Running a small business today means wearing a lot of hats. The right apps can save you hours, simplify your daily workflow, and help you scale faster—no matter your industry. But with thousands of options, how do you know which apps are truly worth your time and budget?
We’ve researched, tested, and compared the best apps for small businesses across accounting, scheduling, marketing, project management, and more. Here are our top 15 picks for 2025—plus, where to get the best deals and free trials.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you sign up or purchase. This comes at no extra cost to you and helps support our work.
1. QuickBooks Online
Best for: Accounting & Bookkeeping
QuickBooks remains the gold standard for small business accounting. Easily track expenses, manage invoices, automate tax prep, and integrate with your bank.
👉 Try QuickBooks Online
2. FreshBooks
Best for: Invoicing & Time Tracking
Perfect for freelancers and service businesses. FreshBooks makes it easy to send invoices, accept payments, and track billable hours—all in one app.
👉 Get a FreshBooks Free Trial
3. Square
Best for: POS & Payment Processing
Sell anywhere—online, in-store, or on the go. Square’s POS system and payment tools work for retail, food service, and events.
👉 Sign Up for Square
4. Shopify
Best for: eCommerce
Shopify makes it simple to set up an online store, sell across channels, and scale fast. Powerful features, great support, and tons of integrations.
👉 Start Your Shopify Store
5. Gusto
Best for: Payroll & HR
Take the hassle out of payroll, benefits, and compliance. Gusto is built for small teams and makes onboarding a breeze.
👉 Explore Gusto Payroll
6. Slack
Best for: Team Communication
Slack keeps your team connected—whether you’re in the office or remote. Chat, share files, and integrate with hundreds of tools.
👉 Try Slack Free
7. Trello
Best for: Visual Project Management
Organize tasks, projects, and ideas with Trello’s drag-and-drop boards. Perfect for solo founders or small teams.
👉 Get Started with Trello
8. Calendly
Best for: Scheduling Meetings
Automate your appointment booking and eliminate email back-and-forth. Calendly syncs with Google, Outlook, and more.
👉 Book Meetings with Calendly
9. Canva
Best for: Graphic Design
Create professional graphics, social posts, flyers, and more—even if you’re not a designer. Free templates and easy drag-and-drop tools.
👉 Design with Canva
10. Zoom
Best for: Video Calls & Webinars
Run smooth video meetings and webinars with clients, customers, or your team. Zoom is reliable, affordable, and easy to use.
👉 Host Video Calls with Zoom
11. Asana
Best for: Advanced Project Management
Asana helps you plan, track, and manage complex projects with timelines, automations, and powerful integrations.
👉 Try Asana Free
12. HubSpot CRM
Best for: Customer Relationship Management
HubSpot CRM gives you everything you need to organize, track, and nurture leads—for free. Upgrade as you grow.
👉 Get HubSpot CRM
13. Mailchimp
Best for: Email Marketing
Easily create, automate, and analyze email campaigns. Mailchimp is beginner-friendly and offers powerful free tools.
👉 Start with Mailchimp
14. Expensify
Best for: Expense Tracking
Snap receipts, track spending, and automate expense reports. Expensify saves you time on admin and accounting.
👉 Track Expenses with Expensify
15. LastPass
Best for: Password Management
Protect your business from cyber threats. LastPass stores and autofills passwords, keeping your logins safe and accessible.
👉 Get LastPass Free
How to Choose the Right Apps for Your Small Business
- Prioritize your biggest pain points first (accounting, scheduling, communication, etc.)
- Look for integrations—the best apps work seamlessly together.
- Take advantage of free trials before you commit.
- Read reviews and compare features for your specific needs.
Final Thoughts
The best small business apps save you time, keep you organized, and free you up to focus on growth. Start with the ones that solve your most urgent challenges—then build your tech stack as you go.
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Ready to get started? Pick one or two apps from this list and watch your business run smoother—guaranteed.