In this article, we go over three different types of work from home apps to give you the best recommendations:
Organizational apps: Doodle is perfect for team collaboration and keeps your data safe by anonymizing your IP address. Productivity apps: Focus@Will can help you enhance your productivity by listening to music and doesn’t share your information with third parties. Lifestyle apps: Simplish helps you prioritize your tasks and doesn’t use cookies for tracking purposes, nor do they sell, trade, or transfer your information.
For each app, we pay specific attention to how your data is handled. Taking a close look at privacy policies, it becomes clear that most apps collect more information than they really need, including browser information and IP addresses. With a VPN, you can hide your IP address and work more privately from home. We recommend NordVPN. For companies, adapting to working online might have been a steep learning curve. What are the best project management apps for remote teams? How can you improve work from home productivity? While there are many benefits to working remotely, it can be tricky to wade through the hundreds of available apps and determine which ones are best for your team. Moreover, another important factor to consider is whether the data you exchange with your colleagues are safe. Below, we discuss the best apps for working from home while also taking into consideration the privacy and security of your data. Want to get rid of distractions while you work? Trying to strike the perfect work-life balance? No matter what your goal might be, chances are, there’s an app for it.
The Best Work From Home Apps: Overview
In order to provide you with a quick overview, we’ve put the main features of each work from home app in the table below, along with its benefits. We’ve also paid special attention to the apps’ privacy policies. Each of these apps serves its own purpose. Below, we provide you with more detailed information about these apps to help you decide the best one for you. To make things even easier, we’ve divided each app into one of three categories: “Organization,” “Productivity,” and “Lifestyle.” But first: why would you need to invest in good work from home apps?
Benefits of Working Remotely: Why Good Work From Home Apps Are Important
Over the course of the last two years, chances are you’ve worked remotely in some capacity, whether by choice or as a result of government restrictions. There are many benefits to working from home. Recent research from consultancy firm PwC Netherlands shows that working from home can improve overall societal welfare. Not only are there economic benefits to working from home, but reducing (commuting) traffic can significantly lower CO2 emissions. However, there is more to working from home than large-scale effects. What about collaboration or company culture? What about people’s mental health? Despite the fact that working remotely lessens face-to-face contact with team members, video conferencing apps have improved a lot. Moreover, many people are happy enough with the benefits of working remotely: a better work-life balance, greater flexibility, and higher productivity. Minorities, especially, report greater comfort working from home. In a Future Forum study, Black employees reported suffering fewer microaggressions and experiencing a boost of 64% in their stress management ability as a result of working from home. Still, over time, you might find your productivity starting to dwindle or your motivation to perform well lacking. This is why it’s worth investing in online tools, apps, and software to help enhance your working from home experience.
Work from home apps can improve your productivity
Do you miss going to a physical office space? While a quiet home environment is a great productivity booster for many, some people miss the work motivation they get from being around others. If this is the case, a productivity work from home app may be the solution. With a good work from home app aimed at productivity and organization, you’ll be able to:
Keep track of all your different projects and tasks. Optimize the time actually spent on work. Monitor your own or others’ performance. Work together with colleagues in a shared online environment. File important documents.
Luckily, there are many different software programs to choose from, and we have included some of the best in this article.
Create a better work-life balance when working from home
If you work from home a lot, you might find that your professional and your private life start to blur at some point. You’ll realize that you’re still checking emails during dinner or that you’re in Zoom meetings while driving the kids to school. On top of that, because you’re working remotely, your colleagues might expect you to be available at any moment. In that case, a work from home app that allows you to set and maintain your boundaries can be a great help. Whether you need reminders during the day to take regular breaks or a time-tracking app that allows you to plan your day properly, creating a good work-life balance is essential for keeping your work from home routine sustainable. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best work from home tools that are currently at our disposal.
Work From Home Apps: Organization
We could all use a little more structure in our lives. Especially during busy weeks, having an overview of different projects and tasks is paramount. These project management apps will clear your head, help you time-block your work hours, and make sure you stay on top of what you want to accomplish.
1. Doodle: Best app for creating schedules and coordinating with your team
Features:
Calendar app to track deadlines Poll option for team members’ availability Sync feature that connects Doodle with other video conferencing apps
Remote workers need an easy way to keep track of deadlines and meetings. When you’re part of a large organization, scheduling can take up a lot of time. On top of that, most team members will have conflicting availability. Doodle is an easy-to-use calendar app that keeps all your tasks, activities, and online and face-to-face meetings organized. If you’re looking for a great team collaboration app, this is it. Doodle allows you to poll your team members’ availability for meetings, invite them, and let them vote on preferred meeting times. This is one of its key features, one that is thankfully anonymous, limiting the chances of a conflict. An added bonus is that Doodle can be synchronized with any video conferencing app of your choice, for example, Zoom or Google Meet. This makes it even easier to schedule video calls.
