With plenty of file management tools for Slack available, choosing the right one is difficult. But fear not; based on personal experiences, I’ll share the best tools for sharing files with coworkers (and managing your apps) in Slack today.
Note: if you don’t know how to integrate these file management apps, read our separate guide on how to install and manage Slack apps.
Content
- 1. Google Drive
- 2. Dropbox
- 3. Odrive
- 4. OneDrive and SharePoint
- 5. Sync.com
- 6. Quip
- 7. Notion
- 8. Nextcloud
1. Google Drive
Since I use Google Drive for most of my document creation, integrating it with Slack was an obvious choice. You can use Google Drive’s Slack app to share Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides with minimal effort.
When I share a Google Drive document with someone in Slack, it automatically shows a preview. The user can then click through and edit or read as needed. I recommend typing “off” in your Google Drive Slack conversation to switch off notifications of these kinds; they can get quite annoying.
You can share Google Drive links in channels and individual chats; it’s one of many great Slack integrations for productivity.
2. Dropbox
I normally use Dropbox for to share photos, and its Slack integration makes it easy to share these with clients. You can also use Dropbox to share Word documents, PDFs, and various other document types.
To share Dropbox files in Slack, you can type /dropbox in the conversation or channel you want to share your files. Then, after signing in, tick all the folders you want to send.
You can also copy and paste your Slack file links if you feel like doing so is easier. Away from Slack, you can run multiple Dropbox accounts on a single computer.
3. Odrive
Odrive is a great tool for those looking to keep their Slack files in sync across devices. When you allow this app access to your Slack, it’ll dig through all of your channels, as well as all of your direct messages for files, and then keep them in sync.
It’s actually possible to update your files directly from your computer’s file system, much like a Dropbox or Google Drive client would do.
To use Odrive in Slack, you’ll need to go into your Odrive account and link all of your file-sharing platforms. Moreover, you should download Odrive Desktop Sync. You can get a free seven-day trial before upgrading for $99 per year.
4. OneDrive and SharePoint
If you primarily use Microsoft documents, OneDrive and SharePoint is an excellent Slack integration. Using Microsoft 365 with OneDrive storage is also one of many cheap cloud storage options for students.
After connecting your Microsoft account, you can directly create a OneDrive document in Slack. It’s also possible to build PowerPoint presentations or Excel spreadsheets without leaving the app.
You can, however, also directly choose files from your OneDrive account and send a link to these. Once you’ve done this, the recipient(s) should see a pop-up preview (if they’ve enabled pop-ups in their browsers).
5. Sync.com
Sync.com lets you automatically sync all of your desktop apps in a cloud (and then share them within Slack). While it does have paid subscriptions, you can get up to 5GB for free on an individual plan.
If you don’t have the Sync.com desktop app, you can drag and drop folders into the cloud. Alternatively, you can choose the Upload option and quickly add any documents you want to keep safe online.
I had a few issues signing into the app at first, but after connecting, everything worked fine. Type /sync and choose your file when you’re ready to share and manage your documents.
6. Quip
Quip is an ideal file management app for Slack if you want to manage all the essential content from your channel. You can invite everyone from your workspace and quickly share files for them to access.
You can also share documents in Slack and receive notifications whenever someone makes changes to these. It’s particularly ideal if you work in a larger team and need real-time collaboration.
I also used Quip’s Slack integration to create documents within the app. It’s particularly ideal if you already use Salesforce as the software was primarily designed for use with this.
7. Notion
You might think of Notion mainly as a note-taking or project management tool, but you can also use it for file management in Slack. You can use the integration to quickly share documents from the Notion app, including calendars and notes.
When you share a link via Notion’s Slack integration, others can see a preview. Depending on the permissions you’ve granted, they can then go in and make changes or add comments. It’s great if you’re already using the tool for your project management.
You’ll have to connect Notion with Slack before you can share and manage your files. It doesn’t matter if you have a free or paid plan. You can combine Notion with some of the best Slack apps for surveying coworkers.
8. Nextcloud
Consider using Nextcloud if you’d rather self-host your online storage. The app, available as an on-premises or cloud solution, can be integrated with Slack via GitHub.
Nextcloud itself works similarly to many other file-sharing tools. For example, you can mark your most important content as a favorite. Netxcloud also lets you lock sensitive files, and you can organize everything within the app however you want.
Besides file-sharing, Nextcloud has a handy document collaboration tool and chat tool for team members to work more closely together. This makes it one of the best open-source tools.
You probably already use Slack if you’re in a tech-centric job, and you also likely share a lot of files. When you combine both of these, integrating these apps with your Slack account is a logical choice. Doing so is one of the best ways to be more productive in Slack.
Image Credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Danny Maiorca.
Danny Maiorca –
Contributor
Danny has written for online audiences for 10+ years. He specializes in Apple products and loves writing on his MacBook, keeping in touch on his iPhone, and measuring his workouts on his Apple Watch. Danny’s work has featured in multiple places online, including MUO, Lifewire, and Guiding Tech. Away from the keyboard, he’s passionate about photography and leading an active lifestyle outdoors.
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