10 Best Productivity Apps Every Side Hustler Should Use in 2024

Finding the best productivity apps when you're balancing a corporate job and building a side hustle can feel like trying to juggle a dozen balls in the air at once. 

Trust me, I get it. 

You’re managing deadlines, meetings, and emails at work while trying to grow your side business on nights and weekends. 

How do you stay productive and keep everything moving without burning out?

Well, I’ve got some good news: there are plenty of productivity apps designed to help you maximize your time, streamline tasks, and ultimately grow your side hustle without losing your sanity. 

In this post, I’ll walk you through the 10 best productivity apps every side hustler should use in 2024 to help you manage your time, organize tasks, and keep that side hustle moving forward. 

Let’s dive in!

Why Side Hustlers Need Productivity Apps

Before we get into the list, let's talk about why you need productivity apps in the first place. If you’re like most side hustlers, time is your most valuable resource. 

Between your 9-5 and your business, you're constantly being pulled in different directions. 

Productivity apps help by streamlining your workflow, automating repetitive tasks, and keeping you organized.

But there’s more to it than that. 

As someone balancing two (or more!) responsibilities, you need tools that give you structure and flexibility. 

Productivity apps provide a way to track everything from your work deadlines to side hustle tasks so you can stay focused and avoid overwhelm.

Criteria for Choosing the Best Productivity Apps for Side Hustlers

Not all productivity apps are created equal. When you’re choosing one for your side hustle, here are a few key things to consider:

• Ease of Use: The last thing you want is a tool that’s hard to figure out. Look for apps with user-friendly interfaces.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: You’re likely bouncing between devices—your work computer, personal laptop, and smartphone—so your app should work seamlessly across all of them.
• Automation Features: Repetitive tasks can eat up time. Automating them with the right app saves you hours in the long run.
• Collaboration Capabilities: If you’re working with a team or freelancers for your side hustle, you'll need collaboration features like file sharing and project management.
• Cost-Effectiveness: You might not have a big budget for apps, especially if you’re just starting out. Always consider the value you get from the app versus its cost.
• Customizability: Your workflow is unique. The best apps allow you to tailor features to meet your specific needs.

10 Best Productivity Apps for Side Hustlers in 2024

Now, let’s get into the heart of the post—the 10 best productivity apps for side hustlers in 2024. 

These apps are chosen based on their ability to help you manage time, streamline tasks, and boost your productivity, whether you're working on your side hustle at 6 AM or during your lunch break.

1. Todoist

Todoist is one of the most popular task management apps out there, and for good reason. It’s simple, intuitive, and powerful.

• Key Features

Todoist helps you break down complex projects into smaller tasks and set priority levels using labels and filters.

It supports recurring tasks and even uses natural language input, allowing you to type "Submit proposal every Monday at 3 pm," and it will schedule it for you. 

The app also syncs across all devices, meaning you can access your tasks from anywhere. 

Another great feature is Todoist Karma, which gamifies productivity by rewarding you for completing tasks.

• Why it’s great for side hustlers

With Todoist, you can organize both your work tasks and side hustle projects in one place.

I love that it’s easy to switch between contexts—work during the day, side hustle in the evening—and stay on top of it all without getting overwhelmed.

Check out our guide on Mastering Your Side Business Budget with Our Expert Tips for Financial Success in 2024 to learn how to manage your finances as effectively as you manage your tasks.

2. Trello

Trello is a visual project management tool that’s built around Kanban boards. It’s perfect if you like to see your tasks laid out visually.

• Key Features:

Trello boards are divided into lists, and each list can contain various tasks (called cards). 

You can move these cards between lists to indicate progress or assign them to team members. Each card can hold attachments, due dates, checklists, and comments, making it easy to track every aspect of a project. 

One of Trello's best features is its Power-Ups, which integrate with third-party apps like Slack, Google Drive, and Dropbox to enhance its functionality.

• Why it’s great for side hustlers

Trello’s visual layout makes it easy to track multiple projects at once.

You can create separate boards for your corporate job and side hustle, and easily switch between them.

Plus, it’s fantastic for collaboration if you’re working with a team.

Learn how to balance career growth with your side hustle in 10 Essential Career Development Tips to Elevate Your Success in 2025.

3. Notion

Notion is an all-in-one workspace that can handle everything from notes and databases to task management and collaboration.

• Key Features

Notion is both powerful and adaptable. 

You can use it as a note-taking tool, a task manager, a wiki, or a database, thanks to its rich text editor and modular interface. 

It offers a wide range of templates to help users get started quickly, but you can also create your own templates and systems tailored to your workflow. 

The app's collaborative features make it easy to share documents and manage projects across teams.

• Why it’s great for side hustlers

Notion’s flexibility means you can use it to manage both your corporate work and side hustle. It’s also great for tracking business ideas, organizing workflows, and even managing finances.

Don’t miss our tips on 7 Ways to Separate Your Personal and Business Finances Separately to ensure smooth financial management for your side hustle.

4. Evernote

Evernote is a classic note-taking app that’s perfect for capturing ideas, organizing information, and setting reminders.

• Key Features

Evernote's strength lies in its multi-functionality. 

The app allows users to take notes, store PDFs, scan business cards, clip articles from the web, and set reminders. These notes are organized into notebooks for easy access, and you can tag them with keywords to make searching more efficient. 

