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• Best Business Plan Software

10 Best Business Plan Software In 2024

Updated: May 3, 2024, 5:15pm

Writing a business plan not only helps you stay on track as you start a new business but it can also help you secure funding. You can create one from scratch with a simple template, but business plan software often has features to make it easier, more nuanced and overall better. It could even make the difference between bringing investors on board and going it alone. So, Forbes Advisor found the best business plan software that has the features you need at an affordable price.

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The Best Business Plan Software of 2024

Forbes advisor ratings, methodology, how to choose a business plan software, benefits of business plan software, frequently asked questions (faqs), next up in business.

Featured Partners

From $8 monthly per user

Zoom, LinkedIn, Adobe, Salesforce and more

On monday.com's Website

Yes, for one user and two editors

$7 per user per month

Google Drive, Slack, Tableau, Miro, Zapier and more

On Smartsheet's Website

Yes, for unlimited members

$7 per month

Slack, Microsoft Outlook, HubSpot, Salesforce, Timely, Google Drive and more

On ClickUp's Website

• Wrike: Best overall
• Smartsheet: Best for goal management
• LivePlan: Best for financial forecasting
• Aha!: Best for roadmapping
• Bizplan: Best for beginners
• IdeaBuddy: Best for ideation
• iPlanner: Best for no-frills business planning
• Enloop: Best for automatic business plan creation
• AchieveIt: Best for consultant groups
• Business Sorter: Best for teams

Best Overall

Starting price

Free; $9.80 per user

Team messaging

Roadmapping

Wrike is a project management (PM) tool that works well as business plan software because it gives you tools to help you gather and compare your data. Wrike makes it easy to start your business plan with its collaboration tools, business plan templates , drag-and-drop interface and goal management features. Another benefit of using Wrike to build your plan is that you see your ideas and goals from multiple views: Gantt chart, calendar or board views.

There are a few reasons why it’s a good idea to use Wrike for your business plan. First, you can map out exactly what your business goals are in a project, invite teammates to collaborate and message business partners to discuss everything. Plus, you can export your data when you’re ready to put all the details into a presentation to hand over to potential investors.

Wrike offers a free plan that’s good for putting your vision down in task and project form, but you may want to upgrade to a paid plan to invite collaborators, get custom workflows and add more views and automations. Paid plan pricing ranges from $9.80 per user, per month, to $24.80 per user, per month, both billed annually.

Learn more: Read our full Wrike review .

Who should use it:

Wrike makes it easy for any new business owner to create a business plan and collaborate with others on the financial and operational goals. Plus, it provides value after you finalize your business plan because it’s a good pick for a PM tool.

• Roadmapping ability
• Multiple views (Gantt, calendar and board)
• Business plan templates included
• Goal management via projects and tasks
• Free plan available
• Affordable plans
• No pitching tools
• No financial tools

Best for Goal Management

$7 per user, per month

(billed annually)

(added cost)

Using PM software like Smartsheet is a good idea for starting a business plan because it includes all the tools you need to collaborate and plan across multiple teams or stakeholders. It’s especially good for real-time goal management. Get your ideas in place, go over market and competitive research from other teammates and finalize everything together.

Smartsheet won’t help you write your business plan, but it does give you a place to compile all the data and then you can use one of its free business plan templates. As you figure out your milestones, you can invite an unlimited number of viewers to see how it’s going. The only downsides are that Smartsheet doesn’t have a native messaging app (you’ll have to use an integration), only commenting allowed and there’s no free plan.

Paid plans from Smartsheet cost $7 per user, per month, or $25 per user, per month (billed annually for both). The low-priced Pro plan limits you to 10 editors, but the Business plan allows unlimited editors (but it also has a three-user minimum).

Learn more: Read our full Smartsheet review .

Smartsheet lets you make changes in real time, so it’s a good option for those who are just starting to piece together a plan and looking for a way to manage ideas and goals before finalizing a business plan.

• Discounts for nonprofits available
• Automations on every plan
• Popular integrations allowed on low-tier plan
• 30-day free trial
• No free plan
• Only 10 viewers allowed on low-tier plan
• Three-user minimum on Business plan

Best for Financial Forecasting

$15 per month

One of the strongest cases for using LivePlan to create your business plan is its financial forecasting. It isn’t just a single feature, rather it’s a tool that lets you turn your balance sheet and cash flow statements into charts, graphs and what-if situations to help you show possible investors the best- and worst-case scenarios for your business.

There are two plans available: Standard or Premium (there is no free plan). The low-priced plan, which costs $15 per month (billed annually), doesn’t limit your contributors or guests and includes instructions to help you complete a business plan. It even includes the financial forecasting features and more than 500 sample plans to get you started.

The Premium plan costs $30 per month (billed annually), but it’s full-featured. You get a milestone planner and industry benchmark data, which can save you research time. Another timesaver: At this plan level, you can integrate QuickBooks or Xero to add your financial data seamlessly.

LivePlan is business plan software that includes prompts and accounting software integrations, making it great for new business owners that want easy financial forecasting.

• Unlimited guests and contributors
• Export finished business plan as PowerPoint presentation
• Includes step-by-step instructions with prompts
• 35-day money-back guarantee
• No free trial

Best for Roadmapping

$59 per user, per month

Every business plan starts with strategy and Aha! makes it easier to map out what you plan to do to get from point A to point Z. Aha! is primarily roadmapping software that product teams use to plan features, products or bug fixes. Any business in any industry can use it to shape ideas and strategy into plans and milestones.

Much like product development, business plans have phases and Aha! is ideal for the first few phases of business planning. Although you won’t find a scorecard feature with Aha! Roadmaps, you can score and prioritize your business vision and goals. Finally, you can present your plan to viewers (stakeholders) before you create your official business plan and secure funding.

There are three plans from which you can choose: Premium at $59 per user, per month; Enterprise at $99 per user, per month; and Enterprise+ at $149 per user, per month, all billed annually. The only reasons to upgrade to either Enterprise plan is if you want to add on automation, development tools and custom worksheets and tables.

Aha! Roadmaps is a great tool to help you strategize and get your ideas for your business in one place. You can use the presentation feature to share your business’s roadmap on your way to creating your finalized business plan.

• User-friendly interface
• Ability to score and prioritize ideas
• Share roadmaps with others
• Expensive for business plan creation
• Has a bit of a learning curve

Best for Beginners

$20.75 per month

Bizplan is specifically for business plan creation. It offers a guided walkthrough of each section you need for a complete business plan to use for funding or pitching to partners. Plug in the information, from your mission and goals to financial forecasts, and Bizplan will do the math and create the visual charts you need to get your point across.

Bizplan is very easy to use because it includes prompts and questions that take away the manual effort of figuring out what you need, so you can simply focus on providing the answers. When you’re satisfied you included all the data needed, you can invite stakeholders and consultants to look it over and add comments for approval or change requests. A unique feature of Bizplan is it gives you access to Fundable, a crowdfunding platform, on which you can share your business plan to try to generate funding.

Monthly pricing costs $29, but you can opt for annual pricing that averages to $20.75 per month. If you expect to need business plan software for much longer than a year, there’s a lifetime access option for $349 flat. All plans come with all features and access, including business courses, business planning tools and a route to investors.

If it’s your first time creating a business plan, Bizplan is a great choice to help guide you through all the sections you need to include in your plan for potential investors and partners.

• Monthly, annual and lifetime plans
• Unlimited business plans
• Unlimited collaborators
• Step-by-step instructions
• Modular, drag-and-drop interface
• Online business courses
• Access to Fundable
• Financial forecasting
• No roadmapping tools
• Lack of customization
• Only integrates with Xero

Best for Ideation

Free; $6 per month

IdeaBuddy is a basic business plan tool that lets you start for free, which is great for beginners who aren’t quite ready to create a plan. The idea plan feature is great because it lets you lay out your business plan on one page, giving you an overview. There are built-in sticky notes for brainstorming and custom templates to start you off with a bit of a guide (or just create your own).

Another great feature of IdeaBuddy is the whiteboard, which lets you drag and drop various elements, draw on it and collaborate with others to come up with your perfect business idea. That feature is locked behind the highest tier, so you’ll have to pay $22 per month (billed annually) to use it. However, that plan also gives you up to 10 collaborators and 10 ideas.

Other plans are more limiting: The free plan is for a solopreneur who has a single idea to work on and the Dreamer plan is $6 per month while the Founder plan is $12 per month, both billed annually. The Dreamer plan is also limited to one idea, but you get one collaborator while the Founder plan gives you up to three ideas and three collaborators. Plus, you’ll get access to the paid plans to export and share your plan with viewers.

IdeaBuddy is just what it sounds like: It’s best for ideation. You can create a full-fledged business plan, but this program is best suited for the very beginning stages of business creation.

• Free forever plan
• Affordable paid plans
• Monthly and annual billing options
• Easy to use
• Export to Word, Excel or as PDF
• Flexible whiteboard feature
• May be too basic for some users
• Doesn’t offer much guidance

Best for No-Frills Business Planning

$55 for one year

Business plan software doesn’t have to be fancy to be effective, and iPlanner certainly fits that bill. It’s been around since 2007 and it doesn’t appear to have updated its look or functions. The browser-based business planning software gives you a place to build out your business model and a business plan.

There are two different software options from iPlanner: Strategy Designer and Startup Framework. The Strategy Designer costs $59 for three plans, but it’s a one-time fee for the year. Choose it if you want a more condensed and no-frills kind of business plan. You can export it to Word or as a PDF.

The iPlanner Startup Framework is $55 per year, which gives you one plan to create. It’s similar to the Designer version, but you can create a business model, separate financials and build a team with various roles (view only, project owner or consultant).

iPlanner is best for those who have created a business plan before and don’t need hand-holding or fancy features.

• Business modeling option
• Samples on site for demoing
• Export to Word or as PDF
• No free plan or trial
• Not a lot of guidance
• Outdated interface

Best for Automatic Business Plan Creation

$11 per month

Enloop is a unique business plan app that generates a business plan for you based on information you provide. You can edit the text Enloop writes for you to make it more specific or change numbers in your financial forecasts as you see fit. Enloop offers a scorecard that updates as you change things, finish sections and make your business plan overall better.

Then Enloop compares your financial forecasts to industry standards, so you don’t have to do the research. The software shows you up to 16 ratios, such as sales, inventory and payables and then shows you what the average is for your industry as it compares to your financials. Enloop then gives you either a pass or fail so that you can modify your plan before you put anything into play.

Although Enloop doesn’t offer a free plan, there is a free trial for one week so you can see if it’s right for you. The Detailed plan costs $11 per month while the Performance plan is $24 per month, both billed annually. The biggest difference between the two plans is how many financial ratios Enloop analyzes: The Detailed plan only gets three ratios and Performance plan gets 16.

Enloop is best for those who have some experience creating business plans, not necessarily for those who are starting from scratch as there are no brainstorming or strategizing tools included. Use Enloop to create business plans quickly.

• Three business plans for each tier
• Generates a business plan automatically
• Compares your financials to industry standards
• Seven-day free trial available
• Scorecards indicate odds of success
• No messaging team members through app
• Not meant for strategizing

Best for Consultant Groups

$80 per, user per month

Not everyone wants to go it alone when creating business plans and consultants are often hired for industry expertise and business plan creation. AchieveIt offers generous plans that won’t limit the number of plans and projects you can create, so you can work on multiple business plans at one time.

Specifically, AchieveIt is planning software meant for medium to large teams to work on projects simultaneously. For business planning, it’s a great option for those strategizing and analyzing a variety of data points with multiple people—all of AchieveIt’s plans have a minimum requirement of 20 users.

Plans are pricey, especially when you consider the user minimum. Core, the lowest-priced plan, costs $80 per user, per month, and Plus is $90 per user, per month, both billed annually. So, it’s going to cost $1,600 per month, at least, which puts this software out of reach for most small businesses.

AchieveIt is a good choice for large businesses that need planning software and for business plan purposes, it makes most sense for established consultant groups.

• Unlimited plans and projects
• Collaboration tools
• Goal management
• 20-user minimum
• Pricier than most competitors
• Integrations at added cost

Best for Teams

Business sorter.

$10 per month

When you’re ready to craft your business plan, it can help immensely to have business planning software like Business Sorter. The cloud-based app makes it easy for you to start a plan and kicks off your business planning with a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats). Then, you can follow a guide to build your plan with each section divided by areas. After which, you can choose cards to help steer you toward the right objectives and goals for your business.

You won’t find roadmapping tools in Business Sorter, but the card system keeps you on track (and even gives you goals you may not have considered). As you prioritize goals, you’ll find steps you need to take that guide you to completing your business plan. Every plan allows multiple users, so you can collaborate on what takes precedence.

Plans start at $10 per month, billed annually, and allows you to have three users on board. For 10 users, the Medium plan costs $30 per month, billed annually, and if you need 30 users, the Large Team plan will run you $80 per month, billed annually. It’s one of the most affordable business planning apps for teams.

Although Business Sorter doesn’t offer a messaging tool, it’s still one of the best options for teams. You don’t have to pay per person, but you can add multiple people to the account to work on creating business plans.

• Easy-to-use business plan templates
• Free trial available
• Card system helps guide your goal setting
• Create up to 40 business plans
• Plans limit user count
• No messaging in app
• Very limited integrations

Forbes Advisor carefully considered a variety of software to choose the right business planning apps for this ranking. We compared features, ease of use, costs and collaboration. We ranked each company based on these factors using a 5-star rating system. The highest possible score is 5 out of 5 stars.

Here are the details of the factors we considered:

• Features: We looked at general and unique features of each app and gave more credit to software that provides better functionality for business planning.
• Cost: Regardless of your business size, cost is an important factor to consider when you’re adding new software to your tech stack. We awarded a higher score to those that offer free trials, free plans and affordable options.
• Ease of use: Programs that have a steep learning curve aren’t likely to be adopted by you or your team, so we chose software that’s user-friendly. Drag-and-drop interfaces or guidance through features and tools are helpful for any team.
• Customer reviews: An important factor for any software is how the general public views the program. We considered other ratings and studied the pros and cons listed by other users of the software to help us with our ranking.

Technically, you don’t need business plan software, but using it can make the entire experience easier and you’ll have better odds of creating a solid plan. You don’t even have to choose software made specifically for business planning—project management software is great for roadmapping and goal management. Aside from looking for software that includes financial forecasting, you’ll want collaboration tools, a user-friendly interface, affordable plans and ways to brainstorm or roadmap for your business idea.

One of the most important sections of any business plan is the financials. If you haven’t already done the research and calculations, look for a business plan app that automatically calculates these numbers for you.

Collaboration is also key if you’re working with a partner, team or consultants. At the very least, look for software that lets you invite viewers to see the work you’re doing, but the best business plan software lets users leave comments or work on a plan in real time simultaneously.

Ease of use is nearly as important as pricing. You’ll need software you and your team will use without spending too much downtime learning how to use it. It also makes no sense to choose a cost-prohibitive tool for creating a business plan—most of the software Forbes Advisor suggests is appropriate for small business budgets.

