Top 7 Collaboration Tools for Remote Teams in 2022
Are you looking for collaboration software that isn’t Zoom or Microsoft Teams? It’s 2022, and tools for remote teams have come a long way in a short amount of time. Take a look at what’s out there on our list of recommendations for tools to help your team work better remotely.
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1. Freeconference.com
What are the features?
Freeconference.com is a website you can use to set up conference calls for free. Unlike Zoom, there’s no need to download software, just sign up for a free account and start a call instantly. You can also schedule calls for later. Up to 100 people can join each call, and they can connect with you from anywhere in the world.
Any negatives?
Freeconference.com’s features are simple, so if you’re looking for more sophisticated features, like audio transcription, then you’ll need to upgrade to its paid version.
The free version also has a limit on the time your call members can spend in breakout rooms, and its security features are minimal.
What are the costs?
The basic plan is free, but you can upgrade to a paid plan if you need a higher capacity for call participants, better security, audio transcription, video recording, and more. Here's Freeconference's pricing:
$9.99 - starter plan
$29.99 - pro plan
2. Discord
What are the features?
By downloading Discord, you’ll gain access to a private server for you and others to use as a chat room for high quality, low latency, video and voice calls. After it's set up, the chat room stays open whether you’re online or not, so people you’ve invited can come and go as they please. Discord is particularly popular with Gen Z, so it could be a good choice for you if you have young employees.
Any negatives?
Discord’s features are all high quality; however, it may not tick all your boxes if you’re looking for a more all-rounded tool that covers scheduling and project management - after all, it was originally created for video gamers and not office workers.
What are the costs?
Discord is free to download, but you can also pay for add-ons with Nitro, their subscription service costs:
$9.99 - per month
$99.99 - per year
3. Gather
What are the features?
Gather is a virtual, customisable meeting space that simulates the office. It can help you keep track of what your employees are doing by allowing you to allocate different tasks to different areas of the virtual space. Everyone gets to design their own avatar, which they can move around the “office”. Avatars near one another can start video calls.
Any negatives?
The more fun, video game-inspired interface may provide novelty for your employees, but it could hinder their work by distracting them with its minigame features.
The free version is limited to 25 people per office, and keeping the app running all day has proven to be a challenge for older PCs.
What are the costs?
Gather is free to download and use, and its paid versions are low-cost and charge you per user, so it's great for smaller teams. The paid versions offer higher user capacities and better security. Here's what it costs:
$2 - per user, for two hours
$3 - per user, per day
$7 - per user, per month
4. Krisp
What are the features?
Krisp is a unique, noise-cancelling app which you can integrate with your preferred voice/video call tool. It uses AI to detect common disruptive sounds, like echos, crying babies or barking dogs, and eliminates them from your live audio.
Any negatives?
Krisp is very highly reviewed by its users for the service it provides. The only downside is its lightweight security.
What are the costs?
Krisp is free to use, and it comes with a demo version. You can pay a small monthly subscription fee for unlimited noise removal, increased audio storage, and other add-on features.
Its two paid plans cost the same, but they offer different features depending on what you need:
$5/m per user - personal pro
$5/m per user - teams
5. Slack
What are the features?
Slack is a digital workspace for instant messaging, file sharing, voice and video calls. It provides the option of creating separate channels within one workspace for all the various teams in your office, and therefore, all of your employees’ communication can be completed entirely in one place. It offers both group and private messaging, and it can be easily integrated with over 2,200 other tools, like Google Drive and Office 365.
Any negatives?
Users have been asking for some quality-of-life updates. Currently, it can be difficult to add a new person to an already-established channel, and others report frustration at not being able to choose which channels they want to prioritise when receiving notifications.
What are the costs?
Slack’s basic version is free, and it has paid options for those looking to scale up their business. Here's what it will set you back:
€6.25 - per user, per month
€11.75 - per user, per month
There is also an option for a further upgrade, for which you’ll be quoted a price depending on your needs.
6. Chanty
What are the features?
Chanty is an alternative to Slack that focuses on project management and increasing your team’s productivity, as well as providing a communication service. Aside from its instant messaging, Chanty allows you to create tasks and assign team members to them. Chanty also uses AI to constantly improve its service for you, so the longer you use it, the better it gets.
Any negatives?
The free version of Chanty, unlike Slack, doesn’t give you the option for audio and video calls.
What are the costs?
Chanty’s paid version comes with a bookable demo first, so you can test it before committing, and it includes video and voice calls, as well as more file storage, screen sharing, and a support line if you ever get stuck. It will cost you a pretty low:
$3 - per user, per month
7. Rising Team
What are the features?
Rising Team provides training kits for business leaders looking to improve their team’s collaborative skills. The training, complete with group activities and a leader’s guide, is delivered as a monthly service to you. You’ll also receive analytical reports on each individual in your team as they work through the training, so you can get to know each of your employees’ strengths and weaknesses better.
Any negatives?
The training is a commitment for you and your team, so you’ll have to allocate several hours during the workday each month for you all to work through the activities.
The kits were developed for more close-knit teams, so there is a 10-person limit on the activities (not including you).
What are the costs?
Rising Team offers a free demo that you can schedule, but after that, it becomes a monthly subscription of:
$79 per team, per month (but this price is discounted to $69 if you choose to order multiple subscriptions at a time).
Madeleine Green is a freelance writer, and an intern for The Industry Leaders. She graduated from university in 2020 with a degree in education, and her interests include sociology, literature and current affairs. Connect with Madeleine on LinkedIn.
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