Luckily enough, we live in a time with numerous options that increase efficiency. Did you know that usage of appropriate tools can save you a lot of resources in terms of money and time?
Choosing the right tools can help your start-up with managing internal communication, project management, marketing, UX and SEO optimization of your webpage, and with other things that will help you grow new business.
It is not always possible to pick the best tools for your start-up right at the beginning. But the good thing is, that there are a lot of tools on the market that offer a free day trial so you can actually try them out and see whether they suit you or not.
Why do you need tools for startups?
It is difficult to figure out where to begin when setting up a company. However, with the appropriate tools, you can always get your startup up and running quickly.
People believe that establishing a company is beyond their reach or that it requires a large sum of money. The truth is that competition is fierce, and you’ll require suitable tools and resources to find success. As a result, we’ve compiled a list of affordable and readily available tools which you can use for your new company without exceeding your budget.
Best software for your startup
We are bringing you the list of the 17 Best tools for startups in 2023:
- Asana
- Slack
- UXtweak
- Canva
- Grammarly
- HubSpot
- SendPulse
- Gusto
- Buffer
- Just In Mind
- Foundersuite
- Figma
- Balsamiq Wireframes
- Product Hunt
- Xmind
- Stripe
- Freepik
1. Asana
Asana is one of the best tools for startups when it comes to project management among start-ups. But it is not only popular between new businesses, companies such as Uber, Google, PayPal, and Facebook were also using this tool to increase effectiveness within project management.
This tool helps with managing and organizing tasks, tracking progress, and following deadlines, and it also enables teams to communicate within the platform. It drives businesses’ innovation and growth by providing an overall outlook of the projects and individual responsibilities.
Features:
- Workflow Builder
- Timeline
- Workload
- Automation
- Reporting
Pricing:
Asana offers a free plan for teams of up to 15 people. It consists of simple tasks and project management.
The Premium plan starts at 10,99€ and the Business plan starts at 24,99€. Both prices are per user and per month billed annually.
2. Slack
Slack is the tool that will help you manage and improve your internal communication. Slack is also one of the fastest-growing business applications in previous years and currently, over 75,000 companies are using this tool.
Slack enables you to create multiple channels where you can discuss different projects and topics. One of the best features of Slack is the possibility of connecting other tools that your start-up uses, for instance, Gmail, Google Drive, etc.
Features:
- Organized conversations
- Possible external collaborations
- Voice & Video calls
- File sharing
Pricing:
A free plan is limited to only 90-day access messages and integration only allows no more than 10 other tools.
Paid plans start at 6,75$ and 11,75$ per person monthly when billed yearly.
3. UXtweak
UXtweak is a UX research platform that is providing tools that will help you to test the usability of your websites and apps, from prototypes to production. These tools will provide you with a deep insight into how people interact with your website or app, they will discover usability issues, and much more.
Features:
- Usability testing/ tool Website Testing
- Organizing website content/ tool Card Sorting
- Navigation menu optimization/ tool Tree Testing
- User behavior analysis/ tool Session Recording
- Evaluation of design flows/ tool Prototype Testing
- Usability testing/ tool Mobile Testing
- User’s perspective of design/ tool Preference Testing
- User understanding analysis/ tool Five Second Test
- User behavior analysis/ tool Surveys
- A measurable assessment of the website’s usability/ tool First click testing
- Recruitment of participants/ tool Recruiting Widget and User Panel
- Management of your own user database/ tool Own Database
Pricing:
UXtweak has an unlimited free plan suitable for smaller projects. However, they offer a free trial of the Business package for companies on request.
UXtweak additionally has a Plus offer that costs $80 and an Enterprise package that you can customize for yourself.
4. Canva
Canva is one of the most popular and best tools among start-ups. Thanks to Canva, you will be able to create amazing designs for your social media, blogs, products, advertisements, and much more.
You do not have to worry if you are not a graphic designer, Canva has a library with numerous templates, fonts, images, videos, etc.