Finally, depending on the stage you’re in of business planning, you may want a tool that offers features that make it easy for you to create a roadmap for your business. If you’re in the early stages, these tools can help with brainstorming, prioritizing goals and managing your goals before you finalize your actual business plan.

Most business plan software helps guide you through the creation of a business plan with prompts, suggestions or tips. So, using business plan software is especially helpful for new business owners who don’t know all the sections to include to increase the odds of getting funding or luring a partner to join your operation.

Business plan software can also automate some processes, such as calculations of financials or comparisons of those finances with industry standards. Some business planning apps give you whiteboards or editable cards you can use for brainstorming. Other features may include scorecards to let you know if you’re on the right track or roadmapping tools to give you an overview of your business plan.

The biggest benefit of business plan software is that it helps you organize and prioritize all of your goals so you can more easily analyze and then compile the data you need to create your business plan. After that, you can create your plan from scratch or if you’re using business planning software made specifically for crafting plans, you can piece it all together and then export it as a PDF or to Microsoft Word.

Which business plan software is the best?

Forbes Advisor suggests Wrike, Smartsheet or LivePlan to help you write your business plan. Depending on the stage you’re in of business planning, one tool or another may be better for you.

How do I create my own business plan?

There are several steps you should follow to create a good business plan, but there are different types of plans you can create. Every business plan starts with a strong executive summary and includes your business goals and financial forecasting. Follow a guide on how to create a business plan to ensure you include all the sections needed.

What are the different types of business plans?

There are many types of business plans you can create and the one that makes the most sense for you depends on your situation. A standard business plan is meant for when you need to present to investors or a bank for financial help. A lean plan doesn’t include all the summaries and background information a standard plan does, so it’s more suitable for established business owners. There are also one-page business plans that are more like pitches. You may also run across operational, tactical, strategic and contingency business plans. We created a simple business plan template that you can use to get started when launching a side gig or small business.

Is business plan software secure?

As  with most types of software, the best business plan software programs offer many levels of security. When choosing this type of software, you want to look for security features that include multifactor authentication (MFA), intrusion detection, the monitoring of user activities, documentation that shows frequent security updates and patches, data encryption and privacy protection.

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Amy Nichol Smith spent more than 20 years working as a journalist for TV and newspapers before transitioning to software and hardware product reviews for consumers and small businesses. She has been featured in publications such as L.A. Times, Tom's Guide, Investopedia and various newspapers across the U.S.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Initiate with Your Business Concept: Lay the Groundwork: Start by introducing your business idea into Plannit AI's Business Plan Generator. This first step is crucial, as it sets the tone for a tailored, insightful business plan that truly resonates with your vision. Capture the Essence: Our platform is designed to grasp the nuances of your concept, ensuring that the generated plan accurately reflects the core and potential of your business.
• Navigate Through the AI-Guided Questionnaire: Tailored Interactive Experience: Plannit AI’s AI-guided questionnaire is your interactive guide through the planning process. It meticulously gathers information about your business's objectives, strategies, and market positioning, ensuring a comprehensive and reflective plan. Intelligent Feedback and Suggestions: As you progress through the questionnaire, benefit from smart prompts and suggestions, ensuring that your plan is not just detailed but also strategically sound and aligned with industry standards.
• Generate Your Plan with Advanced AI: Intuitive Plan Creation: With the questionnaire complete, Plannit AI's advanced algorithms intelligently analyze your responses. They then craft a detailed, customizable, and strategically aligned business plan, providing you with a structured, coherent, and actionable format. Benefit from AI-Powered Insights: Plannit AI offers AI-driven insights and suggestions, ensuring your plan is not just a document but a strategic tool equipped with tailored AI prompts and an in-app plan editor. Get inspired by browsing through our sample business plans, a collection of successful strategies across various industries.
• Finalize Your Plan with Confidence: Dynamic Adaptation and Refinement: Plannit AI recognizes that a business plan is a living document. Our platform allows for continuous adaptation and refinement, ensuring your strategy remains agile, relevant, and aligned with your evolving business goals. Professional Presentation and Sharing: Once your plan meets your standards, utilize Plannit AI's export features to present your plan professionally. Choose between various formats for exporting your business plan, ready to impress stakeholders, attract investors, or guide your team. Review and Adapt: Ensure your business plan is a living document, ready to evolve with your growing business. Plannit AI's dynamic platform allows you to adapt your strategy as new opportunities or challenges arise.
• Roadmap for Success: At its core, a business plan acts as a strategic guide, providing detailed steps on how your business will achieve its objectives. It helps you navigate the startup phase, manage growth effectively, and tackle unforeseen challenges with a well-thought-out strategy.
• Securing Funding: For startups and businesses looking to expand, a business plan is crucial for securing loans or attracting investors. It demonstrates to potential financial backers that your business has a clear vision, a solid strategy for profitability, and a plan for delivering returns on their investment.
• Informed Decision-Making: A well-prepared business plan offers valuable insights into your market, competition, and potential challenges. This information is vital for making informed decisions, from day-to-day operations to long-term strategic shifts.
• Market Analysis and Strategy: It allows you to conduct an in-depth analysis of your target market, understand customer needs, and position your product or service effectively. The marketing strategy outlined in your business plan helps in identifying the best channels and tactics to reach your audience and achieve market penetration.
• Financial Planning: One of the most critical components of a business plan is the financial forecast. It outlines your funding requirements, expected revenue, profit margins, and cash flow projections. This section is essential for budgeting, financial management, and ensuring the financial viability of your business.
• Goal Setting and Performance Measurement: A business plan sets clear, measurable goals and objectives. It provides a framework for monitoring performance, measuring success, and making necessary adjustments to stay on track.
• Aspiring Entrepreneurs: If you're at the idea stage, looking to transform your vision into a viable business, Plannit AI offers the tools and guidance to bring your concept to life. Our platform helps you articulate your business idea, define your target market, and develop a solid plan to turn your dream into reality.
• Students and Educators: For students delving into the intricacies of business planning and educators teaching the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, Plannit AI serves as an invaluable resource. It provides a practical, hands-on tool for learning and teaching how to create detailed business plans, analyze markets, and understand financials in a real-world context.
• Startup Founders: In the dynamic startup environment, Plannit AI is the ideal partner for founders looking to pivot quickly, secure funding, or understand their competitive landscape. With our AI-driven insights and market analysis tools, startups can make informed decisions and adapt their strategies to thrive in competitive markets.
• Small Business Owners: For small business owners seeking to optimize their operations, expand their customer base, or explore new markets, Plannit AI offers targeted solutions. Our platform simplifies the planning process, enabling owners to focus on growth while managing the day-to-day challenges of running their business.
• Consultants and Freelancers: Consultants and freelancers specializing in business development, strategic planning, or financial advising will find Plannit AI a powerful addition to their toolkit. It allows them to provide clients with comprehensive, data-driven business plans and strategies, enhancing the value of their services.
• Non-Profit Organizations: Leaders of non-profit organizations can leverage Plannit AI to plan initiatives, secure funding, and manage resources more efficiently. Our platform helps non-profits articulate their mission, set achievable goals, and measure their impact, ensuring they can make a difference in their communities.
• Innovators and Inventors: Individuals looking to commercialize innovative products or technologies can use Plannit AI to navigate the complexities of bringing new ideas to market. From patent strategies to go-to-market plans, our platform covers all bases, ensuring innovators can focus on what they do best.
• Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and Government Agencies: Government and SBA backed entities can greatly benefit from integrating Plannit AI into their services, enhancing their ability to support a larger number of clients more efficiently. By facilitating quicker, more in-depth business plan development, these organizations can spend more time assisting with plan execution and less time on creation, ultimately serving their communities more effectively.
• Anyone with a Business Idea: Ultimately, Plannit AI is for anyone with a business idea, regardless of industry, experience, or stage of business development. Our mission is to democratize business planning, making it accessible, understandable, and actionable for everyone.
• Interactive Questionnaire and ChatGPT Integration: Plannit AI transforms the business planning process into an engaging conversation. Through our advanced ChatGPT integration, we offer a questionnaire that dynamically adapts to your responses, ensuring your plan is personalized, comprehensive, and aligned with your business goals.
• Dynamic Planning Environment: Unlike static templates provided by many, Plannit AI introduces a living platform that grows with your business. It features real-time updates, strategic insights, and a feedback mechanism that keeps your business plan current and actionable.
• Extensive Educational Resources: Our Education Center is packed with articles, guides, and sample plans to bolster your planning process. It's designed to arm you with the knowledge to navigate the complexities of your industry confidently.
• Enhanced Collaboration and Customization: Recognizing the collaborative essence of business planning, Plannit AI supports team efforts with multi-user editing, annotations, and feedback features, ensuring a comprehensive approach to your strategy.
• Customer Success Stories: Our users' achievements are a testament to Plannit AI's effectiveness. These success stories illustrate how diverse businesses have utilized our platform for strategic planning and growth.
• Tailored Business Plan Creation: Our platform stands out with its tailored approach, featuring customizable templates that directly cater to your business type and industry, making plan creation straightforward and relevant.
• Content Generation:: ChatGPT helps draft various sections of a business plan, from executive summaries to marketing strategies, by providing structured and coherent text based on the prompts given.
• Strategic Insights: It can offer suggestions on business strategies by analyzing trends and providing examples from a wide range of industries.
• Financial Planning: While it can't replace professional financial advice, ChatGPT can guide the structure of financial projections and statements, helping you consider important financial aspects of your plan.

Take The First Step Towards Success

The best free small business software in 2024

Whether you find them on basic cable or on your parents' Facebook timelines, the top-rated personal finance gurus all agree: free is good. Especially if you're launching a new business venture. To get your company off the ground, you'll need to make every inch of your runway count, which is why free business software can be an attractive—even necessary—option.

It's fair to be worried about quality. Free apps for business often mean undeletable watermarks that ruin your branding or unreliable functionality that can toss a wrench into your workflows at any moment. But if you know which apps to use and how to use them, free doesn't have to mean cut-rate. 

In fact, the right free small business app can give you the power to pull off a successful launch, and then scale up as your margins allow you to grow. Or, when the time's right, you can simply jump ship to another platform that makes more sense for your expanding business needs. 

To do that, you'll first need a solid start that won't bust your bottom line. Here's a roundup of the best free small business software. Since every business has different needs, I'll introduce you to categories of apps you should consider when putting together your small business tech stack, suggest apps along the way, and link you to more top apps within that category.

The best free software for small businesses

How we evaluate and test apps, the best free software for small businesses at a glance .

Company	Company - Logo	Forbes Advisor Rating	Forbes Advisor Rating	Starting Price	Team messaging	Roadmapping	Learn More CTA text	Learn more CTA below text	LEARN MORE
Wrike		5.0		Free; $9.80 per user, per month	Yes	Yes		Read Forbes' Review
Smartsheet		5.0		$7 per user, per month (billed annually)	Yes (added cost)	Yes		On Smartsheet's Website
LivePlan		4.8		$15 per month (billed annually)	Yes	Yes
Aha!		4.3		$59 per user, per month (billed annually)	Yes (added cost)	Yes
Bizplan		4.0		$20.75 per month (billed annually)	Yes	No
IdeaBuddy		3.9		Free; $6 per month (billed annually)	No	No
iPlanner		3.8		$55 for one year	No	No
Enloop		3.5		$11 per month (billed annually)	No	Yes
AchieveIt		3.4		$80 per, user per month (billed annually)	No	No
Business Sorter		3.2		$10 per month (billed annually)	No	No

	Free CRM software	Managing up to 250 unique leads with sales, marketing, chat, and customer service features for free
	Free email marketing services	Delivering dynamic, text- and image-rich content to inboxes
	Free website builders	Leveraging AI to write website copy
	Free project management software	Visualizing project workflows
	Free survey tools and form builders	Building forms using a robust feature set
	Free graphic design and photo editing software	Creating AI-generated images using text—and then using them in your designs
	Free keyword research tools	Quickly identifying priority keywords worth chasing
	Free timesheet software	Tracking time from multiple devices, including browser, desktop, mobile app, or within 100+ third-party apps
	Free invoicing software	Customizing invoice designs

Free CRM software like EngageBay

Add new EngageBay Marketing contacts to Google Sheets as rows

Add new EngageBay contacts from Typeform form

Free email marketing services like MailerLite

Create/update MailerLite subscribers from new Squarespace form submissions

Create or update MailerLite subscribers from new Webflow form submissions

Free website builders like Wix

Once you've attracted attention with your dazzling email marketing, you'll need a place to send all that traffic. You can try to cut corners with that friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend who builds websites on the side until their pro League of Legends career takes off. Or you can opt for a more reliable, still affordable option by going with a website building platform. 

These apps, even in their free tiers, are customizable and easy to use—no coding required—allowing you to build a dynamic web presence that won't get buried in search engine results.

Add or update Mailchimp subscribers when a new Wix Form is submitted

Send private channel messages in Slack for new forms in Wix

Free project management software like Trello

When looking at free software for small businesses, you need to think about your internal operations, too. For all your core processes, it's about organized projects that are planned and executed with maximum efficiency. 

Create Trello cards from new Google Forms responses

Create Trello cards from new rows on Google Sheets

Free survey tools and form builders like google forms.

Send new Google Forms responses to Notion databases

Share Google Forms responses in a Slack channel

Free graphic design and photo editing software like canva.

You're likely already thinking about (or using) social media as a way to keep in touch and nurture customer relationships. More than just collecting likes and hearts, the right social media presence can boost customer engagement and drive traffic to your door. 

Free keyword research tools like Moz Keyword Explorer

Free timesheet software like Toggl Track

If you're employing others, timesheet apps are an indispensable tool for equitable resource allocation, transparent invoicing, budgeting, and oversight. To track time effectively, however, you need user-friendly software that integrates into your workflows. 

Create new Toggl Track entries for every new Google Calendar event start

Create new Toggl Track projects from new rows in Google Sheets

Free invoicing software like wave.

At the end of the day, you need to get paid for the goods and services you provide—hence the whole "business" aspect of launching a business. You can bring that money in the door faster, and with less effort, by using invoicing software.

Create Wave customers from new Pipedrive deals

Create Wave customers from new changes to properties of HubSpot contacts

Connect your free small business apps with automation

The best free apps for small business owners can be a boost on their own. But to really move the needle, your apps need to talk to each other.

Related reading:

This article was originally published in February 2023. The most recent update, with contributions from Jessica Lau, was in February 2024.

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Toby Peterson

Toby Peterson is an educator, writer, and editor living in Portland, Oregon. He enjoys unironically British food and the Oxford comma. Visit him at tobiaspeterson.com.

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• 5 Best Business Plan Software and Tools in 2023 for Your Small Business

Data as of 3 /13/23 . Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

We are committed to sharing unbiased reviews. Some of the links on our site are from our partners who compensate us. Read our editorial guidelines and advertising disclosure .

