Like so many people in the workforce today, you may have fallen into the cycle of constantly trying to do more with the limited time you have at work.
Unfortunately, simply downloading and installing the best productivity apps on your work computer may not actually make you more productive — the quantity and quality of your work depend on:
- The type of industry you’re in,
- Your personal preferences, and
- The specifics of your job.
The good news is that you can still use productivity tools to improve your approach.
To make the entire process easier, I’ve tested some of the most widely used productivity apps on the market and divided them into 6 categories.
You can take a peek at these categories, see which ones align with your responsibilities, and select an app that would be a good fit.
Now, let’s get into it!
Table of Contents
Best productivity apps for team communication
If we’ve learned anything from the past few years, it’s that the productivity of remote workers largely depends on how well they communicate with their teams.
For this reason, we’ll look at 3 communication apps that have changed the game when it comes to asynchronous communication.
Pumble
Pumble — a user-friendly and intuitive team communication app — offers a multitude of features that benefit businesses of all sizes.
What makes the app stand out from its competitors is the comprehensive free plan, which is a cost-effective solution for organizations looking to improve their internal communication.
Main pro: Alongside high-quality voice calls, Pumble also provides video calls — ideal for situations when it’s best to see your team members face-to-face. As I’m part of a remote team, my coworkers and I rely on Pumble to conduct hassle-free virtual meetings, and we’ve never experienced any significant hitch such as lagging.
Main con: Pumble currently has fewer native integrations than some similar software. However, many updates are in the works for Pumble integrations.
What’s new: Pumble recently upgraded its notification sounds, and users can select which pleasing tune will inform them they’re received a message or call.
Available for: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS
Pricing: Free plan available; Paid plans start at $2.49 per user per month
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams — a platform compatible with Microsoft’s roster of Office tools — provides businesses with:
- Messaging features,
- Audio calls, and
- Video calls.
Launched in 2017, Microsoft Teams is a top productivity app for companies that operate solely on Microsoft solutions.
Main pro: If you’re already a Microsoft 365 user, you won’t have to pay extra to use Teams — a handy perk for people who are satisfied with this product ecosystem.
Main con: Microsoft Teams limits users to 30 private and 200 public channels per team. This may not bother smaller organizations, but I see it potentially pushing larger businesses into switching to a Microsoft Teams alternative.
What’s new: Teams recently rolled out its SMS feature, allowing users to send and receive text messages through the app without reaching for their mobile phone.
Available for: Windows, macOS, Web, iOS, and Android
Pricing: No extra charge for users with a Microsoft 365 license plan; Paid plans start at $4 per user per month
💡 Pumble Pro Tip
If you’ve been thinking of switching from Microsoft Teams to an app with similar functionalities, this post could help you make a final decision:
Free Microsoft Teams alternative
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Google Chat
Google Chat boasts a simple layout and aims to streamline team communication and collaboration.
Besides chatting to coworkers, you can use the app to:
- Schedule meetings,
- Check your calendar, and
- Request time off.
Main pro: Rather than launching the app to look at messages, you can access Chat through Gmail from the left-hand window.
Main con: The design of in-line threading isn’t intuitive and could cause you to lose sight of important information. If you frequently collaborate with several coworkers and switch between teams, you might want to try a Google Chat alternative instead.
What’s new: The app debuted Duet AI, an AI-powered tool that can summarize conversations and documents shared in Chat spaces.
Available for: Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, iOS, and Android
Pricing: Free for personal use; Paid plan is part of the Google Workspace, which starts at $6 per user per month
💡 Pumble Pro Tip
For even more information about some of the most competitive team communication apps, check out this detailed list:
Best productivity apps for making to-do lists
It’s hard to stay productive if your daily to-dos slip out of your mind. Hopefully, you’ll be able to prevent this issue by trying one of the following apps.
Todoist
One of the most popular note-taking apps available, Todoist is a cloud-based tool that syncs all notes and tasks across your devices. If you use the app in offline mode, it will sync the changes as soon as your device connects to a wireless network.
Main pro: The interface is easy to navigate, which makes creating task lists quick and enjoyable. You can add as little or as much detail to your tasks through labels and colors and break down tasks into smaller subtasks.
