Launching a successful freelance career takes more than just core skills in your chosen niche. The right set of professional business tools and software makes all the difference in running operations efficiently and positioning your brand effectively to attract clients and scale income.
This comprehensive guide covers the 100 most useful free and paid tools freelancers need to start, manage, and grow a thriving remote service business from anywhere.
Table of Contents
Project & Client Management Tools
Handling client projects systematically and communicating professionally is essential for scaling a service business.
1. Asana
- Task management, project boards, status updates, timelines, file sharing
2. Trello
- Kanban boards, task lists, project roadmaps, calendar view, card templates
3. Basecamp
- To-do lists, schedules, documents, file storage, messaging, check-ins
4. monday.com
- Project management, resource planning, automation, dashboards, workloads
5. Hive
- Project planning, time tracking, invoicing, task management, charts
6. Wrike
- Gantt charts, workload management, custom fields, time tracking, budgeting
7. Restyaboard
- Kanban project boards, burndown charts, Gantt, hourly rates, expense tracking
8. Productive
- Light, simple daily task manager with boards, priorities, notes, habits
9. ClickUp
- Project management, spreadsheets, docs, reminders, goals, custom views
10. Notion
- Notes, databases, wikis, reminders, project boards – flexible for any use case
Smooth client project and task management enables reliably delivering quality work efficiently.
Time Tracking & Invoicing Tools
Monitoring billable time worked and creating professional invoices gets you paid promptly by clients.
11. Harvest
- Timesheets, project management, reporting, invoicing, expense tracking
12. And Co
- Invoicing, proposals, contracts, online payments, accounts, project management
13. HoneyBook
- Invoicing, contracts, client communication, online booking, payments, productivity tools
- Invoicing, accounting, receipt capture, reporting, managing clients and projects
15. PayPal
- Online payments, recurring invoices, tracking, receipt scanning, money transfer
16. FreshBooks
- Cloud accounting, invoicing, expense tracking, time tracking, managing clients
17. Bonsai
- Proposals, contracts, invoicing, payment processing, project management, client CRM
18. Cushion
- Super simple time tracking, project estimates, weekly client billing, productivity stats
19. Zoho Invoice
- Online invoicing, automated reminders, expense tracking, client management, billing reports
20. Wave
- Free invoices, accounting, receipt scanning, payments processing, payroll
Automating billing and tracking ensures you actually get compensated for time invested in client work.
Tax Tools
Proper income and expense tracking for quarterly tax payments keeps you compliant and maximizes write-offs.
- Mileage tracking, expense management, quarterly tax estimates, write-offs
22. FreshBooks
- Tracks income, expenses, deductions, auto tax summaries for filing season
23. Hurdlr
- Mileage tracking, deductions sourced from bank transaction scans, expense importing
24. Merlin
- Federal/state filing, independent contractor write-offs, estimated quarterly taxes
25. Credit Karma Tax
- Free tax prep and electronic filing for contractors, 1099s, W-2s, investments, etc.
26. TaxSlayer
- 1099 tax prep starting at $17 for federal, $37 with state. Deduction maximizer.
- Tax deductions, estimated quarterly payments, 1099 income, expenses, deductions
28. Botkeeper
- Accounting automation, reconciliation, financial statements, cloud ledgers, CPAs verify
Proper tax planning and compliance provides significant savings while avoiding IRS issues.
Financial Tools
Predicting, tracking, and managing cash flow enables scaling successfully as a solopreneur.
- Invoicing, accounting, inventory, expenses, reporting, bank syncing, payables
30. Xero
- Invoicing, bill pay, reporting, bank integration, inventory, 30+ add on apps
31. Zoho Books
- Online accounting, invoicing, reconciliation, billing, expense tracking, reporting
32. Wave
- Free financial accounting, invoicing, payments, payroll, lending, bookkeeping assistance
33. FreshBooks
- Small business accounting, expenses, time tracking, invoices, reports, bill pay
34. ZipBooks
- Mobile accounting, invoicing, time tracking, reporting, bill pay all free for core features
35. Sage Accounting
- Accounts, invoicing, cash flow, reporting, reconciliation, bill pay, partnerships
36. Billy
- Solo accounting, contacts, projects, invoices, estimates, reports, 62+ country support
37. QuickFile
- Online accounting, unlimited invoicing, bill pay, bank sync, multi-currency, projects
38. Zoho Expense
- Manage expenses, track mileage, sync credit cards, generate reports, integrate with Zoho Books etc.
Financial insights enable making smart decisions managing finances and fueling growth.
Payments & Billing Tools
Getting paid quickly and easily from clients any where in the world is essential to smooth cash flow.
39. PayPal
- Send invoices, track payments, ability to accept credit cards, PayPal payments, bank transfers etc.
