Remote work sounds great, right? Flexible hours, work from anywhere, no long commute. But the reality? It’s not always so smooth.
One minute you’re toggling between email and chat apps; the next, you’re digging around for an update posted deep in a long thread. Tasks fall through the cracks, deadlines feel chaotic, and team communication can become a game of telephone.
Sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. Many remote teams face similar challenges.
This article is here to help. We’ll walk you through the best remote work tools and systems to keep your team connected, productive, and stress-free. Whether you’re trying to streamline communication, organize projects, or just get a handle on your day, we’ve got solutions that actually work.
So, if you’re ready to make remote work easy, let’s dive in together!
Why are remote work tools essential?
Remote work has unlocked incredible possibilities, but it comes with its own challenges. Think about how your team operates daily – tasks need tracking, updates need sharing, and files need organizing. Without a proper system in place, things can quickly spiral into confusion.
For example, a very important request for feedback gets buried in an endless stream of chats; the deadline is missed because the appropriate parties never had access to such essential files. These might appear to be minor points of contention, but they make big waves in workflow by sapping productivity and just basically making people angry.
That’s why having dedicated remote work tools isn’t just a nicety-it’s a necessity. Tools designed for remote collaboration bring order to chaos. They centralize communication, make it easier to manage tasks and ensure that everyone has the resources they need. minimised
Instead of scrambling to piece together updates from multiple platforms, your team can get work done. With a structured workflow in place, miscommunication will be minimised, efficiency high, and everybody on the same page, even working miles apart.
Equipping your team with the right tools can turn remote work from a challenge into an opportunity for growth and success.
However, not all tools are created equal. So how do you know which one is right for your team?
Let’s break down what makes a great remote work solution and how to identify the features that really make a difference.
How to choose the best remote tool for your team?
Choosing the ideal tool for your team can be difficult when hundreds of options vying for the top spot in your remote toolkit. There are many features, alternatives, and costs, and buzzwords are everywhere, but the important thing is to focus on what your team needs most.
First, think about communication. Does your team need real-time chat so people can have quick conversations? Or does it require a solution that puts both video calling and messaging in one place? The right tool for your team glues communication together, be it for quick questions or deep-dive meetings.
Next comes task management. A good virtual tool will help your team stay organized by easily assigning tasks, tracking progress, and setting deadlines. Look for tools that make collaboration feel natural, not like a chore.
Accessibility and integration are not to be forgotten. Does the tool play nicely with the apps your team is already using? Whether it’s Google Drive, Trello, or Slack, having a tool that works with your existing workflow can save you time and frustration.
Finally, remember ease of use. The best tools don’t require a lot of training. They should be intuitive and easy for anyone to pick up quickly.
With that in mind, you’re ready to start considering your options. But don’t worry, we’ve already done the work for you! Let’s dive into some of the best remote work tools that can help keep your team connected, organized, and productive.
Top remote work solutions for your team
1. Chanty
Chanty is a powerful team collaboration solution that focuses on easy communication and productive work in a remote team. It is an all-in-one platform that combines instant messaging, task management, and audio/video calls into one smooth experience. The core goal of Chanty is to help teams stay organized and in touch without having to juggle different tools.
But what really sets Chanty apart is the ability for team members to create tasks directly from messages. This makes tracking easy and ensures that nothing slips through the cracks. Besides that, unlimited message history, even on the free plan, helps teams keep a record of all communications so that you never lose important context.
This also makes Chanty all the more flexible for teams that look forward to streamlining communication and project management, and seamless integrations with tools like Google Drive, Trello, and Zapier add to that.
Chanty’s key selling point is its simplicity – it doesn’t overwhelm users with too many features but focuses on essential tools that make remote communication smoother. The platform also values privacy and is GDPR-compliant.
Pricing:
- Free Plan: Core features with unlimited messages and access to up to 10 integrations
- Business Plan: $3/user/month for more advanced features, such as unlimited integrations, and data import.
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing with advanced admin features, enhanced security, and priority support.
