Comprehensive review of popular software and services for remote work and collaboration in 2025

The chime of a Slack notification echoes from your home office, while your first coffee brews in the kitchen. A colleague on the other side of the world has already updated the project timeline in Asana, and a Zoom kick-off call starts in thirty minutes. Remote work is now the fabric of modern business — a reality where office walls have vanished, and a team’s success hinges on a robust digital backbone and protected assets, from cloud-based data to empty physical spaces safeguarded by intelligent video surveillance systems like Xeoma. However, with deadlines looming and Wi-Fi sometimes faltering, how do you choose tools that won’t let you down? This guide breaks down the top-tier services for remote work, from video calls to task trackers, with current pricing (for October 2025) and features that genuinely save the day.

Contents:

• 1. Video conferencing and online meeting services
• 2. Messengers and team communication platforms
• 3. Cloud storage and file collaboration
• 4. Project and task management
• 5. Remote computer access
• Conclusion: How to choose the right service?

This category of tools replaces in-person meetings, allowing teams to conduct stand-ups, brainstorming sessions, and presentations in real-time.

Zoom
Google Meet
Jitsi Meet

Zoom

Description: One of the world’s most popular video conferencing services, synonymous with remote meetings. Renowned for connection stability and a rich feature set.
Key features:

• HD video and audio;
• ability to split participants into breakout rooms for discussions;
• record meetings to the cloud or a local device;
• virtual backgrounds and interactive whiteboards;
• integration with calendars and popular applications.

Pricing:

• Basic. Free. Up to 100 participants, 40-minute limit on group meetings.
• Pro. $13.33/license per month. Meetings up to 30 hours, reporting, 5 GB of cloud storage for recordings.
• Business. $18.33/license per month. Minimum of ten licenses. Branding, dedicated support, up to 300 participants.
• Enterprise. Custom pricing. Up to 1000 participants, unlimited cloud storage.

Google Meet

Description: Easy to use video conferencing tool integrated with Google Workspace.
Key features:

• screen sharing;
• live captions;
• noise cancellation;
• tiled layout.

Pricing:

• Free Plan. Up to 100 participants. Up to 60 minutes for group meetings.
• Business Starter. $6/user/month, basic Meet features, secure business email, 30 GB storage.
• Business Standard. $12/user/month, all Business Starter features plus meeting recording and 2 TB storage.
• Business Plus. $18/user/month, up to 500 participants, all Business Standard features plus attendance tracking and 5 TB storage.
• Enterprise. Custom pricing. Up to 1000 participants, all Business Plus features plus features like noise cancellation and in-domain live streaming.

Jitsi Meet

Description: A fully open-source and free video conferencing solution. Can be used via public servers or deployed on your own infrastructure for maximum control and security.
Key features:

• no installation or registration required;
• end-to-end encryption;
• screen sharing and group chat;
• self-hosting capability.

Pricing: Free when using public servers. Hosting on your own server incurs technical costs.
 

These services have replaced email as the primary tool for quick message exchange, enabling teams to create themed channels for organized project discussions and spontaneous collaboration.

Microsoft Teams
Discord
Slack

Microsoft Teams

Description: More than just a messenger, Teams is a comprehensive collaboration hub deeply integrated with Microsoft 365. It’s the go-to choice for enterprises already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem, combining chat, meetings, file collaboration, and app integration in one place.
Key features:

• seamlessly host video meetings, webinars, and large-scale live events for up to 10,000 attendees;
• co-author documents in real-time within Teams using embedded Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint);
• create public or private teams and channels with secure, managed access;
• access and share files directly from your team’s connected SharePoint site;
• extend functionality with a wide range of Microsoft and third-party apps.

Pricing (as part of Microsoft 365):

• Microsoft 365 Personal. $9.99/month. For one person. Includes Teams, image and video editing tools, and 1 TB of OneDrive storage.
• Microsoft 365 Family. $12.99/month. For one to six people. Up to 6 TB of secure cloud storage (1 TB per person), identity, data, and device security.
• Microsoft 365 Premium. $19.99/month. For one to six people. Access to Copilot features currently exclusive to Premium.
• Microsoft 365 Business Basic. $6.00 per user/month. Includes web and mobile versions of Office apps, 1 TB of OneDrive storage, and email hosting with a custom domain.
• Microsoft 365 Business Standard. $12.50 per user/month. Adds desktop versions of Office apps, webinar hosting capabilities, and additional business tools.
• Microsoft 365 Business Premium. $22.00 per user/month. Enterprise-grade solution with advanced security, compliance features, and unlimited archiving.

