It’s undeniable that 2020 has significantly accelerated the shift towards remote work. Due to COVID-19, business owners have been encouraged to adopt remote collaboration tools for their employees.

An increasing number of companies are recognizing that a shared office is no longer essential, largely thanks to the substantial advancements in modern software. However, you may still be wondering which tools are genuinely worth investing in. To help you decide, we’ve compiled a list of seven noteworthy candidates:

1. Ringblaze
2. Chanty
3. Zoom
4. ProofHub
5. Google Docs
6. Filestage
7. Venngage This article will delve into each tool, examining its purpose, features and benefits, use cases, and pricing, allowing you to determine the best fit for your business. Let’s dive in!

Top 7 remote collaboration tools—2021 edition

These seven collaboration tools can assist remote teams in various aspects of running a business, from customer service and content creation to infographic design and meetings. We’ll explore each tool, highlight its key features, and outline its pricing to help you choose the right tools for your needs. (And since we’re on the topic of collaboration, here are nine strategies to enhance cross-functional collaboration within your team.)

1. Ringblaze

Numerous customer service representatives have transitioned to remote work to mitigate the risks associated with the coronavirus pandemic. Consequently, having a dependable VoIP solution is crucial to ensure seamless operations. Ringblaze has become an industry favorite for several reasons, with its effortless implementation being a significant factor. Ringblaze enables you to start taking calls within 15 minutes of signing up, a remarkably rapid setup compared to its competitors. You don’t even need to install any mobile or desktop apps to get started, further reducing the overall setup time. Ringblaze’s intuitive dashboard elevates user-friendliness to new heights.

Even with team members dispersed across different continents, Ringblaze makes it simple to keep everyone aligned and guarantee that customers receive prompt assistance. Essentially, repetitive callbacks, a nuisance for both parties involved, become a thing of the past with Ringblaze. The platform also excels in affordability. You’ll receive a 20% discount on annual payments, a 20% discount if you subscribe within 24 hours of the demo, and a 100% free demo with no obligations. Additionally, you can leverage Ringblaze for internal calls at the economical rate of $0.24/minute. Monthly plans are available starting at $15 per user.

2. Chanty

Effective team communication is paramount for successful remote collaboration. Let’s face it, we all have moments of introversion, which is likely why a majority of online communication occurs through text. Platforms like Chanty facilitate teamwork on collaborative projects by simplifying and streamlining communication, creating a virtual environment akin to working together in person. Whether you need to make announcements in a public channel or have private one-on-one discussions with collaborators, Chanty enables you to do it all seamlessly and intuitively. The platform prioritizes ease of use, eliminating unnecessary steps for basic tasks.

Teams using Chanty benefit from 20GB of cloud storage, even on the free plan. This eliminates the need to switch between multiple platforms for file access, as everything is consolidated within Chanty. Moreover, the platform demonstrates continuous innovation, evident in their recent addition of a Kanban board and an expanding list of integrations. With its comprehensive feature set, you might anticipate a hefty price tag, but that’s not the case. Chanty offers a free plan for teams of up to 10 members with no time restrictions. Upgrading to the business tier costs $3 per user per month and unlocks additional benefits like increased storage and video conferencing.

3. Zoom

While Chanty and Ringblaze excel as communication tools for remote collaboration, our overview wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Zoom, the video conferencing platform that gained immense popularity this year. Despite encountering security vulnerabilities (which have reportedly been addressed), Zoom has surged past competitors. Zoom caters to both small teams and large enterprises with equal effectiveness.

Zoom’s scalability is a major advantage, and its ability to host 100 participants on the free plan is a testament to its value. Although group meetings on the free plan have a 40-minute time limit, this duration is sufficient for many purposes. On the plus side, there are no time constraints on one-on-one video calls, a generous and practical feature. To eliminate the group meeting time limit, you can upgrade to the pro plan for $15 per month. You can also enjoy the equivalent of two free months by opting for an annual subscription instead of monthly payments. However, we recommend thoroughly evaluating the platform for a couple of months before committing to a yearly plan. It’s always prudent to ensure a software meets your needs before subscribing annually. Upgrading grants you 1GB of storage for cloud recordings, invaluable for archiving and reviewing past meetings.

