Small business owners are more aware than anyone of the importance of tight budgeting and finding savings wherever they can (without compromising on quality, of course).
And making use of free business apps is a great way to access a range of handy functions without breaking the bank. From accounting software to video conferencing and marketing apps, there are tons of options available in your app store to help you with productivity, efficiency, and communication.
Below, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular free apps to help you choose the ones that are best for your business:
Trello
Trello lets you organize all of your work-based and personal projects through your mobile device or computer. There’s a free tier, but it does put a 10 MB limit on the size of file attachments.
Useful features:
Set tasks and track progress
Delegate tasks and make to-do lists
Customized workflows
Upgrade to integration with Google Hangouts and Slack
Runs on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS
Microsoft OneDrive
This cloud storage app is best for those who already use Microsoft Office. If you have Microsoft 365, you’ll automatically get 1 TB of space per user for free; otherwise, it’s only 5 GB.
Useful features:
Edit files online without downloading
Share files with people who don’t have OneDrive
Integration with Outlook and Windows 10
Offline access available
Compatible with Android, iPhone, and iPad
Asana
With an emphasis on teams and tracking, Asana offers some great features for managing projects—although the free version could be seen as a bit basic.
Useful features:
Create to-do lists and reminders
Add due dates, instructions, and comments
Share images from other apps
Track everything you and your colleagues work on
Suitable for Android and iOS
Basecamp
Basecamp is an effective tool for teams that need to collaborate on projects, and it’s got a solid reputation after more than 10 years in the game. The free version lets you work on up to three projects with up to 20 people—for more functionality, you have to upgrade to a single paid tier.
Useful features:
Direct messaging for quick discussions
Set notifications for work hours only
Applause button to praise colleagues
Save and track client feedback
Mobile apps for Android and iOS
Mailchimp
If you need a little help in making your marketing emails stand out, Mailchimp is for you. The free service (up to 10,000 monthly emails) offers marketing tools to create, manage, and analyze your email and ad campaigns.
Useful features:
Templates for emails and newsletters
Easy personalization options
Advanced analytics and tracking
Ecommerce integrations (Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento)
Cross-platform compatibility
PayPal
We’re all familiar with PayPal, which is simple to use and boasts no sign-up cost or direct fees. You only pay after you make a sale, when it will take up to 4.4 percent—but its simplicity makes it attractive to small businesses.
Useful features:
Express checkout
Barcode scanning
Inventory tracking
Mobile card reader
Online invoicing
Dropbox
A well-known cloud computing app that allows you to sync files and folders across various platforms, Dropbox has a very basic free tier with just 2 GB of storage (we’d recommend just going with Glip’s free plan since it’s fully integrated into your team messaging anyway)—but you can try the paid plans free for 30 days.
Useful features:
No-download web browser option
Works on Windows and Mac, Android, and iOS
File sync and recovery
File previews and collaboration
Evernote
Great for efficiency, this app enables you to organize documents, notes, images, and recordings in one place. It’s especially handy for remote working, as you can jot down notes on the go.
Useful features:
Share notes with colleagues
Search for text in handwriting and images
Drag and drop key documents into a new note
Make notebooks accessible offline
Use on Windows, Apple, Android, and iOS
Wave
Wave is a free app with features aimed specifically at small business owners. It’s cloud-based, so there’s no need for downloads or installation, but the relatively poor performance of the iOS and Android mobile apps may put some people off.
Useful features:
Unlimited invoices, customers, and transactions
Automated cash flow and expense tracking
Ecommerce feature
Direct integration with Etsy
Adminsoft
This double-entry accounting system is free to use and includes standard invoicing, ledgers, and expense software. It’s mainly aimed at Windows devices but can also run on Mac and Linux.
Useful features:
Stock control and purchase order tools
HR and payroll options
Multiple companies and multiple currencies
Connect to receipt printers, cash drawers, and barcode scanners
