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10 Best Crisis Communication Software, Tools, And Platforms

Clear and timely internal crisis communication is the key to keeping your workforce calm during a crisis—and that’s exactly what crisis communication tools should deliver. Read on as we share our top 10 crisis communication platforms to navigate challenging times in the workplace.

Crises are unpredictable and can strike organizations in many forms—from natural disasters to cybersecurity threats. When every second counts, having the right crisis communication platform can make all the difference.

Crisis communication tools ensure that employees, stakeholders, and customers are kept informed with clear and consistent updates. Without a reliable system in place, miscommunication can lead to chaos, confusion, and costly, reputational damage.

In this blog, we’ll explore the 10 best crisis communication tools and software, highlighting their unique features, crisis communication best practices, and how they can support your organization during emergencies. You’ll also discover real-world crisis communication examples that show why implementing a strong crisis communication strategy is essential for business continuity and reputation management.

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What are Crisis Communication Tools and Software?

Crisis communication tools and software are designed to streamline communication during emergencies. They enable organizations to send rapid alerts, manage crisis communication plans, and maintain transparent communication with employees, customers, and stakeholders. Whether used for internal crisis communication or public announcements, these platforms help organizations respond swiftly and effectively.

These tools help implement a crisis management plan, ensuring organizations respond promptly and minimize potential disruptions or stakeholder confidence.

Why are Crisis Communication Tools Important?

During a crisis, miscommunication or delays in messaging can worsen the situation. Crisis communication platforms ensure timely and accurate communication, keeping all parties informed and reducing confusion. By following crisis communication steps, organizations can maintain employee confidence and ensure business continuity even during uncertain times.

Benefits of crisis communication tools include:

  • Multi-channel messaging: Send messages through email, SMS, social media, or push notifications.
  • Real-time updates: Keep employees and stakeholders informed with live updates.
  • Team coordination: Enable seamless collaboration across departments.
  • Preparedness: Use pre-built employee newsletter templates for internal comms to send consistent messages quickly.
  • Data insights: Analyze communication effectiveness to improve your crisis communication strategy.

🎁BONUS: Take your crisis communication training and knowledge further with our article on the best crisis communication case studies.

10 Best Crisis Communication Tools

Here’s a breakdown of the top platforms to consider for crisis management communication tools:

1. ContactMonkey

Type: Internal communication platform that can be used as a crisis communication tool. 

Product description: ContactMonkey is a versatile internal communication platform designed for internal communication. It integrates directly with Outlook and Gmail, enabling organizations to send both email and SMS emergency alerts. With its drag-and-drop email template builder feature, list management feature, and real-time email analytics feature, ContactMonkey ensures that all employees receive critical updates, no matter where they are. Its built-in survey tools allow organizations to collect feedback and assess employee needs during emergencies.

Unique features:

  • Real-time tracking: Monitor email open rates, click-throughs, and engagement metrics.
  • Pulse surveys: Gather employee feedback directly from emails.
  • Drag-and-drop email builder: Easily design professional-looking emails without coding skills.
  • Customizable templates: Save time with reusable, branded templates for emails and newsletters.
  • Event management: Schedule and track RSVPs for internal events directly from emails.
  • List segmentation: Target specific employee groups, such as departments or regions.
  • SMS integration: Instantly reach employees with text alerts for urgent updates.

Pros:

  • Seamlessly integrates with Outlook and Gmail.
  • Multi-channel communication through email and SMS.
  • Automates repetitive tasks like scheduling and follow-ups.
  • Simplifies email creation and management for non-technical users.
  • Combines email, SMS, and interactive surveys for multi-touch communication.
  • Provides robust analytics for tracking engagement.
  • Includes employee surveys to measure impact and collect feedback.

Cons:

  • Focused on internal communication, not external marketing campaigns.

Use cases:

  • Crisis communication: Send SMS alerts and urgent emails during emergencies.
  • Employee engagement: Boost engagement with personalized templates and surveys.
  • Emails and newsletters: Create branded internal email templates and newsletters quickly with drag-and-drop tools.