4. ProofHub

In the realm of all-encompassing project management solutions, few platforms can rival the comprehensiveness of ProofHub. It truly embodies the concept of “all-in-one project planning software.” What sets ProofHub apart is its flat monthly pricing model, unlike platforms that increase costs with additional users. This means you can onboard an unlimited number of team members without incurring extra charges.

ProofHub prioritizes synergy, which explains why most users rarely require third-party tools. Speaking of users, ProofHub boasts an impressive clientele, including Netflix, Nike, NASA, and Google. We were particularly impressed by ProofHub’s flexible white labeling options, available on its top-tier plan. You can personalize the sign-in page, incorporate your company logo, and align colors and themes with your brand identity. Other features that streamline collaboration for remote teams include a built-in time tracker, multilingual interface support, shared notes, and seamless integration with popular third-party software. ProofHub offers two plans: Essential ($50/month) and Ultimate Control ($99/month), both with unlimited users. Opting for annual billing grants you a 5% discount on both plans.

5. Google Docs

Since its inception in 2006, Google Docs has gradually transformed content creation. It has evolved document writing from a solitary endeavor into a collaborative process where multiple contributors can shape the final product. Numerous subtle features enhance the user experience for Google Docs devotees. For instance, adding and resolving comments is a breeze, streamlining the editorial process for writers seeking feedback on drafts. Speaking of drafts, Google Docs offers file versioning, enabling you to revert to previous versions effortlessly.

It even allows you to label different versions, eliminating any confusion. Furthermore, collaborators can suggest changes, and the writer can accept or decline them, with the software automatically implementing the revisions. These small conveniences accumulate to significant time savings. Ultimately, the value of Google Docs is undeniable, not only for its utility but also because it’s free. As a core component of G Suite, Google Docs is likely to receive ongoing enhancements. This word processor has been instrumental in attracting users to Google services, solidifying its dominance over Microsoft Word, so continued support is certain.

6. Filestage

While Google Docs excels in facilitating the revision process, Filestage focuses entirely on the feedback and approval workflow. Filestage positions itself as the solution for “busy marketing and creative teams to streamline feedback and approval of their work.” User testimonials largely support this claim.

As expected, Filestage includes standard features like commenting on documents. However, it goes beyond that by allowing comments on audio, video, and images, providing a versatile feedback mechanism across various media formats. Filestage accommodates large projects with unlimited file uploads. Filestage offers a Starter plan (€99/month) and a Pro plan (€249/month), both accommodating up to 10 users. For larger teams, you can contact their sales team for an enterprise quote. The pricing in euros reflects Filestage’s German origins and European target audience. Nonetheless, many American businesses rely on Filestage for their daily operations.

7. Venngage

Finally, let’s acknowledge graphic designers with Venngage, a free infographic maker offering two paid plans for advanced features. Creating infographics can be tedious due to the intricate details involved. Venngage accelerates the process, allowing you to create infographics in three simple steps: select a template, add charts or visuals, and customize your design.

It’s the most efficient way to produce visually appealing infographics that effectively convey information. Venngage boasts a user base of over 20,000 companies, including prominent names like Microsoft, Airbnb, and WIRED. The Premium plan ($19/month) enables private infographic sharing, unlike the public visibility for free users. While the Business plan ($49/month) might seem expensive, its premium templates, charts, and icons justify the cost. Upgrading also grants you priority support, personalized consultations, and access to live workshops. For educational purposes, Venngage offers a $99/year plan accommodating 35 student or teacher accounts. Overall, Venngage stands out as a top-tier design platform that balances customization options with ease of use. However, note that Venngage only supports PDF and PNG exports; JPG conversion is required for infographics in that format.

Leverage these tools for seamless remote collaboration

As we’ve seen, there is no shortage of collaboration tools available today. Our review covered:

1. Ringblaze
2. Chanty
3. Zoom
4. ProofHub
5. Google Docs
6. Filestage
7. Venngage The technology-driven world readily embraces software to optimize workflows, and this trend will only intensify as we advance!