There are tons of various apps for freelancers on the market, so it may be arduous to separate the nice ones from the unhealthy ones.
I’ve been freelancing full-time since 2019 and have been freelancing as a aspect hustle for lots longer than that. With out a few of these useful apps for freelancers, my enterprise really wouldn’t be what it’s at this time.
However earlier than we get into the everyday instruments, I ought to point out the place numerous my very own shopper work comes from: Upwork. It’s the place I’ve landed lots of my freelance writing and social media purchasers, and it’s a good way to search out work with out counting on chilly outreach.
I’ll cowl it in additional element later, however in case you’re simply beginning out, it’s properly value having in your toolkit from day one.
25 Finest Apps for Freelancers (Free and Paid)
Among the best methods for freelancers to handle their time is by using free and paid digital purposes to assist them run their enterprise extra easily.
I’ve divided this checklist of greatest freelancer apps into these classes: time administration and productiveness apps, well being apps, invoicing apps, communication apps, and group apps.
Whether or not you’re simply beginning your online business otherwise you’ve been doing it for some time now, make sure to look carefully by means of this checklist of apps for freelance work. They’ll assist your online business run extra easily and effectively.
Listed here are the very best 25 apps for freelancers this 12 months.
Finest Time Administration and Productiveness Apps for Freelancers
First up on this checklist are a number of the greatest apps for freelancers who wish to handle their time and productiveness. These are a number of the most vital apps that I presently use or have tried in my enterprise. When you solely attempt one part of apps on this put up, make it these!
SEE ALSO: 15 Finest Freelance Writing Programs On-line
1. Clockify
Clockify is a time monitoring software that’s excellent whether or not you cost hourly or not. I’ve used it for fairly a couple of hourly tasks, however I nonetheless discover myself monitoring time only for myself since switching to project-based pricing.
That is important as a way to see in case you’re charging the suitable value on your work.
If one thing is taking you means longer than you initially thought it might, it is perhaps time to boost your charges. There’s each a paid and free model of Clockify, however as a freelancer, the free model is all you’ll want to trace time.
2. ClickUp
Subsequent up: ClickUp. When you wrestle with staying on high of all of your tasks, then that is the app for you.
You may create separate workspaces for every a part of your online business or preserve all of them collectively. I’ve discovered that having a distinct calendar for every of my purchasers appears to work greatest for my very own productiveness.
What makes ClickUp higher than different productiveness and venture administration apps out there’s that you may get far more out of the free model than different apps. You’ll most probably by no means want the paid model until you begin rising your group and want so as to add extra customers.
3. Todoist
Todoist is a extra easy productiveness app that many freelancers use and closely depend on. It really works lots just like the reminders or note-taking app in your telephone, so it’s lots simpler to make use of in case you don’t have time to be taught a brand new app.
Todoist was launched again in 2007 however has constantly remained a favorite for process administration. There’s no higher solution to enhance your productiveness as a freelancer than by making certain every thing it’s important to do for the day is clearly outlined and written out someplace.
SEE ALSO: Knowadays Freelance Author Course – Is It Legit?
4. Asana
Asana is likely one of the hottest productiveness instruments amongst freelancers, which is why it deserves a spot on this checklist of greatest apps for freelancers.
It’s easy to make use of, and you’ll add some customers or friends free of charge, which could be nice if it is advisable talk with purchasers or group members.
They’re all the time updating the app, with new options rolling out nearly each different month. The free model is ideal for freelancers. When you’re a social media supervisor, Asana is a superb software that will help you plan out content material months upfront on your purchasers.
5. Toggl
Toggl, though it’s Clockify’s greatest rival, remains to be value mentioning on this checklist. They primarily do the identical factor: monitor your time.
You may add tasks and shopper names, and on the finish of the week, you possibly can test the charts to see simply how a lot time you spent on every venture. That is nice so that you can reassess and consider the place your time is being spent.
When you’re searching for a time monitoring app, I recommend spending one week on Toggl and one week on Clockify to see which interface you favor. As soon as once more, the free model is all you want as a freelancer.
☞ SEE ALSO: 20 Finest Time Administration Suggestions and Instruments For Freelancers
Finest Well being Apps
As a freelancer, well being is extremely vital. You not have a commute to work the place you will get in some further steps, and also you’ll most probably be working from residence, which could be difficult with the fridge close by.
Listed here are a number of the high apps for freelancers that can assist you keep wholesome whereas working from residence.
