Best Intranet Software (With Buyer's Guide)
A modern intranet is the digital home of a company — the place employees find news, documents, people and tools in one secure hub. The right platform boosts communication, cuts down on endless email, and keeps remote and in-office teams connected. Here are the best intranet software platforms, what each does well, and a buyer's guide to choosing the right one.
Best Intranet Software at a Glance
| Platform | Best For |
|---|---|
| Microsoft SharePoint & Viva | Microsoft 365 companies |
| Simpplr | Employee experience |
| Happeo | Google Workspace teams |
| Staffbase | Frontline & mobile workforces |
| Confluence | Knowledge & documentation |
What Does Intranet Software Do?
A good intranet brings together the everyday essentials of working life: company news and announcements, a document library, an employee directory, team and project spaces, and search that actually finds things. Modern platforms add social feeds, mobile apps for frontline staff, integrations with the tools you already use, and increasingly AI-powered search and content assistance.
1. Microsoft SharePoint & Viva — Best for Microsoft 365 Companies
If your organisation runs on Microsoft 365, SharePoint (paired with Microsoft Viva Connections) is the natural intranet choice. It's deeply integrated with Teams, Outlook and OneDrive, highly customisable, and included with most business Microsoft 365 plans. It's powerful, though it can require setup expertise to look modern.
2. Simpplr — Best for Employee Experience
Simpplr is a leading modern intranet focused on a clean, social, AI-assisted employee experience. It's known for fast deployment, an intuitive interface and strong engagement features, making it popular with companies that want a polished intranet without heavy IT lifting.
3. Happeo — Best for Google Workspace Teams
Happeo integrates tightly with Google Workspace, surfacing Drive, Calendar and Gmail alongside news pages and team "channels." For organisations built on Google's tools, it delivers a cohesive, easy-to-manage intranet.
4. Staffbase — Best for Frontline and Mobile Workforces
Staffbase specialises in reaching every employee, including frontline and deskless workers, through a strong mobile-first app and employee communications tools. It's ideal for retail, manufacturing, healthcare and other industries where many staff don't sit at a desk.
5. Confluence — Best for Knowledge and Documentation
Atlassian's Confluence is a powerful wiki-style platform that doubles as an intranet for knowledge-heavy teams. It excels at documentation, collaboration and connecting with Jira, making it a favourite of engineering and product organisations.
Intranet Buyer's Guide: How to Choose
Start with your existing tools — SharePoint/Viva for Microsoft 365 shops, Happeo for Google Workspace. Consider your workforce: if many employees are frontline or mobile, prioritise a strong app like Staffbase. Weigh ease of use and time-to-launch (Simpplr is known for fast deployment) against deep customisation. Other key factors: search quality, mobile experience, integrations, security and compliance, analytics, and of course pricing — which is usually per user, per month. Always run a pilot with real employees before rolling out company-wide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best intranet software?
It depends on your stack and workforce. SharePoint with Viva is best for Microsoft 365 companies, Happeo for Google Workspace, Simpplr for a polished employee experience, Staffbase for frontline teams, and Confluence for knowledge-heavy organisations.
What is intranet software used for?
An intranet is a secure internal hub where employees access company news, documents, the staff directory, team spaces and tools in one place. It improves communication, reduces email overload and keeps remote and in-office teams aligned.
How much does intranet software cost?
Most platforms charge per user, per month, with prices varying widely by features and company size. SharePoint is included with many Microsoft 365 business plans, while dedicated platforms like Simpplr or Staffbase are quoted based on your headcount and needs.
Do small businesses need an intranet?
Smaller teams can often start with built-in tools like SharePoint, Google Workspace or Confluence rather than a dedicated platform. As a company grows and communication gets harder, a purpose-built intranet becomes well worth the investment.
Final Thoughts
The right intranet turns scattered information into one connected, searchable hub. Match the platform to your existing tools and workforce — SharePoint/Viva, Simpplr, Happeo, Staffbase or Confluence are all strong choices — and always pilot it with employees first. A well-chosen intranet pays for itself in saved time and better-connected teams.