Discord

Description: While born in the gaming community, Discord has been widely adopted by creators, hobbyist groups, and increasingly, remote teams for its crystal-clear voice chat and highly flexible community structure. It excels at fostering informal, real-time interaction.
Key features:

• create persistent, low-latency voice channels where team members can “drop in” to talk, mimicking a physical office environment;
• organize your server with text and voice channels for different topics, projects, or departments;
• share your screen, application window, or stream video with high quality for quick presentations or collaborative work;
• use community management tools like roles, permissions, and moderation bots to keep your server organized and secure;
• integrate with popular apps like Spotify, YouTube, and Trello to enrich your community experience.

Pricing:

• Free. Offers the full core experience: unlimited servers, text/voice/video chat, screen sharing, and 100MB uploads.
• Nitro Basic. $2.99 per month. Unlocks some perks like custom emojis, larger file uploads (50MB), and a special profile badge.
• Nitro. $9.99 per month. The full experience with HD video streaming, even larger file uploads (500MB), server boosts for enhanced audio quality and more emoji slots, and a personalized profile.

Slack

Description: A global leader in corporate messaging, Slack is beloved for its intuitive interface and powerful customization. It’s particularly dominant in the tech and startup sectors due to its vast ecosystem of integrations.
Key features:

• organize conversations into dedicated channels for projects, topics, or teams;
• connect thousands of tools like Google Drive, Jira, and Salesforce directly into your workflow;
• use Slack Connect to communicate securely with partners and clients outside your organization;
• pin important messages and files, and search the entire conversation history with ease;
• use AI-powered search and summarization (on paid plans) to get up to speed quickly.

Pricing:

• Free. Message history stored for 90 days, up to ten integrations with other services.
• Pro. $8.75/user per month. Full message history, unlimited integrations, basic AI features (AI conversation summaries).
• Business+. $18/user per month. Enhanced security and analytics.
• Enterprise+. Price on request. Advanced AI-powered features, EMM integration support, built-in data loss prevention.

 

These services form the digital foundation of remote work, allowing teams to store, synchronize, and — most importantly — collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in real time, regardless of their physical location.

Google Drive
Dropbox
Microsoft OneDrive

Google Drive

Description: As the centerpiece of Google Workspace, Google Drive is synonymous with seamless, real-time collaboration. It’s the go-to choice for teams that prioritize simultaneous editing and deep integration with the powerful suite of Google’s web-based applications.
Key features:

• native, real-time co-editing in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides with built-in commenting and suggestion mode;
• powerful AI-powered search that can find text within images and PDFs (Google’s “Lens” technology);
• seamless integration with Gmail (for saving attachments directly) and Google Calendar;
• generous free storage tier shared across Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos;
• robust version history for all file types, allowing you to track changes and revert to earlier versions.

Pricing (as part of Google Workspace):

• Free. 15 GB of shared storage.
• Business Starter. $7 per user/month. Includes 30 GB of pooled storage per user, custom business email, standard support, and 100 participant video meetings.
• Business Standard. $14 per user/month. Provides 2 TB of pooled storage per user, 150 participant video meetings with recording, and enhanced security management.
• Business Plus. $22 per user/month. Offers 5 TB of pooled storage per user, 500 participant video meetings, advanced security controls, and Vault for eDiscovery and archiving.
• Enterprise. Custom pricing. Includes as much storage as needed, advanced AI capabilities, S/MIME encryption, and premium support.

