Best Enterprise Social Networks
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- Start from your workplace suite: Viva Engage on Microsoft 365, Happeo or LumApps on Google Workspace.
- For frontline staff, Staffbase, Workvivo, Haiilo and Oak Engage are built around a mobile app.
- European hosting: Talkspirit (France and Switzerland), Staffbase and Haiilo (Germany) publish it.
- Workplace from Meta closed in May 2026; Meta named Workvivo by Zoom its preferred migration partner.
- Most vendors quote on request; Viva Engage premium starts at €1.73 excl. VAT per user per month, and core features come with Microsoft 365.
The enterprise social network platforms worth considering in 2026 depend on where your people already work. Viva Engage is the natural starting point on Microsoft 365, Happeo and LumApps suit Google Workspace, Staffbase, Workvivo, Haiilo and Oak Engage focus on frontline employees, and Talkspirit suits organisations that want European hosting and communication that follows their structure. Workplace from Meta is no longer an option: it closed in May 2026.
This comparison reviews 10 platforms under the same headings: who each one suits, strengths, limitations, hosting and published pricing. Every fact was checked on 29 September 2026 on the vendor's own website. It is written by the Talkspirit team, which publishes one of the platforms compared: Talkspirit is assessed on the same criteria as the others, limitations included.
What is an enterprise social network?
An enterprise social network (ESN) is an internal platform where employees post, comment and take part in communities, much like a consumer social network but restricted to the organisation. It sits between the intranet, which publishes reference information, and team messaging, which handles quick exchanges. In 2026 the lines are blurring: most platforms now combine a news feed, communities, targeted announcements, a mobile app and AI-assisted search, and are often sold as employee experience platforms.
What changed in 2026
- Workplace from Meta has closed. It became read-only on 1 September 2025 and ceased operating on 31 May 2026, the date Meta had set for permanently deleting remaining instances. In May 2024 Meta named Workvivo by Zoom its only preferred migration partner. We looked at what the closure teaches in our article on the end of Workplace.
- Yammer is now Viva Engage, and on 2 February 2026 Microsoft announced that Viva Engage communities are coming directly into the Teams chat app, in public preview and with no migration required.
- Consolidation continues. Zoom has owned Workvivo since April 2023, Haiilo was formed in 2022 from COYO, Smarp and Jubiwee, and LumApps agreed to combine with Beekeeper in July 2025, with Bridgepoint remaining its majority owner.
Six criteria for choosing an enterprise social network
- Your existing workplace suite. If your teams live in Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, check sign-in, document and notification integration first: that is what drives adoption.
- Frontline employees. For staff in shops, plants, hospitals or on the road, insist on a mobile app and sign-in without a company email address.
- Hosting and jurisdiction. Data location is not the whole story: the US CLOUD Act of March 2018 governs access to data held by US-based providers, wherever it is stored (source: US Department of Justice). Look at the vendor's home country and published certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2) as well as the data centre.
- Targeting. An announcement sent to everyone is read by no one: check that you can publish by team, site, role or language.
- Governance. Who creates communities, who moderates, who manages external guests: permissions should follow your organisation, not the other way round.
- Pricing model. Most vendors in this market quote on request. Ask for the total cost: licences, add-ons, frontline seats and onboarding.
Enterprise social network platforms compared
The table summarises each platform. Prices are those published by vendors on 29 September 2026, before any discount; “on request” means no amount is published.
| Platform | Vendor | Best suited to | Published hosting | Published pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PlatformTalkspirit | VendorTalkspirit, France | Best suited toMid-sized organisations that want communication to follow their structure | Published hostingFrance and Switzerland, outside the Cloud Act and FISA | Published pricingOn request, 15-day free trial |
| PlatformViva Engage | VendorMicrosoft, United States | Best suited toOrganisations already on Microsoft 365 | Published hostingMicrosoft EU geo for European tenants | Published pricingIncluded in Microsoft 365; premium from €1.73 excl. VAT |
| PlatformWorkvivo | VendorZoom (Workvivo, Ireland) | Best suited toOffice and frontline teams, former Workplace customers | Published hostingZoom cloud, US or EMEA instance | Published pricingOn request, no free trial |
| PlatformStaffbase | VendorStaffbase, Germany | Best suited toLarge organisations with frontline staff | Published hostingMicrosoft Azure in Frankfurt for the EU | Published pricingOn request |
| PlatformSimpplr | VendorSimpplr, United States | Best suited toEnterprises wanting an AI intranet with communities | Published hostingSalesforce and AWS, US and EU regions | Published pricingOn request, 14-day trial (limited places) |
| PlatformUnily | VendorUnily, United Kingdom | Best suited toMid-size to enterprise organisations | Published hostingMicrosoft Azure, regions not published | Published pricingOn request, no free trial |
| PlatformLumApps | VendorLumApps, founded in Lyon | Best suited toLarge organisations, from head office to the frontline | Published hostingGoogle Cloud and Microsoft Azure, EU environments | Published pricingOn request |
| PlatformHappeo | VendorHappeo, Finland | Best suited toCompanies on Google Workspace | Published hostingGoogle Cloud (region not published on its security page) | Published pricingOn request, free trial |
| PlatformHaiilo | VendorHaiilo, Germany | Best suited toFrontline and desk-based teams | Published hostingEU (Germany) or US, customer's choice | Published pricingOn request |
| PlatformOak Engage | VendorOak, United Kingdom | Best suited toFrontline and desk-based employees | Published hostingProvider and region not published | Published pricingOn request |
1. Talkspirit
The European organisational operating system, with an enterprise social network as its communication layer
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Talkspirit connects an organisation's structure (teams, roles, circles), goals, projects, meetings and internal communication in one platform. Its newsfeed distributes announcements by team, role or project, and its chat brings one-to-one messaging, group conversations and video calls together.
