With over 80% of today’s data breaches being caused by weak, stolen, or reused passwords, password management tools are becoming increasingly important. They store and generate secure, encrypted passwords for you — the only password you have to remember is the single master password to the manager itself.

LastPass is one of the most popular password managers on the market, but it’s not right for everyone. In this post, we compiled some of the best paid and free LastPass alternatives you can use.

Wanted to quickly compare between the free and paid plans across all LastPass alternatives? Click the button below to grab the one-page cheat sheet PDF:

LASTPASS ALTERNATIVES CHEAT SHEET

An overview of LastPass

LastPass generates, stores, and syncs secure passwords to all your chosen devices. It allows you to share passwords with others, alerts you to weak and duplicated passwords, and uses a zero-knowledge approach (the company does not store, track, or sell your data).

Key features: 

• More password recovery options than most password managers.
• Uses AES 256-bit encryption (the same encryption method used by high-security banks and the military).
• User-friendly interface and easy to follow instructions.

Potential drawbacks: There is no access to direct customer support.

Cost: Alongside the free plan (with a limited device access), the premium plan costs $3 per month and the family plan costs $4 per month.

The best LastPass alternatives for easy password management

Below, you’ll find a breakdown of the benefits of using LastPass and the best LastPass alternatives.

1. NordPass

Build by the team behind NordVPN, NordPass is the next generation password manager fit for individual users and businesses alike. With NordPass you can safely store your passwords, credit card details, secure notes, and personal information.

Key features:

• Identify vulnerable passwords, check if your data has ever leaked, and generate new complex passwords to protect your accounts
• Autosave passwords with a click and the next time you log in, NordPass will fill your details for you
• Password strength checker to boost your online security

Potential drawback: Newer tool (first introduced in 2019) compared to other LastPass alternatives.

Cost: Personal plan starts free with paid plan starts at $1.99 per month, billed annually. NordPass also comes with a family plan at $3.99/month, billed annually for up to five unique accounts; and a business plan at $3.99 per user per month, billed annually. For a limited time, you can get NordPass for $29 a year on AppSumo.

Who it’s best for: Anyone who never wants to reset their passwords again and who longs for peace of mind while browsing online.

2. PassCamp

PassCamp is a browser-based password manager for individuals and small teams. It uses a zero-knowledge approach and offers end-to-end encryption (as well as other features) to enable safe management of sensitive data.

Key features: 

• Stores passwords as public keys (passwords are converted into a code that only the owner can see)
• Auto-fills password fields with a browser extension for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari
• Shows the history of changes made to passwords or notes

Potential drawbacks: Limited integration with third-party apps like Gmail, Dropbox, and Office 365.

Cost: The personal plan starts free and the personal premium plan is €2.50 (approx. $2.95) per month. The team plan costs €3.50 (approx. $4.16) per month.

Who it’s best for: Small to midsize teams who want to safely store and share passwords for multiple accounts.

3. Dashlane

With over 14 million customers, Dashlane is one of the popular premium LastPass alternatives. It handles all the basic and advanced tasks of a password manager with ease and has unique features for extra security.

Key features: 

• Biometric logins across Android and Apple devices
• Compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and Chrome OS systems
• Built-in VPN for added online security (available with paid options)

Potential drawbacks: The paid plans are expensive, and the free version is limited to 50 passwords.

Cost: Starts free and then $3.33 per month, billed annually. Dashlane also has a family plan at $4.99 per month, billed annually.

Who it’s best for: For teams that need to manage sensitive data and want the extra assurance and convenience of a built-in VPN.

4. RoboForm

RoboForm is a budget-friendly password manager for personal and business use. Individual users can create and store complex passwords, while businesses can easily assign credentials, delegate permissions, deploy security policies, and view reports.

Key features:

• AES-256 bit encryption for secure password creation, storing and sharing
• Passwords can be synced across multiple desktop and mobile devices
• Notes can be associated with passwords

Potential drawbacks: RoboForm has no breach monitoring or encrypted storage.

Cost: In addition to the free plan, personal plans start at $1.99 and family plans at $3.98 per month, both billed annually. The business plan costs $3.35 per month, billed annually.

Who it’s best for: Personal users and businesses who need a budget-friendly password management software.

5. 1Password

While 1Password is compatible with all devices and operating systems, it is geared towards Mac and iOS users. The password management app features multiple browser add-ons, auto-fill forms, a digital wallet, and a flexible password generator for more control over the passwords you create.

Key features:

• Travel Mode hides specific vaults on your devices when traveling (for a limited time)
• Multiple vaults to organize and store different passwords
• The Watchtower feature reports vulnerabilities and even reports credit card expiry dates

Potential drawbacks: There is no free version available. (But you can get a 30-day free trial.)

Cost: Personal and family plans start at $2.99 per month, billed annually. Team and business plans start at $3.99 per user per month, billed annually.

Who it’s best for: Government workers, executives, and teams who travel frequently and manage sensitive, or top-secret data.

6. Sticky Password

Sticky Password is a LastPass alternative that securely stores all your login credentials and generates new, secure, and unique passwords for your accounts.

Its ability to sync via Wi-Fi without accessing the cloud offers an extra layer of security, but it lacks the advanced features of other premium password managers.

Key features: 

• Offline access to your password vault
• Biometric and PIN code logins
• Syncs passwords across and is deployable on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices

Potential drawbacks: Does not automate password updates.

Cost: The premium plan is $29.99 per year and comes with sync, backup, and password sharing — features that are absent in the free plan.

Who it’s best for: Individual users who want a minimalistic password management tool.

7. Enpass

Enpass is a straightforward password management app that combines intuitive design with mobile compatibility for ease of use.

Key features: 

• Saves passwords locally or on third-party cloud storage
• Provides secure password sharing options
• Free when used on Windows, macOS, and Linux desktop devices

Potential drawbacks: No real two-factor authentication options for logging into the device.

Cost: The app is free for desktop users. If you use over 25 items in a single vault, paid plans start at $12 per year for the first year, and then $23.99 per year after that.

Who it’s best for: Desktop users who want a free password management app.

8. Keeper 

Keeper is a well-rounded password manager and digital vault that stores website passwords, financial information, and other documents using AES-256 bit encryption and a zero-knowledge system.