Features:
- Photo editing
- Content Library
- Graphs & charts
Pricing:
You can freely use Canva for free. However, the pro version enables you to create a brand kit, and use premium content such as images, videos, and icons.
The pro version is available as a 30-day free trial. After that, you need to pay 11,99$ a month.
5. Grammarly
Grammarly is a tool that will help you to be present on social media and the web without grammatical and spelling mistakes. It is a writing assistant that offers you specific suggestions to help you improve your writing. Grammarly is also analyzing and evaluating your tone of voice, and it will tell you how your text might sound to readers.
Features:
- Correctness
- Clarity
- Engagement
- Delivery
- Plagiarism detection
Pricing:
You can download Grammarly for free. The free version will correct your grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
You can also purchase a premium plan (starting at 12$ a month), or a business plan (starting at 15$ per member, monthly).
6. HubSpot
Building and maintaining a relationship with your customers is extremely important. HubSpot is one of the most preferred tools for startups that provide a free CRM tool. HubSpot’s CRM platform has all tools your start-up needs for marketing, sales, content management, and customer service.
Features:
- Content management
- Contact website activity
- Companies
- Deals
- Tasks & activities
Pricing:
HubSpot offers a free CRM tool with many features.
When it comes to paid offering, you can choose between products & plans, or bundles. Hubspot pricing differs, but the starting point is usually 41€ per month for a Starter package.
If you are looking around for the right CRM, take a look at this comparison of the best CRM for small businesses to find the right one for your startup.
7. SendPulse
Marketing automation platform that incorporates a variety of channels and offers to build an elaborate sales pipeline by means of combining marketing emails, SMS, web push notifications and messenger chatbots.
The visual chatbot builder is very intuitive and allows marketers to automate conversations on social media platforms and popular messengers like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Viber.
Features:
- intuitive drag-and-drop editor helps build message flows
- GPT-3 integration allows for a more human-like interaction
- Payment system integration provides seamless and secure payment options
- Smartphone App to manage your chatbots on the go
Pricing:
Free plan allows users to build 3 chatbots with up to 1000 contacts.
Paid plans start at $8 per month.
8. Gusto
Gusto is an HR tool that will help you with onboarding, paying, insurance, and much more. If you want your new business to be successful, you need to build your own employer brand. A well-managed employer brand will help you expand your talent pool and attract more candidates for your open job positions, apart from that, a good employer brand can be a strong competitive advantage.
Features:
- Running payroll
- Hiring
- Employee benefits
- Business finances
- People management
Pricing:
Unfortunately, there is no free trial available.
The core plan starts at 6$ per person plus 39$ monthly base price.
9. Buffer
Daily life in startups can be extremely busy. But you can save up some time when it comes to social media management. Buffer is a platform that enables you to manage all of your social media platforms from one place. With their automatization tool, you will be able to publish your content to your social media channels from one place.
Features:
- Publishing
- Analytics
- Engagement
- Start Page
Pricing:
In Buffer’s free plan, you will be able to schedule 10 posts for 3 social channels.
Paid plans start from 5$ billed monthly to 100$ billed monthly.
10. Just In Mind
Just In Mind is one of the best tools for startups when it comes to creating wireframes and turning them into highly interactive prototypes. Available web interactions and mobile gestures will make your design process easy and efficient, and you will be able to create delightful user experiences.
Features:
- Visual design
- Mobile gestures
- Web interactions
- Animations and effects
- Functional forms and fields
Pricing:
Just In Mind offers a free wireframe tool with unlimited projects and users and free UI kits.
Standard plan starts at 9$ per one user per month.
11. Foundersuite
Foundersuite is a leading platform, used by thousands of startups, for raising capital. The offering of Foundersuit will help you set a structure and efficiency in terms of investor management.
You can also find tools that will help with creating monthly progress reports, and with customizing your own board and stages of your funnel according to your workflow.
Features:
- Investor CRM
- Investor Database
- Investor Updates
- Custom emails
- Startup Docs
Pricing:
Foundersuite offers a basic package with 25 investors in CRM.
