Best Free Apps for Small Business Owners | Top 25 List

Small business owners understand the value of maintaining a strict budget and looking for savings wherever possible better than anyone else (without compromising on quality, of course).

And using free business applications is a terrific way to have access to a variety of useful features without spending lots of money. You have an alot of alternatives in your app store, ranging from accounting software to video conferencing and marketing tools, to aid in your productivity, efficiency, and communication.

You can see below that we have produced a list of the best small business applications and divided them into several categories. Use this guide to locate the Best free apps for small business owners and learn more about what these tools can do.

Also Read: Why Does Every Business Demand a Mobile App?

Best Small Business Apps for Accounting and Finance

Managing your company’s accounting is most likely one of the most crucial—and challenging—responsibilities involved with operating a business. However, you can manage and carry out your fundamental bookkeeping activities, covering everything from invoicing to spending to payroll, with the aid of these four small company accounting software.

1. QuickBooks Online

One of the most well-known brands in accounting, QuickBooks Online is easy to use, strong, and available worldwide. (In reality, a large number of the apps on this list include QuickBooks in their functionality.) If you’re unfamiliar, there are several resources available that can help you get started.

QuickBooks can handle everything from tax accounting to payroll, profit analysis, and inventory management—depending on the edition you’re paying for. Whether you’re a one-person enterprise or a startup with rising needs, QuickBooks Online offers a version and price range to meet your requirements. Additionally, any version you select will give you access to the mobile QuickBooks app, one of the best apps for small businesses available on the Apple App Store.

2. FreshBooks

You may consider FreshBooks if you want an accounting programme that focuses on invoicing, has more affordable costs, and has one of the finest mobile accounting applications available. You can manage your cash flow, spending, invoicing, and more with FreshBooks’ online software and mobile app. All plans include excellent customer support at no extra cost.

3. Wave

One of the few really free accounting software programmes available is Wave, which enables you to utilize their internet platform, mobile invoicing app, and mobile receipts app without having to pay a monthly fee.

The Wave accounting tool is excellent for newly established small company owners, and they have add-ons for payroll and payments so you can expand your capability inside a single programme.

4. Expensify

Expensify may be quite helpful in organizing your funds, despite having a more specialized function than any of the other three small company management tools mentioned above.

Whether you have an iPhone or an Android smartphone, Expensify makes it simple and mobile to handle employee costs. Expensify may also be integrated with Xero, QuickBooks, and many other small company applications.

Best Small Business Apps for Managing Inventory

If your company sells products, an inventory management tool may help you keep track of your inventory, place purchase orders, and make sure your sales process is seamless from start to finish.

Here are the top three choices to think about:

 5. SOS Inventory

SOS Inventory is intended to simplify production, order administration, and inventory tracking. SOS Inventory may be utilized on a PC, tablet, or mobile device and interacts with both QuickBooks and Shopify. With the help of this software, you can manage your inventory across many business locations, keep tabs on your products based on a variety of criteria (including serial number and cost history), make tickets and packing slips, and more.

You must pay a monthly price to access this inventory software, even if the mobile app is free with a software subscription. SOS Inventory has monthly plans starting at $49.95.

6. Delivrd

You may get free access to an online inventory management tool with Delivrd. You may make a product catalog, count, receive, and distribute stock, turn on stock level notifications, and examine the history of your inventory transactions with Delivrd.

Additionally, if you want more features, you may select one of Delivrd’s subscription plans, which start at $49.99 per month per user. However, it’s vital to keep in mind that Delivrd only provides a web-based service and does not have a dedicated mobile app.

7. Sortly

The Sortly application for inventory management provides the best of both worlds. Sortly is accessible via the online platform as well as their mobile app for small businesses on smartphones and tablets.

In the free edition of Sortly, you may keep your library with personalized notes and tags, look up barcodes, and utilize the integrated scanner. Sortly’s subscription services, which begin at $59 per month, are available for purchase if you want additional features.

Best Small Business Apps for POS and Payments

A payment app is necessary whether you’re a fast-casual restaurant or a hired photographer to make sure you are paid on time and that your clients may pay you anyway works best for them. Additionally, a complete POS system will enable you to handle your payments in the same application as other activities like managing orders, inventory, loyalty programmes, and more.

