Remote workers often juggle countless emails, unread Slack messages, virtual meetings, and unplanned video calls to get through a workday. This chaotic environment can lead to miscommunication and decreased productivity.
There’s a better way. Imagine a streamlined digital workspace where your team can effortlessly communicate, collaborate, and stay on top of tasks—all without the app overload.
You can turn this into a reality with the right set of remote work tools.
Explore the best remote work tools that will help you improve collaboration and productivity for your virtual team.
Understanding what your team needs in a remote work tool
Finding the right remote work tools to supercharge your team’s productivity isn’t easy.
First, you have to identify your team’s size, needs, work style, and problems. Just as you need the right spices to make a meal flavorful, you need the right combination of remote work tools to create a successful remote workforce.
Before you start your hunt for the best remote work tools, consider these key factors:
- Assess current challenges. Get feedback from your remote team to identify their pain points. What do they struggle with when working remotely? Are they facing miscommunication issues? Is file sharing a hassle? Do they need help with time management?
- How does your team prefer to communicate? Is your team scattered across different time zones? Do they prefer one-on-one meetings, or are they more focused on deep work? Some teams prefer real-time communication channels like Slack, while some prefer the convenience of asynchronous video messaging tools like Loom.
- Incorporate video communication. Remote work statistics suggest that work from home is here to stay. This calls for more advanced communication options that go beyond emails and text messages. Consider integrating video conferencing and async video communication tools in your remote work tech stack.
- Consider whether your new remote tools integrate with your current tools. Your team shouldn’t have to switch between multiple tools to access minute information. To ensure a cohesive and seamless experience, look for tools that integrate with your existing business tools.
Essentially, the motive of using remote work tools is to navigate the pros and pitfalls of remote work and make your team more productive. Keep that in mind as you look for the best tools for your team.
21 remote work tools to enhance your team’s remote experience
Remote work doesn’t mean working in isolation. With the right remote work tools, you won’t even feel as if you’re working away from your fellow team members.
Looking to enhance your remote team’s productivity and collaboration? Check out these 21 remote work tools that foster collaboration and improve productivity.
1. Loom
Loom is an asynchronous screen recording tool that lets you capture and share video messages with your team, clients, and other stakeholders. Once you finish recording, Loom generates a shareable link you can send to anyone—just paste it into any communication platform like Slack or Trello, an email, or a document. You can embed your Loom videos anywhere your clients and team members are.
Loom’s greatest strength is its intuitive interface. With a single click, you can record your screen, webcam, or both. There are no complicated settings or editing requirements. That said, you can polish your video with Loom’s AI-powered auto-filler word removal feature, eliminating unwanted “ums,” “ahs,” and silences in seconds.
Imagine sending a video message as effortlessly as you send a text message. Loom eliminates all the barriers that might come with video-based communication. You can keep your team aligned without the need for fancy equipment or setting up meetings.
For example, Tyler Hakes of Optimist shared his experience with Loom:
“I record, share my screen, and record myself in the corner here. I also use it to stitch content together, like recording an intro and then an over-the-shoulder video, then stitching them together into a single video. It’s a nice, super lightweight video editor and production tool.”
Creating Loom videos is that simple.
Hakes also emphasized the benefit of embedding Loom videos in other platforms:
“We embed Loom in a lot of our work, via Slack and Notion. It’s great for asynchronous communication, explaining things in context, and providing detailed handoffs for clients.”
And Loom videos aren’t just a passive viewing experience. You can add tasks to specific moments, annotations, and CTAs to your video, and your viewers can leave time-stamped comments, react with emojis, and even record video replies.
Loom doesn’t compromise on security, either, which makes it ideal for sharing confidential details as well.
Mark Pierce, founding partner of Wyoming Trust and LLC Attorney, relies on Loom to review sensitive documents.
“Loom helps us expedite any questions or formal explanations we need to go over while respecting each other’s time, as it’s not always viable to hop on ad-hoc calls or interrupt each other’s schedules,” he explains. “And its robust security features, including SSL encryption and advanced protections, ensure client confidentiality.”
Features:
- Edit Video by transcript: You can correct mistakes or remove sections of your Loom video by directly editing the auto-generated transcript.
- Live rewind: You can instantly jump back a few seconds during recording to correct mistakes or rephrase statements—pause, trim, and keep recording.
- Trimming and editing: Loom lets you trim unnecessary parts and automatically polishes your videos using AI to remove filler words and silences.
- AI workflows: Loom automatically generates transcripts, summaries, chapters, titles, and action items from your videos, saving you time and effort.
