12 Essential Tools for Working From Home in 2023

Having the right tools can make a huge difference when your working from home.

The growing popularity of remote work has been a remarkable development in the modern workplace. With this shift to working from home comes its challenges, including staying organized and productive despite distractions. 

This article will provide a list of essential tools for remote workers in 2023 to make the transition smoother and more successful. 

These tools include everything from communication platforms to project management apps, helping ensure remote employees stay connected with their teams while still getting all their work done efficiently.

Here are some specific examples of essential tools for working from home in 2023:

Communication Tools

1. Zoom

Zoom is a video conferencing software that allows remote teams to meet face-to-face and collaborate in real-time. It offers screen sharing, group video calls, and virtual whiteboards. It has options for enterprise users with premium plans offering more advanced features such as recording meetings and tracking user engagement. 

Prices depend on the number of participants, with standard plans starting at just $14.99 monthly.

2. Slack

Slack is an instant messaging app for collaboration across all devices and platforms. It allows you to create private channels for confidential conversations on sensitive topics and securely access work resources from anywhere you have internet access or mobile coverage. With Slack, you can send messages directly to individuals or groups and share files instantly within your workspace or channels. 

Pricing starts from the free plan up to the enterprise level plan costing $10/month per user depending on whether basic or additional features like OKTA integration are needed. 

3. Gmail

Gmail is an email client offered by Google that millions worldwide use daily for personal communication and business operations. It can be used for many tasks, from creating and managing emails to organizing contacts with labels, folders, and filters. 

It also offers other features such as calendar integration, mobile access, and the ability to send rich messages, including images and attachments.

 4. Community Phone

Community Phone is a wireless home phone service that provides a reliable connection for remote workers without internet access. It offers unlimited calling in the United States, caller ID, call forwarding, voicemail, and more. This service allows remote workers to make and receive calls without worrying about dropped connections or poor sound quality. 

Community Phone allows users to customize their business number with an area code of their choosing for added convenience. By utilizing this service, remote workers can stay connected with colleagues and clients without worrying about spotty internet connections or relying solely on emails for communication.

Project Management Tools:

5. Asana

Asana is a project management software that helps teams organize tasks, track progress, and communicate about projects. It provides users with an easy-to-use dashboard to create projects and assign them to team members. 

Asana also offers task templates, real-time updates on task status, file-sharing capabilities, and advanced reporting tools. The pricing for Asana starts at $10/user/month for the basic plan, with additional features available in the premium plans.

6. Trello

Trello is a visual task manager that uses cards and boards to help remote workers manage projects and tasks efficiently. Trello provides users with a Kanban-style board view which allows them to drag & drop cards between columns representing different stages of work progress (e.g., To Do, Doing Now, Done). 

It supports collaboration by allowing multiple people to comment on each card or assign tasks to specific individuals or groups within the organization. Its pricing starts at $9 per user/month for its Business Class plan, but there are also free options and Enterprise solutions depending on your needs. 

7. Clockify

Clockify is a time-tracking tool that helps remote workers track how much time they spend on various tasks and projects. It's an essential tool for anyone working from home in 2023, as it lets you easily see what you're spending your time on and identify if improvements need to happen.

Clockify features include detailed reports, timesheets, invoicing capabilities, and the ability to track billable hours for clients or employers. You can also use Clockify’s mobile app to track your work from anywhere! The pricing plans start at $9/month for up to 5 users, with larger teams getting discounts depending on the number of users.

8. Resource Guru

Resource Guru is a powerful scheduling tool that aids busy teams in keeping their workload on track. It provides a speedy and adaptable method for scheduling team members and delegating work for any kind of project, regardless of the company's size. Resource Guru has become the go-to tool for project managers and team leaders who want to increase employee productivity while avoiding burnout.

You can get the basic plan for $4.16 per person per month. For additional features there are premium plans available.

File Sharing and Collaboration Tools

9. Google Drive

Google Drive is an essential tool for working from home in 2023. It's a cloud storage service that allows remote teams to share and collaborate on documents in real-time, making it easy to work together even when you're apart. 

With Google Drive, users can sync and access files from any device. Features like version control help keep track of changes made over time and share folders. Google Drive is free for all users. However, if you desire extra storage space, pricing starts at $2 monthly for 100GB.

10. Dropbox

Dropbox is a cloud storage service that allows you to store and sync files across multiple devices. Dropbox also provides version control, so you can easily track document changes and collaborate with other users in a secure environment. 

The basic plan starts at $9.99 per month, providing 2TB of storage space - perfect for businesses or remote teams who need access to large amounts of data on the go.

11. Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a collaboration platform that allows users to communicate through video conferencing, file sharing, and chat features all within one platform – making it easy to stay connected with colleagues while working remotely. 

Microsoft Teams also comes with robust security features such as two-factor authentication and encryption protocols so your data stays safe no matter where you’re accessing it. Plans start at $5 per user/month - a small price for the peace of mind of knowing your information is protected.

Cybersecurity Tools

12. NordVPN

NordVPN will be an essential tool for working from home in 2023. A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your internet traffic and protects remote workers’ online privacy. With NordVPN, you can access content on the web with complete anonymity, keep your data secure while connected to public Wi-Fi networks, and enjoy unrestricted streaming of video and audio content. 

NordVPN has servers located worldwide, so you can always find a fast connection no matter where you are. Pricing starts at $11.95 per month or $59.88 annually for one device connection at a time.

13. LastPass

LastPass is a password manager that helps remote workers generate strong passwords and securely store login credentials across multiple devices – including desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc. LastPass also offers features like auto-fill logins, which makes it easier to manage complex passwords without having to remember them all yourself. Pricing starts at $3/month or $36/year for unlimited access across up to 6 devices.

Conclusion

Working from home is becoming increasingly popular, and remote workers need the right tools to stay productive and connected. This article highlights four categories of essential tools: communication, project management, file sharing and collaboration, and cybersecurity. 

By using the right tools, remote workers can overcome the challenges of working from home and enjoy its many benefits, such as increased flexibility and work-life balance. We hope this article has provided helpful information and resources for remote workers to thrive in 2023 and beyond.

Sam Molony is the Head of Content and SEO at Community Phone, where he leads a team of digital marketing experts. With a passion for creating high-quality content and driving results through search engine optimization, Sam has helped businesses of all sizes achieve success online.