Five Apps That You Need as a Freelance Creator Working for yourself can be liberating and flexible. After all, leaving the office and the 9-to-5 hours gives you the freedom to choose where to work, when to work, and who to work with. But while the perks of freelancing are undeniable, with that freedom come new responsibilities. You’re now in charge of planning your day, managing your deadlines — and filing your taxes, all by yourself. Luckily, there are apps and services that make those mundane tasks less overwhelming. We’ve picked five to get you started. Toggl : If you charge by the hour, this time tracker is your best friend. With a web version and a desktop app, it allows you to add projects and clients and track the time you spend on each. At the end of the day, you can see a visual breakdown of your time. Toggl also sends weekly summaries via email. The free version is sufficient for freelancers. Doodle : This scheduling app is essential for managing calls and meetings. It acts as a virtual assistant, managing tasks, conferences, and calls. You can declare your availability to clients, and it works across time zones, eliminating manual time difference calculations. The basic version is free. Mint : Budget planning is crucial for freelancers. Mint provides a simple, free way to manage finances, track bills, set financial goals, and access professional advice. You can link all your accounts, from credit cards to PayPal, and monitor your spending and earnings in one app. It’s secure; you can disconnect your account remotely if your phone is stolen. Cushion : This app helps you maintain work-life balance and forecast your income. It visualizes your schedule, projects, and income, and offers insights into your client tendencies, helping prevent stressful projects or delayed payments. Notion : A versatile tool to keep all your vital information organized and secure, from article pitches to conference notes. It supports tables, documents, multimedia, emojis, and Excel imports, offering customizable templates. Notion is free and allows for easy collaboration. Subscribe to the newsletter for more tips. The Vivid Minds is a space for doers — adventurous people who take risks and aim to make an impact. Read more. #J-18808-Ljbffr