Best Remote Working Software Shortlist
Here’s the shortlist of the best remote working software systems that I’ll cover in this article, with detailed summaries below:
Thanks to the rise of distributed teams, remote working software has become critical to business success. Remote employees need robust tools to help them communicate, collaborate, and share effectively.
With numerous solutions available, picking the right system can be challenging. That’s why I’ve written this article to help you. I’ve conducted in-depth research to uncover the most useful remote working software tools out there, to help you find the best choice for your organization.
Below you’ll find my summary of the best remote working software systems on the market. I’ve also explained the key features that make each one a stand-out selection too.
How I Selected the Best Remote Working Software
Perhaps you're wondering how I selected the best remote working software for this list? To build this top 10 list, I evaluated and compared a wide range of remote working software with positive user ratings.
After determining my long list of top choices, I further honed my list by using the selection criteria below to see how each platform stacked up against the next one. I also drew on my own experience of working remotely for 3+ years to pinpoint the features that add a lot of value.
If you have general questions about remote working software or how to pick the best system for your organization, take a look at my Frequently Asked Questions section below. Or, you can skip directly to my detailed software summaries, if that's what you need the most.
Selection Criteria
Here’s a short summary of the main selection and evaluation criteria I used to develop my list of the best remote working software for this article:
Usability:
Remote workers may come from diverse backgrounds with a varying range of technical experience. That’s why it’s essential that the tools they use are simple to understand. For this reason, I selected remote working software with an intuitive user interface, clear navigation, and easy access to key features.
Functionality:
When you rely on software to do your job, you can’t afford any limitations on its capabilities. Each tool must deliver best-of-breed functionality for a given task. That’s why the software I chose for this list offers a wide range of features that support the needs of different types of users.
Support for Collaboration:
Top remote working software should make it easy for team members to work together, regardless of their location. With this in mind, I sought out tools that facilitate clear communication with team members and other stakeholders.
Software Integrations:
One of the huge advantages of software-as-a-service (SaaS) is that tools no longer need to operate in a silo. Various applications can work together to create a frictionless experience for the users. With this top of mind, I selected solutions that integrate with the most popular business applications, especially those most commonly used by remote teams.
Pricing:
As teams grow bigger, the subscription costs for multiple SaaS apps can become a significant concern. Users need access to first-class working tools, without busting the company budget. This is why I look for systems that offer excellent value for price on a per-user basis, even as an organization scales to large numbers.
If you’re running a small business or team, you may be able to get away with using a free plan (also knowns as a freemium plan) to get you started. However, paid plans will often offer you a better return on your investment (ROI) if you can afford one.
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Overviews of the 10 Best Remote Working Software
Here’s a brief description of each remote working software system that showcases their best use case, noteworthy features, and pros & cons. I’ve also included screenshots to give you a snapshot of their user interface too.
Deel
Best remote working software within a global payroll platform
Deel is a remote working software solution that helps organizations manage and pay distributed teams. Using their global-first, all-in-one HR platform you can hire remote employees and contractors from anywhere in the world and Deel will manage your international tax and compliance obligations on your behalf.
Their platform covers both HR and payroll functions and includes additional tools such as their '1 on 1' feature that integrates Deel with Slack to enable easy team communication and coordination. This feature is part of their Deel Engage plan, which has a strategic focus on supporting remote teams more effectively. Other features within that module include employee engagement surveys, paid time-off management tools, and automation for common HR tasks.
Deel Engage also helps distributed teams coordinate meetings across different time zones, and easily share talking points and agendas in advance of each team meeting. By integrating '1 on 1' with Deel Engage, their global platform becomes even more supportive of an essential digital hub for truly remote organizations.
Deel Standout Features and Integrations
Features include international hiring tools, onboarding & offboarding workflows, global payroll functionalities, multiple currencies and payment methods, remote communication tools, tax and compliance management, international benefits, meeting collaboration tools, and advanced IP protection.
Integrations are available with Ashby, BambooHR, Expensify, Greenhouse, Hibob, Netsuite, Okta, OneLogin, Quickbooks, Slack, Xero, Workday, and Workable. They also have an Open API that supports additional custom software integrations as well.
Pros
- Offers additional employer of record (EOR) services as well
- Simplifies global payroll across 150+ currencies
- Helpful time zone meeting coordination feature
Cons
- No free trial available
- No mobile app available
Wrike
Best remote working software for remote work management
Wrike is a cloud-based project management platform that offers a range of features to help teams plan, execute, and deliver projects successfully.