A business plan can do a lot for your business. It can help you secure investors or other funding. It can give your company direction. It can keep your finances healthy. But, if we’re being honest, it can also be a pain to write.

Luckily, you don’t have to start from scratch or go it alone. Business plan software and services can help you craft a professional business plan, like our top choice LivePlan , which provides templates, guidance, and more.

You’ve got quite a few choices for business plan help, so we’re here to help you narrow things down. Let’s talk about the best business plan tools out there.

• LivePlan : Best overall
• BizPlanBuilder : Most user-friendly
• Wise Business Plans : Best professional service
• Business Sorter : Best for internal plans
• GoSmallBiz.com : Most extra features
• Honorable mentions

Business plan software 101

The takeaway, business plan software faq, compare the best business plan software.

	Cloud-based software	$12.00/mo.	60-day money back guarantee
	Windows app and cloud-based software	$20.75/mo.	60-day money back guarantee
	Professional service	Custom quote	N/A
	Cloud-based software	$10.00/mo.	14 days
	Cloud-based software	$39.00/mo.	N/A

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LivePlan: Best overall business plan software

Data as of 3 /13/23 . Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *With annual billing

LivePlan has been our favorite business plan software for a while now, despite the stiff competition.

There’s a lot to like about LivePlan. It has pretty much all the features you could want from your business plan software. LivePlan gives you step-by-step instructions for writing your plan, helps you create financial reports, lets you compare your business’s actual financials to your plan’s goals, and much more. And if you ever need inspiration, it includes hundreds of sample business plans that can guide your writing.

LivePlan software pricing

	$12.00/mo.	$15.00/mo.
	$24.00/mo.	$30.00/mo.

But the best part? You get all that (and more) at a very competitive price. (You can choose from annual, six-month, or monthly billing.) While LivePlan isn’t quite the cheapest business plan builder out there, it’s not too far off either. And if comes with a 60-day money back guarantee. So there’s no risk in trying LivePlan out for yourself.

With a great balance of features and cost, LivePlan offers the best business plan solution for most businesses.

BizPlanBuilder: Most user-friendly

Need something easy to use? BizPlanBuilder fits the bill.

BizPlanBuilder doesn’t have a flashy, modern user interface―but it does have a very clear, intuitive one. You’ll be able to see your plan’s overall structure at a glance, so you can quickly navigate from your title page to your market trend section to that paragraph on your core values. And as you write, you’ll use a text editor that looks a whole lot like the word processing programs you’re already familiar with.

BizPlanBuilder software pricing

$20.75/mo.	$29.00/mo.	$349.00

Data effective 3/13/23. At publishing time, amounts, rates, and requirements are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.

BizPlanBuilder also offers lots of helpful guidance for actually writing your plan. It gives you pre-written text, in which you just have to fill in relevant details. It offers explanations for what information you need to include in each section of your plan and way. It even gives you helpful tips from experts, so you’ll have all the information you need to plan like a pro.

So if you want planning software with almost no learning curve, you’ll like BizPlanBuilder.

Wise Business Plans: Best professional service

• Custom quote

Unlike all the other companies on this list, Wise Business Plans doesn’t offer software. Instead, it offers professional business plan writing services―meaning someone does all the hard work for you.

Now, you might think that sounds expensive―and you’re probably right (you have to request a custom quote for your plan). But there’s a lot to be said for expertise, and Wise Business Plans has plenty of that. Your business plan will get written by an experienced writer (with an MBA, no less). They’ll get information from you, do their own research, and then write your plan. You get one free revision, and you can always pay for more.  

Wise Business Plans service pricing

N/A	N/A	Custom quote

Your end result will be a polished, entirely original business plan. (You can even get printed copies.) And best of all, you won’t have to spend your precious time working on the plan yourself. Wise Business Plans takes care of all the hard parts, and makes your business look good while doing it. Sounds like a service worth paying for, right?

Put simply, if you want the most professional business plan possible, we recommend using Wise Business Plans’s writing service.

Business Sorter: Best for internal plans

Many businesses need plans to show to people outside the company (to get financing, for example). But what if you just need a plan for internal use? In that case, we suggest Business Sorter.

Business Sorter uses a unique card-based method to help you craft the perfect business plan. (You can watch a demo video to see how it works.) You’ll plan some of the usual things, like finances and marketing. But Business Sorter also lets you make plans for specific teams and team members. It also emphasizes more internal matters, like operations, that might get overlooked in a business plan for outsiders.

Business Sorter software pricing

	$10.00/mo.	$80.00/yr.
	$30.00/mo.	$240.00/yr.
	$80.00/mo.	$640.00/yr.
	Custom pricing	Custom pricing

After you’ve made your business plan, Business Sorter also helps you stay accountable to it. You can create tasks, give them deadlines, and assign them to team members―giving you basic project management tools to make sure your business plans become business actions. (Oh, and did we mention that Business Sorter has the lowest starting prices of any software on this list?)

It all adds up to a business plan software that works great for internal planning.

GoSmallBiz: Most extra features

Want to get way more than just business planning software? Then you probably want GoSmallBiz.

See, GoSmallBiz offers business plan software as part of its service―but it’s just one part of a much bigger whole. You also get everything from discounts on legal services to a website builder to a CRM (customer relationship manager) to business document templates. And more. In other words, you get just about everything you need to get your startup off the ground.

GoSmallBiz software pricing

	$39.00/mo.
	$49.00/mo.
	$199.00/mo.

Don’t worry though―you still get all the business planning help you need. GoSmallBiz gives you business plan templates, step-by-step instructions, and the ability to create financial projections. And if you get stuck, GoSmallBiz will put you in touch with experts who can offer advice.

If you want business planning and much, much more, give GoSmallBiz a try.

• PlanGuru : Best financial forecasting
• EnLoop : Cheapest tool for startups

We recommend the software above for most business planning needs. Some businesses, though, might be interested in these more specialized planning software.

Honorable mention software pricing

	$899.00/yr.	$99.00/mo.	N/A
	$11.00/mo.	$19.95/mo.	N/A

PlanGuru: Best financial forecasting features

PlanGuru is pretty pricey compared to our other picks, but you might find its forecasting features worth paying for. It has more forecasting methods than other software (over 20) plus it lets you forecast up to 10 years.

EnLoop: Cheapest tool for startups

EnLoop doesn’t have our favorite features or interface, but it does have really, really low pricing plus a seven-day free trial. It's the most affordable software for startup business planning and still provides all the essential features like financial analysis, team collaboration, charting, and more.

Data as of 3 /13/23 . Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. * With annual billing

Several of our previous favorite planning software, including BusinessPlanPro and StratPad, seem to have gone out of business.

A business plan is a written, living document that tells the story of your business and what you plan to do with it. It serves as the source of truth for you—the business owner—as well as potential partners, employees, and investors, but it also serves as a roadmap of what you want your business to be.

Why you need a business plan

While some small-business owners don’t see the point of creating a formal business plan, it can have some concrete benefits for your business. For example, one 2016 study found that business owners with written plans are more successful than those that don’t. 1

Still too vague? Then let’s get specific.

If you ever seek business funding (from, say, banks, angel investors , or venture capitalists ), you’ll have to prove that your business deserves the money you want. A formal business plan―complete with financial data and projections―gives you a professional document you can use to make your case. (In fact, most potential investors will expect you to have a business plan ready.)

Even if you’re not seeking funding right now, a business plan can help your business. A formal plan can guide your business’s direction and decision making. It can keep your business accountable (by, for example, seeing if your business meets the financial projections you included). And a formal plan offers a great way to make sure your team stays on the same page.

What to include in your business plan

Not all business plans are created equal. To make a really useful business plan, you’ll want to include a number of elements:

• Basic information about your business
• Your products/services
• Market and industry analysis
• What makes your business competitive
• Strategies and upcoming plans
• Your team (and your team’s background)
• Current financial status
• Financial and market projections
• Executive summary

Of course, you can include more or fewer elements―whatever makes sense for your business. Just make sure your business plan is comprehensive (but not overwhelming).

How business plan software can help

With so many elements to include, business plan creation can take a while. Business plan software tries to speed things up.

Most business plan software will include prompts for each section. In some cases, you can just fill in your business’s specific information, and the software will write the text for you. In other cases, the software will give you specific guidance and examples, helping you write the text yourself.

Plus, business plan software can help you stay organized. You’ll usually get intuitive menus that let you quickly flip through sections. So rather than endlessly scrolling through a long document in a word processor, you can quickly find your way around your plan. Some software even lets you drag and drop sections to reorganize your plan.

Sounds way easier than just staring at a blank page and trying to start from scratch, right?

Choosing business plan software

To find the right business plan builder for your business, you’ll want to compare features. For example, would you rather write your own text, getting prompts and advice from your software? Or would you rather go with a fill-in-the-blank method?

Likewise, think about the elements you need. If your plan will have a heavy focus on finances, you’ll want to choose business plan software with robust financial projection features. If you care more about market and competitor analysis, look for software that can help with that research.

You may also want to find business plan software that integrates with your business accounting software . Some plan builders will import data from Xero, QuickBooks, etc. to quickly generate your financial data and projections.

And of course, you’ll want to compare prices. After all, you always want to end up with software that fits your business budget.

The right business plan software can make your life easier. With LivePlan ’s wide breadth of features and online learning tools, you can’t go wrong. Plus, BizPlanBuilder 's one-time pricing makes it easy to invest while Business Sorter has a low starting cost. And if you're business is looking to grow, GoSmallBiz and Wise Business Plans will scale with you.

But of course, different companies have different needs. So shop around until you find the software that’s best for you and your business.

Now that you've got a business plan, take a look at our checklist for starting a small business.  It can help you make sure you have everything else you need to get your startup off to a good start!

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Creating a business plan can take anywhere from a couple hours to several weeks. Your timeline will depend on things like the elements you choose to include, whether you use software or hire a writing service, and how much research goes into your plan.

That said, much of the business plan software out there brags that it can help you create a fairly detailed plan in a few hours. So if you’re going the software route, that can help you set your expectations.

If you want to get the most out of your business plan, you should update it on a regular basis―at least annually. That way, you can continually refer to it to inform your company’s strategies and direction.  

At the very least, you should update your business plan before you start looking for a new round of funding (whether that’s with investors or lenders).

Thanks to business plan software, you can easily write your own business plan rather than pay someone to do it for you. And in most cases, software will cost you less than a professional business plan service.

There are some times you might want to go with a service though. If time is tight, you might find that it’s worth the cost of a service. Or if you’ve got big investor meetings on the horizon, you might want the expertise and polish that a professional service can offer.

Ultimately, you’ll have to decide for yourself whether business plan software or a business plan service will work better for your company.

Methodology

We ranked business plan software and tools based on features, pricing and plans, and connections to project management and other services. The value of each plan and service, along with what it offers, was a big consideration in our rankings, and we looked to see if what was offered was useful to small businesses or just extra. The final thing we looked at was the ease of use of the software to see if it's too complex for small businesses.

At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.

Sources 1. Harvard Business Review, “ Research: Writing a Business Plan Makes Your Startup More Likely to Succeed .” Accessed March 13, 2023.

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#1 Business Plan Software for Early-Stage Startups

Cuttles is a fully interactive and guided business plan software that helps entrepreneurs build, understand and grow their business.

Get ready to meet investors with confidence

Our web app has all the features and in-app guides you need to create a startup pitch, write a business plan, define a startup team, do budgets and financial projections. It’s simpler, faster and more impactful than ever to start a business.

Trusted and used by startup teams at

Join our Cuttles Perks program and save up to $500.000 on startup tools.

We've partnered up with the greatest SaaS giants to give you the best possible startup deals & tools to kickoff your startup journey

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Read what some of our happy customers have to say

When you’re building a startup there are lots of things you need to figure out and keeping your plan and investor material clearly defined shouldn’t be an extra task to keep you away from building a great product. While it's a sinuous task to write a business plan, Cuttles makes the process of thinking, sketching and writing your business plan seamless. We were able to get our plan ready in a couple of days easily and without issues.

We’ve been missing a tool like Cuttles for years! All our work is usually stuck within folders, within other folders and it’s hard to have a one-stop-shop with all the details of each of our startups. Plus, these changes almost come on a weekly basis! So having an always up-to-date link to the BP is such a nice feature. No more little hacks and workarounds, now business ideas have a home of their own!

Creating something from nothing is hard. Building a startup requires a huge amount of work and that's where Cuttles helps. The versatile and well-organized startup builder is a solution to many of the problems that founders face day by day. It is a must-have tool for every entrepreneur, and especially those in the early-stages.

Cuttles has so amazing UX and design that I immediately felt like I had help. There were prompts and tasks given to make me think critically about my startup business. And it felt fun without being childish. If you are just starting your business and aren't an MBA try Cuttles. It's easy to use and comes with high-quality exportable templates

The Cuttles team and their first-hand experience of successful start-ups and working with aspiring entrepreneurs has manage to built an amazing startup plan software. The Canvas forces one to succinctly summarise one’s business pitch, the Budget tool provides a powerful but easy to use interface to construct a detailed budget that includes cash flow projections and metrics that investors will require. The Business Plan follows the same ethos of stepwise guidance. A set of task that we thought would take months to complete were shortened to a few weeks. Cuttles is a wonderful resource that we would unequivocally recommend.

Finally business plan software with great UX and a painless process - 10/10 will always recommend! Absolutely love it. The guide will help you in every aspect of your plan, this was such a huge help for us! I've tried most apps out there including LivePlan, Bizplan, and Upmetrics, and found them all either frustrating or missing something critical. The Cuttles web app simplifies the tedious task of thinking what to write in a business plan, a pitch deck, and more. It comes with a great examples, super helpful tips, and very and documentation.

Cuttles is on a mission to help startups and SMEs succeed by providing them the tools needed for a smoother startup journey. That's pretty cool! Starting a company, hiring your team and closing funding should be easy, so startups can focus their energy on what's really important; innovation and growth. Together with Cuttles, we can help startups accelerate their growth and relevance in the market.

Building a business is hard work and you need digital solutions that can make everyday life easier as an early-stage founder. Cuttles is a guided and personalized startup builder that helps you with planning, budgeting, and presenting your startup to investors. Their business plan tool helps you write your plan in a fraction of the time. That’s why we’re so proud to partner with a cool SaaS startup planning tool like Cuttles . We share the same goal – to help you!

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Hi everyone.

I'm Christian, CEO here at Cuttles.

There are few things as rewarding as building your own business. It's fun, challenging, and can create a deep sense of meaning and purpose, which, these days, most of us desperately desire. But knowing where to begin and how to move forward can be tough.

We may have a dream and see the big picture, but where do we go from there?

A recent finding shows that 63% of people in their twenties would like to start their own business and are drawn to experience life as entrepreneurs. Most, however, never get any further. It’s hard to know precisely how to go about it, and for that reason most aspiring entrepreneurs never dare take the first plunge. This doesn’t come as a big surprise. Building a business is a high-risk mission and there’s no certainty it will work out in the end. All we really have to rely on is our motivation and our willingness to do the work.

