There are tons of various apps for freelancers on the market, so it may be laborious to separate the great ones from the dangerous ones.
I’ve been freelancing full-time since 2019 and have been freelancing as a facet 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 the moment.
25 Finest Apps for Freelancers in 2023 (Free and Paid)
The most effective methods for freelancers to handle their time is by using free and paid digital functions to assist them run their enterprise extra easily.
I’ve divided this record 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 in your online business otherwise you’ve been doing it for some time now, be sure you look carefully by means of this record of apps for freelance work. They’ll assist your online business run extra easily and effectively.
Listed here are one of the best 25 apps for freelancers this yr.
Finest Time Administration and Productiveness Apps for Freelancers
First up on this record are among the greatest apps for freelancers who wish to handle their time and productiveness. These are among the most necessary apps that I at the moment use or have tried in my enterprise. Should you solely strive one part of apps on this publish, make it these!
1. Clockify
Clockify is a time monitoring instrument that’s good whether or not you cost hourly or not. I’ve used it for fairly just a few 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 when you’re charging the best worth on your work.
If one thing is taking you method longer than you initially thought it might, it may be 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. Should you battle with staying on high of all of your tasks, then that is the app for you.
You’ll be able to create separate workspaces for every a part of your online business or maintain all of them collectively. I’ve discovered that having a distinct calendar for every of my shoppers appears to work greatest for my very own productiveness.
What makes ClickUp higher than different productiveness and mission administration apps out there’s which you could 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 wish 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 when you don’t have time to study a brand new app.
Todoist was launched again in 2007 however has persistently remained a favorite for activity administration. There’s no higher method to enhance your productiveness as a freelancer than by making certain every little thing it’s important to do for the day is clearly outlined and written out someplace.
4. Asana
Asana is likely one of the hottest productiveness instruments amongst freelancers, which is why it deserves a spot on this record of greatest apps for freelancers.
It’s easy to make use of, and you’ll add some customers or company at no cost, which may be nice if you have to talk with shoppers or group members.
They’re at all times updating the app, with new options rolling out virtually each different month. The free model is ideal for freelancers. Should you’re a social media supervisor, Asana is a good instrument that will help you plan out content material months prematurely on your shoppers.
5. Toggl
Toggl, though it’s Clockify’s largest rival, remains to be price mentioning on this record. They primarily do the identical factor: observe your time.
You’ll be able to 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 mission. That is nice so that you can reassess and consider the place your time is being spent.
Should 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 like. As soon as once more, the free model is all you want as a freelancer.
☞ SEE ALSO: 20 Finest Time Administration Ideas and Instruments For Freelancers
Finest Well being Apps
As a freelancer, well being is extremely necessary. You not have a commute to work the place you will get in some additional steps, and also you’ll most probably be working from residence, which may be difficult with the fridge close by.
Listed here are among the high apps for freelancers that can enable you to keep wholesome whereas working from residence.
6. Nike Coaching Membership
Try Nike Coaching Membership when you hate arising with your individual exercise routines and would fairly 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 must 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 essential. 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 motorbike at residence. I’ve 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, when you’re a first-time person of the app, you will get two months at no cost if you join. Should you determine it’s match, you possibly can swap to the paid model after the trial for simply $12.99.
8. Yoga for Freshmen
Yoga for Freshmen is likely one of the top-rated apps for at-home yoga. Each single exercise is free, so that you received’t be pressured to begin paying or something.
Yoga is the right method to begin the day. As a freelancer, I understand how nerve-racking some days may be, particularly if you find yourself with a shopper that’s tough to work with. Yoga might help relieve that stress!
You’ll be able to combine Yoga for Freshmen with Apple Well being when you have an iPhone or use an Apple Watch. This manner, you possibly can maintain 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 in the marketplace will.
Plus, there are all kinds of straps which you could swap out to match no matter temper you’re in that day.
Earlier than paying to grow to be a member, you possibly can have a free one-month trial. This model can also be gaining reputation amongst skilled athletes, so you already know it’s one thing price investing in.
