The Best Remote Working software in 2026
We researched remote working software using official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. Rankings reflect each product’s core remote-coordination job, value for money and verified features such as communication, meetings, task tracking and file collaboration, so buyers can compare the category itself.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
Microsoft Teams#1 of 239.4/10A broad collaboration hub that fits teams already working across Microsoft 365.
Free plan
-
Runner-up
Slack#2 of 239.3/10Channel-based collaboration with external messaging, huddles, automation and AI features.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
Basecamp#4 of 239.0/10A broad remote-work hub with strong coordination tools and tiered project limits.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 23 tools, best first
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Best forTeams wanting an all-round collaboration hub
A broad collaboration hub that fits teams already working across Microsoft 365.
- Guest access
9.4/10★★★★★Try Microsoft Teams -
Best forTeams centered on channel-based collaboration
Channel-based collaboration with external messaging, huddles, automation and AI features.
- Guest access
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Slack -
Best forTeams needing email, files, meetings, and documents
A broad remote-work suite for teams that want email, files, meetings, and documents together.
9.2/10★★★★★Try Google Workspace -
Best forTeams coordinating projects and ongoing work
A broad remote-work hub with strong coordination tools and tiered project limits.
- Guest access
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Basecamp -
Best forTeams where video meetings are central
A broad collaboration suite for teams that center work around video meetings.
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Zoom Workplace -
Best forTeams wanting messaging and office tools together
A broad collaboration suite for teams that want messaging and office tools in one workspace.
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Lark -
Best forBudget-conscious teams needing email and collaboration tools
A broad work suite with free business mail and paid bundles from $3 per user monthly, billed annually.
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Zoho Workplace -
Best forRemote sales teams managing customer workflows
A sales-focused CRM with remote-work tools, automation, and cloud or self-hosted options.
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Bitrix24 -
Best forTeams seeking affordable chat and coordination
Flock brings messaging, calls, shared work tools, and integrations under one roof.
- Guest access
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Flock -
Best forOrganizations needing self-hosted team communication
A self-hostable communication hub with channels, calls, workflows, and technical integrations.
- Guest access
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Mattermost -
Best forTeams prioritizing flexible, self-hosted messaging
A messaging-first remote work option for teams that want control over deployment.
- Guest access
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Rocket.Chat -
Best forTeams prioritizing private, self-hosted collaboration
Private, self-hosted Matrix collaboration with encrypted messaging, calls, and rooms.
- Guest access
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Element -
Best forSmall teams wanting low-cost chat with task boards
Chanty pairs searchable team chat and calls with built-in task boards at a low entry price.
- Guest access
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Chanty -
Best forTeams seeking low-cost chat with unlimited history
Low-cost team chat with unlimited history, calls, sharing, and integrations.
- Guest access
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Pumble -
Best forTeams preferring focused, asynchronous discussions
A focused async workspace for teams that prefer organized, searchable discussions.
- Guest access
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Twist -
Best forTeams that value topic-organized communication
Topic threads keep remote team conversations organized, with cloud and self-hosted options.
- Guest access
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Zulip -
Best forTeams requiring encrypted communications
Encrypted messaging, calls, and file sharing with guest access and enterprise deployment options.
- Guest access
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Wire -
Best forTeams seeking a customizable virtual office
Gather combines virtual office spaces, proximity conversations, chat and meetings.
- Video meetings
- Team chat
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Gather -
Best forTeams wanting spatial video collaboration
Spatial-audio virtual offices bring video, chat, whiteboards, and guest collaboration together.
- Video meetings
- Team chat
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit Kumospace -
Best forTeams wanting a customizable 2D virtual workspace
A customizable 2D workspace with proximity conversations, collaboration tools, and self-hosting.
- Guest access
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit WorkAdventure -
Best forTeams that want a virtual office with meeting links
A virtual office that combines presence, room chat and meetings for distributed teams.
- Video meetings
- Team chat
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit Sococo -
Best forOrganizations running virtual networking events
A virtual-event platform built around spatial audio, customizable rooms, and networking.
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit SpatialChat -
Best forTeams automating documented process workflows
Automates documented processes with conditional paths, email, web requests, and Zapier triggers.
6.2/10★★★☆☆Visit TeamFlow
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft Teams | Yes | 9.4 | |
| 2 | Slack | Yes | $7.25/user/mo | 9.3 |
| 3 | Google Workspace | No | $7/user/mo | 9.2 |
| 4 | Basecamp | Yes | $25/mo | 9.0 |
| 5 | Zoom Workplace | Yes | 8.9 | |
| 6 | Lark | Yes | 8.8 | |
| 7 | Zoho Workplace | Yes | $3/user/mo | 8.7 |
| 8 | Bitrix24 CRM | Yes | $49/mo | 8.5 |
| 9 | Flock | Yes | 8.4 | |
| 10 | Mattermost | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 11 | Rocket.Chat | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 12 | Element | Yes | 8.1 | |
| 13 | Chanty | Yes | $3/user/mo | 8.0 |
| 14 | Pumble | Yes | $2.49/seat/mo | 7.9 |
| 15 | Twist | Yes | $6/user/mo | 7.8 |
| 16 | Zulip | Yes | $3.50/user/mo | 7.7 |
| 17 | Wire | Yes | €7.45/user/mo | 7.6 |
| 18 | Gather | No | $12/user/mo | 7.4 |
| 19 | Kumospace | Yes | $16/user/mo | 7.3 |
| 20 | WorkAdventure | Yes | €8/user/mo | 7.2 |
| 21 | Sococo | No | 7.1 | |
| 22 | SpatialChat | Yes | $2,800/yr | 7.0 |
| 23 | TeamFlow Automate | No | $149/mo | 6.2 |
Head-to-head All 12 comparisons →
- Microsoft Teams vs Bitrix24 CRM
- Slack vs Google Workspace
- Slack vs Zoom Workplace
- Slack vs Bitrix24 CRM
- Google Workspace vs Basecamp
- Google Workspace vs Bitrix24 CRM
- Basecamp vs Zoom Workplace
- Basecamp vs Zoho Workplace
- Basecamp vs Bitrix24 CRM
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How we rank remote working software
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update