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Planable is the best client-facing social media tool we’ve ever used and we’ve used a lot.
Did you know that the average person spends over 3 hours a day on social media? Yet, many businesses struggle to cut through the noise and truly connect with their audience. What if I told you there's a secret weapon that can amplify your social media efforts and...
Jan 24, 2025
Great campaigns involve input from project managers, SEOs, graphics designers, copywriters, editors, and the list can go on and on — proper content collaboration requires you to bring loads of people on the same page. The good news is that content collaboration tools make your job a whole lot easier.
And that’s exactly why I’ve compiled a list covering the best of them. To spare you the research, I split this list into multiple categories. I’ll walk you through the best online collaboration tools for social media, design, and more.
A proper content workflow involves many departments, each having its own specific needs. The collaboration tool of your choice should ideally allow for seamless communication between departments with no disruptions whatsoever.
That said, here are some must-have features to keep in mind when picking your collaboration tools:
The option to set up a marketing calendar in the platform of your choice is mandatory. It lets marketers plan out campaigns, set up quick briefs, and delegate work to the appropriate teammates, as well as have it delivered on time.
Look for collaboration tools that let you easily invite external collaborators and clients, ideally via shareable links with no extra account setups needed. This ensures you can work with people outside your company as seamlessly as possible.
Direct comments, annotations, and approval features are a must for streamlined collaboration and reviewing workflows. Audio chats and video conferencing are also nice to have for brainstorming sessions.
Planable handles everything and anything content collaboration-related. The platform lets you work and collaborate on social posts, blogs, newsletters, ad copy, or any other type of written posts via its Universal Content feature.
Planning, approvals, feedback, media library, and collaboration across teams in Planable
One of the platform’s hallmarks, however, is its collaboration tools. Team members can leave feedback on content through in-context comments, annotations, and suggestions, while Planable’s customizable approval workflows streamline review and approval processes.
Collaboration on a Facebook post in Planable
You can pick between four approval workflow types, with multi-level approvals being the standout. You can set up multiple approval layers, each containing as many team members as you want. Content must pass through each specific layer before the final greenlight — ideal to ensure projects are thoroughly reviewed by multiple departments before publishing.
Multi-level approval workflow in Planable
Clients and external collaborators can also hop onto the platform to work on content or leave feedback via shareable links — no account setup needed.
Setting workspace permissions in Planable
You can set up client-specific workspaces with custom user permissions to keep work organized. The option to mark comments or entire posts as internal is super handy for hiding work-in-progress projects away from the client’s view until ready.
Planable also makes content planning a breeze. Its drag-and-drop calendar view, along with its color-coded labels and ample set of filtering options let you easily organize and track content for multiple campaigns and channels — social media networks included.
Content calendar view in Planable
The platform supports direct scheduling for all major social networks. You can schedule social media posts on networks like Threads, Pinterest, TikTok, and more. On top of that, features like cross-network and recurring post scheduling take out most of the grunt work that comes with social media management.
Key features
View content under calendar, list, grid (Instagram-specific), and feed views. Leave quick comments, approve content, or schedule posts in just a few clicks directly within your selected view, or get into the details and preview how your content would look on both desktops and mobiles.
Store and organize digital assets directly in Planable. Use the platform’s image and video editing tools to tweak visuals as needed or import them directly from Canva.
Generate or edit social media copy in a flash with Planable AI. Automatically generate social captions, complete with hashtags and emojis, or by simply uploading an image or video onto the platform.
Pick between optional, required, and multi-level approval workflows based on your needs or skip approvals completely.
Track social media performance across one or multiple networks and run audience demographic reports. Quickly spot your top-performing posts in terms of reach and impressions or get into the details and see each specific post’s likes, shares, comments, and so on.
Drawbacks: Planable currently doesn’t integrate with CMS solutions. That means you can’t publish blog posts directly from Planable.
Pricing: Paid packages start at $33 per workspace per month (billed annually). You can also schedule your first 50 posts for free — with access to all the platform’s features (except X publishing).
Hootsuite is an all-in-one social media management platform with built-in scheduling, competitive analytics, and advertising management features. As for collaboration, the platform stands out through its team management and social customer service capabilities.
The platform’s Organization feature lets you group multiple teams under the same workspace. From there, you can assign tasks to each team or specific members within that Organization — perfect for large agencies working with multiple brands.