Check out these three adaptable payment platforms may provide for your company:

8. Square

You’ve probably heard of Square since this point-of-sale company revolutionized the small business app market and enhanced how companies handle credit card transactions.

Therefore, Square will be one of your best alternatives whether you want a comprehensive POS system or a straightforward mobile POS and card swiper. You may choose from a variety of software and hardware options from Square, but even the most basic version just costs 2.6% + $0.10 for each in-person payment you receive.

9. PayPal Here

PayPal Here is a point-of-sale programme that also supports processing credit cards, cheques, and invoices on your phone. PayPal Here offers the simplest and most straightforward method to take payments on your phone—and only costs 2.7% per U.S. card swipe—in contrast to the Square POS app, which has more robust capabilities like inventory and order management.

However, it’s vital to keep in mind that PayPal Here uses your PayPal account rather than your bank account, so you’ll need to make sure you’re fully linked up to utilize this payment tool.

10. QuickBooks GoPayment

Square and PayPal made by Intuit Here, QuickBooks GoPayment lets you take payments from customers by swiping a card, scanning it with your phone’s camera, or typing in details. You can also check your analytics data, keep track of your best-selling items, and connect your Apple Watch with this app.

Best Small Business Apps for Time Tracking and Team Management

When you have several employees, various schedules, and other duties to attend to, managing a team can be challenging. As a result, you could profit from using one of these time-tracking, HR, or scheduling tools as any of them can make your staff far more efficient.

11. TSheets

Consider checking out TSheets from QuickBooks if you need a time tracking tool. With TSheets, you can manage time-off requests, monitor time on any device, automate payroll and invoicing, and get real-time data.

In addition, TSheets may connect to other small business applications outside QuickBooks, such as Sage, Xero, Square, and others. Despite this, TSheets will need a monthly membership; nevertheless, options start at only $20 per month, plus $8 per user each month.

12.  Gusto

Gusto is a possible option if you want a payroll and HR app with additional features. The Gusto platform enables you to manage compliance, benefits, and payroll in addition to calculating and filing payroll taxes (at the state and federal levels), keeping track of sick and vacation days, and more.

Pricing for Gusto starts at $39 a month + $6 per person, and it is offered via monthly subscription (which includes their free mobile app). 

13. Teamdeck

With the help of this resource management software, you can plan resources, schedule teams, and monitor working hours and vacation days all from one place. To monitor the progress of your team and keep tabs on the KPIs of your choice, Teamdeck also allows you to create customized reports.

Teamdeck is a pay-per-user platform featuring web software and a related mobile app, with price starting at $3.99 per team member each month.

14. HotSchedules

Consider HotSchedules if you are looking for a mobile-only staff scheduling application. HotSchedules (now part of Fourth) is compatible with both iOS and Android smartphones and can be used to assign and manage staff shifts, time-off requests, and calendars. HotSchedules is beneficial for restaurants and other food-service enterprises in particular.

This scheduling tool is one of the most popular business programmes on the Apple App Store and can be downloaded for $2.99 (with an account).

Best Small Business Apps for Communication

One of these communication applications might make it easier for your company to communicate with customers or members of your staff. Additionally, you’ll find extra benefits with these productivity tools that you don’t get from just messaging or sending an email, such group organisation choices, video conference capabilities, and more.

15. Slack

Instant chatting is made work-friendly with this productivity software. Whether you’re using your computer or a mobile device, you can send an email to one of your employees and get a response just as quickly instead of scheduling pointless meetings or sending twice as many emails.

Slack’s free and subscription versions, which include more features and are said to increase productivity by 32%, are both absolutely worth trying out.

16. GoToMeeting

GoToMeeting can be the finest option for your needs whether you’re in charge of a remote workforce or merely routinely utilise video conferencing.

With the free edition of GoToMeeting, you can conduct an unlimited number of meetings with HD video, share screens, add a dial-in conference line, link with Office 365 or Google Calendar, and more. GoToMeeting is available for both computers and mobile devices, and the basic plan only costs $12 a month.