Best suited to
Mid-sized organisations, public bodies and non-profits that want information to follow the real organisation, with European hosting. According to the vendor, more than 900 European organisations run on Talkspirit; its published clients include Great Place To Work Netherlands, Big Blue Marble in Austria and several Swiss organisations.
Strengths
- targeted announcements by team, role or project, archived and searchable
- conversations linked to projects, meetings and roles, so context is not lost
- built-in governance (roles, circles, decisions), from Holaspirit, which joined Talkspirit in 2023
- external guests in dedicated spaces with controlled permissions
- documented deployments with field teams who have no work email
Limitations
- broader than a social network: targeting relies on the structure you model in the platform, so teams and roles need to be set up first
- no published pricing: quotes on request
Hosting and security
Vendor: Talkspirit SAS, Paris (France). Data hosted in France and Switzerland, outside the reach of the Cloud Act and FISA according to the vendor. GDPR compliant, ISO 27001:2022 certified.
Published pricing and trial
On request, with a free demo. Free 15-day trial, no credit card required.
2. Microsoft Viva Engage
Microsoft 365's enterprise social network, formerly Yammer
Viva Engage is Microsoft's enterprise social network: communities, conversations, announcements, Q&A and events. Following the announcement of 2 February 2026, its communities appear in the Teams chat app alongside chats and channels, in public preview.
Best suited to
Organisations whose people already work in Microsoft 365 and Teams.
Strengths
- included in Microsoft 365 and Office 365 enterprise plans for communities and conversations
- no extra app to roll out: it lives in Teams and Outlook
- premium features include advanced analytics, leadership engagement and Copilot in Viva Engage
Limitations
- premium features need a Viva licence on top of Microsoft 365
- communities in Teams were announced as a public preview: check their status before building a roll-out on them
Hosting and security
Vendor: Microsoft, Redmond (United States). Message bodies and attachments are stored in Microsoft's EU geo when the tenant enrols from Europe or is billed to an EU address. The exact country is not published.
Published pricing and trial
Core features included in Microsoft 365. Viva Employee Communications and Communities: €1.73 excl. VAT per user per month; Microsoft Viva suite: €10.40 excl. VAT per user per month, annual commitment (Microsoft France price list; £1.54 and £9.20 in the UK).
3. Workvivo by Zoom
The employee experience platform owned by Zoom, Meta's migration partner for Workplace
Workvivo, an Irish company acquired by Zoom in April 2023, was named Meta's only preferred migration partner for Workplace customers. It combines a social feed, campaigns, newsletters, spaces, recognition, events and live streams.
Best suited to
Organisations that want a strongly social experience from office to frontline, and former Workplace customers.
Strengths
- mobile-first design for frontline staff
- integrations with Microsoft 365 (Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive) and Google Workspace
- translation of content and more than 60 HR integrations
Limitations
- no free trial: the vendor states it explicitly
- pricing on request only
Hosting and security
Vendor: Workvivo Limited, Cork (Ireland), a Zoom company (United States). Zoom's enterprise cloud infrastructure, with regional data centres in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific; its AI agent processes data in the instance's region (US or EMEA). ISO 27001 certified; SOC 2 Type 2 report available under NDA.
Published pricing and trial
On request, as a customised package. Demo available, no free trial.
4. Staffbase
The German employee app and intranet for communication at scale
Staffbase, a European company (SE) headquartered in Chemnitz, Germany, combines an employee app, an intranet, internal email, communities and AI-generated audio briefings. The vendor reports more than 1,500 enterprise customers.
Best suited to
Large organisations reaching frontline teams, desk workers, or both.