Hootsuite also helps customer service teams handle social media inquiries through features like skill-based routing, agent collision detection, and access to a complete contact management system.
Key features
Store and track all customers and prospects directly in Hootsuite, and see all relevant information like additional contact details and statuses (customer, prospect), along with overviews of all previous company interactions. Leave notes next to your contacts and let service agents get in touch via a unified inbox.
Leverage auto-responders and AI-assisted responses to streamline agent productivity. Save replies to quickly address common questions and use the platform’s sentiment analysis tools to identify and handle negative feedback before it blows out of proportion.
Track customer resolution times and response rates across your entire team or on an individual level to spot room for improvement.
Drawbacks: Hootsuite is quite lackluster in the content collaboration department — it lacks annotation and in-context comments. Most of its customer service tools are also only available in the Enterprise plan.
Pricing: Packages start at $99 per month (billed annually) for one user. There’s a 30-day free trial available.
ButterDocs is a word processor that makes it super easy to work with freelance or remote content writers. The platform lets you create content briefs and assign them to specific writers. You can then review, leave feedback, and approve the finalized drafts.
This makes ButterDocs a solid choice for creative teams that outsource long-form content creation processes.
Key features
Build outlines via Blocks — Kanban-style cards describing the content of each section of a specific outline. Overview all outline Blocks within a single dashboard and click on a specific card to jump right into its corresponding section in the outline.
Leave notes next to your outline and collaborate on documents in real time via direct comments, annotations, and suggestions. Assign dedicated editors to streamline content review processes.
Kickstart your writers’ creative juices with timed word sprints and toggle between focus and dark modes to de-clutter the interface. Save scrapped content sections for later use — writers can drag and drop them into documents if they find any use for them.
Drawbacks: ButterDocs is currently in early access, so expect bugs or glitches.
Pricing: ButterDocs starts at $100 per year for one user. You can also create your first three documents completely for free.
Google Docs is like Butter Docs but simpler. The word processor offers just enough features to create and collaborate on documents. The platform allows for real-time collaboration via annotations and suggestions.
The platform’s paid plans also include basic approval features. You can either approve or reject files and leave the feedback needed to finalize drafts.
Key features
Share documents with as many team members as necessary via links. Assign custom access levels — viewer, commenter, editor.
Easily monitor the document creation process from start to finish and revert any changes whenever necessary.
Boost the platform’s functionality via numerous free and paid add-ons — translation apps, ChatGPT integrations, and mail mergers are a few examples.
Drawbacks: Google Docs doesn’t go beyond basic features — it lacks Microsoft Word’s advanced formatting and editing options, for example.
Pricing: You can use Google Docs completely for free. Paid packages are available via Google Workspace, with pricing starting at $6 per user per month (billed annually).
Trello is free and dead easy to use — one of the best project management tools for small remote teams. It’s a Kanban board-based project management tool with all the features needed to ensure smooth workflows.
You can set up Kanban boards for each specific project, assign task cards to team members — complete with deadlines and checklists — and see how these tasks move toward completion through an intuitive dashboard.
Key features
Set up tasks with checklists for a more structured approach to your workflows. Assign deadlines and color-coded labels to prioritize urgent work. Collaborate with team members via comments and attachments. Manage projects through table, calendar, and timeline views (in paid plans only).
Automatically assign tasks to specific team members, set up deadlines, and have cards move along the Kanban board if they meet specific conditions (if a task’s checklist is complete, for example) — all via a visual rule-based automation builder.
Kickstart any project through the platform’s community-made templates — browse marketing, HR, sales, and software development-specific templates.
Drawbacks: Trello is limited in features compared to other project management tools. It lacks task dependencies, workload management, and built-in file-proofing, for example.
Pricing: Paid packages start at $5 per user per month (billed annually), with a free version including up to 10 users available.
Miro is a dedicated whiteboard collaboration tool perfect for bringing remote or distributed teams together on the same page. The platform allows for brainstorming sessions, visual project planning, and even UX prototyping.
You can also hold presentations and communicate with team members through built-in polling tools, as well as audio and video chats. Miro’s ample template selection lets you kick off all sorts of meeting sessions, from brainstorming to customer journey mapping and diagramming, for example.
Key features
Use the platform’s AI to automatically turn sticky notes into full product briefs and diagrams or have it contribute with its own ideas in brainstorming sessions. Easily edit or translate written documents for maximum clarity.
