Freelancing can be stressful, no matter which niche you operate in. Because of the pandemic, many people were forced to transition to remote working which made many industries even more competitive when it comes to freelancing.
Luckily, the different technological advancements can make a freelancer’s life much easier. Not only do you get access to many free and paid desktop programs, but there is also a wide range of mobile apps to choose from. Hence, here are the best phone apps for advancing your freelancing career.
#1 Asana
You’ve probably heard of Asana already considering just how popular this app is. By far one of the most well-known task and project management tools currently on the market, Asana is known for its user-friendly interface and an abundance of different useful features.
There are many options for customization too, so you can change the way you view your dashboard, which labels you use for separate tasks, and so on. One of the best things about it is that Asana also has a desktop version, so you can access it both from your mobile device (smartphone or tablet) and from your laptop or PC.
#2 Clockify
In addition to task and project management, time-tracking is particularly important for freelancers. Luckily, there are many options to choose from, and one of the most well-known of these is Clockify.
The tool can be used for time-tracking your projects, especially the ones where you charge clients per hour. The app has both a free and a paid version, but even the free version has plenty of features to take advantage of if you don’t want to pay for it.
#3 Google Docs
Of course, depending on the operating system you use, you will be using one of the popular word processor options. But what you should really think about are the times when you don’t have access to your computer or need to easily share your text files with clients or colleagues. In both cases, Google Docs should be your number one choice.
It’s free and it’s pretty much an online version of Microsoft Office Word. If you have a Google account, you already have access to this tool as well as other web-based document tools like Slides, Sheets, and Forms. Alternatively, you can use Microsoft’s Office 365 which has a similar set of tools.
#4 Slack
When it comes to communication, you will probably be using a variety of platforms to text, call, and otherwise contact your clients. But no matter what your situation is like, you should still have a professional messaging platform for communication that you know will protect your and your clients’ privacy.
That’s exactly what Slack is. It is quite versatile and allows you to set up different workspaces for different teams (if you work with other freelancers) and different channels for communication. Depending on your needs, there are different pricing tiers you can choose from, but you can also just stick to the free version.
#5 Zoom
Unarguably, Zoom is one of the most voice and video calling applications at the moment. Not only is it good at its job, but it also comes with some additional features such as integration with calendar apps like Calendly and HoneyBook.
Candice Summers, a tech writer and expert who works on reviews for essay writing services, explains, “There are many alternatives to Zoom that you can try: MS Teams, Hangouts, Skype. But I personally like to stick to Zoom because of its simplicity and how good its mobile version is. I like communicating on the go, so that’s important for me.”
#6 Gmail
While there are quite a few options you can choose from when it comes to determining your email provider, using Gmail is probably the best route you can take. It’s free, reliable, easy-to-use, and incredibly popular.
One of the best things about Gmail is that its app functions just as well as its online desktop version. Moreover, you can be logged into several accounts at the same time which allows you to switch between your personal and professional emails in just a few clicks.
#7 Google Drive
Yet another product from Google that is essential for freelancers is Google Drive. If you are using Google Docs or any other similar online document tool (Sheets, Slides), you will definitely need to get acquainted with Google Drive.
The tool is free and allows you to easily share a variety of files. It can be accessed both from desktop and from mobile devices. While you do get a lot of space initially, you still have the option to upgrade to more storage space eventually.
#8 Evernote
Despite the fact that most (if not all) smartphones and tablets already come with some kind of note-taking app, it’s a good idea to think about other options. In fact, by using a professional note-taking app, you can actually take the process to another level.
Evernote is a great example of this. You can jot down your ideas, take notes on the go while communicating with clients, or even make outlines for meetings. The best thing about it? It syncs your notes to all your devices which reduces the risk of data loss. There are also many additional features like adding images and videos which can enhance your notes.
#9 ClickUp
While Asana is definitely a great option for task and project management, there are still many other options of such kind that you can check out. One of these is ClickUp. The tool is easy to use and offers a wide variety of features.
ClickUp lets you create workspaces which allows you to keep many calendars specific to every client you work with. There are both free and paid options, but the great news is that the free option has so many features already that you likely won’t need to upgrade to a paid one unless you have a very big team working with you.
#10 Todoist
Despite using project management and time-tracking apps, you could still find yourself falling behind and missing deadlines. That’s why an app like Todoist can truly be powerful for increasing your productivity.
Frank Cornwell, an expert from the top custom essay services site, says, “I use Todoist to write out everything you need to do on a particular day. It’s similar to other note-taking and reminder apps, but it’s unique in its own way. That’s why I like it so much.”
#11 Mint
Another extremely useful mobile app every freelancer needs is Mint. It’s absolutely free and quite straightforward in its setup. To put it simply, Mint is both a planning and a budget-tracking app that will help you take better care of your finances.