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2. Everbridge

Type: Comprehensive crisis communication software.

Product Description: Everbridge is a robust crisis communications platform that centralizes emergency response and communication. It provides organizations with the tools to send multi-channel alerts, coordinate team responses, and manage resources during crises. With global scalability and powerful real-time dashboards, Everbridge is ideal for large organizations managing complex emergencies.

Unique features:

  • Multi-channel notifications: Deliver alerts via SMS, email, voice calls, and mobile push notifications.
  • Interactive dashboards: Monitor and manage crisis response in real-time.
  • Incident management tools: Coordinate resources and tasks during emergencies.
  • Pre-defined templates: Quickly send out consistent and professional crisis communications messages.
  • Global scalability: Designed for large-scale operations and multi-location organizations.

Pros:

  • Comprehensive suite of crisis communication tools for crisis response and management.
  • Ideal for large-scale emergencies like natural disasters or security threats.
  • Real-time analytics and dashboards for incident monitoring.

Cons:

  • High learning curve for new users.
  • Expensive for smaller businesses or teams.
  • Overwhelming feature set for simpler use cases.
  • Intensive setup and integration requirements.
  • Primarily geared toward large enterprises.

Use cases:

  • Emergency notifications: Notify employees, stakeholders, and the public during large-scale crises.
  • Incident management: Monitor and coordinate resources in real time.
  • Team coordination: Collaborate across departments and regions during emergencies.
  • Pre-crisis planning: Create and store response templates for specific crisis scenarios.
  • Regulatory compliance: Ensure legal and safety compliance during crisis response.

3. Hootsuite

Type: Social media and crisis communication platform.

Product description: Hootsuite is a social media management platform that also functions as a crisis management communication tool. It enables organizations to monitor social media activity, track sentiment, and respond quickly to public-facing crises. Hootsuite’s social listening capabilities ensure that potential crises are detected early, while its post-scheduling tools allow for consistent and timely messaging.

Unique features:

  • Social listening: Monitor online conversations and brand mentions to detect potential crises.
  • Sentiment analysis: Gauge public perception and track changes during emergencies.
  • Post scheduling: Schedule social media posts in advance for consistent communication.
  • Analytics: Measure the performance of crisis-related posts and campaigns.
  • Mobile app access: Manage social media crises on the go.

Pros:

  • Strong social media monitoring and sentiment analysis capabilities.
  • Helps manage brand reputation during public-facing crises.
  • Intuitive interface for managing multiple social media accounts.

Cons:

  • Focused exclusively on social media, with limited internal communication features.
  • Not designed for SMS, email, or other non-social media channels.
  • Sentiment analysis may not be as detailed as standalone tools.
  • Lacks features for managing large-scale incidents or internal collaboration.
  • Additional integrations may be needed for comprehensive crisis management.

Use cases:

  • PR crises: Manage brand reputation and public perception on social media.
  • Social media monitoring: Detect and respond to potential crises early through social listening.
  • Audience engagement: Communicate directly with customers during emergencies.
  • Post-crisis tracking: Analyze sentiment and public reactions after a crisis.
  • Proactive communication: Schedule social media posts to maintain consistent messaging.

4. Noggin

Type: Incident management and crisis communication software.

Product description: Noggin is powerful crisis communications software designed to manage an incident’s entire lifecycle. From detection to resolution, Noggin provides tools for tracking, collaboration, and compliance. Its highly customizable workflows make it suitable for industries with specific regulatory requirements, such as healthcare, manufacturing, or logistics.

Unique features:

  • Incident lifecycle tracking: Manage crises from initial detection to resolution.
  • Collaboration tools: Enable cross-departmental coordination during emergencies.
  • Compliance tracking: Ensure regulatory compliance during incident response.
  • Customizable workflows: Adapt tools and processes to industry-specific needs.
  • Data and reporting: Generate reports to evaluate crisis response performance.