6. Nike Coaching Membership
Try Nike Coaching Membership in case you hate arising with your personal exercise routines and would somewhat somebody simply inform you exactly what to do.
I’ve been utilizing this app for greater than ten years now, and it’s stuffed with tons of various trainings.
The free model is all you’ll have to work out from residence. What’s so nice about it’s that there are some exercises the place all you want is your self — no gear vital. Though, there’s an choice for workouts with weights and different gear as properly.
7. Peloton
Freelancers can simply use Peloton’s exercise app if they’ve a motorcycle at residence. I’ve just lately began utilizing it and I’ve to say that it’s fairly unimaginable.
Not solely does Peloton have cycle exercises, however additionally they have stretching, meditation, and extra. Plus, in case you’re a first-time consumer of the app, you will get two months free of charge whenever you enroll. When you resolve it’s a very good match, you possibly can change to the paid model after the trial for simply $12.99.
8. Yoga for Newcomers
Yoga for Newcomers is likely one of the top-rated apps for at-home yoga. Each single exercise is free, so that you gained’t be compelled to start out paying or something.
Yoga is the right solution to begin the day. As a freelancer, I understand how disturbing some days could be, particularly if you find yourself with a shopper that’s troublesome to work with. Yoga may also help relieve that stress!
You may combine Yoga for Newcomers with Apple Well being you probably have an iPhone or use an Apple Watch. This fashion, you possibly can preserve all of your health-related info in a single spot.
9. WHOOP
Neglect Fitbit – WHOOP is the brand new child on the block. This health and well being monitoring band will inform you far more about your physiological state than different bands available on the market will.
Plus, there are all kinds of straps that you may change out to match no matter temper you’re in that day.
Earlier than paying to change into a member, you possibly can have a free one-month trial. This model can be gaining recognition amongst skilled athletes, so you realize it’s one thing value investing in.
As a freelancer, I like having the ability to test in on how my physique is doing, and WHOOP permits me to take action.
10. My Health Pal
Whilst you’ve most likely heard of My Health Pal, chances are you’ll not have realized how useful it may be for freelancers. Since freelancers are all the time working remotely, it may be difficult to remain wholesome and keep on high of the meals and elements we’re consuming.
That’s why My Health Pal is so useful. You may join it to different apps chances are you’ll use, just like the Well being app on the iPhone and even Fitbit. It’ll additionally assist you monitor the meals you’re consuming in the course of the day, so you possibly can stick with your most well-liked food regimen/way of life plan.
☞ SEE ALSO: The best way to Keep Wholesome Whereas Working from Residence
Finest Invoicing Apps
As a freelancer, it’s extremely pertinent to remain on high of invoicing. You want to have the ability to monitor if fee has been made, if it’s late, or if it’s overdue. You additionally want a dependable platform to ship invoices on within the first place.
Listed here are a number of the high freelance apps for invoicing.
11. HoneyBook
HoneyBook is extremely rated and is likely one of the greatest apps for freelance jobs. In contrast to Dubsado (beneath), it has a telephone software, so you possibly can keep on high of your entire communication with purchasers as an alternative of getting to test a web site day by day.
HoneyBook lets you arrange recurring invoices for purchasers that will have you ever on retainer, and you’ll customise how a lot every fee is and when it’s due.
Plus, it should routinely ship reminders to your purchasers in your behalf, so that you don’t have to trace funds as carefully as you might need to with different invoicing software program.
HoneyBook is what I take advantage of in my very own enterprise. They presently have a deal the place you solely need to pay $1 a month on your first two months with them! It’s a good way to see in case you prefer it.
12. PayPal
PayPal lets you arrange and ship invoices to purchasers, nevertheless it does take a small share of every bill.
This checklist of greatest apps for freelancers wouldn’t be full with out together with good ol’ PayPal. As a result of PayPal is so trusted by customers worldwide (particularly as a result of it’s used on Shopify web sites), purchasers already know the right way to use it, and so they belief it.
Whereas I take advantage of HoneyBook for my social media administration and graphic design providers, I take advantage of PayPal for all my freelance writing gigs. It’s easy, straightforward to make use of, and you’ll ship an bill in minutes.
13. Wave
Wave is a top-rated invoicing app amongst freelancers, particularly those that like to trace every thing carefully. It sends invoices and is a monetary accounting software program, so if you wish to keep on high of your numbers, that is the right app for you.
Many freelancers love Wave as a result of it additionally integrates seamlessly with different apps. You may join it with Sq., Stripe, Shopify, QuickBooks, HubSpot, MailChimp, Calendly, Acuity… just about all of the apps that freelancers use continuously.
