The most important apps for freelancers help solo workers keep track of their business so they can stay productive and maximize their earnings without paying an arm and a leg for a long list of services. With more than a dozen years of freelance experience, here’s a look at the most important apps for freelancers to know about.
- Project and Assignment Tracking–Most Important Apps for Freelancers
- Meeting and Appointment Scheduling–Most Important Apps for Freelancers
- Time Tracking Apps–Most Important Apps for Freelancers
- Accounting Software–Most Important Apps for Freelancers
- Cloud Storage–Most Important Apps for Freelancers
- Electronic Signature Tools–Most Important Apps for Freelancers
- Password Managers–Most Important Apps for Freelancers
- Most Important Apps for Freelancers
Project and Assignment Tracking–Most Important Apps for Freelancers
To-do list tracker is arguably the most important apps for freelancers. We built a streamlined system called Freelancer Dashboard to help you track your clients, assignments, and invoices from one simple app, currently available on the web and for Android.
Freelancer Dashboard
I tried big-name project management software apps like Trello, Asana, ClickUp, Monday, and others, but found myself paying way too much money for features I didn’t need while missing out on the features I wanted most, like automated invoicing when I marked a project completed.
I built Freelancer Dashboard to help me track my clients, assignments, and invoices in one place. I’m still working hard to make it better and more useful for freelance writers, graphic designers, web developers, and anyone else who bills clients on a per-project basis.
The basic client and assignment tracking features are always free, and you can try out all other features for five weeks with no credit card required. Join Freelancer Dashboard here.
Meeting and Appointment Scheduling–Most Important Apps for Freelancers
Calendly
For years, Calendly has been my go-to meeting management tool. I can create and manage different custom meeting types, including new client meetings, quick catch-up calls, and paid consulting sessions. I love that it syncs with my Google Calendar, so I can limit appointments to open times.
However, I don’t love that I have to pay for all of the features I need, particularly when I don’t use Calendly every month. It’s great at what it does, but I found an alternative that is perhaps a better tool and a new necessity for me, making it a top choice on my list of the most important apps for freelancers.
Cal.com
Cal.com is a newer calendar management tool whose free plan includes everything I need to manage my freelance business. Even better, it’s open source with a fully self-hosted version available, giving you ultimate control over your calendar and scheduling and the option to make the app work on your website domain (e.g. yourname.com.)
If you’re not already using Calendly or want a lower-cost option, Cal.com is an excellent choice.
Time Tracking Apps–Most Important Apps for Freelancers
Toggl Track
I don’t do any hourly projects, but I have freelancer friends who need to track time and prefer Toggl Track for the task. There’s a free version that easily meets the needs of many independent freelancers. You can use your time tracking reports to populate an invoice with Freelancer Dashboard. The free version works with Google Calendar and there’s a handy browser plugin to easily keep tabs on what time you’ve spent on a project.
ManicTime
ManicTime is a desktop-based time-tracking tool that automatically turns on and off as you navigate various projects and tasks. While it offers a free trial, it’s a paid-only tool. If you don’t think Toggl Track is right for your needs or prefer a desktop app instead of the cloud, ManicTime costs $7 or $9 per month for a single freelancer, depending on your needed features.
Accounting Software–Most Important Apps for Freelancers
QuickBooks
For freelancers with more complex accounting needs, QuickBooks offers a robust set of features designed to handle a broad range of financial tasks. It’s basically the industry standard for small business accounting. And while it may not always feel like it, you’re a small business when you’re a freelancer. However, it’s one of the more expensive accounting options for freelancers, so it’s not for everyone.
From detailed expense tracking to comprehensive tax preparation, QuickBooks supports freelancers in managing their business finances with greater precision and efficiency. Its ability to adapt to a growing business makes it ideal for freelancers who plan to expand or who already manage a larger volume of transactions. In conjunction with a tool like Freelancer Dashboard, QuickBooks can enhance financial management by automating invoice generation and sending based on completed assignments, ensuring that all financial activities are closely tracked and recorded.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks is user-friendly and offers the basics for billing and accounting for the typical freelancer. It simplifies many of the more daunting aspects of financial management, such as expense tracking and time recording. FreshBooks helps freelancers stay organized and ensures that they are billing clients accurately and efficiently. Pricing is better than QuickBooks, but still nearly $20 per month for the introductory level.
For those using an integrated system like Freelancer Dashboard, FreshBooks can further streamline operations by enabling automatic tracking and invoicing of completed tasks, reducing the manual effort required and allowing freelancers to focus more on their core business activities.
Wave
Wave stands out as a stronger choice for freelancers on a shoestring budget, as you can use core Wave features for free. But it’s not as robust of a bookkeeping tool, with no double-entry accounting.
But the price is right for newer freelancers looking to track income and expenses for free. If you use Freelancer Dashboard for invoicing, you can easily copy over your revenue data or get it from a linked bank account.
Cloud Storage–Most Important Apps for Freelancers
Dropbox
Dropbox is one of the easiest ways to store and share files in the cloud. It works well across operating systems, so you can use it even if you work on both Windows and Mac computers. I also like the ability to grab files from my mobile device and choose which files are synced to my computer and which are stored safely in the cloud. However, for the level of storage I need, it’s also somewhat expensive.
Google Drive
Google Drive is built into the Google account and Google Workspace, so if you use Gmail, you already have access to Google Drive. A small amount of storage is free, but it’s easy to quickly land in a paid tier. I also find the desktop app for Mac doesn’t work well and isn’t ideal for my needs beyond storing Google Docs and other Google Workspace files.
NextCloud
As someone into self-hosting, NextCloud grabbed my attention as a self-hosted alternative to Dropbox. If you have fast internet and a large hard drive with plenty of extra space, NextCloud could be your personal cloud storage space. But you’ll also want to be sure you have a good backup in case your drive fails, or the system goes down.
Electronic Signature Tools–Most Important Apps for Freelancers
Dropbox Sign
Dropbox Sign could easily fit into your workflow if you already use Dropbox. Dropbox Sign offers a free plan with a limited number of signatures that should easily meet the needs of freelancers adding a few clients per month or less.
DocuSign
DocuSign is the O.G. online signature tool, and it’s widely used in real estate, banking, and other places where having a legally trusted signature is critical. While it works well, pricing starts at $10 per month. For the volume of signatures most solo freelancers have, that’s not worth the cost.
Password Managers–Most Important Apps for Freelancers
Bitwarden
I couldn’t do my job without Bitwarden. I literally have more than 1,000 passwords, and I make sure each is unique to protect my online accounts. Bitwarden works on all of my computers, my Android phone, and my iPad, so I can quickly log into any account without having to remember the password. It’s mission-critical. The free version could be enough for most people, but some people who work with assistants or larger teams may need to upgrade to a paid version.
1Password
1Password is another trusted password manager that only works with a subscription. But starting at $2.99 per month, it’s a bargain price for the importance of keeping your passwords safe and easily accessible.
Most Important Apps for Freelancers
While there is no perfect app for every freelancer, there is an ideal combination of apps for you. When you understand your goals and needs, you can put together a list of trusted tools to help you maximize your income, track your progress, and avoid breaking the bank. You may not know of a perfect app for all freelancers to track their work from assignment to invoice, but that’s where Freelancer Dashboard comes in. I couldn’t find the right combination of tools to help me track my to-do list and turn completed assignments into invoices, so I built the tool I needed. Check it out and start for free at Freelancer Dashboard.