Dropbox

Description: A pioneer that defined the cloud storage category, Dropbox has evolved into a sophisticated collaboration platform renowned for its incredibly reliable file synchronization, user-friendly interface, and strong cross-platform support. It excels at keeping files in sync across all devices flawlessly.
Key features:

• industry-leading block-level sync technology for fast and efficient file synchronization, even for large files;
• Dropbox Rewind: a powerful feature to restore your entire folder or account to a previous state in case of ransomware or accidental deletion;
• Dropbox Paper: a dedicated, flexible workspace for collaborative documents, task lists, and multimedia projects;
• strong admin controls, detailed activity logs, and robust compliance features (like HIPAA and GDPR support) on business plans;
• extensive third-party app integrations, making it a central hub for your work tools.

Pricing:

• Plus. $9.99 per month (for individuals). Offers 2 TB of storage and advanced sharing controls.
• Professional. $16.58 per month (for freelancers). Provides 3 TB of storage, smart sync, and full version history.
• Standard. $15 per user/month (for teams). Min. 3 users. Includes 5 TB of shared storage, advanced admin tools, and audit logs.
• Advanced. $24 per user/month (for companies). Min. 3 users. Includes 15 TB of shared storage, 1 year to restore deleted files, tiered-admin management, end-to-end encryption, advanced key management.

Microsoft OneDrive

Description: Deeply woven into the fabric of Windows and Microsoft 365, OneDrive offers a native and seamless experience for users and organizations fully committed to the Microsoft ecosystem. It provides a unified location for both personal and work files with tight Office app integration.
Key features:

• deep integration with Windows File Explorer and Microsoft Office apps, allowing for easy saving and real-time co-authoring directly from desktop applications;
• personal vault: a protected area within your OneDrive that requires two-factor authentication for sensitive files;
• files on-demand: access all your files in the cloud without downloading them, saving valuable local disk space;
• seamless sharing and collaboration, with the ability to set expiration dates and password protection on shared links;
• automatic photo tagging and organization using AI, making it easy to find images.

Pricing:

• Standalone OneDrive Basic. Free with 5 GB of storage.
• OneDrive for business. $5 user/month. Includes 1 TB of storage and file sharing.
• Microsoft 365 Business Standard. $12.50 user/month. Up to 300 users. Includes 1 TB of cloud storage per user, custom business email, chat, call, meet, and host webinars.
• Microsoft 365 Business Standard (no Teams). $10.50 user/month. Up to 300 users. Includes all features of Business Standard except for chat, call, meet, and host webinars.

 

These tools help teams plan work, assign tasks, track progress, and control deadlines, transforming chaotic workflows into organized, transparent processes that keep everyone aligned and accountable.

Asana
Trello
Monday.com
Jira

Asana

Description: A leader in the project management space, Asana stands out for its clean interface and powerful workflow automation. It’s designed to help teams coordinate and manage their work from daily tasks to strategic initiatives.
Key features:

• project views: different perspectives on the same tasks: List, Board (Kanban), Timeline (similar to Gantt), Calendar;
• automation: create rules to automate routine actions without coding;
• request forms: collect incoming requests from colleagues or clients in a standardized format, automatically creating tasks;
• portfolios: monitor the status and progress of all company projects in one place;
• workload: tool for monitoring employee workload to prevent burnout;
• multiple integrations with popular services.

Pricing:

• Personal. Free. Connect up to ten collaborators, basic tasks, lists and boards, unlimited storage (up to 100 MB per file), unlimited projects.
• Starter. $10.99/user per month. Up to 500 collaborators. Advanced search, Gantt chart (Timeline), task dependencies, admin console, custom access controls, automation.
• Advanced. $24.99/user per month. Up to 500 collaborators. All Starter features + real-time portfolio monitoring, advanced workflow building, advanced reporting.
• Enterprise. Custom pricing. Unlimited collaborators. All Advanced features plus advanced enterprise functionalities: admin API, SLA with uptime guarantee, data export/backup, security, scalability.

Trello

Description: The visual collaboration tool that creates a shared perspective on any project. Trello’s cards and boards enable anyone to get started instantly while providing powerful automation features for complex workflows. Excellent for personal planning and small projects.
Key features:

• intuitive card-based system with drag-and-drop functionality;
• Butler automation: build automation rules with no-code commands;
• templates: get started quickly with pre-built boards for common use cases;
• multiple views: Board, Timeline, Table, Dashboard, and Map views;
• power-ups: integrate with your favorite apps like Slack, Google Drive, and Jira.

