The Best Apps for Working from Home

The switch to working from home which many of us have adopted over the past few years has been beneficial for some, but it’s also created challenges for those trying to stay productive and focused.

There’s a huge range of working-from-home apps now available, with many of us utilising Zoom, Teams and Slack on a daily basis, to name just a few. But it’s not only about methods of communication – there are many apps out there to help make tasks quicker and easier to complete, organise your workload or simply keeping you focused on your work.

We believe that remote working tools can make your work more fulfilling, and some can even save you money! Here’s our list of the best apps for working from home.

Forest

There are many apps for companies to track time spent on projects, with these remote working tools including Timer+, Monday.com and Trello. But Forest is arguably a better option for helping remote workers stay focused; this app helps users avoid their phones by encouraging them to take care of a virtual forest.

Essentially, when you want to focus on work, you ‘plant a seed’ on the app, and it tracks how long you’ve been away from your phone and all its distractions. Over time, this seed develops into a forest to represent your productivity, making this a perfect option for individuals who struggle to remain on-task when away from the office.

MyNoise

MyNoise is a noise generator which promises to help you concentrate better, offering consistent auditory environments that minimise distractions. MyNoise offers a wide range of soundscape noise and nature sounds that can help users relax during long days at home. This makes it an ideal tool for those who don’t want to work in silence, but get distracted by too much noise, or by the sounds of a radio or podcasts.

Krisp

Staying on the subject of noise, many home workers have the exact opposite issue – their workspace is simply too loud! Krisp is the world’s number one noise-cancelling app and is one of the most effective tools for remote workers. Krisp removes background noise for incoming and outgoing voice calls, helping to minimise the sound of children, pets, cars, noisy neighbours, or whatever other noises you might be contending with. You can integrate the app with hundreds of speakers, headphones, and microphone devices.

Wiser App

Wiser’s smart heating systems enable you to save energy and reduce your bills, and the handy Wiser Home App provides complete control of your hot water and heating at your fingertips. Control heating and set schedules to suit your day for enhanced convenience and comfort whilst working from home. Want to take it a step further? Pair Wiser with other useful remote working tools such as IFTTT and smart home assistant devices like Amazon Alexa Products and Google Speakers

Apple TV

Once you’ve set an ideal temperature with the Wiser App, finding the best work display is the next challenge for many. Working from home can make this difficult if transitioning from an office desktop to a home laptop. Thankfully, apps like Apple TV (alongside the likes of Chromecast and Roku) are useful remote working tools that let you mirror the screen of your computer onto your TV to give you a larger interface to work on whilst working remotely.

Time Out

It can be difficult not to get burnt out whilst working from home; many of us struggle with a work-life balance, as it can be difficult to separate work from personal life when it happens in the same space. Tools for remote workers such as Time Out can be a great help, as this app lets you schedule meaningful breaks during the day. It does this by enabling you to set ‘normal’ and ‘micro’ breaks over a preferred period, so that you have a chance to rest and recharge throughout the day, at times that suit your schedule.

Freedom

If you struggle to concentrate when working from home, another great option is Freedom – the app encourages users to apply time-limited blocks to websites which are likely to distract them from their tasks, like Facebook, YouTube and X. The app can be synced to multiple devices, helping reduce temptation to pick up a phone and scroll when working remotely, making it one of the best apps for working from home for those who get easily distracted.

Zapier

This clever app can help automate your most frequent tasks of your working day, saving you time and energy, and boosting your productivity by building automated workflows customised for your role and business. Zapier works with a huge range of popular apps and platforms, including Gmail, Outlook and Dropbox. Zapier is considered one of the best apps for remote workers who are looking to streamline work processes – and don’t worry if you’re no coding expert, Zapier handles that for you.

Caveday

While working from home is now the norm for many of us, many people miss the structure and community of an office. This is where Caveday comes in – by offering facilitated work sessions with other users, Caveday creates a community working environment which promises to keep you motivated and focused on the task at hand. This is one of the best apps for working from home if you miss the social perks of an office setting.

Spotify

Many of us have a Spotify account, but have you considered using this app to listen to working from home playlists? Try work-from-home playlists created by other users or create your own. There’s a huge range of ambient music and soundtracks available if you prefer to work with simple background music, to help you focus on the task at hand.

Still spend some time at the office? Discover our recommendations for the best apps for commuters

We recommend checking out all the above apps if you need something to help with your remote workdays. Alternatively, if you’ve started going back to the office, check out our best apps for commuters here!