The 33 Best Business Apps in 2024

Starting your own business is a huge undertaking. There’s a lot to figure out about workflows, processes, the customer experience, and more. Managing it all can feel overwhelming. Additionally, limited resources—both in terms of resources and finances—also create challenges that can lead to bottlenecks and inefficiencies.

To manage these challenges, consider using business apps. Business management apps provide much-need automation, enhanced communication, and increased productivity—all of which empower you to operate more smoothly and stay competitive.

To understand which business apps are best for small business owners, you first need to be aware of the top challenges facing businesses today.

The Top Challenges of Managing Small Businesses

Managing a small business in 2024 isn’t an easy task. It poses a number of challenges to businesses, including:

• Fast technological advancements: Each time new technology is created, you have to adapt and figure out a way to leverage it. On top of this, you’ll also need to make sure the new technology integrates well with your existing technology stack.
• Increased cybersecurity threats: With cybersecurity threats becoming more sophisticated, you need to have robust cybersecurity defenses in place.
• Market changes: Market disruptors require agile, proactive strategies to stay on top of them. With these strategies in place, you can minimize downtime and maintain your competitive edge.

5 Benefits of Using Business Apps

All the challenges mentioned above can feel overwhelming—maybe even a little discouraging. Luckily, business management apps can help you overcome them. Most tools are specifically designed to overcome a specific challenge so you can focus on growing your business and winning customers. This is just the beginning of what business productivity apps can offer. Here are some additional benefits of using apps to start a business:

Increased Productivity and Efficiency

With business apps, you can automate repetitive processes that take you away from more important, business-growing tasks. Integrating these tools into your technology stack can help you better manage schedules, track progress, and more—all of which boost your overall productivity and efficiency.

Enhanced Customer Engagement

Most business marketing apps include tools for personalized communication and analyzing customer data which you can use to improve your customer relationship management (CRM) process. These apps also allow you to create more personalized marketing efforts, improving your customer service and overall satisfaction levels.

Improved Communication

Tools like instant messaging, video conferencing, collaborative workspaces, etc. improve your communication with employees, customers, and partners. Using these collaborative workspaces, you can ensure everyone stays connected and that information gets shared with the right people.

Enhanced Data Management and Security

Business apps are a great solution for data storage, management, and security. They include features like automated backups, encryption, and access controls, ensuring that your business data is easily accessible and well-protected.

Cost Savings Due to Automation Opportunities

Business apps reduce the need for manual labor as well as minimize human errors. They do this by automating routine, resource-intensive tasks and freeing up more of team members’ time With these tools in place, you’ll see more cost savings in terms of both time and money.

33 Top Business Apps by Category in 2024

Now that you understand what business apps are capable of, exploring the best business apps of 2024 by category can help you find the right app for your company.

Finance and Accounting Apps

QuickBooks

QuickBooks is one of the most popular accounting software platforms on the market. It’s designed for small to mid-sized businesses and includes tools to expense tracking, financial reporting, invoicing, payroll management, and more. It’s an incredibly versatile solution and is great for managing a myriad of financial tasks.

FreshBooks

FreshBooks was designed specifically for those in the freelance world as well as for small businesses. It’s an accounting app that’s well-known for its intuitive, easy-to-use interface and includes tools for invoicing, reporting, time tracking, and expense tracking.

Xero

Xero is a cloud-based accounting software and is primarily known for its wide range of features as well as its integration capabilities. Xero includes invoicing, bank reconciliation, expense management, and financial reporting. It also supports multi-currency transactions.

Wave Accounting

Similar to FreshBooks, Wave Accounting is designed mostly for freelancers and small businesses. The cloud-based accounting software includes tools for invoicing, accounting, receipt scanning, and payroll—all in one platform, totally free.

Employee Time-Tracking and Management Apps

Toggl

To help you manage and monitor employee work hours and project time, there’s Toggl. The time-tracking app includes features like time entry, reporting, and integrations with other project management tools.

When I Work

When I Work is a scheduling and time-tracking app that makes it easier to schedule employees, manage timesheets, and improve team communication. The platform is designed to improve workforce management and increase productivity.

QuickBooks Time

Formerly known as TSheets, QuickBooks Time is a time-tracking app that integrates with QuickBooks for easier payroll processing. The platform includes GPS tracking, employee scheduling, and customizable reporting.

Payroll Apps

Gusto Payroll

Gusto Payroll is an all-in-one payroll processing app that makes it easier to handle payroll, benefits, and compliance. With Gusto, teams can automate a number of processes such as payroll calculations and tax filings. Users also get access to direct deposit services.

QuickBooks Payroll

QuickBooks Payroll provides teams with a comprehensive suite of payroll services. This includes employee benefits management, automated payroll runs, tax calculations, as well as seamless integration with the larger QuickBooks platform.

OnPay Payroll

A cloud-based payroll service, OnPay Payroll simplifies payroll processing, tax filing, and benefits administration. It’s designed for small and medium-sized businesses and easily integrates with various accounting software.

Invoicing and Payment Apps

Podium

Podium is a customer interaction platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The platform also includes invoicing and payment features that allow you to send invoices, receive payments, and manage customer interactions all through messaging.

