12 Best Free Business Apps Every Startup, Self-Employed Individual, and Entrepreneur Should Know About

At EnterprisingYou, we want to help our business community work more effectively from anywhere. That’s why we’ve put together a list of essential apps with free plans to help startups, self-employed individuals, entrepreneurs, and remote workers stay organised, productive, and ahead of the game without breaking the bank.

Productivity tools for entrepreneurs

1) Trello: Trello is one of the top project management apps available.

• Think of Trello as digital sticky notes.
• Its easy-to-use boards make managing tasks and projects simple. It’s great for solo entrepreneurs or small teams working on content calendars or product launches.
• The free plan is enough for most small businesses.

Download it here: Capture, organize, and tackle your to-dos from anywhere | Trello

2) Notion: Your all-in-one workspace

• Notion combines notes, databases, and tasks in one simple space, perfect for organising your week or shaping your business plan.
• Notion is fully customisable, so you can set it up to fit your needs. Use it for anything from a social media calendar to a client tracker or a personal to-do list.
• Notion is collaboration-friendly. You can add up to 10 guests for free.
  

Download it here: Your connected workspace for wiki, docs & projects | Notion

Collaboration tools for teams

3) Microsoft Teams: Team communication

• Teams lets you send instant messages to individuals or groups, making communication simple.
• You can make voice or video calls, schedule meetings, and host virtual conferences with your team or external clients.
• It seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft tools such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Download it here: Download Microsoft Teams Desktop and Mobile Apps | Microsoft Teams

4) Zoom: Virtual meetings made easy

• From team check-ins to client presentations, Zoom is a go-to tool.
• The free version gives you unlimited one-on-one meetings and up to 40 minutes for group calls. This is ideal for quick brainstorming sessions or networking chats.
  

Download it here: One platform to connect | Zoom

Design & Branding

5) Canva: Create eye-catching content in minutes

• Whether you have design skills or not, Canva makes it easy to create your own visuals.
• Canva’s drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to create great-looking social media posts, pitch decks, and business cards.
• You can access Canva anywhere, straight from your phone or laptop.

Download it here: Home - Canva

6) Mailchimp: Simplify your email marketing

• Mailchimp helps you create newsletters, automate campaigns, and track results, all in one place.

Download it here: Marketing, Automation & Email Platform | Mailchimp

File Storage & Cloud Collaboration

7) Google Workspace: Free Tools for Collaboration

• It is a suite of productivity tools, designed for businesses and teams.
• If you’re using Gmail, you already have access to Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Calendar.
• You can work with your team in real time, store important files, and make scheduling easier.

Download it here: Google Workspace | Business apps and collaboration tools

8) Dropbox Basic: Secure and simple file sharing

• Dropbox Basic offers a straightforward and secure way to store and share documents.
• It’s great for sending large files to clients when email isn’t an option.

Download it here: Dropbox Basic (free account) - Dropbox

Finance & Payments

9) PayPal Business: Get paid anywhere, anytime

PayPal allows businesses to send invoices and accept payments seamlessly.
Ideal for international transactions and integrating with e-commerce platforms.

Download it here: Open a Business Account Online | Get Started | PayPal UK

10) Wave: Free accounting and invoicing software

Wave is a great choice for freelancers and small businesses. You can send invoices, track expenses, and even manage payroll, all without subscription costs.

Download it here: Wave: Small Business Software - Wave Financial

Social media and scheduling tools

11) ChatGPT (Free Tier): AI-powered productivity boost

• ChatGPT can help you to brainstorm ideas, draft emails, or refine proposals.
• ChatGPT can help you work faster and offer new ideas right away.
• Be aware that ChatGPT is AI-powered. You are responsible for checking that the information generated is correct when using it.

Download it here: ChatGPT

12) Buffer: Social media scheduling

• Saves you time by scheduling your social media posts in advance.
• It helps you keep a consistent presence across platforms, which is perfect for entrepreneurs and small marketing teams.

Download it here: The Ultimate Link in Bio Tool for Social Media | Buffer 

Using the right tools can make a big difference in how efficiently you work. While this isn’t a complete list, these essential business apps help entrepreneurs, business owners, and remote workers stay organised, boost productivity, and work together more easily.

Disclaimer: We do not gain any financial benefit from recommending these apps. We are not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned. Our goal is to share free tools that may help startups, self-employed individuals, entrepreneurs, and remote workers improve their productivity and workflow. Please conduct your own research before using any of the services listed.