Pricing:

• Free. Up to ten users per workspace. Up to ten team boards per workspace. Unlimited storage (max file size 10 MB). Unlimited cards, lists, personal boards. Custom backgrounds and stickers. Activity log.
• Standard. $5/month per user. All Free features + unlimited boards, 250 MB file size, advanced automation (Butler) — 1000 command runs per month, custom fields, colored and collapsible lists.
• Premium. $10/month per user. All Standard features. Calendar, Timeline, Table, Dashboard, and Map views. Advanced analytics, admin & security features, unlimited command runs per workspace.
• Enterprise. $17.50/month per user. All Premium features + enhanced security and controls. Scalability, flexible pricing for large teams. Unlimited workspaces, extended integrations.

Monday.com

Description: A flexible Work OS (Operating System) that goes beyond traditional project management. Monday.com allows teams to build custom workflow applications for any aspect of their work, from project tracking to CRM and marketing campaigns.
Key features:

• highly customizable boards with 30+ column types (status, numbers, files, people, etc.);
• automations and integrations to connect your tools and reduce manual work;
• multiple views: Kanban, Gantt, Calendar, Timeline, and Map views for the same data;
• dashboards with charts and reports for real-time insights across projects;
• time tracking and document management built directly into workflows.

Pricing:

• Free. Up to 2 seats, 3 boards, and 500 MB of storage.
• Basic. $9 per seat/month billed annually. Unlimited boards, 5 GB storage, and prioritized customer support.
• Standard. $12 per seat/month billed annually. Timeline & Gantt views, guest access, automations (250 actions/month).
• Pro. $19 per seat/month billed annually. Time tracking, chart views, private boards, and 25,000 automations/month.
• Enterprise. Custom pricing. Enterprise-scale automation, advanced analytics, and multi-level permissions.

Jira

Description: The industry standard for software development teams practicing Agile methodologies. Jira provides powerful scrum and kanban boards, advanced reporting, and deep integration with development tools.
Key features:

• agile boards (Scrum and Kanban) with flexible workflows;
• advanced roadmaps for planning and tracking across multiple teams;
• detailed reporting: velocity charts, burn-down charts, and cumulative flow diagrams;
• deep integration with developer tools like Bitbucket, GitHub, and Confluence;
• customizable workflows to match your team’s specific processes.

Pricing:

• Free. Up to 10 users. Includes Scrum and Kanban boards, backlog, and basic roadmaps.
• Standard. $7.91 per user/month. User roles and permissions, advanced permissions, and 250 GB storage.
• Premium. $14.54 per user/month. Advanced roadmaps, 24/7 support, and unlimited storage.
• Enterprise. Custom pricing. Enterprise-grade security, compliance, and centralized controls.

 

These tools allow you to securely access and control computers from anywhere, providing essential support for remote troubleshooting, IT administration, and collaborative work sessions.

AnyDesk
TeamViewer
Splashtop

AnyDesk

Description: German cross-platform remote desktop software. The application stands out for its connection speed even with low bandwidth, thanks to its proprietary DeskRT codec. Popular among freelancers and IT specialists.
Key features:

• remote access and device control with minimal latency;
• file transfer and shared clipboard between devices;
• session recording for work monitoring and training;
• multi-platform support: Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, and others;
• secure access permissions with user role and right management.

Pricing:

• Free Version. For private, non-commercial use. Support for Android and iOS mobile devices. Up to three managed devices with unattended access. Core remote access feature set (file transfer, remote print, remote reboot).
• Solo. €28.90/month. License for one user with access from three devices. One outgoing connection. Up to 100 managed devices (unattended access). Unlimited devices for interactive access. Mobile device support. Feature set for entrepreneurs without employees.
• Standard. €49.90/month. License for 20 users in a team. One simultaneous outgoing connection per team (up to 20 such connections). Up to 500 managed devices (unattended access). Unlimited devices for interactive access. Standard user management (address books, permission lists). Custom client generator. Mobile device management and support included.
• Advanced. €107.90/month. License for 100 users in a team. Two simultaneous outgoing connections (up to 50). Up to 1000 managed devices (unattended access). Advanced user management. Custom client generator. CLI support. Mass deployment (MSI packages). Group policies. Phone support. Mobile device management included.
• Ultimate. Custom terms and number of licenses (up to 2000 managed devices). All Advanced features, plus extended management and support capabilities.

