Flowdock vs. Google Chat

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Flowdock
Score 9.5 out of 10
N/A
Flowdock is a collaboration tool built around a chat and team inbox interface. Flowdock is available via app or as a browser-based solution. It was originally offered by Rally Software Development, which was acquired by CA Technologies, which was acquired by Broadcom in 2018.N/A
Google Chat
Score 7.8 out of 10
N/A
Google Chat, formerly Hangouts Chat, is a collaboration tool competing with Slack, designed to make it easy for teams to be able to get their work done in one place. From direct messages to group conversations, Chat helps teams collaborate, and with dedicated, virtual rooms to house projects over time — plus threaded conversations — Chat helps users track progress and follow up tasks. Chat currently supports 28 languages and each room can support up to 8,000 members.N/A
Pricing
FlowdockGoogle Chat
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
FlowdockGoogle Chat
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
FlowdockGoogle Chat
Features
FlowdockGoogle Chat
Project Management
Comparison of Project Management features of Product A and Product B
Flowdock
4.9
2 Ratings
45% below category average
Google Chat
8.4
26 Ratings
8% above category average
Task Management6.72 Ratings8.014 Ratings
Gantt Charts3.01 Ratings8.39 Ratings
Scheduling4.01 Ratings8.716 Ratings
Workflow Automation2.01 Ratings7.512 Ratings
Mobile Access7.22 Ratings9.325 Ratings
Search5.72 Ratings9.123 Ratings
Visual planning tools6.01 Ratings7.613 Ratings
Communication
Comparison of Communication features of Product A and Product B
Flowdock
3.8
2 Ratings
71% below category average
Google Chat
8.9
26 Ratings
11% above category average
Chat8.92 Ratings9.826 Ratings
Notifications7.72 Ratings9.326 Ratings
Discussions7.72 Ratings8.724 Ratings
Surveys2.01 Ratings9.217 Ratings
Internal knowledgebase1.01 Ratings9.015 Ratings
Integrates with GoToMeeting1.01 Ratings8.07 Ratings
Integrates with Gmail and Google Hangouts1.01 Ratings8.215 Ratings
Integrates with Outlook1.01 Ratings9.06 Ratings
File Sharing & Management
Comparison of File Sharing & Management features of Product A and Product B
Flowdock
7.8
1 Ratings
3% below category average
Google Chat
8.7
26 Ratings
8% above category average
Video files8.01 Ratings7.723 Ratings
Audio files8.01 Ratings8.022 Ratings
Document collaboration8.01 Ratings8.421 Ratings
Access control8.01 Ratings9.318 Ratings
Advanced security features7.01 Ratings9.519 Ratings
Versioning00 Ratings8.817 Ratings
Integrates with Google Drive00 Ratings8.115 Ratings
Device sync00 Ratings9.624 Ratings
Best Alternatives
FlowdockGoogle Chat
Small Businesses
Stackby
Stackby
Score 9.0 out of 10
Stackby
Stackby
Score 9.0 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Troop Messenger
Troop Messenger
Score 9.8 out of 10
Troop Messenger
Troop Messenger
Score 9.8 out of 10
Enterprises
HCL Connections
HCL Connections
Score 9.0 out of 10
HCL Connections
HCL Connections
Score 9.0 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
FlowdockGoogle Chat
Likelihood to Recommend
6.6
(2 ratings)
9.1
(26 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(1 ratings)
8.0
(2 ratings)
Usability
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(9 ratings)
Support Rating
-
(0 ratings)
7.3
(3 ratings)
User Testimonials
FlowdockGoogle Chat
Likelihood to Recommend
Broadcom
Flowdock is well suited for small teams and to environments that doesn't need too much reliability. I think it has some management problems that can make your life difficult if you have to manage a big amount of users. If you want just a tool communication with basic features (without using any integration or robust features) it can be suitable for you. You should try Flowdock using its free version for a small team and compare with others similar products. Flowdock delivers team chat and collaboration features, but is not necessarily the best product. Maybe some usability problems that disturb me won't be so relevant to you.