40. TransferWise
- Low fee international money transfers, multi-currency accounts, debit cards included
41. Square
- Invoices, virtual terminal, POS, payroll, payments processing, debit cards to access funds
42. Stripe
- Online payment processing with cards, bank payments, businesses worldwide, fraud protection
43. Recurly
- Subscription management, flexible billing plans, payment processing, dunning, coupons etc.
44. MoonClerk
- Client intake forms, proposals, contracts, invoices, payment widget
- Automate billing, flexible models, configure invoices, payment processing, manage subscriptions
46. PaySimple
- POS, recurring billing, electronic payments, payment plan flexibility, accounting integrations
- Setup subscription plans, payment pages, invoices, payment processing, analytics
48. Chargebee
- Flexible subscription management, configured billing, invoices, payment processing, analytics
Offering easy global payment options makes getting paid by clients smooth and fast worldwide.
Email Newsletters & Marketing
Email newsletters build relationships while promoting offerings and invaluable content.
49. ConvertKit
- Email marketing, subscriber segmentation, email design, landing pages, automation
50. Mailchimp
- Email marketing, automation, landing pages, CRM, audience targeting, templates
51. Constant Contact
- Email marketing, dynamic content, automation, event promotion, surveys, social posting
52. AWeber
- Email marketing, broadcasts, automation, sign-up forms, analytics, integrations
53. MailerLite
- Free email marketing, automation, landing pages, unlimited subscribers, analytics
54. Moosend
- Email marketing, free tier, automation, landing pages, advanced segmentation
55. Omnisend
- Transactional and behavioral email automation, omnichannel workflows, abandoned cart recovery
56. GetResponse
- Email marketing, automation, landing pages, webinars, CRM, funnels, divisions
57. Benchmark
- Straightforward email marketing and automation focused on simplicity and deliverability
58. Beehiiv
- Turn website content into high-converting email newsletters automatically
High-quality email marketing nurtures relationships and promotes offerings to ideal clients.
Surveys & Research Tools
Client research and feedback surveys provide insights to refine offerings and marketing.
59. SurveyMonkey
- User friendly surveys, question types, logic, analysis, reports, targeting, scheduling
60. Typeform
- Interactive surveys, quiz and poll options, branching logic, media rich question types, analysis
61. Qualtrics
- Advanced surveys, conjoint analysis, brand tracking, targeting, AI text analytics, dashboards
62. Google Forms
- Free surveys, unlimited questions, branching logic, embedding, analysis, add-ons
63. SurveyLegend
- Simple drag and drop surveys, skip logic, rankings, targeting, analysis, white-label
64. SurveySparrow
- Chat-like interface, NPS surveys, offline surveys, powerful analysis, integration
65. Survs.com
- Simple and advanced survey options, multi-lingual, logic, targeting, analysis, schedules
66. Mentimeter
- Interactive presentation polls, word clouds, quizzes, Q&As, scalable, real time feedback
67. Doodle Polls
- Quick scheduling and availability polls, templates, reminder emails, analysis
Smart market research and feedback reveals customer insights for refining offerings, messaging, and positioning.
Video & Podcasting Tools
Visual and audio content aids in brand-building and highlighting expertise.
68. Loom
- Quick video messaging and screen recording to easily share updates and demos
69. Screencastify
- Video screen captures, webcam recording, annotations, editing, hosting, sharing
70. Kapwing
- Media editing, resizing, trimming, captions, loops, exports, publishing, collaborating
71. Descript
- Edit audio with transcript editing tools, publishing, collaboration, transcription
72. Riverside
- Remote interview recording with easy podcast creation, directions, support
73. Zoom
- Video calls, webinars, collaboration, screen sharing, recording, automated transcripts
74. SquadCast
- High quality podcast recording, video, screen shares, remote guests, automated editing
75. Buzzsprout
- Podcast hosting, distribution to major platforms, editing, transcripts, metrics
76. Rev
- Audio and video transcription starting at $1/minute of content
Leveraging engaging multimedia helps showcase expertise and personality online.
Contracts, Proposals & Invoices
Proposals and contracts formalize arrangements while invoices get you paid.
77. Bonsai
- Client contracts, proposals, invoices, e-signatures, payment processing
- Proposals, invoices, payments, contracts, questionnaires, automation
79. Proposify
- Customizable proposals from scratch or templates, reporting, brand locking
80. Paperform
- Drag and drop online forms and contracts, e-signatures, templates gallery
81. FreshBooks
- Invoices, proposals, time tracking, expenses, payments, reporting
82. Invoice Simple
- Online estimates, recurring invoices, client database, custom branding
83. Paymo
- Time tracking, invoices, expenses, reports, project management, quotes
84. Invoice Ninja
- Open source customizable invoices, expenses, tasks, payments, 80+ integrations
85. Wave
- Free invoices, accounting, receipt scanning, payments, bookkeeping, lending
Well-structured documentation and on-time invoice payment are key to positive client relationships and cash flow.
Task Automation Tools
Automated workflows save tons of time while increasing consistency.
