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Looking for the very best apps for freelancers? You’ve come to the right place.
I’m frequently asked for freelance software recommendations by HomeWorkingClub readers, so I decided to produce an epic article with them all in one place. The best part is that many of them are free, or offer a generous free trial.
There’s an easier way to keep track of freelancers’ work hours and rates. With Hubstaff’s web, mobile, and desktop apps for Mac, Windows, Linux and Chrome, they just start the timer and begin working.See hours worked and send payments in a snap. It is easy to turn off the parts you don’t need, and for many freelancers its reports will suffice for creating and sending invoices, even in the free version of the app. Platforms: Mac, Windows.
The majority of apps and programs here are things I use personally. Some of them I truly wouldn’t want to live without. If there’s a certain part of your freelance business that doesn’t flow quite right, one of these freelance apps could make all the difference.
Let’s get straight into it.
General Productivity Apps for Freelancers
Office 365
It’s perhaps a little “old school” to highlight such traditional office apps as Word, Excel and PowerPoint, but I make no apology for it.
Word and Excel, especially, are apps the many freelancers use almost constantly. And let’s not forget Microsoft Outlook, which can act as the foundation blocks of a freelance business, managing calendars, contacts, tasks and notes.
Office 365 really isn’t that “old school” anyway. Back in the day you had to pay hundreds for all of these apps. Now you subscribe for around ten bucks per month, and get the very latest versions of everything – not just the core apps, but handy extras like OneDrive and Exchange email too.
It’s a small investment in something that gives a small business “corporate quality” IT, and definitely one of the best apps for freelancers.
Google Apps / G Suite
In the same way that people tend to be loyal to either iPhones or Android devices, they often split into Microsoft Office fans, and those who prefer to use the Google alternatives.
Instead of Word, you have Google Docs; Instead of Excel, Google Sheets; And instead of Outlook, Gmail and Google Calendars.
Google Apps / G Suite is all browser-based, and great for collaboration. The apps are freely accessible for personal use, and the cost to graduate to the commercial G Suite for Business is low (although it comes close to the cost of Office 365 for anything other than the “Basic” tier).
The choice between G Suite and Office 365 is largely one of personal taste. However, which ecosystem your clients prefer will play a part too. It does no harm to become familiar with both.
Best Apps for Freelancers: Project Management and Organization
Trello
I probably recommend Trello to readers more than any other product. For the vast majority of purposes you’ll be able to do all you need with the free version too.
Trello is a project management app, with a simple yet versatile card-based system. I personally use it to organise ideas, run a “pipeline” of articles for the site, and to manage tasks for current and future projects.
Trello can be as simple or advanced as you want to make it, and there are tons of integrations and add-ons. It grows with you, and with your business. Did I mention it’s free?
Asana
Asana and Trello often come up side-by-side in conversation, and they are very similar. However, Asana has a little more emphasis on team collaboration features. Trello has these too, but still feels like a very natural fit for an individual freelancer of solopreneur.
Asana offers a well-featured free version that’s more than enough to help take control of your small business. You can create tasks and sub-tasks, upload related attachments, assign them to specific people, and and manage things with various dashboard and calendar views.
If you’re in the market for a project management system, you might want to check out both Asana AND Trello. For what it’s worth, I personally feel the Asana learning curve is a little steeper, so that may impact your decision.
Paymo
Paymo bills itself as a “work management platform.” If you’re looking for something to organise every facet of your freelance operation, it’s well worth taking advantage of the free version. If your business grows, you may want to graduate to one of the paid plans.
Paymo does a lot of the things Trello and Asana do, such as task and project management. It also introduces functionality around Gantt charts and critical paths – things that will be familiar to those with experience in formal project management methodologies.
On top of that, Paymo also covers time tracking and invoicing.
If you’re already established, it seems likely you’ll find some crossover between some of the things Paymo does and your existing freelance software. If you’re just starting out, however, this could be a great choice. It’s some of the best software for freelancers looking for something that will do everything.
Todoist
One of the best things about modern freelance software is the wide range of approaches the developers take. You have apps like Paymo and Asana that pile on the features, then – at the other end of the scale – apps like Todoist that keep everything neat and simple.
Todoist provides enough power to manage lots of projects at once. Even the free version supports up to 8 projects and collaboration with five people. However, the interface is kept nice and easy, all centred about a “to do list” structure.
Todoist is also very focussed on modern, mobile working. As much thought has been put into the mobile experience as the desktop experience – great for those of you often on the move.
Mindmeister
It’s well documented that some people think more in pictures than in words.
