Best Software and Tools for Freelancers 2020

QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online is a basic web-based accounting system that has the ability to handle more complex tasks, such as payroll and job costing, for an additional charge. The primary advantage of QuickBooks Online is that it's 100% web-based, which enables customers to access the software through any device with an Internet connection, including smartphones and tablets. The web-based system also makes it easy for users to collaborate, since multiple users can log on simultaneously. In contrast, the desktop version only lets one person modify data at one time. Read our in-depth QuickBooks Online review

Time Doctor

Time Doctor is a popular time management and employee monitoring tool that helps individuals and businesses improve their productivity, and understand how employees are spending their time. According to Time Doctor, users report a 22% increase in productivity as a result of using the software.

With desktop, web, and mobile components, Time Doctor helps freelancers, small businesses, and large corporations analyze individual or employee working habits to determine where time is being spent. Administrators can allocate tasks and projects through the web-based dashboard, which includes features such as time tracking, screenshot monitoring, and website/application usage. Read our in-depth Time Doctor review

Toggl

Toggl is a popular time tracking tool that helps individuals and businesses understand how they're spending their time on various tasks on projects. Launched in 2006, the software includes a web-based timer and a desktop/mobile app that integrates seamlessly with other popular third-party applications such as Google Drive, WordPress, and Trello.

TimeCamp

TimeCamp is a robust web-based time tracking system that helps businesses forecast project budgets more accurately, and helps individuals understand how much time they spend on various tasks. By enabling employees and project managers to gain a better understanding of where time is being spent, TimeCamp helps improve overall productivity, and ensures that resources are being allocated to the right projects. Read our in-depth TimeCamp Review

Backlog

Backlog is an all-in-one project and code management tool. It combines the organizational benefits of task management with the power of buck tracking and version control. With features like Wikis, file sharing, Gantt charts, burndown charts, and custom statuses, freelancers can visually manage their entire project from beginning to end.

Copyscape

Copyscape exists to help freelancers, content managers and companies verify that their content is completely original. Copyscape is a form of artificial intelligence that scans the internet to identify how much of a particular portion of text matches something else on the internet. For example, if a website contains the phrase 'bicycle brain injury lawyer in New York', any other website that has the same word or phrase listed numerous times might show up as a partial match in Copyscape. Then, by looking at the rest of the potential duplicate website, you can try to gauge how much of the content is actually copied.

Novus Scan

As a freelance writer and content creator, you might be asked to regularly create large volumes of copy about similar or nearly identical subjects. Whenever you're writing several pieces of content about similar topics, it can be easy to have several similarities between different articles. Novus Scan is designed to specifically help make sure that all of your content is original from each other, and helps to identify overlapping phrases and sentences.

FreshBooks

FreshBooks is a cloud-based invoicing and accounting software for small business owners. It allows you to quickly create and send professional looking invoices, track expenses, and generate financial reports. The software enables you to generate branded invoices and send them directly to clients through the platform. You can bill clients on a recurring basis, send overdue invoice reminders, and accept payments online using your preferred method (PayPal, Credit Card, etc). Instead of alternating between multiple programs, FreshBooks allows you to streamline the entire process from adding a client to setting up your project. Read our in-depth FreshBooks review

UberConference

Evernote

Evernote is a powerful cloud-based note-taking tool designed for organizing information. The software allows you to create notes with different formats (text, images, web pages, audio, etc.), organize this information using notebooks or tags, and easily find any piece of content again through the search field. Evernote can be used to manage aspects of your personal and professional life. For example, you can add meeting agendas, set reminders, and collaborate with team members or simply store your daily shopping lists and recipes. All information is stored in the cloud, so you can utilize a range of native apps (desktop, iOS, Android) to upload and access notes from any location. Read our in-depth Evernote review.

Fiverr Workspace

Originally known as AND CO, Fiverr Workspace is an all-in-one solution for freelancers. It started in 2015 as a paid subscription service, but transitioned to a free service when Fiverr, a well-known freelance platform, acquired the app in early 2018. Beginning in early 2019, Fiverr Workspace again started to charge freelancers for its service with monthly or annual plans. You can, however, still use it for free to manage one client and have access to basic contracts and proposals.

Freelancers of all types can use Fiverr Workspace because it's not specific to any industry. You can tailor the proposals, contracts, invoices, and project management tasks to the needs of your clients and projects.