- Speaker notes: Loom’s speaker notes let you create a personal, on-screen script that only you can see. It ensures smooth delivery without appearing in the final video.
Pros:
- One of Loom’s strengths is its intuitive interface and one-click video recording.
- You can record your screen on Mac, PC, and mobile.
- Videos can often replace lengthy emails and unnecessary meetings.
- Your team can conveniently explain concepts, give feedback, create demo videos, or just say “hello.”
Cons:
- The free plan limits storage and video length.
Pricing: You can start creating Loom videos for free. Paid plans, with more advanced features and storage options, start at $12.50 per user per month when paid annually.
Try Loom for Free Today2. Twist
Imagine a chat tool that doesn’t constantly bombard you with notifications or make you feel like you need to be glued to your screen 24/7.
That’s Twist, an async messaging app for remote workspaces.
Twist’s model revolves around “threads,” which resemble discussion forums rather than instant messaging. This means you can have separate discussions on different topics within the same channel, keeping everything neat and tidy.
Features:
- Organize conversations: You can categorize conversation threads in different channels based on any project, topic, or department, making it easier to find them later.
- One-on-one messages: Twist isn’t limited to async threads. You can also send instant, private messages to your team members.
- No more context switching: Twist integrates with most business tools you use, including calendars, communication apps like Slack, and automation tools like Asana and Zapier.
Pros:
- The Async model helps you work at your own pace and prioritize deep work.
- Twist’s intuitive interface is easy to navigate.
- Your team can connect across different time zones and despite different communication styles.
Cons:
- The free plan offers access to only one month of message history.
- There are limited customization options compared to counterparts like Slack.
Pricing: Twist offers a free plan with up to 5GB of storage and 500 member accounts. The paid plan, which is $6 per user per month when paid annually, offers unlimited access.
3. Flock
Ever wish you could have all your team’s conversations, tools, and projects in one place? Flock does just that.
This messaging app is designed to align communication in cross-functional workspaces. Flock includes shared to-dos, polls, file sharing, reminders, and notes, all within the same platform.
It also integrates with all major business tools, including Trello, Asana, and Google Drive. This allows your team to access every document without switching between multiple apps.
Features:
- Organized chat rooms: You can create channels for specific departments, groups, shared interests, and projects.
- Video and audio calls: Flock lets you host up to 20 members in a 1:1 video meeting, share your screen with your team members, and more.
- Reminders and to-dos: You can set reminders and assign tasks within Flock.
Pros:
- Every communication method is in one place.
- Even the free plan allows unlimited 1:1 and group messages.
- Flock is easy to navigate and use, even for those new to team collaboration tools.
Cons:
- Storage and file sharing are limited on the free plan.
- The user interface could be more intuitive.
Pricing: There’s a freemium plan. After that, paid plans start at $4.50 per licensed user when paid yearly.
4. Miro
Miro is a visual workspace to help you brainstorm with your remote team, pore over projects, map customer journeys, and visualize ideas together.
It’s almost like a virtual whiteboard for remote and hybrid teams that want to add a visual element to their online collaboration. Miro also enables real-time collaboration, allowing you to see what your team members are doing in real time, monitor changes, and work on the same board simultaneously.
Features:
- Pre-built templates: Choose from hundreds of templates, from conducting daily standups to project planning to customer journey mapping.
- Sticky notes and shapes: Add text, images, and drawings to your board while brainstorming.
- Presentation mode: Share your board with your team with a great level of interaction.
Pros:
- Your team can easily map out strategies, plan projects, and streamline their workflows.
- Unlimited digital whiteboard space powers unlimited brainstorming, planning, and collaboration.
- Miro provides native integration with popular tools.
Cons:
- All the features and templates might appear overwhelming at first.
- Miro might be overkill for smaller projects.
Pricing: Miro offers a free plan, and paid plans start at $8 per member per month, billed annually.
5. ClickUp
Want to eliminate endless switching and use all project management tools from one dashboard? If so, ClickUp is the project management software for you.
ClickUp is like a Swiss Army knife for your remote team. It offers everything from task management and time tracking to goal setting and document collaboration, all in one customizable workspace.
Features:
- Tasks and subtasks: Break down bigger tasks into smaller, manageable tasks and subtasks. You can add reminders, due dates, priorities, and descriptions to each task.
- Customizable views: View your tasks in any way you like—as Lists, Kanban Boards, Calendars, Gantt charts, and more.
- Goals and time tracking: Set measurable goals, track progress, and monitor the time spent on tasks to plan projects properly and evaluate performance.
Pros:
- ClickUp is suitable for teams of all sizes.
