There are tons of various apps for freelancers on the market, so it may be arduous 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 Greatest Apps for Freelancers in 2023 (Free and Paid)
Among the best 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 listing 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 enterprise otherwise you’ve been doing it for some time now, remember to look carefully by way of this listing of apps for freelance work. They’ll assist your enterprise run extra easily and effectively.
Listed here are the very best 25 apps for freelancers this yr.
Greatest Time Administration and Productiveness Apps for Freelancers
First up on this listing are a few of the greatest apps for freelancers who wish to handle their time and productiveness. These are a few of the most essential apps that I at present use or have tried in my enterprise. Should you solely attempt one part of apps on this submit, make it these!
1. Clockify
Clockify is a time monitoring device 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 to be able to see if you happen to’re charging the suitable worth on your work.
If one thing is taking you method longer than you initially thought it might, it is perhaps time to boost your charges. There may be 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 wrestle with staying on prime 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 enterprise or hold all of them collectively. I’ve discovered that having a special calendar for every of my shoppers appears to work greatest for my very own productiveness.
What makes ClickUp higher than different productiveness and undertaking administration apps out there may be that you may get far more out of the free model than different apps. You’ll almost certainly by no means want the paid model except 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 loads just like the reminders or note-taking app in your cellphone, so it’s loads simpler to make use of if you happen to don’t have time to be taught a brand new app.
Todoist was launched again in 2007 however has persistently remained a favorite for job administration. There’s no higher solution to enhance your productiveness as a freelancer than by guaranteeing every part you need to do for the day is clearly outlined and written out someplace.
4. Asana
Asana is without doubt one of the hottest productiveness instruments amongst freelancers, which is why it deserves a spot on this listing of greatest apps for freelancers.
It’s easy to make use of, and you’ll add some customers or company totally free, which may be nice if you should 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 device that will help you plan out content material months prematurely on your shoppers.
5. Toggl
Toggl, though it’s Clockify’s greatest rival, continues to be price mentioning on this listing. They primarily do the identical factor: observe your time.
You’ll be able to add tasks and consumer names, and on the finish of the week, you possibly can verify the charts to see simply how a lot time you spent on every undertaking. 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 favor. As soon as once more, the free model is all you want as a freelancer.
☞ SEE ALSO: 20 Greatest Time Administration Ideas and Instruments For Freelancers
Greatest Well being Apps
As a freelancer, well being is extremely essential. You not have a commute to work the place you may get in some further steps, and also you’ll almost certainly be working from house, which may be difficult with the fridge close by.
Listed here are a few of the prime apps for freelancers that can assist you keep wholesome whereas working from house.
6. Nike Coaching Membership
Try Nike Coaching Membership if you happen to hate developing with your personal exercise routines and would quite somebody simply let you know 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 house. What’s so nice about it’s that there are some exercises the place all you want is your self — no tools mandatory. Though, there may be an choice for workout routines with weights and different tools as nicely.
7. Peloton
Freelancers can simply use Peloton’s exercise app if they’ve a motorbike at house. I’ve lately began utilizing it and I’ve to say that it’s fairly unbelievable.
Not solely does Peloton have cycle exercises, however in addition they have stretching, meditation, and extra. Plus, if you happen to’re a first-time consumer of the app, you may get two months totally free once you join. Should you determine it’s a superb match, you possibly can change to the paid model after the trial for simply $12.99.
8. Yoga for Newcomers
Yoga for Newcomers is without doubt one of the top-rated apps for at-home yoga. Each single exercise is free, so that you gained’t be compelled to begin paying or something.
Yoga is the right solution to begin the day. As a freelancer, I understand how hectic some days may be, particularly if you find yourself with a consumer that’s tough to work with. Yoga will help relieve that stress!
You’ll be able to combine Yoga for Newcomers with Apple Well being you probably have an iPhone or use an Apple Watch. This fashion, you possibly can hold all of your health-related data in a single spot.
9. WHOOP
Overlook Fitbit – WHOOP is the brand new child on the block. This health and well being monitoring band will let you know 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 also be gaining reputation amongst skilled athletes, so you realize it’s one thing price investing in.
As a freelancer, I like with the ability to verify in on how my physique is doing, and WHOOP permits me to take action.
10. My Health Pal
When you’ve in all probability heard of My Health Pal, it’s possible you’ll 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 prime 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 it’s possible you’ll use, just like the Well being app on the iPhone and even Fitbit. It’ll additionally assist you observe the meals you’re consuming in the course of the day, so you possibly can persist with your most well-liked weight-reduction plan/life-style plan.
☞ SEE ALSO: Methods to Keep Wholesome Whereas Working from Dwelling
Greatest Invoicing Apps
As a freelancer, it’s extremely pertinent to remain on prime 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 a few of the prime freelance apps for invoicing.
11. HoneyBook
HoneyBook is very rated and is without doubt one of the greatest apps for freelance jobs. Not like Dubsado (beneath), it has a cellphone software, so you possibly can keep on prime of your entire communication with shoppers as a substitute of getting to verify an internet site day by day.
HoneyBook permits you to arrange recurring invoices for shoppers which will have you ever on retainer, and you’ll customise how a lot every fee is and when it’s due.
Plus, it’ll robotically ship reminders to your shoppers 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 exploit in my very own enterprise. They at present 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 if you happen to prefer it.
12. PayPal
PayPal permits you to arrange and ship invoices to shoppers, however it does take a small share of every bill.
This listing 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 way to use it, they usually 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 part carefully. It sends invoices and is a monetary accounting software program, so if you wish to keep on prime 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 ceaselessly.
Wave has a number of fee plan choices, starting from free to a month-to-month price. Relying on what you intend on utilizing inside Wave, you would possibly get away with simply utilizing the free model!