86. Zapier
- Connect and automate data flows between thousands of web apps and services
87. IFTTT
- Simple if X then Y automation for apps, devices, services and hardware
88. Integromat
- Automate workflows, monitor data sources, customize scenarios without code
- Connect cloud apps, data and services with prebuilt templates and flows
90. Automate.io
- No code process automation based on triggers, customizations, workflows
91. Workato
- Enterprise connectors, dev tools, access controls for cross-app automation
92. Parabola
- Straightforward drag and drop workflow builder for automations
93. Cloudpipes
- Simple connections enabling automating data between two apps or services
94. N8N
- Free workflow automation with hundreds of prebuilt nodes
95. Calendly – Scheduling and appointment booking
Calendly makes it easy to display availability and have clients book calls, consultations, and meetings automatically. Customizable options and integrations streamline scheduling.
96. Canva – Graphic design and content creation
Canva provides user-friendly graphic design and content creation tools to create visuals for social media, presentations, ads, flyers, infographics, and more without professional design skills.
97. Grammarly – Writing enhancement
Grammarly checks writing for errors, enhances word choice, improves tone, and ensures proper spelling/grammar so all communications are polished and clear.
98. DocuSign – Electronic signatures
DocuSign allows securely collecting legally valid electronic signatures for documents and agreements online to close deals faster.
99. Evernote – Notes and knowledge management
Robust note taking and organization tools enable securely storing important info, documents, project notes, web clippings etc. in one place for easy access.
100. Google Analytics – Website analytics
Google Analytics provides deep insights into website traffic including source, geography, page performance, conversions, and more to refine marketing and SEO efforts.
The right tools provide the infrastructure for a scalable freelance business able to serve clients consistently and efficiently. With core operations streamlined, more time opens up for high-value billable client work.
FAQs About Tools for Freelancers
What are the 5 most essential tools for freelancers?
The 5 most critical tools for freelancers include:
- CRM – Manage contacts, deals pipeline, projects etc. in one centralized system.
- Project Management – Track tasks, schedules, budgets for smooth client work execution.
- Contracts/Proposals – Formal agreements protect interests of both parties.
- Invoicing/Payments – Get paid promptly by sending professional invoices and accepting payments easily.
- Accounting – Proper financial tracking for taxes, cash flow management, and compliance.
What tools do successful freelancers use?
Common tools used by productive freelancers include:
- Communication – Email, chat, and video conferencing (Slack, Zoom, Calendly)
- Productivity – Note taking, docs, file sharing (Google Drive, Trello, Asana)
- Client Management – CRM, project management, contracts (HoneyBook, HubSpot, Practice Ignition)
- Finance – Invoicing, accounting, payments (QuickBooks, Wave, FreshBooks)
- Collaboration – Docs, file sharing, coworking (Google Drive, Notion, Miro)
- Scheduling – Appointment setting, calendars (Calendly, Doodle, ScheduleOnce)
How do freelancers organize clients?
Top systems freelancers use to organize clients include:
- CRM Platforms – Honeybook, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Insightly, Zoho
- Project Management Tools – Asana, Trello, Basecamp, Wrike
- Business Management Software – Dubsado, 17Hats, SystmOne, StudioCloud
- Spreadsheets – Google Sheets, Airtable, Smartsheet
- Note Apps – Evernote, Notion, OneNote, Milanote
What apps help freelancers get paid?
The top apps for freelancers to get paid from clients globally include:
- PayPal, Transferwise – Online payments
- Stripe, Square, Recurly – Payment processing
- QuickBooks, FreshBooks, Wave – Invoicing and accounting
- Honeybook, Dubsado – Client management and billing
- MoonClerk, Paymo – Quotes, invoicing, time tracking
- Zoho Invoice – Online invoicing with automation
What is the best free app for freelancers?
Some of the top free apps useful for freelancers include:
- Wave – Free accounting and invoicing software
- Canva – Graphic design and visual content creation
- Calendly – Online appointment scheduling
- Grammarly – Writing correction and enhancement
- Honeybook – Client management with free CRM
- Google Suite – Docs, drive, email, calendar etc.
- Trello – Project management boards and lists
- Gmail – Professional email address and inbox
Final Tips for Optimizing Your Tech Stack
- Integrate tools using Zapier and IFTTT for critical workflows like sending contracts when proposals are accepted.
- Use comprehensive platforms like Honeybook for multiple business functions – CRM, invoicing, scheduling etc.
- Create SOPs (standard operating procedures) documenting processes within tools to ensure consistency.
- Assign permissions judiciously providing team access only where required to protect sensitive business data.
- Start affordably using free tiers without overpaying for unnecessary features at low scale.
The right technology tailored to your freelance niche provides the infrastructure for a scalable, automated, and efficient service business. With modern tools streamlining tedious tasks, more time becomes available to focus on high-value billable client projects.