Pros:

  • Comprehensive suite of tools for managing incidents and emergencies.
  • Highly customizable for industry-specific requirements.
  • Enables end-to-end tracking of crisis management processes.

Cons:

  • Best suited for larger organizations with advanced needs.
  • Costly for smaller teams or businesses.
  • May require significant customization and setup time.
  • Limited external communication tools for public crises.
  • Steep learning curve for new users unfamiliar with incident management systems.

Use cases:

  • Incident management: Track and resolve emergency situations effectively.
  • Resource allocation: Manage and deploy resources during crises.
  • Compliance assurance: Meet legal and industry standards during crises.
  • Internal communication: Coordinate tasks and updates across departments.
  • Post-crisis evaluation: Use data insights to improve future response efforts.

5. AlertMedia

Type: Threat intelligence tool that can be used as crisis communication software. 

Product description: AlertMedia is a reliable crisis communication platform that focuses on real-time threat detection and rapid notification capabilities. It enables organizations to send multi-channel alerts, track employee safety, and monitor threats through its robust platform. AlertMedia’s two-way communication feature ensures employees can confirm receipt of messages or request assistance, making it a powerful solution for safety and security-focused communication during crises.

Unique Features:

  • Multi-channel alerts: Send notifications via SMS, email, voice calls, and mobile app.
  • Two-way communication: Enable employees to respond or confirm message receipt.
  • Real-time threat intelligence: Stay informed about emerging threats and risks globally.
  • Geolocation tracking: Track employee safety based on their location.
  • Mobile access: Manage alerts and monitor threats directly from the app.

Pros:

  • Easy-to-use platform for sending rapid crisis alerts.
  • Real-time threat detection keeps organizations informed about risks.
  • Two-way communication provides confirmation of message receipt.

Cons:

  • Limited features for social media or public-facing communication.
  • Focuses primarily on safety alerts, not broader crisis management.
  • May not be suitable for PR or reputational crises.
  • SMS messaging may require additional configuration for international use.
  • Advanced analytics and reporting features are less robust than some competitors.

Use cases:

  • Threat detection: Monitor real-time risks like severe weather, violence, or security threats.
  • Employee safety: Use geolocation to check on employees during emergencies.
  • Crisis notifications: Deliver alerts to employees through SMS, email, and voice.
  • Event coordination: Coordinate evacuation or emergency responses across teams.
  • Incident updates: Provide employees with live updates as a crisis unfolds.

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6. Sprout Social

Type: Social media listening tool that can be used like a crisis communication platform. 

Product Description: Sprout Social is a social media management platform that excels as a crisis management communication tool for online reputation monitoring and sentiment analysis. With its social listening capabilities, Sprout Social helps organizations detect potential PR crises early, track brand mentions, and engage with audiences during emergencies. The platform also includes powerful analytics tools to evaluate public sentiment and guide your communication strategy.

Unique features:

  • Social listening: Monitor brand mentions and keywords across social media.
  • Sentiment analysis: Track shifts in public opinion and sentiment over time.
  • Automated alerts: Receive notifications for spikes in activity or negative mentions.
  • Post scheduling: Plan and schedule crisis-related social media updates.
  • Engagement tools: Respond to customer inquiries or comments in real-time.

Pros:

  • Strong focus on monitoring and managing brand reputation online.
  • Provides valuable insights into audience sentiment during crises.
  • Intuitive interface for managing multiple social media accounts.

Cons:

  • Limited internal communication features for employee updates.
  • Focuses exclusively on social media, not multi-channel crisis communication.
  • Sentiment analysis may require additional interpretation.
  • Lacks integration with other tools for broader crisis management needs.
  • Advanced features may be cost-prohibitive for smaller organizations.

Use cases:

  • PR crisis management: Address and mitigate negative sentiment during public crises.
  • Online reputation monitoring: Track conversations and brand mentions for potential issues.
  • Audience engagement: Respond to customer questions and concerns during emergencies.
  • Post-crisis analysis: Use analytics to evaluate the effectiveness of your social media response.
  • Scheduled messaging: Plan and automate consistent updates to keep audiences informed.

