Is being a more productive freelancer part of your 2023’s new year resolution? Or would you like to improve your workflow in general? Perhaps all you need are effective freelancing tools that will enable you to achieve your targets for 2023 better.

In this article, we will discuss our top picks and their features- from productivity tools to communication tools. So stick around and get an idea of freelancing apps from which you can greatly benefit.

Top 7 Must-have Tools For Freelancers 2023

• Google Workspace
• Calendly
• Hubstaff
• Slack
• Trello  
• Canva
• Grammarly

Freelancing Tools: Google Workspace

Google Workspace is a suite of productivity tools that includes Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Calendar, and Meet. Freelancers benefit significantly from Google Workspace because clients can view the projects they are working on in real-time. You can use Google Workspace to create and collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations; manage your email; store and share files; and schedule meetings. 

To get started with Google Workspace, you’ll need to create a Google Account. Once you have a Google Account, you can sign up for a free trial of Google Workspace or purchase a subscription to increase storage.

 Google Docs

Google Docs is a word-processing program that allows you to create and edit text documents. You can use it to type, format, and share your documents with others. You can add text, images, and tables to your document and add comments to collaborate with others on your document.

To get started with Google Docs, go to the Google Workspace homepage and click on the “Create” button. Then click on “Document.” A new window will open where you can start typing your document.

Google Sheets

Google Sheets is one of the many productivity tools included in Google Workspace (formerly known as G Suite). Sheets is a spreadsheet application that lets you create and format spreadsheets, perform calculations, and display data in graphical form.

Here are some of the key features of Google Sheets:

• Create and edit spreadsheets online: You can create new spreadsheets or edit existing ones using the web-based editor. The editor includes all the features to format your cells and enter data.
• Collaborate with others in real-time: Multiple users can edit the same spreadsheet simultaneously. Each user’s changes are automatically saved and reflected in the document for all to see.
• Access your sheets from anywhere: Sheets are available on any device with an internet connection. You can access and edit your documents from your computer, phone, or tablet.
• Integrate with other Google products: Sheets integrate with other Google products like Calendar, Drive, and Maps. This makes it easy to share data between applications and collaborate with others.

Google Slides

Google Slides is a presentation program included in the Google Workspace productivity suite. It allows users to create and edit presentations online while collaborating with others in real time. Presentations made in Google Slides can be exported to various formats (PDF, PPT, etc.) and embedded on websites or blogs.

Other actions you can do include:

• Insert images, videos, and shapes
• Add transitions and animations
• Share presentations with others

Google Forms

Google Forms is a powerful tool that allows you to create surveys, quizzes, and other forms easily. With Google Forms, you can gather data from anywhere and compile data automatically into a spreadsheet.

You can customize forms to fit your needs and add images, videos, and other multimedia content to make your forms more engaging. You can also use Google Forms to collect payments or donations.

To get started with Google Forms, go to the Google Forms website and sign in with your Google account. Then, click “Create a new form” to start creating your form.

Google Sites

Google Sites is a free and easy way to create and share webpages. You can store any content, including text, images, videos, and files. You can also invite others to collaborate on your site.

Calendly

As a freelancer, you always need to be on top of all your projects by ensuring that you deliver your commitments on time. That is why, among the freelancing tools you cannot do without, calendar and freelance time tracking might be the tools you will always need to use. 

Calendly is a cloud-based appointment-scheduling software that allows users to schedule and manage appointments easily. The software integrates with Gmail, Google Calendar, and Outlook, making it a convenient tool for busy professionals. Calendly also offers many features, including setting up recurring appointments, sending reminders, and tracking RSVPs.

One of Calendly’s key features is the ability to manage your availability. You can set certain days or times when you are available to meet, and others will be able to see this when they try to schedule an appointment with you. You can avoid overbooking or canceling appointments at the last minute with the help of this app. 

Freelance Time Tracking: Hubstaff

Hubstaff is a time-tracking and productivity tool that helps remote teams stay on track and get work done. It has various features make it an essential tool for any remote team. Here are some of the benefits of Hubstaff:

• Time tracking: lets you track your team’s time working on projects, and this is great for ensuring that everyone is staying on task and meeting deadlines.
• Screen recording: can record your team’s screens as they work, and this helps see how people are using their time and catching any errors.
• Activity levels: tracks your team’s activity levels so you can see how productive they are being. This is useful for identifying areas where someone may need to catch up or work harder than they are.
• Payroll: can help you manage your team’s payroll. This is convenient if you need to keep track of hours worked or if you want to pay your team members based on their time worked automatically.
• Reporting: provides detailed reports that let you see how your team is performing, which helps identify any areas that need improvement. 

Freelancing Apps: Slack

Slack is a cloud-based set of tools and services for team collaboration. Slack enables real-time communication and collaboration between team members. It includes instant messaging, file sharing, task management, and integration with other business tools. Slack also offers a paid subscription for additional features, such as unlimited message history, advanced search, and integrations with third-party applications.

Productivity Tools: Trello 

If you are looking for an efficient way to improve your workflow as a freelancer, you can start by exploring Trello. 

Trello is a project management tool quickly becoming a favorite among businesses and freelancers. With its powerful features and intuitive interface, Trello simplifies tracking tasks, delegating assignments, and collaborating with team members.

 Canva

Canva is a user-friendly graphic design tool perfect for beginner to intermediate-level designers. It has an extensive library of built-in templates and easy-to-use tools that make creating professional designs quick and easy. 

Suppose you are creating social media content for clients. This might be the best tool you can start with because you can integrate a Canva account into any major social media platform and schedule your posting.

However, it lacks advanced features: For more complex designs, you may need to use a more comprehensive graphic design program like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator.

 Grammarly

Grammarly is a writing tool that helps you check your grammar, spelling, and punctuation. It also gives you suggestions for improving your writing.

To use Grammarly, you must sign up for a free account. Then, you can either type your text into the Grammarly editor or upload a document. Grammarly will then check your text for errors and suggest improving your writing.

You can also use Grammarly to check your grammar in other programs, such as Microsoft Word. To do this, you need to install the Grammarly add-in for Word. Then, when you open a document in Word, Grammarly will automatically check it for errors.

Grammarly is an excellent tool for anyone who wants to improve their writing skills. It benefits writers and freelancers because clear communication ensures your work is error-free.

Conclusion

There you have it; our top freelancing tools that will improve your workflow and help you attain your targets for 2023. Let us know what your favorite freelancing apps are in the comment section. Pursue your ideal job and start ticking off your freelancing bucket list!

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