- You can create your company’s knowledge base within ClickUp.
- Automate repetitive tasks, like changing assignees when a task is finished.
Cons:
- It has a bit of a learning curve.
- Some users complain about the interface being too cluttered.
Pricing: ClickUp has a free plan. Paid plans start at $7 per user per month when billed annually.
6. Basecamp
Basecamp is an all-in-one project management tool that lets teams discuss projects, share files, communicate, and track progress.
It streamlines your project communication with message boards, to-do lists, and schedules while offering a space for casual chats and quick questions. You can even set up automatic check-ins to keep everyone on track without the need for constant meetings.
Features:
- Message boards: A central place for team discussions and announcements, ensuring everyone’s on the same page.
- To-do lists: Create and assign tasks, set due dates, and track progress.
- Hill charts: These charts give you a complete overview of your projects, including progress and potential roadblocks.
Pros:
- Basecamp eliminates project management complexities with simple, straightforward features.
- It offers a predictable, flat-rate pricing model.
- It combines task management, file storage, and communication all in one place.
Cons:
- Might not be suitable for larger teams and more complex projects.
- There’s no freemium plan, only a 30-day free trial offer.
Pricing: You can either pay $15 per user per month or get unlimited access at $299 per month, billed annually.
7. Trello
A well-known project management tool, Trello uses Kanban boards to track tasks and project statuses. You can also set assignees and due dates, then use Power-Ups to automatically send updated info to apps like Jira and Slack or customize task cards.
Features:
- Pre-designed templates: Remote team templates create quick starting points for collaboration and camaraderie.
- Power-ups: Use add-ons to enhance your Trello boards by integrating with apps like Gmail and Slack. They help customize and streamline your project management experience.
- Automation: Automate routine tasks to reduce manual work.
Pros:
- Easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface
- Integrations streamline updates between apps and teammates
Cons:
- Larger project management can get clunky
- No custom fields, dashboards, or reports with the free plan
Pricing: Free, paid plans start at $5.00 per user per month when paid annually.
8. Airtable
Airtable is like project management software with spreadsheet superpowers. Free users get a generous set of unlimited bases and 1,000 records, or line items, per base. You can also automate workflows with Airtable’s automation support.
Key features
- Extensive options allow teams to customize Airtable views to agile processes, SCRUM, and more.
- API support connects apps like ChatGPT for even more powerful automation and syncing.
- Community templates lower the learning curve so you can shift into productivity right away.
Pros
- Spreadsheet-style interface is fairly user-friendly
- Support for grid, calendar, and kanban views as well as fillable forms
- Comments, assignees, and “@” tags keep everyone in the loop
Cons
- Views and filters can be changed by anyone, which may lead to miscommunication
- Only 1 GB of file storage with the free plan
Pricing: Free, paid plans start at $20.00 per user per month when you pay yearly.
9. Nirvana
Ever heard of Getting Things Done (GTD)? Task management app Nirvana channels the GTD workflow by encouraging focus and reflection. Remote workers list all their tasks, then Nirvana helps them prioritize and focus where it matters most.
Key features
- Time and energy tags support healthy work-life balance and productivity.
- Project mode allows teams to prioritize sub-tasks and gain quick wins.
- Filters toggle between areas like work and home, and tags like reports and calls.
Pros
- GTD is a tried-and-true productivity method
- Filters and actions help workers take control of to-do lists
- Energy and time notations gauge the full requirements of each task
Cons
- Recurring tasks require a paid plan
- App is intended for individual, not team use, so visibility may be limited
Pricing: Free, paid plan starts at $3 a month if you pay yearly.
10. Confluence
Free file-sharing apps limit your space, so why not create team documentation within Confluence? The tool allows teams to create project hubs for easy knowledge sharing and updates, and document best practices.
Features:
- Real-time editing: Allows teams to easily collaborate on the same documents in real-time.
- Versioning tracks: You can see what changes were made to pages, when, and by whom.
Pros:
- Free for teams of up to 10
- Integrations, apps, and macros—including Loom video recordings—allow multiple customizations
- Templates support quick documentation
Cons:
- File sharing is limited to 2 GB
Pricing: A free plan is available. Paid plans start at $6.05 per user per month.
11. Spark
If your team’s email inboxes resemble a firehose, Spark can help. It automatically prioritizes emails and sorts them into categories to reduce clutter. The scheduling feature also helps remote teams keep work during work hours—even across multiple time zones.
Key features
- A unified inbox pulls and sorts emails from multiple accounts into one place.
- The Command Center shows priority emails and puts less important emails to the side.
- Email templates enable consistent messaging within teams.
