Remote WorkMarch 31, 20268 min read

Project Management for Remote Teams: One Tool Instead of Five

Remote teams juggle Slack, Asana, Google Docs, Harvest, and email. The real productivity killer is not distance — it is having work scattered across five apps.

The remote team tool-sprawl problem

Most remote teams use 3 to 5 different tools just to manage work: a project manager for tasks, a chat app for communication, a docs tool for collaboration, a time tracker for billing, and email for everything that falls through the cracks.

For a 10-person remote team, this looks like: Asana or Monday.com at $110–150/month, Slack at $70–120/month, Google Workspace at $60–120/month, and a time tracker at $50–100/month. That is $290 to $490 per month across four tools — and the information is scattered across all of them.

Thicket combines tasks, docs, messaging, file sharing, forms, and timesheets in one workspace — for $49/month flat, unlimited users. No tool-switching, no lost context, no per-seat fees.

What remote teams actually spend on software

Here is the typical monthly cost for a 10-person remote team using separate tools versus Thicket.

CategoryTypical cost (10 users)With Thicket
Project management$110–150/moIncluded
Team chat / messaging$70–120/moIncluded
Documents / wiki$60–120/moIncluded
Time tracking$50–100/moIncluded
Forms / surveys$25–50/moIncluded
Total$315–540/mo$49/mo

Based on typical per-user pricing for Asana/Monday.com, Slack Pro, Google Workspace Business, Harvest, and Typeform. Thicket replaces all five.

What remote teams need from a PM tool

When your team is not in the same office, the tool becomes the office. It needs to handle everything that would normally happen in hallway conversations, whiteboard sessions, and quick desk check-ins.

Async-first communication

Project message boards that team members can catch up on in their own time zone. Not real-time chat that creates pressure to always be online.

Documents next to tasks

Specs, meeting notes, and briefs should live in the same project as the tasks they relate to — not in a separate docs app.

Built-in time tracking

Remote teams often bill by the hour or need to track how time is spent. Timesheets should be built in, not a separate $50/month add-on.

Works from anywhere

Browser-based, no desktop app required. Your team in Berlin, Buenos Aires, and Boston all get the same experience.

Easy contractor access

Remote teams hire contractors frequently. Adding them should take 30 seconds, not a procurement request for another seat.

One place for everything

When work is distributed across 5 apps, remote team members spend more time searching than working. Centralization matters more for remote teams.

How Thicket replaces your remote team tool stack

Thicket was built as a single workspace for distributed teams. Every feature remote teams typically pay for separately is included in one $49/month subscription.

Replaces Asana / Monday.com

Task management with assignments, due dates, kanban boards, and scheduling

Replaces Slack

Built-in project messaging — async-friendly discussions in every project

Replaces Google Docs / Notion

Document collaboration with rich text editing, right next to your tasks

Replaces Harvest / Toggl

Timesheets and time tracking built into every project

Replaces Typeform / Google Forms

Custom forms for intake, surveys, and requests — with approval workflows

Replaces Dropbox / Google Drive

File sharing with 50 GB storage included on Pro

PM tool pricing for remote teams

Remote teams are often distributed across timezones with a mix of employees and contractors. Per-user pricing gets expensive fast.

Tool5 users10 users20 users
Monday.com$60/mo$120/mo$240/mo
Asana$55/mo$110/mo$220/mo
ClickUp$60/mo$120/mo$240/mo
Basecamp Plus$75/mo$150/mo$300/mo
Thicket$49/mo$49/mo$49/mo

PM tool cost only — does not include the chat, docs, and time tracking tools remote teams also need. Thicket includes all of those. See how Thicket compares to ClickUp, Asana, and Basecamp, or read more about why we don't charge per user.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best project management tool for remote teams?

The best remote PM tool combines tasks, documents, and communication in one place — so distributed team members don't have to jump between apps. Thicket includes task management, built-in messaging, document collaboration, file sharing, forms, and timesheets for $49/month flat with unlimited users.

How much does project management software cost for a remote team?

Remote teams typically pay for a PM tool ($10–15/user/month), a chat tool ($7–12/user/month), and a docs tool ($6–12/user/month). For a 10-person team, that's $230–390/month across three tools. Thicket replaces all three for $49/month flat.

Do remote teams need different project management software?

Remote teams have the same core needs as co-located teams — tasks, deadlines, documents, and communication. The difference is that everything must be accessible online, asynchronous-friendly, and centralized in one tool. If information lives in three different apps, remote team members lose context and waste time searching.

Does Thicket work across time zones?

Yes. Thicket is a web-based tool that works from any browser, anywhere. Built-in project messaging supports asynchronous discussion — team members in different time zones can catch up on threads without needing everyone online at the same time.

Can remote contractors and clients access Thicket?

Yes. Thicket Pro includes unlimited users — remote employees, contractors, freelancers, and clients all included at no extra cost. No guest fees, no per-seat charges.

Related reading

Built for distributed teams

One tool for your entire remote team. $49/month.

Stop paying for Asana + Slack + Google Docs + Harvest. Thicket gives your remote team tasks, messaging, docs, timesheets, and forms in one workspace.

Free plan available. No credit card required.

$49/mo flat — unlimited users, no per-seat fees

Tasks, docs, chat, and timesheets in one place

Async-friendly messaging for distributed teams

Add contractors and clients at no extra cost

Your remote team deserves one tool, not five

Centralize your distributed team's work in one workspace. Start free, add your whole team, upgrade when you are ready.