Maintaining productivity within a team or workplace has always been a challenge for managers. However, now there are many apps to help on that front. As a manager, you will be aware that your team members generally deal with a lot of distractions both from the office and outside. An effective productivity tool can help keep your team focused on work and deliver more value in a short time.
There are many productivity apps on the market today. Choosing a great option that not only works for your team but also integrates well with your existing tools and business environment can be a challenge. So, we’ve gone ahead and identified the best productivity apps that will help you stay ahead of the curve in 2022.
Top 5 business benefits of using productivity tools
As a concept, productivity apps are quite simple. However, no one can deny their effectiveness. Productivity tools can make a huge difference in minimizing distractions in the workplace and help you keep everything organized.
Here are some of the top benefits of productivity apps:
- Enhanced communication and effective collaboration
- Reduction in paperwork
- Better time tracking
- Simplified processes
- Improved organization of tasks at hand
The best productivity apps for task management
Streamline the way you handle work by focusing on organization, efficiency, and effectiveness. The right productivity software will save your time and resources by helping you get more things done.
Here are some of the best productivity apps with advanced task management features.
1. Kissflow Project
Kissflow Project is a comprehensive project management solution that delivers excellent value to any team with its advanced capabilities and simplistic interface. For task management, you can use Kanban boards, lists, or matrix structures to keep an eye on all the tasks at hand.
Delegating tasks, keeping an eye on progress, creating powerful reports, and other time-consuming tasks have never been easier. Kissflow Project streamlines everything so you can stay focused on getting the job done and enhance your productivity.
The tool is much more than a simple productivity app. It’s designed to help non-project managers in keeping their projects under control and excel on the job. If you are looking for a tool that can make your life easier and help your team keep their eyes on the ball, then Kissflow Project is a natural choice for you.
Key features
- Multiple views to make task management easier
- Task states and automated notifications at status change
- A comprehensive bank of customizable templates
- Simpler task delegation and transparency within the team
- Advanced collaborative features
- Advanced reports
Pricing
- Starter ($7/user/month annually) – Custom views, 50 GB storage, and other features for up to 3 projects only
- Professional ($12/user/month annually) – A great choice for intermediate and focused teams. Up to 5 projects and offers numerous advanced management features to help you thrive
- Enterprise (custom pricing) – Everything you’ll ever need to manage projects effectively, and much more
2. Todoist
Sometimes, even the simplest solutions can make the biggest difference. Todoist is the perfect example of that. This productivity tool has exactly what you need to organize your tasks and control your work. With Todoist, you can prioritize tasks, send automated reminders, manage recurring tasks, and do a lot more to make your job easier.
What it lacks in advanced features, it more than makes up for it by making everything simple and easy to understand. For small teams that don’t fancy the hassle of adding yet another tool to their work gamut, Todoist is a perfect choice. It’s basic, intuitive, and works without creating any unnecessary clutter or hassle for anyone.
Key features
- Multiple pre-made templates
- Allows automated starts for recurring tasks
- Integrates with G-Suite, Dropbox, and other tools
- Automated reminders
Pricing
- Basic (Free) – Basic features to get you started. Limited to 5 projects
- Pro ($3/user) – Power-packed package that meets all your professional needs
- Business ($5/user/month) – Perfect for teams with a limit of 500 projects
3. Trello
Trello is one of the most popular task management applications, and it is both powerful and intuitive. Whether you are working on a project or other regular business activities, Trello has the capability to make your work easier and enhance your productivity.
For collaboration within the team, Trello allows users to share different tasks with everyone and track their progress in real-time. It also allows you to quickly restrict access to certain members or share progress with someone outside the information. This way, you can easily protect your data from unwarranted access and also easily report progress when required.
Key features
- Kanban views
- Intuitive and simple interface
- Task delegation and monitoring capabilities
- Automated notifications and reminders
- Allows commenting on tasks and attached files
Pricing
- Basic (Free) – Best choice to maintain productivity for a small team
- Standard ($5/user/month) – For intermediate teams needing task management tools with a collaborative interface
- Premium ($10/user/month) – The best choice for larger teams that need to manage, track, and visualize larger projects
4. nTask
Another incredible productivity app you can use is nTask. This is a sophisticated and intuitive app that’s designed specifically to boost team productivity. nTask utilizes a simple interface that can easily be learned by your team members and saves time by letting them quickly integrate within the working dynamics. Best of all, not only is nTask a productivity app but it can also double as a comprehensive project management app as it comes integrated with several features and modules.