17. Skype or Microsoft Teams

The most well-known choice for small business video and chat apps is still Skype. With Skype, you may exchange texts, share files, show others your screen, invite up to 25 people, and do a lot more.

Additionally, Microsoft also provides Microsoft Teams, the business-specific version of this programme (which replaced Skype for Business). This app enables access to basic functionality in the free edition and more features in either of the premium plans.

Best Small Business Apps for Customer Relationship Management

Managing client connections may be difficult, especially for smaller businesses with limited resources and finance. Therefore, if you wish to create a loyalty programme or keep client profiles, one of these applications for small businesses may be able to assist you.

18. Belly

You may design a personalised client loyalty programme with Belly.

You may tailor your rewards programme to the preferences of your clients and have access to email, social media marketing, and analytics tools. You may manage your Belly account online or via their mobile app; however, pricing begins at $129 per month, which is on the pricey side.

19. Spendgo

With Spendgo, you can develop customer loyalty and marketing programmes regardless of whether your consumers purchase in-store, online, or through mobile device. Spendgo enables you to create a points-based rewards programme, push promotions, and even SMS or email consumers.

Spendgo is compatible with leading POS, ecommerce, and marketing systems and is offered in three pricing tiers. However, you will need to contact Spendgo directly for a quote.

20. Salesforce

One of the most well-known CRM platforms is Salesforce, which is utilised globally by both small and large companies. You can track and manage customer profiles across departments, create individualised marketing strategies, address customer complaints, and more using the Salesforce platform.

Plans for small enterprises start at $25 per user each month, and you may use Salesforce online and the mobile app with them.

21. Nimble

Like Salesforce, Nimble is customer relationship management (CRM) software that lets you keep in touch with customers, connect to social media, send marketing and outreach messages, and more. You can connect Nimble to popular platforms like G-Suite, Office 365, and a few others.

Nimble is similar to Salesforce in that it has online software and a mobile app. However, it is less expensive, costing only $19 per user per month (billed annually).

Best Small Business Apps for Organization and Project Management

Lastly, you should never forget the basics, like staying organised, making a workflow, checking things off your to-do list, and doing anything else that is part of your basic duties as a business owner. Check out these business apps for project management and organisation to make your work easier and more efficient.

22. Trello

Trello is a wonderful choice if you’re in charge of a large team and need to adopt more involved procedures.

It’s simple to create, assign, track, update, and finish various tasks using this card-based system, ensuring that everyone is working as productively and efficiently as possible. Additionally, Evernote, Slack, and other small business applications are integrated with Trello.

Trello offers a limitless free edition in addition to premium solutions and may be used online or on a mobile device.

23. Asana

Asana, a distinct workflow management programme, has a somewhat different methodology. Asana employs a highly configurable list format that you may create whatever you wish instead of graphic cards like Trello does; but, the basic principle is the same: Using a specific method to organise your tasks can enhance productivity for your entire team.

As with Trello, you may use Asana on desktop computers and mobile devices, with either of their subscription plans or the Basic free version.

24. Basecamp

As opposed to Trello and Asana, Basecamp divides your project into six distinct categories. Using the Basecamp app, your team or project may have access to a chatroom, a message board, a repository for documents and photos, a task list, a calendar, and a system for periodic check-ins. Although this programme employs a somewhat different workflow management methodology, it may be suitable for your company.

Basecamp offers a restricted, free version of their small company management application, in addition to a $99 per month unlimited Basecamp for Business.

25. Evernote

Lastly, Evernote is a good option if you need a simple app for taking notes. If you just want to stay organised, you can use the free basic version of Evernote, which lets you make to-do lists, take notes, and share your notes with other people.

On the other hand, you can use Evernote for Business, which costs $14.99 per user per month, to keep track of projects, workflows, and deadlines for your whole team.

Conclusion

Ultimately, any of the products on our list of the top small business apps may help you streamline your daily operations. Furthermore, there is no harm in installing, testing out, and deciding whether or not to use these applications as the most of them are free (or at least free with an online software subscription).

Having said that, we advise reading our guide to the finest free tools to help you expand your business if you’re looking for extra resources outside of the world of mobile and web-based apps.