If you own a small business, you know how essential it is to be productive. Basically, your success is dependent upon your productivity, and if you or your team is wasting a bunch of time during your day, you’re not being productive.
One of the biggest hindrances to productivity these days is the smartphone. That’s because with a smartphone, a person can entertain themselves with tv shows, movies, video games, and other random apps. Not only that, they can talk to numerous people, update their statuses, take pictures, order groceries, rate services, and more.
Basically anything a person can think to do, they can do with their smartphones. While these can be great tools, they also serve to be great distractions, preventing productivity for many people when they should be working.
However, not all apps end up being distracting time-wasters for people while they’re working. There are actually many productivity apps available that prove very useful for small businesses. These apps help to remove distractions and keep people focused on their work.
2021 is a fresh beginning and a great time to implement new processes and tools in your business that will eliminate distractions and keep your team focused and efficient.
Let’s take a look at the 20 best free productivity apps for your small business.
1. Slack
Slack is a communication app that has gained loads of popularity in recent years. It allows people to send any form of technological communication with an instant notification on the recipients’ mobile device or computer. There are a number of aspects of Slack that help keep conversations organised and everyone involved updated.
Slack is free for small groups and available to larger groups for a small fee between USD $6.67 and $12.50 for each participant.
2. Evernote
Evernote is a note-taking app that is considered one of the best note-taking software. Evernote comes in mobile, as well as computer format, allowing users to simply write down notes, lists, and other information at any time. Evernote comes with organisational aspects that keep your notes easy to find and accessible.
The app is free for basic use, with more features for business use ranging from USD $7.99 to $14.99 a month.
3. Zoom
Video conferencing capabilities is a must for small businesses this day in age. Zoom is hands-down the best app for holding meetings with your team or clients from anywhere. Zoom provides great video and audio, as well as a number of essential conferencing features that are easy to use. With Zoom, you can host conference calls, run your meetings, film webinars, and more.
Free features include unlimited meetings with up to 100 participants. Added features are available for between USD $14.99 and $19.99 a month.
4. Shortcuts
As a mobile task manager, Shortcuts is the app that will truly save you time and keep you and your team productive. It lets you create tasks, with a number of template options and shortcut customisations. Some of the tasks that you can simplify with Shortcuts are directions to the next calendar item, custom speed dial lists, and even opening your playlist.
Shortcuts is free for download, but comes with in-app purchases.
5. Toggl Plan
Toggl Plan (formerly known as Teamweek) is a project management app that allows managers the ability to monitor the productivity of their team. Use planning tools, checklists, reminders, and more to track how projects are going and how your team is doing.
Toggl Plan is free for teams of up to 5 people, with paid plans that begin at USD $8 per user a month.
6. 24me
Every business needs a calendar, and 24me should be that calendar. The app combines your different schedules and helps you to access them in one place. Keeping everything in one place will help your productivity exponentially, helping you to be on time, efficient, and to get things done.
24me is free to download but offers in-app purchases.
7. Todoist
Everyone in business knows they need a to-do list. It keeps them focused, helps them remember everything they need to get done, and helps them to keep track of what they’ve accomplished, as well as what still needs their attention.
Todoist is a to-do list in app form. It allows you to get your to-do list organised and provides you with reminders as each task comes up in your schedule.
This app is free for a basic checklist, and for additional features costs USD $3 a month.
8. Toggl
Distractions are one of the biggest killers of productivity in the workplace. Toggl is the best app to help with time management and prevent distractions. The features on Toggl include timers, reminders, project dashboards, and more.
Toggl is free for up to 5 people, and for larger groups the monthly feel is between USD $10 and $20.
9. Pocket
Pocket is an app that lets users bookmark content for a later time. News articles, videos, and blog posts often distract people from doing their work. Instead of having to give attention to interesting or even essential content right away, people can use Pocket to save content for their lunch break or after work. This keeps them focused on the job at hand and able to give their attention to the content when their work is done.
Pocket is free for a limited amount of sources, with monthly membership of USD $4.99 and an annual membership of USD $44.99 for unlimited sources.