7. Muck Rack

Type: Media and PR management tool that can be used as crisis communication software. 

Product description: Muck Rack is a crisis communication platform designed for managing media relations during crises. It provides a centralized database of journalists and media outlets, allowing organizations to conduct targeted outreach and monitor press coverage in real time. Muck Rack’s alert system ensures you stay informed of breaking news or mentions of your organization.

Unique features:

  • Media monitoring: Track real-time mentions of your organization in the press.
  • Journalist database: Access a directory of media contacts for targeted outreach.
  • Custom alerts: Get instant notifications about news coverage.
  • Collaboration tools: Share media lists and coverage insights with team members.
  • Story amplification: Use Muck Rack to pitch stories to relevant journalists.

Pros:

  • Centralized media database for efficient outreach during PR crises.
  • Real-time alerts for breaking news and media mentions.
  • Enables targeted communication with journalists and media outlets.

Cons:

  • Focused solely on media and PR communication, not internal messaging.
  • Limited features for multi-channel crisis communication.
  • Best suited for teams with existing PR resources.
  • May be costly for smaller organizations without dedicated PR teams.
  • Not ideal for social media monitoring or threat detection.

Use cases:

  • Media relations: Communicate with journalists during a PR crisis.
  • Press monitoring: Track mentions of your organization across media outlets.
  • Crisis updates: Provide press releases or updates to media contacts.
  • Story pitching: Share newsworthy information with relevant journalists.
  • PR evaluation: Analyze the effectiveness of media coverage and outreach.

8. Talkwalker

Type: AI-powered social listening and crisis communication platform. 

Product description: Talkwalker is a powerful crisis communication software that uses AI to monitor online conversations, track brand mentions, and analyze public sentiment. With real-time alerts and advanced analytics, Talkwalker helps organizations stay ahead of potential crises. Its image and video recognition capabilities make it particularly useful for identifying brand-related content across multiple channels.

Unique features:

  • AI-powered monitoring: Analyze mentions, trends, and sentiment across online platforms.
  • Image and video recognition: Detect brand-related content, even in visuals.
  • Real-time alerts: Get instant notifications for spikes in activity or negative sentiment.
  • Custom dashboards: Visualize key metrics for crisis monitoring.
  • Global reach: Track conversations in multiple languages and regions.

Pros:

  • Advanced AI tools for monitoring and sentiment analysis.
  • Includes image and video recognition for comprehensive tracking.
  • Provides real-time alerts for emerging crises.

Cons:

  • Complex interface may require training for new users.
  • Limited internal communication features for employee engagement.
  • High cost for smaller organizations or limited-use cases.
  • Primarily designed for external monitoring, not internal updates.
  • May require integration with other platforms for multi-channel communication.

Use cases:

  • Reputation monitoring: Detect and respond to potential crises through sentiment tracking.
  • Content tracking: Identify harmful or brand-related visuals online.
  • Global crisis response: Monitor conversations across different languages and regions.
  • Post-crisis analysis: Evaluate the impact of your communication strategy.
  • Trend analysis: Use data to predict and prepare for future crises.

9. Slack

Type: Real-time collaboration tool that can be used as a crisis communication platform. 

Product description: Slack is a widely used internal communication tool that can also function as an effective crisis communication tool for internal teams. By creating dedicated channels for crisis communication, teams can coordinate responses in real-time, share updates, and provide critical information to employees. Slack’s integrations with other apps, including file-sharing platforms and incident management tools, make it a versatile choice for internal crisis management.

Unique features:

  • Real-time messaging: Instantly communicate with employees and teams.
  • Dedicated crisis channels: Organize discussions in crisis-specific channels.
  • File sharing: Share crisis documents, plans, and updates directly in Slack.
  • Integration with other tools: Connect Slack with incident management platforms for streamlined workflows.
  • Mobile app access: Stay connected and informed on the go.