I have to admit that I personally love lists, when it comes to planning projects and organising my thoughts. However, for visual thinkers, and those tasks where you simply must see everything laid out in one place, mind-mapping is hugely useful. That’s where Mindmeister comes in.
Like many of the best apps for freelancers, it’s available in a free version, with inexpensive upgrades for heavy users. It’s a fantastic way to organise results visually, with great-looking output.
Diaries and Time Management
Calendly
If you’ve been in business for any length of time, you will have experienced the frustration of going back and forth with contacts via email, trying to schedule meetings or calls. Add in some timezone differences and a couple of extra people and you’re looking at a huge time drain.
This is what Calendly sorts out. It allows you to define your available “slots” and leave people to book them. It handles multiple people too.
There’s a free version available for those with basic requirements. If you have a lot of calls or meetings, Calendly is a genuinely life-changing app!
Microsoft Outlook Calendar
This suggestion is a bit of a curve-ball. I’ve already included Microsoft’s Office 365 in this freelance software roundup. However, I genuinely feel that Outlook (part of the suite) deserves a mention of its own.
If you’ve worked in a corporate environment, the chances are Outlook was your platform for email, calendars and contacts. Personally, I feel that anything else feels like a step back. It’s a refined product, and if you hook it into Microsoft Exchange (included in 365 Business Premium), it allows for thorough and dependable syncing with all of your mobile devices.
The calendar view, which shows appointments and tasks all in one place, is also one of the most valuable organisation features you can possibly have. Unfortunately it’s only in the Windows version, so if you’re a Mac user, read on!
BusyCal
Of all the best apps for freelancers listed here, BusyCal gets one of my most emphatic recommendations.
When I switched to Mac from Windows, I must have looked at a dozen different calendar apps. BusyCal’s ability to show tasks and appointments in one view was the killer feature for me, but it does a whole bunch of other cool stuff too – and the mobile app is also great.
If you’re a Mac user struggling to choose a calendar app, make sure BusyCal gets a place on your shortlist.
Note-Taking Apps for Freelancers
Apple Notes
Of all the recommended freelance apps here, this one probably wins the prize for being the most obvious – but hear me out!
Apple Notes is probably one of the most used utilities on my Mac. I use it for everything from rough ideas to article plans to shopping lists. You don’t have to use it in an organised way because the search facility is so good.
All you need to do is remember one word in the note you’re looking for, stick it in the search box, and there;s the note. And if you’re bought into Apple’s ecosystem and syncing things with iCloud it’s on your phone and your iPad too. It’s super handy.
Apple Notes does do a bunch of other stuff too. You can add images, attachments and rich formatting nowadays. I don’t. This is just simple, pure note-taking, and it works brilliantly. You soon end up with hundreds of the things!
EverNote
And now we go from basic note-taking to note-taking that gets as comprehensive and complicated as you want it to!
EverNote aims to organise your digital life, and succeeds in doing just that for many people. There’s a well-featured free version and lots of extra bells and whistles for those who buy an (affordable) subscription.
Although EverNote is great for text notes, you can also snapshot web pages, catalogue screenshots, keep copies of emails, collaborate with others, and a whole bunch of other things. If you feel your life is lacking organisation, I’d highly recommend starting with the free version and seeing if EverNote changes things.
Microsoft OneNote
Microsoft’s OneNote remains a part of the Office 365 suite, but you can now get it on its own. It’s FREE, and available for Windows and Mac, and as a mobile app.
If I used Windows rather than Mac, OneNote would be my first choice for a simple note-taking app. It offers the same easy searching as Apple Notes. If you have a touchscreen device or laptop, it’s also great for taking notes with proper “writing.”
Skitch
Screenshots have become a really big deal in recent years. Many people take screenshots on their phones to share things they’ve seen, or to copy photos or snippets of messages. Skitch (sadly for Mac only) makes it super easy to use this functionality on a computer.
You simply use a keyboard shortcut, drag some crosshairs over what you want to copy, and then drag the screenshot file away from the app. It takes SECONDS. Once you get used to it, you use it literally dozens of times each day.
Need a snippet of a web page for my blog? Skitch. Want to show my wife a Tweet? Skitch. Want to forward an error message to a support department? Skitch.
Seriously, if you have a Mac, this is one of the best apps for freelancers you will ever find. Get it now. If you don’t have a Mac, read on.
Greenshot
When I (briefly) swapped from Mac to Windows in early 2019, I desperately missed Skitch and needed another screenshot tool. (While operating systems do have basic screenshot functionality built in, it’s really not the same).
