Microsoft Viva Engage vs IdeaScale

Microsoft Teams

Slack

Connecteam

Microsoft Teams is a chat-based workspace in Microsoft 365 which lets users collaborate on documents, make voice & video conference calls, view chat logs, and more. Teams has replaced Skype for Business as Microsoft's online meeting solution.

Slack is a single workspace that connects users with the people and tools they work with everyday, no matter where they are or what they do

An all-in-one employee app that's both powerful, affordable and easy to use, especially for the mobile workforce.

Microsoft Viva Engage is a private enterprise social networking solution that enables employees to collaborate securely across time and distance. Microsoft Viva Engage provides a single, secure platform on which companies can share information, resources and business applications

Activity Dashboard

Activity/News Feed

Alerts/Notifications

Archiving & Retention

Calendar Management

Chat/Messaging

Collaboration Tools

Communication Management

Content Management

Data Import/Export

Discussions/Forums

Document Management

Employee Communities

Employee Profiles

Feedback Management

File Sharing

File Transfer

Full Text Search

Group Management

Knowledge Base Management

Live Chat

Member Directory

@mentions

Messaging

Mobile Access

Prioritization

Private Network

Project Management

Real-Time Chat

Role-Based Permissions

Search/Filter

Secure Data Storage

Tagging

Task Progress Tracking

Third-Party Integrations

To-Do List

User Management

User Profiles

Version Control

Reviews for Microsoft Viva Engage come from a wide variety of industries, including Information Technology and Services (12% of reviewers), Computer Software (8%), and Hospital & Health Care (4%). The most frequent use case for Microsoft Viva Engage cited by reviewers is community (47% of reviewers).

Users and use cases

Most reviewers indicate that Microsoft Viva Engage offers good value for money, especially since it is included with Office 365 subscriptions. They appreciate special pricing for small businesses, but some users report the free version is limited and upgrades are needed.

Value for money

The Microsoft Viva Engage integrations most frequently cited by reviewers are: Microsoft Teams (a meeting product rated 4.4 out of 5 for its integration with Microsoft Viva Engage), Microsoft 365 (a document management product, 4.7), and Microsoft SharePoint (a document management product, 4.3).

Integrations

Microsoft Viva Engage is a community tool with key features that include activity/news feed, discussions/forums, alerts/notifications, knowledge base management, mobile access, and more.

Microsoft Viva Engage

Web-based

Windows

iPhone

iPad

Android

Basic

Overwhelming notification volume

Managing Partner

Depending on the size of the organisation, the message notifications can get a little tiring and it becomes just like spam.

Digital Support Products Officer

You do have to disable a lot of alerts and notifications when you first join, otherwise you are just inundated with emails.

83% of reviewers feel negative about notifications. Users report receiving excessive and sometimes repetitive alerts, which can become distracting and overwhelming. Reviewers indicate that default settings often lead to notification overload, especially in large organizations or active groups. Some users find it difficult to manage or customize notification preferences, leading to missed or delayed important updates. Others mention that the frequency and volume of notifications can feel like spam, reducing their willingness to engage with the platform.

Cluttered email inboxes

Business Solution Consultant

Notifications are annoying (they will send you emails regarding ANY updates that happens in your topics of interest) and sometimes they overload your mailbox.

53% of reviewers feel negative about email notifications. Users say the platform sends too many email alerts, which can clutter inboxes and become a source of frustration. Reviewers mention that notifications are often irrelevant or sent to unintended recipients, making it hard to keep track of important messages. Some users find it difficult to disable or filter email notifications, leading to information overload. Others note that the volume of emails discourages them from engaging with the platform or reading the updates.

Outdated and clunky interface

Sr Manager of Innovation

The interface is clunky and hard to navigate and I really don't enjoy using it - so therefore I don't use it very frequently.

Administration, Finance and Control Plant Manager

The graphic user interface not so appealing for average users, since appears quite aged and needs a restyle.

49% of reviewers feel negative about the user interface. Users think the design appears outdated and lacks visual appeal compared to other tools. Reviewers find navigation cumbersome, with too many clicks required to access features. Some users report that the interface is not intuitive, especially for new or non-technical users, and can feel cluttered or rigid. Others mention slow performance and limited customization options, which detract from the overall user experience.

