Essential apps for remote workers that your team should be using

Choosing the best apps for remote work can make or break your remote work productivity and team morale. All remote working apps are designed to keep teams connected, productive, and efficient, but your choices and work habits will determine if they are good for you.

From video calls to task management and everything in between, here’s a curated list of apps for remote work that every team lead and manager should consider adding to their toolkit.

Communication apps for remote work

Clear and effective communication is the foundation of successful remote work, and apps for remote work play a crucial role in keeping teams connected. These apps for remote workers will make collaboration seamless, even when your team spans multiple time zones.

Slack

Slack is the go-to remote work app for communication. It organizes conversations into channels, keeping discussions focused and clutter-free. Whether it’s brainstorming ideas or quick updates, Slack simplifies all types of conversation. Plus, it’s great for mobile use on the go.

Key features:

• Topic-specific channels for organized communication
• Instant messaging with intuitive file sharing
• Integrations with other remote work apps like Google Drive, Trello, and Zapier

Loom

Loom is a video messaging tool that allows you to communicate with asynchronous videos, making it perfect for explaining complex ideas or providing feedback. Instead of lengthy emails or written instructions, you can record your screen and camera to share information quickly and effectively. It’s one of the best apps for remote workers who want to save time on feedback meetings and complex instructions.

Key features:

• Screen recording with voice narration and webcam overlay
• Instant link sharing with no downloads required
• Viewer engagement insights, like who watched your video and for how long

Zoom

When you need face-to-face interaction, Zoom delivers. It’s one of the most widely used apps for remote work for video conferencing, and it’s perfect for team meetings, webinars, or one-on-one check-ins.

Key features:

• High-quality video and audio calls
• Screen sharing for presentations
• Breakout rooms for smaller group discussions

Microsoft Teams

If your team already uses Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams is a no-brainer. It combines chat, video conferencing, and file sharing, all seamlessly integrated with familiar tools like Word and Excel.

Key features:

• Group chats and video calls
• Direct collaboration on Office documents
• Shared file storage via OneDrive

Apps for remote work that simplify task management

Keeping projects on track with these apps for remote work will be a breeze. They’re built to help you organize, assign, and track tasks effortlessly.

Trello

Trello uses Kanban style visual boards to make task management simple and intuitive. Teams can create workflows, set deadlines, and see the big picture at a glance.

Key features:

• Drag-and-drop task cards
• Customizable workflows with labels and deadlines
• Integrations with apps like Slack and Dropbox

Asana

For more complex projects, Asana provides robust project and task management features. It breaks down projects into manageable pieces, helping teams stay aligned on priorities, goals, and timelines.

Key features:

• Task assignment with due dates and priority levels
• Project timelines for a bird’s-eye view of progress
• Automations to streamline repetitive tasks

Notion

Notion is a highly customizable all-in-one workspace that combines task management, knowledge sharing, and collaboration. It’s a great remote work app for teams that want to build a custom space for their processes.

Key features:

• Customizable templates for various workflows
• Collaborative document editing
• Centralized hub for team knowledge

Best remote work apps for a productivity boost

Staying productive while working remotely can be a challenge. These productivity apps for remote workers will help your teams focus, track time, and optimize their workflows.

DeskTime

DeskTime is more than a remote worker app—it’s a productivity booster. It tracks time spent on tasks, apps, and URLs, offers insights for boosting efficiency, and helps teams identify areas for productivity improvements.

Key features:

• Automatic time tracking for individuals and teams
• Productivity analytics to identify trends and bottlenecks
• Project tracking to allocate resources effectively

DeskTime isn’t just about numbers and time management; it offers the tools to cultivate team transparency and accountability and helps ensure everyone is on the same page.

Forest

Forest takes a creative approach to productivity. When you want to stay focused, plant a virtual tree in the app. As you work without interruptions, your tree grows. Stop to check your phone, and it withers.

Key features:

• Gamified focus timer
• Real-time tracking of productive hours
• Option to plant real trees with earned credits

Toggl Track

For teams that prefer simplicity, Toggl Track offers straightforward time tracking with powerful reporting features. It’s a top choice for monitoring how hours are spent on different tasks.

Key features:

• One-click time tracking
• Detailed reports for team productivity
• Integrations with tools like Asana and Trello

Real-time virtual collaboration apps for remote workers

Good collaboration requires space for spontaneity, seamless communication, and structure – and these remote work apps are built for just that. 

Google Workspace

Google Workspace is a suite of cloud-based tools that’s perfect for remote work collaboration. From shared documents and spreadsheets to video calls, it covers all the basics of working remote apps.

Key features:

• Real-time editing and commenting with Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets
• Secure file storage with Google Drive
• Video calls and chat through Google Meet

Miro

Miro is a collaborative online whiteboard ideal for brainstorming, planning, and organizing ideas. Whether you’re mapping out a project or hosting a virtual workshop, Miro provides the flexibility and tools needed to work together in real time. It’s a must-have remote work app for teams looking to stay creative and aligned, no matter where they are.

Key features:

• Interactive templates for brainstorming, mind mapping, and project planning
• Real-time collaboration with team members across devices
• Integrations with tools like Slack, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Teams

Tips for using apps for remote work efficiently

Installing the right apps for remote work is just the first step. To have these apps solve your problems instead of creating more of them, here are some rules of thumb to stick to.

Think thoroughly and choose wisely 

To avoid overwhelming your team with too many remote work apps and frequent app changes, first, do your research. Dive deep into what your team actually needs and what problems they’re having with their current tool set. Try to find tools which tackle multiple problems at once. Focus on using just a few best remote work apps that cater to your team’s specific needs.

Establish clear guidelines 

Clearly defining how and when to use each remote working app is essential in medium to large teams. The more people you have, the more varied their app usage habits and the more risk for chaos to emerge. To prevent disorganization, set rules and expectations for each remote work app. 

For instance, use Slack for quick updates and Gmail for important decision approvals, Zoom for team meetings, and DeskTime for tracking productivity. Go into details about how exactly to log requests and formulate tasks in project management tools, and how to write good feedback to a team member.

Dare to use advanced features 

Remote work apps aren’t built to just replace the aspects of in-person work. They’re meant to enhance your capabilities and offer completely new ways of organizing your thinking and achieving results. 

Make full use of the more complex automation features and APIs, which can be daunting to set up at first. Experiment with creative mediums, like emojis and GIFs in your online communication, and bright color coding for projects and calendar meetings. All the extra features in these remote working applications can elevate your productivity in ways you may not have imagined before.

Seamless collaboration anywhere with apps for remote workers

With the right apps for remote workers, you don’t have to worry about remote work disrupting your productivity or team morale. When used correctly and mindfully, remote work apps can enhance your usual way of working and help maintain smooth remote communication, efficient task management, and sustained productivity. Whether it’s Slack for chats, Trello for task management, or DeskTime for productivity tracking, these tools can empower your team to do their best work—no matter where they are.