Greenshot is a great screenshot tool for Windows. It’s also open source and FREE. It’s not quite as polished and user friendly as Skitch, but with that comes more functionality. It’s still highly recommended.
And, just in case you think you don’t need a screenshot tool, please believe me when I say it’s the kind of thing you don’t know you need until you have it.
Communication Apps
Zoom
Skype is pretty much an essential app for a freelancer, and we get to it later in this article. However, if you want to take your online meetings to the next level, I highly recommend Zoom.
If you need to hold meetings with multiple people, include people who are on site or on the phone, record your meetings, or use fancy collaboration features like whiteboards and break-out rooms, Zoom has you covered.
It’s also, like so many of the best apps for freelancers, available in a free variant. The free tier is generously full featured, with the main restriction being that group meetings can only last 45 minutes.
Slack
Slack markets itself as an “alternative to email,” and it certainly can be. I’ve worked with teams who use Slack for almost all of their day to day communications. However, I see it more as a turbo-powered version of the instant messaging functionality that I once largely used Skype for.
You can set up teams, channels, and subject-specific discussions. Slack’s great at making everything easily searchable, so you can find past discussions. Most instant messaging platforms are TERRIBLE at this!
There’s ton of integrations and add-ons, and the mobile app is slick and functional too.
Skype
As is clear from this article, Skype has been rather left behind by more modern apps. Zoom does more with conferencing, while Slack does more with instant messaging (and supports voice and video calls, for good measure).
Despite this, Skype still earns a place in this round-up. First off, almost everyone has a Skype account, so if you find yourself needing to “jump on a call,” it’s often the path of least resistance for all concerned.
Also, in fairness to Skype, it gets the basics right. You usually get a good quality video call, and the screen-share is basic but slick. It’s not cutting-edge, but it’s still a helpful app to have on your machine, even if these days it’s probably less used than it once was.
Apps for Writers
Grammarly
You’ve probably seen the YouTube ads for Grammarly. The ones that say “if you write anything on your computer, you need Grammarly!”
It’s certainly well worth having, especially as the free version is enough to save you from plenty of embarrassing mistakes. (Spelling “writer” wrong in a pitch for a freelance writing gig some years ago was a personal highlight of mine – true story).
The chargeable version does much more, and can generally help you improve your writing and break out of bad habits. It’s particularly useful for novice writers and people writing in English as a second language.
Hemingway
Hemingway is often seen as an alternative to Grammarly, but it actually has a slightly different focus. If these apps were people, Grammarly would be a proof-reader, where Hemingway would be more of an editor.
Hemingway focuses on helping you to make your writing snappy, advising you when to remove superfluous words and where to switch to less complicated alternatives. It’s available as both a web-based and desktop app.
WriteRoom
If you write, use a Mac, and often get distracted, WriteRoom could really help you out.
It’s a super simple app that removes all the distractions. It’s like typing on an old-school word processor, right down to the monochrome, green screen feel. I sometimes use it for blog posts, when I want to focus on the words and nothing else. It’s not an advanced app (and one negative is that it’s not been updated in a while), but it has a simple purpose – and it works.
FocusWriter
FocusWriter is what you need if you’re looking for a distraction-free text editor, but use Windows instead of Mac and can’t use WriteRoom. In fact, it’s available for Mac too, as well as Linux.
FocusWriter includes optional bells and whistles, including timers, alarms and even typewriter sound effects(!) However, at its heart, this is an app intended to help you concentrate on writing and nothing else – and it does that job perfectly.
Blogging and Social Media
Crowdfire
As discussed in our detailed review, CrowdFire has changed over the years, and has had to drop some of its features in order to comply with Twitter’s rules. Thankfully, it’s evolved into a very useful tool for managing multiple social media accounts.
With support for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more, Crowdfire is one of the best freelancing apps for people who want to be all over social media, but who don’t want to spend their entire day managing it all.
There’s a free version available, then various chargeable tiers with extra features. If you’re a social media manager, you can use this to manage work for all of your clients.
Mangools Suite
I’ll always have a soft spot for the Mangools SEO tool suite. It’s one of the first investments I made for HomeWorkingClub, and I still use its tools every day.
The core tool is KWFinder, an invaluable app for researching keywords and online competitors. The supplementary apps allow you to track your site’s performance, analyse other sites, and track your links.
It all adds up to a perfect toolkit for running a blog, and I recommend it all the time. It’s not incredibly cheap, but when you compare the cost with its nearest competitors, such as AHRefs and SEMRush, you realise it’s actually very good value. Highly recommended – and there’s now a free trial available.