TeamViewer

Description: A market leader in remote access solutions, TeamViewer is known for its reliability, cross-platform compatibility, and extensive feature set for both personal and business use.
Key features:

• cross-platform support: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and Chrome OS;
• file transfer between local and remote devices with drag-and-drop functionality;
• remote printing to local printers from remote sessions;
• unattended access to computers and servers for 24/7 availability;
• high-performance remote control with 60 FPS support and 4K resolution.

Pricing:

• Free. For personal non-commercial use. Basic remote access features.
• TeamViewer Remote Access. €13.90 per month. 1 licensed user, 1 concurrent session, remote printing, file transfer.
• TeamViewer Remote Business. €32.90 per month. 1 licensed user, 1 concurrent session, 200 managed devices, TeamViewer Intelligence (AI), Google Meet integration, phone support, unlimited attended devices to connect to, custom branding.
• TeamViewer Premium. €65.90 per month. 15 licensed users, 10 concurrent session, 300 managed devices, TeamViewer Intelligence (AI), unlimited devices to connect from, outgoing connection reporting.
• TeamViewer Corporate. €139.90 per month. 30 licensed users, 3 concurrent connections (channels) with up to 15 concurrent sessions per channel, incoming connection reporting, mass deployment.
• TeamViewer Tensor. Custom pricing. Fully customized license. Enterprise-grade solution with advanced security and management features.

Splashtop

Description: A cost-effective alternative that delivers enterprise-grade remote access features at competitive prices, making it popular among businesses looking for value without compromising functionality.
Key features:

• high-quality remote desktop with 4K streaming and sound;
• remote wake-on-LAN to turn on computers remotely;
• session recording and monitoring for security compliance;
• multi-to-multi monitor support for complex setups;
• mobile apps with touch gestures and keyboard support.

Pricing:

• Solo. $5 per month. Up to 2 computers. Unattended access from any device, easy setup, file transfer (including drag-and-drop), remote printing, and more. Ideal for freelancers or small teams needing straightforward remote access.
• Pro. $8.25/month per user. Up to 10 computers. Includes all Solo features plus multi-monitor support, user role and access management, session recording, chat, and the ability for two users to connect simultaneously to one computer.
• Performance. $13/month per user. Up to 10 computers. Includes all Pro features plus 4:4:4 color accuracy, 240 FPS capability, high-fidelity audio, remote stylus and Wacom Bridge support, USB passthrough, and more.
• Enterprise. Custom pricing. Up to 10 computers. Includes all Performance features plus single sign-on (SSO) integration, granular access controls, scheduled access, SIEM logging, Android/IOT unattended access, APIs, IP whitelisting, cloud recording, and more.

 

Choosing tools for remote work depends on your specific activities, team size, and security requirements.

For small teams and freelancers, it’s optimal to start with free tiers: Zoom for meetings, Discord or Slack for communication, Google Drive for file storage, and Trello or the free Asana tier for task management.
For medium and large businesses, especially in sales and service, consider comprehensive solutions like Microsoft Teams (together with Microsoft 365) or Monday.com. They combine chat, video calls, storage, and a powerful CRM.
For IT companies and teams working on multiple projects, tools like Slack (for communication) and Jira (for project management) are the gold standard for flexible development.

It’s important to remember that remote work isn’t just about office apps. Protecting physical assets — offices, warehouses, production facilities — also requires modern solutions. For instance, Xeoma video surveillance software allows you to set up effective 24/7 monitoring of remote sites, integrate IP cameras into a unified security system, and receive real-time alerts about critical events, wherever you are. This becomes a reliable digital foundation for any distributed company.

A smart combination of communication, management, and security services allows you to build a truly efficient and secure environment for remote work at any scale.
 

November 5, 2025
 

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