Remote work has changed how we get things done. No office, no desk chats, no walking over to ask a quick question. Just screens, schedules, and a lot of figuring things out on your own. It works, mostly. But it can also feel isolating. You miss the rhythm of working side by side.
That’s where the cracks show. Projects slow down, messages get misread, people stop speaking up, and collaboration goes out the window. And suddenly, the team doesn’t feel much like a team.
The right tools can make remote collaboration easier. Not by flooding you with features, but by helping people communicate, share, and stay in sync, even from across time zones. This post will consider a few compelling tools that aid remote collaboration with their unique features and proven performance.
Working remotely means you work from your own space, at your own pace, and so does every other member of your team. You won’t be sitting next to your colleagues. There’ll be no quick chat over coffee, or catching tone or body language in a meeting room.
This is where collaboration can feel like an uphill climb. However, remote collaboration tools can help. They not only enable team members to stay connected but also empower them to work together from different physical locations.
The following types of tools are typically used to make remote collaboration flawless and easier.
Collaboration is impossible without communication tools, which enable team members to catch up, ask queries, clarify doubts, or share updates quickly and informally. These tools enable hassle-free conversations between team members, helping each one feel connected to the rest of the group.
These tools allow team members to work cohesively in real time, even as they’re physically apart. They can work on the same document simultaneously, with everyone being in the know of each development therein. How? You can see what your teammates are doing in real time, provide feedback, and get the work done without even talking face-to-face.
Because meeting deadlines is not enough, teams can now leverage task-tracking tools to do more. These tools provide the much-needed visibility to each member’s work. Everyone stays aware of tasks that are in progress, those that are completed, and those that are on hold.
Further, technical teams can try collaborating using remote desktop tools, which allow members to directly (and lawfully) access systems, test environments, or client computers. This can save hours and cut the back-and-forth that goes into asking for passwords and permissions.
All said and done, remote collaboration involves more than just being available at all times. It also helps build trust, creates clarity, and supports the way people really work.
Mentioned ahead are some modern tools that can simplify as well as enhance remote collaboration.
Who hasn’t heard of Microsoft Teams! Launched as part of the Microsoft 365 suite, Teams is most renowned for enabling video calling over high-speed internet. It offers chat threads and file storage when used with OneDrive and SharePoint. It can easily integrate with other Microsoft tools like Outlook, Word, and Excel, making it easier to use.
If you frequently conduct large-scale video calls (up to 1,000 participants in interactive mode and up to 20,000 in view-only mode), Teams could be your best bet. Last but not least, it comes with built-in security features like two-factor authentication and data encryption.
How it improves remote collaboration
Teams is where chat and video meet high-performance productivity tools. Users can jointly work on Word or Excel files during a call, share updates in channels, and pin important information for easy access.
If your team already uses Microsoft apps, this will feel like a natural fit. The bigger, the better! Honestly, is there anything this tool doesn’t do? Well, it won't humanize AI mumbo jumbo for you, but there are other, more suitable tools for that anyway!
Pricing
Free version available
Paid plans start at $4 per user/month
2. Slack
Now acquired by Salesforce, Slack was launched back in 2013. It has come a long way since then and is now widely used to create public and private channels for quick messaging. It is packed with some unique features like direct messaging and audio huddles, which make it highly effective for team communication.
Slack also offers several advanced search features, message threads, and enterprise-level security. Admins can use analytics data to monitor team activity and engagement.
How it improves remote collaboration
Slack allows teams to organize their day-to-day conversations in one place. This means all members stay on the same page without much back-and-forth.
Having said that, users can create separate channels for topics, like #marketing, #support, or #general. It can also be used to make instant voice and video calls. Feeling seen and heard wasn’t this easy before Slack came along!
Pricing
Free for small teams
Paid plans start at $7.25 per user/month
Launched in 2016, Notion has created a name for itself as an all-in-one productivity boosting tool. Its Markdown support as well as drag-and-drop editing make it flexible and easy to use. The tool promotes transparency as team members can view version history, request special access, and enable team collaboration through specific settings.
