15 handy tools for remote teamwork

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Against the backdrop of the situation with the coronavirus, these services are especially relevant.

1. Working messenger: Telegram

• Platforms: web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
• Alternatives: Slack, Skype, Flock,.

Despite the blocking, Telegram remains one of the most popular messengers in Russia. It is actively used both for everyday communication and for business communication between employees.

Telegram is fast, convenient and simple. The service does not support video conferencing and some other useful functions available in corporate messengers like Slack, but you can use it absolutely free.

Telegram →

2. Office suite: "Google Sheets", "Documents" and "Presentations"

• Platforms: web, Android, iOS.
• Alternatives: Office 365, Quip, Apple iWork.

Google offers a cross-platform, feature-rich and free suite of services for working with popular office file formats. With it, you can create and edit text documents, spreadsheets and presentations - both independently and together with colleagues.

Each user has 15 GB of disk space available for storing files on Google servers. For additional storage, you can purchase a paid G Suite subscription. It also includes 24/7 support services, a corporate mail service and additional data protection features. Rates start at $ 6 per month per person.

Google Sheets Google LLC

Application not found

3. Service for notes: OneNote

• Platforms: web, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.
• Alternatives: Evernote, Notion.

Google Docs and similar services are not suitable for small notes. The latter are more convenient to store in cloud notebooks like OneNote. This Microsoft product has an intuitive interface that resembles a real notebook. The simple and clear structure of the service will allow you and your colleagues to quickly find the notes you need among hundreds of others.

Other advantages of OneNote include extensive text editing capabilities and support for all kinds of attachments, from audio comments to video. In addition, the service can be used free of charge. In this case, each user is provided with 5 GB for storing notes in the cloud. The entire team gets 1 TB of shared space for OneNote and other Microsoft services when they purchase an Office 365 Business paid enterprise subscription.

Microsoft OneNote: Organized Ideas and Notes Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft OneNote Microsoft Corporation

OneNote →

4. Task manager: Todoist

• Platforms: web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
• Alternatives: TickTick, Notion, Any.do.

To effectively manage a remote team, a leader needs a convenient tool for delegating tasks. Todoist is one of the best in this category. It allows you to quickly add tasks, organize them by lists and priority, assign times and attach performers.

With tags and filters, a large number of tasks are easy to navigate. And the activity history helps the manager to closely monitor the progress of work.

In free mode, you can add up to 80 projects and up to 5 employees to each of them. To remove restrictions, as well as unblock notifications, tags and other advanced features, you will have to subscribe to a paid subscription. The cost starts at 229 rubles per month per person.

Todoist: Doist To-Do List & Tasks

Todoist: Doist Inc. To Do List and To Do List

Todoist →

5. Project manager: Asana

• Platforms: web, Android, iOS.
• Alternatives: Bitrix24, Basecamp, ProofHub, Podio.

Task managers are great for quick assignments, but not always good for managing complex workflows. For a more strategic approach to business, they use programs like Asana. This service allows you to plan and structure your task flow in a variety of ways. Each employee clearly sees their responsibilities and terms of work. And the manager can easily track progress and observe the overall picture of the project.

The free version of Asana is designed for teams up to 15 people and lacks some features. For example, the "Timeline" view and advanced task search are not available in it. Paid subscriptions start at $ 11 per month per user. The more expensive the chosen plan, the more features it provides.

Asana: Your work manager Asana, Inc.

Application not found

6. Kanban boards: Trello

• Platforms: web, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.
• Alternatives: MeisterTask, Blossom.

Kanban is a popular project management methodology. Each task in it goes through certain stages: for example, "In plans", "In progress" and "Completed". Usually they are depicted as boards between which task cards are moved. The result is a very visual display of the workflow, so many project management services use kanban elements to one degree or another.

This methodology is perhaps best implemented in Trello. The developers have elevated simplicity and clarity to the absolute, so the service may not be functional enough for complex projects. But the flow of tasks in it looks so minimalistic that even a child can figure it out.

Plus, the free version of Trello has no hard caps. You will have to pay only if you need additional design options, more than 10 boards for a team, as well as tools for automated work with tasks. Subscription prices start at $ 10 per month per person.

Trello Trello, Inc.

Trello Trello, Inc.

Trello →

7. Mind Map Editor: MindMeister

• Platforms: web, Android, iOS.
• Alternatives: Mindomo, MindMup.

A mind map is a schematic representation of processes or ideas that simplifies the perception of information. In this form, you can imagine anything: from a project development strategy to the results of a brainstorming session. To work collectively with mind maps, you need a special editor.

MindMeister is a good choice. It offers tons of templates and easy-to-use data visualization tools. With its help, you can quickly draw mental maps of any complexity.

In free mode, MindMeister allows you to store up to three mind maps. By subscribing to the PRO tariff, you can work with an unlimited number of items, save them in popular office formats, and also get functions for team management. The cost is $ 8, 25 per user per month.