Using this tool, you can create tasks, assign them to team members, and set deadlines. The software also includes a Gantt chart view for visualizing and tracking the progress of your project.
Wrike also supports online collaboration with team members worldwide. You can tailor procedures to suit project needs and use pre-built templates to launch projects faster. A mobile app is available for iOS and Android devices, so information can be accessed from anywhere.
Wrike Standout Features and Integrations
Features include task allocation, project management, @mentions, file sharing, a template library, and customizable workflows.
Integrations include Google Drive, HubSpot, Microsoft Office, Miro, Quickbooks, Salesforce, Slack, WordPress, Workday, and Zoom.
Pros
- Multiple ways to view projects
- Regular status updates
- Useful templates
Cons
- Limited personalization options
- Workflow setup is complicated
OnBoard
Best remote working software for online board meetings
OnBoard is an advanced board intelligence platform that simplifies board meeting management. It empowers more informed decision-making, secure remote meetings, and real-time, remote access from any device.
Using OnBoard, you can streamline meeting preparation and provide leaders with accurate, timely information. The software is designed to be remote-ready, so you can run a successful organization from anywhere.
Admins can compile board books and materials with auto-save automatically or annotate board materials directly with searchable notes. OnBoard gives users a personalized dashboard where they can access materials, examine upcoming meetings, and receive announcements.
Permissions management allows admins to designate user access for specific materials. The task management feature allows users to organize, manage, and track action items through meeting cycles. Engagement analytics show when board books are read, where annotations are made, and what sections receive the most attention.
OnBoard Standout Features and Integrations
Features include remote data swipe functionality, surveys & questionnaires, multi-board facilities, multi-organization support, and a secure messenger for 1:1 or group discussions.
Integrations include Google Workspace, Microsoft Office 365, Outlook, and Zoom.
Pros
- Excellent voting tools
- Built-in resources section
- Effective but simple
Cons
- Minute-taking could be easier
- Limited customization options
Slack
Best remote working software for collaboration across multiple teams
Slack is a communication and collaboration platform that allows teams to communicate and work together in real time through instant messaging, file sharing, and integrations with other tools and services.
The software provides public channels for members across organizations to start multiple conversations. In addition, private channels enable interaction within smaller teams, and direct channels help send messages directly to colleagues.
Slack incorporates feeds from social media into the application and blends them with ongoing conversations in various channels. Plus, files such as PDFs, images, documents, and spreadsheets can be shared easily via drag and drop.
Slack archives messages, notifications, files, and projects, all of which can be searched for later. Slack allows users to customize their notifications and reduce their scope. All changes are reflected in the native applications available for iOS and Android.
Slack Standout Features and Integrations
Features include real-time messaging and communication, channels, file sharing, voice calls, and video conferencing.
Integrations available natively include Asana, BambooHR, Github, Google Drive, Help Scout, HubSpot, Jira, Salesforce, Trello, and Zendesk.
Pros
- A huge number of integrations
- Feature-rich
- Widely used for business messaging
Cons
- Video calls are basic
- Switching workspaces is awkward
ActivTrak
Best remote working software for managing employee productivity
ActivTrak is a hybrid and remote team management software that provides managers with insights into employee performance.
This software provides data and visibility combined with contextual and actionable productivity insights. Using ActivTrak, managers can view remote employee time utilization, identify and resolve inefficient workflows, discover productivity insights, and uncover compliance gaps.
ActivTrak delivers productivity insights for your remote workforce with valuable context. This ensures you have a complete picture of employee behavior and workflows regardless of location.
You get clear visibility into your employees’ and teams’ work time behavior, so you can understand work durations and trends for both remote and in-office employees. You can also leverage data insights to adjust remote employee work schedules to optimize productivity.
ActivTrak Standout Features and Integrations
Features include dashboards, productivity reports, team summaries, app & web usage, workload management, real-time user activity, and screenshots.
Integrations include Asana, Google Calendar, Jira, Lattice, Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Slack, Workday, and Zoom.
Pros
- Detailed productivity analysis
- Real-time activity insights
- Employer alarms and alerts
Cons
- Limited reporting options
- Invasive for employees
Trello
Best remote working software for board-based collaboration
Trello is a board-based, visual collaboration tool for planning all kinds of tasks and projects. While often used by agile software development teams, the software is also used in other departments such as sales, marketing, support, and HR.
