While being a freelancer means enjoying flexibility in your work, it also comes with its worries—managing multiple deadlines, tracking many projects simultaneously, and finding a little time for yourself.
Productivity management apps can be an excellent investment. They help you reach your productivity goals by automating several small or mundane tasks, helping you avoid burnout.
Whether you are just starting or are a seasoned professional, the right productivity tools can make a difference.
But which ones to pick? This article will help you find the right productivity app to change how you freelance forever. 🧑💻
10 Best Productivity Apps for Freelancers in 2024
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat Should You Look for In Productivity Apps for Freelancers?
Project management tools can help you manage work better and simplify your life. However, finding the perfect productivity tool can be confusing. 😣
To simplify your decision-making process, consider these essential elements when searching for a truly transformative tool:
- Time monitoring capability: Your tool must have a time monitoring capability to plan work, set up schedules, and simplify billables based on hourly work
- Compatibility: Check compatibility with major apps, such as Microsoft Word, Google Docs, etc., that are important for your business
- Project progress: Ensure your productivity app is equipped with essential project management software to let you track the progress of your projects
- Mobile accessibility: Prioritize a productivity app that comes with a handy mobile version so you can access it even when on the move
- Cost consideration: Lastly, ensure that the cost of using and maintaining the application justifies the benefits it provides you
Considering these factors and freelancing hacks, you can pick the best productivity app suited for your needs.
Summarize this article for me pleaseThe 10 Best Productivity Apps for Freelancers to Use in 2024
Here are the top 10 project management apps for freelancers that outperform all others with their unique productivity hacks.
Find their distinguishing features, pricing models, and ratings listed below. 👇
1. ClickUp
ClickUp is a versatile platform that enhances freelance project management with customizable views like Kanban boards, calendars, and Gantt charts with the help of 15+ ClickUp Views.
It merges tasks, documents, goals, and communication into a single interface, drastically reducing the need for multiple apps and streamlining the workflow.
ClickUp features built-in time tracking and comprehensive reporting for monitoring productivity and project hours.
ClickUp also allows you to manage your pipeline, create custom dashboards, and add collaborators to your workspace to help you multitask better.
Useful tools like Calendar View simplify deadline management with drag-and-drop functionality. ClickUp Brain boosts productivity by aiding in idea generation and task management.
💡 Pro tip: Leverage ClickUp’s Freelancer Templates and ClickUp’s Work to Do Templates for immediate assistance with contracts, invoicing, graphic design, task prioritization, project organization, and visual progress tracking using Kanban boards or Gantt charts.
With ClickUp’s Work To Do Template:
- Easily prioritize tasks by importance, effort, or urgency
- Organize projects into neat lists with subtasks and due dates
- Keep an eye on progress with handy Kanban boards or Gantt charts
Whether flying solo or part of a big team, this template is your ticket to staying organized and boosting productivity.
ClickUp best features:
- ClickUp Tasks: Easily track each task’s progress to ensure timely completion and team alignment with ClickUp Task
- ClickUp Docs: Collaborate in real-time on cloud-based documents for company and project details with the help of ClickUp Docs
- ClickUp Goals: Track business metrics and achievements effectively
- ClickUp Mind Maps: Develop and visualize ideas with custom or task-based mind maps
- Priorities: Categorize tasks by urgency to help you stay focused on the right things
- Mobile apps: Manage tasks and notes anywhere with iOS and Android apps
- ClickUp Brain: Automate tasks, summarize notes, and set reminders using AI
ClickUp limitations:
- While ClickUp presents a learning curve, dedicating time to understand its functionalities early on facilitates a smoother, more efficient workflow in the long run
ClickUp pricing:
- Free: Forever
- Unlimited: $7/member/month
- Business: $12/member/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
- ClickUp Brain: Add to any paid plan for $5 per Workspace member per month
ClickUp ratings and reviews:
- G2: 4.7/5 (2,000+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (2,000+ reviews)
2. Google Keep
Perfect for personal productivity, Google Keep streamlines your creative process by allowing you to capture thoughts, images, and audio on the go.
It centralizes all your ideas and tasks in one accessible location and syncs across devices to ensure you never lose essential insights or forget tasks.
It offers time-based reminders to keep priority tasks on track. With its intuitive filtering system, you can quickly find specific notes by color codes, images, or reminders, enhancing your ability to organize and execute freelance projects efficiently.