As a LastPass alternative, it offers multi-factor authentication and has rare features like dark web monitoring and encrypted messaging.

Key features: 

• Add text, documents, and photos to each password entry
• Easy to use password import features
• Advanced security options for business users (DUO Security and RSA SecurID)

Potential drawbacks: Users have reported the app interface as “old fashioned and boring.”

Cost: $3.75 per user for the business plan, and $5.00 per user for the enterprise plan. Personal plans start at $2.91 and family plans start at $6.24.

Who it’s best for: Medium to large teams who need to manage and store sensitive documents and assign credentials.

9. Bitwarden

Bitwarden is an open-source, desktop-based password manager with AES-256 bit encryption and a zero-knowledge model. The rich features available in the free version and the cheaper family pricing plans make it a popular alternative to LastPass.

Key features: 

• Self-hosting options for maximum security
• APIs to automate onboarding and management functions
• Security reports that reveal weak passwords and show helpful data security metrics

Potential drawbacks: Limited support for iOS

Cost: The premium plan starts at $10 per year, the family plan costs $40 per year. Business pricing is $3-$5 per user depending on the features required.

Who it’s best for: Individuals who want a cheap family password manager that enables more control over data security.

Which LastPass Alternative Should You Pick?

Password manager has became a must-have tool as the world is getting more digitalized and everyone is working remotely.

LastPass offers an excellent free plan and a strong premium plan with desirable features and pricing. There’s a lot to like, but it’s not your only option.

If you want a free LastPass alternative with strong features, go with an open-source application like Bitwarden. If you want premium plans suitable for larger teams, 1Password and Dashlane are great alternatives.

Or you can download our LastPass Alternatives Cheat Sheet to quickly compare the free and paid plan across all the password managers mentioned in this post.

LASTPASS ALTERNATIVES CHEAT SHEET

For more business tools at the fraction of their original cost, check out the AppSumo store.

Thanks to its feature-packed array of tools for animation, cinematic effects, and motion picture compositing, After Effects has been used to create visual effects for high-profile projects like “Iron Man,” “The Walking Dead,” and “Star Trek. ”

But the steep learning curve, high cost ($239.88 per year or $31.49 per month), complex interface, and harsh hardware demands (especially on RAM and disk space) mean the iconic software isn’t ideal for everyone.

That’s why we’ve listed the best After Effects alternatives in this post.

The Top 10 Adobe After Effects Alternatives

1. HitFilm Pro

HitFilm Pro is an all-in-one video editing, visual effects, and 3D compositing software for filmmakers and motion artists. It’s a great After Effects alternative if you need detailed graphics and eye-catching special effects.

Key features:

• Supports lights, shadows, and environment maps that create realistic objects and effects.
• Over 870 ready-to-use visual effects and presets, available for any layer or clip.
• Importable 3D models and access to tracking functions.
• Audio visualization features.

Potential drawbacks: The powerful but granular features are hard to use if you’re not a trained visual effects designer.

Cost: One-time purchase price is $349. A free trial gives access to all the tools in HitFilm Pro, but you’ll have to buy the software to export projects.

Best for: Experienced video editors who need to create stunning special effects and graphics.

2. Fusion Studio 16

Fusion 16 specializes in visual effects, Virtual Reality, motion graphics, and 3D solutions. While it’s often used to create visual effects and digital compositing for HD footage and commercials, the software has also been used post-production on movies like “Thor,” “Lost,” and “Avatar.”

Key features:

• GPU acceleration and a 360º panoramic workspace enable real-time editing of VR scenes.
• Node-based interfaces create fluid, streamlined editing workflows.
• AI-assisted VFX production speeds up compositing.
• Annotate different clips, versions, and projects.

Potential drawbacks: Limited training resources and tutorials when compared to other visual effects software.

Cost: One-time purchase price is $299. You can get a free version with basic features through the Davinci Resolve Studio 16.

Best for: Large teams that need to collaborate on video projects and have a high creative output.

3. Natron

Natron is a free, open-source After Effects alternative for those seeking greater control and flexibility over the functions and interfaces they use.

Key features:

• Interface and functionality are the same across Mac, Linux, and Windows devices.
• Node-based engine for a more organized editing process.
• Over 250 community-written plugins.
• Flexible Roto and Rotapaint toolset that can generate unlimited layers of masks, mattes, and shapes.

Potential drawbacks: No support for 3D effects.

Cost: Natron is free to download and use.

Best for: Beginner visual effects designers and editors looking to add a professional finish to simple projects.

4. Wondershare FilmoraPro

Wondershare FilmoraPro is an advanced nonlinear editor that allows for extra polish in every project. It’s known for strong compositing, motion graphics, special effects, color correction, and audio adjustment tools.

Key features:

• User-friendly interface and navigation that provide useful prompts.
• Supports a range of frame rates and resolutions, including 4K UHD at 100 frames a second.
• Customizable layouts for editing, trimming, effects, and color correction.
• Supports motion graphics, animations, and unlimited video tracks.

Potential drawbacks: Audio effects are basic — no parametric EQ or side-chain control —  when compared to other visual effects software.

Cost: Annual plan price is $89.99. One-time purchase price is $149.99.

Best for: Low-budget teams that need to polish and refine small projects to perfection.

 5. Wondershare Filmora X 

Unlike Filmora Pro, Filmora X targets a broader user base than most visual effects software. It’s simple enough to satisfy beginners but powerful enough to meet the needs of advanced users.

Key features:

• Beginner-friendly interface that makes editing less intimidating.
• Drag and drop creative assets into your timeline.
• Use the touch bar to preview your timeline (Mac only).
• Royalty-free music and sound effects.
• Supports titles, filters, overlays, transitions, and motion graphics.

Potential drawbacks: Limited options for customizing the interface.

Cost: Annual plan price is $39.99 for Windows and $44.99 for Mac. Lifetime plan price is $69.99 for both operating systems.

Best for: YouTubers or short-film producers.

6. Blender

Blender is a free and open-source 3D creation suite for modeling, rigging, animation, compositing, and game creation.

Key features:

• Combine 2D and 3D images.
• Animation support with onion skinning.
• Ultra-realistic and premium-quality rendering.
• Python scripting for custom tools and add-ons.

Potential drawbacks: Difficult to learn and master.

