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Going freelance doesn't need a pile of subscriptions. On day one you need somewhere to show your work, an easy way for clients to book a call, and somewhere to keep track of who you're talking to.
Start with those three, then add invoicing, project management and better enquiry forms as the work comes in. Each step links to listings picked for WebTools.directory, where you'll find current plan and deal details.
Start with these
1. Portfolio site
Why: A simple site that shows what you do, who you've done it for and how to get in touch.
- Carrd: quick one-page sites, free to start. Custom domains are on its Pro plan.
- Framer: a no-code website builder for a more designed portfolio. The free plan publishes on a Framer domain, and a custom domain needs a paid plan.
- Webflow: a website builder with a CMS, if you want case studies or a blog. The free plan is for building and testing, and you need a paid plan to launch on your own domain.
2. Discovery calls
Why: Let potential clients book a call with you without the back-and-forth emails.
- Cal.com: scheduling with unlimited event types and calendars on the free plan, plus Stripe and PayPal payments if you charge for consultations.
- TidyCal: booking pages with paid, group and recurring bookings and Zoom or Meet links, as a one-payment deal.
- Calendly: the familiar option, with one event type and a customisable booking page on the free plan.
3. Client CRM
Why: Keep track of every lead, client and conversation in one place, so nothing slips through the cracks.
- HubSpot Free CRM: contacts, deals, tasks, meetings and quotes for up to two users, with no expiry.
- Zoho CRM: leads, deals, workflows and reports for up to 3 users, with a mobile app.
Add these later
4. Invoices and payments
Why: Get paid on time without chasing. Recurring invoices and reminders do the chasing for you.
- Zoho Invoice: free invoicing with multiple payment options, recurring invoices and payment reminders, for up to 2 users. Free invoices carry Zoho Invoice branding.
- Square: take card payments online and by invoice, with no monthly fee on its free plan. Square's listed pricing is for the US, so check the page for your country.
- Invoice Ninja: forever-free, open-source invoicing for up to 5 clients, with recurring invoices, online card payments, a client portal and time tracking.
5. Project management
Why: Plan work, track tasks and hit deadlines, especially once you're juggling several clients.
- Trello: simple kanban boards, free for up to 10 collaborators, so you can invite clients to a board.
- ClickUp: project management with tasks, docs, kanban, sprints and a calendar view on its free plan.
- Asana: a free Personal plan for one or two people, with unlimited tasks and projects and list, board and calendar views.
6. Enquiry forms
Why: A good enquiry form asks the right questions up front, so you can spot good-fit projects quickly.
- Tally: unlimited forms and submissions on the free plan, with file uploads and conditional logic.
- Deftform: unlimited forms on your own domain with Stripe payments, as a one-payment deal.
Browse the categories
Compare more options in each category:
- Build a Website, for portfolio sites
- Take Bookings
- Manage Customers
- Accept Payments, for invoicing
- Manage Projects
- Generate Leads, for forms