2. Zoom
Zoom is primarily used for video conferencing and has thus become the ultimate tool for teams operating remotely across the globe. Be it team meetings, webinars, or even a quick one-on-one, Zoom handles it with ease.
Other key features include HD video, high-quality audio, and the ability to set up breakout rooms for smaller group discussions. Zoom integrates with other tools such as Google Calendar and Slack, making it easier to schedule and join meetings from these other platforms.
While Zoom excels in video communications, it’s often used in conjunction with other tools for project management, as it doesn’t include built-in task management features. Still, its reliable performance and ease of use make it a solid choice for most remote teams.
Pricing:
- Free Plan: Up to 40-minute meetings for 100 participants
- Pro Plan: $14.99/month for unlimited meeting durations
- Business Plan: $19.99/user/month with additional features like branding, cloud recording, and more
3. Slack
Slack is a powerful messaging platform that will help teams communicate and put their ideas together. It offers organized channels for projects, teams, and topics, and the ability to create direct messages, thus enabling teams to stay connected in real-time.
What’s unique about Slack is its integration capabilities: you can connect hundreds of apps, including Google Drive, Trello, and Zoom, to keep all your tools in one place. Additionally, Slack’s search function makes it easy to find messages, files, and links from past conversations.
For remote teams that rely on a variety of tools for their daily work, Slack provides a central hub for quick communication, but its reliance on integrations for task management may be a drawback for teams looking for an all-in-one solution.
Pricing:
- Free Plan: 10,000 message archives and 1-to-1 video calls.
- Pro Plan: $7.25 per user/month. Includes unlimited message history, video calls with screen sharing, and integrations.
- Business+ Plan: $12.50 per user/month. Enhanced security, analytics, and priority support.
- Enterprise Grid Plan: Advanced security, compliance, and admin controls.
4. Toggl Track
Toggl has become a leading solution for time and productivity tracking among remote teams, working on multiple projects. This is really important for those companies that track billable hours or just want to see how much time is spent on what.
It allows users to track time both manually and automatically, and it has a very convenient browser extension. It also integrates with tools such as Asana, Trello, and ClickUp, where teams can track time directly from those apps.
While Toggl is great for time management, it doesn’t offer full project management features, so it’s best for teams that already use other tools for collaboration and task management.
Pricing:
- Free Plan: For individuals, includes basic time tracking features.
- Starter Plan: $9 per user/month, with unlimited projects, billable rates, and reporting.
- Premium Plan: $18 per user/month. Includes advanced time tracking features for teams, along with reporting tools.
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing. Offers additional features, including enhanced security and dedicated support.
5. Google Drive
Google Drive is a cloud-based file storage and collaboration tool that’s essential for remote teams. Being able to collaborate on documents in real-time, leave comments, and store files in the cloud makes it a go-to platform for many teams.
With seamless integration through the Google Workspace suite, including Docs, Sheets, and Slides, Google Drive allows for real-time collaboration on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
Anyway, this is the most hassle-free option, and the ability for teams to access files no matter where they are around the world makes Google Drive unparalleled for remote work. Except for its failure to bake into the tool task management or embedded functions of a communication tool, there really wasn’t anything else bad with this tool.
Google Drive is particularly effective for teams that need a simple and cost-effective solution for storing, sharing, and collaborating on files. With its strong collaborative features and user-friendly design, it’s an essential tool for remote teams looking for efficiency.
Pricing:
- Free Plan: 15 GB of storage across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.
- Basic Plan: $1.99/month for 100 GB.
- Premium Plan: $2.99/month for 200 GB.
- Al Premium Plan: $9.99/month for 2 TB of storage, with additional family sharing options.
6. Hive
Hive is a powerful project management tool that offers multiple views (Kanban, Gantt, and Calendar) to suit different team preferences. It integrates task management with communication, making it ideal for teams that need to keep everything in one place.
It offers task dependencies, time tracking, and collaborative workspaces in which teams can stay ahead with their projects. With this tool, teams will be able to customize the platform to fit into their particular workflows.