Mint allows you to track bills, set financial goals, manage your budget, receive alerts, get financial advice, and more. You also get different syncing options for your bank accounts, credit cards, and even your PayPal account.
#12 Mindly
Most freelancers have to work on many different projects where creativity is heavily involved. Even if you think that you are focusing on the “technical stuff” like coding, you still need to outline many aspects of your projects. That’s where Mindly comes in.
This mind-mapping app offers the perfect set of features for organizing your ideas and brainstorming. You can start with the main concept and then link to more and more subsets. Not only can you work with text, but you can also add images which makes the whole mind-mapping process much more effective in the long run.
#13 Canva
Even if you don’t work with graphic design or illustrations, using an app like Canva could still be important for your overall freelancing career. There are several ways in which you can use Canva:
- You can create samples or demo versions of your work for your clients (if you do graphic design and the like).
- You can make schematic presentations for your clients for the different projects you work on.
- You can create content for your social media accounts to promote yourself as a freelancer in your respective field.
#14 Grammarly
Just like with Canva, you don’t need to specialize in something (in this case, writing) to use Grammarly. Here are some ways in which you can use this tool:
- You can check your articles and other textual documents for mistakes (if you are a content writer, copywriter, or otherwise involved with writing).
- You can check your emails and other communicational texts when working with clients to ensure that you present yourself as a professional and educated person.
- You can check other content you work with (e.g. social media posts, project briefs and presentations).
Grammarly can be used as an online tool, a Chrome extension, or even as a keyword on your mobile devices.
#15 Buffer
Speaking of the social media side of freelancing, you will definitely need a tool to help you manage all of your accounts. This will allow you to align your social media marketing strategy where all your activity gets you the best results in the long run. That’s exactly why you need Buffer.
Katherine Young, an expert from an essay writing service, says, “I’ve met so many freelancers who truly enjoy using Buffer. It’s great for managing a wide variety of social media platforms and provides you with all the features you need, including scheduling, analytics, and more.”
#16 Trello
Another alternative Asana you might want to check out is Trello. Though it is not as popular as Asana, Trello is still quite a well-known app in the task and project management niche which is exactly why it’s worth checking out.
The interface is different from Asana, but many features are the same. You can have different workspaces for different projects or teams. There are also many customization options, both for the interface and for the way tasks are set up and managed.
#17 Dropbox
Of course, Google Drive is likely the number one option for many people, especially due to its connection to other services from Google such as Gmail, Google Docs, and others. That being said, there is one major alternative for cloud storage and file sharing – and that is Dropbox.
It’s a free tool, but you also have some paid options. Moreover, it can either be used for personal or professional purposes. Essentially, its features are very similar to those of Google Driver, so it’s up to you which one you prefer.
#18 Wave
By far one of the most well-known invoicing apps out there, Wave is favored by many freelancers thanks to the features it offers. You can either use the free option or choose a paid one, but even the free one will give you great functionality.
One of the best things about Wave is its ability to sync and integrate with other tools and services, including Stripe, QuickBooks, Shopify, MailChimp, HubSpot, and many more. The list is quite extensive.
#19 QuickBooks
QuickBooks is perhaps the most popular small business accounting software which allows entrepreneurs and business owners to manage all their income, expenses, and more. However, the tool also offers invoicing options particularly useful for freelancers.
QuickBooks is sometimes compared with PayPal in the way it works, particularly the fees you would be paying when sending invoices to clients. If you are used to PayPal, then QuickBooks will definitely be a great option. You also get the opportunity to track your invoice’s status which makes managing finances even easier.
#20 AppExchange
Mailchimp allows users to create and manage member queries seamlessly. To personalize and design effective campaigns, utilize the data and marketing tools that Mailchimp provides.
Mailchimp also allows users to use automation features and send curated messages to select leads. This is a really great Appexchange integration tool that makes organizing and acquiring leads easy and efficient.
Furthermore, with Mailchimp’s reporting tools, all users can keep track of their marketing campaigns in one place.
Simply configure the Mailchimp for Salesforce AppExchange application to synchronize all data, upload previous Mailchimp subscribers and also quickly link them to existing contacts and leads
#20+ PayPal
Last but not least, this list wouldn’t be complete without PayPal. As mentioned above, QuickBooks’ invoicing option is similar to the way PayPal works, but many freelancers still opt to stick to PayPal simply because they are used to it.
After all, it is probably one of the most straightforward tools of its kind currently available. Both its web-based and mobile versions function well, so it’s easy to access your account and all the essential features even on the go.
Conclusion
While you aren’t expected to use every single one of these tools, checking out at least a few of them will definitely help you find something that will make freelancing easier for you. Use this list to give you an idea of the most popular apps you can use and then start trying them out at your own pace.