Finance and Invoicing Apps
FreshBooks
It’s hard to get too excited about accounting software, but it’s a must for serious freelancers. FreshBooks makes it as exciting as it can be, by baking in features like time tracking, online payments, and a facility to produce attractive proposal documents.
As well as offering a free trial, FreshBooks often has deep discounts in place for those willing to skip the trial and subscribe straight away. If you’re committed to improving how you manage your freelance finances, it could well be worth making use of one of those offers.
Sage
If FreshBooks is the new player in small business accounting, Sage is the old pro.
Sage offers accounting products for everyone from individual freelancers to enterprise-level businesses. It’s long been the go-to product for accountants, so yours will likely be delighted if you can submit your records in Sage format.
Invoice Home
A “real” accounting package is a must for long-term freelancers. But what about if you’re just starting out and testing the water. What about if all you need to do is issue a very occasional invoice?
That’s where Invoice Home comes in, and we have a full review here. It’s completely free to use, although you have to start paying if you use it for a large volume of invoices. You can produce attractive invoices, take payments, and track who’s paid and who hasn’t. For many fledging freelancers, that’s all you need.
Time Saving Apps for Freelancers
TextExpander
TextExpander is definitely one of those apps that changes your life. Something you didn’t know you needed until you have it!
The premise is simple: Instead of typing things over and over, you set up “snippets” that you can trigger with a text shortcut. On a simple level, this can be something simple like “br” for “Best Regards,” but you can have FAR bigger snippets. As explained in my full review, I’ve configured it to create entire, detailed emails with just a few keypresses.
I URGE you to try an app like this if you’ve not used one before. It saves a HUGE amount of time.
TypeIt4Me
TypeIt4Me does exactly the same thing as TextExpander – it allows you to save masses of time by not repeatedly typing the same things again and again.
There are a couple of key differences: TypeIt4Me is Mac only, so if you’re on Windows, get TextExpander instead. How to delete google search app on mac. It’s also sold for a one-off payment, whereas TextExpander is sold on a subscription model. I’ve used both at various times and been happy with both – perhaps you could try both and see which you prefer?
RescueTime
Procrastination is a big issue for many freelancers. RescueTime is a well-designed app that will help you to nip it in the bud.
Akin to the “screen time” feature that Apple added to iPhones in 2019, RescueTime helps you categorise the time you spending on different activities, both manually and automatically. But it goes much further than that. You can block sites that distract you (goodbye Twitter!), set yourself targets, and even work out when you’re most productive throughout the day.
There’s a free version available, which is more than enough to get you started. You may well find that a paid upgrade is a worthwhile investment in creating more billable time each day.
Utilities and Security
ExpressVPN
I talked all about the benefits of using a VPN in a recent article on keeping your data safe. I won’t repeat all of it here, but – in short – a VPN can massively boost your privacy and security. It can enable you to use public Wi-Fi safely, access content that’s usually blocked in your country, and hide your browsing activity from prying eyes.
There are lots of VPN services out there, but quality varies hugely. Some are outright scams that put your data at more risk than NOT using them. ExpressVPN isn’t the cheapest, but it’s an established player and the winner of plenty of awards. A MUST for travelling freelancers.
MalwareBytes
MalwareBytes is one of those apps that everybody should know about. It’s not the same as antivirus software. Instead MalwareBytes is software that looks for more modern malware and spyware threats – the kind of things you can easily pick up by visiting malicious sites or clicking dodgy links in emails.
If you’re a regular reader of this site, you’ll know that IT support is one of my own freelance activities. I’ve lost count of the number of times MalwareBytes has rescued a client by finding something their antivirus had missed.
There’s a free version of MalwareBytes available for personal use. If you’ve not given your computer a good scan in a while, I’d suggest trying it out sooner rather than later!
LastPass
I think we can all agree that the number of passwords we all have to remember nowadays has become unsustainably ridiculous. As numerous reports show, a lot of people make things easier for themselves by using the same passwords for multiple accounts, or ignoring sensible advice around using complex passwords.
There is an alternative to this foolish risk, which is to use a password manager. LastPass is a market leader in its field, and strikes a great balance between strong security and a friendly user experience.
There’s a free version available for individuals, and upgrading to the extra features on a paid plan only costs a few bucks. If you’ve been meaning to get your passwords in order, grab the free version now and get started.
Do you think I’ve missed anything out on my list of best apps for freelancers? Tell me! You can leave a comment or contact me here.
The world of freelancing is ever-evolving, so keeping yourself organized is vital.
There's a constant hunt to find the best tools for freelancers. From the to-do list application to communication platforms, they all come in handy when it comes to making sure you're productive and deliver results for your clients.