Access and adoption challenges

Project Engineer

You can not access this account through your personal domain and the second thing is that you cannot schedule through this application

40% of reviewers feel negative about user access. Users indicate that access is restricted to those with specific licenses, limiting participation. Reviewers mention difficulties with login processes, frequent sign-outs, and challenges in onboarding new users. Some users report low adoption rates within their organizations, citing confusion over multiple tools and lack of user-friendly features. Others find it hard to filter relevant content or manage permissions, which impacts overall usability and engagement.

Engaging feedback mechanisms

Asst digital merchandiser

The most useful tools to me are the ability to share process updates and by "liking" them you know who has read and acknowledged the update, and for creating polls for a specific audience to gauge which path to take when there are multiple solutions.

Communications Planner

I have tried using it and loved that I can create polls with multiple choices and post a shout out for a team member.

95% of reviewers feel positive about polls. Users say the polling feature makes it easy to gather feedback and opinions from colleagues on various topics. Reviewers appreciate being able to create quick surveys and polls to gauge preferences or make group decisions. They find the tool intuitive and useful for increasing engagement during discussions or announcements. Some users report that polls help facilitate interactive communication and support a collaborative environment by allowing everyone to participate in decision-making.

Connecting global workforces

96% of reviewers feel positive about global communication. Users report that the platform enables seamless interaction among employees in different countries and time zones. Reviewers value being able to share knowledge, discuss issues, and collaborate with colleagues worldwide. They say the tool is particularly beneficial for multinational organizations, as it helps unite diverse teams and fosters a sense of community. Some users mention features like auto-translation and easy access to company-wide updates as key benefits for global communication.

Centralized news distribution

Consultant

It is integrated with other tools, such as Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive and provides a central location for employees to share information, such as news, updates, and announcements.

100% of reviewers feel positive about news sharing. Reviewers appreciate having a dedicated space to share company news, updates, and announcements without cluttering email inboxes. Users say it’s effective for both formal and informal communications, such as celebrating milestones, sharing project updates, and promoting events. They find it especially useful for keeping employees informed in large or distributed organizations. Some users highlight the ease of posting and accessing news, while others value the ability to engage with content through comments and reactions.

Fostering workplace connections

Finance analyst

Yammer is one of my best products,  I can find information and people easily I can share my thoughts with colleagues worldwide I can extend my network

96% of reviewers feel positive about colleague interaction. Users think the platform makes it easy to connect with coworkers across departments and locations, helping them build both professional and personal relationships. Reviewers appreciate being able to communicate informally, share achievements, and engage in ongoing discussions. They say it’s especially valuable for large or global organizations, as it helps maintain contact and encourages networking. Some users report that the platform promotes a sense of community and belonging, making it easier to stay updated and collaborate with colleagues.

Seamless team collaboration

Senior Accountant

Yammer makes it simple to connect with colleagues who are situated all across the United States.   When you are looking for solutions to problems it's easy to collaborate with different groups of people across the company.  

96% of reviewers feel positive about collaboration. Users indicate that the platform supports group creation, document sharing, and real-time discussions, making teamwork more efficient. Reviewers appreciate the integration with other Microsoft tools, which streamlines productivity and reduces reliance on email. They say it’s easy to connect with colleagues across locations and departments, fostering cross-functional collaboration. Some users highlight the ability to organize events, share ideas, and communicate effectively, which helps them achieve goals and stay connected.

Principal Software Engineer

I've a company subscription to Microsoft 365, and Viva nicely integrates with many of it's components, therefore I can easily leverage work done originally for one purposes, to be applied easily to future needs.

Systems and Service Operation Analyst

Viva Engage excels at connecting employees across different departments and locations, fostering a sense of community and collaboration.

Owner

I think it works good for small companies but would work even better with larger companies especially where people don't have time to check 50-100 emails they get each week, communicating different changes.

Clinical Effectiveness facilitator

Good idea behind the product, however I don't use it too much as the notifications are so sporadic and not prioritised.

Links in well into teams so its not another app which is required - fits into apps well.

Evaluator

My coworkers and I can make and comment on posts related to work (and sometimes other things) that doesn't feel so formal.

Administrative Assistant

You can like, comment and share pictures, videos and even follow other member of your company.

Client Service Specialist II

My least favorite thing about Viva Engage is sometimes while trying to find posts could be confusing if you don't have the feed when things are posted at first.