Cost: Free to download and use.

Best for: Animators and game designers.

7. Apple Motion

Motion is a compositing and motion graphics application by Apple that lets you create sparkling animations in a 2D or 3D space. You can also customize stylish titles, transitions, and effects for Final Cut Pro, Apple’s video editing program.

Key features:

• Export standard or 360° projects to Apple devices and upload them directly to YouTube and Vimeo.
• Toggle between 2D/3D titles with advanced tools or templates.
• Save any title, effect, or transition for later use in Final Cut Pro.
• Access more than 230 behaviors for natural animation.

Potential drawbacks: Creating animated graphics is complicated.

Cost: One-time purchase price is $49.99. Final Cut Pro is required, at $299 one-time purchase.

Best for: For those creating low- to mid-range projects and who already use Final Cut Pro.

8. Nuke

Nuke is a powerful compositing and visual effects program. It has a flexible, efficient, and feature-packed toolset designed for collaborative, commercial, and multichannel use.

Key features:

• GPU acceleration and fluid workflows for seamless collaboration.
• Compatible with Windows and Mac, with low hardware demands.
• Works with images that contain multiple opacity and color layers.
• Handles lens distortion.

Potential drawbacks: Commercial plans are extremely expensive when compared to other After Effects alternatives. Other basic options at a lower price point are available, and there is 90% off the commercial price for students.

Cost: Quarterly plan price is $1,729. One-time purchase price is $4,988.

Best for: Large studios and professional film producers.

9. Autodesk Smoke

Autodesk Smoke is a Mac-exclusive video effects software that combines editing workflows with node-based compositing tools. Its core features help you create dazzling 3D graphics and motion effects.

Key features:

• Import 3D geometry and create dynamic 3D titles.
• Customize 3D text/titles with animation.
• A track-based, nonlinear-editor workflow.
• Compatible with Final Cut Pro X.

Potential drawbacks: Uses a lot of RAM and has incomplete rendering functions.

Cost: $1620 annually or $205 per month.

Best for: Big-budget and post-production specialists.

10. Corel VideoStudio 2020

Corel VideoStudio offers a well-balanced consumer video editing and effects software for 360-degree videos. You get access to 4K resolution editing, advanced color grading, multipoint motion tracking, video text masking, transitions, and more.

Key features:

• Tiny planet and rabbit hole effects for detailed 360-degree video editing.
• Handles complex rendering tasks without exhausting hardware.
• Beginner-friendly support and tutorials.
• Convert 360 footage to standard video.

Potential drawbacks: Users report frequent glitches or crashes.

Cost: Pro one-time purchase price is $79.99. Ultimate version one-time purchase price is $99.99 (includes more templates and filters).

Best for: Beginners who want to create promotional videos, case studies, and training videos.

Choose Your Adobe After Effects Alternative Wisely

Whether you’re an up-and-coming YouTuber, an animator, or work at a growing studio, this list will have an After Effects alternative that meets your needs. But where should you start?

Considering the high price tag attached to some of these alternatives, it’s best to start with free trials and low-budget options before you move on to more expensive visual effects software.

Bonus material: Class is in session. Learn game-changing lessons from world-class experts like Chris Voss, Marie Forleo, James Clear, and more.

What do Gucci, Armani, and Wrike have in common?

They’re all popular brands, but that doesn’t mean they’re a perfect fit for everyone.

Whether you’re fussy about fashion or not (I prefer Steve Jobs’ dress code myself), picking the best project management solution is a lot harder than choosing the right clothes. You’re probably already grappling with questions like:

• Which user interface fits our team’s style?
• Do we need resource management features?
• Should we opt for a premium project management platform or stick to the free version?

With so many apps to choose from, they can blur together when you start comparing them against your team’s needs. To top it off, you’ve got plenty of important details to weigh, especially if you’re after an effective Wrike alternative.

Fret not. Whether you’re a seasoned manager or project management padawan, you’ll find a detailed list of reliable alternatives to Wrike in this post.

An Overview of Wrike

Founded in 2006, Wrike is a project management and collaboration platform that optimizes teamwork for enterprise and midsized businesses. Their goal is to give your team full visibility and control over all your tasks and projects.

Key features: Wrike enables quick, direct interactions for different projects and schedules. The customizable platform is known for team-specific automation capabilities, resource management, detailed reporting, and team management features.

Potential drawbacks: Wrike has a steep learning curve.

Cost: Basic plan is free; up to 5 users. Paid plans start at $9.80/month per user.

Best for: Large businesses that need flexible project management and collaboration tools to manage global operations.

11 Of The Best Wrike Alternatives

Whether you’re a small business owner, agency director, or project manager, this list will have a project management tool with the combination of features, pricing, and style that meets your needs.

1. SmartTask

Keeping up with multiple tools is a lot of work. If you’re not careful, it could become a nightmare quickly. SmartTask streamlines communication, information, and project management on one single platform.

Key features: SmartTask helps maximize your team’s productivity by having task and project management combined with CRM on one single platform. You can also tailor your workflow with custom fields, custom charts, and custom views.

Potential drawbacks: With a wide range of features, the learning curve to fully utilize SmartTask is bigger than other tools.

Cost: The base plan is free. Paid plans start at $4/month per user, billed annually.

Best for: Project managers, salespeople, and operations teams looking to get on the same page and boost efficiency.

2. Nifty

Need a powerful all-in-one project management tool at a good price?

Nifty brings projects, workflows, and communication all in one place.

Key features: Nifty allows you to save time by automating client reporting as tasks are completed. There are time-tracking tools, file storage, and milestone views with Gantt charts.

You can engage in real-time discussions with project members, or speak to your internal team, making Nifty a great Wrike alternative for digital agencies and product teams that need a feature-rich, collaborative workspace.

Potential drawbacks: Advanced features such as team workloads and time tracking cost an additional $20/month each.

Cost: Plans start at $39/month, billed annually.

Best for: Marketing, product, and legal teams that need a feature-rich workspace to communicate and collaborate efficiently.

3. Basecamp

Basecamp is a project management tool that emphasizes being in “one place, not all over the place.”

Ideal for busy project managers and professionals, Basecamp is an alternative to Wrike that uses minimalistic and intuitive design to make project management simpler and less confusing.

You can read more about Basecamp alternatives here.