The web-based solution provides tools to define projects, associated requirements, and the workflow needed to complete projects in a planned sequential manner. Using a kanban card-style system, Trello offers a digital board to create, organize and prioritize actions.
Admins or managers can define new workflows, assign tasks to individuals or teams, set deadlines, and monitor progress. Users can add comments to cards, add members, and attach documents to their tasks.
Trello software is capable of meeting the high level of privacy and security required by large enterprises but is also popular with small businesses.
Trello Standout Features and Integrations
Features include visualization, task management, roadmapping, resource scheduling, real-time updates, and task tagging.
Integrations include Asana, Bitbucket Cloud, GitHub, Google Drive, Jira Cloud, Mailchimp, Microsoft Teams, monday.com, Slack, and Zoom.
Pros
- Customizable with labels and colors
- High level of flexibility
- Easy-to-understand visual layout
Cons
- Lack of advanced reporting
- Limited range of features
Microsoft Teams
Best remote working software for collaboration within the Microsoft ecosystem
Microsoft Teams is a popular, cloud-based group messaging solution that helps teams collaborate on documents and projects. Its key features include messaging, conferencing, and file sharing.
Perfect for organizations already using Microsoft technology, this software helps users store files online, manage documents, create groups, and receive notifications. It can be customized for each team, and users can communicate through instant messaging, calling, online meetings, and web conferencing.
The team communication and collaboration tool can be used to work on files within Microsoft 365 apps such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and SharePoint.
This app enables local and remote workers to collaborate on content in real time and near-real time across different devices, including laptops and mobile devices. It acts as the hub of team collaboration for Microsoft Office 365 users.
Microsoft Teams Standout Features and Integrations
Features include messaging, conferencing, file sharing, virtual meetings, an open application processing interface, assistant bots, conversation search, contact search, and multi-factor authentication.
Integrations include ADP, Asana, BambooHR, Delve, GitHub, Microsoft Office, Planner, Power BI, Trello, and Zendesk.
Pros
- Easy implementation
- High level of security
- Flexible product architecture
Cons
- Limited flexibility
- Confusing file structures
Asana
Best remote working software for cross-functional work
Asana is a project management software tool designed to help teams organize, track, and manage their work. It provides features for tracking tasks, projects, and conversations in one place, and can be used to manage workflows and improve team productivity.
Available as a web application and mobile app, it can be used for many purposes, including managing personal tasks, collaborating on group projects, and tracking the progress of large-scale initiatives.
Ideal for cross-functional work, Asana helps organizations improve teamwork and orchestrate their work efficiently. They can share context, assign ownership with tasks, combine related work, share files, and get instant updates on projects.
In Asana, you can easily track the status of initiatives and get an accurate view of how you’re progressing toward goals. Real-time work reporting keeps all stakeholders up-to-date with developments.
Asana Standout Features and Integrations
Features include task management, project management, collaboration, timelines, task automation, templates, and cross-functional workflows.
Integrations include Adobe Creative Cloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, HubSpot, Jira, Salesforce, Slack, Trello, Zendesk, and Zoom.
Pros
- Quick access to key features
- Wide range of integrations
- User-friendly
Cons
- Lacks logging of work hours
- Not suitable for large teams
Tettra
Best remote working software for building a knowledge base
Tettra is a knowledge base software solution that organizes scattered company information to answer your team’s frequently asked questions directly in Slack or Microsoft Teams. When someone asks a question in these apps, Tettra sends a new or existing answer. You can also send notifications for new and updated pages so your team reads what you write.
The software routes questions to the right expert so they can answer asynchronously, then shows them appreciation with ‘thank yous.’ Subject matter experts can confirm that key pages are accurate with regular verification. Your team can also ask for updates if something doesn't look right.
Tettra Standout Features and Integrations
Features include knowledge management, revision history, wiki building, trusted answers, workflows, quick setup, and portable knowledge.
Integrations include GitHub, Google Docs, Microsoft Teams, and Slack.
Pros
- Information is easy to find
- Suggests pages to create
- Easy to set up and use
Cons
- Limited customization options
- Lacking live collaboration options
Loom
Best remote working software for video capture
Loom is a popular video recording and screen sharing solution that allows teams to communicate without wasting hours in non-productive meetings.
Remote team members can record their screen or a specific application in addition to live recording for any video session. Loom generates a custom URL for every video session, which can be shared with other users.
