Best Remote Work Software in 2023

Remote work solutions can be one or a combination of tools that allow decentralized teams to work as if they’re in the same office. This means that there are a plethora of available tools out there that could fill your needs. You must, however, figure out first which types of software for remote workers you’ll be needing. Do you need to communicate with your employees in real-time? Perhaps you have a team with remote members working on one project. Do you have to track your workforce’s login hours for their payroll? These are just some of the questions you must first answer before investing in one or more remote work software.

One of the best strategies in getting into remote working software is by trying them first. This way, you’ll see if the apps live to their marketing promises and if they are a good fit for your business. Remote work can also be a challenge to both the management and the employees. This is especially true if you’re new to this kind of setup. A good way to start with this is first trying out the top remote work solutions in different categories. This includes monday.com, Wrike, SignRequest, Zoho Sprints, Clarizen, TimeDoctor, Padlet, Skype, BigTime, Salesforce Chatter, and Slack. Fortunately, most of them have either a free trial, free plan, or both.

For some, remote work solutions provide a massive edge to their operations. For others, however, this type of tool is a necessity since it’s the only way they can conduct business. The target audience of remote working software is too vast to enumerate. Therefore, we’ll just mention some of the ones who benefit the most from this software.

• Businesses with a global workforce. This includes multi-office companies and those with employees who work at their homes. Most of the remote work software provide inter-office solutions such as organization-wide repositories and global-scale connectivity. Communication and collaboration are some of the most crucial features they require.
• Organizations with international clients. This software doesn’t just connect organizations internally. It’s also useful for communicating and working with clients who reside in another country. An example of this is BPO companies who outsource their services to foreigners.
• Small business owners and freelancers. Time-based invoices are common to freelancers and small business owners. Thus, time tracking remote software is a must for them. They also need tools to share files and feedback.    
• Businesses that provide remote assistance services. Customer support is almost always rendered through remote connections, be it over the phone, through email, tickets, etc. Some offer more hands-on remote assistance by taking over a part of their computer to directly solve issues.

With such diverse tools belonging in this category, it’s pretty clear that this is a software for businesses of all sizes. Both small and mid-sized businesses find a lot of value from this solution as it streamlines various key aspects of their operations. Online stores, for instance, can seamlessly connect with their customers through their communication tools. Those who provide remote support are also completely dependent on this software. Large enterprises, on the other hand, are almost sure to use at least one app belonging to remote work solutions. This includes most of the globally-known companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Zapier who at least have part of their workforce working remotely.

• PandaDoc: An online document management system and e-signature software that lets users create, share, deliver, and sign documents through the web.
• Dropbox: A file-sharing solution that lets you securely share, manage, and collaborate on your files using any device.
• Domotz: A remote tracking and management system that lets users log in, monitor, manage, and control devices through the internet.
• Smartsheet: An online collaboration tool that provides features for crowdsourcing, project management, sales pipelines tracking, and more.
• Timble: An easy-to-use time tracking solution that provides IT users, developers, and project managers with tools to monitor their time and send reports.
• Zoom: A video conferencing platform that’s designed primarily for online courses, video demonstrations, webinars, virtual meetings, and online training.

For more products and information, you can check out our articles about software listings sorted by category such as this 10 best collaboration software guide. You can also look into our direct comparison of top solutions such as Smartsheet vs monday.com.

There’s a lot of software categories that fall under remote software criteria. Therefore, there are also different ways of classifying them. If, however, we sort them out according to their general functions, we can form three groups:

• Time and Progress Tracker – These are some of the most common choices for people who aren’t used to yet in working remotely in software. When you work from home, distractions are just around the corner. That’s why the management needs something for workers that can help provide accountability, build trust, and maximize their work efficiency. This is what time and progress trackers do. With this, starting and stopping time for work is just one click away. The information of your work hours, progress, etc. are all recorded and reflected into the platform’s dashboard which you and your manager can see.
• Team Collaboration Platform – This type of tool empowers fast and reliable communication and coordination between team members working on different assignments. It facilitates collaboration on projects so that everyone can view and share status updates. This enables every stakeholder to stay on one page.
• File Hub – These are typically cloud-based storage platforms where you and other authorized members can share and retrieve files. It also provides a secure environment for multiple people to work on a single file at the same time. Some file hub applications are also equipped with handy features such as version history, auto-sync on different devices, and more. Additionally, more advanced solutions also offer the capability to create and edit different types of files like documents, texts, slides, and spreadsheets.

Different remote work software shares some key features necessary to allow teams to work seamlessly even if the members are miles apart from each other but they also have their own unique tools designed for the purposes and industries they serve. Below, we’ll discuss the functionalities that are typical in quality remote work solutions.

