Best Currents Alternative: Happeo | Intranet Software
Google Currents alternative: Comparing Currents with Happeo
What is Google Currents? Currents is an Enterprise Social Network (ESN) developed by Google for Internal Communications between employees and teams. Formerly known as Google+, the network rebranded to Currents in 2019 due to low user engagement. Currents is part of Google Workspace’s set of collaboration tools that supports workplace communication by giving employees a place to post topics, ideas, news, and comment on them.
Currents is suitable for medium-to-large sized companies that don't need collaboration features and just need a simple platform to talk without a knowledge base. It is not an intranet platform, and unlike Happeo, it doesn't provide an internal page builder and features to facilitate collaboration.
Feature overview
| Digital workplace | Happeo | Currents |
|---|---|---|
| Search | ✓ | ✗ |
| Third-party app launcher | ✓ | ✗ |
| Integrated Drive Editing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Integrated Docs editing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Integrated Sheets editing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Integrated Slides editing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Collaboration platform | Happeo | Currents |
|---|---|---|
| Employee directory | ✓ | ✗ |
| Slack integration | ✓ | ✗ |
| User-creatable channels | ✓ | ✗ |
| Integrated Hangouts conferencing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Integrated Calendar editing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Jabber, Webex integration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Social intranet | Happeo | Currents |
|---|---|---|
| Page builder | ✓ | ✗ |
| Social channels | ✓ | ✗ |
| Analytics | ✓ | Limited |
| Personalized news feed | ✓ | ✗ |
| Announcements | ✓ | ✗ |
| Widgets | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branded file templates | ✓ | ✗ |
| Influencer analysis | ✓ | ✗ |
| Overall features | Happeo | Currents |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile intranet app | ✓ | ✓ |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ |
| Single Sign On | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISO compliant security | ✓ | ✓ |
| GDPR compliant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Top-down communications | ✓ | ✗ |
| Bottom-up communications | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Multilingual | ✓ | ✗ |
| Deep Google Workspace integration | ✓ | ✗ |
| User-first design | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fast time to deploy | ✓ | ✗ |
| Google Workspace integration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Office 365 integration | ✓ | ✗ |
Currents is missing collaboration features
Currents allows for bottom-up and peer-to-peer communication, however, the lack of collaboration features means conversation can't turn into work – in other words, there is a missing link to business benefits. Compared to Currents, Happeo’s deep integration with Google Workspace’s tools makes collaboration smooth.
Currents doesn't integrate with other apps
Currents doesn't have an API, and it's not on their roadmap either. It can be a powerful platform for internal use, however, the lack of integration with other applications (Google Sites, Slack, etc.) doesn't create a seamless workflow like Happeo does.
Currents lacks the features to promote company image
Features like a customizable look and feel, a Page builder and branded file templates promote the company image internally. Currents doesn't provide any of those to brand your intranet.
Currents creates information silos
Since Currents doesn’t integrate with the rest of the Google Workspace apps, information stored there won’t be discoverable with your Enterprise Search. Happeo, as an alternative, is fully integrated with Google Workspace, which means that information on your intranet platform and Workspace is searchable and accessible in one place.
Currents is an Enterprise Social Network (ESN), not a social intranet
ESNs like Currents allow for sharing news and interaction through likes, comments, follows – anything to engage your workforce in an open conversation. A social intranet combines these features into one solution.
The future of Currents is uncertain
After a shaky launch and tenure, Google decided to replace Google + with Currents. Google is known to develop "fringe" applications around, but can just as quickly abandon the project to go back to their main focus.