Sales and Marketing Manager

Yammer fosters seamless collaboration and communication, connecting employees across departments and locations, breaking down silos, and enhancing cross-team collaboration.

Architect 

Yammer allows you to tag registered users, allowing alerts/notifications to be sent to a user when that user is referenced.

Veterinary Nurse and Client Care Representative

I enjoy the ability to create different channels  to segregate topics.

Product Admin. Coordinator

Yammer's potential drawbacks include limited integration with other Microsoft 365 applications, the challenge of achieving user adoption, and the risk of information overload.

Customer Service officer

Enables interaction with colleagues in different parts of the world.

Senior Advisor

I have executed major projects through team work especially because it has a clear communication channel.

Viva Engage keeps everyone a click away from engaging with a co-worker/friend from across the room to across the country!

They included; difficulty in integration and customization was not so easy for me.

System Engineer

Yammer is a Collaboration software that helps the organization to communicate and plays a vital role in sharing files and knowledge management.

Talent Development Manager

We have two communication portals in the company and everything that is posted on yammer gets 3x more views and interactions.

Project Interface Manager

I like that we receive email updates directly about new information or posts.

research & development

The best thing about Yammer is that it allows for informal communications within the company just like any other social media platform.

Engineer

Could be used more on outlook to provide further support for user.

Encouraging using the tool is essential, and training your team on how to use the interface would be important.

Consulting

I like that we get to have social media and networking at work when we can share information with other coworkers, especially to keep people engaged in social committee activities

Comms and digital

Setting up specific notifications can be tricky.

Group Manager - Training

Also I want to keep them tagged at one place for later review.

I am such a fan of Viva Engage! When I first started at my new company, coming with an extensive background in social media this really excited me.

Its has been engaging and can easily reach all HCLites.

It's not my choice of software for internal company communications.

I love to keep in touch with people and to share great moments and highlights.

E-Commerce manager

Yammer provides us a platform to share businnes news and to communicate with the team.

Finance Lead

Good thing also is the creation of community, it's like a group we can create then we can share anything on this group.

You can communicate with others through posts and images, and you can leave comments with your ideas.

Service Analyst

I liked that it was very similar to facebook, and liked that we could make posts on there to communicate or gauge conversation with other employees in the company.

The platform may experience occasional performance issues, such as slow loading times or delays in notifications.

Operations Manager

Our team members can interact with each other in a professional environment to build and collaborate while working remote.

Associate

Using this yammer is useful to connecting with our co-workers and have the smoothest connection between two ends.

INSIDE SALES

It's a great way to interact with members within the company!

Clinical researcher

Its been really fun engaging in communication with my coworkers and fellow managers.

Compliance Analyst

Yammer allows us to make announcements, discuss issues, share ideas, and to create groups for open projects to discuss all the issues related to these projects besides the ability to communicate easily

In this tool, it has a limited access to share the file and edited that file too.

HR Officer

I like the fact that Slack integrates with email platforms, as well as Video Conferencing platforms, which enables us to interact more efficiently, as well as enable us to discuss, add comments and suggestions in an organized way.

Account Coordinator

A good way to find your community at work.

Quality

This system will also house documents, training, videos, company updates, polls, monthly updates, even just fun community chats (non business related)!

Manager

The app can be slow at times and I am unable to clear all my notifications if I wish too.

The best thing about Yammer is that its considered like internal Social Media for the organization, Allows you to see the new feeds and manage notifications for special groups or special posts

I get between two and four emails a day, but I check those in Yammer anyway, so I don't need those messages.

Business Manager

The first time i used it i feel like i'm in some social media platform. And i was happy to post every birthday photos that i took in years.

IM Manager

As the form of internal communication in the corporation has changed, it has revolutionized, transformed, and streamlined the way of presenting and displaying internal news, announcements, and knowledge.

We can inform people about events, updates, outcomes, activities, etc. quickly.

Notifications

Customer Support

Team Collaboration

Email Notifications

Comments

Communication

Internal Social Network

News Sharing

Media Sharing

Small Business

Large Enterprises

Freelancers

Mid-size Business

Microsoft

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Microsoft Viva Engage vs IdeaScale Comparison (2026)

Microsoft Viva Engage

IdeaScale

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives