In this article, I will cover Best Apps For Independent Contractors. Read my complete article to know more about this and make your final decisions
The gig economy of today is powered by digital tools for independent contractors and other freelancers to stay productive in their work.
Apps aimed at independents help them with everything from traditional project management to invoicing.
When you use the right app, you track time well, organize finances, communicate with your clients and, in the process, improve productivity and create an unobstructed flow of activities.
There are many to choose from, but not all deliver the performance you need! In this guide, we will feature the best apps for independent contractors that can help streamline your workflow and management of your business.
Here’s a feature table for apps designed for independent contractors
| App Name | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Procore | Project management, Collaboration tools, Document management, Budget tracking, Scheduling, Mobile access |
| QuickBooks | Invoicing, Expense Tracking, Time tracking, Project management, Reports and insights, Mobile app |
| Trello | Task management, Kanban boards, Collaboration, Workflow automation, Due dates and reminders, File attachments |
| DocuSign | Electronic signatures, Document management, Secure cloud storage, Workflow automation, Mobile app |
| Fantastical | Calendar management, Natural language input, Scheduling, Reminders, Calendar sets, Integration with other apps |
| FreshBooks | Invoicing, Expense tracking, Time tracking, Project management, Reports and insights, Mobile app |
| MileIQ | Mileage tracking, Automatic trip detection, Business mileage reports, GPS tracking, Mobile app |
| Fieldwire | Construction management, Task tracking, Punch lists, Plan viewing, Document management, Offline access |
| Toggl Track | Time tracking, Project dashboard, Reports and insights, Billable hours tracking, Pomodoro timer |
| Calendly | Appointment scheduling, Calendar integration, Automated reminders, Time zone detection, Customizable availability |
10 Best Apps For Independent Contractors
1. Procore
Procore working – construction and engineering contractors only – is one of the most powerful construction apps for project management.
The solution provides task automation, progress tracking, and team collaboration on-site and remotely. It has key features such as document management, scheduling, budgeting, and real-time communication for smooth project operation in the ProSuite version.
In addition, the app has mobile capabilities that enable contractors to access project information and updates anywhere, which facilitates efficient decision-making and client communication.
By focusing on simplifying construction workflows and making projects more transparent, Procore proves to be a useful resource to contractors who plan on increasing productivity and delivering projects on schedule and at cost.
2. QuickBooks
QuickBooks Online is a web-based accounting software that is tailor-made for independent contractors. It enables users to keep an eye on their cash flow, create invoices, handle taxes, and carry out bank reconciliation with ease.
The cloud-based environment of QuickBooks allows contractors to access real-time financial data so they can make decisions as they see fit, without the delay of report delivery.
The app can be connected with bank accounts as well as payment systems to help streamline bookkeeping and reduce the number of human-processing mistakes.
For freelancers or other small business owners, QuickBooks provides the bread and butter of tools to keep your finances healthy and nation-grid compliant, making it an essential app for any independent contractor.
3. Trello
Trello is a customizable project management application which freelancers can use to organize assignments, collaborate with clients as well as teams and keep an eye on how the project is progressing.
Working on a board and card system, Trello is, indeed, one of the best apps that can help you represent your tasks and workflows in an organized manner, enabling you to set up deadlines, prioritize tasks, and assign responsibilities.
With Trello, you can incorporate checklists, due dates, and file attachments and integrate with platforms like Slack and Google Drive, among many of its customizable features.
Trello also boasts the best interface and is very flexible in how it can be used, which is why many contractors love it to handle their tasks in a simple but effective way.
4. DocuSign
With DocuSign, independent contractors can turn their cumbersome process of sending, reviewing, and obtaining contracts around in a matter of minutes, all via electronic signature and document workflow automation.
Contractors are able to send, sign and keep proper records of their contracts very securely, and now, no need to print, scan or mail any document.
Conformance with legislations related to agreements and increased safety means records are saved with encryption and audit logs are generated, powered through DocuSign.
It works well with cloud storage solutions like Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive, making document storage easy.
5. Fantastical
Highlighted by Apple as its Editor’s Choice, Fantastical is a powerful app for monitoring your calendar and appointments if you are self-employed.
Unito works with both Google Calendar and Exchange, builds things, and feels like a more graduate solution to the Taskade calendar.
If you need to create events and reminders regularly, Fantastical, with its natural language processing, is an absolute productivity gem! Some of these smart features include time zone support, travel time estimates and templates for events.
The clean design and the way you can change calendars on the fly are especially useful features for contractors managing their time and schedule using both an iOS device and a Mac computer.
6. FreshBooks
FreshBooks has been designed specifically for independent contractors and small businesses and is among the best all-in-one accounting software.
This makes invoicing, expense tracking, time tracking, and financial reporting easier to handle, which allows contractors to get a better grip on the state of their finances. FreshBooks’ easy-to-use dashboard offers data to help companies identify areas to work on and make better business decisions.