Strengths
- dedicated frontline pricing
- employee app, intranet and internal email run from one platform
- EU or US hosting, at the customer's choice
Limitations
- no public price list
- no free trial announced, demo only
Hosting and security
Vendor: Staffbase SE, Chemnitz (Germany). EU servers on Microsoft Azure (and AWS for Email Classic) in Frankfurt, Germany. ISO 27001 certified.
Published pricing and trial
On request, via a tailored demo.
5. Simpplr
The AI-powered intranet with communities, recognition and enterprise search
Simpplr, headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices in the UK, Canada and India, offers an AI intranet that covers internal communications, knowledge and workflows, alongside communities, recognition, surveys and newsletters.
Best suited to
Enterprises that want the social layer inside a governed intranet with strong search.
Strengths
- choice of deployment location, including the EU, Switzerland and the UK
- integrations with Microsoft 365, Teams and Google Workspace
- ISO 27001:2022 certified and audited to SOC 2 Type 2
Limitations
- pricing on request, volume-based
- the 14-day trial has limited places
Hosting and security
Vendor: Simpplr, Silicon Valley (United States). Hosted on Salesforce and AWS in the US and EU regions, with deployment locations chosen by the customer.
Published pricing and trial
On request. 14-day trial subject to availability, plus a recorded demo.
6. Unily
The enterprise employee experience platform built on Microsoft Azure
Unily, a UK vendor, offers a social intranet with channels, posts, comments and messaging, alongside communications, knowledge bases, enterprise search, an employee app and an AI agent.
Best suited to
Mid-size to enterprise organisations, from head office to the frontline, according to the vendor.
Strengths
- bi-directional integration with Microsoft 365 (SharePoint, Teams, Outlook, OneDrive) and Google Workspace
- infrastructure options for demanding data residency requirements
- ISO 27001, SOC 1 and SOC 2 Type II
Limitations
- no free trial and no self-serve pricing: the vendor says so
- hosting regions are not published
Hosting and security
Vendor: Unily (United Kingdom). Fully managed Microsoft Azure environment; regions not published, with dedicated infrastructure options for data residency.
Published pricing and trial
Custom quote (base package plus add-ons). Demo, no free trial.
7. LumApps
The AI employee hub connected to Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace
LumApps, founded in Lyon, France, in 2012, combines targeted communication, communities, automation and microlearning. It agreed to combine with Beekeeper, a frontline specialist, in July 2025, and remains majority owned by funds managed by Bridgepoint.
Best suited to
Large organisations that want one entry point from head office to the frontline.
Strengths
- native integrations with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace (Google Premier Partner)
- targeted communication and personalisation by audience
- frontline mobile experience strengthened by Beekeeper
Limitations
- no published pricing and no pricing page
- no free trial announced, demo only
- the vendor presents it as a complete employee hub rather than a stand-alone social network
Hosting and security
Vendor: LumApps, founded in Lyon (France), majority owned by funds managed by Bridgepoint. Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure, with dedicated EU environments (country not published). ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II.
Published pricing and trial
On request, via a demo.
8. Happeo
The social intranet built for Google Workspace, also connected to Microsoft 365
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Happeo, a Finnish vendor based in Helsinki, combines knowledge pages and hubs, AI search, channels, a people directory and targeted announcements.
Best suited to
Small and medium-sized companies on Google Workspace, the audience the vendor names itself.
Strengths
- deep Google Workspace integration
- SharePoint libraries, Microsoft 365 files and Slack can be connected
- free trial available
Limitations
- no amounts published for its three plans
- the hosting region is not stated on its security page
Hosting and security
Vendor: Happeo Oy, Helsinki (Finland). Hosted on Google Cloud. ISO 27001 certified since May 2019.
Published pricing and trial
On request (Starter, Growth and Enterprise plans). Free trial and demo.
9. Haiilo
The German AI intranet and employee app, formed from COYO, Smarp and Jubiwee
Haiilo, headquartered in Hamburg, was formed in 2022 when COYO, Smarp and Jubiwee joined forces. It offers an AI-powered intranet and employee app with communities, chat, newsletters, digital signage and employee advocacy.
Best suited to
Organisations with both frontline and desk-based teams.
Strengths
- EU hosting in Germany, or the US, at the customer's choice
- automatic translation into 28 languages
- more than 130 integrations, including Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace
Limitations
- pricing on request only
- no free trial announced, demo only
- the hosting provider is not named
Hosting and security
Vendor: Haiilo GmbH, Hamburg (Germany). EU (hosted in Germany) or US locations. ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II certified.
Published pricing and trial
Custom quote by module. Demo on request.
10. Oak Engage
The UK intranet for frontline and desk-based employees
Oak Engage, whose main office is in Newcastle, UK, offers a mobile-first intranet with AI-personalised communication, push notifications, digital signage, recognition, onboarding and surveys.
Best suited to
Organisations with frontline and desk-based staff; the vendor highlights access with no company email needed.
