Best Note Taking Tools
Tools for capturing, organizing, and connecting your notes.
Free Tools for Remote Work
Remote work doesn't require a stack of paid subscriptions. This list covers free tools for video calls, messaging, task management, and file sharing. Enough to run a small team or work solo without spending.
We've focused on tools with robust free tiers—not trials. You can use these indefinitely. Some limits apply (meeting length, storage), but they're sufficient for many use cases.
Combine a few of these and you have a complete remote work setup at zero cost.
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Slack
Slack's free tier includes 90-day message history. Channels for projects. Essential for remote communication.
Key features: Messaging; Channels; Free tier
Best for: Team communication.
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Zoom
Zoom's free tier allows 40-minute group meetings. Reliable video. Enough for most calls.
Key features: Video calls; Free; Reliable
Best for: Video meetings.
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Notion
Notion's free tier covers docs, tasks, and wikis. One place for team knowledge.
Key features: Docs; Tasks; Free
Best for: Team documentation.
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Calendly
Calendly's free tier includes one event type. Share a link; others book. No scheduling emails.
Key features: Scheduling; Free; Calendar sync
Best for: Meeting scheduling.
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Loom
Loom's free tier: 25 videos, 5 min max. Async video updates. Fewer meetings.
Key features: Video messages; Free; Async
Best for: Async updates.
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Toggl
Toggl's free tier tracks time. Simple start-stop. Good for freelancers and focus tracking.
Key features: Time tracking; Free; Simple
Best for: Time tracking.
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Google Drive
Google Drive: 15GB free. Docs, Sheets, Slides. Collaboration built in.
Key features: Storage; Collaboration; Free
Best for: File sharing and docs.
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Trello
Trello's free tier: unlimited boards. Visual kanban for tasks. Simple and effective.
Key features: Kanban; Free; Visual
Best for: Task management.