Depending on who you are and what you do, the types of apps you have in your phone might differ from someone else’s.
Since we write so much about entrepreneurship and startups, this had me wondering what apps entrepreneurs enjoy using for their work, so much so that they would recommend it to another entrepreneur.
So, I posed this question in a few Facebook groups full of entrepreneurs and got responses almost immediately.
While I had heard of a few of the apps mentioned, there were some that I never even knew existed.
Excluding the staple ones like WhatsApp and Slack, to name a few, here are 11 apps that every entrepreneur should be using (or at least try once), categorised according to their purposes.
Financial apps
1. Wave
Since 2010, Wave has been offering its invoicing, accounting and receipt scanning software to small business owners on the web for free.
There are no setup fees, hidden charges or monthly fees for its variety of too-good-to-be-true features like unlimited income and expense tracking, capturing receipts even while offline, and the ability to run multiple businesses in one account.
You can use Wave on your web browser or download its apps for iOS and Android.
2. Fast Budget
Fast Budget is an app that helps you keep your personal or family finances in check, providing a customisable Overview page for you to immediately visualise your flow of money.
Its calendar tracks your profits and costs daily, its charts summarise dense information for easy viewing, and you can even set it to remind you when recurring transactions are due.
Fast Budget is available on Android, iOS, and has a web app, and operates on a freemium model.
3. Niagawan
Niagawan considers itself an accounting system for non-accountants and offers various features that let you track invoices, receipts, credit notes, your cash flow, and inventory, to name a few.
It’s completely free software too, and in anticipation that new users might struggle with the app, it comes complete with a free tutorial teaching you how to use it.
Niagawan is available for Android and iOS and can be used on mobile or PC.
Team Communication Apps
4. Calendly
We all know how difficult it can be to set up a meeting with a colleague. This is where Calendly comes in to let you schedule meetings without the back-and-forth emails.
Its free online appointment scheduling software is easily set up and you can share your Calendly links via email or embedding for others to access your schedule.
There’s a Basic plan (free), Premium (US$8), and Pro one (US$12), and its app is currently available on iOS.
5. Jandi
Jandi offers group messaging via channels, collaborative file management, and an easy search for files and messages.
If you’re familiar with Slack, Jandi has been said to be a cheaper alternative at US$5 to Slack’s US$6.67, and it has a free version too.
Jandi is available on the web, Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
Task Management Apps
6. Trello
This is one app that I’m quite acquainted with (or at least its web based version), as I use it for my work.
On Trello, you can create different boards and segment and move around information easily with just a click and a drag.
Trello can be used for free, or you can sign up for its Business Class plan (US$9.99) or Enterprise (US$20.83). It’s available on the web, Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
7. Todoist
Todoist runs on a similar concept to most other task management apps, but one thing that stands out is the fact that you can see tangible progress and productivity trends.
As you keep progressing, you’ll be rewarded with Todoist Karma points that will unlock 8 available levels. While it doesn’t seem to offer much more than a small gamification aspect, perhaps it can be motivational.
There’s a free version, Premium (US$3), and Business plans (US$5), and Todoist is available on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and as web browser extensions.
8. Notion
Notion is like a juiced up note taking app, with the ability to insert over 30 media types as a note, create simplified folders within folders for a topic breakdown, a tasks and projects feature, and spreadsheets and databases.
In essence, it offers the features of various other tools like Google Docs, Evernote, and even Trello, to name a few, all in one tool.
Besides the free version, there’s Personal (US$4), Team (US$8), and Enterprise (US$20). It’s available on the web, Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android.
Email Management Apps
9. Spark
If you’re someone who gets an influx of emails every hour of the day and finds it hard to organise your inbox, entrepreneurs recommended Spark.
In addition to being able to have specific emails intelligently prioritised by its system, Spark also allows for a collaborative emailing experience. Think Google Docs, but as email instead.
Spark can be used for free or on Premium (US$6.39) or Enterprise (quoted), and it’s on Mac, iOS, and Android.
10. BlueMail
BlueMail is another app that helps organise your inbox by prioritising specific emails, enabling smart push notifications and group emailing.
It also has an integrated calendar that your events are synced to and updated on the fly.
If you want more than what its free version offers, the Pro plan is US$5.99, and the Enterprise plan is quotation based. You can use it on Windows, iOS, and Android.
Social Media Scheduling App
11. Hootsuite
This one’s for businesses who rely on social media for most of their visibility, as Hootsuite helps you seamlessly manage and maintain your social media presence.
You can compose content and schedule it to be published later, manage your scheduled content (across different platforms) with a bird’s-eye view, and keep track of message streams.
Hootsuite has a free plan alongside Professional (US$19), Team (US$99), Business (US$599), and Enterprise (quoted). You’ll find it on both iOS and Android.
-//-
After learning about these apps, I can definitely see the practical value in them, and if I’m being honest, the free versions of them are probably good enough for small businesses.
Some apps that I would be willing to try myself are the email management ones, as I definitely struggle to clear my inbox consistently every day, and I tend to miss out on important emails at times.
- You can read more about what we’ve written on other apps here.