10. Mindfulness
Many people are discovering the importance of mindfulness and meditation as part of their daily routine. Mindfulness is an app that allows users to take a step back from their day, focus, breathe, learn meditation techniques, and take the time to relax. Meditation sessions range from simple to longer and more in-depth, letting you take the time you need each day to practice mindfulness. Encourage your team to use Mindfulness app in order to keep them in top mental shape and ready to focus each day.
The app is free to download but includes in-app purchases.
11. Design Wizard
Create impressive videos and image designs in minutes with this easy-to-use design tool. The free features allow you to resize your designs, upload your fonts, photos and logos and create custom colour palettes. Its library also holds over one million premium images and thousands of high quality videos, illustrations and graphics. Every video and image has also been licensed for commercial use.
The Pro plan, which starts at $9.99 per month, gives you 60 image design downloads, image uploads, font uploads, free previews and 1GB storage. The Business plan, starting at $49.99 per month, gives you unlimited standard video downloads, 1 premium video, unlimited image design downloads, video uploads, add text and images to video and 10GB storage
12. Connecteam
Connecteam is a team management app that lets you communicate, operate, and train your employees all from one place. This app will essentially streamline your team management, allowing you to conduct on-boarding, daily communication, time tracking, project scheduling, and more.
With the employee time clock you can track work hours, take care of scheduling, and ensure all team processes and communications are happening as they should be. You can even create courses for training. This app allows for seamless team management, making things simple for them and for you.
Connecteam begins with a free plan and upgrades to USD $29 a month for up to 200 users.
13. SAP SuccessFactors
This HR app was designed with a simple goal; to boost productivity. It allows you to connect your employees with one another, ensuring they all receive key information and processes.
After the free trial, SAP SuccessFactors costs USD $84.53 for each user per year.
14. CloudConvert
This file conversion app allows users to convert files from Windows to Mac, and vice versa. It can cause a lot of frustration when trying to open a file sent in a different format, but CloudConvert makes it simple.
Use the app with a free plan that comes with limited functionality or pay for a package subscription that includes all options.
15. CamScanner
Scanners allow businesses to save money and be eco-friendly. Creating digital versions of paperwork and sharing them through email is beginning to be an essential component of business in the digital age. CamScanner lets you use your smartphone as a scanner instead of having to use a bulky piece of machinery. You can use your phone to scan items and save them in any format.
CamScanner is a free download, with cloud storage of 200M. For more storage and features, the cost is USD $4.99 to $9.99 a month.
16. Pixlr
Pixlr is an image editor that works for basic graphic design, which is something that every business can use. There are features that are pre-formatted, allowing anyone to perform the graphic design work needed.
Pixlr is free for the basic features, with additional templates and functions for USD $5 a month.
17. Mindmeister
This mind mapping tool is great for the entrepreneur or team member that needs a visual representation of their thoughts and ideas. Mindmeister lets users create flowcharts, collaborate with others, craft color-coded mind maps, and develop their thoughts with a number of visual presentation features.
Mindmeister is free for 3 mind maps. Unlimited mind maps and additional features costs between USD $4.99 and $12.49 a month.
18. Hootsuite
If you use social media in your small business marketing, Hootsuite is an essential tool. This social media manager lets you schedule posts, create content, monitor numerous accounts, view your stats and analytics, and more. You’ll be able to manage your social media accounts with ease, providing you with a simple form of marketing.
Hootsuite has a free 30 day trial, After that, Hootsuite costs between USD $29 to $599 a month.
19. Grammarly
Grammarly is a grammar checking app that ensures you are providing content to your audience that is free of errors. The program integrates with your computer or mobile device, letting you know when you have spelling and grammar errors and making it simple to fix them.
Grammarly is free for the basic program, with extra features costing between USD $11.66 to $15 a month.
20. Omni
Omni is the all-in-one solution for your small business phone needs. This incredibly useful app streamlines your business phone calls, saving you time and money. Omni comes with a landline number so your calls seem to come locally, a customisable call menu with simple options that serve your customers efficiently, on-demand call recording, a virtual receptionist, and intelligent call routing so that calls are rerouted when you’re busy.
Every business needs Omni in order to have a seamless virtual phone system. Starting at just RM69 a month, Omni is the app that will revolutionise your business.