Strengths
- mobile-first access for frontline staff
- integrations with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace
- ISO 27001 certified and Cyber Essentials Plus
Limitations
- no published prices
- hosting provider and region not published
- demo only, no trial announced
Hosting and security
Vendor: Oak Engage, Newcastle (United Kingdom). Secure cloud infrastructure; provider and region are not published. ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus.
Published pricing and trial
On request, via a personalised demo.
For French-speaking teams in Belgium and Luxembourg
Organisations working mainly in French can also look at three French vendors that publish French hosting: Jamespot (Montreuil, choice of OVHcloud, Outscale, Scaleway or Orange, available in 11 languages), Jalios (Le Chesnay, SaaS or on-premises, ISO 27001) and Whaller (Suresnes, OVHcloud by default, free up to 100 members, Pro plan at €3 excl. VAT per user per month).
Also on the market
- Interact (Manchester) and Firstup (formed in 2021 from SocialChorus and Dynamic Signal) focus on internal communications at enterprise scale; both quote on request.
- MangoApps (Seattle) is one of the few to publish pricing: its Communications and Intranet suite starts at $9 per employee per month, with a 200-employee minimum.
- Jostle, an independent Canadian vendor, offers a 30-day trial and hosting in a region of your choice, including Europe.
- Jive AI is still sold by IgniteTech, part of ESW Capital, which publishes neither pricing nor hosting; Chatter is used within a Salesforce organisation.
Which enterprise social network should you choose?
- Everything runs on Microsoft 365: start with Viva Engage, which your licences already include, then compare Staffbase, Unily or LumApps if you need a fuller intranet.
- You work on Google Workspace: Happeo and LumApps offer the deepest integration.
- Most of your people are frontline: Staffbase, Workvivo, Haiilo and Oak Engage are built around the mobile app.
- Data must stay in Europe under European law: Talkspirit (France and Switzerland), Staffbase and Haiilo (Germany) publish European hosting; check the vendor's home country as well.
- You want communication to follow your organisation, its teams, roles and decisions: that is Talkspirit's approach.
- You are leaving Workplace: Workvivo is the migration partner Meta named; the six criteria above apply to every other option.
How we compared
We selected the platforms most often named in AI assistant answers and in comparisons published for European buyers in September 2026, then read each vendor's own website (pricing, security, legal notices) on 29 September 2026. Prices are quoted as published, before discounts; where a vendor does not publish something, we say so. We use no review scores. Talkspirit is our product: it is assessed under the same headings as the others, limitations included. We update this comparison when an offer changes.
In short
The right enterprise social network is the one your teams will open every day. Start from your workplace suite, the share of frontline staff and your hosting requirements, then book demos with the two or three platforms that meet them. To go further, read our guide to implementing an enterprise social network and our comparison of the best intranet software.
FAQ
Viva Engage, Workvivo, Staffbase, Simpplr, Unily, LumApps, Happeo, Haiilo, Oak Engage and Talkspirit are the main options. Choose by context: Viva Engage on Microsoft 365, Happeo or LumApps on Google Workspace, Staffbase, Workvivo, Haiilo or Oak Engage for frontline staff, and Talkspirit for European hosting and communication aligned with teams and roles.
No, Workplace from Meta closed in May 2026. It became read-only on 1 September 2025 and Meta had announced the permanent deletion of remaining instances on 31 May 2026. Meta named Workvivo by Zoom its only preferred migration partner; the criteria in this comparison apply to every other option.
Yes, for the core features: Viva Engage communities and conversations are included in Microsoft 365 and Office 365 enterprise plans. Premium features such as advanced analytics and Copilot need a Viva licence, from €1.73 excl. VAT per user per month on an annual commitment (£1.54 in the UK), checked on 29 September 2026.
Talkspirit, Staffbase and Haiilo publish European hosting with a named country: Talkspirit in France and Switzerland, outside the Cloud Act and FISA; Staffbase on Azure in Frankfurt; Haiilo in Germany. Simpplr offers EU regions, LumApps has EU environments and Viva Engage stores data in Microsoft's EU geo for European tenants. The vendor's home country can also bring non-EU law into play.
Most vendors quote on request, including Talkspirit, Workvivo, Staffbase, Simpplr, Unily, LumApps, Happeo, Haiilo and Oak Engage. Viva Engage core features come with Microsoft 365 and its premium licence starts at €1.73 excl. VAT per user per month; MangoApps publishes $9 per employee per month with a 200-employee minimum. Prices checked on 29 September 2026.
Look for a mobile app and sign-in without a work email. Oak Engage highlights access with no company email needed, Staffbase offers dedicated frontline pricing, Workvivo and Haiilo are mobile-first, and Talkspirit has documented deployments with field teams who have no work email.