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Google
It is a easy and quick way to chat and send instant message using the Google account, even send files, emojis, create groups. I have used it to communicate even with external people with a personal gmail account and is great to stay in touch with all around. I recommend it for anyone who wants to stay communicated using a google account.
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Pros
Broadcom
  • Mobile app experience
  • Software integrations
  • Notifications
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Google
  • When discussing about a specific project, I can quickly share google docs or sheets within the chat which helps my team to view the document in real time and they do not have to leave the conversation.
  • Scheduling a meeting with someone is very easy on Google Chat.
  • We have remote team members in different time zones and instead of waiting for emails we use Google Chat to quickly discuss anything.
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Cons
Broadcom
  • One thing a little bit annoying is that a lot of links to others Flowdock sections (preferences, external services, etc) will open a new window/tab. Each click may take you to a new window and you can get lost easily.
  • There isn't a quick access list to members of your organization to start a private chat. I took a while to find how to do that. The interface and usability could be better.
  • There isn't an app for Windows Phone.
  • Sometimes you try to load some conversation and it doesn't show anything. It is not frequently but happens sometimes.
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Google
  • Google Hangouts Chat has a room for improvement in customizing the themes background.The themes are outdated and hard to change if you don't know the right key to change it.
  • It could be more user friendly if there will be no hidden features. Formatting messages is very likely to use and fun.
  • With conversations going on about everything all the time, it's easy to get pulled into far too many discussions but sometimes its hard to mention names because it shows many result even the users are not included on the chat room.
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Likelihood to Renew
Broadcom
I go with the flow because I'm a newer employee and Flowdock works as advertised. If it were my decision to choose a team communciator for the organization, I'd recommend we go with Slack for its robust features and ever-changing/evolving software integrations. Slack is the outright innovator in the space and will continue to hold that role for some time.
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Google
The updates, support, general reviews on Google Chat are great everywhere. The development of the features is ongoing and this adds a great value to Google as a big company in the market. Other applications are limiting communication while Google Chat is allowing communication to grow. It is very easy to use it and teach others how to use Google Chat.
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Usability
Broadcom
No answers on this topic
Google
As stated from the starting we found this application is well suited for a small audience and a group of people across the organization can be communicated easily with no additional hectic of doing any setup. When you have a Gmail account ready then you can easily access google chat and continue the communication. This tool is simple,secure and robust helping the global leading partner for their internal precise communication and handling the tasks in a great way
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Support Rating
Broadcom
No answers on this topic
Google
I have not needed to contact the support folks for Google Hangouts Chat, so I can't speak to this with any accuracy. The online instructions are fairly clearly written, so it is fairly intuitive to start with. I did not feel the need to use the support people anyway.
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Alternatives Considered
Broadcom
Slack is a similar software.
Private chat or channels are well implemented in both softwares and both are also very easy to setup.
Besides of some usability problemas I think Flowdock is still better than Slack in this user experience and design.
The second point is the price. Flowdock is half price of Slack ($3/month). If you are a student or a non-profit organization, you are able to get some special license.
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Google
Slack has a few more features than Google Chat. Slack, for a long time, had thread chats that grouped a thread of thoughts together, making the main chat group space a lot less cluttered. A while back, Google Chat implemented a similar thing in a different but similar way, making the group less crowded. They are catching up.
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Return on Investment
Broadcom
  • Our company uses it by default.
  • I enjoy the ability to communicate outside of text messages...keeps the conversation on in it's own bucket.
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Google
  • In my work it allows us to report troubles that may cost loss of investment thru Google Hangouts Chat we were able to communicate on how to fix it.
  • I hope we can make it on our own choice of colors to heightened workers vibe
  • It is connected to your email
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ScreenShots