Key features
- Extra security with two-factor authentication
- Task management and tracking
- Generates project reports and timelines
- Includes a Gantt chart
- Multiple features to support team meetings
Pricing
- Basic (Free) – Best for individuals and freelancers
- Premium ($2.99/user/month) – Ideal choice for small teams with up to 3 members
- Business ($7.99/user/month) – everything that any large business could need to improve their productivity
- Enterprise (Custom) – A personalized solution that charges you for exactly what you want and nothing more
5. Any.do
When it comes to productivity apps, Any.do is a name you’ll likely hear often. The reputation Any.do has is well-deserved. This productivity app is designed with a simple, engaging, and fun interface that can drastically improve your team’s productivity. The initial setup of the app is so easy that anyone can immediately get on board without much hassle.
Any.do also allows you to manage your business tasks more efficiently. You can create, customize and organize your task list with relative ease.
Key features
- Multiple tools for efficient task management
- Option of attaching and uploading files
- Personalized notes with tasks
- Recurring tasks can be customized
- Mobile apps
- Whatsapp notifications
Pricing
- Basic (Free) – a basic software plan to help you set up
- Premium ($5.99/month) – comes with advanced features such as an unlimited daily planner to keep you on track
Best productivity tools for remote project management
The best teams are not always co-located. Here are a few tools that can make managing remote teams easier and more effective even when you are apart.
1. Asana
Asana is one of the most widely-used project management programs out there and the reason behind it is simple. It’s a powerful, intuitive, and attractive tool that works like a charm in any environment. Similar to many project management programs, Asana offers multiple management features like tracking, timelines, and milestones.
Its visualization capabilities stand out as of the best quality for remote teams. Generally, ensuring that everyone is on the same page takes a lot of time and effort. It’s even more difficult for remote teams. However, Asana’s transparency features, advanced visualization capabilities, and comprehensive reports can significantly boost your team’s productivity.
Key features
- Change between list or kanban boards
- Project timeline view
- Automated processes
- Integrations with other programs
- Customized workflows
Pricing
- Basic (Free) – For small teams that are just getting started. Limited to 15 members
- Premium ($10.99/user/month) – A comprehensive plan with everything your team needs to remain productive
- Business ($24.99/user/month) – For advanced teams and businesses that need a complete solution
2. Basecamp
Basecamp has figured out the best formula to help remote teams work more productivity through their intuitive and convenient productivity tool. The simplified interface of Basecamp makes it an easy-to-use app that can be integrated seamlessly within your current operations.
Basecamp also packs useful features like scheduling and lets you utilize its notification function to keep your teammates in the loop no matter the time zone. While it may not fit the demands of a complex project, Basecamp’s productivity tool allows it to be used as a convenient and inexpensive alternative to manage a straightforward project.
Key features
- A convenient to-do list and task scheduling capabilities
- HQ for organizing the work of the whole company
- Automated check-ins
- Secure file sharing
- Secure group conversations and message boards
Pricing
- Personal (Free) – Ideal for personal projects and small remote teams of up to 20 users working on uncomplicated projects
- Business($99/month) – Offers unlimited users and projects
3. Workzone
One of the major concerns that most remote teams have is a safe and secure platform to share confidential files. If you require a productivity tool where you can safely transfer documents and files to your team members, then Workzone is exactly what you need.
Not only this, Workzone allows you to utilize its advanced project management tools to accurately manage your team’s progress and track project tasks. The app further eases your work by integrated automated advanced features such as requests and approvals to save time. Workzone helps to keep your project free of delays that usually plague remote teams.
Key features
- Responsive support service
- Multiple tools such as project dashboard, to-do lists, etc. for efficient project management
- Gannt charts to visualize project progress
- Secure file sharing
- Email notifications
- Group calendar
Pricing
- Team ($24/user/month) – Comes loaded with multiple features geared toward remote teams
- Professional ($34/user/month) – Includes features in “Team” plus more storage, custom project intake forms, etc
- Enterprise ($43/user/month) – The ideal plan for remote teams working on complex projects. Includes features such as workspace groups, cross-project dependencies, etc
4 – Wrike
When it comes to renowned productivity tools, Wrike is a name you’ll often hear. This productivity app can drastically change your remote team operations and allow you to efficiently collaborate with team members. Wrike comes with the ability to mold itself as per your needs by offering a customizable toolset to fulfill your exact requirements.