Key features: Users love Basecamp’s simplicity and easy-to-use interface. This makes managing and including the relevant people in your tasks a breeze. You can create, assign, and follow up on tasks without worrying about technical issues. And everything in one place without being cluttered is also a pretty big deal.

Potential drawbacks: Basecamp’s poor file/document filtering makes it less suitable for advanced project management.

Cost: Personal plan (3 projects, 20 users, 1G storage) is free. Business plan is $99/month for unlimited users.

Best for: Freelancers and small business owners managing small to medium-sized teams, who don’t have complicated day-to-day tasks.

4. Asana

Asana simplifies team-based project management and collaboration. The app lets you create projects, assign work to teammates, set deadlines, and communicate directly within the app.

Looking for an alternative to Asana? Here you go.

Key features: Thanks to its color coding and folder structure, Asana is awesome for managing and visualizing multiple projects on your desktop, Android, or iOS device. You can create beautiful Gantt charts within minutes and switch between different visual formats with ease.

Recently added features include goal tracking and work request forms.

With over 100 integrations, Asana also fits into your existing workflows and systems.

Potential drawbacks: No options for condition-based (completed tasks or days passed)

task scheduling conditions.

Cost: Basic plan is free. Paid plans start at $10.99/month per user, billed annually.

Best for: Tight-knit creative teams or execution-oriented teams that need to collaborate on complicated tasks.

5. Jumppl

Jumppl is a digital workplace tool for collaborative project and team management. It specializes in large scale communication and client management for your business or bustling agency.

Key Features: Jumppl offers project management, communication, file storage, client portal, and calendar tools all under a single and easy-to-use system.

What makes Jumppl special, however, is its elegant client management tools and chat portal features. This makes internal team or external contractor/client collaboration seamless.

Potential drawbacks: Limited file storage and no free plans.

Cost: Paid plans start at $24.99/month and start with 30 users included.

Best for: Agencies or businesses with loads of internal team members and external contractors or multiple clients

6. Trello

Trello, an Atlassian subsidiary, is a web-based Kanban-style project management tool. It’s ideal for to-do lists and step-by-step project management.

Learn more about Trello and its alternatives here.

Key features: Trello has an intuitive interface, a simple pricing structure, and is great for fans of the Kanban board system for project management.

Potential drawbacks: A lack of customization. You’re limited to simple descriptions and Kanban boards, which isn’t ideal for complicated projects that need long, detailed descriptions.

Cost: Basic plan is free. Paid plans start at $9.99/month per user, billed annually.

Best for: Small teams and freelancers who specialize in content creation such as videos, articles, or social media posts.

7. Jira Software

Jira Software is another project management tool by Atlassian. Unlike Trello, however, Jira is a robust all-in-one customizable tool for software development and complex projects.

Key Features: Originally a bug tracking software, Jira is now the leading tool in Lean and Agile project management. It has detailed issue tracking, prioritization capabilities, and supports Hybrid, Scrum, and Kanban frameworks.

Potential drawbacks: Jira can be hard to understand or overly complicated if you’re not using all its features.

Cost: Free for 10 users. Paid plans start at $7/month per user

Best for: Large IT, development, marketing, and software teams that need flexible and customizable project management features.

8. Clarizen

Clarizen is a leader in enterprise work management software. The SaaS solution helps larger companies simplify work, streamline communication, and manage multiple projects.

Key features: The tool enables conversations with colleagues and customers; these interactions can be tracked directly on relevant tasks, documents, and projects. Clarizen also offers sales and accounting functions that allow you to generate risk and work estimates for different departments.

Potential drawbacks: The tool has a steep learning curve and isn’t known for being user-friendly, especially for beginners.

Cost: Pricing information must be requested.

Best for: Large product management, sales, or financial teams that need to manage projects across multiple departments.

9. SquidHub

SquidHub is a cost-effective collaboration app for people who prioritize clarity, simplicity, and want a stress-free way of working together.

Features: Available on iOS, Android, and desktop, SquidHub has a very user-friendly interface.

Unlike Trello, which some find overly minimalistic, SquidHub allows you to split projects into groups and add details to subtasks. The app also integrates with Google Calendar meetings.

Potential drawbacks: Some users report that the Files & Links section is slow and broken.

Cost: Basic plan is free. Paid plans start at $4.99/month per user

Best for: For growing teams collaborating on creative projects who need to get up and running fast, and don’t want to be slowed down by features they don’t need.

10. ClickUp

ClickUp is an all-in-one suite for all workplace tasks. Its mission is to remove workplace frustrations, inefficiencies, and disconnect by offering intuitive tools for managing people, projects, and everything in between

Key features: Well known for organizing projects in a clean, efficient way, ClickUp’s core features include to-do lists, project management, file sharing, and chatrooms for internal and external collaboration.

With over 10 view styles, including Kanban, Gantt, list board, the app can appease the fussiest of teams.

Potential drawbacks: Not user-friendly for those with no prior experience with project management tools.

Cost: Basic plan is free. Paid plans start at $5/month per user, billed annually.

Best for: Medium to large teams that frequently juggle multiple clients and different projects.

11. Monday.com

Thanks to its robust and well-structured layout, Monday.com (formerly dapulse) is a popular Wrike alternative. It features a beautiful design and a rich template library to kickstart and streamline collaboration between teams.

Key features: Monday.com offers a host of useful features like time tracking, issue tracking, and project progress. Users love the ease of navigation, colorful designs, and technical support.

Potential drawbacks: Multiple users report the tagging and notification system features are limited and lack customization.

Cost: Paid plans start at $8/month per user, billed annually.

Best for: Agile medium to large product development or marketing teams.

Not All Project Management Tools Are the Same

Phew! That’s a lot of project management software, isn’t it?

The good thing is that this list includes something for everyone – entrepreneurs, executives, managers, agencies, and small business owners.

And now, you don’t have to worry about switching to a Wrike alternative that doesn’t meet your needs. Using the list above, you can pick the perfect app for your team and get started.

For other tools to power project management, productivity, and more, check out the AppSumo store.

Bonus material: The 10 Commandments of an Entrepreneur PDF will show you what holds most entrepreneurs back and how YOU can stand out above the rest.

Is online invoicing rubbing you the wrong way?