Doodle and privacy
Because Doodle is a Swiss company, your data is processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). When using the app, you send certain information to Doodle, including name, email address, and any in-app information that you submit yourself. In their privacy policy, Doodle states clearly that they do not sell your data to third parties. They do log certain (anonymous) data for troubleshooting purposes and are partnered with Google Analytics and Google Firebase Analytics. According to the privacy statement, Doodle will anonymize a user’s IP address before sending it on to Google Analytics. The company also specifies that they use cookies to track usage and “improve overall user experience,” but you can disable these cookies if you wish. Keep in mind that if you log into your Doodle account via a social media account, your actions may be tracked by the social media company.
2. Plaky: Free project management tool with user-friendly features
Features:
Project management app Unlimited projects and users File exchange possible Available on Windows and MacOS
For those of you with busy work schedules, it’s important that your projects are as streamlined as possible. This is where Plaky comes in. With this free project management software program, you can customize your workspace, assign tasks to people, and add tags and descriptions to each activity to indicate their status. What’s great about this all-in-one workspace is that you can use search filters to find the information you need across different projects. Don’t want to start your project management from scratch? There are multiple templates at your disposal for setting up Plaky. It’s a great app for managing a remote team and getting a good overview of all your different tasks. Most importantly, you can add an unlimited number of projects and users.
Plaky and privacy
In the Plaky privacy policy, you can find an overview of the data they collect. In the first place, personal data related to your account is requested, including the name of your organization, your own name, email address, and password. If you use your Google account to access Plaky, any data available on your that account will become available to Plaky. There’s also a bunch of data that gets automatically collected, including IP address, device type, browser, broad geographical location, and data usage. Plaky claims that this information is processed with similar information from other users and “cannot reasonably be used to identify any particular individual,” but the fact of the matter is that this data is not anonymized. With regard to storing this data, Plaky keeps your data “until the purpose of its collection is fulfilled,” which is purposefully vague language. They also “sometimes engage third parties” for external processing purposes. All in all, this is not the most privacy-sensitive company.
3. Notion: Great app for file-sharing and organizing tasks
Features:
All-in-one workplace Great project planning tool Function to create to-do lists Integration of documents and databases
While you might have heard of Notion already, we like to highlight it here because it’s an excellent app for remote work and file sharing. It lets you keep track of different projects and activities, collaborate with other remote team members, take notes, and integrate data from all sorts of sources. Notion’s free trial includes unlimited blocks and pages, which means you can create tons of overviews, timelines, and boards for your projects. You can also invite up to five guest collaborators to work with you. The great thing is that you can use Notion for more than just remote work. While it makes sense to have different boards for different work projects, you can also use Notion for anything from grocery lists to organizing your finances.
Notion and privacy
Unfortunately, Notion does collect a lot of personal information. In order to use Notion, the company collects your name, email, password, role within your team, and an optional profile photo. On top of that, automatic data is collected like your IP address, browser details, operating system or device, location information, internet service provider, pages that you visit before, during, or after using Notion, and the frequency and duration of your activities. This is a lot of collected information that is not strictly necessary for services to work. Notion also uses third-party service providers to collect and process analytics. Information is stored as long as you use Notion or until the purposes for which it was collected are fulfilled.
Work From Home Apps: Productivity
Sometimes we need an extra productivity boost. I’m sure I’m not the only one who struggles with keeping up my concentration for long periods of time. If you’re feeling low on motivation or you simply need a few dedicated hours to work without distractions, there’s a productivity app in the list below that can help you out.
1. Focus@Will: Stay on task while listening to music
Features:
Instrumental music to boost productivity Different music styles and categories Available on all major operating systems
Firstly, in the productivity apps category, is a versatile app that actually helps you focus rather than forces you to. Focus@Will offers you different instrumental playlists that are designed to block out distracting noise. You can select from different categories and even do a test that helps you identify which music helps you focus best. According to the developers, the app is created on the basis of ten years of neuroscience research. Focus@Will helps you ease into focus in only 20 minutes, which you should then be able to sustain for 200 minutes.