Through different project management features such as task assignments, reports, and file sharing, the app can boost your remote team’s collaboration and coordination capabilities. Best of all, Wrike as software is fully equipped to grow along with your organization by providing you access to complex and in-depth tools you might need to facilitate your company’s growth.
Key features
- Smart automation system
- Advanced communication tools
- Gantt charts and Kanban boards
Pricing
Basic (Free) – Ideal for all those remote teams who’re just getting started
Professional ($9.8/user/month) – Includes better and more advanced tools for project management and collaboration
Business ($24.8/user/month) – The ideal productivity tool for large organizations. Offers customizable options and advanced tools
5. Smartsheet
Remote teams face a lot of difficulties when it comes to working on a dynamic project. The difference in time zones and other related issues can create a barrier between team members and hinder effective collaboration as information outflow gets restricted. This is where Smartsheet steps in. Smartsheet is a brilliant productivity tool that utilizes an incredibly intuitive interface to help remote teams improve their coordination and collaboration.
Smartsheet offers several advanced project management tools which you can customize to improve your team’s productivity. You can also take advantage of several automated functions that Smartsheet offers to avoid time delays.
Key features
Customizable interface
Gantt charts
Task tracking and management
Advance templates for projects
Pricing
Pro ($7/user/month) – This is the most ideal option for small remote teams. Comes included with unlimited sheets, reports, and dashboards
Business ($25/user/month) – Mid-scale remote teams would be the best fit for this plan. Includes unlimited automation and other incredible features
Top productivity applications to enhance team collaboration
How your team collaborates can either make or break your project. The following tools are some of the most popular choices that can boost team collaboration and quickly improve overall performance.
1. Kissflow Project
Modern teams require much more than a chat feature for effective collaboration. Kissflow Project understands that and comes with superior collaborative features that allow you to maintain efficiency and control at all times.
The larger digital workplace suite to which Kissflow Project belongs allows you to create multiple channels depending on your requirements. You can create separate channels for projects, teams, departments, and so on. The possibilities are endless. The best part is that overall functionality is exactly like on social media. You can tag members on threads, mention relevant parties, and react to posts just like on Facebook or any other social media channel.
Key features
- Excellent collaborative capabilities
- High-level security
- Next-level ease of use
- Announcements and polls
- Automated task reminders and updates
Pricing
For Kissflow Project:
- Starter ($7/user/month) – Custom views, 50 GB storage, and other features for up to 3 projects
- Professional ($12/user/month) – A great choice for intermediate and focused teams. Supports up to 5 projects and offers numerous advanced management features to help you thrive
- Enterprise (custom pricing) – Everything you’ll ever need to manage projects effectively, and much more!
2. Proofhub
Proofhub is another comprehensive project management suite with excellent features to enhance team collaboration. No matter what you need to enhance your team’s productivity, Proofhub has the capabilities to handle it. From planning your projects to organizing files, allocating resources, and discussing the next step with your team, you only need a few clicks to set up everything.
Proofhub offers powerful integrations. It’s much more than another tool you’ll have to manage. Proofhub naturally links with G-Suite, QuickBooks, Dropbox, OneDrive, and other business tools to centralize everything and further enhance team collaboration.
Key features and highlights
- Intuitive interface
- Excellent control over projects
- Switch between multiple views
- Custom workflows and team roles
Pricing
- Essentials ($45/month) – Basic management features for unlimited users. Has everything to get you going
- Ultimate ($89/month) – Enhanced control over everything with no limitation on both users and the number of projects. Offers 100GB cloud storage as well
3 – Wimi
Wimi is a collaboration-focused project management tool that comes equipped with everything a team needs to stay ahead. It has all you need to organize, manage, assign, and monitor the progress of your work and remain productive.
