’s focus is primarily as a messaging app and not an employee communications tool. 

Viva Engage

Yammer, now rebranded as Viva Engage, is an enterprise social networking service used for private communication within organizations. As part of the Microsoft 365 suite, it offers a familiar interface for users already using Microsoft products.

Pros:

• Microsoft Integration: Seamlessly integrates with Microsoft 365 applications.
• Community Building: Encourages social interaction and community building within the organization.
• Secure: Offers enterprise-grade security and compliance features.

Cons:

• Adoption Challenges: May require effort to encourage active usage and participation.
• Feature Set: Less feature-rich compared to dedicated communication platforms.
• Limited reach: Primarily effective for desk-based employees who regularly use Microsoft Teams, potentially excluding frontline or non-desk workers.
• Less Comprehensive Analytics: Yammer’s analytics capabilities may not be as comprehensive as those offered by specialized employee communication platforms.
• Relies on Legacy Infrastructure Tools:  Part of the Microsoft ecosystem helps it work well with Sharepoint, but these tools are antiquated for many organizations.

Key Features:

• Community building tools
• Threaded conversations
• Integration with Microsoft 365
• Mobile accessibility

Verdict:

Yammer is a suitable alternative for organizations already using Microsoft 365, looking to enhance social interaction and community building among employees. 

Unily

Overview

Unily is an employee experience platform that offers comprehensive intranet solutions aimed at improving internal communications and collaboration within enterprises.

Pros:

• Comprehensive Intranet Solution: Provides a wide range of tools to enhance communication and collaboration.
• Strong Integration: Integrates well with existing enterprise systems, including Microsoft and Google.
• Customizable: Highly customizable to fit the specific needs of large organizations.

Cons:

• Complex Setup: May require significant setup and customization time.
• Price: Can be on the higher end, making it less accessible for smaller companies.
• Limited AI-driven Personalization: Not as feature rich as top staffbase alternatives.
• Less Integrations:  As a Staffbase alternative, Unily offers less options.
• Less Frequent Updates: Some users have complained about updates being further apart.
• Less Comprehensive Analytics:  Compared to Staffbase and Firstup, Unily doesn’t offer as many analytics features.

Key Features:

• Intranet with customizable dashboards
• Collaboration tools
• Integration with Microsoft and Google apps
• Analytics and reporting

Verdict:

Unily is a robust solution for large enterprises looking to enhance internal communication and collaboration with a customizable intranet platform.

Beekeeper

Overview

Beekeeper is an employee communication platform specifically designed for frontline workers, offering secure messaging, employee engagement tools, and operational functionalities.

Pros:

• Designed for Frontline Workers: Tailored to meet the unique needs of non-desk employees.
• Secure Messaging: Provides secure and compliant communication channels.
• Mobile-First Approach: Optimized for mobile use, making it accessible for employees on the go.

Cons:

• Limited Desktop Features: Primarily focused on mobile users, which might be a drawback for office-based staff.
• Feature Set: May lack some advanced features needed by larger organizations.
• Less Integration Options:  Compared to top  internal communication tools we looked at Beekeeper has less options.
• Less Analytics Features: Compared to Firstup and Staffbase, Beekeeper’s analytics aren’t as comprehensive.
• Less Personalization Features:  In general, Beekeeper offers more basic messaging options.
• Less Support for Languages: Has a smaller number of compatible languages.
• Less Intuitive User Interface::  Some users have complained about the interfaces not being as intuitive or user friendly.

Key Features:

• Secure messaging
• Employee engagement tools
• Mobile access
• Operational functionalities

Verdict:

Beekeeper is an excellent choice for companies with a significant number of frontline workers, offering tailored features to enhance communication and engagement in a mobile-friendly format.

Jostle

Overview

Jostle offers an employee intranet designed to simplify communication and enhance workplace culture. It aims to make it easy for employees to stay informed and connected.

Pros:

• Focus on Culture: Enhances workplace culture with tools for employee recognition and interaction.
• Easy to Use: Intuitive design makes it accessible for all employees.
• Comprehensive Features: Provides a wide range of tools to support internal communication and collaboration.

Cons:

• Scalability Issues: May not scale as well for very large enterprises with complex needs.
• Limited Customization: May not offer as much customization as some larger, more complex platforms.
• Limited AI-driven Personalization:  Compared to similar features in top competitors.
• Less Comprehensive Analytics: The analytics aren’t as robust as other Staffbase alternative communications tools.
• Less Mobile First: While they do have some functionality available on mobile it isn’t the focus.

Key Features:

• News and announcements
• Organizational charts
• Employee recognition tools
• Event management

Verdict:

Jostle is a strong Staffbase alternative for mid-sized organizations looking to enhance workplace culture and internal communication with an easy-to-use intranet solution.

Conclusion

When selecting alternatives to Staffbase for internal communication and employee engagement, it’s clear that the market offers a wide range of solutions designed to meet diverse organizational needs. Among these, Firstup stands out as the leading choice for large enterprises. Its advanced AI-driven personalization, robust analytics, and seamless cross-channel integration make it the ideal platform for organizations committed to optimizing their communication strategies and elevating the employee experience at scale.

While Firstup leads the pack, other Staffbase alternatives offer unique strengths worth noting. Simpplr and Jostle focus on user-friendly intranet solutions with strong social engagement features, making them well-suited for mid-sized companies. Slack and Viva Engage excel in real-time communication and collaboration, though their capabilities are often more focused on specific use cases rather than offering a comprehensive employee communication platform. Unily offers a robust intranet experience with significant customization options, but may require considerable setup and lacks some of the advanced features present in Firstup. Lastly, Beekeeper and Connecteam provide mobile-first solutions designed primarily for frontline workers, excelling in secure messaging and operational functionality.

In conclusion, while each platform brings valuable strengths to the table, Firstup’s cutting-edge technology and all-encompassing feature set position it as the premier choice for enterprises looking to transform their internal communication and employee engagement strategies. With Firstup, organizations can ensure their communication is not only effective but also precisely tailored to meet the diverse needs of their workforce, driving engagement, enhancing the digital workplace and optimizing overall performance.