Focus@Will and privacy
The Focus@Will privacy policy is a bit dated (2019). It states that the company will collect your name, email, phone number, and billing address when you register for an account. Focus@Will makes use of cookies, though you may refuse this. According to the privacy statement, certain information that your web browser sends is also collected, such as your web request, IP address, browser type, referring/exit pages and URLs, number of clicks, domain names, landing pages, and pages viewed. On top of that, the policy states that “Focus @ Will Labs Inc may analyze your personal information to create a profile of your interests and preferences.” Personally identifiable information is not shared with third parties. There is no information on how long data is stored or in which way.
2. Freedom: Great tool that keeps you away from distractions
Features:
No more distracting websites and apps Locked Mode function to stay on track Blocklists for certain parts of the day Option to sync with phone
It can be difficult to stay focused when you’re spending long days behind your laptop. Most of us are too easily tempted by Netflix or our social media accounts. Freedom is a work from home app that helps you keep your distractions at bay. This is one of those work from home apps that allows you to set time limits on websites that you consider distracting. One of its key features is that you can sync Freedom to your phone, which means you can’t reach for a different device to distract yourself. It’s particularly useful for journalists, writers, editors, and researchers who need to spend a certain amount of time on a specific task.
Freedom and privacy
Freedom’s privacy policy is not very detailed. The company states that they ask for contact information, including name and billing address, as well as credit card details, in order to process your order. Besides this, they claim “you may also be required to provide us with other information regarding your entity” in order to make use of Freedom, but this information is not specified. The company is partnered with Google Analytics and Google AdWords, amongst other third parties. Freedom states that cookies that are used are not linked to personally identifiable information. You may opt out of Google’s tracking via Google’s own ad page settings. In terms of log files, your IP address, browser type, internet service provider, referring/exit pages, platform type, date/time stamp, and the number of clicks may be collected. It is unclear where or for how long this data is kept. Freedom states it does not sell or trade any personal data.
3. Forest: Fun app that helps boost your productivity
Features:
Fun distraction-blocking app Virtual tree planting feature for competitions with colleagues Available on all major operating systems Achievements and rewards
Sometimes all we need is a small incentive or reward for our work, don’t we? With Forest, you plant a virtual tree in the app any time you complete a period of focused time, making it a fun, game-based productivity tool. The gamification of a work from home app like Forest is surprisingly effective. You can compete with your remote team members to see who plants the most trees, as well as unlock new species the more you progress. What’s even better is that you can help sponsor the Trees for the Future organization, which plants real trees around the world!
Forest and privacy
In terms of personal data, Forest collects your email address, usage data, “unique device identifiers for advertising,” and geographic position. On top of that, the app asks permission to access your camera, photo library, and storage. Data is “processed and stored for as long as required by the purpose they have been collected for.” In order words, Forest can hold onto your data as long as they want. When it comes to processing, the privacy statement mentions that users’ data may be transferred to a country other than their own, depending on the user’s location. This does not seem at all necessary for making the app function properly and is something to keep in mind before installing it. Forest states that user data may be used for advertising purposes, though you may opt out of tracking/cookies. Contrary to most other apps in this list, Forest states that they may sell your personal information, though you have the option to opt out.
Work From Home Apps: Lifestyle
Do you find yourself glued to your laptop hours after you’re supposed to clock out? Are you constantly checking emails when you’re hanging out with friends? While remote work has made many aspects of our lives easier, it can be difficult to take a step back. The following work from home apps will help you maintain a healthy work-life balance.
1. Simplish: A daily planner app with great aesthetics
Features:
Great planner for daily activities Capture observations function Tools for prioritizing and creating tasks
Want to achieve a better work-life balance but don’t know where to start? Simplish allows remote workers to design to-do apps for all aspects of their life. Its key features include a color-coding system to schedule your activities throughout your day, from getting your heart rate up by working out to winding down after a long day. With daily affirmations to boost your mood, it’s more than just an organizing app. The Daily Planner feature, for example, lets you zoom in on your day and prioritize the activities that work best for you. The app is available on iOS and Android.
Simplish and privacy
Simplish has a short but straightforward privacy policy. The app collects your name, email, phone number, and any other details you submit voluntarily. This information is used to “personalize your experience.” You have the right to access a copy of your personal data, though Simplish states that they may charge a small fee for this service. The app doesn’t use cookies for tracking purposes, nor do they sell, trade, or transfer your data to outside parties. Simplish does, however, use Google AdSense Advertising. You may opt out of this by adapting your Google privacy settings.