Wimi is among the few productivity tools out there that emphasizes security. It offers end-to-end encryption to allow collaboration on sensitive projects without any fear of a data breach. With centralized data storage, project management capabilities, and several productivity-enhancing features, Wimi stands as a natural choice for any team looking to enhance collaboration
Key features and highlights
- A comprehensive collaboration tool for all your needs
- Custom workspaces
- Centralized document sharing with end-to-end security
- Task management, shared calendars, and easy project scheduling
- Reports on project progress, team performance, and other important parameters
Pricing
- Pro ($6/user/month) – Basic features for companies and teams just starting out. Comes with 50 GB of cloud storage and multiple guest accounts
- Business ($9/user/month) – For advanced teams that need more control over their projects. 100 GB cloud storage included
- Enterprise (Custom) – Personalized solutions for businesses that need to stay productive and protected
4 – Podio
Podio is an intuitive tool that makes work easier by enhancing the collaborative capabilities of your team. With Podio, you can share files, organize tasks, and maintain control of your project’s progress from a single tool. Moreover, Podio’s interface is easy to understand. You won’t need any training and can get started from the first day. It’s powerful, capable, and intuitive enough to become the preferred tool for any business environment.
Podio offers a mobile-friendly interface. Whether you are accessing it from your computer or your phone, you’ll be able to perform all necessary tasks easily and remain connected on the go. Podio integrates seamlessly with third-party applications, which allows you to centralize everything under one roof and experience unmatched productivity.
Key features
- Enhanced file sharing systems
- Task delegation, tracking, and other management capabilities
- Native mobile applications for both IOS and Android
- Multiple extensions and seamless integration with other tools
Pricing
- Free – Basic version limited to 5 members only. Comes with task management capabilities and custom workspaces
- Basic ($7.2/month) – An ideal choice for any business or team just getting started. Allows task management, user management, and unlimited items
- Plus ($11.2/month) – An excellent package for serious teams that need automated workflows and other capabilities for enhanced collaboration
- Premium ($19.2/month) – Packed with all the advanced features you’ll need to streamline your work. Offers automated workflows, advanced reports, and an interactive dashboard for enhanced control
5. Slack
Any list of collaborative tools would be incomplete without slack. It is perhaps the most famous collaborative tool that many businesses rely on for improved communication and free-flow of ideas. Slack is a perfect platform that works on all platforms and devices. You can send messages, respond to threads, target a specific group, or divide your teams into different channels. That’s not all, the tool also supports video calling and conferencing to have in-depth discussions with your team.
You can integrate it with other business tools and drag and drop files from Google Drive, Dropbox, and other cloud storage services. To put it simply, Slack is an excellent platform for any team requiring a reliable and easy-to-use collaborative platform with the ability to make a significant difference from day one.
Key features and highlights
- Multiple dedicated channels for teams or departments
- Easy to use interface
- Cross-platform accessibility
- Direct messages, video calls, announcements, and much more
- Automated routine actions
- Advanced integration with other essential business tools
Pricing
Free – The basic version with all the collaborative features that make Slack awesome. Offers limited storage and integrations
Pro ($6.67/month) – A powerful package with advanced collaborative features and group video calling
Business+ ($12.5/month) – A powerful and comprehensive option for advanced teams looking to take their productivity to the next level
The best productivity tools for marketers
Marketing is a cornerstone for any business’ survival. Marketing managers need to ensure team productivity to make their business thrive, and these tools can help on that front.
1. Kissflow Project
Marketing teams need a productivity app with excellent visualization capabilities and dynamic features. Kissflow Project is exactly that. It’s a complete tool that can handle all the demands of a modern marketing team from the initial days of a campaign to its maturity.
Kissflow Project is more than a simple productivity app. It allows you to keep your projects organized, collaborate with your team, maintain effective control on projects, and never miss any key deadline again.
The tool comes with numerous pre-made templates specially designed for marketing projects. Now you can get a head start by using any of the pre-made templates for A/B testing, marketing campaigns, website launch, content development, and much more. Moreover, you can also create any kind of custom project that best suits your needs. Kissflow Project is truly versatile and can make things significantly better for your team.
Key features and highlights
- Manage multiple projects
- Custom workflows and pre-made templates
- Automated notifications and status updates
- Switch between multiple views
- Advanced collaborations and reports
Pricing
- Starter ($7/user/month) – Custom views, 50 GB storage, and other features for up to 3 projects
- Professional ($12/user/month) – A great choice for intermediate and focused teams. Limited to 5 projects and offers numerous advanced management features to help you thrive
- Enterprise (custom pricing) – Everything you’ll ever need to manage projects effectively, and much more
2 – Hubspot Marketing Hub
Marketing projects can be extremely demanding. Most marketing teams have to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Without a proper system to organize tasks, emails, and other important information, your team can easily get overwhelmed. Hubspot is a great solution to boost productivity and help you avoid exhausting your team.