Google Keep best features:
- Access, create, and edit notes on the go from your computer, phone, or tablet, even without internet connectivity
- Enjoy real-time collaboration as the to-dos get ticked off for all to see
- Filter notes based on colors, audio, and images to sort tasks quickly
- Stay true to your work ethic and productivity plan with time-based reminders
- Seamlessly integrate with other Google services like Docs, Sheets, and Slides for a unified productivity suite
- Use voice notes for quick note-taking or reminders on the go
- Pin important notes to the top for easy access
- Use location-based reminders for tasks that need to be done at specific places
Google Keep limitations:
- Limited formatting options for detailed note structuring
- Basic note organization without hierarchical folders or notebooks
- Features may be too basic for power users seeking extensive project management capabilities
Google Keep pricing:
- Free: Forever
Google Keep ratings and reviews:
- G2: Not enough reviews
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (170+ reviews)
3. Revolancer
Revolancer (currently being updated) is a platform explicitly designed for freelancers to connect, collaborate, and expand their client base. It offers an opportunity to discover top-ranking gigs that align with your skills and experience.
The platform’s unique exchange model allows freelancers to outsource tasks among themselves, fostering a collaborative community.
This system enhances workflow efficiency and helps build a network of reliable professionals, making it an invaluable tool for freelancers seeking to grow their businesses and diversify their services.
Revolancer best features:
- Find new work and meet fellow freelancers on this marketplace
- Exchange services to allow collaboration with other freelancers
- Get access to portfolio-building opportunities within the platform
- Customizable profiles to showcase your work and attract potential clients
- Advanced search filters to quickly find projects suited to your skills
- Community forums for sharing tips, advice, and networking with peers
Revolanecer limitation:
- There is no possibility to create a template proposal for sending prospective clients
- User interface and experience can vary, with some finding it less intuitive
- Reviews and rating systems are still evolving, which can impact trust for new users
Revolancer pricing:
- Free: Forever
Revolancer rating:
- G2: Not enough reviews
- Capterra: Not enough reviews
4. Grammarly
Grammarly is a renowned tool for adding finesse to each word you write. Whether you’re working on a critical project or communicating regularly with your clients, Grammarly helps you produce error-free and precise work every time.
With tonality and AI suggestions in Grammarly, the tool ensures you’re neither stuck, incorrect, or under-confident with your writing. You can also integrate Grammarly with Gmail, Microsoft Word, and Google Docs.
Grammarly best features:
- Enjoy error-free writing with real-time corrections
- Improve clarity and tone in communications with sentence rephrasing and tone guidance
- Works with Gmail, Microsoft Word, and Google Docs
- Ensure a uniform brand voice with the Enterprise module
Grammarly limitations:
- Grammarly sometimes does not understand the intent of the writer and provides irrelevant suggestions
- The users have to change all the errors manually
Grammarly pricing:
- Free: Forever
- Premium: $30/month
- Business: $25/month
Grammarly ratings and reviews:
- G2: 4.7/5 (8,400+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.8/5 (7,000+ reviews)
5. Todoist
Todoist organizes workflows with structured to-do lists and automatic task sorting, enhancing clarity and productivity. It supports secure collaboration and offers a browser extension to help add links or manage projects.
Its client pipeline feature also helps prioritize tasks, making Todoist ideal for simple and complex task management.
This is a task management software you can trust, irrespective of how basic or complex your tasks are.
Todoist best features:
- Easily create, organize, and prioritize tasks
- Group tasks into projects for better oversight
- Break down tasks into smaller, manageable pieces and set dependencies
- Set reminders for deadlines and receive notifications to stay on track
- Schedule tasks to repeat at regular intervals
- Share tasks and projects with others for collaborative work
- Connect Todoist with other apps like Google Calendar, Slack, and more
- Personalize your experience with themes, filters, and labels
Todoist limitations:
- Some users find the interface overwhelming due to numerous options
- Lack of in-depth tutorial content for new users
- Customization and advanced features require a learning curve
- No built-in time tracking for tasks or projects
Todoist pricing:
- Beginner: Free
- Pro: $5/month
- Business: $8/member/month
Todoist rating and reviews:
- G2: 4.4/5 (700+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (2,000+ reviews)
6. Harvest
Harvest provides a comprehensive solution to cover all your bases as a freelancer, from managing finances to handling projects with an intuitive interface.
It simplifies time tracking for tasks, offering reporting and analysis for insights into work hours and project approvals. Its comprehensive invoicing features also streamline the payment process.
Lastly, you can integrate Harvest with 50+ tools such as Asana, Trello, Slack, Stripe, etc. These Harvest features make it the chosen software for freelancers across industry verticals.
Harvest best features:
- Stay ahead of the targets with a tracking feature
- Gather detailed reports and analytics to gain valuable insights about your work
- Enjoy seamless invoicing and payments to ensure a quick and hassle-free billing process with PayPal, Stripe, and QuickBooks integrations
- Make workflow easier with 50+ seamless integrations
Harvest limitations:
- The time tracking feature, while robust, may require a learning curve for new users to utilize its capabilities fully
- Integration with other tools is available but may not cover all the applications needed for some users’ workflows
Harvest pricing:
- Harvest: Free
- Harvest Pro: $10.80/member/month when billed annually (30-day free trial)
Harvest rating and reviews:
- G2: 4.3/5 (700+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (500+ reviews)
7. Bonsai
Bonsai wraps client, project, and financial management under one powerful project management application.