At times, Hive might get a little bit overwhelming to deal with for smaller teams or teams that are just now starting to get familiar with project management software. However, Hive is an excellent choice for teams that need full control over their projects while maintaining flexibility.
Pricing:
- Free Plan: Available for small teams, with basic task and project management tools.
- Starter Plan: $12 per user/month. Includes time tracking, reporting, and integrations.
- Teams Plan: $18 per user/month, offering team collaboration, analytics, and enhanced security.
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing for larger organizations with advanced admin controls and integrations.
7. Miro
Miro is an online visual collaboration tool for distributed teams to create and share interactive whiteboards. A great tool for teams dealing with brainstorming, planning, and designing since it covers everything from mind maps to wireframes.
Miro has the capability for real-time collaboration wherein team members can draw, comment, and brainstorm together on one virtual board. It integrates with Google Drive, Slack, and Zoom for easy transitions from discussion to creative sessions.
Miro’s ability to capture and share creative ideas in a visual format makes it unique among remote work tools, especially for teams with a creative or design-focused focus.
Pricing:
- Free Plan: 3 editable boards with basic collaboration features
- Starter Plan: $8/user/month for unlimited boards and advanced features
- Business Plan: $16/user/month for unlimited and secure workspaces and unlimited guests
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing with additional security and admin tools
8. Notion
Notion is an all-in-one workspace where remote teams can manage projects, take notes, track tasks, and collaborate on documents. Its flexible interface allows users to create custom dashboards, task boards, and knowledge bases.
Notion is known for its customizability, which allows teams to build a workflow that suits their specific needs. It also facilitates real-time collaboration by allowing multiple team members to work on the same page at the same time.
Notion is a powerful option for a remote team that wants one central knowledge hub with full task management and documentation functionality.
Pricing:
- Free Plan: For individual use, with limited file uploads and collaborative features.
- Plus Plan: $5 per user/month, with unlimited file uploads and version history.
- Business Plan: $10 per user/month, including team collaboration tools and enhanced permissions.
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing with added security, advanced collaboration, and dedicated support.
How to choose the best remote work system?
Choosing the right remote work tool for your team is no easy task, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Having a well-defined strategy for sorting through the many types of remote work tools out there will make it easier to choose what works best for your individual team.
Start small: instead of adopting a new tool for everyone at once, test it with a small group. This way, you get to see how the remote work system fits into your existing workflows and how your team adapts to it. Early feedback is critical before a full rollout to the entire team or company.
Consider your budget: Most of the remote work solutions are pretty affordable. Many of them offer either free options or low-cost plans to get you started. Seek out tools that provide value without cutting corners on the core features of the tool. A tool that’s flexible and affordable today could be scaled up as your team grows, saving you both time and money in the long run.
Focus on usability: The best feature of a remote work tool is undoubtedly usability. Many of these tools claim to have great features, but they’re useless if your team doesn’t know how to use them. Instead, choose a remote work app that is intuitive and simple. This makes it easier for your team to start using and stick with.
By narrowing your search based on your team’s needs, budget, and ease of use, you’ll find the perfect tool for your remote team. Don’t rush – take the time to ensure it’s a good fit.
Ready to simplify remote work?
The right remote work apps can be a game changer for your team. They not only enhance communication but also streamline your entire workflow. From managing projects to sharing documents and staying connected, remote work tools make tasks more efficient and less prone to error. Imagine a day where your team doesn’t have to worry about missing messages or getting lost in multiple apps—everything is in one place, easy to track, and simple to manage.
Choosing the right tools to integrate into your remote work system means better project outcomes, faster decision-making, and smoother collaboration. When evaluating options, consider tools that make the process intuitive, offer seamless integrations, and help automate repetitive tasks. A well-rounded remote work solution should centralize communication and reduce the overhead of juggling various apps. It’s about simplifying complex workflows into one streamlined platform.
By adopting the right technology, you empower your team to focus on what truly matters: delivering results, fostering creativity, and collaborating effectively.
Want to improve your team’s communication?
Try Chanty for free today and see how it can simplify your remote work systems.
Let’s make remote work simple and stress-free – together.