Tired of the tornado of payment reminders, timesheets, and your accountant’s lashing quips when reviewing your tattered financial records?

You need a reliable accounting solution like yesterday, and you know it. The question is: which one will meet your needs without blowing your budget?

FreshBooks is often regarded as the best accounting software out there, but it’s not ideal for everyone. If you’re looking for a cheaper or even free alternative accounting system, keep reading.

What is FreshBooks?

Source

FreshBooks is among the most popular cloud-based accounting and invoicing software, with rich features ideal for freelancers and business owners.

Key features:

• Powerful and customizable report generator to track your business’s health.
• Automated billing for faster payments.
• Integrates with over 200 payroll and financial apps.
• Store receipt images and monitor expenses for efficient, stress-free bookkeeping.

Potential drawbacks: FreshBooks can be very expensive if you’re billing many clients but don’t need all its features.

Cost: Starts at $15 per month for five billable clients.

Who it’s best for: Growing businesses that need flexible payment and accounting tools to process and monitor payments from a large, diverse customer base.

The 10 Best FreshBooks Alternatives

Whether you’re a solopreneur searching for free cloud accounting software or a flourishing startup that needs to beef up your one-person accounting department, we’ve got you covered.

Here are the 10 best FreshBooks alternatives to consider in 2020:

1. QuickBooks

QuickBooks is an accounting and bookkeeping software that caters to small businesses. It’s renowned for powerful bookkeeping and reporting features, and is available online (via QuickBooksOnline) or as a standard desktop application.

Key features: 

• Combined accounting and payroll plans.
• Easy-to-use bookkeeping and accounting tools.
• Batch invoicing, to bill multiple customers at once.
• Profitability calculator that analyzes overheads and expenses.

Potential drawbacks: Users have complained that customer support can be slow or unresponsive.

Cost: The self-employed package is $15.00 dollars per month. Small business and QuickbooksOnline pricing starts at $25.

Who it’s best for: Small to large businesses that need detailed cash flow reports and well-organized accounting data.

2. EZBILLING360

As their name suggests, EZBILLING360 is a cloud accounting tool that streamlines the billing process so you can get paid faster. The app also provides time tracking and expense reporting features to help you manage your business.

Key features:

• Time tracking for accurate billing
• Professional-looking templates
• Graphical reports of profits, losses, and expenses
• Automatic follow-up and late-payment fee charges

Potential drawbacks: Only offers eight types of invoice templates.

Cost: Starts at $15 per month for five billable clients. Through AppSumo, you can get annual access to the Gold plan (over 50 billable clients per month) for just $360 (retail value: $600). 

Who it’s best for: Solopreneurs and freelancers who need to bill clients quickly and feel their current billing process is too time-consuming.

3. Fiskl

Helping you manage your business “from your pocket,” Fiskl is a web- and mobile-based small business accounting software. If you’re after a cost-effective alternative to FreshBooks, it’s a strong option.

Key features:

• Quickly convert quotes to invoices
• Manage your finances on the go with a dedicated mobile app
• Manage invoices with ease
• Accept international payments
• Track expenses with automatic receipt logs and mileage tracking

Potential drawbacks: Doesn’t include payroll management.

Cost: Free to send up to five invoices per month. Get annual access to the Fiskl Pro plan (five users) for the discounted and locked-in price of $149/year (retail value: $240/year).

Who it’s best for: Solopreneurs without accounting departments who want a simpler way to invoice, track expenses, and manage finances on the go.

4. Wave

Wave is an invoicing and bookkeeping software that lets you create and send professional-looking invoices, manage receipts, and even manage employees and taxes.

There are no setup costs, hidden charges, or monthly fees; you only pay a small percentage fee to accept online payments.

Key features: 

• Bill and invoice automatically
• Tools to track expenses and scan receipts
• Credit card and online payment acceptance
• Free plan available, making it ideal for early-stage freelancers or solopreneurs.

Potential drawbacks: Some TrustRadius users have reported that the software lacks support and is sometimes “sluggish.”

Cost: From free; pay a per-transaction charge for credit card transactions.

Who it’s best for: Freelancers or solopreneurs looking for a low-cost and simple billing system.

5. Xero

As well as the expected billing and invoicing tools, Xero offers asset management, invoicing, inventory updates, and bank reconciliation, giving you a wider range of accounting and bookkeeping features when compared against other FreshBooks alternatives.

Key features:

• Inventory and stock management tools
• Automatically track gains and losses across multiple currencies
• Run payroll and automatically adjust for taxes in different states
• Detailed reports so you can review your business’s financial health

Potential drawbacks: Some users report unstable and broken bank reconciliation.

Cost: Starts at $9 per month.

Who it’s best for: Medium to large ecommerce businesses with a global workforce and customer base.

6. Hiveage

Hiveage is an online accounting platform designed for freelancers and small businesses. It lets you make project estimates, send invoices, and track payments and expenses all from one system.

Key features:

• Hourly expense tracking and billing
• Branded quotes and invoices
• Expense and income tracking for detailed financial reporting
• Payments via many payment gateways (like Paypal and Stripe) and built-in international payment options

Potential drawbacks: Some users have reported glitches within the app and a lack of customer support.

Cost: Free for up to five clients per month.

Who it’s best for: A business with a small team that needs a simple way to manage financials and send invoices.

7. ZipBooks

ZipBooks is a powerful accounting platform for midsized businesses and enterprises. Its core features focus on efficient accounting, billing, and insightful business intelligence.

The free version allows you to send unlimited invoices, view basic reports, and connect one bank account.

Key features: 

• Access to a great customer support team
• Schedule professional and branded invoices
• Automate texts and emails that ask customers for reviews
• Business intelligence that shows your performance against competitors

Potential drawbacks: Some users describe the interface as clunky, especially when interacting with the menu and advanced search features.

Cost: Alongside the free plan, the basic “smarter” package starts at $15 per month.

Who it’s best for: Midsized business in competitive, fast-paced industries.

8. Sage 50cloud

Sage 50cloud is a desktop accounting software for small to large companies. The Mac-friendly app features robust tools for billing, accounting, inventory management, and certain industry-specific functions.