For early-stage founders, that work includes business planning. After all, an idea is, well - just an idea. It is how you execute that idea that will define your outcome and create a business.

So, what do you think when I say business planning? Let’s face it. For most of us, business planning kind of sucks. Who wants to sit around and write a plan when you could be building, marketing, selling?

But what if I told you that 90% of startups fail and that 56% do so because of poor business planning – or no planning at all?

It’s not the act of writing a business plan that does the trick, it’s the work you do in the process. Doing the research, understanding the problem you’re trying to solve and empathizing with the people you solve it for. It's the making sure your business and your business model are well thought out, assessing the risks, and through that becoming more sure that your idea is worth pursuing and using it to build a product and a startup that your customers won’t just like, but that they need.

However, the urgency of planning your startup, doesn’t take away the tediousness and time it takes.

That’s why we built Cuttles. We want to change business planning for good, by making it simple and easy to start, build and grow your business. By removing the hassle of business planning for you, we create time and space for you to do what you do best: Create lasting change for your customers. And although we’re not quite there yet, we work tirelessly to revolutionize business planning to make it simple, fast, and fun to plan and share your startup and get the funding you need to grow.

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We’re not just a powerful business plan app and great startup deals. We also want to train, inspire and empower startups to create more game changing solutions.

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10 Best Free Digital Planner Apps in 2024

Vivian Tejeda

ClickUp Contributor

May 14, 2024

It’s the beginning of the week, and it’s time to jot down the top three most important tasks for the day, set up reminders , and look through and edit last week’s notes. 

Should you do it in Google Docs ? The new planning app your friend introduced you to? Or keep it simple and stick with the notes app on your phone? 

You’ve likely found yourself in this scenario more than once if you haven’t had luck finding a digital planner. 

Granted, just about every daily planner out there do most basic tasks. But few unify and centralize just about every one of your planning needs in one platform. 

To help inform your quest for the best digital planner, we’ve compiled a list of all the options worth considering below.

Let’s dive into the specifics.

What Should You Look for in a Digital Planner App?

• 1. ClickUp 

2. Google Calendar

6. mydailyplanners, 8. goodnotes, 10. monday.com.

One of the most significant features of a planner is user-friendliness. It’s hard enough to stick to a digital planner tool long-term—don’t make it harder on yourself by trying to work a digital planner that’s rigid and clunky into your daily life . 

An excellent digital planner makes it easy to centralize all your tasks. This means it’s always a good idea to check what other applications you’re likely already using (think Gmail or Slack) so that it integrates easier with your existing workflow.

Though it’s a matter of preference, the more integrations and features a digital planner has the better. Why? It’s one of the best ways to reduce the number of applications you often have to use to juggle doc creation, keeping track of invoices, reminders, or even the progress of any of your projects. 📚

The 10 Best Digital Planner Apps in 2024

1. clickup  .

As a digital planner, think of ClickUp as the all-in-one tool that takes care of anything from the simplest to the most complex planning needs for teams and individuals alike. Yeah, it comes with tons of features and is hyper-customizable—perfect for the digital planner that’s very particular about how they track and manage work (or their personal lives). 📖

ClickUp best features

• ClickUp’s Calendar View : Arrange your tasks systematically, schedule deadlines, and create a dynamic calendar that enables your team to track progress and stay aligned.
• Automations : Deal with routine tasks that get repetitive quickly with ClickUp’s advanced automation features. It’s a great way to free up additional mind space and plan more efficiently. With automation triggers and conditions, automate task creation, assignee changes, reminders, and task priority to name a few 
• Personalization: The best daily planners are malleable—that way, you don’t have to deal with rigid fields irrelevant to your needs. ClickUp was built around customization, which means you’ll want to take some time to get familiar with how pages, folders, views, and tasks work to lock in a workflow that’s built for you
• Templates: Who doesn’t love templates? ClickUp offers its users hundreds of templates spanning all kinds of needs like resource planning and event planning  

ClickUp limitations 

• Some users cite its limited spreadsheet tools and complex formulas
• Not all views are available on mobile (yet!)

ClickUp pricing

• Free Forever
• Unlimited : $7/month per user
• Business : $12/month per user
• Enterprise : Contact for pricing

ClickUp ratings and reviews

• Capterra : 4.7/5 (2,000+ reviews)
• G2 : 4.7/5 (5,000+ reviews) 

You know Google Calendar as one of the original digital planner platforms. Its scheduling features make it easy to get through the workday in one piece without overlapping meetings , work time, or “me” time.

Though basic, Google Calendar still offers some great planning features that work for the right user or as an integration for an app you’re already using. It’s easy to use as a daily planner or weekly planner app. You can also schedule events throughout the year with its easy-to-use interface.

Google Calendar best features

• Automated reminders: Google Calendar sets automated reminders for upcoming events and tasks so that users stay on top of their schedule
• Agenda view: Google Calendar has an Agenda View feature, which allows users to see their upcoming events, tasks, and notes at a glance
• Calendar sharing: Google Calendar also allows users to share their calendar with others so that tasks, events, and notes are collaboratively managed
• Mobile Friendly: Works on iOS devices and Android devices

Google Calendar limitations

• Limited to mostly scheduling and time blocking
• Lacks the additional features that make it a truly well-rounded planning dashboard 

Google Calendar pricing

Google calendar ratings and reviews.

• Capterra : 4.8/6 (2,000 + reviews) 
• G2 : 4.6/5 (40,000 + reviews)

Todoist is a digital planner app that helps users stay organized and productive. It comes with a range of features and tools, such as task and some basic project management, do-lists (AKA to-do lists ), reminders and notifications, and the ability to create custom filters. 

Todoist best features

• Do-lists: This to-do list feature allows users to break down their tasks and goals into smaller, manageable lists, and it’s accessible on multiple devices for on-the-go planning
• Reminders and notifications: The app comes with automated reminders and notifications, which help users stay on track and organized
• Custom filters: Todoist also has a custom filter feature to easily search and find tasks and data

Todoist limitations

• Lacks advanced features (can’t archive old lists)
• Can be hard to share your to-do lists for online collaboration   

Todoist pricing

• Free : 
• Pro : $4/month billed annually
• Business : $6/month billed annually

Todoist ratings and reviews

• Capterra : 4.6/5 (2,000+ reviews)
• G2 : 4.4/6 (700+ reviews) 

Notion is user-friendly and a great choice for individuals who like getting creative with their digital planner by starting with a blank canvas. It offers useful tools and features, including task management, a calendar view, and customizable task rows and columns.

Plus, its users synchronize their data across multiple devices, share their planning information, and integrate with other applications for maximum productivity.

Notion best features

• Task management : Notion provides users with an intuitive task management system for creating, organizing, and tracking tasks
• Nesting and linked databases : Notion’s nesting and linked databases allow users to easily organize and store pages and related tasks in a format that’s easy to navigate
• Integration and embedding features : Notion also has integration and embedding features, which enable users to connect their Notion data with other services, such as Gmail or Slack, for a better workflow. Also, you can visually embed applications right on your dashboard for easy access

Notion limitations

• Currently lacks the robust automation and task reminder features that other digital planner apps offer
• Mobile app features are a bit limited compared to other digital planners
• Some users say they spend a bit more time getting over the learning curve in the beginning

Notion pricing

• Plus : $8 per user per month billed annually
• Business : $15 per user per month billed annually
• Enterprise : Contact the sales team 

Notion ratings and reviews

• Capterra : 4.7/5 (1,000+ reviews)
• G2 : 4.6/5 (1,000+ reviews)

If you enjoy digital planners with more of a framework or project manager approach to a workflow, then Asana is worth considering. It offers users a wide range of features, such as classic task and project management software , a calendar view , custom templates, easy integration with other cool apps , and plenty of views.

Asana best features

• Custom fields: Organize and sort information like in a spreadsheet with single-select, multi-select, number, and text custom fields
• Forms tied to projects: Collect the exact details needed for each task by directly connecting request forms to specific projects
• Task deadlines: View tasks on an Asana calendar and stay on track, or even view them in your work calendar
• Simple to-do list : Easy to create personal or collaborative to-do lists

Asana limitations

• Asana doesn’t provide true native time-tracking features
• Some say it isn’t a flexible tool compared to other digital planners on this list
• Custom field tools can feel limited
• Free version might be limiting for a simple daily planner

Asana pricing

• Basic : Free
• Premium : $10.99 per user per month billed annually
• Business : $24.99 per user per month billed annually

Asana ratings and reviews

• Capterra : 4.5/5 (11,000+ reviews)
• G2 : 4.3/5 (9,000+ reviews)

Mash GoodNotes, Google, and Apple Calendar together and you get MyDailyPlanners. This daily planner app has to-do list options and offers templated digital planners complete with links and reminder settings. This works a lot like bullet journals and more as digital planners that can be edited “by hand.”

MyDailyPlanners best features

• Hyperlinked pages: Organize and manage each month with easily navigable linked pages
• Digital stickers: Use digital stickers in any of your monthly planning pages, just like in real life
• Reusable PDF templates: Reuse the PDF template if you need to use the same page for additional planning

MyDailyPlanners limitations

• Not so much an application but a template-based digital planner for an iPad or tablet
• Updates to the digital planner templates cost extra

MyDailyPlanners pricing

• Digital planners and bundles range anywhere from $15 to $20+ 

MyDailyPlanners ratings and reviews

• Capterra : N/A

If you’re a fan of a Kanban planning approach, look no further than Trello . As a digital planner, it’s a highly visual tool that uses cards to plan tasks and projects. Tag users, add checklists, link files, and set automated reminders to stay on top of all your tasks.

Trello best features

• Drag-and-drop interface: Trello’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to move cards, lists, or boards around and view the progress of different projects
• Image and file uploads: Trello allows users to view upcoming tasks, upload images and files, and keep track of project deadlines
• Flexible organization: Trello offers an easy-to-use organization system with customizable labels, checklists, and task assignments, which can work great for daily tasks

Trello limitations

• Built around one type of digital planner framework
• Can’t integrate or embed other apps you’re already using
• Can be a lot of work for a simple to-do list

Trello pricing

• Standard : $5 per user per month billed annually
• Premium : $10 per user per month billed annually
• Enterprise : $17.50 per user per month billed annually 

Trello ratings and reviews

• Capterra : 4.5/5 (22,000+ reviews)
• G2 : 4.4/5 (13,000+ reviews)

GoodNotes is an accessible iOS app that allows users to take notes or make sketches quickly and easily. The digital planner app features an intuitive interface that lets you create, organize, and edit documents.

It also includes a virtual library that allows users to store, manage, and access their notes with ease. Of the best digital planners, this one is ideal for more visual organizational tasks.

GoodNotes best features

• Virtual Library: Offers an organized virtual library to store, manage, and access users’ notes
• Handwriting recognition: Allows users to type by simply writing out the words on their device
• Text recognition: Digital planner app recognizes typed or hand-written text to easily convert it into an editable format

GoodNotes limitations

• Only available for iOS devices (Android devices may be coming)
• Lack of pre-made shapes in the shape tool
• No layering function makes the drawing feature really difficult

GoodNotes pricing

• Go Limitless : $8.99 one-time payment

GoodNotes ratings and reviews

• Capterra : 4.5/5 (35+ reviews)
• G2 : 4.8/5 (29+ reviews)

Any.do has an easy-to-use dashboard that lets you create your daily plan on the go. Of the best digital planners on this list, Any.do is quite simple to add notes and attachments to your list. You can even color-code your priorities.

It’s an excellent planner app for creating centralized task lists that are shareable with your team or to create a simple to-do list.

Any.do best features

• Mobile-friendly calendar: Calendar tools are super mobile-friendly and allow you to connect your Google Calendar
• Turn emails into tasks: Once you connect your email provider, it’s easy to turn emails into tasks so you always remember to respond
• Easily sync data: Made for on-the-go planning, it’s easy to work from the app and sync data across all your device

Any.do limitations

• Free version only offers limited features
• Doesn’t integrate well with other work apps

Any.do pricing

• Personal : Free
• Premium : $3 per month, billed annually
• Teams : $5 per month, per user, billed annually

Any.do ratings and reviews

• Capterra : 4.5/5 (100+ reviews)  
• G2 : 4/5 (150+ reviews) 

With Monday , users create projects, collaborate with team members, and track progress in one place. The platform features an intuitive drag-and-drop interface for task management, custom notifications for essential activities, and powerful automation capabilities.

Monday also integrates with hundreds of apps and services to help you work more effectively and get more done.

Monday best features

• Unlimited boards and docs: Free plan offers users unlimited dashboards and doc creation
• Customizable workflows: Create seamless workflows that take to-dos and projects from pending to complete in less time
• Workload management tools: Find tools inside its dashboard for client planning, weekly goals and OKRs , and high-level planning

Monday limitations

• Free version can feel limiting
• Some think it saves its best features for paying premium users
• Certain users don’t find the features as in-depth or flexible as other digital planner app alternatives
• Generally more work management than digital planning

Monday pricing

• Standard : $8 a set per month billed annually
• Pro : $10 a set per month billed annually
• Enterprise : Contact the sales team

Monday ratings and reviews

• G2 : 4.6/5 (3,000+ reviews)

Looking for more digital planner apps? Check out this Sunsama alternatives guide !

Replace All Your Digital Planner Apps

The beauty of planning is that it isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach—it’s highly personal. With ClickUp, your quest to find the best digital planner app finally comes to a close.

Use it to brainstorm from scratch, create templates, and keep track of your most important tasks all in one place. ClickUp even lets you integrate multiple Google Calendars.

So you’re always on top of your personal planning needs and work projects. So start using ClickUp to ensure you have every tool you’ll need for your digital planning needs.

Questions? Comments? Visit our Help Center for support.

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Business Plan for Startups 4+

Template for entrepreneurs, thomsen business information, designed for ipad.

• 4.5 • 2.2K Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

Screenshots

Description.