Hold interactive presentations via the platform’s screen sharing, polling, and built-in timer tools, or use Miro’s Talktracks feature to record board walkthroughs so remote teams can view them at their own pace.
Integrate Miro with apps like Google Workspace and Atlassian products, as well as Amazon AWS, GitHub, and Asana to maintain your existing workflows.
Drawbacks: Miro limits the number of app integrations across pricing packages.
Pricing: Subscription plans start at $8 per user per month (billed annually), with a free version available.
Notion lets you create, store, and organize all sorts of internal documents. You can set up client brand guidelines, content briefs, meeting notes, and so on. The platform’s collaboration tools allow you to co-edit documents with team members through annotations, in-context comments, and message inboxes.
On top of that, Notion includes numerous other project management tools — you can streamline task management processes through automated workflows, priority statuses, and more.
Key features
Store multiple types of internal documents — brand guidelines, digital assets, standard operating procedures, and more — in centralized wikis. Add navigation menu items and collapsible toggles for easy browsing, and publish wikis as web pages for easy access.
Manage projects under Kanban, timeline, board, and chart views. Structure your workflows by splitting tasks into a series of sub-tasks and automate basic processes, like assigning project tasks to specific team members and setting up due dates. Create task dependencies to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
Kickstart document creation processes with access to 20,000+ community-made templates. Easily embed videos and imagery, as well as live charts. Add tables of content, collapsible toggles, search bars, and more for easy navigation.
Drawbacks: The platform is quite complex — users report a rather steep initial learning curve.
Pricing: You can get started with Notion completely for free, while paid plans start at $10 per user per month (billed annually).
Airtable is an all-in-one project management solution that stands out through its customization capabilities. The platform’s Interface Designer turns spreadsheet data into visual, fully interactive layouts — be they reporting dashboards, content pipelines, and more — all via a no-code interface.
Airtable also offers an impressive selection of project views, like Gantt charts and Kanban boards as well as timeline, list, grid, gallery, and form views — perfect to track and manage workloads based on your specific needs.
Key features
Easily turn complex data into easy-to-digest reports. Analyze team workloads, budgets, campaign performance, or any other metrics via a no-code or low-code report builder.
Set up trigger-based workflows, like sending notifications whenever tasks are completed, through a visual automation builder or use a little Javascript to build more complex automation processes.
Gain complete control over what data collaborators can view through granular access permissions. Collaborate via comments and use the platform’s version control to revert any unwanted changes.
Drawbacks: The platform’s steep pricing differences between paid plans make scalability a challenge. Storage space is also limited based on your selected packages.
Pricing: You can try out the platform for free. The entry-level paid package costs $20 per user per month (billed annually).
Dropbox handles PDF, video, and image file sharing, with the option to embed watermarks or sign documents directly within the platform.
Most notably, Dropbox includes built-in video and image editing tools — you can crop and trim visual assets, as well as adjust brightness, saturation, exposure, and more.
Key features
Collaborate on files directly in Dropbox through comments and annotations. Request signatures and see exactly when teammates viewed specific files with the platform’s document analytics.
Organize documents under multiple folders and share them via links with custom viewing permissions. Search up specific files via text and image search.
Leave precise feedback via time-stamped comments and edit videos directly within Dropbox. View video transcriptions and enable closed captions.
Drawbacks: Entry-level pricing plans are only available to one user.
Pricing: Paid packages start at $9.99 per month (billed annually), with a free forever plan available.
Google Drive should have you covered if you’re looking to store all files in a centralized space. The platform handles documents from all across Google Workspace — be it Docs, Slides, Sheets, and more — along with 100+ other file types.
And of course, you also get access to solid team collaboration tools. You can annotate PDF files, leave comments, and assign custom viewing permissions.
Key features
Organize documents into folders and leverage the platform’s AI-powered search capabilities and broad filter set to find particular files quickly.
Use Google Gemini to quickly summarize files or generate documents, slides, and more.
Check user activity all across your Google Workspace to see the most recent comments and user access requests and quickly address any feedback.
Drawbacks: Unlike Dropbox, Google Drive lacks built-in image and video editing features.
Pricing: You can use Google Drive completely for free, while paid packages start at $6 per user per month (billed annually).
Canva handles all your graphics design needs — the platform lets you create visuals for your blog, ad campaigns, newsletters, and even printed fliers or brochures.