Key features:

• Stock and inventory management tools
• Reconcile financial information with your bank automatically
• Integrates with Office 365 to report critical financial information
• Automated billing, invoicing, and personalized business documents

Potential drawbacks: Users report the interface and layout are confusing and not as user-friendly as other FreshBooks alternatives.

Cost: Prices start from $50.58 per month.

Who it’s best for: Fast-growing businesses operating in large industries, especially those that need to report complicated financial activity and require constant performance updates.

9. Zoho Books

Zoho Books is a cloud-based accounting software for small to midsized businesses. It offers a range of contact management, invoices, expense and time tracking, and project management tools.

Key features: 

• Stock and inventory management tools
• Track time for multiple projects
• Reconcile financial information with your bank automatically
• Request and promote reviews from the customer portal

Potential drawbacks: While it integrates with other Zoho products and add-ons, users report that ZohoBooks doesn’t integrate well with other accounting software.

Cost: Starts at $11 per month.

Who it’s best for: Ecommerce businesses that sell directly to a large number of consumers.

10. Invoicera

Source

From time tracking, expense management, and auto-billing, Invoicera is an online accounting software that prioritizes automation and efficiency. It also offers customizable solutions and integrations that adapt to the needs of your business.

Key features:

• Offers staff and client management tools
• Supports over 30 online payment gateways
• Includes mobile apps for iOS and Android
• Features multi-lingual and multi-currency dashboards

Potential drawbacks: Phone support is limited to certain countries and live chat customer support can be unresponsive.

Cost: Lifetime access is free for up to three clients. Basic pricing starts at $15 per month.

Who it’s best for: Midsized businesses that have a broad, global pool of customers, need to manage staff, and need customizable billing software.

Pick The Best Accounting Software For You

While these are the best alternatives to FreshBooks, they are by no means the only accounting software alternatives you should look at. Other honorable mentions include Sage Intacct, Netsuite, and AccountsIQ.

Looking for other great business tools at a fraction of their actual cost? Browse the AppSumo store.

Unfortunately, if you’re new to the graphic design world, this means wading through a dizzying array of image editing software, stock image sites, design services, and much more.

To save you time, we’ve compiled the best graphic design resources to help you build a bespoke brand that sets you apart from your competitors.

Whether you’re a designer looking for better graphic design tools or a business owner looking for cost-effective software, you’ll find the best paid and free graphic design resources.

Stock Images for Graphic Design

1. Pexels

Free stock images are among the most popular graphic design resources, and Pexels is the cream of the crop.

It boasts a community that’s extremely generous with donating royalty-free work and is applauded for uploading content that quickly reacts to worldwide affairs.

If you find a great picture or photographer that you love, you can donate directly to them and Pexels doesn’t keep any of the donations.

2. Freepik

Freepik provides a powerful search engine developed to make graphic design an easy experience for everyone. It has millions of free high-quality stock photos and graphic design elements such as mockups, vector images, illustrations, and templates. Freepik has a search optimization filter powerful enough to find the most unique resources for any personal and professional use.

3. Burst

Created by e-commerce platform giant Shopify, Burst lets you download free stock images without worrying about attribution. These images can be used for both noncommercial and commercial projects.

4. New Old Stock

New Old Stock is a curated collection of copyright-free retro stock photography that helps you “recapture history.”

5. Freephotos.cc

FreePhotos.cc is a free resource site where you can find Creative Commons photos to meet your graphic design needs. The site uses APIs from multiple stock photo providers to enable convenient image previews and downloads.

6. Rawpixel

Whether you need photos reflecting social distancing in 2020 or beautiful portraits that go beyond the standard stock photos of people around a table, Rawpixel is the place to go. They also pride themselves on having the safest-to-use design resources, with express permission from the content creator for their use.

7. Unsplash

Unsplash has over 210,000 contributing photographers and a growing library of 2 million photos. The quantity of photos available isn’t as high as other stock image sites, but Unsplash makes this up with high-quality and high-resolution images.

8. Stockvault

While Stockvault is another good choice for free stock images, its array of wallpapers, textures, and unique illustrations — alongside constant new additions and easy to browse categories — make it an ideal hub for design resources.

9. Pixabay 

Pixabay offers free images and royalty-free stock from a generous community of creatives. The site offers a range of images and videos with marketing and business themes. They also offer free vectors and illustrations.

10. Depositphotos

Serving world-famous brands like Subaru and WarnerBros, and boasting a library of 180 million files, Depositphotos has something for everyone.

The site features royalty-free stock images, high-definition footage, and thematic collections for any design project.

Mockup and UI Assets for Graphic Design 

11. EpicPxls

Designing websites and apps that look high-quality is both time-consuming and challenging if you don’t have professional experience. With EpicPxls, you can browse and download from a library of beautiful templates, fonts, graphics and more to create your own customized site or app.

EpicPxls usually cost $20 per month for 20 downloads. But for a limited time, you can get lifetime access to EpicPxls at a one-time cost of $39.

12. Pixelbuddha

From UI kits to photos, effects, mockups, and more, Pixelbuddha offers premium and free graphic design resources for personal and commercial use.

All PSD templates are created using smart objects, which means you can enjoy a stress-free and smooth editing experience.

13. PSD Repo 

PSD Repo offers free PSD and Adobe XD templates designed by a pool of talented creatives. Sign up with your email, and you’ll get free templates each week.

14. The Mockup Club

The Mockup Club features a directory of the free design mockups for Photoshop, Sketch, Figma, and InVision Studio. They frequently check that all mockups are free to use and virus-free, although you should verify this when you are on the site hosting the resource.

15. Mckups

Mckups.com is a collection of handcrafted free PSD mockups and templates. The easy-to-navigate site features photorealistic mockups designed to add a creative flair to any project you’re working on.

16. Vexels

Vexels is an all-in-one library filled with ready-made trending designs and resources.

The site features a mockup generator and customizable designs across all categories with a focus on t-shirts, book covers, and PPT presentations.

17. Pixel Surplus

If you’re after freebies, Pixel Surplus has got your back. The minimalist site features premium and free mockups and design resources that include fonts, textures, and graphics.

18. Free Design Resources

As the name suggests, Free Design Resources offers free mockups, design resources, and UI kits to make your presentations and projects stand out. You will find mockup templates ranging from the side of a box truck to a coffee cup sleeve to any number of smartphones.

