Best Asynchronous Collaboration Tools for 2023
With the rise of hybrid and remote work, more and more of us are looking into ways of turning our business practices towards asynchronous work. This helps to define a clear set of rules for communication and allows for each team member to work in a way that feels most productive to them. To help you out on this path, we have gathered the best free asynchronous collaboration tools for 2023.
Here is a full list of tools, separated into categories and types.
Curious to learn about the selection process and what type of tools were chosen? Then, let’s continue on.
What is Asynchronous Work?
Asynchronous work is a term that describes a team working on a shared goal while not being located in the same place and not working at the same time.
This concept stems from the term of asynchronous communication and has gained popularity in recent years due to the rise of remote and hybrid teams. While the concept of asynchronous work seems pretty simple, ensuring the team has all the communication channels and tools necessary for work, can be tough. And while you will most likely not get everything you need from the first go, having a list of the most commonly used asynchronous tools can help.
This is just what we gathered below. We have also divided the list into 3 categories:
- Asynchronous communication tools
- Asynchronous collaboration tools for sharing visuals
- Asynchronous collaboration tools for sharing text information.
Take a look to see which of them may fit your needs.
Asynchronous Communication Tools
First up, let’s look at asynchronous communication tools that allow a team to ensure their efforts are on track even if they are working apart. Here are 3 solutions, all offering a different way to communicate with your team.
1. Slack
Capterra score: 4.7/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Slack is an asynchronous communication tool that allows teams to easily chat or call each other, as well as share files and thus discuss their project success. While there are many similar tooling on the market, Slack is one of the leaders in being easy to use and share with people in and outside of your organization.
Pros:
- Organized channels to separate messages
- Integrations with other workplace tools
Website: https://slack.com
2. Teamhood
Capterra score: 4.9/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Teamhood is a visual project management solution that aids teams in managing their tasks. Complete with collaboration, communication, and task management features, this tool allows for easy asynchronous work and collaboration between team members. Check the project progress on advanced Kanban boards and collaborate on the task details right in its comment section.
This asynchronous communication solution allows you to minimize status reports and communicate with your colleagues right where the work happens.
Pros:
- Visual and easy-to-use solution
- Built-in task management suite
Website: https://teamhood.com/
3. Hugo
Capterra score: 4.7/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hugo is a meeting platform that allows you to register additional notes and tasks while holding meetings. Complete with various templates, document sharing, and tagging, this platform will aid teams that spend most of their days in meetings and need reminders of what must be done.
Use it as your asynchronous communication tool to improve the video meetings and stay on the same page.
Pros:
- Meeting templates that can be reused
- Document sharing and tagging
Website: https://meetingnotes.com
Visual Asynchronous Collaboration Tools
The second category of this roundup is dedicated to visual asynchronous collaboration tools. In other words, here you will find solutions that help you share or collaborate on videos, GIFs, and screenshots.
Let’s look at some of the options.
1. Loom
Capterra score: 4.7/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Loom is a video recording tool that allows you to quickly record your screen, camera, or both and share the file via a link with your team. Allowing you to quickly update the other team members, share information or troubleshoot as if you were working together.
Pros:
- Easy video recording and sharing information via links
- No need to upload large files
Website: https://www.loom.com
2. Gyazo
Capterra score: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Gyazo is an asynchronous work solution that allows you to capture screenshots, GIFs, and video replays. Similarly to Loom, you can then either share the media file via a link with your team members or download it to your own device.
This tool also provides you with a library of captures that can be used in the future if you have the need. Making it a handy platform for sharing product videos and other media.
Pros:
- Media library to hold your previous recordings
Website: https://www.gyazo.com
3. Frame
Capterra score: 4.6/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Frame.io is a collaboration tool for asynchronous video editing within your team. You can easily use it to work together on video improvements and collect feedback from clients. All comments are timestamped, making it very clear what they refer to.
Moreover, you can integrate the feedback gathered through Frame.io into your video editing software. Making it that much easier to adjust.
Pros:
- Easy file sharing
- Frame-accurate comments
- Video editing software integrations
Website: https://www.frame.io
4. Figma
Capterra score: 4.7/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Figma is a cloud-based collaboration solution that allows team members to collaborate on designs and share screenshots in a structured workspace. Here, you can work together on improving the files, leave comments and easily share your ideas on what you are looking to create.
Pros:
- Simple screenshot sharing
- Commenting on specific details to provide accurate feedback
Website: https://www.figma.com
Ready for more? See the full list of visual asynchronous work tools here.
Text Asynchronous Collaboration Tools
The second category of this round-up focuses on text-based tools. here, you will see solutions for editing files, chatting, taking notes, and creating task lists with your team.
Here are some of the solutions from our asynchronous collaboration list.
1. Twist
Capterra score: 4.3/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Twist is a tool that helps asynchronous teams communicate better via chat. It provides threaded conversations, the ability to link to other threads for easier collaboration, and gives you the option to mark conversations as resolved. All of which results in an easy asynchronous collaboration environment.
Pros:
- Structured chat with clear references and completion marks
Website: https://www.twist.com
2. Context
Context is an instant rich text-sharing solution for asynchronous work. Copy and paste any rich text right into the tool, define for how long you wish to share it, and generate a link.
Pros:
- Immediate sharing of any rich text
Website: https://www.ctxt.io
3. Dynalist
Capterra score: 4.7/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dynalist is a note-taking tool for asynchronous teams. Here, you can create various types of lists to track your tasks, inventory, projects, or anything else. Dynalist is easy to use and allows one to mark list items as done for easier management.
Pros:
- Easy list creation and management
Website: https://www.dynalist.io
4. Gokanban.io
Gokanban.io is an asynchronous collaboration tool for Kanban task management. Here you will be able to create Kanban boards and track your work progress as well as remaining plans by moving Kanban cards. The tool is visual and easy to use but requires just a little coding knowledge. As the Kanban board is modified by using the code panel on the left side of the screen.
Pros:
- Visual representation of tasks to be completed
Website: https://gokanban.io/
Summary
This is just a small taste of the full free asynchronous collaboration tools list we have gathered. See more options to make your team more effective in this public board.
Looking for an effective free asynchronous collaboration tool to manage projects? Check out Teamhood – a visual Kanban-inspired solution that is sure to make your team the champion.
Passionate content marketer looking to bring better solutions to the project management space.
2020 - Present Marketing specialist at Teamhood.
2014 - 2020 Marketing manager for Eylean.