Working for yourself demands a lot of responsibility, with that comes accountability.
Managing workload is one of the biggest skills freelancers need to keep their eye on. Tools help to maintain demand, improve workflow and improve client relationships by easing stress for freelancers giving them the ideal situation moving forward.
There are a host of areas you'll need to be aware of when freelancing and many that newbie freelancers don't think about, but all equally valuable to ongoing improvement:
- Mindfulness - Respecting your energy levels and mental health pays off. For new freelancers, creating a balance will help as you dedicate more time to your work.
- Productivity - Optimising the time you spend is valuable. Using simple resources to tally time spent with clients, note-taking for your countless meetings and organising your to-do list will make you feel much stronger in your work.
- Learning - Taking in and absorbing the world around you throughout your journey will provide a constant flow of insights to apply as you move forward.
- Finance - Managing finances and reducing costs where you can provide a host of benefits and reduce stress when it comes to money management.
- Communication - Whether you work with in-person clients or remote clients, chances are you'll need to keep in touch. Keeping these channels strong and consistent will help you in optimising your workload.
Bonus: Are you looking for a gift for the remote working in your life? Check out our gift guide for people who work from home
Let's start this off with the mindfulness resources.
Mindfulness is one of the many areas that people tend to skip past, but taking control of your stress levels and managing your mental health can help to reduce illness time, work-related stress incidents, and forming serious mental health issues.
Want to learn more?Take your productivity to the next level with our comprehensive (and free) ebook!
Want to learn more?
Take your productivity to the next level with our comprehensive (and free) ebook!
Mindfulness
1. Oak Meditation
Best For: Freelancers and remote workers looking to reduce stress and anxiety during the work day with simple meditation practices.
Cost: Free on iOS.
Download for iOS here.
Oak Meditation is one of the many meditation application designed to help you reduce stress across your day. Meditation is a healthy habit to introduce as a freelancer helping to stimulate focused work and retain productivity across your day by taking a timed pause. There's even a timer for breathing with exercises to help you take a moment out.
2. Workfrom
Best For: Freelancers bored of working from home and looking to explore nearby cities or towns for co-working or coffee spaces.
Cost: Free to use.
Download for iOS, or Android at the website: here.
Workfrom evolved from the popular work from anywhere movement. Many remote workers tend to stay at home thanks to the comforts and practicalities but Workfrom introduces a host of new places to work, from the nearby shops to the world's largest cities' co-working spaces. A map-like experience to help you discover what's good in your city and a way for you to spice up your routine. Highly recommended! The ideal mindful way to explore the world whilst working.
3. Noizio
Best For: Freelancers or remote workers who work from home and use music to create an atmosphere to help them get things done.
Cost: iOS: $0.99, Mac: $2.99 or via the Setapp subscription ($14.99 per month).
Download for Mac or iOS.
Noizio is a unique application providing sound equalizer technology allowing you to re-create sounds. Whether it's a busy coffee shop or a peaceful garden, the background noise helps for many freelancers to stay focused by creating a sound environment that lifts their productivity. A healthy habit to introduce into your home routine and improve the likelihood of improved workflow for those who already listen to music.
4. Asana Rebel
Best For: Those looking to get a dose of healthy exercises in their daily routine at home, without the need to visit a gym or pay for an expensive yoga teacher.
Cost: Free (limited), premium prices vary from $9.99 per month.
Download for iOS and Android.
Asana Rebel might seem a little strange to be recommending to freelancers, but believe me, it's helpful. For those who like to work at home, the importance of movement is under-rated. Stuck at the desk and simply need a 5-minute session, Asana Rebel provides perfect sessions to help you get some much-needed exercise without the need for a commute to the gym or even the need for any equipment to be dragged out of your cupboards.
5. Lifesum
Best For: Those conscious of over-eating or eating poorly during the workday.
Cost: Free (limited), with $8.99 premium per month.
Download for iOS and Android here.
Lifesum provides those who struggle with food insights into how they can manage their calorie intake through food tracking. This sounds, again, strange to be recommending for a freelancer, but being at home and access to coffee shop cakes, with no boss judging you, can be damaging to your health. Tracking food can help to make more efficient choices for your diet and as we all know, the healthier we eat, the better we feel, and the better we feel, the better the quality of our work.
Productivity
Now onto the productivity section, what you've all been waiting for.
Productivity tools can be fundamental to helping you and your team get things done across the day. Making sure you have tools that match your needs, and features that help you build the best relationships is vital. Let's dive into a range of tools to help you find your ninja mode.