Zoho Invoice

Zoho Invoice is an invoicing software platform that includes customizable invoice templates, automated payment reminders, expense tracking, and reporting—making it so much easier to manage payments.

Square Invoices

A payment processing app, Square Invoices allows you to create, send, and manage invoices. It integrates with Square’s payment system for seamless transaction processing.

PayPal

PayPal offers you with a total invoicing and payment solution for businesses of all sizes. For small business owners, it provides tools for creating invoices, accepting online payments, and managing transaction histories.

Point of Sale Apps

Square POS

A point-of-sale app, Square POS provides you with the tools needed to process sales, manage inventory, and generate sales reports. It also offers hardware integration and is great for retail and service industries.

Shopify Retail POS

Shopify Retail POS is a point-of-sale solution that integrates with the rest of the Shopify ecommerce platform. It helps you better manage in-store and online sales, inventory, and customer data.

Clover POS

A customizable point-of-sale system, Clover POS includes features like payment processing, inventory management, and employee tracking. It’s designed for various businesses, including retail and restaurants.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Lead-Capture Apps

Podium

Podium helps you better manage your leads. The platform helps you easily manage customer interactions, collect reviews, and communicate with leads through a single inbox.

Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is a CRM app that offers automation tools for sales, marketing, and customer support. This helps you better manage leads, contacts, and sales pipelines.

Flowlu

Flowlu is a business management app that combines CRM, project management, invoicing, and collaboration tools. This helps you capture and manage leads more easily so you can improve your customer relationships.

Project Management and Organization Apps

Asana

To help you better organize and manage your projects, there’s Asana. The project management app includes task tracking, project boards, timelines, and collaboration features to improve productivity.

Google One

A cloud storage service, Google One provides additional storage for Google Drive, Gmail, Google Photos, and more. This helps you better manage and store documents, collaborate on files, and access data from anywhere.

Sortly

Sortly is an inventory management app that helps you organize and track your inventory. It also includes barcode scanning, customizable fields, and detailed reporting.

Communication and Collaboration Apps

Notion

Notion is an all-in-one workspace where you can take notes, manage tasks, and collaborate on projects. You can also create, share, and organize documents and projects in a flexible environment.

Trello

Trello relies on visualizations like lists, cards, and boards to help teams organize, track, and manage projects. The platform also includes collaboration features that integrate with your existing tools.

Slack

Slack is a widely popular communication app that allows users to collaborate with team members through different channels, direct messages, and integrations with other third-party tools. This helps you improve team communication and workflow management.

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a collaboration app that integrates with Office 365. It includes tools for chat and video conferencing, file sharing, and collaborative document editing and is designed to improve team productivity and communication.

Marketing Automation Apps

Hubspot

Hubspot is an inbound marketing and sales platform that offers tools for lead generation, CRM, email marketing, and analytics. With these tools, you can automate your marketing efforts and better manage your customer interactions.

Mailchimp

Mailchimp is a marketing automation platform that helps you create and manage your marketing campaigns more effectively. It includes tools that make email marketing, audience management, campaign analytics, and other tasks simple and easy.

Constant Contact

Customer Contact is an email marketing app that offers customizable templates, list management, and campaign tracking so you can manage your email marketing campaigns more easily.

Task Management and Productivity Apps

Todoist

Todoist is a task management app that helps you and your team members organize tasks, set priorities, and track progress on projects. It also includes features like project templates, reminders, and third-party integrations.

TickTick

With features like to-do lists, calendar integration, and habit tracking, TickTick helps you manage your time and tasks more effectively.

Any.do

A task management app, Any.do combines your to-do lists, calendar events, and reminders in a single platform. With Any.do, you can better organize your tasks, set and manage deadlines, and collaborate with others to boost productivity.

How to Choose a Business App That is Right for You

As you’re looking at apps for business, you might be overwhelmed by all the choices out there. To help you choose the best business app for you, keep the following in mind:

Pricing and Upfront Costs

Keep the pricing structure and upfront costs in mind when evaluating business mobile apps. Look to see if the app offers a subscription model or if it’s a one-time purchase. Be sure the cost fits with your budget without sacrificing essential features.

Ease of Use

Your business app should have an intuitive interface and be easy to use for both you and your team members. This helps to lower the learning curve, reduces the need for extensive training, and increases user adoption rate.

Integration with Other Apps

It’s important your business app can integrate seamlessly with your existing tools and software. Look at the integration capabilities and ensure they can enhance workflow efficiency.

Scalability Options

Consider whether business mobile apps can scale with your business as it grows. Look at features such as the ability to add more users, access additional features, and handle higher data volumes. This will decrease the need for frequent changes and disruptions.

Security Features

To keep your business data safe, look at the security features of the app. Look for features like data encryption, scheduled security updates, secure access controls, and that follow the latest industry regulations.

Manage and Automate Your Operations with Podium

Managing your lead generation, sales efforts, and customer experience is easier when you have the right tools on board to help. Consider Podium, an all-in-one solution for collecting reviews, interacting with customers, and converting more leads. This AI-powered solution uses workflow automations across your company to improve management and offers mobile solutions for greater flexibility—so you can generate more revenue.

Transform your business with Podium’s AI Employee. Get a demo today.