MindMeister MeisterLabs

mind mapping - MindMeister MeisterLabs

MindMeister →

8. Cloud storage: "Google Drive"

• Platforms: web, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.
• Alternatives: Yandex. Disk, Dropbox, OneDrive.

It's hard to imagine remote teamwork without a cloud for storing shared data. Dozens of such services are at your service, but one of the best is Google Drive. It offers a generous 15GB of free storage, is integrated with other Google products, and is available in a user-friendly interface.

To expand the volume, you can subscribe to the above-mentioned G Suite subscription or subscribe only to the paid Google Drive plan: for 139 rubles a month, the company provides the user with 100 GB of cloud space.

Google Drive Google LLC

Application not found

Google Drive →

9. Service for video conferencing: Zoom

• Platforms: web, Android, iOS.
• Alternatives: Skype for Business, Slack, Hangouts Meet.

Video meetings create not only close emotional contact between employees, but also effective conditions for communication. By seeing and hearing your colleagues, you can interact with them as productively as if you were at the same table. It's no surprise that video conferencing services are so popular.

Zoom is one of the market leaders. It not only organizes secure video communication, but also allows you to share the screen with conference participants, transfer files and save recordings of conversations.

In the free version, you can invite up to 100 people to a video meeting, and its duration will be a maximum of 40 minutes. To remove the restrictions, you need to subscribe to a paid subscription - from $ 15 per month from the organizer.

ZOOM Cloud Meetings zoom.us

ZOOM Cloud Meetings Zoom

Zoom →

10. Screenshot manager: LightShot

• Platforms: Windows, macOS.
• Alternatives: Gyazo, Nimbus Capture.

When working remotely, one screenshot can replace a thousand words. Therefore, you can use a handy tool for taking screenshots. The LightShot cloud service fits this description. It is available free of charge and allows you to take pictures of a selected area of the display in two clicks.

Having created an image, you can immediately send it to your colleagues - via a link through the LightShot server or using any messenger.

LightShot →

11. Time Tracker: Timely

• Platforms: web, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.
• Alternatives: Toggl, RescueTime, Harvest.

Time trackers help keep track of how much time your team spends on certain tasks. Timely does this automatically. First, you need to connect to it the services in which employees work. These can be the same Trello, Asana or Todoist. Once integrated, Timely will start analyzing task activities and displaying the results of colleagues on a timeline.

The service works by subscription from $ 49 per month.

Timely: Time Tracking App & Billable Hours Tracker Memory AS

Timely Automatic Time Tracking Memory AS

Timely →

12. World Clock: World Time Buddy

• Platforms: web, Android, iOS.
• Alternatives: Yandex. Vremya, 24timezones.

When employees work in different time zones, services such as World Time Buddy make things easier. This is a convenient clock that shows the time in all selected settlements on one screen.

You can add up to four locations for free. For more, the service asks to subscribe for $ 3 per month.

Time Buddy - Clock & Converter Helloka, LLC

Time Buddy - Easy Time Zones Helloka

World Time Buddy →

13. Service for working with PDF: Acrobat Pro DC

• Platforms: web, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.
• Alternatives: Soda PDF, PhantomPDF.

If your team deals with PDF a lot, a collaborative editor can save you tons of time and effort. Acrobat Pro DC is great for this role. It is a cloud-based tool that allows anyone with access to the file to view and annotate PDF documents.

Acrobat Pro DC is a paid service. The subscription price is 1,610 rubles per month or 11,592 rubles per year.

Adobe Acrobat Reader for PDF Adobe

Adobe Acrobat Reader for PDF Adobe Inc.

Acrobat Pro DC →

14. Password Manager: LastPass

• Platforms: web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
• Alternatives: Dashlane, Hypervault, Keeper,.

The work team can use dozens of different services. Ideally, everyone needs a strong, unique password. Fortunately, special tools exist to make it convenient for users to create and store such combinations.

One of the most famous is the LastPass service. It generates complex passwords, stores them in a secure cloud vault, and automatically enters them when you log into the corresponding accounts. By installing the LastPass app on their devices, all team members will have access to shared passwords. At the same time, the manager can choose which credentials each user sees.

To use LastPass for a team, you need to purchase a license. The cost depends on the number of participants.

LastPass Password Manager LogMeIn, Inc.

LastPass Password Manager LogMeIn, Inc.

LastPass →

15. Automation Service: Zapier

• Platforms: web.
• Alternatives: Power Automate, IFTTT.

The Zapier platform helps automate routine operations. It connects to the services that you use for work and allows you to configure various scenarios for their interaction. For example, you can connect Gmail and Trello so that the system automatically turns incoming emails into new tasks.

Zapier supports thousands of services and offers a wide variety of automation scenarios. They can significantly optimize your work, and therefore the rates are not the lowest. Teams subscriptions start at $ 299 per month.

Zapier →

This material was first published in December 2014. In March 2020, we updated the text.