Let's jump into the best productivity applications for freelancers.
6. Notion
Best For: Those looking to organise their personal productivity by creating a workspace that helps plan and get things done
Cost: Free (limited), plans from $4 per user, per month.
Download for iOS, Android, Mac & Windows here.
Notion is one of the fastest growing productivity software right now. The workspace provides a range of functionality allowing both personal and team productivity. Features include a to-do list, boards for organising, table management, note-taking toolkit, calendar and so much more. Many people are finding Notion complex to get started but once they've found their way of using it they have applauded the application for its abilities.
7. Calendly
Best For: Looking for times/dates to meet
Cost: Free (limited), prices from $8 per user, per month.
Set-up Calendly for Web: here.
Calendly is becoming more and more popular as many realise how much time they spend on communicating around meeting times. With this figure on the rise, Calendly has allowed users to send a simple link to showcase free slots in their calendar for the recipient to book with no fuss. Perfect for freelancers and remote workers looking to avoid complication.
8. Trello
Best For: Those who want to organise and manage projects without the complexity of project management resources.
Cost: Free, with Business Class priced at $9.99 per month, per user.
Download for iOS, Mac, Android, and Web here.
Trello is a great tool for freelancers looking to use the traditional kanban method for planning their workload and managing a team's. It's ideal for professionals that are looking for a simple tool with the ability, later, to add more advanced functionality, buried inside of Trello's plugins that can be installed on any of the Trello boards.
Bonus: Check out this Video on how easy it is to plan an event in Trello:
9. Bear Notes
Best For: Those looking for a distraction-free writing experience without the pressure of organizing notes into advanced notebook layouts.
Cost: Free, with Bear Pro costing $14.99 per year.
Download for iOS and Mac here.
Bear is one of the rising stars for Mac and iOS users. Giving users the ability to take notes and organise them using hashtags, a very 21st century way to organise. The minimal experience is one of the things many people rave about when using Bear. Well worth it if you've recently become an avid writer or minimal writer.
Bonus: Check out my in-depth rundown of the app here:
10. Toggl
Best For: Those looking to capture the time spent on tasks and per client to reduce wasted time and bill each client for how much time allocated. https://brownexotic869.weebly.com/discard-app-on-mac.html.
Cost: Free, with prices starting from $10 per user, per month.
Download for iOS, Mac, Android, and Web here.
Toggl is a well-created time tracking resource allowing you to capture where you spend your time across your work filled day. As a freelancer tallying all of the client's tasks and working out where time was spent will help to improve your accounting and finetune your work. Toggl is used by millions of professionals, in and outside of teams to manage their time, with the option to add team members at any time.
11. Calendars 5 by Readdle
Best For: Those who love Apple Calendar and want to go a step further.
Cost: $6.99 one-off fee.
Download for iOS: here.
Calendars 5 for iOS is a great way to upgrade your calendar on your iPhone or iPad. Once you've imported your Google or Apple calendars, get started by viewing your calendar in many different ways to help improve your relationship with your calendar application. There's also a spot to add tasks if it's something you like to see together, events and to-dos.
Bonus: Check out my video on how to use the Calendar 5 app here:
12. Todoist
Best For: Keeping track of important to-do's and managing your week ahead.
Cost: Sticky note app free download. Free, or $29.99 per year for premium.
Download for iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and Web: here.
Todoist is the king of the to-do list applications. For those not rocking a to-do list application, this will blow you out of the water by allowing you to tally tasks, manage projects, coordinate deadlines and visualise what's up next all within the app. Never miss a task. We've covered Todoist in the Essential Productivity Training course, so you can explore it further and learn how to master it with GoSkills.
Bonus: Check out this lesson to see how to set up your Todoist:
13. Timing
Best For: Those who stress about procrastination and analyse how they spend their time.
Cost: From $39 one-off on MacOS, available via Setapp subscription ($14.99 per month).
Download for MacOS here.
Timing 2 comes with a good reputation from its users. The ability to visualise where you spend your time on your computer comes in handy when you are looking for ways to reduce procrastination and up the ante on improving success as a freelancer. Timing 2's dashboard helps to build a picture of what you visited across your day in a snazzy timeline view.
14. Hours
Best For: For those looking to tally the hours they spend for themselves or with their remote team and analyse this data in detail.
Cost: Free on iOS (unlimited), $8.00 per user, per month.
Download for iOS and Web here.
Hours, which is mentioned inside of the Essential Productivity Training course is the perfect companion for newbie time-trackers. On iOS, it's free, giving you an easy-to-use starting point to tally how you spend your time across your day. Viewing the dashboard on the web will help you see exactly how much time was spent where and provide you with the ultimate way to improve your efforts as a freelancer.
