Choosing the right content management tool can be overwhelming, especially since they all look alike and offer similar features. If you are evaluating content management and collaboration tools, GatherKit and Google Docs (or Microsoft Office) will likely make it to your shortlist.
Google Docs is an excellent document-creation tool that lets you work with your team in real time. Teams can use it to document notes, ideas, and processes to keep everyone on the same page. But, it lacks advanced collaboration options when it comes to multi-page projects. We wanted to compare the power of Google’s service with GatherKit, a free content management tool:
Features | Google Docs | GatherKit |
|---|---|---|
Collaborate on content | ||
Task assignments | ||
Task deadlines | ||
Organize content hierarchy | ||
Commenting on content | ||
Share with anyone without account | ||
Revision history | ||
Site navigation builder | ||
Collect assets | ||
Save project links and notes | ||
User | 1 user | Free kit up to 2 users |
Projects | – | 3 |
File storage | Up to 15GB | Up to 500MB |
Pricing | Free | Free |
A breakdown of the features
Manage the content workflow
The biggest challenge when creating a lot of content is maintaining the content’s status between versions. GatherKit allows you to manage the content workflow from the draft to the published stage, all from one platform. If you client approves the content, it will actually lock that content in place in the editor. So if you want to re-edit the content, you’ll need to bring it back into the “In Progress” stage, making it clear to everyone that the content is not ready yet. With Google Docs, this is not as straightforward, but in GatherKit, you can easily track who needs to do what next to discover any project bottlenecks.
Align on project details
GatherKit has a separate section for project scope, project goals, codes, plugin snippets, and creative briefs to keep everyone on the same page. Use this as a client onboarding tool to simplify the process and keep all your notes in one place.
Assign pages and due dates
GatherKit makes it clear to the team which roles they are assigned to and which pages have specific deadlines. Project managers can use these features to invite collaborators, assign work, and track progress. The platform will send notifications to contributors as you progress through your process.
Track revision & edit history
With each step in the approvals, get unique versions to keep track of changes between you and your clients. Then, if things go south, you can always check the history logs and revert to perfection.
Keep all assets and media centralized
No more photos and important documents floating in email attachments. Gather photos, logos, and documents without worrying about managing sharing permission or losing files. You can even link to your client’s external file-sharing service if they want to avoid downloading and re-uploading their assets. We aim to keep everything you might need in one place, so you never have to dig through your email search function again.
Build a visual navigation menu
Google offers many great tools, like Sheets or Drawing apps. But you’ll still need to bookmark those pages somewhere. Because GatherKit is built for web projects, you can create custom navigation structures and even track approvals. As you plan your pages in the Navigation Builder, the pages are automatically created, ready for you to add content.
Keep track of URL redirects
As developers, we know web projects are more than just collecting content. We also need to track where all old pages should be directed to. In Google Docs, you can create a spreadsheet, but GatherKit already has this built-in.
Ready to get started?
While Google Docs may be a better fit for smaller and personal projects, consider using the easy-to-use app for multiple collaborators involved, such as GatherKit. GatherKit is a free content management tool for agencies and freelancers, helping make web projects organized and stress-free. Create your account today!
