Quip

What is Quip?

Quip is a collaborative productivity platform that combines documents, spreadsheets, and chat in a unified workspace designed for modern teams. Originally founded in 2012 by Bret Taylor (former CTO of Facebook) and Kevin Gibbs (creator of Google Suggest), Quip was acquired by Salesforce in 2016 and has since become deeply integrated into the Salesforce ecosystem. The platform emphasizes real-time collaboration and mobile-first design, enabling teams to work together seamlessly regardless of location.

What distinguishes Quip is its integration of communication directly into documents. Rather than switching between documents and messaging apps, teams can discuss content through threaded comments and chat within the same workspace. This approach reduces context switching and keeps conversations connected to the relevant content, creating a more natural collaborative workflow than traditional document editing combined with separate communication tools.

Following the Salesforce acquisition, Quip has evolved to serve as a powerful complement to the Salesforce platform. Quip documents can embed live Salesforce data, connect to records, and serve as templates for sales processes. While Quip remains available as a standalone product, its greatest value now comes for organizations already invested in the Salesforce ecosystem who want to enhance collaboration around their CRM data and processes.

Key Features

• Living Documents: Documents that combine text, spreadsheets, task lists, and embedded content in a single collaborative canvas.
• Real-Time Collaboration: Multiple users edit simultaneously with instant updates, presence indicators, and cursor tracking.
• Built-In Chat: Threaded discussions attached to documents enable contextual conversations without switching to separate messaging apps.
• Spreadsheet Integration: Full spreadsheet functionality including formulas, charts, and filtering embedded directly in documents.
• Salesforce Integration: Embed live Salesforce data, connect documents to records, and create templates that leverage CRM information.
• Task Management: Checklists with assignments, due dates, and notifications transform documents into actionable workflows.
• Mobile-First Design: Native iOS and Android apps designed for touch interaction and mobile productivity.
• Templates: Pre-built templates for common business processes including account plans, meeting notes, and project briefs.
• Version History: Complete revision history with the ability to see changes over time and restore previous versions.
• Offline Access: Work offline with automatic synchronization when connectivity returns.

Recent Updates and Improvements

Quip continues development with focus on deeper Salesforce integration and enhanced enterprise collaboration features.

• Enhanced Salesforce Integration: Improved bi-directional sync with Salesforce, more data types supported, and better record linking capabilities.
• Quip for Slack: Integration allowing Quip documents to be shared and previewed directly within Slack workspaces.
• Advanced Templates: New template builder with conditional logic, dynamic sections, and Salesforce data population.
• Security Enhancements: Improved encryption, audit logging, and compliance features for enterprise requirements.
• Performance Improvements: Faster document loading, improved mobile app responsiveness, and better handling of large documents.
• Collaboration Updates: Enhanced commenting system, improved notification controls, and better @mention functionality.
• Analytics: Document analytics showing engagement, views, and collaboration metrics for content creators.
• Admin Controls: Enhanced administrative features for user management, permissions, and organizational settings.

System Requirements

Web Browser

• Modern browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge (latest versions)
• JavaScript enabled
• Internet connection for full functionality

Desktop Application

• Windows: Windows 10 or later
• macOS: macOS 10.13 or later
• RAM: 4 GB minimum
• Storage: 200 MB available space

Mobile Applications

• iOS: Version 13.0 or later
• Android: Version 7.0 or later
• Storage: 100 MB minimum

How to Get Started with Quip

Account Setup

1. Visit quip.com or access through Salesforce
2. Sign up with email or Salesforce credentials
3. Create or join a team workspace
4. Start creating documents and inviting collaborators
5. Connect Salesforce for enhanced integration (if applicable)

# Quip uses web-based interface
# No installation required for web access

# Desktop apps available at:
# https://quip.com/download

# Quip API for automation
# Create access token in Settings > API Access

# Example API call to list documents
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN" \
     "https://platform.quip.com/1/threads/recent"

# Create a new document via API
curl -X POST \
     -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN" \
     -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
     -d '{"title": "New Document", "content": "Initial content"}' \
     "https://platform.quip.com/1/threads/new-document"

Salesforce Integration Setup

# Enable Quip in Salesforce Setup
# Setup > Feature Settings > Quip > Enable

# Add Quip component to Lightning pages
# Edit page > Drag "Quip Document" component

# Create document templates for records
# Templates can pull Salesforce field data
# Use merge fields like {{Record.Name}}

Mobile App Installation

1. Download Quip from App Store or Google Play
2. Open app and sign in with existing account
3. Grant notification and storage permissions
4. Enable offline access for important documents
5. Configure sync and notification preferences

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Integrated Communication: Chat built into documents keeps discussions contextual and reduces tool switching for collaborative work.
• Salesforce Integration: Deep connection with Salesforce ecosystem enables powerful workflows for CRM-centric organizations.
• Mobile Excellence: Mobile-first design provides genuinely productive editing on smartphones and tablets.
• Living Documents: Combination of documents, spreadsheets, and tasks in unified canvas supports diverse content needs.
• Real-Time Collaboration: Smooth simultaneous editing with instant updates enables effective remote teamwork.
• Offline Capability: Work offline with reliable synchronization for mobile and travel scenarios.
• Clean Interface: Focused, distraction-free design emphasizes content and collaboration over feature complexity.