15. Freedom
Best For: Those worrying about procrastination getting in the way of their client work
Cost: $29.99 per year.
Download for Mac, Windows, iOS: here.
Freedom gives anyone the opportunity to shut down certain sites and apps in order to focus on work. Many students praise this application for helping them get through procrastination intense study sessions. Freedom blocks the sites distracting you, set manually by you, and helps you to work towards your goals instead of keeping the options open for you.
16. BeFocused Pro
Best For: Those looking to work in shorter stints and get things done across their day.
Cost: From $4.99 on Mac, included Setapp subscription ($14.99 per month).
Download for MacOS and iOS here.
BeFocused Pro is a favourite for many MacOS fans of the Pomodoro Technique. For those who don't know, the technique is simple to weave into your routine. 25-minute working blocks with 5-minute breaks, these cycles help to intensify work and improve outcomes by planning in breaks and avoiding distractions. BeFocused Pro sits on your menu bar and allows you to time and tally the success of your cycles.
17. Fantastical 2
Best For: Those looking for a beautiful, fast input calendar application for iOS and Mac.
Cost: $49.99 per Mac, $9.99 per iOS download.
Download for iOS and Mac: here.
Fantastical 2 is a favourite calendar experience for many, allowing users to do a range of things. The two most notable things are the remarkable ease of use of the application with tonnes of customisation available, and the ability to input calendar events using something called natural language input. Perfect for those on the go looking to save time.
18. monday.com
Best For: Remote workers and freelancers looking to get their teams organised and ready for big and small projects
Cost: Ranging from $25 per month onwards.
How to play app file game on mac. Download for iOS, Android, Mac and Web here.
monday.com app is one of the most popular project management applications right now. Many remote workers and even freelancers are heading here to organise their own activities and projects in an effort to keep organised. The board layouts allow you to customise your experience bringing the wonders of productivity through templates and viewing options.
19. Evernote
Best For: Those who need a reliable, notebook-focused note-taking application.
Cost: Free (limited to 2 devices), from $4.99 per month, premium.
Download for iOS, Android, Mac, Windows and Web here.
If you haven't heard of Evernote, where have you been?! Evernote is used by over 100M people worldwide and currently remains the most used note-taking application. People use Evernote in so many different ways to tally notes, manage projects and keep track of things they never want to forget. With features like Web Clipper, Inbox and Notebooks, you can really take your organisation to the next level and keep ahead of the game as a freelancer.
Bonus: Check out this lesson on how to set up an Evernote account:
20. Airtable
Best For: Managing projects and activities within a team or as an individual.
Cost: Free (limited), Pro from $10 per month.
Mac Apps For Freelancers Free
Download for iOS, Android, Mac and Windows here.
Airtable is one of the most progressive project management applications out there, with a host of features for teams and individual professionals to organise their work. Blocks help to expand your experience by adding a layer of tools and apps, perfect for adding integrations like Maps, matrix tools and so much more.
This is perfect for teams and even personal productivity.
21. Backlog
Best for: Remote workers, freelancers, software developers, and project managers looking for a tool that brings project management, issue tracking, and version control together under one app.
Cost: Free, with paid plans starting at $35 per month.
Backlog is an all-in-one project and code management tool. Combining project management, bug tracking, and version control, Backlog brings project and code management together at last. Assign, track, and release code right alongside regular project work with built-in Git and SVN repositories. Kanban-style boards for each project make it easy to view every task as they move through your workflow. With features like Wikis, file sharing, Gantt charts, burndown charts, and custom statuses, you can visually manage your entire project from beginning to end.
Backlog enables you to collaborate with stakeholders and clients on one connected platform. And the iOS and Android apps keep you in-the-loop wherever you go.
Backlog enables you to collaborate with stakeholders and clients on one connected platform. And the iOS and Android apps keep you in-the-loop wherever you go.
Bonus: Check this video to learn more about Backlog
Learning
Continuing to learn is one of the most valuable investments of your time as a freelancer, whether it's a new course here on GoSkills or proceeding with a new book, it's time well spent if it makes you more money, reduces stress or manages your workload more efficiently. Learning is the one thing you should always make time for along your journey.
22. Blinkist
Best For: Time-poor professionals looking to gobble up the best bits of a book.
Cost: $79.99 per year, with monthly options.
Download for iOS and Android here.