Pros:

  • Excellent for instant internal communication during emergencies.
  • Simple, intuitive interface for real-time collaboration.
  • Allows for integrations with third-party tools to enhance functionality.

Cons:

  • Limited external communication features for public-facing crises.
  • Notifications can be overwhelming during high-traffic times.
  • May not scale well for organizations with a very large workforce.
  • Lacks features for mass communication like email or SMS.
  • Requires employees to actively use Slack to stay informed.

Use cases:

  • Team coordination: Manage crisis response through dedicated channels.
  • File sharing: Share crisis plans, checklists, and updates.
  • Employee engagement: Keep employees informed with real-time updates.
  • Cross-department communication: Collaborate seamlessly between teams during crises.
  • Remote response: Ensure communication continues uninterrupted during remote work scenarios.

10. Zoom

Type: Video conferencing and virtual communication platform that can be used as a crisis management communication tool. 

Product description: Zoom is a widely used video communication platform that offers powerful features for virtual meetings and webinars. During crises, Zoom can serve as an essential communication tool to reach out to associates during a crisis by hosting live updates, discussions, or briefings. With its high-quality video and audio capabilities, Zoom enables organizations to communicate clearly and effectively with employees, stakeholders, and partners.

Unique features:

  • Video conferencing: Host live crisis updates or team discussions.
  • Webinars: Deliver information to large audiences, such as employees or stakeholders.
  • Screen sharing: Share presentations, documents, or crisis response plans.
  • Breakout rooms: Enable small group discussions for specific crisis tasks.
  • Recording capabilities: Record meetings and webinars for future reference or training.

Pros:

  • Provides high-quality video and audio communication.
  • Easy-to-use interface for hosting meetings or webinars.
  • Allows for large participant capacity, ideal for company-wide updates.

Cons:

  • Limited for sending mass alerts or notifications (not ideal for urgent communication).
  • Requires internet connectivity, which may be a challenge during certain crises.
  • Not designed for real-time analytics or engagement tracking.
  • May not be scalable for organizations needing multi-channel communication.
  • Security concerns (e.g., meeting breaches) have been reported in the past, though improved.

Use cases:

  • Crisis briefings: Host live video updates with employees or stakeholders.
  • Training sessions: Deliver crisis preparedness training via webinars.
  • Collaboration: Use breakout rooms to coordinate smaller crisis teams.
  • Presentations: Share crisis response plans and progress through screen sharing.
  • Documentation: Record sessions for compliance or future analysis.

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How ContactMonkey Can Help with Your Internal Communications, Broadly

ContactMonkey simplifies and enhances internal communications, enabling organizations to deliver engaging, measurable, and consistent messaging. Here’s a breakdown of how ContactMonkey can support your internal communication efforts:

  • Multi-channel communication: Reach employees through both email and SMS for critical updates, or to connect with off-site workers.
  • Outlook and Gmail integration: Send branded emails directly from your existing email platforms, without requiring new software through our Outlook and Gmail integration feature.
  • Employee engagement tracking: Use real-time analytics to monitor open rates, click-throughs, and overall engagement.
  • Pulse surveys and feedback tools: Collect employee feedback directly within emails to measure sentiment and satisfaction through our employee feedback features.
  • Drag-and-drop email builder: Create visually appealing and on-brand emails with ease, even for non-technical users.
  • Audience segmentation: Send targeted messages to specific groups, ensuring the right message reaches the right people.
  • Pre-built templates: Save time with ready-to-use templates for newsletters, updates, or crisis communications.
  • Real-time insights: Track and optimize communication campaigns to ensure maximum impact through our email analytics feature.

To amplify your internal communications, book a FREE demo of ContactMonkey today! We specialize in engaging internal communications for a variety of use cases, from crisis communications to leadership updates, monthly newsletter deployment, and more.

Revive employee engagement with targeted, interactive emails and newsletters

Book a 15 minute call with one of our team members