Cons

• Salesforce Dependency: Greatest value requires Salesforce; standalone use faces strong competition from alternatives.
• Limited Format Support: Less comprehensive Microsoft Office compatibility compared to dedicated office suites.
• Feature Depth: Document and spreadsheet features less extensive than Microsoft Office or Google Workspace.
• Pricing: Per-user pricing can be expensive, especially for organizations not using Salesforce.
• Ecosystem Lock-in: Heavy investment in Quip creates dependency on both Quip and Salesforce platforms.

Quip vs Alternatives

Who Should Use Quip?

Quip is ideal for:

• Salesforce Organizations: Companies using Salesforce who want seamless document collaboration connected to CRM data and workflows.
• Sales Teams: Account executives and sales managers creating account plans, proposals, and deal documentation integrated with Salesforce.
• Mobile-First Teams: Organizations with field workers or remote teams who need robust mobile document collaboration.
• Customer Success Teams: Groups managing customer relationships who benefit from documents connected to account records.
• Collaborative Teams: Groups who value integrated chat and discussion alongside document content.
• Enterprise Users: Organizations requiring enterprise security, compliance, and administrative controls.

Quip may not be ideal for:

• Non-Salesforce Organizations: Companies without Salesforce may find better value in alternatives like Google Workspace or Notion.
• Heavy Office Users: Teams requiring advanced Word or Excel features should consider Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace.
• Budget-Conscious Teams: Smaller organizations may find Quip pricing challenging compared to free or lower-cost alternatives.
• Complex Document Needs: Users creating highly formatted documents, complex spreadsheets, or professional presentations need more specialized tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Quip cost?

Quip offers several pricing tiers. Quip Starter begins at $10/user/month for basic collaboration features. Quip Plus at $25/user/month adds advanced features including Salesforce integration. Quip Advanced at $100/user/month includes enterprise features and premium support. Pricing often comes bundled with Salesforce licenses. Organizations should contact Salesforce for specific pricing based on their needs and existing Salesforce relationship.

Is Quip only for Salesforce users?

No, Quip is available as a standalone product without Salesforce. However, Quip’s greatest differentiator—deep Salesforce integration—obviously requires Salesforce. As a standalone collaboration tool, Quip competes against Google Docs, Notion, and other platforms that often offer more features at lower prices. Quip makes most sense for organizations already using or planning to use Salesforce who want integrated document collaboration.

How does Quip integrate with Salesforce?

Quip integrates with Salesforce through bidirectional connections. You can embed Quip documents in Salesforce record pages, pull live Salesforce data into documents using merge fields, and create document templates populated from records. Documents can be linked to specific accounts, opportunities, or other objects. This integration enables use cases like automated account plan creation, collaborative deal rooms, and customer-facing documentation tied to CRM records.

Can I use Quip offline?

Yes, Quip supports offline access on desktop and mobile applications. You can mark specific documents for offline availability, and changes made offline sync automatically when connectivity returns. The mobile apps are particularly strong for offline use, reflecting Quip’s mobile-first design heritage. Offline capability makes Quip suitable for field workers, travelers, and anyone with unreliable internet access.

How does Quip compare to Google Docs?

Both offer real-time collaborative editing, but with different strengths. Quip integrates chat directly into documents while Google uses separate Chat and Meet apps. Quip provides native Salesforce integration; Google requires third-party connectors. Google Docs offers more formatting options and better Microsoft Office compatibility. Google provides 15GB free storage while Quip has per-user pricing. Choose Quip for Salesforce integration and integrated chat; choose Google for broader features and ecosystem.

Final Verdict

Quip occupies a specific niche in the collaboration market—organizations using Salesforce who want document collaboration deeply integrated with their CRM. For this audience, Quip provides capabilities that no competitor can match. The ability to embed live Salesforce data, connect documents to records, and keep all collaboration in one platform creates genuine value for sales, customer success, and operations teams.

The platform’s strengths in mobile experience and integrated communication remain relevant, even as competitors have improved their offerings. Quip’s clean interface and focused feature set serve teams who want effective collaboration without the complexity of more feature-rich alternatives. The Salesforce backing ensures continued development and enterprise-grade reliability.

For organizations not using Salesforce, Quip faces strong competition from Google Workspace, Notion, and Coda—platforms offering similar or greater functionality at lower prices without CRM dependency. Quip’s standalone value proposition has weakened as competitors have evolved. The clear recommendation: Quip for Salesforce-centric organizations seeking integrated collaboration, alternatives for everyone else.