Plus, Planable’s Canva integration lets you create social media assets in Canva, export them to Planable, and post them across all your networks from there.
Canva also includes loads of time-saving AI features — automatic background removers or replacements and mockup, video, and image generation are just a few examples.
Key features
Work on the same project with other team members in real time. Collaborate through direct comments and assign tasks to ensure steady workflows. Approve designs directly in Canva.
Store and organize created assets under sharable folders. Set up brand kits (colors, fonts, and logos) to easily apply them across Canva’s templates.
Set up separate teams dedicated to each project or client. Use the platform’s reports to gauge productivity and assign custom roles and permissions on a team or individual level.
Drawbacks: Canva only includes basic approval tools in its entry-level paid packages. You’ll need a customized subscription plan to access more advanced approval features.
Pricing: Paid packages start at $15 per month (billed monthly), with one user included. There’s also a free forever plan available.
Figma is an excellent option to streamline collaboration between web design and development teams. The platform’s Developer Handoff feature allows for seamless transitions of projects from designers to developers while its prototyping tools help turn designs into fully interactive mockups.
Figma also offers loads of collaboration features. The platform includes built-in audio chat and the option to have multiple team members work on the same project in real time.
Key features
Use conditional logic, animations, transitions, and overlays to simulate user browsing experiences. See whether your prototypes are mobile-friendly via dedicated responsive views. Connect multiple layouts to emulate end-to-end user experiences.
Leave comments in context and invite external stakeholders via shareable links. Use Observation Mode to see a specific team member’s screen — ideal for feedback giving and design testing.
Kickstart design processes with pre-built UI kits. Design page layouts through a pixel-perfect vector-based canvas. Use Auto Layout to ensure designs are responsive.
Drawbacks: Figma requires a permanent internet connection, which makes the platform prone to occasional performance issues.
Pricing: You can try the platform for free, while the entry-level paid package costs $15 per user per month (billed annually).
Slack is one of the best online collaboration tools for bringing your entire team under the same roof. The platform lets you create separate channels dedicated to different projects, clients, departments, and so on — all under the same workspace.
You can collaborate with team members via group chats, one-on-one messages, as well as audio and video clips. The platform’s Huddles features also allows for full-on audio chats — complete with video and screen sharing capabilities.
Key features
Set up project plans and assign tasks to teammates directly within Slack — set due dates and easily track project progress via status labels.
Use the platform’s Workflow Builder to automate routine tasks like sending status updates, scheduling meetings, and more, through a no-code interface.
Merge Slack into your existing workflows via numerous native integrations — Asana, Jira, Adobe Express, and Salesforce, for example.
Drawbacks: Slack’s UI might get tricky to navigate if you include a large number of channels.
Pricing: You can use Slack completely for free. Paid packages start at $7.25 per user per month (billed yearly).
Zoom includes numerous collaboration features like one-on-one, team, and channel chats, and voice calls. But the platform also offers a solid video conferencing tool. The free plan lets you hold video meetings with up to 100 participants in one go.
Plus, you get access to extra features like screen sharing, breakout rooms, meeting recording, and more. Paid packages also unlock polling, co-hosting, and meeting reports.
Key features
Organize brainstorming sessions by splitting a meeting into multiple, separate groups.
Chat with team members through private and group chats, as well as discussion threads. Attach files and use Zoom Docs to work on documents directly within the platform.
Use Zoom’s AI tools to compose messages, help with ideas in brainstorming sessions, and create or edit documents.
Drawbacks: The platform’s free plan caps meetings at 40 minutes.
Pricing: Paid packages start at $13.32 per user per month (billed annually).
There you have it — the best online collaboration tools you should consider for content, design, project management, file sharing, and all-around team communication.
Although each collaboration platform in this list fulfills its own specific use case, make sure to add Planable to your shortlist — especially if you’re looking to streamline social media management and content creation processes.
The platform is packed with robust collaboration features like easy client onboarding and in-document feedback via comments, annotations, and suggestions. Plus, its native Canva integration makes it easy to import and collaborate on visuals and post them to your socials directly from Planable.
So why not give it a shot? Schedule your first 50 posts for free!
Digital marketing enthusiast, language nerd, and content writer. Horea loves writing about SaaS and anything that involves boosting online presence – from SEO to social media, web design, and more. His content is allergic to fluff and eats research for breakfast.
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