7 Apps to be 7x More Productive That Cost Nothing

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Hey honeys and hustlers,

As a creator and solopreneur, I've spent countless hours (and dollars) exploring productivity tools, creative suites, and organizational apps. While many Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) companies push their premium features, I've discovered that some of the best tools offer incredibly powerful free plans that can transform your workflow without touching your wallet.

In this article, I'm sharing my carefully curated list of free apps that have genuinely improved my productivity and creative process. These aren't just basic stripped-down versions – they're robust tools that deliver real value before you ever need to consider upgrading to a paid tier. Whether you're just starting your journey or looking to optimize your tech stack without breaking the bank, these are the free tools that have earned a permanent place in my daily routine:

• Grammarly. If you write all the time, no matter how good you think you are, this is a game-changer. The paid plans are probably worth it as well, but the free plug-ins are available on all devices and greatly help when your brain is fried at 1AM and you’re writing a last-minute email. Ask me how I know.

• Canva. I don’t know a creator who doesn’t use Canva for repetitive designs and social content. I wish organization was easier on the free plan, and that you got a wider suite of options for your brand colors without paying, but I can’t be mad at it for everything they offer.

• Obsidian. I write in this daily. I have the sync plan, but their free plan is equally valuable. Having an organized and minimal workspace for my daily, weekly, and monthly notes is incredible.

• Notion. I could write about this all day, and have written about them a fair amount actually. I’ve been using the Notion Calendar app on desktop to visualize my creative publishing progress, and that perspective feels good to see. The jury is still out on whether Notion Mail will replace Hey email for me, but these are all free apps for people without teams, which is awesome.

• Linq.* I’ve been using their digital business card for years. At events, QR codes still reign supreme. I even added the QR code to printable items, like my pamphlets. They also have physical products with NFC chips for easy information transfer.

• PixelShot. I take a lot of screenshots, and I’ve always wished they were searchable. With this app, now they are. I can find all my creative inspo in one place and even categorize things into folders if I’m looking for something non-specific.

• Otter. I used this for a long time to capture and transcribe voice notes. It integrates with Zoom and Google meet, and has an app for on-the-go voice notes. The app and desktop version are both free and easy to use.

Honorable Mentions

• Figma. If I were a designer, I’d be using this on a weekly basis. Even as a non-designer, I feel like my life would be a lot easier if I knew how to use this. Figma integrates with just about every website (Framer and Webflow), design (Canva), and development platform (Bolt and Lovable).

• Craft Docs. If I weren’t already using Obsidian and I wanted AI in my notetaking app (I don’t personally, but someone might), I’d be using this. Beautiful UX/UI design and seems to be helpful with organizing your personal and professional thoughts.

*This is an affiliate link. If you decide to upgrade to paid, you’ll be supporting my work at no extra cost to you. But ultimately, I just hope it’s helpful.