Collaboration has long been ignored by traditional file-sharing technologies. Furthermore, it has been difficult for individuals to find specific files shared by specific individuals on networks like Kazaa and Gnutella. These file-sharing technologies provide little support for individuals, small groups, or large groups to share strictly between one another.

LionShare, however, offers a variety of collaboration tools. It combines file-sharing capabilities with support for collaboration within small groups and teams. On the LionShare network, it is as easy for a user to share a file with one person, a group, or all users through the easy-to-use Access Control features.

LionShare also facilitates collaboration through real-time tools for instant messaging (IM) and group chat capabilities. Users can message with other users by double clicking their user ID to initiate an IM session.

Buddy Lists are supported to encourage collaboration so that users can keep track of other on-line team members to chat, browse, and collaborate.  Group chat functionality allows users to create public and private chat rooms.  Users can join public chat rooms formed around academic interests, creating a foundation for like-minded people to meet and share with others in their field. Private chat rooms can be created by any user and are an excellent option for group collaboration.