Let’s be honest — remote collaboration can be tricky. Whether it’s syncing up across time zones or trying to build relationships over video calls, teams face unique challenges. And that’s where the best remote collaboration software comes in.
The right solutions can help you assign tasks, host effective meetings, and boost team engagement no matter where you are. So, let’s dive into why these tools are so essential and what’s out there to help your team thrive in 2024.
What are remote collaboration tools (and why do you need them)?
Remote collaboration tools are software that helps you stay connected and productive when your team is spread out. Whether you're messaging, sharing files, or planning projects, these solutions streamline work and keep everyone in the loop.
Here’s why you should use collaborative tools for remote working:
- Boost communication and engagement: Keep your team connected with real-time messaging and video calls that make everyone feel involved, no matter where they are.
- Work from anywhere, anytime: Flexibility is key, and these tools help you collaborate whether you’re at home, in the office, or on the go.
- Build inclusive and diverse teams: Working remotely often means collaborating with people from all over the world. The right tools support different time zones and working styles — from early birds to night owls.
- Streamline workflows: No more digging through emails for that one file. Centralized platforms keep your projects organized and accessible.
So, what’s the catch with choosing remote work tools? It might sound a bit odd, but these platforms also need to play nice together — and that’s where things can get tricky.
According to The State of Collaboration Technology by Asana, 32% of knowledge workers would consider seeking a new employer that offers more helpful collaboration technologies, including those that are better integrated and reduce digital exhaustion.
To avoid leaving remote employees juggling between tools that don't sync, grab your sticky notes, open a new mural, and let's review our handpicked selection of the best collaboration tools for remote teams.
Related: How to make remote collaboration work for your team
The 12 best collaboration tools for remote teams
We’ve narrowed down the best remote collaboration software, including virtual meeting tools, project management platforms, cloud storage systems, and more. Each solution brings something unique to the table, helping you tackle every aspect of teamwork.
1. Mural
First things first: We can't deny that this is our favorite working-from-anywhere platform.❤️
Mural is a visual work platform designed to make collaboration happen in an engaging and fun way. It combines an easy-to-use canvas with a robust set of tools that simplify every step of your projects — brainstorming solutions, managing complex tasks, building business plans, creating engaging visual presentations, wireframes, and much more.
Mural's features include sticky notes, mind mapping and diagramming tools, and interactive elements, ensuring your team never has to suffer through those boring meetings again. For example, you can set a timer for quick small-group ice breakers, invite participants to vote, and even use private mode when they need a bit of privacy to develop ideas.
With Mural, you can:
- Create, organize, and share online whiteboards with unlimited members.
- Collaborate in real time with your team from anywhere, on mobile or desktop apps.
- Add images, text, and GIFs to your murals, keeping all the information you need on an infinite canvas.
- Use hundreds of templates to save time during your sessions.
- Integrate your boards with the platforms you use, including all the other tools on this list.
- Add ideas to your brainstorming meetings in seconds with Mural AI.
If there's any drawback related to Mural, it's the fact that the free plan limits the number of boards you can use. The good news is that you can share these murals with unlimited members, making it one of the best free collaboration tools for remote teams on this list.
Pricing: Get started for free, or opt for unlimited murals for $9.99 per user/month.
2. Zoom
One of the challenges of working from home is when you have an early meeting, your house is a mess, and you’re having a bad hair day. Thanks to Zoom, you have backgrounds and filters to hide everything before your team notices. This video conferencing platform is one of the best remote collaboration tools for virtual meetings, remote events, and webinars.
With Zoom, you can:
- Host video meetings with up to 1,000 participants
- Record meetings for later review
- Use breakout rooms for small group discussions
- Enable real-time captions and transcriptions
Zoom's main limitation is that it's primarily a communication tool. If your team needs more robust collaboration features like document editing or project management, you’ll need to integrate it with platforms like Google Drive or Mural.
Pricing: Paid plans start at $12.49 per user/month, with a free subscription available.
3. GitHub
GitHub is one of the best remote collaboration tools for development teams. It's a web-based platform that lets you manage code and collaborate seamlessly on projects. GitHub's standout features include issue tracking to report bugs and the ability to collaborate with other developers on open-source projects.
With GitHub, you can:
- Host code repositories
- Track changes to your code with version control
- Open and merge pull requests for code reviews
- Share code and documentation publicly or privately
One downside is that GitHub is very technical and primarily catered to developers, so teams outside the software development space may find its interface and features less useful.
Pricing: Paid plans start at $4 per user/month, with a free subscription available.
4. Google Drive
Google Drive is a cloud storage and remote work collaboration tool for sharing files and working together, even if you're miles apart. It supports real-time collaboration through apps like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, making it a good option for teams that need to co-edit documents.
With Google Drive, you can:
- Store and organize files in the cloud
- Share files with team members, leave comments, and set permissions
- Track file version history and restore previous versions
- Automatically sync files between devices
A limitation of Google Drive is that its file organization can get pretty cluttered if you're not careful. This means that trying to find specific files can become a bit of a hassle, especially when you're dealing with a lot of documents.
Pricing: Paid plans start at $12 per user/month, with a free subscription available.
