How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 SharePoint (Microsoft) | Organizations already on Microsoft 365 | $7/user/month billed annually (Microsoft 365 Business Basic); standalone plans retired June 2026 | 30-day trials available on Microsoft 365 suites |
 Simpplr | Mid-market to enterprise buyers wanting a modern intranet without heavy IT | See website (quote-based, volume-priced; no public rates) | 14-day free trial with limited availability |
 Staffbase | Large distributed workforces needing comms, knowledge and engagement in one platform | See website (quote-based; third-party reports put entry around $30,000/year for 1,000 employees) | No (no free trial or free plan) |
 Igloo | Existing Igloo customers evaluating their path forward | See website (acquired by Appspace September 2025; old published seat pricing retired) | Historically free for up to 10 users; current terms sit under Appspace's tiers |
 Axero | SMB and mid-market buyers wanting one platform for comms, knowledge and collaboration | From $10/user/month (vendor pricing page); Premium and Enterprise $10-15/user/month with volume discounts | Demo (personalized demos rather than self-serve trials) |
 Jostle | SMBs wanting a simple intranet employees will actually open | $10/user/month (vendor pricing page, as cited in 2026 comparisons) | Free trial available |
 Happeo | Google Workspace-centric mid-market companies | See website (quote-based; three packages: Starter, Growth, Enterprise) | No free plan or trial reported |
 LumApps | Large enterprises wanting a polished employee experience platform | See website (quote-based; third-party estimates range from about $8 to $20/user/month) | No free plan or trial reported |
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We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Key takeaways
- If you are on Microsoft 365, SharePoint (via Business Basic at $7/user/month) is the default: the incremental cost is zero and Viva Connections modernizes it.
- Google Workspace shops should look at Happeo first for the deepest Drive integration, not a Microsoft-centric tool.
- SMBs wanting published pricing have two honest options: Axero and Jostle, both from $10/user/month with trials or demos.
- Beware the acquired: Igloo is being sunset into Appspace (acquired September 2025), and SharePoint standalone plans were retired in June 2026. Buy the current product, not the old reviews.
Consider a 200-person company where the PTO policy lives in three places, nobody can find the org chart, and every announcement goes out by email because there is nowhere else to put it. That company does not have an intranet problem; it has an intranet-shaped hole where knowledge goes to die. The fix is a platform employees actually open: news, documents, people and policies in one searchable place, on mobile as well as desktop. These eight platforms cover the real market, from the Microsoft default to the modern SMB-friendly options with honest pricing.
Starting price$7/user/month billed annually (Microsoft 365 Business Basic); standalone plans retired June 2026
Free plan30-day trials available on Microsoft 365 suites
SharePoint is the intranet most companies already own: if you pay for Microsoft 365, the incremental cost is zero, and Viva Connections builds a modern intranet experience on top of it. Document management, permissions, enterprise search and Power Automate workflows are genuinely powerful, with compliance and security that regulated industries require.
The price of "free" is expertise. Information architecture, governance and setup need a real admin, and the standalone plans are gone: new buyers must price the Microsoft 365 bundle, not the discontinued $5 and $10 standalone tiers. Plan for implementation help and budget storage beyond the included allowance. For Microsoft shops with IT capacity, it remains the rational default; for everyone else, the admin burden is the honest cost.
What we like- Deep native integration with Teams, OneDrive, Outlook and Office
- Powerful document management, permissions, enterprise search and Power Automate workflows
- Enterprise-grade compliance, security and extensibility
Watch out for- Standalone plans retired (renewals end January 2027, full retirement December 2029), forcing a Microsoft 365 bundle
- Setup, governance and information architecture need real admin expertise
- Extra storage ~$0.20/GB/month
#2
Simpplr
Best for: Mid-market to enterprise buyers wanting a modern intranet without heavy IT
Visit simpplr.com
Starting priceSee website (quote-based, volume-priced; no public rates)
Free plan14-day free trial with limited availability
Simpplr's pitch is the intranet employees do not hate: consumer-grade UX, polished templates, AI-powered search and personalized recommendations, without the SharePoint admin burden. The subscription covers the Simpplr One employee experience platform with quarterly releases and global support, and volume discounts kick in above 500 employees.
