From distraction blocking to time tracking to reports – productivity tools have been a necessary part of many companies’ practices. No wonder more and more organizations are looking into different productivity programs and platforms. Moreover, freelancers and even people who just want to be more organized in their personal lives find them useful.
Naturally, this means many new tools are showing up, and picking the perfect one for your needs can get confusing. Hence, we are here to help you decide on the best productivity tools for you (if you work alone), or your team.
Time Tracking Based Productivity Tools
1. Time Analytics
Time Analytics is a time tracking platform that makes all time spent on a project transparent. The software works as follows: the employees fill in timesheets at the end of their workday. Then the software turns this data into reports and suggestions you can use to improve your business practices.
Time Analytics doesn’t only offer insights into the employees’ days, but also your clients and projects. You can know whether a project is actually profitable, or if you need to negotiate a better contract with a particular client.
In other words, Time Analytics allows its users to improve their business in multiple ways – by identifying top performers, profitable projects, and clients that are more likely to propel you forward.
Features
- Time tracking – track employee time accurately and quickly while still conveying your trust in them and getting great visual reports
- Client monitoring – see whether a contract is good for you or if you’re losing money with it
- Billing – create accurate invoices with all billable hours, expenses and fees accounted for
Pricing
Free – an option for small teams
Starter – $4.99 per user per month
Optimum – $6.99 per user per month
Premium – $12.99 per user per month
Trial period
14 days
2. Toggl
Toggl is an employee productivity tracker that takes a youthful approach to time tracking. It focuses on making the time users spend at their computers more productive rather than increasing its quantity. The platform creates reports and points you to better business practices.
Features
- Versatility – Toggl is available on all devices and has numerous integrations
- Time tracking – stay on top of things with easy entries
- Reminders – never forget to enter your daily workflow again
Pricing
Free – for up to 5 users
Starter – $10 per user per month
Premium – $20 per user per month
Enterprise – a custom solution
Trial period
30 days
3. Everhour
Everhour is another one of our chosen productivity measurement tools that track time. It offers billing, budgeting, and reporting features besides time tracking. The platform is meant to be used as a project management tool and help you figure out how to improve your business.
Features
- Availability monitoring – know which employees are available and on leave
- Time tracking – choose between using an automatic timer and manual entries
- Integrations – add the time tracker to the most popular project management tools
Pricing
All-in-one – $8.50 per user per month
Trial period
14 days
4. RescueTime
RescueTime is a time tracking platform that aims to increase workplace productivity and morale. It does this by setting up personalized focus work goals and sessions which block distractions. Employees receive a review at the end of their workday so they can learn more about their work habits
Features
- Focus Work Goal – the app will analyze your work habits and create goals for you
- Focus Sessions – eliminate distractions for a certain time to be able to focus completely
- Reports – find out how productive you are compared to your peers
Pricing
Depends on your situation
Trial period
14 days
5. Clockify
Clockify is a time tracker which offers productivity insights. It offers its users a choice between automatic and manual tracking. The reports the app delivers point to the level of productivity, whether personal or on the level of your organization.
Features
- Time tracking – use an automatic timer or enter your hours manually
- Reporting – receive reports based on the data about your employees’ workflow
- Project tracking – See how your jobs are progressing in real-time
Pricing
Free – time tracking only
Basic – $4.99 per user per month
Standard – $6.99 per user per month
Pro – $9.99 per user per month
Enterprise – $14.99 per user per month
Trial period
Available
Distraction Blocking Tools
6. Cold Turkey
Cold Turkey is a useful distraction blocking productivity tool. It works across all browsers and offers multiple ways to create time for a focused session. Users can also choose apps and games to block and different modes depending on their needs.
- Website and app blocking – prevent yourself from wasting time when you need to focus
- Scheduled blocks – set some time to be productive on a regular basis
- Writer – turn your device into a typewriter to prevent yourself from procrastinating
Pricing
Free version
Writer pro – $9
Micromanager Pro – $19
Blocker Pro – $39
Trial period
None
7. Forest
Procrastination and lack of focus can get to the best of us, especially since most people get distracted by their phones. That is why Forest, a distraction blocking app takes a youthful approach to keeping its users focused. Plant and grow virtual trees while you get the work done.
Features
- Distraction blocking – you won’t be able to use your phone while the app is active
- Consequences – your virtual garden will perish if you don’t leave your phone be
- Real-world improvement – the app donates money to a charity that plants trees
Pricing
Subscription – $34.99 per year
Additional in-app purchases are available
Trial period
None
8. A Soft Murmur
A Soft Murmur is one of the best productivity tools for users who need some type of background sound to focus. You can choose between many options and choose the one who works for you. The sounds include ambient sounds of nature, humans, water, etc.
Features
- Peaceful surroundings – whether you can’t work in complete silence or need to block distractions
- Minimum distraction – the app is extremely discreet in its visuals and coloring
- Many options – you can choose the type of sound you want to play
Pricing
Free with in-app purchases
Trial period
No information
9. Freedom
Freedom is a distraction blocking app with a high level of customizability. The application allows users to set up a scheduled session or instantly start one. You can also choose which sites and apps to block. Finally, you can choose multiple devices to use Freedom on.
Features
- Multiple devices – block distractions coming from different sources
- Website and app blocking – prevent yourself from wasting valuable time
- Scheduling sessions – make your productivity sessions a habit
Pricing
Monthly – $6.99 per month
Yearly – $2.42 per month
Forever – $129
Trial period
7 sessions
File Sharing Tools for productivity increase
10. Dropbox
Dropbox is a cloud-based file hosting platform that allows users to store and access their files from anywhere. it is meant to be used as an online workspace where all team members can find all material they need for a project.
Features
- File recovery – recover files or their previous versions with no hassle
- Team workspace – team folders with different permissions and synchronization management
- Different plans – upsize your plan as your team grows to have the space you need
Pricing
Plus – $11.99 per month
Family – $19.99
Professional – $19.99 per month
Standard – $15 per user per month
Advanced – $25 per user per month
Enterprise – find out about the pricing by contacting the Dropbox team
Trial period
30 days
11. Google One
Google One is one of the more versatile collaboration tools out there. It is a great way to create documents and upload photos, videos, and other types of files. By having all the materials needed for a project in one convenient place, you make sure every team member who needs them can access them.
Features
- File synchronization – let all team members get access to files from any device
- Work offline – no matter your internet connection, you’ll be able to be productive
- Scanning – add paper documents to the folders by scanning them with your phone
Pricing
Free – the first 15 GB
100 GB – $2 per month
200 GB – $3 per month
2 TB – $10 per month
10 TB – $100 per month
20 TB – $200 per month
30 TB – $300 per month
Trial period
No information available
Scheduling Productivity Tools
12. Calendly
Calendly is a scheduling productivity platform software that ensures no calendar clashes occur. It also offers a reminder feature with follow-ups included. The software has been designed to automate the entire workflow when meetings and collaborations are in question.
Features
- Team scheduling – make all meetings convenient for all team members
- Custom notifications – decide which entries are more urgent than others
- Calendar integration – import already existing entries from your calendar apps
Pricing
Basic – free
Premium – $10 per month
Pro – $15 per month
Enterprise – contact the Calendly team for information
Trial period
14 days
Email Management Tools
13. SaneBox
Emails have been a staple of business for as long as they have existed. Unfortunately, they often become overwhelming and difficult to filter through. SaneBox helps its users organize their inboxes, sort and prioritize their emails and avoid unnecessary stress.
Features
- SaneLater – move unimportant emails into a separate folder
- SaneReminders – set up different reminders for emails that don’t get answered
- Digest – an overview of all unread unimportant emails in all folders
Pricing
Snack – $7 per month
Lunch – $12 per month
Dinner – $36 per month
Trial period
14 days
14. Cocofax
CocoFax is a cloud-based fax platform allowing you to send and receive faxes online from any device securely and reliably. It aims to help businesses go greener, smarter, and quicker.
Features
- Free fax number
- Delivery Reports for Faxes
- Permanent storage
- Email to Fax Solutions
- Safe and Encrypted Faxing
- Smartphone faxing
Pricing
Lite – $ 4.99/ Month
Basic – $9.99/ Month
Premium – $16.99/ Month
Business – $24.99/ Month
Writing Tools for better writing productivity
15. Hemingway
Hemingway Editor is a writing productivity tool that analyzes your text and points to the ways to improve it. It checks readability, sentence length, writing quality, and stylistic choices. The app color coordinates different types of problems for maximum efficiency.
Features
- Readability – keep your prose accessible to anyone and easy to go through
- Offline editor – you don’t need an internet connection to use Hemingway to its full potential
- Formatting – no need to transfer your work into a Word document for formatting
Pricing
Free version
Desktop version – $19.99
Trial period
No information
16. Grammarly
Grammarly is one of the best productivity tools for content creation. While it doesn’t help in the creation process itself, it is a great way to check your grammar and fix any mistakes automatically. This is especially useful for content writers writing in their second language.
Features
- Grammar checker – find and fix any spelling grammar or wording mistakes in your text
- Goals – make sure your content conveys the message you want it to
- Rewriting – let the software rewrite sentences and fix your slip-ups
Pricing
Free version
Premium – $12 per month
Business – $12.50 per user per month
Additional fees apply when you choose different features
Trial period
None
17. SmallSeoTools
Whether it’s checking for plagiarism, counting words, checking your grammar, or some other way to check the quality of your article – SmallSeoTools has it. This productivity platform software offers a variety of tools to make sure you rank high.
Features
Plagiarism checker – make sure none of your content appears elsewhere online
Image editing – resize, compress, create GIFs to make your page visually appealing
Keywords – research your keywords for a better search engine position
Pricing
Free
Trial period
None
Task and Project Management Tools
18. Asana
Asana is a project management platform with the goal of making all work-related information transparent. It enables users to create, assign and prioritize different actions. Tracking tasks in real-time will then help users project their time more accurately later on.
Features
- Project management – track the progress of your projects from start to finish
- Sales – introduce new customers to your business and close deals quickly
- Marketing – create campaigns and track their success
Pricing
Basic – free
Premium – $13.49 per user per month
Business – $30.49 per user per month
Enterprise – contact Asana’s sales team for pricing information
Trial period
30 days
19. Trello
Trello offers a broad view of all planned tasks within an organization. Make a board for a specific project and assign tasks within it. Trello also allows communication between team members and tracking project health and progress.
Features
- Boards, lists, and cards – choose the way you view and manage your projects
- Automation – let the system take over menial and repetitive tasks
- Integrations – use the tools your team already utilizes with easy integrations
Pricing
Free – for freelancers and small teams
Business class – $10 per user per month
Enterprise – $17.50 per user per month
Trial period
Available
20. nTask
nTask is a productivity tool that aims to encompass all elements of different projects. The platform streamlines business processes from start to finish, while also managing and analyzing them in real-time.
Features
Project planning – have a good grasp on how the business is going to go before it starts
Kanban – organize all tasks and have a real-time overview of all information
Collaboration – add assignees, overlook and comment on the project progress
Pricing
Basic – free
Premium – $3.99 per user per month
Business – $11.99 per user per month
Enterprise – contact the nTask team for pricing information
Trial period
14 days
21. ProofHub
ProofHub is a task management tool that serves as one of the best business productivity software
solutions. This is the case because the platform offers a plethora of different tools and a communication channel. It aims to offer all relevant information about a project in one place.
Features
- Discussions – avoid long and stressful email threads with direct and group chats
- Kanban boards – split tasks up into smaller ones and assign them to employees
- Calendar – never forget any task or deadline and use calendar integrations
Pricing
Flat – $50 per month
Ultimate control – $99 per month
Trial period
14 days
22. GanttPro
GanttPro is a task management platform that sees your projects from start to finish. Its features include planning, task management, budget tracking, and different integrations. The software aims to make task management as simple as possible, no matter the size of your organization.
Features
- Planning – schedule tasks and their deadlines and connect them among themselves
- Collaboration – know about all changes happening in a project, no matter who makes them
- Project management – stay updated on project progress and receive alerts if you’re behind
Pricing
Individual – $15 per user per month
Team – $8.90 per user per month
Enterprise – find out about the pricing by contacting the GanttPro team
Trial period
14 days
Reminders and Note Taking Tools
23. Evernote
When it comes to note-taking, Evernote is one of the best productivity tools out there. The app offers taking voice and written notes, as well as photos and other attachments. Additionally, you can create a library of articles to read and use as a reference.
Features
- Note organization – take notes on any device, online or offline, and let the program synchronize them
- Web clipper – save screenshots from the internet and use them later
- Integrations – add Evernote to Google Calendar to make sure you’re not forgetting any deadlines
Pricing
Evernote free
Evernote Personal – €6.99 per month
Evernote Professional – €8.99 per month
Evernote Professional – €13.99 per user per month
Trial period
14 days
24. Remember the milk
Remember the milk is another list creating and managing tool. You can set up and organize reminders both work-related and not. The app’s clear color-coordinated tagging system allows users to stay on top of their notes and track them.
Features
Smart add – easily create task entries and set their priority and due dates
Reminders – never forget to complete a task with due date reminders
List sharing – send other users your lists and synchronize them
Pricing
Pro – $39.99 per year
Trial period
None
Password Management Tools
25.1Password
1password is one of the best productivity tools for users who have trouble remembering and managing their passwords. It offers password vaults that keep your data safe and your device protected. Finally, the admins have different levels of permissions.
Features
- Master password – access all your passwords through a single Master password
- Storage – keep passwords and personal and business documents safe
- Privacy – the entire platform is based on the premise of giving the users ultimate privacy
Pricing
Business – $7.99 per user per month
Teams Starter Pack – $19.95 per month (up to 10 members)
Enterprise – Custom pricing
Trial period
Available
26. LastPass
Workplace online security is a huge issue, especially if your employees don’t have a high level of computer skills. Even though having different passwords is a good safety practice, it can be overwhelming to keep track of them. That is where LastPass comes in.
Features
Password manager – create strong and versatile passwords for different accounts
Password Vault – store all your passwords and other information in a safe vault
Automatic saving – let the system fill the required fields for you
Pricing
Teams – €3.90 per user per month
Business – €5.70 per user per month
Trial period
Available
Communication and Collaboration Tools
27. Slack
Slack is one of the world’s most famous and best productivity tools. This platform is primarily used as a communication channel within a company, but you can also share files and set up reminders. The software also offers numerous integrations.
Features
- Communication – message individuals and groups, have audio or video calls with them
- File sharing – send and receive files through the app to stay in the loop
- Integrations – you can connect Slack to a plethora of different tools and add-ons.
Pricing
Free version
Pro – $6.67 per user per month
Business+ – $12.50 per user per month
Enterprise grid – contact Slack’s team for pricing information
Trial period
Available at request
28. Google Workspace
An improved version of the famous Google Docs, created with team collaboration in mind. You can create Office documents from your browser and allow your teammates to collaborate in them. The platform enables users to work on the same document, chat, and leave comments.
Features
- Collaboration – receive feedback and work on the same document in real-time
- Suite – you can create, import, and work with various file types
- Revision history – access all the changes made to a document from the time it was created
Pricing
Business starter – $6 per user per month
Business standard – $12 per user per month
Business plus – $18 per user per month
Enterprise – contact the Google Workspace sales team for pricing information
Trial period
Available
29. Hubgets
Hubgets is one of the best productivity tools for communication. The thing that makes it different than the competition is the lack of intrusive notifications. Each member can add to the total knowledge base of the company and access and search it effectively.
Features
- Communication – Instant message, call, or video chat with your coworkers
- Smart meetings – reduce the time you spend in unnecessary meetings by using boards
- Conversation history – find solutions for your problems in the app’s knowledge base
Pricing
Free version
Startup – $2.9 per user per month
Team – $6.9 per user per month
Enterprise – contact the Hubgets sales team for pricing information
Trial period
Available
30. Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is another communication channel favored by many companies. This productivity platform software is used to unite remote teams and allow them to collaborate. It can also be used to send files to individuals and teams.
Features
Communication – set up meetings, calls and send direct messages to teams and individuals
File sharing – make sure all team members have all the tools they need to finish projects
Cloud storage – keep up to 10 GB of documents and files at hand
Pricing
Free version
Microsoft 365 business basic – $5 per user per month
Microsoft 365 business standard – $12.50 per user per month
Trial period
30 days
31. Fleep
Fleep is one of the best productivity tools for users who want to multitask. It combines messaging, tasks, and file sharing in a single program. The platform aims to make all projects transparent and easy to navigate.
Features
Collaboration – communicate with your team members as well as other Fleep members
Presence – know if your coworkers are active and when they’ve last accessed their computers
Integrations – add Fleep to all your inboxes and coordinate them
Pricing
Basic – Free
Business – €5 per user per month
Enterprise – custom pricing
Trial period
None
Organization Tools for Productivity Improvement
32.Bit.ai
Bit.ai is a platform that allows companies to organize all necessary information. Organize your projects and create knowledge bases for your organization. The information can also contain different types of media, like photos and instructional videos.
Features
- Workflow – plan and establish the way you’ll work on projects and stay updated on them
- Content management – create a library of all content you need for any type of task
- Document sharing – upload documents and be notified about others accessing them
Pricing
Free plan
Pro plan – $12 per user per month
Business plan – $20 per user per month
Trial period
Available
33. Infinity
Infinity allows users to organize their projects and choose the way they are viewed. The templates the platform offers include Gantt charts, lists, forms, and others. The goal of the software is to streamline all business processes.
Features
- Project planning – a template to see your jobs through from start to fruition
- Ticket management – a way to organize support tickets and stay on top of them
- Marketing templates – from sales to client onboarding, handle all marketing issues easily
Pricing
$9 per user per month
Trial period
No information available
Social Media Tools Other Productivity Tools
Trial period
14 days
34. HubSpot
HubSpot is a feature-rich customer relationship management platform. Its goal is to increase company productivity by optimizing all aspects of customer experience. The software offers help with marketing, sales, customer support, content management, etc.
Features
- Marketing Hub – manage your email campaigns and generate leads with ease
- Sales Hub – make sure to close more lucrative deals with new clients
- Service Hub – provide high-quality customer support to build even more trust
Pricing
Marketing Hub
Starter – $45 per month
Professional – $800 per month
Enterprise – $3.200 per month
There are other pricing options for different products too
Trial period
14 days
35. TeamViewer
TeamViewer is an employee productivity tracker that takes things a little differently. It enables teams to collaborate and hold meetings online. Additionally, users can access team members’ data. This can be used to help with technical issues as well.
Features
Remote support – your IT team can access coworkers’ devices and resolve issues
Collaboration – transfer files and keep the high quality of images
Cross-platform – TeamViewer is available on a huge variety of operating systems and devices
Pricing
Single user – €29.90 per month
Multi-user – €59.90 per month
For teams – €129.90 per month
Trial period
14 days
36. GoCo
GoCo is one of the best productivity tools for HR matters. The platform automates some of the more tedious tasks and leaves more time for HR managers to dedicate to their teams. Organizing workload is completely digitalized and ensures full clarity.
Features
- Hiring and onboarding – make sure your onboarding process goes smoothly and no step is overlooked
- Payroll – you can let the app take over the payroll or synchronize it with cloud-based solutions
- Workflows – create a standard for all HR processes and make sure to follow them later on
Pricing
Custom plans starting at $5 per employee per month
Trial period
No information available
37. IFTTT
IFTTT is a productivity platform software that allows companies to connect their profiles on the world’s most successful platforms. Its powerful integration features enable users to get the most out of the tools they are already using by combining them.
Features
- Social media – synchronize different social media accounts to one another for simultaneous posting
- Calendars – never lose track of your entries when changing your calendar app
- Budgeting – synchronize different budgeting and savings apps to keep
Pricing
Standard – free
Pro – $3.40 per month
Developer – $199 per year
Team – pricing depends on your team’s size
Enterprise – custom pricing
Trial period
No information available
38. Kayako
Kayako is a productivity tool that allows small and medium businesses to deliver high-quality customer support. This platform takes over the task of hiring and managing a responsive support team. The support comes through numerous channels and manages to stay personal.
Features
- SingleView – a visual timeline that creates helpful customer support experiences
- Live Chat – add this function to your sites and apps for instant visitor engagement
- Self Service – enable your site visitors to find a solution for their problem themselves
Pricing
Inbox – $15 per agent per month
Growth – $30 per agent per month
Scale – $60 per agent per month
Trial period
14 days
39. HootSuite
HootSuite is one of the best productivity tools that manage social media accounts. It helps companies plan their strategy, plan and schedule posts. Additionally, the platform offers reports and suggestions, and strategy tips.
Features
- Reporting – track engagement of all your posts and let the analytics help you create your future plans
- Password management – log in to all of your accounts with one password
- Scheduling – create posts you’ll publish later and don’t worry about your plans
Pricing
Contact Hootsuite sales team for pricing information
Trial period
30 days
40. Cyfe
Cyfe is a productivity platform software that aims to make all social media posts and their ranking visible in a single dashboard. It collects data in real-time and shows many important metrics and their trends. The platform’s goal is to show its users the way to improve their KPIs.
Features
- Data widgets – import data from different sources and manage them all through a single software
- Embedded analytics – share the data safely and give custom viewing permissions
- White label – allow your clients full transparency and raise your reputation
Pricing
Standard – $29 per month
Pro – $49 per month
Premier – starting with $89 per month
Agency plan – starting with $150 per month
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many aspects of office productivity software solutions you should consider before committing to one. While design and marketing are the first things you notice, functionality and results are what you should be looking for.
It is important to get the software that will give you the crucial information which pushes you forward. This means different things in different industries and also depends on your company’s policies. Thus, we hope that we have narrowed down your choice and helped you decide on the productivity measurement tools you’ll use.
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