Hubspot can revolutionize the way you approach your marketing projects. Features such as marketing automation, emails, and task management are geared to encourage efficiency. Hubspot project management works as a well-rounded solution to marketing teams’ needs.
Key features
- Pre-existing project templates
- To-do-list
- Project time table
- Blogging and SEO capabilities
- Task and lead management
Pricing
- Free – Built for new marketing teams. Use forms, ad management capabilities, and other marketing tools with Hubspot branding without paying anything
- Starter ($45/month) – Remove Hubspot branding from free tools and enjoy increased limits and a dedicated support structure
- Professional ($800/month) – Automate and customize your campaigns, manage multiple channels, create effective reports, and use multiple other marketing tools on offer
- Enterprise – ($3200/month) – Built for the most advanced teams. Control your branding message, create advanced reports, and experience all the benefits Hubspot can bring to the table
3 – CoSchedule
By focusing on the scheduling aspect of managing projects, CoSchedule allows your marketing team access to several tools tailored to boost productivity. CoSchedule’s interactive interface showcases the progress of your projects and helps visualize task completion and delegation without hassle.
With Coschedule, you can easily organize your work process, reduce time wastage, and offer instant clarity on project progress to the team. The app allows easy collaboration and communication in real-time, while also letting you quickly make adjustments and changes to your plans. From task management to content organization, CoSchedule comes packed with a host of handy capabilities for your marketing team.
Key features and highlights
- Streamlines marking processes
- Task management
- Visual and interactive interface
- Agile Project management tools
Pricing
- Marketing Calendar ($29/user/month) – Ideal for marketing teams with up to 10 members
- Marketing Suite (Custom) – A collection of all the tools you could need for marketing at a reasonable price
4. Zapier
Many marketing teams face the challenge of repetitive actions. Sending notifications to each other about new updates or emails to existing/potential customers over and over again can become tiring. That’s exactly what Zapier fixes. Zapier removes the need to do repetitive tasks and can drastically increase your team’s productivity by placing multiple features at their disposal.
With Zapier, you and your team can easily set up triggers to automate your entire marketing operations. You simply have to pick the action that you want Zapier to run automatically. This includes notifications about meetings, new lead generations, upcoming task deadlines and so much more.
The best part about Zapier is that it includes multiple third-party integrations across popular applications such as Mailchimp, Slack, Quickbooks, and many others. You can easily start using the multiple features Zapier offers without any hassle.
Key features
Offers an excellent tracking system for leads
Customizable templates
Seamless workflows with automation
Pricing
Basic (Free) – Offers the fundamental features of Zapier with 50 tasks and 5 triggers as the limit
Starter ($19/month) – Ideal for small marketing teams looking to streamline their marketing operations
5. Teamwork
It doesn’t matter whether you work on marketing projects or operations, Teamwork will be of use to you.
Teamwork offers a customized solution built specifically to address all your collaboration needs. With it, you can track your tasks, follow through on milestones, and push your team closer toward perfection.
Teamwork offers the ability to handle your projects through a centralized workspace. It reduces waste and inefficiency by integrated automated processes to streamline your marketing project. The main focal point of this app is to encourage collaboration and help communication between team members. With Teamwork, you can keep up in a dynamic environment such as marketing where real-time information must be communicated ASAP for productive work.
Key features and highlights
- Includes campaign planning and product launch tools
- Intuitive project management tools
- Exceptional mobile app
Pricing
- Free Forever (Free) – Ideal for marketing teams who’re just getting started
- Deliver ($10/user/month) – Equipped with templates, Agile view, and team chats
- Grow ($18/user/month) – Designed for teams looking to expand their operations
Conclusion
Productivity apps help manage and enhance the quality of work for any team. Depending on the situation you are in, the right productivity software will have a significant impact on your team by allowing them to get more work done in less time. The aforementioned options are some of the best productivity tools on the market for different situations and business cases. The right choice depends on your requirements and expectations, and we hope this guide helps you make the best choice. Good luck!
More Resources
- 13 Realistic and Effective Ways to Increase Productivity at Work
- SMART Objectives: How Can they Help You Become a Better Manager?
- What are some of the productivity killers and how to face them
- Getting Things Done (GTD): A Definitive Guide for Better Productivity
- 14 Fun Productivity Games for Remote and In-Person Teams