Layla: Beautifully written, lots of free content! Badass: This app makes me more confident to do business In app purchase of templates 4.6 Stars out of 919 US ratings If you are new to entrepreneurship this app is especially helpful. I have written a free reference book/app explaining how to start a small business. If you decide to start, I have prepared business plan and budget templates ready to fill out and use. The templates you have to purchase at reasonable price in the app. I have made the app as less complicated as possible so you can find the courage to get started. Execution is the most important skill to possess when it comes to entrepreneurship. THE AUTHOR I have spent 25 years as entrepreneur and entrepreneurship consultant and talked to thousands of entrepreneurs. This experience I have used to develop this this app. I believe it will give you the courage and understanding to start your own business. I am convinced that starting a small business releases energy and set one free to create value for one self and others. Good luck in your new venture. ------------- My business plan app can both educate you to be an entrepreneur and help you write a business plan. You can write your business plan directly on your device while commuting. Or you can download business plan templates and email them to your computer and work from home. In this app you will find everything you need to create a professional business plan: - 100 of the best business plan and startup articles - free - 1 online business plan editor - in app purchase - 3 business plan examples & 3 startup budget templates - in app purchase - 1 business plan template - in app purchase - Access to additional content, if you need more inspiration for your business plan.- in app purchase WHY DOWNLOAD THIS BUSINESS PLAN APP Even though you are skilled in your line of work you might not be skilled in doing business. This business plan app is a step-by-step guide that takes the mystery and confusion out of starting a business. The app helps you by covering the 9 main issues you must overcome to run a successful business. Each issue is explained by 6-10 text articles and examples. EXCELLENT FOR HOME BUSINESS AND ONLINE BUSINESS I provide advice, help, templates and best practice on topics such as business concept, personal resources, product/service, market description, sales and marketing, organizing, business development, budgets, financing, and much more. The app has business plan examples for different types of startups, including a software company, a sports cafe and a graphic design company. How to create a business plan for your business or startup with this business plan app: 1. Read and learn from the articles and business plan examples on your iOS device. 2. Buy the business plan editor and write your own business plan when commuting or sitting on the loo (:-) 3. "Start Today - Not Tomorrow" - templates you can email out of the app. 4. Answer the questions in the business plan template. 5. Fill in figures in the budget templates. Congratulations, you now have your own business plan and you have made it yourself! Additionally, we hope you will find that our business plan app: - is easy to use and follow - gives tools to validate your business idea - is written in plain understandable language - covers all the business essentials you need to create a business plan and start a business - provides budget and marketing plan templates - provides a business plan template - gives access to three completed business plan examples - works offline - Home business - Online business May your new company give you joy and a steady income

Version 4.4.1

Business plan editor right on your device. Write your business plan when convenient. Explainer video Minor updates

Ratings and Reviews

2.2K Ratings

Amazing app!

This app is greatly designed to help new and advanced entrepreneurs set up a business plan. It gives an overview of understanding business language which is extremely helpful for those beginning a business. There are examples, templates, and guides that help with your business plan. If you’re thinking of creating a business, this is the app for you!!

Developer Response ,

Hi Julie I am happy you gained valuable startup information Ys Mogens

Very powerful information

Whether you’re new to business or a professional this app will help guide and empower you to realistically go from clueless to DO list. Success is up to you. This app is your new best friend.

14 dollars and I can’t do anything...

Seriously... I thought this would be an interactive app, but instead it’s just information that you can get anywhere. That’s great for maybe $1, but I paid 14 dollars to basically have Wikipedia info. Do not waste your money on this, instead do a web search for information on starting a business if you are only looking for information. If you are looking for a app that you can actually create a business plan from this is not it!

Hi I am happy to say that the newest version now has a business plan editor. All the information is still free - and doesn't even cost 1$

In-App Purchases

App privacy.

The developer, Thomsen Business Information , has not provided details about its privacy practices and handling of data to Apple. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

No Details Provided

The developer will be required to provide privacy details when they submit their next app update.

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• Buy All Products $27.99
• Business Plan template $3.99
• Business Plan Sports Café $0.00
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• Business Plan Editor $9.99
• Startup Basic $19.99
• Establishing Budget template $3.99
• Marketing Plan template $3.99
• Operating Budget template $3.99
• Calculate needed sales $3.99
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3 Apps to Help You Write a Business Plan Helpful apps that guide you from brilliant business idea to an actionable plan.

By Kim Lachance Shandrow Feb 4, 2013

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

If you have a killer idea for a startup, but lack the time, resources and budget to develop a business plan , a business plan-generating app can help you get your plan on paper and, ideally, off the ground.

A number of apps simplify the often tedious, complicated process of crafting a thorough bank- and investor-ready business plan. You provide the information, they organize it into a plan, and hopefully soon you'll be in business.

Here's a look at three apps that can help get your business plan rolling:

1. Enloop. This is an all-in-one web app that walks users through every step of creating a traditional business plan. Here's how it works: Based on the data you enter into the app, Enloop automatically generates sales, profit and loss, cash flow and balance sheet projections for you, complete with explanatory graphs and other compelling visual elements. Enloop also provides standard, yet customizable business plan text for each section of your plan, including portions focused on key company information and financial data.

Enloop's Free & Easy option includes a single custom business plan packaged in a clean, professionally formatted PDF file that you can download, print and share. More fully featured paid versions range from $9.95 a month to $39.95 a month and allow you to make multiple business plans. Enloop is only web-based and not yet available for mobile devices.

Related: Reworking Your Business Plan? Consider These Tips

2. StratPad. Alex Glassey, who designed this iPad-only app , describes it as "a strategic-planning app that helps entrepreneurs with the thinking and decision-making process ." StratPad can be a smart choice for people who are writing their first-ever business plan. It is packed with several free how-to tools for beginners, including a 58-page business strategy tutorial, view-on-demand training videos, email-based customer service, and more.

A free basic StratPad edition is available for students. Paid, one-time fee plans range from $9.99 to $54.99. The more you pay, the more advanced business plan options you get. The easy-to-use app guides users through a series of simple questions and prompts. Your answers are used to develop a summary business plan, complete with revenue projections and full-color graphs and charts.

3. Business Plan Premier. This $7.99 iPad app does double-duty for users who are eager to have their business plan backed fast. Not only does Business Plan Premier help you organize and write your business plan at an extremely detailed level, it also enables you to present your finished plan to more than 3,000 high net worth potential investors, who are also members of investment research firm Ben Stein & Accredited Members Inc .

Business Plan Premier leads you through writing your prospective company's vision and mission statements, product descriptions and marketing plans. You can also use it to complete competitive and SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis, outline your management scheme, identify your startup expenses, define your target market and more depending on your needs.

Your completed business plan is exported as a Microsoft Word document that you can edit, print, email or upload to Dropbox. Business Plan Lite is the free (but much less functional) version of the app.

Related: Reverse-Engineering Your Business Plan: Success Starts With the End

Former West Coast Editor

Kim Lachance Shandrow is the former West Coast editor at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was a commerce columnist at  Los Angeles CityBeat, a news producer at MSNBC and KNBC in Los Angeles and a frequent contributor to the Los Angeles Times . She has also written for Government Technology magazine, LA Yoga magazine, the  Lowell Sun  newspaper, HealthCentral.com, PsychCentral.com and the former U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. C. Everett Coop. Follow her on Twitter at @Lashandrow . You can also follow her on Facebook here . 

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Blog Business 8 Best Business Plan Software for 2024

8 Best Business Plan Software for 2024

Written by: Krystle Wong Jan 01, 2024

Gone are the days of staring at blank pages and struggling to structure a business plan effectively. With user-friendly interfaces and a wide range of business plan templates catering to various industries, creating business plans that are polished, professional and data-driven can now be done in a fraction of the time.

For startups, business plan software guides them through the crucial early stages with comprehensive business plan templates and financial modeling tools. Established businesses on the other hand benefit from the software’s collaborative features, enabling seamless teamwork as they pivot, innovate and pursue new growth opportunities.

In this article, let’s delve into exploring the seven best business plan software for 2024. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur with a groundbreaking idea or a seasoned business owner ready to elevate your enterprise to new heights, these software solutions have all you need to create a solid business plan.

Click to jump ahead:

What is a business plan software?

• 7 Best business plan software for 2024

Factors to consider when choosing a business plan software

7 steps to create your own business plan, business plan software faq, key takeaway.

A Business plan software is a specialized digital tool designed to assist entrepreneurs, startups and established businesses in creating, organizing and presenting comprehensive business plans. 

Business plan software significantly reduces the time and effort required to create a comprehensive business plan . The availability of business plan templates, financial modeling tools and automated features streamlines the process of business planning and eliminates the need for starting from scratch.

Some advanced business planning software even integrates market research capabilities. This feature provides users with access to market trends, industry benchmarks and relevant data. Access to such data helps users make informed decisions and demonstrate a thorough understanding of their target market.

8 Best business plan software for 2024 

1. venngage.

Venngage specializes in transforming traditional business plans into captivating visual stories. Visuals can communicate complex information effectively, ensuring your ideas stand out and resonate with your audience.

When it comes to business planning, conveying your ideas with impact is just as important as the content itself. In this digital age, visual storytelling has emerged as a powerful way to captivate audiences and leave a lasting impression. That’s where Venngage steps in.

With a rich library of templates, Venngage offers a variety of themes and styles to suit different industries and business types. Customize your business plans with our user-friendly drag-and-drop tools by adding your brand elements, customizing colors, fonts and visuals to make your business plan truly unique. Check out our library of sample business plans to get started today.

However, while Venngage excels in visual storytelling, it might not be the go-to tool for in-depth financial forecasts and analysis. Users seeking extensive financial modeling might want to complement Venngage with a comprehensive business planning tool.

Pricing options:

Create your first 5 designs with Venngage for free and upgrade to a premium or business plan for $10/month per user and $24/month per user respectively to enjoy premium features. For larger teams who need extra support, controls and security, the enterprise plan starts from $499/month for 10+ seats.

Can I collaborate with team members using this business plan software?

Yes, absolutely! Venngage offers collaborative features that allow you to work seamlessly with multiple team members when creating business plans. You can invite team members to join your Venngage account and they can contribute to the design process in real time. 

Can I export my business plan to different file formats?

Upgrade to a premium or business plan on Venngage to export your professional business plan to different file formats. After designing your business plan, you can choose to export it as a high-quality PDF document, which is ideal for sharing and printing. Additionally, Venngage allows you to export your business plan as an image file (PNG or JPG), making it easy to use in presentations or on your website. 

Is this business plan software suitable for startups or established businesses? 

Venngage is great for entrepreneurs and businesses looking to enhance their business plans with visually engaging infographics and visual assets.

Instead of sharing a lengthy, 50-page document that may bore your audience and fail to effectively convey your message — present your business plan with infographics. Here’s how you can create a business plan infographic that will wow your readers and showcase your business at its best. 

2. LivePlan

Source: Screenshot from LivePlan

In the realm of business planning software, LivePlan stands out as a reliable and user-friendly tool. With a focus on seamless financial forecasting and budgeting capabilities, LivePlan streamlines the planning process, helping businesses transform their visions into reality.

The software’s financial forecasting tools provide users with the ability to project revenue, expenses and cash flow accurately. This financial insight is invaluable for making informed decisions and setting realistic goals.

For hassle-free data integration, the business plan software offers seamless integration with accounting software . This feature allows users to import financial data effortlessly, saving time and reducing manual data entry.

While LivePlan excels in financial planning and user-friendliness, some users may find the customization options for design and layout to be limited. For businesses seeking highly tailored visual aesthetics, LivePlan’s template-based approach might be less ideal.

The standard plan is available at $20/month for monthly billing and $15/month for annual billing. For businesses seeking extensive financial tools to support their operations and growth, the Premium plan costs $20 for the first month and $40/month (monthly billing) or $30/month (annual billing) for subsequent months.

LivePlan facilitates seamless collaboration among users within your account, allowing multiple individuals to work on the same plan concurrently. To prevent conflicting edits, LivePlan restricts access to specific sections, allowing only one user to edit at a time while others observe the locked section.

You can export your business plan by using the print to PDF feature. This generates your plan content in a standard file format compatible with Adobe Reader and other free reader programs. Alternatively, you can export your plan to Microsoft Word (2007 or later).

A great tool for small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs looking for easy-to-use software with solid financial planning tools.

3. Upmetrics

Upmetrics is an AI-powered business planning software that helps businesses of all sizes and industries write their business plan.

With Upmetrics AI Assistant, you can write your plan faster, get answers to any business-related queries, and prepare financial forecasts in no time. 

Besides, the subscription includes access to 400+ sample business plans, various informative guides, and video tutorials to keep your business plan writing process on track. 

Additionally, it has collaborative features, so that everyone on the team can share their insights. Not just that, the software provides you with an AI pitch deck generator, so you can make a stellar pitch.

As an AI business plan builder , Upmetrics is suitable for entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses to write their plans at any stage. Although it has various cover page designs and immense customization options, it might still lack visual appeal. 

Pricing plan options 

• Starter plan – $7 monthly 
• Premium plan – $14 monthly 

Yes, you can collaborate with your team members while using Upmetrics. It offers collaboration tools that allow you to work effortlessly with your team on the business plan. You can invite team members to collaborate, assign tasks, and track the progress together. 

You can download your business plan as a PDF or directly as a document in Word. Besides, you can share the business plan directly to any email, and they will get the viewer access to the plan. 

Upmetrics is a versatile business planning software suitable for startups and established businesses. But its financial planning features, step-by-step guidance, and AI Assistant make it more useful for startups writing business plans for the first time.

4. BizPlan by Startups.com

Source: Screenshot from BizPlan

If you’re a startup aiming to raise investments, BizPlan is the one for you. As a universal professional business plan builder, BizPlan offers the added advantage of seamless integration with all the tools within the Startups.com network.

Designed with startups in mind, BizPlan’s step-by-step approach allows you to break down the entire scope of work into manageable steps and the built-in Progress Tracker tool keeps you on track towards success.

Once you subscribe, BizPlan opens the door to utilizing all the tools offered by Startups.com, making it a one-stop shop for your entrepreneurial needs. Whether it’s lifetime access to the service, connectivity to Findable to attract financial investments, a wealth of online educational programs or the ability to connect multiple owners to a single account, BizPlan delivers comprehensive support.

While the business plan software offers an array of benefits, it’s essential to consider the possible downsides. The absence of a free version and a mobile app, along with a lack of industry-specific templates for business plans may be worth considering before making your decision

Pricing plan options:

• Monthly plan ($29 per month)
• Annual plan ($20.75 per month or $249/year)
• Lifetime access (one-time fee of $349)

Bizplan encourages collaboration with partners, team members, advisors and subject matter experts by allowing threaded comments throughout the entire plan. It provides control over who can access sensitive financial data and enables convenient cloud-based access from anywhere.

Bizplan provides multiple options for sharing your business plan with others. You can generate an online version of your plan, which can be set as private by default or made publicly accessible through a unique shareable URL. Additionally, Bizplan offers the option to create a custom-branded PDF of your business plan. 

BizPlan is great for entrepreneurs and small businesses who value a vast collection of resources and need support in financial analysis.

Source: Screenshot from Enloop

Enloop emerges as one of the best business plan tools for startups, catering to entrepreneurs who crave a streamlined planning process. With the ability to automatically generate basic text for each section of your plan, Enloop saves time and effort in crafting your business vision.

A highlight of the business plan tool is its automatic generation of financial projections, offering accurate insights based on your entered data. This powerful feature empowers entrepreneurs to make informed decisions and project future outcomes with confidence.

For those with a penchant for strategic thinking, Enloop’s “what-if” scenario analysis becomes an invaluable tool. It allows users to explore various business strategies and assess their potential impact on plan outcomes, enabling sound decision-making.

Enloop doesn’t stop at generating numbers; it goes a step further by providing a business plan grading system. This insightful feature assesses plan quality, giving users valuable feedback to refine and enhance their business plans.

However, it’s essential to consider the software’s limitations as customization and design options are relatively limited. Additionally, the basic version of Enloop might not meet the needs of all users, as it lacks certain advanced features. 