Main con: I tried the free tier and was happy that there was no learning curve. But, I then realized that even the paid subscriptions don’t unlock many advanced features.
What’s new: The new calendar layout gives users a detailed overview of their scheduled tasks.
Available for: Web, Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android
Pricing: Free plan available; Paid plans start at $4 per user per month
TickTick
Another app that can help you stay productive and focused is TickTick, a to-do list product loaded with features.
Rather than simply writing down your tasks, you can create a priority system through:
- Task lists,
- Time tracking,
- Tags,
- Filtering and sorting, and
- Reminders.
Main pro: Once I ticked off a finished task, I could easily find it in the “Completed” section. Moreover, I didn’t even have to log into the app to set up a new task. Each user receives a dedicated TickTick email address. When you send an email to this address, Ticktick will translate it into a task and add it to your schedule.
Main con: You can only access the calendar and timeline view with a Premium account.
What’s new: If you want to use the app for task management and collaboration, you’ll be happy to hear that TickTick has added an “Assignee” field, so you’ll never have to wonder who the responsible party is.
Available for: Web, Linux, Windows, Apple Watch, iOS, Android, and macOS
Pricing: Free plan available; Premium subscription is $35.99 per user per year
Habitica
An open-source productivity and habit-tracking app, Habitica gamifies tasks by rewarding you for marking off items on your to-do list. The app is great for people who enjoy role-playing games or want to add a dash of fun to their daily routine.
Main pro: You can join communities and partake in challenges to stay accountable, which brings a unique social aspect to the experience.
Main con: The layout and design — reminiscent of 90s video games — can be overwhelming, and new users may need more time to get into the flow of things.
What’s new: Habitica has stuck to the same set of features for years because it is not updated as frequently as some of its competitors.
Available for: Web, macOS, Linux, Windows, Android, and iOS
Pricing: Free plan available; Paid plans start at $4.99 per user per month
Best productivity apps for project management
Another fundamental pillar of productivity is project management. Luckily, there are tried-and-true apps that will make sure you never miss a due date again.
Plaky
Main pro: Unlike similar software, Plaky has an intuitive design, and setting up a board with item groups (task groups) is pretty straightforward. My team uses Plaky to coordinate and manage work tasks, but I also like to have a personal board where I break down my tasks into subtasks for more clarity and focus.
Main con: Plaky doesn’t have any automations yet. However, according to the Plaky Roadmap, board automations are in the works.
What’s new: With the new Gantt Timeline View, you get a visualization of all project tasks in a dynamic chart format, helping you better understand the schedule and expected deadlines.
Available for: Web, iOS, and Android
Pricing: Free plan available; Paid plans start at $3.99 per user per month
Wrike
Wrike is a work and project management app you can use to track:
- Schedules,
- Tasks,
- Projects, and
- Other business processes.
Over time, the platform has expanded its features, allowing users to access financial management options such as invoicing and budgeting.
Main pro: The Work Intelligence suite helps users automate task creation and predict potential project risks, and I was impressed with how Wrike has leveraged machine learning and AI technology.
Main con: As one of the more expensive project managers, Wrike may not be the best productivity tool for small and midsize businesses.
What’s new: The platform has updated its custom text fields, giving users access to rich text formatting, including hyperlinks, italic, bold, and strikethrough text.
Available for: Web, Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS
Pricing: Free plan available; Paid plans start at $9.80 per user per month
monday.com
A cloud-based collaboration and work management app, monday.com, caters to professionals in various industries, including:
- Software development,
- Marketing,
- CRM, and
- HR.
Although fairly comprehensive, monday.com has a modern and uncomplicated interface, so even new users can quickly understand how to leverage the software to their advantage.
Main pro: As I was going through the app’s knowledge base, I saw that one of the goals of monday.com is to help its users get familiar with the product. Thus, I was happy to find a library of recorded and on-demand webinars I could use to understand the platform’s functionalities.
Main con: Most of the app’s more competitive features are reserved for the paid plans. For example, you’d have to get a Pro subscription to unlock time tracking options.
What’s new: With the recently released WorkCanvas, monday.com users can create whiteboards and visual materials without using additional software.
Available for: Web, Android, and iOS
Pricing: Free plan available; Paid plans start at $8 per user per month
💡 Pumble Pro Tip
If you’re a remote worker looking to add even more tools to bolster your arsenal of work-from-home software, you can find additional ideas here:
Best productivity apps for taking notes
Whether I’m conducting research for an article or reading for fun, I have my laptop open, ready to type up notes. Out of the many note-taking apps I’ve tried, the following 3 have made managing both my personal and professional life much easier.
Notion
Highly customizable and easy to use, Notion is a note-taking app at its core. But, due to its functionalities, it has evolved into a popular project management solution for small businesses and contractors.
Main pro: Notion is built from pages, and when you first open the app, you’ll see a tutorial instructing you how to create your first page. I like how quickly I can tweak my pages by adding icons, headers, and comments. In addition to inserting videos and to-do lists, I can also embed Google Maps into a page.
Main con: In the paid versions of the app, Notion provides enhanced security. However, if you’re trying the free version, you might want to be careful about what you upload to the platform.
What’s new: If your organization uses Notion, the new “My Task View” will now allow you to view all tasks assigned to you in one place.
Available for: Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android
Pricing: Free plan available; Paid plans start at $8 per user per month
Free team communication software
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Google Keep
Are you looking for a tool that will help you capture, manage, and share thoughts as digital sticky notes? If so, Google Keep may be the perfect productivity app for you.
The only thing you’ll need to access this note-taker is a Google account.
Main pro: What surprised me most about Google Keep is how quickly I could start taking notes. All I have to do is tap the “Take a Note” bar. But Keep doesn’t only limit me to text. I can personalize my notes with an unlimited number of pictures and use the drawing tool for a more dynamic and engaging experience.
Main con: As is typical for Google’s consumer products, there’s no direct customer support for Keep. Should you have any issues, you’ll have to consult the platform’s Help Center.
What’s new: Android 14 users can set Keep as their default note-taker and jot down to-do lists and notes using a stylus.
Available for: Android, iOS, and Web
Pricing: Free
Obsidian
Main pro: I was used to apps letting me link things together, yet I was still unprepared for Obsidian’s unmatched flexibility. I could categorize my notes into folders and move them into subfolders, all via the sidebar. Thanks to the internal hyperlinks, my notes began resembling an interconnected network.
Main con: Although the internal linking is what sets Obsidian apart from its competitors, it’s also one of the app’s biggest downsides. It took me a lot of trial and error to crack the app, and even then, I had to refer to online tutorials for guidance.
What’s new: One of Obsidian’s latest upgrades is the Markdown table editor, which allows users more control over managing rows and columns.
Available for: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android
Pricing: Free for personal use; $50 per user per year for commercial use
Best productivity apps for tracking time
How can you stay productive and focused if you’re unaware of where you invest most of your time? With these powerful time trackers, you won’t have to worry about where your time went.
Clockify
Whether you’re leading a business or an entrepreneur kickstarting a solo venture, Clockify can help you with:
- Reporting,
- Time-tracking, and
- Billing features.
Main pro: One of my biggest struggles as a remote worker used to be combating distractions. With Clockify’s Calendar, that’s a non-issue. I block off dedicated time blocks for deep work, which has optimized my schedule and boosted my productivity. To ensure all calendar events are in one place, you can sync your Outlook and Google calendars with Clockify.
Main con: Although freelancers can use Clockify to organize their business hours, you’ll unlock the app’s full capabilities when using it with a team or organization.
What’s new: With the recently released Favorite entries, you can reuse frequently used time entries and make your time tracking even more efficient.
Available for: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android
Pricing: Free plan available; Paid plans start at $3.99 per user per month
Toggl Track
Another widely used time tracker, Toggl Track gives users more insight into how much time they spend on their tasks. It’s a popular choice among freelancers who use the app to monitor billable hours. But, it’s also an excellent option for students and anyone looking to become more responsible and organized.
Main pro: I appreciate how well Toggl has integrated its Pomodoro Timer with its time-tracking features. If you — like me — sometimes get sidetracked when working from home, this option could help you maintain focus when chipping away at urgent tasks.
Main con: While testing the free version, I realized I couldn’t pause a task in progress. I could only mark it as complete and launch another task after my break.
What’s new: Toggl users can now import calendar events from Google Calendar to their Toggl Plan.
Available for: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and Web
Pricing: Free plan available; Paid plans start at $9 per user per month
TimeCamp
TimeCamp, a time-tracking productivity software, aims to help workers determine which apps are “productive” and which are “unproductive.” Once the platform gathers this information, you can use the insight to better manage your time.
Main pro: TimeCamp seems like a good choice for remote teams that want to achieve accountability. The attendance reports show how and when your team members have logged their hours. For even more details, you can use labels — such as projects and clients — to get a clearer picture of where your time has gone.
Main con: To fully reap the benefits of this time tracking app, you’ll have to get one of the paid plans, which may not be feasible for small businesses and startups.
What’s new: Unlike similar solutions, TimeCamp has released few updates in the last few years, instead of sticking to its core features.
Available for: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android
Pricing: Free plan available; Paid plans start at $2.99 per user per month
Best productivity apps for scheduling calendar events
Our list of top productivity apps wouldn’t be complete without dedicating a category to scheduling platforms. So, let’s see how the following 3 apps fared.
Calendly
If you struggle to keep up with business appointments, Calendly could help you feel less overwhelmed with your busy schedule.
Not only does linking your Google Calendar to the app take a few clicks, but Calendly also lets users:
- Tweak their availability,
- Create different calendar events, and
- Preview their schedule.
Main pro: While tinkering with the app, I realized that its greatest benefit is how efficiently it prevents double bookings. Instead of coordinating availability with coworkers, they can simply make plans that align with your schedule, which eliminates tedious back-and-forth.
Main con: Although Calendly leaves little to be desired as a scheduling app, you’ll need to use additional tools to bolster communication and collaboration in your company.
What’s new: Calendly recently revamped its web app by adding a navigation bar on the left part of its homepage.
Available for: Web, iOS, and Android
Pricing: Free plan available; Paid plans start at $10 per seat per month
Google Calendar
If you prefer a no-frills approach to scheduling appointments, Google Calendar has everything you need to share availability and track events.
The platform also gives you insight into RSVPs — an essential feature if your job entails daily video conferencing.
Main pro: What I like best about Google Calendar is that it allows me to create multiple calendars. This option makes it easy to separate work and personal appointments and avoid cluttering your digital space. Moreover, you can share specific calendars with coworkers or friends and even grant editing permissions.
Main con: When I tried managing multiple calendars on my mobile device, the UI became a bit confusing — an issue I hadn’t experienced with the web version.
What’s new: In 2023, Google upgraded its Calendar to allow users to add more detail about their location during the day.
Available for: Web, Android, iPhone, iPad, and Wear OS
Pricing: Free
Zoho Bookings
Finishing off our selection of the best productivity apps is Zoho Bookings, a scheduling and appointment management platform that caters to small businesses and entrepreneurs.
You can manage your schedule with the app by:
- Setting your availability,
- Customizing your personal booking site, and
- Sending email or SMS reminders and confirmations.
Main pro: Unsurprisingly, the app works well with nearly all other Zoho products and has an impressive number of third-party integrations. If you’ve used Zoho products before, you might also be inclined to try their scheduling app.
Main con: Although comprehensive, the interface was slightly confusing. For instance, I had to go into “Settings” to view the reports and resources. I’d expected to find these in the main menu.
What’s new: With the updated Help widget, users can record their screen and forward the recording to the Zoho support team for a quicker resolution.
Available for: Web, Android, and iOS
Pricing: Free plan available; Paid plans start at $6 per user per month
Choose the right tools to be at your most productive
Although many apps promise to make users more productive at work, there’s no guarantee.
So, before making a rash decision and committing to an app, take the time to test it out and make sure its features can fully support you during your workday!
When it comes to productivity at work, it all starts with communication and collaboration. Try Pumble for free today and equip your organization with the tools necessary for success!
Free team communication software
Try Pumble, a secure, reliable, and easy-to-use communication tool.
