The best apps for freelancers

Being self-employed usually means that you have several jobs: You have to take care of your finances and accounting, make sure you market your business and acquire new clients, and you have to actually do the job you are being paid for.

All of this can be quite overwhelming, especially if you are only just starting out as a freelancer. But don’t panic! Fortunately, there are several apps and digital tools that assist you with all of these tasks.

In this article, we have created an overview of the best apps for self-employed workers, from banking to networking, communication, note taking, time management, security, and accounting.

Table of content

• Which apps are useful for freelancers?
• Apps for finance and banking
• Apps for networking and acquisition 
• Apps for collaborationand communication 
• Apps for taking notes 
• Apps  for time management
• Apps for cyber security
• Accounting apps

Which apps are useful for freelancers?

Apps have become a constant companion on our smartphones. Whether it is scrolling through Instagram while we are waiting for the subway, reading news to stay up to date, or playing a game to keep us entertained (did anyone say Wordle?), there are apps for literally anything.

Luckily, that also includes apps for freelancers! There are several smart little helpers out there that don’t take up any space (except virtual one), but can still make our everyday tasks and chores a lot easier.

The most popular apps for freelancers are usually assisting with tasks that are no fun to do yourself. We are talking finance and bookkeeping, as well as taxes and accounting. But there are also helpful applications to collaborate with clients and work together on a shared task, as well as apps for note taking and sharing, time management, and for secure access to all your accounts. 

💡Tip from Accountable: If you end up spending money to purchase an app you need for work, you can deduct that expense from your taxes. And when in doubt, simply ask our free tax deduction calculator.

Apps for finance and banking

Keeping an eye on your finances is a huge part of working for yourself. Did my client pay the invoice yet or do I have to send out a reminder? How much money do I currently have in my business account? And can I afford to pay for a new laptop?

All of these questions can be answered by checking the balance of your bank account. But if you are on the run, or didn’t carry your laptop with you, getting access to your bank account can become quite tricky. That’s where a bank account with a mobile banking app comes in handy. Simply access your bank account wherever you are and submit transactions on the go.

The banking account of choice for many self-employed workers in Germany is from N26. The direct bank offers a free business account and allows you to use your local banking card anywhere in the world without charging you for exchange fees. This feature is especially useful when working remotely or travelling and working as a digital nomad.

➡️ The ultimate guide on how to start freelancing in Germany as an expat

Apps for networking and acquisition 

To make sure your bank account is always nicely filled, you have to constantly look for new projects and clients to work with. Acquisition, acquisition, acquisition. However, the pandemic made it impossible for freelancers to visit networking events, and if you don’t have an existing customer base, you are probably struggling to find work. Luckily, there are a few apps out there that can help!

Freelancer platforms such as Fiverr, Upwork, Twago, and Uplink are a great way to quickly and reliably find a new project to work on. Companies can post jobs they need assistance with, and all registered freelancers on the portal can then apply for that job. ➡️ These 7 jobs are perfect for a side gig!

Apps for collaborating and communication

Many clients and agencies use communication tools such as Trello, Asana, or Slack to collaborate with freelancers. These project management platforms are helping companies and contractors to work together and collaborate on tasks, and store all relevant information about a job in one centralised spot.

In addition to that, the apps also enable direct communication with the client. Instead of writing numerous emails, you can use the app to chat to your point of contact for the job, and share any related files and necessary documents. This is especially useful for asynchronous communication over different time zones.

➡️ Want to know more? Daniel Jach talks about his tips and tools for being self-employed

Apps for taking notes 

Some of the most used apps are actually quite simple – and that definitely includes apps for taking and sharing notes. How fancy your app has to be for you to successfully manage your notes and ideas is dependent on your individual needs. If you are only looking for a solution to quickly write down a thought you had, the pre-installed notes app on your smartphone will probably do.

However, if you regularly use notes to brainstorm ideas and to organise your tasks, then you might need a more sophisticated notes application. One that allows you to store, label, and organise your thoughts in a more elaborate manner, including potential files and pictures, so you can make sure none of your valuable ideas are getting lost along the way.💡 Tip from Accountable: With our app, you can organise your expenses in different categories and add individual notes. This way you’ll always have an overview of all purchases and expenses in one place.

Apps for time management

Another important aspect for freelance work is being on top of deadlines – and knowing how much time you spend on completing tasks, as many freelancers charge their clients on an hourly basis. Therefore, knowing how much time it actually takes you to complete work is the foundation for your income. 

Apps like Toggl allow you to easily track the time spent on different tasks. You can even install a browser extension, so you can track your time whenever and wherever you work. Additionally, if you don’t do so already, you should probably start using a calendar app to manage not only your meetings and structure your day, but also to keep an eye on any important deadlines. ➡️ What happens if you miss a VAT deadline?

Apps for cyber security

As a freelancer, you are often in charge of several different accounts for your clients, whether it is social media accounts or access to file sharing services such as Dropbox or Google Drive. This means that you must have an abundance of secure passwords to use for all these accounts, and it is easy to lose track of which account is linked to which password. That’s where apps to automatically generate and safely store passwords come in handy.

Furthermore, you should take all precautionary steps possible to ensure the accounts of your clients cannot be compromised. Using a two factor authentication app such as Google Authenticator can help you protect your accounts and eliminate any safety concerns your clients might have when sharing access with you.💡 Learn more about Data security at Accountable

Accounting apps 

Last but not least, let’s talk about something many freelancers don’t even dare to think of: taxes. Calculating and paying your taxes as well as submitting tax returns often is seen as a draining and insanely complicated task, however, if you use the right app, it can also be quite simple and worry-free. 

Accountable, for example, allows you to track all your income and business expenses in one app, so you always know how much money you are making and if and when you are exceeding a tax-free threshold. On top of that, you can submit automatically created VAT returns and invoices, freeing up a lot of time for you to spend acquiring new clients or organising your workflows.

➡️ Download Accountable now