• Seven day free trial (no credit card required)
• Detailed plan ($19.95/month or $11/month when billed annually)
• Performance plan ($39.95/month or $24/month when billed annually)

Enloop’s online business plan writing app lets you invite and collaborate with anyone on your business plans using the ‘Invite & Share’ feature.

Enloop allows you to download your business plan in PDF format whenever you’re ready. The plans remain accessible in your paid account, encouraging regular updates to keep track of your business’s health and have an up-to-date plan ready for financing needs.

Suitable for entrepreneurs seeking a tool that simplifies financial forecasting and scenario analysis.

6. PlanGuru

Source: Screenshot from PlanGuru

PlanGuru’s standout feature lies in its ability to forecast all three financial statements – income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement so that users can make data-driven decisions.

Creating detailed analyses becomes a breeze with PlanGuru’s general ledger import utilities, allowing seamless historical data import. The software facilitates budget vs actual reporting and enables building rolling forecasts with just a few clicks each month.

Unlimited budgeting flexibility is another advantage offered by the business plan builder. Users can craft simple high-level small business budgets or delve into intricate multi-department operating budgets with ease.

With scenario analysis capabilities, PlanGuru empowers users to interpret the financial impact of specific events accurately. This feature enables making critical investments and strategic decisions with confidence, knowing thorough due diligence has been performed.

Given its sophisticated features, PlanGuru may be more suitable for financial professionals and analysts looking for in-depth financial analysis and budgeting tools. Users not familiar with financial modeling may face a steeper learning curve when utilizing Enloop’s robust capabilities.

• Single entity ($99/month or $75/month when billed annually)
• Multi-department consolidations ($299/month or $225/month when billed annually)

You can add up to 3 users with the multi-department consolidation plan. Additionally, all plans allow you to add on $29/month (billed monthly) or $25/month (billed annually) for each extra user.

What other apps does PlanGuru integrate with?

The cloud-based platform is also accessible as a Windows-based desktop version, giving you the freedom to choose the format that suits you best. Additionally, PlanGuru seamlessly integrates with MS Excel, QuickBooks Online and Xero, providing further flexibility and convenience in using the software.

The cloud-based version is suitable for SMBs or nonprofits budgeting for a single entity while the multi-department consolidations plan is for companies with multiple departments needing consolidated budgets.

7. Business Sorter

Source: Screenshot from Business Sorter

With Business Sorter’s card sort system, crafting the foundation of your plan becomes a breeze. Featuring 273 cards covering various business situations, the business plan generator offers flexibility, allowing users to customize their plan by adding their cards or modifying existing ones, tailoring the plan to their specific needs.

The platform also provides the convenience of viewing your plan on any device, including smartphones, which not many business plan apps have. Additionally, guidance is at hand with Business Sorter as the software provides valuable tips and advice for every key step, empowering users to implement their business strategy with confidence.

While Business Sorter excels in its interactive features, it may not offer as extensive financial analysis tools as other business plan software. For businesses requiring advanced financial modeling capabilities, Business Sorter might not fully meet their requirements.

• For small teams with up to 3 users ($10/month or $80/year)
• For medium teams with up to 10 users ($30/month or $240/year)
• For large teams with up to 30 users ($80/month or $640/year)
• For enterprises with unlimited users (custom pricing)

Your business plan can be edited by only one user at a time. When a user opens a plan, it automatically locks to prevent any data loss and remains locked until the user finishes their work and exits the plan.

You can print each business plan directly from the plan summaries on your dashboard. 

Suitable for both entrepreneurs and businesses looking for an interactive and visually appealing planning approach.

9. AchieveIt

Source: Screenshot from AchieveIt

AchieveIt stands as a versatile software for business plans, designed to simplify the planning process for businesses of all sizes and planning methods. With AchieveIt, you can easily build plans, ensuring alignment and engagement among your employees and optimizing plans for seamless execution.

Regardless of your preferred planning method, AchieveIt empowers you to construct plans effortlessly, providing a flexible solution for any planning use case. The software ensures your plans are well-aligned with your organization’s objectives, engaging all team members for successful plan execution.

The business plan tool provides robust tracking and reporting features, allowing businesses to monitor the progress of their plans and measure performance against set goals. Users can create customized dashboards to visualize key performance metrics, making it easier to identify trends and insights.

That said, In comparison to most business plan software, AchieveIt’s pricing might be relatively higher with its extensive features. On top of that, for users new to strategic planning software, AchieveIt may present a learning curve during the initial adoption phase.

The business plan software packages for AchieveIt varies based on factors like organization size, required functionality and the number of users. AchieveIt being an enterprise-level software offers custom pricing to cater to the specific needs of each business. For accurate pricing details, it’s best to contact their sales or customer support team.

AchieveIt allows team members, stakeholders and advisors to have shared access to the platform, providing them with visibility into the latest updates and progress on the plans. Users can assign tasks to team members and track their progress within the platform. 

Can AchieveIt integrate with existing systems?

AchieveIt’s Data Integration API lets you import key metric data from existing systems, saving time and reducing errors by eliminating the need for data entry in multiple places.

AchieveIt is best suited for medium to large-sized businesses and organizations that require a comprehensive and collaborative strategic planning platform. It caters to teams and enterprises seeking to improve their planning processes, track performance and drive organizational alignment to achieve business objectives effectively.

No idea what your business plan should look like? Check out these business plan examples for inspiration. 

When searching for the best business planning software, you may be wondering — what features should I look for in business plan software? You want to make sure it meets your specific requirements and streamlines the planning process effectively. Here are the top six factors to consider:

Ease of use

The software should have a user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of creating a business plan. Look for intuitive navigation, clear instruction and a layout that makes it easy to input and organize your information.

Features and business plan templates

Check the range of features and business plan templates the software offers. Look for a diverse selection of business plan templates catering to various industries and business types. The software should provide essential sections like executive summaries, market analysis, financial projections and more.

Financial modeling tools

Your business plan software should allow you to input financial data and generate accurate and comprehensive financial projections. These business plan creation tools are vital for assessing the financial viability of your business.

Collaboration and sharing

If you’ll be working with a team or seeking feedback from others, consider software that enables real-time collaboration and easy sharing. The ability to work together seamlessly can enhance productivity and improve the quality of your business plan.

Built for fast-moving teams that need to be on the same page, Venngage’s real-time collaboration enables you to polish your design with your team in real time, leave comments on each other’s work,and save your designs in one shared folder. With your  Venngage Business  account, you can easily invite and manage your team members to collaborate on a design, all in real time.

Security and data protection

Since a business plan contains sensitive information, prioritize software that prioritizes security. Ensure that the software uses encryption and data protection measures to keep your data safe from unauthorized access.

Exporting and sharing options

Check the software’s export options. You’ll likely want to share your business plan with others, so ensure it can be exported in popular formats like PDF or PowerPoint.

Are you an entrepreneur starting a new business or expanding your existing business? This guide on how to create a small business plan might come in handy for you. 

Creating business plans can be a crucial step in setting your entrepreneurial vision on the right track. To help you through the process, here are 7 steps to guide you in crafting a comprehensive business plan:

Step 1: Executive summary

Start with an attention-grabbing executive summary. This section provides an overview of your business. In your executive summary, make sure to highlight your mission, goals, products or services, target market and the unique value you offer. Keep it concise, yet compelling.

Step 2: Company description

Give a detailed description of your company. Explain your business’s history, its legal structure (e.g. sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation) and the reasons why your business will succeed in the market.

Step 3: Market analysis

Conduct thorough market research to understand your industry, target market and competition. Identify your ideal customers, their needs and preferences. Analyze your competitors and highlight your competitive advantages.

Step 4: Products and Services

Describe your products or services in depth. Explain their features, benefits and how they meet the needs of your target customers. Emphasize what sets your offerings apart from the competition.

Step 5: Marketing and sales strategy

Outline your marketing and sales strategies to reach your target audience. Explain your promotional activities, pricing strategies, distribution channels and sales tactics. Detail how you plan to acquire and retain customers.

Step 6: Financial projections

Project your financial performance over the next three to five years. Include estimated revenue, expenses and cash flow. Detail your startup costs and funding requirements if applicable. Be realistic and supported by market research.

Step 7: Implementation plan

Create a detailed roadmap for executing your business plan. Set specific goals and milestones. Break down tasks and assign responsibilities. Include timelines and a plan for measuring progress.

A great tip here is to start with a well-structured outline. This guide on how to create a business plan outline will help you in creating your blueprint to easily identify your business’ resource needs, including finances, personnel and equipment. 

Is my business data safe with business plan software?

Most reputable business plan software providers prioritize data security and employ encryption and other measures to keep your business data safe from unauthorized access.

What are the benefits of using business planning tools?

Business planning tools offer time efficiency, professional presentation, error reduction, collaborative features and accessibility, making it easier to create a comprehensive business plan that impresses investors and stakeholders.

Do I need any specific skills or expertise to use business plan software?

No, many business plan software solutions are designed to be user-friendly, requiring no specific skills or expertise. They often come with templates and step-by-step guidance to assist you through the planning process.

In the dynamic landscape of 2024, businesses are on the lookout for innovative tools to stay ahead of the curve and drive their growth. These 7 business plan software picks for 2024 offer a wide range of features, from user-friendly interfaces and real-time collaboration to sophisticated financial analysis tools and customizable dashboards.

Whether you’re looking for user-friendly platform business planning tools that aligns with your business planning processes or a business plan writing software that allows you to tailor the business plan according to your industry, goals and unique requirements — I’m quite certain I’ve got them all covered. 

The value of these business plan software options lies not only in their efficiency but also in their ability to save time and reduce errors. By integrating with existing systems through Data Integration APIs, users can seamlessly import key metric data, eliminating redundant data entry and streamlining the process.

If you’re still unsure about which is the right business plan software for your business, you can always take advantage of free trials or video tutorials and demos offered by software providers. Testing the platform firsthand will give you a practical understanding of its usability and suitability for your business.

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Best business plan software of 2024

For planning your business finance

Best overall

Best budget, best established, best for speed.

• How we test

The best business plan software makes it simple and easy to plan your business finances in order to present them to a bank or investors.

1. Best overall 2. Best budget 3. Best basic 4. Best established 5. Best for speed 6. FAQs 7. How we test

The whole point of a business plan is that it allows you to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, not least via your Unique Selling Point (USP) ,and make product or service comparisons with competitors.

Of course, even the best business plan relies on estimates and guesstimates, as it's impossible to predict market changes, developments, and future performance under such conditions. 

Ultimately, though, a business plan will demonstratively prove why your business is a solid enough investment to risk putting money into, and shows that you have properly and thoroughly researched your market, and details the real potential of a new business opportunities.

Here then are the best business plan software providers currently available.

You may also be interested in our featured business guides on best business laptops , best business computers and best business smartphones .

The best business plan software of 2024 in fill:

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid.

Bizplan is the online business planning tool that claims usage of 30,000 startup founders from the Startups.co platform. They use a guided creator that can break the big project down into the component pieces that get tracked with a Progress Tracker, and expert guidance each step of the way including templates that can be dropped in, and completed, along with simple integration of visuals along the way.

Additional resources are also provided via the Bizplan Academy, with lessons on relevant topics, for example, “Building a Brand: How to Tell a Powerful Brand Story,” and “Critical Path Your Way to Higher Revenues,” among the many offerings. Those that need even more assistance also can take advantage of an expert consultation from a financial expert.

• ^ Back to the top

2. PlanGuru

PlanGuru is a comprehensive, and powerful software package in the business planning space. Education is provided via a series of case studies at their PlanGuru University and a whole slew of video tutorials.

The feature set includes flexible budgeting that can handle a simple small business, or a larger multi-department operating budget, and financial forecasting that uses multiple methods, including intelligent and turn-key methods - twenty methods in total. Historical results can also be imported with the general ledger import utility which can then applied to produce a rolling forecast. They also offer PlanGuru Launch, a service to bring in expertise and is charged per hour of assistance.

A significant downside is Planguru charges a higher cost than other software options. The cheapest option is around $75 per month for one business entity when billed annually. While there is no free trial, PlanGuru does offer a 30 day money back guarantee. 

Our expert review:

Enloop is a great choice for business planning software for the cash strapped business as it is the rare offering that has a free tier. Step up up to the next tier, and this is no barebones product, as it has over 100 currency symbols, can automatically generate bank-ready financial reports, and even has automated text writing that can sync with financial data to turn it into text. There is also a real time performance score assigned, that dynamically changes as the business plan is strengthened.  

The plans start with the Free tier, which is limited to a single business plan with simple text, no images, and does not offer any advanced features. The next plan up is the Detailed plan, that supports three business plans, and offers a significant 55% discount when paid annually, making it even better value. This plan costs around $20 per month. For a more comprehensive package you can buy the Performance plan costing around $40 per month.

Read our full Enloop business plan software review .

4. LivePlan

LivePlan is business planning software that offers a simple pricing scheme as there is only a single plan to choose from. As they have a 15+ year track record, they offer a clean and simple interface, that can create business plans that look like they were done by an expert consultant, and the software includes a live dashboard that can track day-to-day performance. Those with writer’s block will benefit from the over 500 included sample plans that can be turned to for inspiration.  

Rather than complicate things with too many tiers to choose from, LivePlan only has a single plan which can be paid for monthly or annually.

5. Business Sorter

Business Sorter promises to simplify and speed up business planning and claims to be able to flesh out a plan in an hour or two, via a novel 273 card sort system that covers many common situations.

The ability to reword cards is included, or also to add cards to the already expansive deck, so no worries if there is not a pre-made card for your situation. Unlike some sites that have videos, the educational resources here are provided as PDFs and Word files, which can be quicker to access, but harder to follow for some learners. 

The lowest tier plan, Basic is fully featured, and includes up to three team leaders. 

Read our full Business Sorter review .

Other business plan software to consider

We've only covered some of the most popular business plan software platforms out there, but there are a number of other notables worth mentioning, plus a wide variety of providers of business plan templates. Below we'll briefly cover a range of some of the additional options out there that are worth considering to get your business plan right.

Go Business Plans is more of a consultancy than a software solution, but is worth mentioning for the simple fact that it's one of America's biggest business plan companies. While software might be able to do the job for you, if you're looking for significant funding, it's probably useful to get some professional advice, not least in terms of strategic planning, feasibility studies, and financial projections to ensure you have a solid base for your business plan.

Wise Business Plans provides a very wide range of templates to work from in constructing a business plan. These are particularly designed with funding in mind, no matter what kind of business you run. What is especially helpful is that Wise doesn’t simply deal with business plan templates for a diverse range of business types, the company also provides plan templates for franchises and non-profits.

Plan Writers  is another bespoke service that essentially listens to what you want and then puts the plan together for you. Again, this technically falls outside of business plan "software", but the chances are you'll use a software package as a platform to build from, and Plan Writers can then help you build up from that base.