• Chat. It allows remote team members to share their ideas, discuss projects and tasks, and keep everyone on the same boat. Some remote work software is designed specifically for this purpose while others offer chats as one of their functionalities. Chat tools may work in different ways. Some may allow users to find past chats or organize the conversations into channels based on projects, team members, or anything else that is pertinent to their organization.
• Video Conferencing Tools. Video conferencing helps remote teams overcome geographical barriers for everything from training to collaboration.  Additionally, it makes troubleshooting, brainstorming, and decision making as effective as an in-person meeting. Just like chat, this feature may be integrated with other modules or be offered as stand-alone software. How the tools function may also differ from one software to another. Some may have a limit in the number of individuals who can participate in virtual meetings. Other tools may limit the number of hours a meeting should last.
• File Sharing. It gives remote workers an alternative option for sending files via email. Some remote work software is dedicated to sharing files such as documents, spreadsheets, and presentations while other solutions offer file sharing as one of their features. File sharing functionalities also vary from one solution to another. Some may allow users to edit the shared files while others protect them from modification. If you need to share a large file, you may need to look for a tool with huge storage space. It is also important to look for a file-sharing tool with robust security especially if you need to share confidential information.
• Project Management. It is an essential feature that helps remote project managers effectively coordinate people, budgets, and deadlines to ensure project success.  Project management may differ from one remote work solution to another. Some popular software uses boards and cards for organizing tasks and projects. Some feature project templates which allow users to easily map out their workflows.
• Time Tracking. It is important in remote work. It provides remote teams with crucial structure, visibility, and transparency. It is what you need to get an accurate remote employee timesheet for billing or just want to know how the employees spend their time. Additionally, it allows businesses to implement flexible working hours.

Adopting the right remote work software is essential to the success of your remote teams.  Below are some of the benefits it brings to the table.

• Effective Communication. Remote work software helps remote teams stay connected despite the distance. Chat and video conferencing features are usually available, allowing users to communicate seamlessly and in real-time. The latter feature enables remote employees to conduct virtual meetings, webinars, and the like. These communication tools also ensure that everyone in the team is constantly updated and remains on the same page.
• Better Collaboration. Remote work solutions come with collaboration tools that enable teams to work seamlessly together. They can share files and edit them in real-time. Some tools even allow team members to leave notes and comments on files.
• Improved Productivity. With the right remote work tools, remote worker teams can finish more tasks in less time. Features such as time-tracking help ensure that your employees are doing their job. Communication tools allow teams to know exactly what they need to do.
• Effective Project Management. Managing projects can be a challenge if the team members are working from different locations. Remote work software solves this problem by providing project managers tools to coordinate their workforce, budget, and deadline and keep a steady flow of work. These tools are what you need to assign tasks, set up deadlines, and track project progress.
• Easy Data/File Sharing. Remote work tools make it possible to share files in real-time with so much ease, allows different members to access information quickly, and basically avoid unnecessary delays. File sharing functionality also makes auditing less arduous and makes project management easier.  What’s more, online file sharing eliminates the need for large hard discs and even couriers so businesses can also cut costs.
• Boost Team Morale. Working from home is great but it can also be lonely. Compared to office work, there is no regular human-to-human interaction in remote work. Some workers craving for a real connection with other people may end up being burned out or depressed. Remote work tools help work from home employees get the human interaction they need. They can speak with colleagues as well as talk and share their ideas through chat and video conferencing tools. And this can help boost their morale.

The rising number of remote works is not a trend since it’s here to stay. However, the tools that empower this kind of setup is undergoing several changes to keep up with the following trend:

• Increased Adoption. We’re already past the point where remote works just mean customer service. Nowadays, full-time careers can be conducted from outside the offices. This trend is made possible by the technologies that let us do the same job regardless of where we are. Businesses are also keeping up with these changes which is why they’re taking in talents from different parts of the world. This naturally means the growth of remote work software adaption on a global scale.
• Integrated solutions. As we’ve stated, there are different types of tools that could be considered a remote work solution. Communication tool, collaboration software, and file-sharing platforms to name a few. However, there’s also an increasing number of solutions that are housing multiple remote work features under one platform. Take monday.com for instance, it provides you with tools for time-tracking, file-sharing, collaboration, and project management.

Working remotely is a challenge by itself, especially to those unprepared. However, the software for remote workers is also exposed to some potential issues that you should take into account.

• Connection dependency. Internet connectivity is the backbone of remote work solutions. While some of the apps still function offline, they still need to sync with the server to ensure that everything is accurate. Others, on the other hand, cannot work at all when faced with the loss of internet connection. The most notable example of this is communication software. Whether you’re chatting with someone or attending a video conference, they’ll both disconnect when the signal goes out. That’s why backup internet connections are usually recommended.
• Cybersecurity. When working in the office, web activities and internet connections are usually secure. Attacks have to go through several layers of security system in order to cause damage. This means that all your sensitive data are relatively safe as well. However, when you opt for remote work, all those are gone. The content of your conversations, files, documents, etc. is now more prone to being a victim to malicious attackers. That’s why it’s important to deploy extra security features to guarantee the safety of your remote workspace.
• Lack of office vibes. Individually, the majority of those who work from home are very satisfied with the setup. As a group, however, it may feel lacking. While many communication tools facilitate real-time conversations, digital interactions are still on a different level of social scale than personal ones. For this, the company must set aside some time for members to bond, such as online meetings and video conferences.