The Tandem Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Tandem in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Tandem
The Insider’s Guide
Virtual office with one-click calls and shared-cursor screen sharing
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among team communication apps, read from Tandem’s own pages.
Made by Tandem Software LLC · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Tandem’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Tandem’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 2 of the 33 other team communication apps we grade
Tandem is a virtual office app for remote and hybrid teams. It shows which teammates are available, in a conversation or busy, and lets anyone start an audio or video call with a click instead of sending a meeting link. Calls include screen sharing with shared cursors and remote control, and standing rooms and tables give a team somewhere to co-work.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Tandem, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for quick spoken chats and pairing on a shared screen
There's no text chat on record and no plain web version.
- 2
Paid plans start at $49.92 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $64 per month for a 10-member team, or $599 billed yearly.
- 3
There is a free plan
Up to 4 members and 5 call hours per day.
- 4
It runs on 5 platforms
macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android, with a browser extension too.
- 5
Team presence
See who is around and who is free to talk, and ask Tandem to notify you when a busy teammate becomes available.
- 6
One-click conversations
Wave at a teammate to start an audio or video call without a meeting link, or join a conversation that is already under way.
- 7
Screen sharing with shared cursors
Share a screen, tab or app in one click. Teammates can point with their own cursors, and remote screen control can be switched on.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 2 of 33
That is against the other team communication apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Tandem you would be making video calls. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Tandem at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $64 per month for a 10-member team, or $599 billed yearly
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- Free for up to two weeks with a team of any size
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension
- Made by
- Tandem Software LLC
- Category
- Team Communication
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for quick spoken chats and pairing on a shared screen
Tandem is a virtual office built around talking: you see who's free, wave at them, and you're on a call with no meeting link, and teammates can point at a shared screen with their own cursors. There's no text chat on record and no plain web version. The free plan stops at 4 members and 5 call hours a day, and paid plans go by team size from $64 a month, which is $12.80 each for a team of five.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Paid plans go by team size: $64 a month for 10 members, $129 for 50, $499 for unlimited. Fill the first tier and it's $6.40 each, about the going rate here; with five of you it's $12.80. The per-member charge for going over a tier isn't published. |
| Free plan and trial | C | The free plan takes 4 members and 5 call hours a day, so a fifth person is a paid plan. A team of any size can also try it free for up to two weeks. Phone dial-in and priority support are paid-only. |
| Features | C | It covers presence, wave-to-call with no link, screen sharing where everyone points with their own cursor, remote control, rooms and tables to co-work in, and kiosks for a physical office. But the listing shows no persistent text chat at all, so this is the talking half of team chat only. |
| Ease of use | C | No App Store rating on record. Starting a call is a wave at a teammate, but somebody still sets up the rooms, the tables and the music rooms, and the hybrid kiosks are hardware to put in place. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android and a browser extension, so everyone installs something: there's no plain web version listed. Slack, Google Calendar, Trello, Spotify, GitHub, Figma, Jira and VS Code connect, though no public API is on record. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Tandem is for
- Fits if your remote team talks through quick calls rather than scheduled meetings
- Works for people who pair on work and want everyone's cursor on the same screen
Who it is not for
- Tight if you're staying free with more than 4 people, or talk more than 5 hours a day
- Pricey if there are five or six of you, since the smallest paid tier is $64 a month for 10 members
- Too light for a team that needs ongoing text chat, as none is on record, only calls
- Not for you if you want a plain web app or phone dial-in on the free plan, as neither is offered
- Watch out: the charge per member for going over a tier isn't published, and no public API is on record
Good to know
Good for
- Remote teams that prefer quick spoken conversations to scheduled meetings
- Pair work that relies on screen sharing with shared cursors
- Hybrid offices that want remote staff visible on screens in the office
Worth knowing
- The Free plan is limited to 4 members and 5 call hours per day.
- Paid plans are sold by team-size tier (10, 50 or unlimited members), and the per-member charge for going over a tier is not shown on the pricing page.
- Phone dial-in and dial-out and priority support are listed only on the paid plans.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$49.92
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
Tandem has a free plan. Paid plans start at $64 per month for a 10-member team, or $599 billed yearly.
The per-member charge for going over a tier isn't published.
Free
$0
Up to 4 members and 5 call hours per day.
Small Teams
$64
per month for 10 members, or $599 billed yearly
Covers 10 members, with more for a per-member charge. Unlimited audio and video calls, phone dial-in and dial-out, and priority support.
Medium Teams
$129
per month for 50 members, or $1,199 billed yearly
Covers 50 members, with more for a per-member charge. Unlimited audio and video calls, phone dial-in and dial-out, and priority support.
Large Teams
$499
per month for unlimited members, or $4,599 billed yearly
Unlimited members, unlimited audio and video calls, phone dial-in and dial-out, and priority support.
The free plan
Up to 4 members and 5 call hours per day.
Trying it first
Free for up to two weeks with a team of any size
Read from tandem.chat on Oct 6, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Save 20% with yearly billing
The pricing page lists yearly prices of $599, $1,199 and $4,599 for the three paid plans and labels each a 20% saving over paying monthly.