It offers a range of features, including proposals, contracts, scheduling, time tracking, invoicing, reporting, etc.
You can now deliver projects on time and monitor the budget. Freelancer templates are also available to help you kickstart your project organization without wasting time.
Bonsai best features:
- Get access to robust time tracking with timesheets integrated with a visual project management tool
- Create easy-to-use proposals to win projects with custom packages and skill-showcasing
- Let clients know your free and busy times with an integrated scheduling feature
- Gather client information with custom client forms and centralize the information
Bonsai limitations:
- Relevant for individual workers and not to assign tasks in teams and businesses
- Limited mobile application features
Bonsai pricing:
- Starter: $21/month
- Professional: $32/month
- Business: $66/month
Bonsai rating and reviews:
- G2: 4.4/5 (90+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (70+ reviews)
8. Calendly
Calendly enhances scheduling with automated features, customized reminders, and follow-up workflows to boost deal closures.
It integrates with major platforms like Microsoft Teams and Salesforce, improving transparency by sharing real-time availability.
Users report a 26% uptick in website bookings and a remarkable 360% increase in partner calls, making Calendly a valuable tool for gaining a competitive edge.
Calendly best features:
- Schedule meetings easily across channels and eliminate back-and-forth emails
- Integrate Calendly easily with numerous applications such as Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Slack, Outlook, LinkedIn, Paypal, etc
- Automate time-consuming tasks like sending reminder emails and follow-ups
- Collect payments easily with quick Stripe and PayPal integrations
Calendly limitations:
- Does not allow brand theme customization or logo additions to scheduling interfaces
- Limited integration options with some CRM and project management tools
- No in-built video conferencing; relies on third-party integrations
Calendly pricing:
- Free: Forever
- Standard: $10/member/month
- Teams: $16/member/month
- Enterprise: Starts at $15k/year
Calendly rating and reviews:
- G2: 4.7/5 (2,000+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (3,000+ reviews)
9. Notion
Notion is an AI-powered workspace that helps you convert thoughts into actions through writing, planning, and organizing.
It works well with Docs, Wikis, Projects, and Calendars to cut costs and integrate all the functions required for your freelance business.
It supports various activities, including engineering and marketing, and offers templates for meeting notes, product roadmaps, and more, significantly simplifying planning.
Notion best features:
- Filter, sort, and visualize the tasks any way you want with distinct views
- Create customized labels, tracks, and owners to keep everyone informed about the tasks
- Make work easy with a drag-and-drop feature to organize items
Notion limitations:
- Steep learning curve for new users
- Performance can lag with larger databases or complex setups
- Limited offline capabilities compared to competitors
- Native integration options are limited, requiring workarounds or external tools
Notion pricing:
- Free: Forever
- Plus: $8/member/month billed annually
- Business: $15/member/month billed annually
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Notion rating and reviews:
- G2: 4.7/5 (5,000+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (2,000+ reviews)
10. Loom
A renowned tool for sending AI-powered video messages, Loom helps you host asynchronous meetings with your clients.
Loom is ideal for freelancers across different time zones, enabling standout communication through easy-to-record and shareable video messages.
It offers video editing capabilities and integrates with tools like Google Workspace and Slack, allowing seamless embedding and enhanced collaboration.
Loom best features:
- Collaborate with clients, teams, and contractors over videos
- Keep all your data secure with enterprise-grade security
- Quick and easy screen recording for tutorials, presentations, and feedback
- Instant sharing with a link, eliminating the need for large file transfers
- Draw and highlight on-screen during recordings to emphasize key points
Loom limitations:
- Users have reported that the video and the sound might not always be in sync
- No offline mode, requiring an internet connection for use
- The user interface can be overwhelming for new users
- No live streaming feature for real-time sharing
Loom pricing:
- Starter: Free
- Business: $12.50/creator/month (billed annually)
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Loom rating and reviews:
- G2: 4.7/5 (1,800+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (400+ reviews)
Summarize this article for me pleaseEnhance Efficiency with Productivity Apps
When you’re a freelancer, you need to pay attention to many aspects of work, including managing your work and clients well, tracking project progress, and ensuring you achieve your goals.
These applications cater to distinct aspects of your life and work. They ensure that the management becomes simpler and faster with productivity and AI tools for freelancers.
You can focus on your skills alone while these applications handle secondary tasks and help you stay organized and productive. Compare pricing models, features, reliability, and compatibility of these applications to pick the one best suited for you.
ClickUp is an application that has all the features you need in one place. It helps you set and achieve the right goals while ensuring you’re on track with all your tasks.
Sign up for ClickUp and immediately say goodbye to the hassle of managing freelance work.
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