Some automated features of the app, like the recurring invoices and the late payment reminders, make it easier to manage cash flow.
It is also compatible with payment processors such as PayPal and Stripe, which make it easy for customers to pay. FreshBooks has a human-readable interface and covers all financial needs a contractor has to master in order to stay healthy and grow its profits.
7. MileIQ
MileIQ is a mileage-tracking app that is very popular amongst independent contractors for business travel. Employing GPS technology, MileIQ automatically logs your trips, classifies them as business or personal, and even allows for custom rule sets.
This is essential for contractors, who can use these detailed trip logs to claim mileage expenses accurately — the IRS states that you should maintain “adequate records” for business mileage expenses.
Together, these resources create value and increase the utility of both tools. Compatible with both iOS and Android, Shoeboxed automatically saves information and syncs it between devices.
It also integrates with productivity tools, including Excel and QuickBooks, to make filling out expense reports a breeze. Speech to Text by AmazonIn order to simplify mileage tracking, the perfect contractor app that merges human accuracy with a light touch is MileIQ.
8. Fieldwire
General contractor firms and independent contractors use construction management app Fieldwire to help them coordinate their activity, manage blueprints and progress tracking within construction sites.
The solution is used for taking up tasks, managing issues, planning views, and day-by-day communication to streamline the communication and collaboration among the teams.
Offline mode – be able to review and update your project even if you are working without connection on the bill site.
The app syncs with both construction software and cloud storage services and enables the synchronization of data across platforms.
For complex construction projects, Fieldwire increases efficiency and reduces errors in project management for contractors, and is therefore a necessity.
9. Toggl Track
For Independent Contractors – Toggl Track Toggl Track is a time tracking app that allows independent contractors to gauge their billable hours as well as productivity across different projects. It provides concise functionality for manual time tracking or by using timers.
Advanced reporting in Toggl Track gives contractors a clear overview of how they are spending their time, which helps them take corrective action to improve workflows.
It also integrates well with project management tools Trello and Asana, making workflow management a breeze. Toggl Track is great for just about any contractor who needs accurate and easy-to-use time tracking for billing, project management, or just time performance analysis.
10. Calendly
If you text, you need to send them your Calendly link (the link for your scheduling app) so they can book a time with you.
The software makes it easy for users to display when they are free to make a booking and enables customers or team members to book appointments directly from their calendars.
Since Calendly syncs with your Google Calendar or Outlook, double bookings and scheduling conflicts are a thing of the past.
The app even reminds your members of their appointments automatically, so you have fewer no-shows and improper communication.
Customizable features of Calendly, like meeting buffers and time zone detection, allow users to schedule easily and match a variety of different time zones and meeting preferences. Calendly improves scheduling for freelancers and contractors.
Selecting the Right Independent Contractor Apps
Picking the Indispensable Independent Contractor AppsAnd Before you operate as an independent contractor, you better evaluate a whole slew of essential-for-success factors. So, the first thing you need to do is make a list of your basic requirements.
Apps like Harvest and FreshBooks are best suited for time tracking and invoicing, providing feature-rich solutions for tracking billable hours and churning out professional invoices.
Management and Collaboration Tools If you are looking for tools to manage the project, use this book with tools available in tools(Trello or Asana) that can assign and track tasks and manage deadlines in a manner that brings things down to your understanding, therefore able for customer requirements.
3) Assess User-friendliness & Integration capabilities of the app The interface is intuitive and has a very little learning curve, after using it the first time you are going to adapt to it fast.
It can help in increasing efficiency by integrating it into other tools that are part of your daily routines, such as accounting software, your email client, and your calendar app. For example, QuickBooks supports many bank and payment platforms, making financial planning an easy process.
Also, check out how scalable the app is and customer care. With the growth of your business, you may have growing needs, so the app must grow with your demand and not succumb to bad performance. Some apps should have responsive customer support and thorough documentation, such as tutorials and community forums, to resolve any issues you have and get the most out of that app.
Lastly, evaluate the cost. There are lots of apps with tiered pricing models, so find one that works with your budget and gives you everything you need. For free trials or basic, bare-bones versions, it can help to see whether an app is a good fit for your needs before subscribing for a month.
Conclusion
Hands down, the best apps for independent contractors will make life way easier when it comes to getting work done.
As you consider the needs of your own business, track with time, invoice and project management, and have certain features in mind: how easy can you get them to work, how well they can be integrated, and how much you can scale (and how much does it cost), and you will definitely find the right tools to keep you efficient.
By using the best apps, you can make your work more productive and develop a professional look, which in turn improves how you service your clients.
In fact, if you want to continue working as an independent contractor and you want to keep up as one of the best, then you NEED to use these digital tools to your advantage.
If you have the right apps in your arsenal, you can efficiently elevate your business and smoothly handle day-to-day work, thus giving more of your precious time to other things which you do best.