Wave has a number of fee plan choices, starting from free to a month-to-month payment. Relying on what you intend on utilizing inside Wave, you may get away with simply utilizing the free model!
14. QuickBooks
QuickBooks really the most effective apps for freelancers, and do you know that it additionally has invoicing? You may ship invoices on to your prospects by means of it, which generally is a lifesaver in case you’re already paying the QuickBooks payment.
It’s easy to ship one and is a bit much like PayPal in that means.
What’s so nice about QuickBooks is you may also see your bill’s standing at any time. This implies you possibly can monitor whether or not an bill has been seen, unopen, is paid, or overdue.
15. Dubsado
Dubsado is a prevalent invoicing software program amongst designers of every type. I’ve used Dubsado myself and have thought of switching over, however it may be very time-consuming to arrange.
In contrast to different invoicing software program, you may make your invoices personalized to your model inside Dubsado, which is why designers find it irresistible a lot.
Just like HoneyBook, Dubsado can be an all-in-one shopper administration system. You may monitor your upcoming session calls, your financials, proposals, and shopper emails multi functional place.
Finest Communication Apps
Staying on high of shopper communications is likely one of the important elements of getting a contract enterprise. Each freelancer has their very own opinion on the right way to greatest keep up a correspondence with purchasers, however these are a number of the greatest apps on the market for shopper communication.
16. Voxer
First up: Voxer. This app isn’t well-known however has just lately began to make waves within the on-line enterprise group, making it the most effective apps for freelance jobs.
Whereas the corporate opened in 2007, I hadn’t even heard of Voxer till a couple of years in the past.
Consider it as sort of like a walkie talkie. You may ship voice messages and kind messages out, making it straightforward to remain on high of shopper communication.
Many freelancers use Voxer to host workplace hours with their purchasers as a result of it’s straightforward to reply with a voice message.
Plus, the private plan of Voxer is free! That is the very best free app for freelancers if you’d like fast communication.
17. Gmail
Gmail is a traditional communication app that shouldn’t be ignored. Purchasers are all the time sending emails, typically even a number of inside a day to you, and also you’ll have to just remember to have some kind of mail app to remain on high of all of it.
The Gmail app is free. The one cause you’d need to pay is if you’d like extra storage or want to make use of your area’s electronic mail tackle, making you look much more skilled to your purchasers.
18. Slack
Slack has shortly change into one of the standard communication apps as a result of it’s virtually on the spot messaging. It’s higher than texting although since you don’t have to offer your shopper your telephone quantity.
Inside Slack, you possibly can have non-public messages along with your purchasers and have group messages in case you’re working with a bigger group.
This may also be useful in case you’ve began rising your group and it is advisable have one area the place all communication lives.
Slack has completely different pricing tiers, however in case you don’t have a big group and aren’t constantly working with a excessive variety of purchasers every month, you will get away with simply utilizing the free model.
19. Zoom
Zoom has boomed into recognition the final 12 months, and the freelancing area isn’t any exception.
I take advantage of Zoom constantly for session calls with new potential purchasers. This fashion, we will briefly meet face-to-face for quarter-hour to see if we is perhaps a very good match for one another.
I’ve discovered that communication can occur much more seamlessly when speaking to somebody (somewhat than emailing), which is why I like Zoom a lot. It’s also possible to combine it with a calendar schedule software that you simply is perhaps utilizing, like Calendly, HoneyBook, or Acuity Scheduling.
20. Loom
Loom is an app that you may connect with Google Chrome and use to ship video tutorials to purchasers. Whilst you can merely ship over a written-out tutorial, I discover that it’s a lot simpler to ship a video tutorial.
As a freelancer, I’m continuously getting requested by purchasers the right way to do one thing. It could actually even be one thing so simple as including me as an Admin to their Fb Web page in order that I can monitor their analytics from month to month.
Inside Loom, you possibly can file your display screen and your face concurrently, so you possibly can stroll your purchasers by means of completely something. There’s a paid model, however in case you aren’t making movies longer than 5 minutes, the free model ought to work completely.
Out of every thing on this entire checklist, Loom is really the very best app for freelance work. It’s a hidden gem.
Finest Group Apps
Time for the very best group apps. When you aren’t organized inside your freelance enterprise, there isn’t any means that you simply’ll achieve success. I’ll be the primary to inform you that!
21. Google Drive
Google Drive is likely one of the greatest free apps for freelancers, though you will get extra storage with the paid model.