Pros
- Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS device support and syncing
- Team comments, templates, and shared drafts invite collaboration
Cons
- Smart Inbox sorting may be inefficient for some
- Shared team inbox requires payment
Pricing: Free, paid plans start at $4.99 a month.
12. Sync
Sync is a cloud storage and file-sharing tool with privacy and security at its heart, making it perfect for remote teams dealing with confidential documents. It also offers end-to-end encryption, so only you and your recipient can access your data.
It acts as your own private, encrypted vault in the cloud where you can share, store, and collaborate on files with your remote team.
Features:
- File sharing and collaboration: Share files with anyone you want, even if they don’t have a Sync account.
- Remote device lockout: If you lose your device, you can remotely lock it to prevent unauthorized access to your Sync files.
- File version history: Sync keeps all versions of files, allowing you to track changes to the file or recover them in case of accidental deletions.
Pros:
- Security features like 2FA (two-factor authentication) and end-to-end encryption make Sync one of the most secure file-sharing platforms.
- You can access files from all devices, including Mac, PC, and mobile devices.
Cons:
- Limited third-party integrations.
Pricing: Paid plans start at $6 per user per month and are billed annually for teams.
13. Tresorit
Tresorit is a file-sharing, e-signature, and cloud storage platform for remote teams that require the highest security levels. It provides end-to-end and zero-knowledge encryption, which means even Tresorit can’t access your files.
Features:
- Granular access controls: Control who views or edits your files and revoke access anytime.
- Data residency options: Control where and how you store your data to comply with international standards, including GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act).
- Real-time collaborations: Collaborate on files with your team simultaneously.
Pros:
- You can manage, store, sync, and sign your files in one platform.
- Tresorit is easy to use and navigate despite advanced security features.
- Helps you comply with data regulations across different locations, making it suitable for remote teams in different countries.
Cons:
- Tresorit’s plans are on the pricier side compared to its counterparts.
Pricing: Tresorit starts at $19 per user per month when billed annually for business purposes. You also get a 14-day free trial.
14. WeTransfer
Ever tried to email a massive file only to have it bounce back? WeTransfer has your back.
WeTransfer is a simple, no-fuss file-sharing platform that offers speed and convenience. To use it, you just have to drag and drop your files and enter the recipient’s email. They’ll receive your files in no time.
Features:
- Large file transfers: Share files up to 2GB for free or up to 200GB with a paid account.
- Password protection: Add a password to your file for additional protection if desired.
- Encryption: WeTransfer uses encryption to prevent unauthorized access during transit.
Pros:
- Ease of use is WeTransfer’s biggest strength.
- A minimalist, clean interface makes it a breeze to use.
- You save time uploading large files that could otherwise take forever to load.
Cons:
- WeTransfer doesn’t offer end-to-end encryption.
- The free version doesn’t have any storage option.
Pricing: WeTransfer is free for up to 2GB. The Paid plan is $12 per month or $120 per year.
15. Every Time Zone
Do you work alongside teammates in other countries? Every Time Zone makes it easy to keep tabs on what time it is in their locations—you can even see if they’re a day ahead. A free account lets you customize which time zones you see, but you’ll need to pay to integrate with calendar apps.
Key features
- At-a-glance date and time info supports asynchronous collaboration.
- Customizable view filters down to the locations of coworkers
Pros
- No sign-in required for quick time zone checks
- Free account allows you to customize a list of locations
Cons
- Paid plan required for calendar app integrations
Pricing: Free, paid plans start at $39 per year.
Make your remote tools work for you, not the other way around. Learn how to get the most out of your apps in our remote work guide.
16. RescueTime
Do you ever wonder where your workday disappears? Enter RescueTime.
RescueTime is automated time-tracking software that runs quietly in the background. It tracks how you spend your time on different apps, websites, and even specific documents.
You then receive a detailed report that reveals your browsing and productivity patterns, helping you identify time-wasting habits.
Features:
- Detailed reports: Get reports documenting your daily activities, distractions, and productivity trends.
- Focus sessions: Once you identify the top distracting websites and apps, you can block them for a specific period of time.
- Offline time-tracking: RescueTime also helps with offline time-tracking, helping you track time spent on activities like meetings and phone calls.
Pros:
- Customize RescueTime to track specific activities and set personalized goals.
- Integrates with third-party tools like Asana, Slack, and calendars.
- RescueTime works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS devices.
Cons:
- Some users might feel uncomfortable with the data RescueTime collects.
Pricing: RescueTime offers a 14-day free trial. After that, plans start at $6.50 per month.