Bplans is another provider of business plan templates, but goes beyond that with additional pitch and SWOT analysis templates. There are also business plan guides, industry reports, and a free course on writing a business plan. Bplans also publishes a lot of free-to-use articles on business planning, financials, and tax reporting, to help ensure you can keep your figures and projections accurate and compliant.

We've also listed the best free software for small business .

A business plan is essentially your roadmap to profitability from an initial investment. Whether it's your own money, or a loan from a bank, it's still a good idea to set up a business plan for yourself.

Main things to look to are a SWOT analysis to provide an idea of your business idea's strengths and weaknesses, as well as identify a unique selling point (USP) that will give your business an edge.

While business plans inevitably demand the use of figures, and while these can be impossible to be accurate with, at least by making intelligent guesses you can set yourself targets to work towards.

That's another common feature of a plan, so that specific periods you can review your business progress and make adjustments to your plan as required. This allows you to use real figures for your projections, allowing you to better plan ahead.

Which business plan software is best for you?

When deciding which business plan software to use, first consider what your actual needs are, as sometimes free platforms may only provide basic options, so if you need to use advanced tools you may find a paid platform is much more worthwhile. Additionally, free and budget software options can sometimes prove limited when it comes to the variety of tools available, while higher-end software can really cater for every need, so do ensure you have a good idea of which features you think you may require.

How we tested the best business plan software

To test for the best business plan software we first set up an account with the relevant software platform, whether as a download or as an online service. We then tested the service to see how the software could be used for different purposes and in different situations. The aim was to push each business plan software platform to see how useful its basic tools were and also how easy it was to get to grips with any more advanced tools.

Read how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar .

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Jonas P. DeMuro is a freelance reviewer covering wireless networking hardware.

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Free Business Plan Generator

Do you still spend hours writing and creating a business plan? Not after today. Upmetrics’ free business plan generator simplifies writing a business plan and helps you create a comprehensive and compelling lean plan in seconds.

Sounds exciting? Let’s learn more about getting started with our free business plan generator and using it to draft your plan.

Using Upmetrics’ Free Business Plan Generator

Need help using the free business plan generator? Follow these step-by-step instructions to create a business plan using the free generator in no time.

Creating a business plan requires filling in 4 critical fields—company overview, marketing details, competitor information, and financial overview. Let’s start with the first.

1. Enter the Company Overview

Provide a company overview in approximately 3-4 sentences, including your business’s name, service offerings, USPs, mission, goals, and target market. Here’s an example for you:

2. Add Marketing Details

The next step—provide marketing details. Start by answering how your business plans to attract new customers and what you want to achieve with your business.

You may also include details about your marketing budget and preferred marketing channels. Here’s an example for your reference:

“i.e. We will attract customers through a strong online presence, social media marketing, and in-store promotions. Offering loyalty programs and hosting community biking events will help build a loyal customer base.”

3. Enter Competitor Information

After adding the marketing details, provide the name of your primary competitor(s) and explain how you are distinct from your competitors.

Describe whether your offerings have any competitive advantages or differentiators. Here’s how it can be done:

“i.e. Our primary competitor is ‘Wheels & Gears,’ but what sets us apart is our personalized customer service and expert bike repair services. We also differentiate ourselves by focusing on eco-friendly and sustainable products.”

4. Provide Financial Overview

Finally,—provide an overview of your business financials. Include what your startup costs are, what your financial strategy would be, and your first-year sales.

We are creating a lean business plan, so it may not require a detailed description of your business financials. Here’s an example for your understanding:

“i.e. Our expected business costs are $87,000 and that includes rent, inventory, equipment, and staff salaries. Our financial strategy is to minimize overhead costs and optimize inventory turnover. We project annual sales to reach $500,000 in the first year.”

5. Click on Generate a Business Plan

You’ve filled in all the necessary fields. It’s time to click “Generate a Business Plan” and see it yourself.

Your lean business plan is ready; you may make a few changes and go ahead with it or choose an AI business plan generator for comprehensive planning.

Make detailed business & financial plans in minutes with

Upmetrics’ AI Business Plan Generator

Plans starting from $7/month

Business Plan Example that will Inspire You

We created this sample CycleWave business plan using Upmetrics’ free generator. Remember, it’s your first draft—you can always go back and re-generate or edit it later.

CycleWave Business Plan

Introduction

Welcome to the business plan for CycleWave, a bicycle retail and repair shop dedicated to providing high-quality bikes and expert maintenance services. Our mission is to promote a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle through cycling while offering exceptional customer service.

Market Overview

The cycling industry is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing interest in health, sustainability, and alternative transportation methods.

The target market includes cycling enthusiasts, commuters, and local community members.

Strong market potential due to growing awareness of the need for eco-friendly and sustainable products.

Competitive Analysis

Primary competitor: Wheels & Gears.

Differentiation factors

• Personalized customer service
• Expertise in bike repair services
• Focus on eco-friendly and sustainable products.

Highlight the advantages of our unique offerings to attract customers away from competitors.

Marketing Plan

Utilize a solid online presence through a professional website to showcase our products, services, and promotions. Implement social media marketing strategies to engage with customers and build brand awareness.

Host community biking events to foster a sense of belonging and attract potential customers. Offer loyalty programs to incentivize repeat business and build a loyal customer base.

Operational Plan

Secure a suitable retail location with ample space for displaying bicycles and providing repair services. Employ knowledgeable staff with expertise in bike repair and customer service.

Create efficient processes for inventory management and maintenance repairs to ensure fast turnaround times. Maintain an attractive and organized store layout to enhance the customer experience.

Financial Plan

Our expected business costs are $87,000, allocated as follows:

• Rent: $30,000
• Inventory: $40,000
• Equipment: $10,000
• Staff Salaries: $7,000

We project annual sales to reach $500,000 in the first year, allowing us to gradually cover expenses and increase profitability.

Conclusion and Call to Action

In conclusion, CycleWave aims to thrive in the bicycle retail and repair industry by offering high-quality bikes, expert maintenance services, personalized customer care, and eco-friendly products. Join us in promoting a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle through cycling.

If you want to support our mission and become part of our cycling community, please contact us or visit our store today!

Upgrade to Make Comprehensive Plans in Minutes

Upmetrics’ free business plan generator is undoubtedly a better way to business plan. However, you may need an upgrade to create a comprehensive, investment-ready plan.

AI business plan generator like Upmetrics make business plan creation a breeze with their modern AI-powered features.

AI writing assistant helps you write, rewrite, edit, or translate sections of your plan, while the forecasting assistant provides revenue and expense stream suggestions for accurate projections.

You also get to access the massive library of 400+ sample business plans . So, all you need to do is export a template into the editor and start preparing your plan with AI .

What are you waiting for? Business planning starts @ $7 per month.

Build your Business Plan Faster

with step-by-step Guidance & AI Assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a free business plan generator.

The free business plan generator is a free-to-use version of Upmetrics’ business plan software. It uses AI-powered features to help users create a business plan. Since it can only create a lean business plan, you need Upmetrics’ advanced features for detailed planning.

Is it really free to use?

Yes, Upmetrics’ free business plan generator is 100% free to use, but the features that come with it are also limited. So, you may consider getting a premium subscription for advanced business planning features.

What information will I need to provide to use the tool?

You must fill in the necessary details to create a business plan using the free generator. The information required may include a company overview, marketing details, competitor information, and a financial overview.

What type of businesses should use your free business plan tool?

Startups and small businesses starting up or operating on tight budgets should consider getting a free business planning tool to create a lean business plan.

Is there a limit to how many plans I can create with your software?

No. As of now, there’s no limit to the number of business plans you can create using Upmetrics’ free business plan generator.

Is a sample plan as useful as creating my own custom version?

Using a sample business plan or template is one of the easiest ways to create your business plan. All you need to do is export a template into the editor and start preparing your plan with AI.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

The 15 Best Digital Planners for 2024 (Free & Paid)

Digital planners enhance productivity by effectively organizing your day and streamlining your productivity workflows. Take notes, track meetings, set priorities, and quickly accomplish your goals with the online planners listed or these other recommended daily planner apps .

What Are The Best Digital Planners for 2024?

1. clickup digital planner.

Format: Online, digital, and mobile app

ClickUp is a project management tool that offers individuals, teams, and small organizations a wide range of premium task management tools without cost. Enjoy intuitive features designed for teams of any size to stay on pace, manage projects, and work together—all in one place with ClickUp's Free Forever plan .

Improve project visibility, get an overview of all your projects, identify blockers and bottlenecks, and communicate updates more efficiently with this all-in-one work solution. It also offers a variety of templates for various use cases and projects to help you get started on any project or task fast and easy.

• Create meeting notes or task lists and collaborate with your team using ClickUp Docs
• Write down ideas using ClickUp’s Notepad
• Schedule events and appointments with ClickUp's Daily Planner Template
• Connect and integrate with over 1,000 other work tools
• Access ClickUp via an iOS or Android mobile, your iPad, desktop, or through its web app
• Free Forever – Free
• Unlimited–$7/user/month
• Business–$12/user/month
• Enterprise–Available upon request

Get started with ClickUp today, no credit card required!

2. Passion Digital Planner

Format: Digital PDF

The Passion Planner has a printable paper version, but their digital planner consists of fun and simple planner PDF pages that you can download for free (requires an email address). Their options include a monthly undated planner PDF, daily layout with hours of the day for scheduling, extra to-do lists , and habit tracker. They also have free downloads for long-term planning, like a reflection sheet, self-care, calorie tracker and more. The Passion Planner is a well-known brand and their PDF template downloads are great if you want to experiment and try multiple formats of planners.

• Trusted name brand for paper planners
• Easy to try and experiment
• Free with an email address

Free Digital Planner PDF

3. Focus Course Digital Planner

Format: Digital PDF on iPad

This daily planner is an interactive way to plan out your day. With this planner you will be able to write out all your tasks and see how best to manage the time you have. This planner is a PDF you can use directly on your iPad. Write out your goals and see projects you can do throughout the different months.

• Daily habit tracker to hold yourself accountable and build good habits
• You can handwrite on it like you would on paper
• Weekly, monthly, and yearly calendar view
• Standard: $39
• Premium: $59

4. Planners Collective Ultimate Digital Planner

Compatible: tablets, mobile, desktop

This planner is a productivity tool and was the #1 Planner on Rolling Stones. It consists of many great features like habit and mood tracker, project tracker, to-do lists, gratitude planner, and much more. There are 8 planners to choose from, and many productivity pages to explore.

• Many hyperlinks for easier navigation
• Over 1500 stickers to customize planner

5. MyDailyPlanners

Format: Digital PDF on iOS

MyDailyPlanners consists of daily planning for everyday tasks and to-dos, weekly pages, and monthly pages. You can access the specific days in the weekly and monthly pages by clicking on the date. This planner is minimal for easy navigation and usage.

• Comes in 4 different languages for accessibility
• Project planner and meeting note templates

6. Monday.com

Monday.com is a digital planner software that provides users with an intuitive platform to plan and manage their workflows effectively. It is a flexible and customizable tool that allows you to build the perfect workflow to suit your business needs. By utilizing automations, you can integrate all your favorite apps and streamline your work management process. Monday.com enables communication across teams, making it easier to manage and track projects effectively. With its real-time data analysis, you get to make informed decisions about the progress of your business.

• Customizable and flexible workflow management
• Integration with multiple apps to streamline processes
• Team management features to help improve communication across teams
• Standard plan starting at $9 per month per user

7. TheDailyPlanners Business Digital Planner

Format : Digital PDF on iPad

This undated planner is great for continuous usage for many years. By just copying the different planner pages you will always be able to use them as many times as you wish. This business planner consists of daily, weekly, and monthly pages, as well as more focused pages like finances, trackers, and note pages.

• Undated so it stays modern and useable
• Clickable tabs to be able to navigate different pages in the planner

8. Digital Personal Planner

Format: Digital PDF on iPad or tablet

This personal planner can be used for organizing your everyday activities, work life, and more. It includes a habit tracker, monthly and daily planner, Eisenhower matrix, note-taking, and more. You can choose between your year preference, or you can pick an undated version. 

• Diverse selection of pages depending on your planner needs
• Use the hyperlinks to navigate through the planner
• Light and/or dark mode for comfort
• Standard: $24.99
• Bundle: $39.99

9. OnPlanners Digital Planners

This is resource site with tons of planning templates. It includes daily hourly planners, daily to-do list sheets, budget planners, meal planners...you name it, OnePlanners probably has a PDF planner template that you can use right away. The only drawback is that if you are truly looking for a digital planner, then this may not be the best option. Technically, a PDF is digital but lacks a lot of the customization that a responsive software program like Friday would offer. If you want a printable planner, then OnePlanners will work.

• Variety of options
• Highly customizable

10. Todoist Digital Planner

Todoist specializes in productivity software and creates tools that simplify and organize your workday. They are designers, engineers, and communicators united by a common goal, not a common location. Their online planner helps you regain clarity by placing tasks into Todoist, no matter where you are or what device you use.

“It's simple, easy and not difficult to learn. I actually like how keeping track of tasks seems like something that doesn't take much time and something that I actually enjoy doing. It has a clean UI and has collaboration tools to work in teams and let each other know what needs to be done.”— G2Crowd

• Easily organize and prioritize assignments
• Get a clear overview of all company tasks
• Use as a personal planner or for work
• Divide and conquer your daily tasks in shared projects

• Basic: Free digital planner
• Premium: $3/person /m 
• Business: $5/person /m  

Integrate Todoist into the Friday planner.

11. Any.do Digital Planner

Format: Online, digital, mobile app, tablet, watch software

Teams can plan their day in seconds with Any.do ’s daily planner app . Use this streamlining application to focus on meaningful action items that will deliver your goals. Any.do’s dashboard consists of your to-do list and calendar, allowing you to plan while staying on top of your agenda. Drag and drop tasks into your schedule to produce an efficient daily plan.

• Reschedule tasks, mark them as done or delete them completely.
• Prioritize tasks to save you hours of extra work and burden.
• Standard: Free digital & online planner
• Premium: $5.99/p /m

12. Google Calendar

Make the most of every day by utilizing Google Calender . Use it as a daily, weekly, or monthly planner. GCal provides multiple views of your day, week, and month prioritization, guest invites, online calendar and more. Safely backup data, so you don't lose your schedule if you lose your device.

"I’ve tried all kinds of available calendar apps, but this one is by far my favorite! I often tell my friends to drop their apps and opt for Google Calendar because I really think it is so much better than any other free-cal app out there." — Apple App Store Review

• Create events in a few taps with smart suggestions for event titles, people and places.
• Events from email are added to your Calendar
• Schedule View brings schedules to life and makes it easy to see what's ahead with images and maps.

• Free Integrate your Google Calendar into the Friday planner. Make a daily schedule using Google Sheets

13. Trello Digital Planner

Trello starts as a free project management solution that delivers a Kanban board approach. Use it with your agile or scrum project management methodologies or use it independently. Each task and set of tasks is then grouped on a board. Move your cards to different progress points, depending on the work that has been done and tasks that still need to be completed. A drawback to Trello is that it's mainly meant for teams, even though they have boards for personal planning, too.