Stated on tandem.chat
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
6
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android and Browser extension
Virtual office with one-click calls and shared-cursor screen sharing. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: real-time collaboration, video calls.
But the listing shows no persistent text chat at all, so this is the talking half of team chat only.
- Team presence
- See who is around and who is free to talk, and ask Tandem to notify you when a busy teammate becomes available.
- One-click conversations
- Wave at a teammate to start an audio or video call without a meeting link, or join a conversation that is already under way.
- Screen sharing with shared cursors
- Share a screen, tab or app in one click. Teammates can point with their own cursors, and remote screen control can be switched on.
- Rooms and tables
- Public or private rooms hold focused conversations, tables let people overhear neighboring conversations, and music rooms play a shared soundtrack while co-working.
- Meeting reminders and widgets
- Upcoming calendar meetings come with reminders and auto-join, and calls can add widgets such as a timer, standup, agenda, poll and music.
- Hybrid Spaces
- Kiosks, screens with a camera and audio system placed around a physical office, let remote teammates drop in on the open floor or a meeting room.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
- Browser extension
What it works with
- Slack
- Google Calendar
- Trello
- Spotify
- GitHub
- Figma
- Jira
- VS Code
Tandem is made by Tandem Software LLC.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
2/33
Other team communication apps it is graded above
Tandem's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 2 of the 33 other team communication apps we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (B, above 1 of 33) and worst on free plan and trial (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $49.92 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $7 for the category: 26 of the 28 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 17 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 34 team communication apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Tandem’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 2 of 33
- CFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 33
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 33
- CEase of useAbove 6 of 33
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 1 of 33
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 31 team communication apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Tandem is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Tandem you would be making video calls. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 26 of the 33 other team communication apps grade higher. It costs $599 a year.
What you could not
- Video calls.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- Several people working in it at the same moment.
- It plugs into other products, Slack, Google Calendar and Trello among them.
- Hooks into the device itself: widgets.
What this rests on. Tandem’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Gather, Roam, Discord, Zoom and Slack
The 5 tools Tandem is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Gather
Free trial · from $12/mo
Virtual office with presence, meetings and chat for remote teams.
- Tandem has a free plan. Gather does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Tandem lists Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Only Gather lists a web app.
- 2.4GPA
Roam
Free trial · from $19.50/mo
Virtual office with drop-in meetings, chat and AI meeting notes.
- Tandem has a free plan. Roam does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Tandem lists a browser extension.
- Only Roam lists a web app.
- 3.6GPA
Discord
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Free text, voice and video chat built around servers.
- Only Tandem lists a browser extension.
- Only Discord lists a web app.
- Discord also covers team chat and file sharing.
- 2.6GPA
Zoom
Free plan · from $14.16/mo
Video meetings bundled with team chat, phone and AI notes.
- Only Zoom lists a web app.
- Zoom also covers meeting notes, whiteboard, booking links and team chat.
- 2.8GPA
Slack
Free plan · from $7.25/mo
Channel-based team messaging with huddles, workflows and AI.
- Only Tandem lists a browser extension.
- Only Slack lists a web app.
- Slack also covers workflow automation, documents, team chat and file sharing.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Tandem free?
Tandem has a free plan. Up to 4 members and 5 call hours per day.
How much does Tandem cost?
Tandem lists 4 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Tandem work on?
Tandem is available on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android. It also has a browser extension.
Does Tandem offer any discounts?
Tandem publicly lists the following: Save 20% with yearly billing.
Is Tandem open source?
Tandem is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
What does Tandem integrate with?
Tandem's listing names Slack, Google Calendar, Trello, Spotify, GitHub, Figma, Jira and VS Code.
Does Tandem have a free trial?
Yes. Free for up to two weeks with a team of any size.
Who makes Tandem?
Tandem is made by Tandem Software LLC.
What are the alternatives to Tandem?
The closest alternatives to Tandem in our directory are Gather, Roam, Discord, Zoom and Slack.
How does Tandem compare with other team communication apps?
Tandem's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 2 of the 33 other team communication apps we grade, and level with 5.
Is Tandem good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Tandem C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $49.92 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $7 for the category: 26 of the 28 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Tandem?
To replace Tandem you would be making video calls. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Tandem’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Tandem's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-12.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Tandem Software LLC. Prices change, so check tandem.chat before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Tandem, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/tandem
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Tandem: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/tandem
Know someone choosing between team communication apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/tandem/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded team communication apps after Tandem, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Team Communication Insider's GuideEvery one of the 34 team communication apps we grade, compared
- Discord Insider's GuideFree text, voice and video chat built around servers3.6 GPA
- Pumble Insider's GuideTeam chat with unlimited message history on the free plan3.6 GPA
- Zoho Cliq Insider's GuideTeam chat, calls and meetings from the Zoho suite3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Tandem’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Tandem is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Tandem Software LLC. Prices and plans change: check tandem.chat before you buy.