The buying process is the friction: no public pricing, a sales-led cycle, and implementation and migration services (Smart Start) whose inclusion you must confirm in writing. Ask for subscription, services and support broken out separately before comparing. Per-user pricing punishes headcount growth, so model the 24-month cost. For mid-market buyers who want modern without IT-heavy, the product earns its premium.
What we like- Consumer-grade UX employees actually adopt, with polished templates
- AI-powered search and personalized recommendations
- Volume discounts for 500+ employees
Watch out for- No public pricing and a sales-led buying process make budgeting slow
- Per-user pricing scales linearly with headcount
- Implementation services may be billed separately
#3
Staffbase
Best for: Large distributed workforces needing comms, knowledge and engagement in one platform
Visit staffbase.com
Starting priceSee website (quote-based; third-party reports put entry around $30,000/year for 1,000 employees)
Free planNo (no free trial or free plan)
As an intranet, Staffbase serves as the central hub for news, policies and resources, with the mobile app reaching frontline workers who never open a laptop. Targeting by role, location, language and device plus the Companion AI editor and engagement analytics give comms teams real measurement. Native integrations cover Microsoft 365, Google, Cornerstone and ServiceNow.
Everything else is enterprise: quote-only pricing reportedly from ~$30,000 a year, no trial, no self-serve. For a large distributed workforce, the per-employee math works and the consolidation (intranet + app + email + signage) replaces several tools. For companies under a few hundred employees, it is priced out of reach. Buy it for scale or not at all.
What we like- Branded employee app plus intranet, email, SMS and digital signage in one system
- Strong targeting by role, location, language and device
- AI content tooling and engagement analytics built in
Watch out for- Enterprise pricing and sales-led process
- Not viable for small businesses
- No public pricing or self-serve evaluation
Starting priceSee website (acquired by Appspace September 2025; old published seat pricing retired)
Free planHistorically free for up to 10 users; current terms sit under Appspace's tiers
Igloo's inclusion here comes with a warning label: Appspace acquired it in September 2025, the old published seat pricing is retired, and the brand is being sunset into the Appspace platform. The product itself was genuinely good for its audience: a drag-and-drop builder that HR and comms teams run without IT, 10,000+ templates and widgets, and clean integration with both Google Workspace and Microsoft 365.
Existing customers keep support with an optional path onto Appspace. New buyers should evaluate Appspace directly rather than treating Igloo as a standalone purchase, and confirm migration terms in writing before committing. Buying a sunsetting product without a written migration path is how intranet projects become expensive twice.
What we like- Drag-and-drop page builder that non-technical HR and comms teams can run themselves
- 10,000+ templates and widgets with granular permissions
- Clean Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 integration
Watch out for- The Igloo brand is being sunset into Appspace, so the long-term roadmap is uncertain
- No published seat pricing
- New buyers face a quote-only process
#5
Axero
Best for: SMB and mid-market buyers wanting one platform for comms, knowledge and collaboration
Visit axerosolutions.com
Starting priceFrom $10/user/month (vendor pricing page); Premium and Enterprise $10-15/user/month with volume discounts
Free planDemo (personalized demos rather than self-serve trials)
Axero is the all-in-one value pick: intranet, document management, tasks, recognition, chat and events in one platform from $10 per user per month, with dedicated onboarding and support included. The self-hosted/on-premises option suits buyers who want full data control, and per-user pricing decreases as headcount grows, with multi-year agreements earning further discounts.
Final pricing still goes through a quote, and the developer sandbox and white-label app are add-ons, so confirm the bundle before comparing. Axero Go offers flat self-serve pricing for smaller deployments. For SMB and mid-market buyers who want one platform covering comms, knowledge and collaboration without enterprise sales theater, it is the most complete option at this price.