Loom's editing tools make it easy to edit, trim, and add CTAs and custom thumbnails. Video owners can use access controls to set video privacy filters, restricting visibility for users who don't have a password or URL link. Loom is also available for Apple mobile devices via an iOS app.
Loom Standout Features and Integrations
Features include fast recording, screen sharing, link sharing, video editing, emoji reactions and comments, access controls, and advanced reporting.
Integrations include Dropbox, GitHub, Gmail, InVision, Jira, Notion, Salesforce, Slack, Zendesk, and Zoom.
Pros
- Built-in video editor
- Great sharing features
- Quick, easy video creation
Cons
- Videos are public by default
- No option to change default settings
The 10 Best Remote Working Software Comparison Chart
This comparison chart summarizes basic details about each of my top remote working software selections. You can view pricing details and the availability of free trials or demos side-by-side to help you find the best system for your budget.
Tool | Free Option | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Deel Best remote working software within a global payroll platform | Free demo available | Flat rate user pricing, with a free version for businesses with up to 200 people | Visit Website |
2 | Wrike Best remote working software for remote work management | Free plan available | From $9.80/user/month | Visit Website |
3 | OnBoard Best remote working software for online board meetings | Free trial available | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
4 | Slack Best remote working software for collaboration across multiple teams | 90-day free trial + freemium version available | From $8.75/user/month | Visit Website |
5 | ActivTrak Best remote working software for managing employee productivity | 14-day free trial + freemium plan available | From $10/user/month | Visit Website |
6 | Trello Best remote working software for board-based collaboration | Free trial + freemium plan available | From $6/user/month | Visit Website |
7 | Microsoft Teams Best remote working software for collaboration within the Microsoft ecosystem | 30-day free trial + freemium version available | From $4/user/month | Visit Website |
8 | Asana Best remote working software for cross-functional work | Free plan available | From $10.99/user/month | Visit Website |
9 | Tettra Best remote working software for building a knowledge base | 30-day free trial | From $10/user/month | Visit Website |
10 | Loom Best remote working software for video capture | 14-day trial + freemium plan available | From $10/user/month | Visit Website |
Other Options
Here are a few more worthwhile options that didn’t make the best remote working software list:
- Miro
Best remote working software for visual collaboration
- ClickUp
Best remote working software for project management
- monday.com
Best remote working software for collaboration and productivity at scale
- Cooleaf
Best remote working software for advanced messaging tools
- Zoom
Best remote working software for reliable, scalable video conferencing
- Hive
Best remote working software for hybrid work teams
- Troop Messenger
Best remote working software for facilitating online chat
- Airmeet
Best remote working software for drop-in video meetings
- Todoist
Best remote working software for managing team tasks and productivity
- Pingboard
Best remote working software for enhancing the employee experience
Remote Working Software: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the queries that I hear over and over again regarding the use of remote working tools.
What is remote working software?
Remote working software refers to systems that enable employees to work remotely by providing tools and features that facilitate communication, team collaboration, and productivity. They help companies and virtual teams stay connected, productive, and efficient wherever their people are located.
Are there different types of remote working software?
There are different types of remote working software available, covering functions such as video conferencing, project management, file sharing, and collaboration. You can also find tools to assist with time tracking, communication, and messaging.
How can I tell which remote working software is right for my business?
To determine which remote working software is right for your business, consider the needs and requirements of your team, as well as your budget. Start by identifying the specific tasks and processes that you need to support, and then look for software that offers the features and functionality required to support those tasks.
Other Resources
In conclusion, remote working software is a critical tool for companies and teams looking to enable remote work and maintain productivity, communication, and collaboration. Many different types of remote working software are available, each designed to meet specific needs and requirements.
If you found this article helpful, you may also want to check out our articles on how to onboard remote employees and remote team-building activities. We also have a great list of 32 Proven Tips to Help You Work From Home More Effectively too. Or, if you're specifically focused on trying to manage projects remotely, this guide to 12 Remote Project Management Best Practices & Strategies is also worth a read.
Working from home, from co-working spaces, or even while on the move is undoubtedly the trend of the future. With the right software, you can reap the benefits of remote teams and set your company on course for greater success. And now that you know exactly which tools to use, there’s nothing to stop you from scaling up your operations accordingly.
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Related read: 10 Best Team Communication Apps for Hybrid Teams