Paid offering starts at 44$ , or 62$ billed annually.
12. Figma
Figma is a cooperative web-based application for interface design, with desktop applications for macOS and Windows enabling extra offline features. Figma links everybody involved in the design process, allowing teams to deliver better products more quickly.
It can be used for anything from wireframing websites to modeling mobile app functionalities, prototyping layouts, designing social media posts, and much more.
Features:
- Application programming interface
- Integrations with Third Parties
- Import/Export of data
- Tools for Cooperation
- Animation
- CAD implements
Pricing:
A free plan is limited to only 3 Figma and 3 FigJam files but allows unlimited collaborators.
Paid plans start at 12$ and 45$ per editor monthly when billed yearly.
13. Balsamiq Wireframes
Balsamiq Wireframes is a quick, low-precision UI wireframing platform that simulates doodling on a whiteboard or notebook while using a computer. It effectively forces you to put your attention on content and structure rather than wasting time on conversations about colors and details.
With wireframes, you can easily create more ideas, discard the subpar ones, and identify the best options.
Features:
- Tools for Cooperation
- Library of Components
- Import/Export of data
- Brainstorming
- Adaptable Templates
Pricing:
There is a 30-day trial that is completely functional for local files. You’ll then need to purchase a license in order to update your work.
A license for one user costs – $89.
14. Product Hunt
The online network platform Product Hunt was established in 2013. A variety of the newest software, hardware, and app products can be found on Product Hunt. The website is used by many founders and business owners to successfully implement their latest products.
The social element of Product Hunt is its best feature. New products are ranked according to popularity on the homepage. The number of Upvotes from other participants determines this popularity. A product appears higher on the main page the more Upvotes it receives.
Features:
- Founder Club
- Business promotion
Pricing:
The use of Product Hunt is free for everyone. But if you want to use the Founder Club offer you need to pay $60/ per month.
15. Xmind
Xmind is a mind-mapping and brainstorming tool. The software has the potential to handle complex data, promote teamwork, and visualize thoughts and concepts. XMind provides a smooth workflow, a flexible graphics engine, a distraction-free mode, and all the basic options you’ll need to design and format mind maps.
Features:
- Presenter View
- Tree Table
- Stickers & Illustration
- Mind Map
- Logic Chart
- Essential Mind Toolbox
Pricing:
Xmind has a trial version with limited features. To open all functions you need to buy a subscription for 59.99/ annually.
16. Stripe
Stripe is a financial services provider that allows sellers to accept credit and debit cards or other payments. Since most of Stripe Payments’ distinctive features, like an open application programming interface and the capacity to support over 135 currencies, are mainly applicable to internet sales, business owners who organize the majority of their work online are especially suitable to use it.
Features:
- Online payments
- Risk management
- Financial connections
- Invoicing
- Revenue recognition
Pricing:
Stripe gives different possibilities in pricing. You can customize the package of features you need or choose a ready-made one.
17. Freepik
Freepik is a free online platform for downloading vectors, stock photos, and illustrations. It’s an excellent resource for startups who need to access an extensive library of visuals for their content. Freepik also offers a “Popular Photos” section where users can find the most downloaded images. This section provides an easy way to find the best visuals from the platform.
Features:
- Stock photos
- Vectors
- Illustrations
Pricing:
Freepik has a free plan and also a premium plan, which will be a good option for designers starting at 15€/ per month.
Grab the opportunity
As we mentioned before, managing a new business can be challenging. But there is a huge number of tools that can help you, whether you work for a new start-up or one of the top digital transformation companies to make your processes more effective.
Every company needs specific tools on its journey to success, so do not be afraid to try them out. We also suggest you research available tools to get an idea about their offering.
In addition, there are a lot of available blog posts and articles that can help you with your research. If you are interested, you can visit our web page and see blogs that can provide you with more tips and tricks for your growing business.
But to make it easier for you, we have created this overview of the best tools for startups in 2023. After your research and trial, you will be able to decide which of them suits you well.