The app’s powerful search functionality even recognizes text in scanned documents and images, making it easy to find anything you’ve saved.

• Why it’s great for side hustlers

Evernote is ideal for capturing those "aha!" moments that happen when you least expect them.

You can jot down ideas for your side business during a meeting or on the go and organize them later.

You can also explore more strategies in our post on How to Validate Your Business Idea Without Quitting Your Day Job to see how Evernote can support your brainstorming process.

5. Slack

Slack is a communication tool that’s designed for teams but works equally well for solo entrepreneurs who collaborate with freelancers or other partners.

• Key Features

Slack organizes conversations into channels, which can be categorized by project, team, or topic. 

Direct messaging allows for quick one-on-one communication, and you can integrate Slack with various other apps like Google Drive, Trello, and Zoom to streamline workflows. 

The file-sharing and search features make it easy to find documents or previous conversations, even months later.

• Why it’s great for side hustlers

If you’re working with a virtual assistant, freelancers, or partners, Slack is a fantastic way to keep communication organized and streamlined.

Plus, it helps you avoid endless email chains.

For more ways to optimize communication and collaboration, read Smart Ways to Reinvest Your Side Business Profits to see how Slack can enhance teamwork.

6. Toggl Track

Toggl Track is a time-tracking tool that helps you monitor how much time you’re spending on different tasks.

• Key Features

Toggl Track allows you to start tracking time with just one click. It works across all devices, and you can categorize your time entries by project or task. 

Toggl also generates detailed reports that show where your time is being spent, making it easy to analyze productivity and profitability. 

The app integrates with various tools like Trello, Asana, and Slack, so you can seamlessly track time across different projects.

• Why it’s great for side hustlers

It’s easy to lose track of time when you’re juggling multiple priorities.

Toggl Track helps you monitor how much time you’re spending on your side hustle versus your corporate job, ensuring that you’re focusing on high-priority tasks.

Check out our tips on Top 5 Time Management Techniques for Balancing Work and Your Side Business to learn how to maximize your time.

7. Google Calendar

Google Calendar is a must-have scheduling tool, especially if you’re already using Google’s suite of apps.

• Key Features

Google Calendar allows users to create events, set reminders, and schedule recurring tasks. 

It also supports shared calendars, which is ideal for coordinating with teams or family members. 

One of its most powerful features is time-blocking, which allows you to designate blocks of time for specific tasks or projects.

• Why it’s great for side hustlers

Managing time effectively is critical for side hustlers, and Google Calendar helps you organize both personal and professional commitments.

You can time block for your side hustle around your corporate meetings to ensure nothing gets missed.

Learn more about time blocking techniques in Why is Time Management Important? The Ultimate Guide to Boosting Productivity and Success.

8. Zapier

Zapier is an automation tool that connects different apps and automates repetitive tasks.

• Key Features

Zapier works by creating “Zaps,” which are automated workflows that trigger actions across different apps. 

For example, you can set up a Zap to automatically post to social media every time you publish a new blog post or save email attachments directly to Google Drive.

Zapier connects with over 5,000 apps, making it incredibly versatile.

• Why it’s great for side hustlers

Automation is a side hustler’s best friend. With Zapier, you can automate small, repetitive tasks that would otherwise take up precious time, allowing you to focus on growing your business.

9. Asana

Asana is a task and project management tool that’s great for tracking progress on both individual and team projects.

• Key Features

Asana is known for its user-friendly interface and customizable workflows. 

You can create tasks, assign them to team members, set deadlines, and track progress using Asana’s visual timelines or Kanban-style boards. 

The app also integrates with popular tools like Slack, Google Drive, and Microsoft Teams, making it easy to centralize your work.

• Why it’s great for side hustlers

If you’re managing both your day job and a growing side hustle, Asana’s project management features will help you stay organized and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

Check out more tips on How to Build a Personal Brand While Working a 9-5 to see how Asana can help streamline your side hustle’s workflow.

10. Buffer

Buffer is a social media scheduling tool that lets you plan, schedule, and analyze your social media posts.

• Key Features

Buffer allows you to schedule posts in advance, track engagement, and analyze social media performance. 

One of Buffer’s standout features is its ability to post at optimal times based on audience activity, ensuring that your content reaches the largest possible audience. 

The app also offers detailed analytics that help you refine your social media strategy over time.

• Why it’s great for side hustlers

Social media can be a huge time sink if not managed properly.

Buffer allows you to schedule content ahead of time, freeing you up to focus on other aspects of your business.

Learn how to build a powerful social media presence in our Social Media Marketing for Side Hustlers: A Step-by-Step Guide.

Wrapping Up

As a side hustler, your time is precious, and staying organized is the key to success. 

Whether you’re looking to streamline your workflow, automate repetitive tasks, or simply keep track of everything you need to do, the right productivity apps can make all the difference.

I hope this list of the 10 best productivity apps gives you the tools you need to manage your side hustle and corporate job more efficiently. Start experimenting with a few of these apps and see which ones help you stay on top of your game in 2024!

Good luck with your side hustle journey, and remember—you’ve got this!

And if you’re feeling stuck or need a little extra help in growing your side business, don’t hesitate to contact us.

We’re here to help you take your side hustle to the next level!