19. Craftwork

Trusted by big brands like Uber, Google, and Vimeo, Craftwork offers premium quality design resources to make your design workflow more efficient. It has a beautiful array of UI kits, illustrations, templates, mockups, and even freebies.

20. Mockup Mark

Mockup Mark offers free and paid apparel mockups that would be a great asset for the clothing section of a custom e-commerce store.

Typography Resources for Graphic Design 

21. Font Shop

The Font Shop is one of the largest digital foundries for fonts. It features a font glossary, insightful FAQ area, and the ability to try out fonts and see how they render before you buy.

22. Fontjoy 

Getting font pairing right can be tricky. The right combination can attract and lead the eye, while the wrong font pair can have the opposite effect. This is where tools like Fontjoy make life a little easier. It helps designers choose the best combinations by mixing and matching different fonts for the perfect pairing

23. Google Fonts

Google’s font catalog places typography front and center. All fonts are free and open-source, and they even handle licensing and hosting to make their fonts available to everyone.

And in typical Google fashion, the Google Font store also offers data on popularity, trends, usage, and demographics.

24. Adobe Type Products

Adobe has it all. Buy fonts from resellers, download them from other foundries, and enjoy access to the Font Folio of collections tailored for different needs.

25. Fontifier

Fontifier turns a scanned sample of your handwriting into a font you can use in your word processor or graphics program.

Once scanned, you can preview your personalized font for free. Downloading your handwritten font, however, will cost $9.

Graphic Design Inspiration

26. UpLabs

UpLabs allows designers and developers to find and share interesting design trends.

The site curates the best design resources for the web, iOS, and macOS to inspire and speed up the design process.

27. Awwwards

In need of some serious eye candy to get your creative juices flowing?

Treat yourself by browsing Awwwards’ list of beautifully designed sites. All sites are categorized and rated for different elements like usability, content, and creativity.

28. Pttrns

Whether you’re designing an Android or iPhone interface, Pttrns is a goldmine of inspiration for UI kits and smartphone design.

When you need some creative fuel for your next project, visit the site to enjoy a rich library of completed designs for any category you can think of.

29. Typography.guru

Typography.guru is a leading forum about typography and claims to be the “biggest online community for the field of typography.”

The forum, which boasts over 6,000 members and 37,000 forum posts, connects you to skilled typography designers and specialists around the globe. You can use it to ask typography questions, learn more about individual fonts, and follow the latest typography news.

30. Behance

Behance is a creative social media platform for designers and creatives that showcases beautiful work to spark your creativity. Check it out the next time you’re in a creative slump and need inspiration from all angles.

How To Pick The Best Graphic Design Resources

What’s the best graphic design resource for you to start with?

With a wide range of tools, software, and sites, all boasting their own nuanced features and specialties, pulling the trigger on any graphic design tool can be a confusing process.

To make a choice, narrow your options down exclusively to the tools that meet the needs of your business. Start with resources that offer free trials or paid upgrades. If you get value from them, consider investing in premium versions.

Looking for the best deals for premium resources? We’ve got you covered:

• Stock Unlimited for stock images
• EpicPxls for mockups, UI assets, fonts, and more.

Grab them now before they are gone.

BONUS MATERIAL: PRODUCTIVITY BOOSTED PDF

Find the best productivity strategy for you with a side-by-side comparison of top productivity frameworks. Download Now

When it comes to productivity, time management is the butter to your bread, the sizzling bacon to your egg, the jam to your donut … need I go on?

The problem is that time management software and time tracking tools are a dime a dozen, and they all solemnly swear hand-over-heart that they’ll boost your productivity. Very few, however, explain exactly how to manage your time and build valuable time management skills.

In this post, we’ll explore the top time management systems to give you actionable advice. You’ll learn who they’re for, when to consider using them, and how they work.

Let’s go!

1. Getting Things Done

Source: Hive

The Getting Things Done (GTD) framework is one of the most popular time management systems to date.

Developed by David Allen, an authority and productivity expert, this time management tool takes the complexity out of boosting your productivity. It’s simple enough to implement:

1. List all your professional or personal tasks to get them “out of your head.”
2. Prioritize them by urgency so you can work on what’s most important.
3. Regularly review all your tasks as you tick items off your list. This constantly updates your to-do list, ensuring that you’re always working on productive tasks.

The customizable and self-regulating style is ideal for creative types, especially freelancers or business owners who tackle multiple projects throughout their day.

2. Kanban System 

Easy visualization and workflows are at the heart of the Kanban system.

When you’re working on multiple projects with dynamic workflows, it shines as a project and time management tool. You can sketch it out on paper or implement it digitally. Here’s how:

Step #1: Visualize your workload. Prioritize by what you should start, schedule for later, and the difficulty of each task.

Step #2: Create a Kanban board. This is usually three to five vertical columns – depending on the complexity of your workflows –  that list:

• Tasks to be done
• Tasks in progress
• Tasks completed

Step #3: Manage your workload. Ensure you only have three active tasks within your “in progress” column to streamline your workload and avoid burnout.

Source: AppSumo

If you’re looking for a Kanban-friendly, all-round project management tool, Plutio is a perfect option.

3. Autofocusing 

Autofocusing is a zen-like automatic time management practice that restores dwindling reserves of enthusiasm throughout your workday.

Marc Andreessen, the founder of Netscape, hails autofocusing as the key to his success. Here’s his unique spin on using autofocusing:

1. Don’t keep a schedule. If you can, avoid blocking time out of your day – no meetings or appointments. This keeps you flexible and motivated.
2. Stick to three lists, maximum. A “to-do list” for key tasks, a “watch list” for projects that need a response from someone else, and a “later list” for the stuff you’d like to do.
3. Start when and where you feel like it. Let your motivation and excitement act as a compass to guide which important tasks you should tackle first.

This free-spirited approach aims to reduce stress and raise productivity. If you’re not a fan of rigid time management systems and crave the freedom for last-second decisions, give Autofocusing a shot.

4. Iceberg Method 

If you’re in a creative or analytical field, staying abreast of changes and industry shifts is tough. You encounter a useful resource one day, only to find it’s slipped back into the depths of the internet when you eventually need it.

Created by Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You to Be Rich, the Iceberg Method is a time management system that will help you record complex information and actually use it later.