Virtually everybody makes use of Google or its apps day by day. Whether or not you’re looking the web or checking your electronic mail, you’re most probably utilizing Google.
As a result of so many individuals use Google, I can’t advocate sufficient that you simply make the most of Google Drive for storage. I’ve discovered that purchasers already know the right way to use it, so if I share one thing with them, they already know the right way to entry it themselves.
This makes it one of many best organizational instruments on the market for client-facing tasks. Plus, in case you gained’t be utilizing a ton of storage otherwise you’re a newbie, you possibly can simply use the free model of it.
22. Goodnotes
Tou ought to completely make the most of Goodnotes in your online business you probably have an iPad or one other pill. It’s a note-taking app, nevertheless it’s nice for graphic designers as a result of you may also attract it.
There are tons of nice planners that you may buy from Etsy, and even make your personal, to avoid wasting paper and have a digital planner too. I just lately began doing this in my very own enterprise, and it’s saved me very up to the mark!
I additionally whip out my Goodnotes app every time I’m in a shopper assembly as a result of it’s simply really easy to take notes.
23. Evernote
Evernote is one other note-taking app that’s excellent for shopper conferences or jotting your concepts down whenever you’re in a rush. As with the Clockify vs Toggle debate, Evernote and Goodnotes are related, but have completely different interfaces.
There are tons of various pens and markers that you may make your Apple Pen seem like, which solely provides to the enjoyable.
There are paid variations, however as a freelancer, you possibly can most likely simply use the free model.
24. Dropbox
I a lot want Dropbox to Google Drive for organizing my very own paperwork, though Google Drive is great for client-facing tasks and sharing paperwork with individuals you’re working with.
Inside Dropbox, you may also now use Paper Docs, that are much like Google Docs. You may write phrase paperwork and hyperlink them to your different Dropbox paperwork, making it nice to make use of in case you’re working with an inside group.
There are paid variations of Dropbox, however I’ve been simply positive utilizing the free model for the previous eight months. The following tier up is barely $9.99 a month and presents you as much as 2 TB of storage, which is a lot.
25. LastPass
LastPass is likely one of the greatest apps for freelancers in case you constantly share passwords along with your group or purchasers. As a social media supervisor, I take advantage of LastPass to obtain and retailer social media logins from my purchasers safely.
Whereas it may be a bit troublesome on your purchasers to make use of in the event that they haven’t ever used it earlier than, you may make a fast video utilizing Loom (on this checklist!) and educate your shopper the right way to use it seamlessly.
LastPass is a Google Chrome app and may also be downloaded in your telephone as a way to log in to something cellular. Oh, and did I point out it’s free?
Bonus: Finest App for Discovering Freelance Work
When you’ve received your programs in place, the larger problem is usually discovering your subsequent shopper. For me, that’s the place Upwork is available in. It helps you to create a profile, apply for jobs from companies already trying to rent, and handle every thing from contracts to funds in a single place.
I’ve discovered lots of my freelance writing and social media purchasers by means of the platform, and it’s one of many first locations I’d advocate new freelancers begin searching for work.
When you’d prefer to be taught extra, I’ve written a full information on how Upwork works and who it’s greatest fitted to: The best way to Make Cash on Upwork: An Skilled’s Overview.
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FAQs Concerning the Finest Freelancer Apps
Have a query about the very best apps for freelance work? Learn on for solutions to some continuously requested questions.
Apps which are helpful for freelancers embody administration and productiveness apps reminiscent of Clockify, invoicing apps reminiscent of HoneyBook, communication apps reminiscent of Voxer, and group apps like Google Drive.
In my view, Upwork is the very best web site for locating freelance work.
Fivver is healthier for smaller, sooner tasks. As a result of most of my freelance work is extra difficult, I personally use and like Upwork extra.
In some methods it’s, however I feel its benefits outweigh the disadvantages. I like the versatile schedule and alternatives for creativity that freelancing offers.
Freelancing can undoubtedly be disturbing. One of the best apps for freelance work may also help with that. Productiveness apps can preserve you on-task, time-management apps can preserve you working effectively, and invoicing apps can preserve your funds organized.
Now You Know the Finest Apps for Freelancers
It’s crucial for freelancers to remain on high of every thing since you’re working for your self. Oftentimes, freelancers are groups of only one, like me.
There’s no higher solution to keep organized, productive, and talk along with your purchasers than by using the apps and applications on this checklist — they’ll change your online business for the higher.
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