In recent years, freelancing has become an increasingly popular way of working, offering professionals the flexibility to work on their own terms and choose their clients. As the trend continues to gain momentum, the need for freelancers to have efficient and effective tools to manage their work has also grown. In 2023, there are a plethora of freelancing tools available to help simplify and streamline various aspects of the freelancing process, from project management and invoicing to time tracking and collaboration. In this post, we will explore some of the top freelancing tools for 2023, highlighting their features and benefits to help freelancers stay organized, efficient, and productive in their work. Whether you are a seasoned freelancer or just starting out, these tools can help take your freelancing career to the next level.
Revamp Your Creative Freelancing Career with These Top Tools for 2023
If you’re a creative freelancer, managing your workload can be challenging. But thankfully, there are various tools and apps available that can make your life easier. In this article, we’ve done the research for you and compiled a list of the best freelancing tools for creatives. It’s a new year, so why not take some time to review the tools and apps you’re currently using and see if there are more efficient alternatives out there? Our list includes options for saving money, managing remote teams, and improving client feedback without slowing down the production process. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, you’re sure to find a tool or two that will help you stay organized, productive, and on top of your game.
Top tools for Accounting/Money Management
Managing finances as a freelancer can be tricky, but there are many tools available to make the process smoother. FreeAgent, Xero, FreshBooks, QuickBooks, Harvest, Toggl, MyHours, Invoicely, Stripe, and 1Tap are all great options for tracking expenses, invoicing clients, and managing taxes. FreeAgent and Xero are user-friendly and integrate with banking apps. While FreshBooks is a great option for those new to freelancing. QuickBooks is scalable, making it a good choice for those looking to grow into a business. Harvest and Toggl are both excellent for time tracking, and MyHours is an affordable option. Invoicely offers professional invoicing features, and Stripe is a popular payment processing platform. Finally, 1Tap helps track and organize tax expenses, making sure you never miss out on a deduction.
Calendar
Here are four calendar tools that can help you streamline your scheduling and appointments:
- BookedIn: This tool automates the appointment booking process and sends automatic confirmations and reminders. You can even require clients to pay a deposit to reduce no-shows.
- You Can Book Me: This tool integrates with your Google or Microsoft calendar and provides a personalized booking page. It automatically identifies time zones and generates confirmations, reminders, and follow-ups.
- Calendly: This tool is known for its simplicity and is ideal for those who want to quickly set up scheduling without spending a lot of time.
- Team Today: If you manage a team and need to plan for hybrid working, this tool makes it easy to track who’s working where and book hot desks. It can sync with Outlook, Teams, or Google.
Task Management/ Project
Here are seven project and task management tools to help you stay organized and productive:
- Trello: A Kanban-style list-making tool that’s great for keeping track of multiple projects and deadlines.
- Notion: An all-in-one project management suite that brings notes, calendars, and databases together in one place.
- ClickUp: A user-friendly platform for managing projects, tasks, and time that integrates with many other productivity tools.
- Asana: A flexible project management software that helps you organize, track, and manage your work, with features like Focus Mode and Smart Inbox.
- Monday: A browser-based app that lets you create custom work management software with features like Forms for idea generation.
- Things: A personal task manager for Mac and iOS that helps you organize your to-do lists based on the “Getting Things Done” philosophy.
- Obsidian: A note-taking and personal knowledge management app that allows you to create connections and associations between your notes more powerfully and intuitively.
Collaboration/ Communication Tools
Here are some popular collaboration and communication tools:
- Sketch: A macOS vector graphics editor for designing user interfaces, icons, and logos.
- Figma: A free, browser-based vector graphics editor with collaboration tools for designing mobile and web applications. Recently acquired by Adobe.
- Marvel: A popular design and prototyping platform for mobile and web applications with pre-built UI kits, collaboration tools, and integrations.
- Slack: A real-time messaging and collaboration platform for teams that offer instant messaging, file sharing, and integrations with other tools. Available on web and mobile devices.
- Whereby: A video conferencing tool that requires no app or software download, allowing teams to connect with custom room names, branding, and virtual whiteboards. Features a Breakout Groups option for classes, events, and workshops.
Design/ Creative
Here are some design and creative tools that you can use:
- Adobe Creative Cloud: a subscription service that provides access to more than 50 Adobe tools, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro. It also offers cloud storage, portfolio websites, and creative resources.
- Pixlr: a free browser-based app for making quick photo edits. Ads can be removed for a small fee.
- Affinity: a UK-based company that produces affordable alternatives to Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign in the form of Affinity Photo, Affinity Designer, and Affinity Publisher.
- Inkscape: a free, open-source vector editor for creating and editing graphics, illustrations, logos, and diagrams.
- Scribus: free desktop publishing software for creating newsletters, magazines, and posters.
- Google Fonts: a collection of free, well-designed professional fonts that can be used in personal and commercial projects.
- Noun Project: an online library of icons that can be downloaded and used for free in design projects, available in various formats, including SVG and PNG.