Ramit suggests that you:

1. Start by saving interesting information. Take all your book notes, PDF docs, emails, or links and store them in a central system like Evernote.
2. Organize your collection via tags and folders to quickly find what you need, exactly when you might need it.
3. Review your swipe file of interesting information every four to six weeks. Ask yourself: What’s applicable to the projects you’re working on right now? 

Similar to the GTD framework, the Iceberg Method is about getting things “out of your head” and organizing them.

Unlike the GTD framework, however, it specializes in managing heavy information or potential source material to reduce the time it takes to research complex topics. This means when you start that new report or piece of content, you’re never blank.

You’ll have a supporting network of accessible notes and resources on standby to help you complete projects quicker.

Source: AppSumo

If you like the idea of organizing all your resources or business assets in one easy-to-use platform, (and for a great price) check out our lifetime deal on Brandox.

5. The 4D Technique 

Struggling with procrastination or feeling overwhelmed?

The 4D framework will help you declutter your schedule to boost productivity. Here’s how to use it:

• Do it: If a task is urgent and you face consequences for not doing it, do it first.
• Defer it: If it can’t be completed quickly and is a high priority, delegate it to someone who can get it done on time.
• Delegate it: Is the task something you are responsible or best suited for? If not, pass it to someone else so you can focus on a higher priority item.
• Delete it: If there are no consequences for not completing a task, consider removing, postponing, or delegating it.

6. Time Tracking 

We’re all familiar with the common excuses for not being productive …

• “I don’t have enough time.”
• “My workload is never-ending.”
• “I get interrupted way too often.”

Time tracking is an amazing way to interrogate those excuses and finally fix your schedule.

Using time tracking software, simply monitor actions or new tasks that take up your working hours, and how long it takes you to complete them.

This transparent insight into how you actually spend your time will be invaluable. If you spend four hours writing a proposal, and an entire hour on social media, your time tracker won’t lie.

Here’s how you can use it to increase productivity:

1. Track your own time to monitor how long it takes to complete different tasks throughout the day.
2. Work at your usual pace. This is important, as it will reveal hidden dips and peaks in productivity.
3. After a week, pay special attention to reports and timesheets that break down your workweek.
4. Finally, identify common time drains and how you can fix them. Can you try a different process, get extra help, or delegate your most time-consuming tasks?

You can fit this time tracking process into your normal routine, or use it to diagnose and fix productivity slumps with a dedicated timesheet app.

Source: AppSumo

If you’re looking for a free time tracking app that also handles billing and invoicing, get TimeTrack for free from the AppSumo store.

7. The 2-Minute Rule

Procrastination and indecisiveness kill productivity. The 2-minute rule is designed to eliminate both to keep you focused and build momentum.

Pioneered by David Allen, the rule asks two questions, the answers to which dictate how you should act:

Question 1: Can the task be completed in two minutes? If the answer is yes, don’t add it to your to-do list. Do the task.

Question 2: Will the task take more than two minutes? If the answer is yes, and it’s a high-value task, start it anyway.

The secret of this system lies in building momentum and breaking down barriers.

Completing many small tasks in under 2 minutes provides a sense of accomplishment that triggers momentum. And sinking your teeth into bigger, important tasks means you’re more likely to carry on doing them anyway.

Try this task management practice if you have multiple medium-sized tasks and you’re not sure of where to begin.

8. Pomodoro Technique 

Short periods of intense work are proven to increase focus, alertness, and productivity.

The Pomodoro technique is a time management system based entirely on sharp bursts of focused work. It aggressively forces out interruptions and demands a regiment of controlled breaks to combat fatigue. Here’s how it works:

1. Identify the task you need to complete.
2. Set a timer for 25 minutes and start this task without any interruption.
3. When the timer goes off, allow yourself a strict five-minute break, then return to work for another 25 minutes.
4. Break the cycle with a longer, 15 to 30-minute pause every fourth break to reset your mind.

If you find your attention span fluctuates, or you feel like precious work time is slipping through your hands, this is a perfect time management system for you. I’d recommend the PomoDoneApp to get you started. It’s easy to use and integrates with other tools.

Source: PomoDoneApp

9. Agile Results

Is mastering both your personal productivity and professional performance actually possible?

Considering how tough boosting productivity in one area is, it’s hard to imagine a time management system that balances both. That’s where the Agile Results system comes in.

Designed to cater to all-around personal and professional productivity, the system emphasizes managing overwhelm and setting boundaries to strike a healthy work-life balance.

It does this by following three key rules:

1. The Rule of Three: Think, do, and plan in threes. The Rule of 3 limits objectives to manageable chunks. It also makes tasks easier to remember and less intimidating.
2. Friday Reflection: Review three things that went well and three things to improve for next Friday.
3. Hot Spots: Visualize all the key areas to focus on in your life. Once you’ve identified them, set boundaries and observations to advance in all areas.

If you’re looking for a holistic, visual time management system you can quickly jot down on a piece of paper, this is your answer.

10. Eisenhower Framework 

When you’re swarmed with multiple high-value tasks, you need to prioritize. Unfortunately, deciding what to prioritize is tricky. What deserves to be deleted, postponed, or brought forward?

The Eisenhower Framework, or Urgent-Important Matrix, will help you decide with confidence.

Source: Dean Yeong

Originating from Dwight D. Eisenhower, a five-star World War II general and the 34th president of the United States, it’s a logical way to analyze and schedule your workload.

This Eisenhower framework forces you to split tasks into four quadrants based on urgency and importance:

• Quadrant 1: Urgent and important. Write down the important tasks you need to complete before anything else, and do it immediately.
• Quadrant 2: Not urgent but important. Schedule these on your calendar for a later date so you actually get them done.
• Quadrant 3: Urgent but not important. These are tasks you can defer to someone else.
• Quadrant 4: Not urgent and not important. These are non-urgent, low-value tasks that you should remove from your list or postpone.

Find Your Perfect Time Management System

Above, you’ve got a diverse range of time management systems, practices, and tools to choose from.

If there’s one lesson to learn from the range of approaches to time management, it’s that there’s no universal time management technique that’s guaranteed to boost productivity.

Different techniques, systems, and tools cater to different personalities, work habits, and environments. To find the perfect system, you’ll have to test a few out.

For more project management and time tracking tools, check out the AppSumo store.