How to choose the best tools for managing a remote team in 2025

With large companies like Amazon returning employees to the office, some suggest it's time to say goodbye to remote work. We doubt that. Companies of all sizes have already embraced flexible working arrangements and permanent remote work policies. And many workers still prefer working from home, at least part-time. Seems like the era of remote work is far from over.

That said, a major challenge remains: the lack of effective tools to manage remote teams. It's crucial to ensure smooth communication, boost productivity, and foster seamless collaboration among team members.

In this article, we'll overview popular and lesser-known tools to help teams choose the best options for growth.

Key criteria for choosing tools

When selecting tools to manage a remote team, consider five key components: functionality, UX/UI, integrations, onboarding, and pricing. While their importance may vary, these are the decision points in choosing the best tool for your needs:

• Functionality. The features of an app vary based on the team's needs. Identify the primary function your team requires. Generally, tools fall into two categories: communication tools that foster clear communication and task management tools that simplify assigning, tracking, and managing tasks. Many teams need both for productivity and teamwork.
• UX/UI. Tools that are intuitive and easy to navigate reduce the learning curve, allowing teammates to focus on their work and boosting productivity.
• Integrations. Remote teams often use multiple tools, and that's okay. The right tool should integrate with commonly used apps like calendars, document storage, and communication platforms, ensuring everything works smoothly.
• Onboarding. A good onboarding process saves time by helping users understand the app's value and functionality. The right tool should guide you through setup and data migration, so you can focus on work instead of managing a new app.
• Pricing. Match the tool's cost with your team's needs. A solid free trial is ideal, but avoid free or low-cost solutions that come with major limitations. Choose scalable solutions that grow with your team. Buy nice or buy twice.

Trello

Liked for its Kanban boards and used by marketing and shallow product development teams.

• Standout feature. Kanban boards that are simple to organize and ideal for basic project needs. Lacks more complex features like workload tracking.
• Intuitive design. Minimal learning curve, suited for non-technical teams. Its drag-and-drop interface is quick to adopt.
• Integrations. Supports 200+ integrations, including Slack and Google Drive, but relies on these to fill in feature gaps.
• Onboarding. Offers quick setup with interactive tutorials and pre-built templates.
• Pricing. Free plan with limited features, paid plans starting at $5 per user/month.

Monday.com

A popular choice for management enthusiasts and A+ managers who prefer planning more than performing tasks.

• Standout feature. Flexible workflow automations, Gantt charts, and detailed dashboards, making it suitable for complex team needs.
• Intuitive design. Visually appealing but can be overwhelming due to its extensive features.
• Integrations. Integrates with tools like Gmail, Excel, and Microsoft Teams for a seamless ecosystem.
• Onboarding. Provides tutorials, webinars, and templates but requires more time investment. If it turns out not to be the right choice, time may be wasted.
• Pricing. Starts at $8 per user/month, scaling up based on feature access.

Jira

A software tool designed for managing complex tech projects.

• Standout feature. Tailored for software development with Agile tools, sprint planning, and issue tracking.
• Intuitive design. More technical, less intuitive for non-developers.
• Integrations. Integrates well with development tools like GitHub and Bitbucket, and hundreds of others.
• Onboarding. Has a steep learning curve, particularly for non-technical teams.
• Pricing. Starts at $7.75 per user/month, focused on software teams.

Orchestra

A smart gem among management tools that addresses challenges like fragmented communication, outdated task statuses, and data loss.

• Standout feature. A messaging-first interface with topic-based discussions tied directly to tasks, reducing distractions.
• Intuitive design. Clean and minimalistic, making it easy to navigate, especially for remote teams needing simplicity.
• Integrations. Can link conversations directly to CRM tasks and integrates with tools like Notion, Slack, or GitHub via API.
• Onboarding. Guided onboarding with hands-on demonstrations for quick setup.
• Pricing. Free trial available, then $10 per user/month.

ClickUp

An all-in-one project management platform offering various features.

• Standout feature. Goal tracking, real-time reporting, time tracking, and task automation.
• Intuitive design. Balances comprehensive features with a clean interface, though new users may need time to familiarize themselves with the toolkit.
• Integrations. Integrates with over 1,000 apps via Zapier.
• Onboarding. Provides robust materials, including guides and customer support, to navigate its vast features.
• Pricing. Free plan available, paid plans starting at $5 per user/month, offering great value for its feature set.

Popular tools for managing remote teams

Choosing the right tool depends on your team's needs: it can be simple task management or more complex workflows. Consider the features, user experience, integrations, onboarding, and pricing to end up with what’s most needed.