5. Slack
Slack is an instant messaging app designed for team communication, both in real-time and asynchronously. It organizes conversations into channels and offers tons of integrations with other apps, which makes it one of the most popular remote team collaboration software.
With Slack, you can:
- Share files, links, and media in conversations
- Make voice and video calls within the app
- Use threads to keep conversations focused and organized
- Set reminders for tasks or meetings
Too many channels or notifications can make Slack overwhelming. Teams may find it difficult to stay organized, especially in larger organizations where communication can get noisy.
Pricing: Paid plans start at $7.25 per user/month, with a free subscription available.
6. Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams combines chat, video meetings, and document sharing into one app. It’s especially helpful for teams already using Microsoft 365, integrating with tools like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
With Teams, you can:
- Set up team chats, channels, and groups
- Host video and voice meetings with screen-sharing
- Co-author and edit documents in real time
One challenge with Microsoft Teams is its learning curve. For new users of remote working collaboration tools, the interface may seem complex, especially when navigating multiple channels, chats, and file storage options.
Pricing: Paid plans start at $3.70 per user/month, with a free subscription available.
7. Notion
Notion is a workspace that combines note-taking, task management, and collaboration. It allows users to customize databases and task boards to fit their specific needs, whether for project management or document storage.
With Notion, you can:
- Create and organize pages for notes, wikis, and tasks
- Assign tasks and deadlines within projects
- Use Kanban boards, calendars, and lists to manage projects
However, the wide range of customization options can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming. It might take some time to fully understand how to configure Notion to meet your team’s needs.
Pricing: Paid plans start at $9.50 per user/month, with a free subscription available.
8. Trello
Trello is a project management tool that uses boards, lists, and cards to organize tasks and projects. It’s great for teams that use Scrum and Kanban boards to assign tasks and monitor progress on a project in a visual format.
With Trello, you can:
- Add checklists, labels, and attachments to task cards
- Drag and drop cards between lists to track progress
- Collaborate with team members on task details
While Trello is great for smaller projects, it may lack the complexity needed for large, multi-phase projects. Teams managing more advanced workflows may need to integrate Trello with other tools for better tracking and reporting.
Pricing: Paid plans start at $5 per user/month, with a free subscription available.
9. Jira
Jira is a remote team collaboration tool for software development teams. It helps you plan, track, and manage Agile projects, making it a good option for technical teams to track bugs, features, and tasks in a structured way.
With Jira, you can:
- Plan sprints using Jira Scrum boards
- Set up custom workflows for project tracking
- Track project progress with burn-down charts and reports
One downside to Jira is that its complexity can be daunting for non-technical teams. While it’s powerful for Agile workflows, it may be overkill for teams not familiar with software development lifecycles.
Pricing: Paid plans start at $7.16 per user/month, with a free subscription available.
10. Asana
Asana helps teams track tasks, projects, and deadlines while integrating with a variety of tools like Slack, Google Drive, and Microsoft Teams. Its visual project timelines and task assignments make it easy to stay on top of everything.
With Asana, you can:
- Organize tasks into projects with timelines and dependencies
- Set priorities, due dates, and subtasks for detailed tracking
- Use task boards, lists, and calendars to manage workflows
For larger projects with complex requirements, Asana’s feature set may feel somewhat limited. It’s a good remote collaboration platform for task management, but less suited for more detailed, large-scale project planning.
Pricing: Paid plans start at $10.99 per user/month, with a free subscription available.
11. Figma
Figma lets design teams create UI/UX projects in real time. It offers vector editing, wireframe tools, and collaborative design features. Teams use Figma to test workflows, design interactive prototypes, and share feedback instantly.
With Figma, you can:
- Design user interfaces and prototypes collaboratively
- Create vector-based designs with tools for UI/UX design
- Integrate with tools like Slack, Jira, and Mural
- Track design version history and revert to previous versions
The main limitation of Figma is that it’s best suited for design teams. For non-design teams or those looking for broader project management capabilities, Figma may not meet all needs.
Pricing: Paid plans start at $15 per user/month, with a free subscription available.
12. Dropbox
Dropbox offers secure cloud storage and sharing, making it a good choice for teams that need to manage files and collaborate on documents. It offers file versioning, offline access, and automatic backups from your desktop or mobile device.
With Dropbox, you can:
- Access and sync files across devices automatically
- Share files and folders with team members via links
- Integrate with tools like Mural, Zoom, and Trello
But Dropbox’s collaboration features are limited compared to platforms like Google Drive or Microsoft Teams. It’s best for teams primarily seeking secure file storage rather than all-in-one collaboration.
Pricing: Paid plans start at $9.99 per user/month, with a free subscription available.
Work (together) smarter with the leading remote team collaboration software
If you're looking for a single remote team collaboration tool that connects all the apps you use and supports teamwork from anywhere, Mural should be at the top of your list.
Our project collaboration software combines online whiteboarding, project management, and team-building features to make work more interactive, visual, and simple. The best part? Creation gets easier, and your team will be more engaged and productive.
Sign up for Mural today and choose the best remote collaboration software for real teamwork.
*All information contained herein is based on publicly available information as of September 2024.