As a freelancer, I like with the ability to test in on how my physique is doing, and WHOOP permits me to take action.
10. My Health Pal
When you’ve most likely heard of My Health Pal, you might not have realized how useful it may be for freelancers. Since freelancers are at all times working remotely, it may be difficult to remain wholesome and keep on high of the meals and substances we’re consuming.
That’s why My Health Pal is so useful. You’ll be able to join it to different apps you might use, just like the Well being app on the iPhone and even Fitbit. It’ll additionally enable you to observe the meals you’re consuming in the course of the day, so you possibly can stick with your most well-liked eating regimen/way of life plan.
☞ SEE ALSO: How you can 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 observe 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 among 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 (under), it has a telephone software, so you possibly can keep on high of all your communication with shoppers as a substitute of getting to test a web site every single day.
HoneyBook permits you to arrange recurring invoices for shoppers 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 shoppers in your behalf, so that you don’t have to trace funds as carefully as you may need to with different invoicing software program.
HoneyBook is what I exploit in my very own enterprise. They at the moment have a deal the place you solely must pay $1 a month on your first two months with them! It’s an effective way to see when you prefer it.
12. PayPal
PayPal permits you to arrange and ship invoices to shoppers, nevertheless it does take a small share of every bill.
This record 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 shoppers worldwide (particularly as a result of it’s used on Shopify web sites), shoppers already know the right way to use it, and so they belief it.
Whereas I exploit HoneyBook for my social media administration and graphic design companies, I exploit 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 little 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’ll be able to join it with Sq., Stripe, Shopify, QuickBooks, HubSpot, MailChimp, Calendly, Acuity… just about all of the apps that freelancers use regularly.
Wave has a number of fee plan choices, starting from free to a month-to-month payment. Relying on what you propose on utilizing inside Wave, you may get away with simply utilizing the free model!
14. QuickBooks
QuickBooks really among the best apps for freelancers, and do you know that it additionally has invoicing? You’ll be able to ship invoices on to your clients by means of it, which is usually a lifesaver when you’re already paying the QuickBooks payment.
It’s easy to ship one and is a bit just like PayPal in that method.
What’s so nice about QuickBooks is you can even see your bill’s standing at any time. This implies you possibly can observe whether or not an bill has been considered, unopen, is paid, or overdue.
15. Dubsado
Dubsado is a prevalent invoicing software program amongst designers of every kind. I’ve used Dubsado myself and have thought-about 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 like it a lot.
Just like HoneyBook, Dubsado can also be an all-in-one shopper administration system. You’ll be able to observe your upcoming session calls, your financials, proposals, and shopper emails multi function 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 shoppers, however these are among the greatest apps on the market for shopper communication.
16. Voxer
First up: Voxer. This app isn’t well-known however has lately began to make waves within the on-line enterprise neighborhood, making it among the best apps for freelance jobs.
Whereas the corporate opened in 2007, I hadn’t even heard of Voxer till just a few years in the past.
Consider it as sort of like a walkie talkie. You’ll be able to 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 shoppers as a result of it’s straightforward to reply with a voice message.
Plus, the private plan of Voxer is free! That is one of the best free app for freelancers if you would like fast communication.
17. Gmail
Gmail is a traditional communication app that shouldn’t be missed. Shoppers are at all times sending emails, generally even a number of inside a day to you, and also you’ll must just be sure you have some type of mail app to remain on high of all of it.
The Gmail app is free. The one cause you’d must pay is if you would like extra storage or want to make use of your area’s e-mail tackle, making you look much more skilled to your shoppers.
18. Slack
Slack has shortly grow to be some of the widespread 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 present your shopper your telephone quantity.
Inside Slack, you possibly can have non-public messages along with your shoppers and have group messages when you’re working with a bigger group.
This may also be useful when you’ve began rising your group and you have to have one house the place all communication lives.
Slack has totally different pricing tiers, however when you don’t have a big group and aren’t persistently working with a excessive variety of shoppers every month, you will get away with simply utilizing the free model.