Circa 2024, Notion began offering AI-powered writing assistance, a feature built directly into the workspace. Looks like Notion likes staying updated!
How it improves remote collaboration
Notion allows teams to provide structure to scattered work. Teams can share documents, organize their work, track goals, and basically, connect the dots. Members can stay connected even as they work independently, thanks to the tool’s real-time editing and comment features. It can also be used to create living documents, like handbooks, checklists, and more.
Pricing
Free for personal use
Team plans start at $10 per user/month
Google Workspace is an out-and-out cloud-based suite of remote productivity tools developed by (you guessed it!) Google. Earlier known as “Google Apps for Work,” it was rebranded in 2020 to reflect its support infrastructure for remote work.
Its core apps (Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, Meet, Calendar) and admin tools work well when it comes to managing users, security, and permissions. Users get file storage up to 5 TB as well as custom email domains.
How it improves remote collaboration
Google Workspace is the platform where everything connects seamlessly. You can write and co-edit a document in real time, leave comments, hop on a quick Meet call, and share files using the same tool. Meanwhile, Drive keeps everything organized and accessible.
It is also useful for quick edits as well as long-term collaboration. This tool definitely covers most aspects of what remote teams would need!
Pricing
Fixed-term Business Starter plan begins at $7 per user/month
As the name suggests, Google Calendar is a time and event management tool. It provides users with multiple calendar views (day, week, month, schedule), shared calendars, color-coding for special events, and time zone conversion.
Some of its smart features include event suggestions, RSVP monitoring, and AI-driven scheduling. Worried about Calendar permissions? No need. It can be easily adjusted to control visibility across teams and organizations, so only select people can view the contents.
How it improves remote collaboration
Collaborating with members from different time zones can get tricky for remote teams. Google Calendar helps manage this aspect. You can set meetings, add guests, create reminders, and even view coworkers’ availability before sending an invite. It reduces back-and-forth and helps people show up prepared.
So, have you added your big event yet?
Pricing
Included in Google Workspace
Free for personal use
Erstwhile PomoDone, this tool was launched in 2015 as a desktop and mobile productivity app based on the Pomodoro Technique. You can perform custom tasks and track break intervals while using its keyboard shortcuts, focus mode, and task-specific timers for accurate time tracking.
How it improves remote collaboration
In the world of remote work, the thin line between focus and distraction often gets blurred. But not with RoundPie. It helps each team member stay accountable for their own time.
It also integrates with other task tools like Trello and Todoist, which means you can track what you’re working on along with the time taken. This transparency helps build trust in remote teams, enabling better collaboration. Sounds about right!
Pricing
Not available on the website
7. Trello
Launched in 2011 and now owned by Atlassian, Trello is a project management tool that uses a kanban-style layout for easy understanding of tasks. It comes with a card-based interface where users can create multiple boards, lists, and cards. You can then add projects, tasks, and subtasks to these cards.
Confused? Don’t be. Trello’s drag-and-drop functionality helps keep things simple. You’ll also find helpful features like labels, checklists, due dates, attachments, and comments on every card.
It also features “Power-Ups,” which are basically add-ons for extra functionality. These include calendar views, voting, and third-party integrations.
How it improves remote collaboration
Trello focuses on improving task visibility. Every project or workflow can be segregated into lists (like “To Do,” “In Progress,” “Done”). Tasks can be turned into cards with their own checklists, comments, and due dates. This kind of layout is helpful for teams that need a quick overview of the work progress. And without micromanaging!
Pricing
Free for up to 10 collaborators
Paid plans start at $5 per user/month
Collaboration can quickly become a massive challenge when members of the same team are physically scattered. Getting on chats and/or face-to-face check-ins doesn’t always help improve team bonding or productivity. However, this doesn’t mean there’s no hope for remote collaboration.
While the above-mentioned tools won’t perform miracles, they will certainly help you create visibility and create a means for real connection between teammates. All in all, the right tools can help engender a sense of autonomy without negatively impacting team cooperation and collaboration.