17. Toggl Track
Toggl Track is a time-tracking tool for remote teams that want insight into how employees spend their time. It’s an easy way to monitor hours dedicated to specific projects and tasks, helping you identify your team’s work habits and boost productivity.
Features:
- Idle detection: Automatically detects idle time and asks whether you want to continue tracking time.
- Pomodoro tracker: Toggl’s built-in Pomodoro tracker—a time management method using 25-minute work sprints with short breaks—helps you divide your work hours into focused intervals and brief breaks.
- Project estimates: Set estimates for projects and track your progress against them.
Pros:
- Toggl Track provides detailed insights into your projects and tasks.
- The one-click timer is easy to use.
- Enables offline tracking across multiple devices.
Cons:
- It’s primarily a time-tracking tool, so you can’t expect advanced task management features.
Pricing: Toggl Track is free for up to five users. Paid plans start at $9 per user per month.
18. Time Doctor
While other time trackers focus solely on recording hours, Time Doctor takes it a step further.
Time Doctor markets itself as a workforce analytics platform that not only tracks time but also analyzes and optimizes your team’s productivity. It achieves this by providing insights into how employees spend their time and identifying unproductive patterns.
Features:
- Time tracking with optional screenshots: Monitor your team’s work hours and see what they’re working on, including the websites and apps they’re using.
- Productivity analysis: Identify top performers and set benchmarks for your team to enhance productivity.
- Payroll integration: Integrate your payroll system with Time Doctor to pay your team based on work hours.
Pros:
- Gives a clear picture of your team’s work, making it easier to identify bottlenecks.
- Makes remote collaboration more transparent and fosters accountability.
- Allows you to make data-driven decisions when it comes to resource allocation.
Cons:
- Some remote employees might consider the screenshot functionality too intrusive.
- It might take some time for all remote workers to get used to the tool.
Pricing: Time Doctor offers a 14-day free trial. Paid plans start at $5.90 per user per month, billed annually.
19. Hive
Sharing meeting agendas isn’t just considerate when it comes to remote work, it’s essential to keep everyone on the same page. With Hive, you can easily share notes, agenda items, and documents with your fellow attendees, then launch directly from the app with Zoom and Teams integrations.
Key features
- Meeting templates allow you to quickly outline repeat meetings like one-on-ones and project updates.
- Next steps and tasks are easy to create via email and auto-link to the relevant project.
- Whiteboard notes allow for easy collaboration during meetings.
Pros
- Automations for everyday tasks
- Multiple integrations with Slack, Github, Google Drive, and more
- Universal dashboard with real-time updates keeps everyone on track
Cons
- Free plan limited to 200 MB of file storage
- Projects not supported in free plan
Pricing: Free, paid plans start at $5 per user per month.
20. Hypercontext
Hypercontext is an AI-powered app that organizes one-on-one and group meetings with agendas and meeting notes. Automatic feedback requests also help managers improve meeting effectiveness.
Key features
- Pre-made 1:1 agendas help managers and direct reports cover essential talking points.
- Automatic syncing with Microsoft Outlook and Gmail calendars keeps agendas accessible.
Pros
- Automatic meeting minutes to ensure future clarity
- Integrates with Google Workspace, Slack, Teams, Outlook, and more
Cons
- Customizable agendas require payment
Pricing: Free, paid plans start at $5 a month for up to five people.
21. Tandem
Tandem is for those of us who still wave hello and goodbye during video meetings. This meeting app lets you wave at your remote coworkers—just to say hi or to signal you’re up for a chat. The app also shows rooms where remote teams can hang out, similar to Discord or other more casual communication apps.
Key features
- Auto-join and meeting reminder options ensure you never miss a meeting again.
- Widgets allow you to share polls, music, agendas, and more during your video conference.
- Rooms facilitate connection with more casual themes like music or watercooler chat.
Pros
- Free plan includes unlimited audio and video calls
- Integrations connect Tandem with Slack, Asana, Spotify, and more
- Wave and rooms promotes friendly interactions
Cons
- Free plan is limited to four users
Pricing: Free, paid plans start at $49 a month.
Stack remote work tools and power productivity across your teams
Building a thriving remote work environment requires more than just assembling a random collection of remote work tools. The goal is to integrate tools that cater to your team’s preferences and improve communication and productivity.
Each tool listed here plays a role in optimizing your remote workflow, whether it’s streamlining project management, file sharing, or time management.
For example, if you want to ditch lengthy emails and simplify communication with asynchronous video messaging and screen sharing, Loom is your best friend. Try Loom for free today and elevate your remote work experience.
Try Loom for Free Today