Some links in this post may be affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. But rest assured that all opinions remain my own. You can read my full affiliate disclaimer here.
Freelancing comes with so much freedom. You control your schedule, choose your clients and projects, and have the flexibility to work from anywhere. But with these perks come certain challenges, with the biggest being productivity and time management.
Without a traditional 9-5 office setting and a boss looking over your shoulder, it’s easy to get distracted. All too often, the temptation to binge-watch Netflix or go to the beach feels impossible to ignore.
And if you’re not careful, you can waste time, miss deadlines, and even lose clients. In fact, overcoming those difficulties of managing your time and staying productive is key to having a successful freelance career.
So how can you tune out distractions and stay productive as a freelancer? The answer is productivity apps.
6 best productivity apps for freelancers
Productivity apps can help you with everything from file storage to project management. There’s an overwhelming amount of options available, but this list serves as your guide to the very best productivity apps for 2023 for,
Note: If you’re worried about a lack of space on your device to download one of these productivity apps, you can learn how to clean up your computer in CleanMyMac’s post.
Best productivity app for time management
Create a schedule for each day, write down your tasks, and keep yourself on track. A to-do list makes staying on track day-to-day easier, but handwritten lists can easily get lost. With a digital to-do list, you can add and check off tasks anywhere.
1. Todoist
Forget your handwritten to-do lists. With Todoist, you can record your tasks, check them off as they are completed, and access the tool from anywhere. Track your progress, prioritize items, and even assign tasks to other people.
Formats: iOS, Android, and Desktop
Best productivity apps for project management
When your assignments pile up it’s easy to become overwhelmed. If you’re lucky, you have more projects than you can keep track of. This is great until you find yourself struggling to keep track of deadlines and progress on your tasks.
That’s where project management apps are lifesavers. These are designed for team collaboration and individuals. You can work alone now, but if you expand your team or you want to share updates with your clients, these apps adapt to your needs.
Keep track of your project’s progress from anywhere with these mobile project management solutions.
2. Asana
You can organize your tasks with lists, boards, calendars and timelines. Prioritize assignments, create subtasks, and track progress. Easily collaborate with your team by assigning them tasks with deadlines and a space for notes. With Asana, staying on top of yourself and your team is simple.
Formats: iOS, Android, and desktop
3. Trello
Trello is a little simpler than Asana. With fewer features, Trello is perfect for freelancers who need a simple project management app. Use Trello cards to manage assignments, attach files, and collaborate with your team.
Formats: iOS, Android, and desktop
Best productivity apps for storage
If you’re not organized, storing your files can be a nightmare. If you’re a writer, photographer, graphic designer, you probably have a lot of files. After a while, you start to run out of space on your computer. Plus, if you don’t take your computer everywhere you may not be able to access your files on the go.
With cloud storage apps, you can store an unlimited amount of files and access them from anywhere.
4 . Dropbox
This simple cloud storage solution allows you to store files, collaborate with clients, and access your work from anywhere. The basic plan is free, but if you run out of space, simply upgrade your plan.
Formats: iOS, Android, and desktop
Now, you never have to worry about losing your work. If your computer crashes or you run out of space, you can rest assured knowing your files are stored in the cloud.
Best productivity apps for file-sharing
Keeping track of your files can be overwhelming. While storage apps are great for organizing your files and allowing you to work from anywhere, sometimes you need to update your files and collaborate in real time.
If you’re using Word documents you could be emailing files back and forth constantly. Each iteration of the piece is slightly different and keeping track of the most up to date version can be difficult.
Instead, file-sharing apps allow you to work and share your documents easily.
5. Google Drive
Access your files from anywhere, collaborate with your clients, and stay organized with file sharing solutions. Google Drive has plans for both individual use and business. Depending on the amount of space you need, you can choose the plan that best fits you.
Formats: iOS, Android, and desktop
Best productivity app for note-taking
Sometimes your next great idea comes to you in the car or while you’re at dinner. Instead of looking for a stray piece of paper to write it down, use a note-taking app. Keep yourself organized without worrying about carrying a notebook or relying on your memory.
Access your notes from anywhere and never lose a great idea again with note-taking apps.
6. Evernote
With Evernote, you can take notes digitally on your phone or desktop. Depending on your needs, you can use the basic version for personal note taking, or you can upgrade to the paid version for the ability to collaborate with your clients.
Write down ideas, add links to web pages and attachments with Evernote.
Format: iOS, Android, and desktop
Improve your productivity and grow your freelance business
You probably don’t need all of these productivity apps at the same time. Instead, choose the best apps for you and your freelance business.
If you’re an individual, you might prefer to stick with free productivity apps, for instance, whereas a business might upgrade to a paid version that has the capacity to manage a full team.
In some ways, using productivity apps is like having a personal assistant, since they let you outsource your busy work and create systems that save you time and energy.
Thanks to these productivity apps and tools, you can spend less time organizing your files or struggling to meet deadlines and more time growing your freelance business.
Searching for more tips on eliminating distractions and staying on task? These apps can help you beat procrastination and get stuff done.