14. QuickBooks
QuickBooks really among the finest apps for freelancers, and do you know that it additionally has invoicing? You’ll be able to ship invoices on to your prospects by way of it, which generally is a lifesaver if you happen to’re already paying the QuickBooks price.
It’s easy to ship one and is a bit much 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 seen, unopen, is paid, or overdue.
15. Dubsado
Dubsado is a prevalent invoicing software program amongst designers of all kinds. I’ve used Dubsado myself and have thought of switching over, however it may be very time-consuming to arrange.
Not like different invoicing software program, you can also make your invoices personalized to your model inside Dubsado, which is why designers adore it a lot.
Much like HoneyBook, Dubsado can also be an all-in-one consumer administration system. You’ll be able to observe your upcoming session calls, your financials, proposals, and consumer emails multi function place.
Greatest Communication Apps
Staying on prime of consumer communications is without doubt one of the important elements of getting a contract enterprise. Each freelancer has their very own opinion on the way to greatest be in contact with shoppers, however these are a few of the greatest apps on the market for consumer 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 finest 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 form of like a walkie talkie. You’ll be able to ship voice messages and kind messages out, making it straightforward to remain on prime of consumer 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 the very best free app for freelancers if you need fast communication.
17. Gmail
Gmail is a basic 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 form of mail app to remain on prime of all of it.
The Gmail app is free. The one purpose you’d must pay is if you need extra storage or want to make use of your area’s electronic mail deal with, making you look much more skilled to your shoppers.
18. Slack
Slack has shortly change into one of the widespread communication apps as a result of it’s virtually immediate messaging. It’s higher than texting although since you don’t have to provide your consumer your cellphone quantity.
Inside Slack, you possibly can have non-public messages along with your shoppers and have group messages if you happen to’re working with a bigger group.
This can be useful if you happen to’ve began rising your group and you should have one area the place all communication lives.
Slack has completely different pricing tiers, however if you happen to don’t have a big group and aren’t persistently working with a excessive variety of shoppers every month, you may get away with simply utilizing the free model.
19. Zoom
Zoom has boomed into reputation the final yr, and the freelancing area is not any exception.
I exploit Zoom persistently for session calls with new potential shoppers. This fashion, we will briefly meet face-to-face for quarter-hour to see if we is perhaps a superb match for one another.
I’ve discovered that communication can occur much more seamlessly when speaking to somebody (quite than emailing), which is why I like Zoom a lot. You can too combine it with a calendar schedule device that you simply is perhaps utilizing, like Calendly, HoneyBook, or Acuity Scheduling.
20. Loom
Loom is an app that you may 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 ceaselessly getting requested by shoppers the 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 screen and your face concurrently, so you possibly can stroll your shoppers by way of completely something. There’s a paid model, however if you happen to aren’t making movies longer than 5 minutes, the free model ought to work completely.
Out of every part on this entire listing, Loom is really the very best app for freelance work. It’s a hidden gem.
Greatest Group Apps
Time for the very best group apps. Should you aren’t organized inside your freelance enterprise, there isn’t a method that you simply’ll achieve success. I’ll be the primary to let you know that!
21. Google Drive
Google Drive is without doubt one of the greatest free apps for freelancers, though you may get extra storage with the paid model.
Nearly 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 almost certainly 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 shoppers already know the way to use it, so if I share one thing with them, they already know the way to entry it themselves.
This makes it one of many best organizational instruments on the market for client-facing tasks. Plus, if you happen to 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 enterprise you probably have an iPad or one other pill. It’s a note-taking app, however it’s nice for graphic designers as a result of you can even attract it.
There are tons of nice planners that you may buy from Etsy, and even make your personal, to save lots of 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 each time I’m in a consumer 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 consumer conferences or jotting your concepts down once 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 appear to be, which solely provides to the enjoyable.
There are paid variations, however as a freelancer, you possibly can in all probability 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 much 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 if you happen to’re working with an inside group.
There are paid variations of Dropbox, however I’ve been simply tremendous utilizing the free model for the previous eight months. The subsequent tier up is simply $9.99 a month and presents you as much as 2 TB of storage, which is a lot.
25. LastPass
LastPass is without doubt one of the greatest apps for freelancers if you happen to 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 can also make a fast video utilizing Loom (on this listing!) and train your consumer the way to use it seamlessly.
LastPass is a Google Chrome app and can be downloaded in your cellphone to be able to log in to something cellular. Oh, and did I point out it’s free?
Bonus: Greatest Apps for Discovering Freelance Work
One other class of apps for freelance work are those that assist you discover gigs. Should you’re new to freelancing, then take a look at this text I wrote that describes all the very best freelancer apps for searching for work: 15 Greatest Freelance Web sites for Newcomers.
Two of the very best apps for freelancers to seek out work are Upwork and Fivver. I wrote an article for every detailing how they operate and who they’re greatest for. Verify them out right here:
On the lookout for Extra Freelance Articles?
FAQs Concerning the Greatest Freelancer Apps
Have a query about the very best apps for freelance work? Learn on for solutions to some ceaselessly requested questions.
Apps which might be helpful for freelancers embody administration and productiveness apps resembling Clockify, invoicing apps resembling HoneyBook, communication apps resembling Voxer, and group apps like Google Drive.
In my view, Upwork is the very best website for locating freelance work. Fivver is an in depth second.
Fivver is best 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 gives.
Freelancing can undoubtedly be hectic. The very best apps for freelance work will help with that. Productiveness apps can hold you on-task, time-management apps can hold you working effectively, and invoicing apps can hold your funds organized.
Now You Know the Greatest Apps for Freelancers
It’s crucial for freelancers to remain on prime of every part 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 shoppers than by using the apps and packages on this listing — they’ll change your enterprise for the higher.
Like This Article? Pin It!