2. Seven: Best go-to app when you need a break
Features:
Seven-minute workout challenges Free trial available Workouts with colleagues
A key part of remote work is taking care of yourself! Working from home means spending lots of time behind a screen. This can make you restless and irritable, not to mention stiff and sore. Sometimes, all we need to feel better is a short, seven-minute workout. This is where Seven comes in. It can be your go-to app any time you need a break. The app encourages you to take regular breaks from work and move your body a bit. You can choose from over 200 workouts and exercises that you can easily fit in between video meetings. The app is available on iOS and Android. There are tons of different personal trainers you can choose from. If you get your team members to sign up, too, you can all work out together.
Seven and privacy
To create your Seven account the app collects your name, email, username, country, and language. Whenever you do a workout on the app, the date, time, and exercise information is also logged. Seven asks your permission to collect certain health information, such as your weight, height, gender, heart rate during workouts, and distance and speed data. If you connect to Seven via a third-party account (Facebook, Apple, or Google), any information that you made available on these accounts will be transferred to Seven. According to Seven’s privacy policy, the app also logs your IP address, timestamp, log files, and operating system. When information is shared with outside parties, this is anonymized. If you decide to delete your account, it may take up to 30 days for the information to be removed from the Seven systems.
3. Pocket Yoga and Pocket Yoga Teacher: A great tool for mind and body
Features:
Guided yoga sessions Duration of practice based on user preferences Different levels of difficulty available
Finally, a mobile app to help you destress and unwind. Pocket Yoga and Pocket Yoga Teacher allow you to stretch and move your body for a bit. With guided exercises and varying levels of difficulty, there’s something here for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you’re a yogi master already or completely new to the practice. These apps are designed to help you feel better in your body and your mind—which, ultimately, will make you feel better at work.
Pocket Yoga and privacy
Pocket Yoga collects any personal information that you voluntarily give up. This includes user email addresses, passwords, practices completed, karma points, unlocked environments, and any profile information. If you link to Pocket Yoga via a social media account, you give the app access to all available information associated with that account. Pocket Yoga’s privacy policy states that your information is used “for a variety of business purposes.” Data will only be shared with other parties with your consent.
A Tip for Working From Home: Use a VPN
At VPNOverview, we always pay extra attention to how different apps and software programs handle your data. As you can see, the degree to which your personal information is protected varies among the apps listed in this article. If you’re worried about the safety of your data, we recommend using a VPN. In the first place, a VPN encrypts your internet traffic, which makes it possible to browse the web more anonymously. Moreover, a VPN can provide you with a different IP address. This makes it way more difficult for companies or apps to properly identify you. Since your IP address is often logged by productivity and organizational work from home tools, a VPN will provide you with an extra layer of security that makes working from home a lot safer. At the moment, the best VPN on the market is NordVPN. Alternatively, you might want to take a look at the top 5 best VPNs that will improve your work from home experience.
Work From Home: Choosing the Apps That Work for You
Ultimately, the most important thing to ask yourself when looking at work from home tools is: how can these apps work for me? Your needs are likely very specific to your type of job and to your personal day-to-day. Before spending money on an app, make sure to consider how much you’re actually going to use the app. If you feel like you need to move your body more, a workout app sounds great. However, you might want to first try walking around the block once in a while and see if you can build a new habit. The same goes for organizational apps: even with the best tools, you’re still going to do a large part of the work yourself. Are you missing essential apps from this list, or do you have the golden tip for people struggling to work from home? Leave us a comment below! For planning your tasks and organizing your teams, apps like Notion and Doodle can be very useful. If you find yourself easily distracted by your phone or by Netflix, you can use the Forest app game to stay focused on your work. Finally, don’t forget that it’s also important to take regular breaks. With Seven or Pocket Yoga, you’ll be reminded to move your body and unwind, even if it’s only for a couple of minutes. If you’re a team manager or project planner, you might benefit more from organizational apps like Notion or Doodle. These work from home tools let you manage tasks, set deadlines, and allow you to stay on top of your work. Regardless of what apps you use, it’s smart to invest in a good VPN. This will prevent apps from collecting personal information such as your IP address. On top of that, there are plenty of apps and software programs that can help you with productivity, organization, and even achieving a good work-life balance. Luckily, working from home apps are designed to make remote work easier. There are plenty of organizational apps that allow you to work closely together with your team members, productivity apps to boost your motivation, and lifestyle apps you can download on your phone for quick breaks.