Blinkist is one of the most exciting apps of 2018, allowing users to listen to books within 15-minutes by condensing them into takeaways. From Getting Things Done to Tools of Titans, the Blinkist library is vast and will help to improve your insights in a shorter period of time. Read a full book on your commute every morning and take control of your learning.
Bonus: Check out my video on how I like to use the Blinkist app here:
23. Castro 3
Best For: Podcast lovers looking for a manageable way to view their subscriptions.
Cost: Free, with Castro Plus $8.99 per year.
Download for iOS here.
Castro is a very attractive application allowing you to subscribe to podcasts and triage incoming subscriptions. As all podcast lovers know, you can get carried away adding podcasts, but filtering them is tough in conventional applications like Apple Podcasts. Manage podcasts with an inbox inside of Castro and take control of what's next.
24. Audible
Best For: Slow readers who don't get time to read physical books
Cost: From $7.99 per month, equates to 1 credit monthly.
Download for iOS and Android here.
Audible is one of those applications that sit in a lot of people's home screens but never gets used. Once you get used to Audible, audiobooks become a great way to consume books. Getting through two books a month can be a fantastic way to learn rapidly from the best experts in the freelancing and marketing spaces, in an effort to improve your business or self-employment efforts by hearing stories from experts.
Finance
Taking control of your finances is one of the very important elements of freelancing or working remotely. Keeping track of how and where you spend your money will help when it comes to filling your tax returns, year on year. Here's a few apps that have helped many freelancers take finance into their own hands.
25. Wave
Best For: Those who want to send invoices, calculate their sales and transactions and see yearly reports, without the huge cost of accounting software.
Cost: Free, with fees for payment via invoices.
Download for iOS and Android here.
Wave is one of the first freelancing software I discovered. Using it to manage my accounting and send invoices worked really well. It's a great starting point for freelancers to consider when it comes to improving their accounting process, making sure to save valuable monetary information and get clients to pay efficiently. Custom invoices makes the experience even easier to use and track all within Wave too.
26. Xero
Best For: Those looking to go a step further and manage their accounts using accountancy grade software and reconcile bank transactions.
Cost: Free Trial, prices start from $10 per month, peruse.
Download for iOS and Android here.
Xero is a step up, providing its users with the ability to send invoices, reconcile bank transactions, create reports, liaise with accountants and take control of summarised accounts. Many recommend Xero, and it's a favourite within the accounting community, which might make your clients happier when they come to payment.
Communication
Despite being a freelancer or remote worker, there's still a level of communication that you'll need with clients and team members. Being able to chat on your own time, without distractions, makes things so much easier. These are some great tools for connecting!
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27. Twist
Best For: Those fed up with Slack's intensive style of communication or who need to real-time message with team members, mindful of projects.
Cost: Free (limited), $4 per user, per month (annual fee).
Cost: Free (limited), $4 per user, per month (annual fee).
Download for Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android here.
Twist aims to be the mindful communication tool in the team messaging space. Whilst Slack prides itself on being always on; Twist tries to tone down real-time communication with teams by providing a communication platform that respects personal time and starts conversations around threads, versus channels, for smoother consumption. Well worth a try!
Bonus: Check out my video about using Twist here:
28. Zoom
Best For: Those who want smooth, video conferencing one on one.
Cost: Free for personal meetings, varied pricing for teams.
Download for Mac, Windows here.
Zoom is one of the most popular tools for video conferencing. For personal meetings, it's perfect, from hosting 100 participants to the 1:1 conversations, you can have as many calls as you like, both audio and video. Perfect for quick or long conversations.
If you're looking for real customer reviews of Zoom, or to see more options, check out this list of the best video conferencing software.
29. Squadhelp
Best For: Freelancers, startups, small businesses and brands who are trying to name a business or need crowdsourced logos and business name ideas at an affordable price. You can also become a Squadhelp creative and make extra income by participating in a contest.
Cost: Contests start at $199.
If you're a freelancer and need help naming your brand, or ideas for naming your client's brand or product, try Squadhelp. Squadhelp is the world's #1 naming platform, offering agency-level validation services and a diverse, robust group of creatives to supply you with ideas. They also offer a hand-picked selection of premium domains for sale.
Conclusion
All of these tools will help you on your journey as a freelancer and taking advantage of using these applications will save you time, effort and stress.
If you are considering going freelance, check out this guide on how to become a freelance web developer. Already working for yourself? Check out these 6 time management tips for remote workers.
Freelancer App For Pc
We've just launched a brand-new course all about productivity called Essential Productivity Training, if you liked the apps that have been mentioned here, you'll love the course!
Bonus: Check out our favorite productivity podcasts
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