Free collaboration tools
/With more and more tools available either free or for small sums to help people collaborate and share information, I've been compiling a list of the best ones I've come across. (Thanks to Saul Albert and the School of Everything team for their contributions to this list.)
- FolderShare: my favourite, a simple application which turns any group of un-networked, web-enabled PCs into a virtual shared drive (backed-up onto all machines, available offline, and it even includes good version control).
- FilesAnywhere: free tool for sharing documents and files online, including version control and multiple workgroups functionality.
- Skype: an obvious one, the most common internet telephony service also offers handy chat functions, plus Skype Prime for video conferencing.
- Wordpress: collaborative blogging can be a powerful way to collaborate and develop a project; Wordpress now allows private blogs accessible only to selected users. (It also produces nifty little websites like this one...)
- PhpBB: vanilla free bulletin board software, often cited as the open-source standard.
- Google for Domains: particularly their e-mail and calendar tools for project management.
- Google Docs: excellent for collaborative concurrent authoring of documentation and project plans.
- Wikispaces, Wikidot, Stikipad: free wiki tools for recording ideas, meeting notes and decisions collaboratively in a shared space. (See also the neat new Facebook wiki tool, Wikimono.)
- Del.ico.us: the most well-known bookmark-sharing system is increasingly popular with organisations for sharing useful links
- Feedburner: the free RSS aggregation and subscription tool, now including e-mail broadcasting (subscribe to this site for a demo)
- Hiveminder: a simple-to use but powerful task management tool, with support for groups and email integration.
- 37 Signals: these guys offer some classic project management tools, including Backpack, Tadalist and Basecamp.
- Zoho: a range of online project and collaboration tools including wiki and task manager.
- Huddle: yet another new project collaboration engine, but slick and with many features.
- Openworkbench: basic Gantt and project planning charts, editable and shareable online.
- MindMeister: powerful collaborative online and offline mindmapping software
- Gliffy: diagramming and project planning software online.
- Rememble: social site for timelining and sharing a range of media, from text-messages to photos. Useful if you have too much communication! (Disclosure: my friend Gavin actually runs this, but I was recommending it before I knew him.)
- Compendium: excellent if rather technical tool from the OU for mapping discussions and capturing decisions.
- Surveymonkey: simple, free survey tool for basic questionnaires and consultations.
- Highrise and SugarCRM: cheap and effective contact management tools for managing wider engagement (Highrise is actually provided by 37 Signals).
So, anything I've missed? There are new tools emerging all the time and I make no claims to completeness, so if you've got anything to add please share it in your comments below. Happy collaboration!