19. Zoom
Zoom has boomed into reputation the final yr, and the freelancing house isn’t any exception.
I exploit Zoom persistently for session calls with new potential shoppers. This manner, we will briefly meet face-to-face for quarter-hour to see if we may be match for one another.
I’ve discovered that communication can occur much more seamlessly when speaking to somebody (fairly than emailing), which is why I like Zoom a lot. You too can combine it with a calendar schedule instrument that you just may be utilizing, like Calendly, HoneyBook, or Acuity Scheduling.
20. Loom
Loom is an app which you could hook up with Google Chrome and use to ship video tutorials to shoppers. When 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 regularly getting requested by shoppers the right way to do one thing. It might even be one thing so simple as including me as an Admin to their Fb Web page in order that I can observe their analytics from month to month.
Inside Loom, you possibly can document your display and your face concurrently, so you possibly can stroll your shoppers by means of completely something. There’s a paid model, however when you aren’t making movies longer than 5 minutes, the free model ought to work completely.
Out of every little thing on this complete record, Loom is really one of the best app for freelance work. It’s a hidden gem.
Finest Group Apps
Time for one of the best group apps. Should you aren’t organized inside your freelance enterprise, there isn’t any method that you just’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 every single day. Whether or not you’re looking the web or checking your e-mail, you’re most probably utilizing Google.
As a result of so many individuals use Google, I can’t suggest sufficient that you just make the most of Google Drive for storage. I’ve discovered that shoppers 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, when you received’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 when you 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 can even attract it.
There are tons of nice planners which you could buy from Etsy, and even make your individual, to avoid wasting paper and have a digital planner too. I lately began doing this in my very own enterprise, and it’s stored me very up to the mark!
I additionally whip out my Goodnotes app at any time when 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 good for shopper conferences or jotting your concepts down if you’re in a rush. As with the Clockify vs Toggle debate, Evernote and Goodnotes are related, but have totally different interfaces.
There are tons of various pens and markers which you could make your Apple Pen appear 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 desire Dropbox to Google Drive for organizing my very own paperwork, though Google Drive is superb for client-facing tasks and sharing paperwork with folks you’re working with.
Inside Dropbox, you can even now use Paper Docs, that are just like Google Docs. You’ll be able to write phrase paperwork and hyperlink them to your different Dropbox paperwork, making it nice to make use of when you’re working with an inside group.
There are paid variations of Dropbox, however I’ve been simply wonderful utilizing the free model for the previous eight months. The following tier up is simply $9.99 a month and affords you as much as 2 TB of storage, which is a lot.
25. LastPass
LastPass is likely one of the greatest apps for freelancers when you persistently share passwords along with your group or shoppers. As a social media supervisor, I exploit LastPass to obtain and retailer social media logins from my shoppers safely.
Whereas it may be a bit tough on your shoppers 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 record!) and train 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 Apps for Discovering Freelance Work
One other class of apps for freelance work are those that enable you to discover gigs. Should you’re new to freelancing, then take a look at this text I wrote that describes all one of the best freelancer apps for searching for work: 15 Finest Freelance Web sites for Freshmen.
Two of one of the best apps for freelancers to search out work are Upwork and Fivver. I wrote an article for every detailing how they operate and who they’re greatest for. Examine them out right here:
In search of Extra Freelance Articles?
FAQs Concerning the Finest Freelancer Apps
Have a query about one of the best apps for freelance work? Learn on for solutions to some regularly requested questions.
Apps which might be 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 one of the best website for locating freelance work. Fivver is a detailed second.
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 supplies.
Freelancing can undoubtedly be nerve-racking. The perfect apps for freelance work might help with that. Productiveness apps can maintain you on-task, time-management apps can maintain you working effectively, and invoicing apps can maintain your funds organized.
Now You Know the Finest Apps for Freelancers
It’s crucial for freelancers to remain on high of every little thing since you’re working for your self. Oftentimes, freelancers are groups of only one, like me.
There’s no higher method to keep organized, productive, and talk along with your shoppers than by using the apps and packages on this record — they’ll change your online business for the higher.
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