A good intranet helps staff find the right answer. They should not have to ask three people. That might mean a leave form, a shift update, or the latest sales deck. A fine-looking home page is not much help if those things are still hard to find.
I would start with the tools your team already uses. Who needs to read the news? Who owns each page? How much time can you give to upkeep? Those choices matter more than a long feature list.
Which intranet software fits your team?
| Tool | Where I would use it |
|---|---|
| SharePoint | A team that keeps its files and work in Microsoft 365. |
| Happeo | A Google Workspace team that wants a shared front door. |
| Blink | Staff who need news and work links on their phones. |
| Staffbase | A company with a full internal news program. |
| Interact | A larger team that needs news tailored to different groups. |
SharePoint: my first stop for Microsoft teams
SharePoint is my pick for a team already working in Microsoft 365. It brings sites, news, and shared files into that setup. The case for it is strongest when the problem is finding and managing work that already lives there.
Microsoft's SharePoint overview sets out its document and site tools. Check the exact plan you hold before buying more software. Access to a product and a finished intranet are two different things.
The trade-off is ownership. Someone must plan the site, keep access rights in shape, and decide which files belong where. I would give a small team one clear home page, a short list of key links, and named page owners. A maze of team sites can make a simple task feel like a hunt.
In a chat among IT staff, some favor SharePoint for Microsoft teams. Others stress the need for sound setup. That is useful context, not proof that it fits every team.
Happeo: a natural fit for Google Workspace
Happeo is my pick for a Google Workspace team that wants one place to start the workday. Its pages and channels give staff a place for lasting guidance and fresh updates.
The appeal is the link to tools staff know. Happeo's Google Workspace integration includes directory data and access to work content. That makes it worth a look if your files live in Drive and your team relies on Google accounts.
I would test search with real tasks. Ask a new hire to find the expense rules. Ask a team lead to find the current leave form. Then try the same task with an account that has fewer rights. A search box is useful only when the result is right and the person can open it.
Happeo still needs editors. Moving old files into a new front door does not make them current. Before signing, get a written price and ask what help is included with launch, content moves, and staff training.
Blink: put phone-based staff first
Blink is my pick when most staff need work news and links on a phone. Its employee app combines a feed, chat, and a hub for shared resources.
The Blink employee app is built around reaching staff beyond a desk. I would put it on the shortlist for shops, service teams, or shift-based work where an email-led intranet misses much of the audience.
Test the whole sign-in path on a staff phone. Can a new user get in with the account they have? Can they find a rota link without a tour? Can they turn off routine alerts while still seeing urgent news?
Does your team need to sort and store lots of files? Give those tasks their own trial. A clear mobile feed and a strong document library solve different problems. Choose around the work your staff do most often.
Staffbase: for a serious internal news program
Staffbase is my pick for a company with a team whose main job is staff news. Its intranet sits within a broader set of tools for sharing company news.
Staffbase's intranet offering puts company communication at the center. That focus makes sense when different sites or groups need a clear flow of updates, rather than another place to store files.
For a small firm, I would first ask whether there is enough news to justify the work. Who will write it? Who will check it? What needs to reach everyone, and what belongs with one group?
Ask for a quote for all your staff. Include each way you plan to share news. In a demo, use a real example: one policy update, two locations, and staff with different access needs. A polished sample feed tells you less than that small test.
Interact: tailor the front page to the reader
Interact is my pick for a larger team that needs news and links aimed at each group. It puts a strong focus on staff news and shared knowledge.
Interact's platform includes ways to target content by audience. A shift worker may need one set of links. A new hire or a finance lead may need another. Each can have a page that fits their work.
More choice brings more work. Someone must keep group data and content rules current. I would ask the vendor to show what happens when a worker changes roles or locations. Old access rules can leave people with the wrong links or news.
This is a more involved choice than a small shared site. Get clear launch costs, support terms, and a plan for moving existing content. The plan price is only part of the bill.
What I would test before buying
Run a short trial with five common tasks. Find a policy, read a team update, locate a colleague, open a key form, and search for a piece of older guidance. Include staff who do not work at a desk.
Keep a note of where people get stuck. The best intranet for your team is the one that makes these jobs simple enough to repeat. Count successful tasks, not just visits to the home page.
Give each important page an owner and a review date. If your main problem is whether an answer is still sound, my Guru knowledge base review covers a more focused approach to trusted answers.
An intranet can share news, but it does not tell you whether staff feel heard. For that, compare the survey and follow-up tools in my employee engagement software guide.
My verdict
Start with SharePoint if Microsoft 365 already holds your work. Put Happeo next to it if your team lives in Google Workspace. Move Blink up the list when staff mostly use phones. Staffbase and Interact deserve a closer look when a larger news program needs more structure.
I would buy the smallest system that meets the real need, then give someone time to run it well. One trusted page beats fifty neglected ones.