What we like- All-in-one digital workplace: intranet, document management, tasks, recognition, chat and events
- Self-hosted/on-premises option for full data control
- Dedicated onboarding and support included with no hidden fees
Watch out for- Final pricing still goes through a quote
- Some capabilities (developer sandbox, white-label app) are add-ons
- Smaller brand footprint than Simpplr or LumApps
#6
Jostle
Best for: SMBs wanting a simple intranet employees will actually open
Visit jostle.me
Starting price$10/user/month (vendor pricing page, as cited in 2026 comparisons)
Free planFree trial available
Jostle takes the opposite approach from SharePoint: instead of a document platform with social features, it is a people platform with documents attached. News, events, recognition and team directories drive the daily habit, and the vendor reports engagement well above traditional portals. Published $10-per-user pricing with no sales maze makes budgeting instant, and rollout takes weeks.
The trade is depth: document management and content workflows are lighter than SharePoint or Simpplr, enterprise integrations are fewer, and complex governance needs will strain it. Integrations cover Google Workspace, Microsoft tools, Okta and HRIS platforms like BambooHR and Workday, with volume and nonprofit pricing from the Canadian vendor. For SMBs that need adoption more than architecture, simplicity wins.
What we like- Simple, people-centric intranet focused on news, teams, participation and recognition
- Straightforward published per-user pricing with no sales maze
- Rollout typically measured in weeks, not months
Watch out for- Lighter on document management and deep content workflows than SharePoint or Simpplr
- Fewer enterprise integrations
- Less suited to complex governance needs
#7
Happeo
Best for: Google Workspace-centric mid-market companies
Visit happeo.com
Starting priceSee website (quote-based; three packages: Starter, Growth, Enterprise)
Free planNo free plan or trial reported
Happeo is the intranet for Google shops: federated search across Happeo, Drive and connected tools, shared Google Drives synced to channels, and a Pages/Channels/People model that feels native to Workspace users. Read-response tracking shows who actually saw announcements. The vendor reports 300,000+ users worldwide, with SSO/SAML, GDPR compliance and ISO 27001 certification.
No public pricing and reported minimum annual commitments around $3,000 set the floor, and deeper analytics and advanced governance sit in higher packages. The mobile experience trails for frontline workers, so desk-heavy Google teams are the fit. For a Workspace-centric mid-market company, the Drive integration alone beats generic alternatives; for Microsoft shops, look elsewhere.
What we like- Best-in-class Google Workspace integration with federated search across Happeo, Drive and other tools
- Pages, Channels and People model with multilingual support
- SSO/SAML, GDPR compliance and ISO 27001 certification
Watch out for- No public pricing
- Third-party sources report minimum annual commitments around $3,000
- Mobile experience weaker for frontline workers
#8
LumApps
Best for: Large enterprises wanting a polished employee experience platform
Visit lumapps.com
Starting priceSee website (quote-based; third-party estimates range from about $8 to $20/user/month)
Free planNo free plan or trial reported
LumApps positions at the premium end of the enterprise intranet market: AI-driven content recommendations, employee journeys, and deep integrations with both Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, which is unusual and valuable for mixed-stack enterprises. Multi-brand support, employee advocacy and enterprise-grade security round out the platform. The Paris-based vendor competes directly with Simpplr and Unily.
Budget implementation separately: third-party reports put it from a few thousand dollars for SMBs to tens of thousands for enterprises, on top of licensing estimated at $8 to $20 per user per month. Confirm what onboarding and support are bundled versus billed. For large enterprises wanting a polished employee experience platform, it belongs on the shortlist; for smaller buyers, the price and process say otherwise.
