The 7 Best Tools for Freelancers in 2025

AD – This is a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I started freelancing full-time just over 3 years ago. During that time, a few great tools have helped me stay productive, connect with other people, and achieve my best.

I’m a big advocate that you don’t need fancy software or expensive tools to start working for yourself – you just need to start.

However, there are a few important tools that I use day in, day out to help me manage my freelance business. Let’s take a look.

The 7 best tools for freelancers

Let’s take a look at the 7 best tools for freelancers and business owners in 2025. Everything you need to run your remote business!

1. Google Drive

Let’s start simple! Sometimes, the easiest solutions are the best. I use Google Drive to manage all my files and documents. It’s so user-friendly and I like that everything is in one place.

You can access lots of different types of documents, such as spreadsheets, presentations and standard documents. You can even use Google to organise meetings via Google Meet, share your workload or pay for extra storage on your computer.

2. Notion

Notion is a platform that lets freelancers manage their workflow, complete tasks and access templates for their work.

I use Notion to work with clients, but you can also use it to:

• organise your tasks
• create calendars
• collaborate with other members of your team

However, make sure you don’t get distracted by all the cool features Notion has to offer. Sometimes, you can spend longer fiddling around with freelance productivity tools than you actually spend doing your work!

3. QuickBooks

Or your preferred accounting software. Online platforms like QuickBooks and Xero can make it easier to manage your finances.

One of the worst parts of freelancing is all the admin that comes with it. Using accounting software means that you can just focus on your job. You can enjoy being creative and reduce time spent on boring tax forms or business admin.

I don’t use QuickBooks right now, but it’s definitely something to explore in the future.

4. A paper diary

Don’t knock it til you try it! I love using a paper diary to keep on top of my tasks. It’s great for writing to-do lists – and there’s something about physically writing down my jobs that helps me stick to my schedule.

I have a week-to-view diary, which means I can see the whole week at a glance. On a Friday, I plan out the next week – and I can see if I have any upcoming deadlines looming.

If you don’t fancy using a paper diary, you could use a notebook to write down your to-do list for the day. You can also use paper and pen to get new ideas out of your head.

5. A magazine subscription

I recommend signing up for a magazine or publication subscription in your industry. If you’re a translator, check out Day Translations’ The Linguist Magazine. Or if you’re a writer, a subscription to Mslexia may be more appropriate.

I recently signed up for Freelancer Magazine. As part of my subscription, I can connect with other freelancers, learn about changes in my industry and get new ideas.

6. Canva

Even if you’re not a designer, Canva is an essential tool. I use it to size my images for LinkedIn, create my ebooks and make my portfolio a bit more visual, for example.

I’m terrible at graphic design, but even I can use the basic features to create an image or add to my portfolio. There’s a free or paid version, depending on what you need for your business.

7. WordPress

I’ve been using WordPress to host my blog for the past 8+ years. I find it easy to use – and there are plenty of helpful features.

You can use WordPress for your website, portfolio or blog. It’s versatile and easy to customise your site, but you may find it gets expensive if you want to add lots of extra features.

If you don’t fancy using WordPress, there are lots of other options for your portfolio. You could use Squarespace or Authory, for example.

What tools do you use for your business? What are your favourite freelance business tools? How do you get new ideas for managing your business?

Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below 🙂

Happy reading x