What we like- Deep integrations with both Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace
- AI-driven personalized content recommendations and employee journeys
- Enterprise-grade security, multi-brand support and employee advocacy features
Watch out for- Premium pricing aimed at larger organizations, with implementation costs on top
- No public pricing or self-serve evaluation
- Overkill for SMBs
Google vs. Microsoft shops: match your stack
The fastest way to narrow this list is by ecosystem. Microsoft 365 shops should start with SharePoint (essentially free, deeply integrated) and only look at Simpplr or LumApps if SharePoint's admin burden is the problem. Google Workspace shops should start with Happeo (federated Drive search, native feel) and treat the Microsoft-centric tools as second choices.
The stack-neutral options, Axero and Jostle, integrate with both and suit mixed environments or companies planning a migration. Staffbase bridges both stacks at enterprise scale. Buying against your stack cuts evaluation time in half and guarantees the integrations your team will actually use; buying against it buys you a year of integration projects.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an intranet platform cost?
From $0 incremental (SharePoint inside Microsoft 365) to $10/user/month (Axero, Jostle) to quote-only enterprise pricing (Simpplr, Staffbase, LumApps, Happeo). A 200-person company pays roughly $2,000/month on published per-user pricing, or $0 extra on SharePoint. Enterprise quotes add implementation fees on top of licensing.
SharePoint vs. a modern intranet: which is better?
SharePoint wins on cost (bundled) and document depth; modern platforms (Simpplr, Happeo, Jostle) win on UX, adoption and admin simplicity. If you have SharePoint admin capacity, the bundle is unbeatable value. If nobody owns SharePoint internally, a purpose-built intranet will get adopted faster and cost less in consulting.
What happened to Igloo intranet?
Appspace acquired Igloo in September 2025 and is sunsetting the brand into the Appspace platform. Old published pricing is retired. Existing customers keep support with a migration path; new buyers should evaluate Appspace directly and get migration terms in writing.
Do small businesses need an intranet?
Past ~30 employees, usually yes: that is when "where is the PTO policy" becomes a daily tax. Jostle and Axero at $10/user/month are built for this segment, and even a simple SharePoint or Google Sites setup beats the shared-drive chaos. The ROI is fewer repeated questions, not collaboration theater.
How long does intranet implementation take?
Weeks for Jostle and Axero; one to three months for Simpplr and Happeo; three to six months for SharePoint done properly or enterprise platforms like LumApps and Staffbase. Content migration, not software setup, is what consumes the calendar: audit and prune before migrating, or you will move the mess with the files.
Build vs. buy vs. bundle: the three intranet paths
Path one is the bundle: SharePoint inside Microsoft 365 or Happeo-style tools inside Google Workspace. Cost is near zero incremental, integration is native, and the ceiling is admin effort. Most companies should start here and only leave if the bundle genuinely fails them.
Path two is buy: Simpplr, LumApps, Staffbase, Axero or Jostle as a purpose-built platform. You pay per user (or per quote) for better UX, faster adoption and less admin burden. This wins when nobody internally owns the bundle's intranet, or when the employee experience is a strategic priority.
Path three is build: a custom portal on your own stack. Almost never worth it in 2026 unless you have exotic compliance needs or the intranet is the product. The maintenance burden compounds yearly while the bought options improve quarterly. If someone proposes building, ask who maintains it in year three.
How we chose
We started with the categories buyers search: intranet platforms and top intranet software. For each candidate we opened the vendor's own pricing page, checked plan names and prices against public reviews on G2 and Capterra and practitioner discussion on Reddit, and compared feature lists, ecosystem fit, pricing transparency and company-size fit. Where a price could not be verified on the vendor's page we wrote "See website" rather than guessing. The shortlist mixes the bundle defaults with purpose-built platforms, because a Microsoft shop and a 50-person startup are solving different problems.
Sources we checked (10)
- https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/sharepoint
- https://www.simpplr.com/pricing/
- https://staffbase.com/pricing
- https://www.igloosoftware.com/pricing/
- https://axerosolutions.com/pricing/
- http://www.jostle.me/pricing
- https://www.happeo.com/pricing/
- https://www.lumapps.com/pricing/
- https://www.g2.com/categories/intranet
- https://www.capterra.com/intranet-software/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.