Trello vs ClickUp: Which Tool is Better for Project Management?

• Built-in workflow automation.
• Convenient team playbook
• Syncs with all your devices
• Basic: Free
• Premium plan: $13.49 /month /per user
• Business plan: $30.49 /month /per user
• Enterprise plan: Available by quote

Integrate Trello with the Friday planner.

14. Asana Digital Planner

Asana is a team collaboration tool for people who prefer to mix approaches to tasks and choose to implement their tasks in a list view. With Asana, you can assign team members to cards (within a project board) or to-dos (within a project list). You can add attachments, labels, subtasks, descriptions, and comments.

You can also mark certain tasks as milestones, define dependencies between tasks, and track your tasks' deadlines in a calendar view.

• Keep track of all tasks and projects.
• Share information with the necessary individuals/groups.
• Report on work, all in one central place.

• Starter: $13.49/person /m 
• Premium: $30.49/person /m 

Integrate Asana with the Friday planner.

15. Notion Digital Planner

Notion serves as a workspace for notes, docs, wikis, projects and collaboration. Use it on your own, with your team, or as an entire company. Get started for free, then add your whole team. Notion’s daily planner template includes all kinds of planning in Notion from a Notion daily calendar to a Notion Daily Journal. 

“Notion helps us keep track of the 30+ design projects we have going at once. We can click into any of them to get the full lay of the land right away.” — Justin Watt Director of Operations, Metalab

• Great for securing company information all in one place
• Embed youtube videos and attach files up to 5MB if you are a free user. 
• Easily write essays in blocks and arrange them in order in a way you like.
• Free : For personal use & individuals
• Personal Pro: $4 /person per month
• Team: $8 /person per month

How To Pick the Best Digital Planner for You

How do you determine the perfect planner for you? That depends on whether you need to track assigned tasks, quarterly goals, timesheets, or streamline automation; remember, the possibilities are almost endless. 

It’s important to think about the features and what outcomes they should help drive.

We’d strongly encourage you to answer the following questions as you decide on what digital planning app makes the most sense for you and how you want to use a planner at work .

• Does the digital planner show meetings and important tasks in one place? Any planner app should merge calendar events and tasks into a single view (like an analog/traditional planner does)
• Does the planner integrate with existing tools? If you already use project management software, the planner needs to pull work out of those systems.
• Does the digital planner complement existing tools? You don’t need another calendar app. You don’t need another project management tool. You need a way to roadmap your day and finish with a feeling of accomplishment.
• Is the planner available on multiple platforms and devices? Is a mobile app available? Does the team regularly update the product? Is it easy to chat with support?
• Does the digital planner drive regular reflection and continuous improvement? Can you see how you are allocating your time on a regular basis? Does the tool help you have more successful days? These are a few of the ideas that you could include in your planner that may help you evaluate the right one for you.

Digital Planner FAQs

Get your questions about online & digital planners answered.

What does a digital planner do?

Should i use a digital planner, how do i make a digital planner, is there a digital planner that syncs with google calendar, is a paper planner better than digital, should you switch to a digital planner, why use a digital or online planner, the home for your company, clickup is the easiest way to stay in sync with your distributed team. meetings are optional..

10 Best Planner Apps To Organize Work Better (2022)

Looking for the best planner apps to organize your schedule? This article compares the top apps for planning your day, week, month, or more.

But why do you need a planning app?

Juggling priorities, both on the personal and work front, can be tough.

Thankfully, today you have a number of software options to set a schedule and get work done. Plus, these applications are available for a variety of platforms — web, desktop, and mobile. 

How do you find the best scheduling and work management app?

That’s what this article is about. We look at the best apps for planning your work and life. Each app in this article serves specific planning needs. So by the end of this article, you’ll find one that meets your requirements.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

Ready to dive in? Let’s start.

What are the best planner apps in 2022?

1. toggl plan.

Toggl Plan is the overall best planner app for businesses and teams .

With Toggl Plan, you can plan and track your team’s schedule using simple drag-and-drop timelines. But if you prefer Kanban boards to manage your tasks, Toggl Plan has them too.

You can also set color-coded milestones on the Project timeline . Optionally, you can share important milestones across other plans. 

You’ll also be able to collaborate with your team by attaching files and checklists and adding comments to your tasks.

Best of all, managers can see their entire team’s plan in one place. This helps them identify scheduling bottlenecks and balance team workloads thus preventing overwork and burnout.

Key features

• Plan project or work schedules (including time off) using simple drag-and-drop timelines.
• Get a weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annual overview of the timeline
• Share a read-only view of Project timelines with external users
• Visualize your entire team’s schedule in one place to avoid overwork and burnout.
• Track tasks visually on Kanban task boards.
• Add color-coded milestones which are optionally visible across timelines.
• In-app and email notifications when something changes in your schedule.
• Integrates with Apple, Google, and Outlook calendars.

Online, iOS, and Android

Price plans

• Forever free plan for solo users
• Team plan at $9 per user per month: Comes with Team timelines and integration with Toggl Track for time tracking
• Business plan at $15 per user per month: Comes with SSO, guest users, and data export for reporting

Try Toggl Plan for free .

If you’re looking for a free task planner app with a calendar view , Trello should be number one on your list.

Everything in Trello revolves around its Kanban board. You can drag and drop a task across columns to change its status and trigger automation workflows.

You can attach files, labels, and checklists to tasks and collaborate with your teammates using comments. But that’s not all. Trello’s task functionality is easily extended to suit your workflows using add-ons (aka powerups).

One such add-on is the calendar view with which you can visualize your plans and scheduled tasks on a calendar.

• Plan and track tasks with simple to-do, in-progress, done, or a custom workflow
• Visualize task schedules on a calendar view
• Visualize tasks on timelines and maps (premium feature)
• Integrates with thousands of other productivity apps
• Automate task works with if/then logic

Online, Windows, iOS, and Android

Trello price plans

• Forever free plan with unlimited tasks and up to 10 task boards
• Standard plan : comes at $5 per user per month with custom task fields and guests on single boards.
• Premium plan : comes at $10 per user per month with dashboard, timeline, and workspace calendar views
• Enterprise plan : comes at $17.50 per user per month with multi-board guests, single sign-on, and unlimited workspaces

If you were to build a list of personal daily planner apps , Any.do would be at the top.

With Any.do, you can visualize your daily plans as a simple to-do list. You’ll see your to-do items segmented by when they are due — today, tomorrow, or someday later.

For each planned task, you can set reminders too.

A planner app isn’t complete without a calendar or a timeline view. Any.do comes with a simple calendar view with which you can filter tasks for a specific date.

In addition to to-do lists, you can also capture notes and file documents.

• Capture and organize to-do items into lists
• Set one-time, repeating, or location-based reminders for to-do items
• Visualize daily plans using the calendar widgets on your phone
• Add grocery items to automatically add them to relevant category lists
• Re-schedule tasks for the day or week with a single tap

iOS, and Android

Any.do price plans

• Forever free plan with unlimited to-do items and lists
• Premium plan : $5.99 per month with advanced reminders, recurring tasks, and customizable color themes

4. TickTick

TickTick is the most versatile work planning app for capturing tasks .

You can capture tasks using voice commands, by sending emails to TickTick as well as via Apple’s Siri app. While capturing tasks, TickTicks natural language processing automatically schedules tasks and creates reminders for a specific time or location.

• Capture tasks via email or voice input
• Organize tasks into lists and folders
• Prioritize and labels tasks
• Visualize tasks on a daily, weekly, or monthly calendar
• Pomodoro timer and white noise for distraction-free work (premium feature)
• Online, Linux, macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android
• Extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Gmail, and Outlook

Pricing options

• Free version : limited calendar functionality
• Premium version : $27.99 per year with full calendar features, progress tracker, Pomodoro timer, and white noise

Todoist is a work organizer and planning app for teams .

With Todoist, you can capture tasks for your personal and professional commitments. Once added, you can organize tasks into projects and subtasks.

You can also prioritize tasks, add projects as favorites for quick access, and set reminders for critical tasks.

Todoist also allows you to delegate tasks to your team and visualize everyone’s work on a Kanban board.

• Quickly capture and schedule tasks using natural language processing
• Organize tasks into projects and subtasks
• Share files and discuss tasks with your team
• See your team’s activity by project or team member
• Visualize the productivity of your team over time

Online, macOS, iOS, Android, and Windows

• Free forever : for 5 projects with up to 5 collaborators per project
• Pro plan : $4 per user per month for 300 projects, up to 25 collaborators per project, and reminders
• Business plan : $6 per user per month for 500 projects, 50 team members per project, and team billing 

Twobird turns your email inbox into a work planning tool .

It works with Google and Microsoft email apps including Gmail, Google Workspace, and Outlook. 

Twobird smartly categorizes your emails by priority. Plus, it sets reminders for emails that can be tackled later. In addition, you also get smart notifications to avoid distractions.

• Integrate with Google and Microsoft email
• Prioritize emails and set reminders automatically
• Get smart notifications for distraction-free work
• Unsubscribe from unwanted emails quickly
• Add notes to email conversations

Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android

Twobird is free to use for now and plans to offer premium plans in the future. 

7. Google Calendar

Google Calendar is one of the best online calendar apps out there. It provides one of the best overviews of your work, meetings, and daily agenda. 

Scheduling remote meetings with Google Calendar is a breeze. It automatically takes care of the participant’s time zones. Plus, with integrations for Zoom or Google Meet, you can hop into the meeting right from the notification.

• Create events with smart suggestions for titles, people, and places
• Automatically add events to calendars from flight or hotel booking emails in Gmail
• Day, week, and month views to visualize your schedule
• Free for personal use
• Google Workspace subscription for business at $6 per user per month

8. Things 3

If you’re looking for a daily planner app for iPhone or iPad, look no further.

Things 3 is an award-winning daily task planning app built specifically for iOS. It also works on desktop Mac devices.

To-do items in Things are organized into projects and areas. Areas represent each sphere in your life such as work, family, finance, etc.

• Organize to-do items into projects and areas
• Plan and visualize your daily and upcoming schedules
• Set reminders 
• Repeat tasks automatically on a set schedule
• Integrates with Apple calendar and shows your events alongside tasks
• Create to-do items via email

All iOS devices including Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iWatch

• iPhone and iWatch version : $9.99
• iPad version : $19.99
• Mac version : $49.99

9. Day by Day Organizer

Day by Day is one of the popular planning apps for Android devices.

It integrates Google Calendar and Google Tasks in one Android app. That way you get the best of both worlds — a powerful calendar with simple task management.  

Day by Day keeps your Calendar and Tasks in sync. You can see all your events and tasks in one simple list. Also, you can plan and track tasks for a specific day, week, or month.

• See events and tasks in one list
• Keep your Google Calendar and Google Tasks in sync
• Birthday reminder
• Capture tasks and events with voice input
• Agenda planner view
• Free version with Google Calendar and Tasks synchronization
• Premium version at $4.99 with recurring tasks, subtasks, and task priorities

10. Habitica

Habitica is one of the best daily routine planner apps that helps you form habits

It gamifies your daily routine and encourages you to form habits and become more productive. Every time you perform a routine task on time, you get in-game rewards as well as praise from the community.

Habitica is useful as a student planner app to form study habits. Or as a fitness planner to stay healthy with daily exercise habits.

Best features

• Track and manage habits, to-do lists, and daily goals
• Get in-game rewards as you check off your tasks and goals
• Battle with your online friends using these rewards to earn real-world rewards

Habitica pricing options

• Free version to track your goals and habits publicly
• Premium version at $9 per month + $3 per user per month for private group plans

What is the best planner app for your needs?

There are a lot of options when it comes to planning apps. You get apps for personal and professional use as well as individual and team use. 

So how do you choose the best planner for your needs? Think about it from these angles:

• Does the app meet your/your team’s needs?
• Does it make you more productive when planning your work?
• Do you like working with the app?
• Does it fit your budget?
• Can it integrate with your existing work management system?

These questions will help you decide on the best planning app for your needs.

Most online tools, including Toggl Plan, have a free trial or a forever free plan. Use this opportunity to try out the planning software, along with your team before you decide on the tool of your choice. 

FAQs about planning apps

A planner app is a work management tool that combines scheduling and task management. It captures, organizes, and schedules work tasks using a timeline or a calendar.

A planner helps you and your team get work done by bringing clarity, accountability, and transparency to work. In addition, planners like Toggl Plan help you avoid scheduling conflicts as well as prevent your team from getting overworked and burned out. In addition, here are nine planner ideas to organize your work

There are many types of planner apps depending on the end-users — personal and professional work planners, paper and digital planners, team project planners, etc. In addition, certain types of planners are designed for specific use cases. For example, financial planners, student planners, health and fitness planners, etc.

First, identify the work you need to get done in a specific period. For example, a month, a week, or a day. Second, schedule tasks and projects using a timeline or a calendar while avoiding scheduling conflicts with other work plans, team members, and time off. And third, ensure that everyone’s workload is reasonable.

Google does not have a daily planner app. However, you can combine Google Calendar and Google Tasks to plan your daily work items. In addition, you also get Google Keep which helps you organize your notes and to-do lists as well as get location-based reminders.

Jitesh is an SEO and content specialist. He manages content projects at Toggl and loves sharing actionable tips to deliver projects profitably.

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Home >> #realtalk Blog >> Manage a business >> Best Free Scheduling…

Best Free Scheduling Software: 5 Great Options for Small Business

By Christine Umayam

For small business owners, it can feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. Fortunately, free scheduling software can go a long way to streamlining time management!

One of the biggest challenges business owners face is employee scheduling. It can get messy and time-consuming without the right organizational tools. Luckily, scheduling apps have all the features you need—and some of them cost absolutely nothing.

With free scheduler software, you can automate schedule building and tracking, facilitate real-time schedule adjustments, review time-off requests, and approve shift trades. You can even automate shift reminders for your team—all in one place.

We’ve come up with five great free scheduling software to save the day—and save you time. We also talk about how scheduling software can let you “set and forget” more than just the weekly schedule and superpower your small business operations.

Optimize your schedule and keep your team in sync with Homebase.

What is employee scheduling software?

Employee scheduling software is a lifesaver for small businesses! Scheduling tools help hourly businesses improve team scheduling, time tracking , appointment setting, and team communication—from anywhere, at any time.

Updating shifts, appointments, and meetings in real time means you and your team can track working hours more easily. Scheduling software also helps manage basic scheduling data such as employee availability and time-off requests. 

Better still, it eliminates the arduous process of manual scheduling and the possibility of human error during payroll. Online scheduling software improves productivity by creating a more streamlined work environment, making for happier team members, managers, and customers. 

Don’t rely on disconnected time sheets and punch cards. When your schedule’s running smoothly, your small business runs smoothly, too.

The benefits of using scheduling software.

Scheduling software can schedule more than just your employees. It includes resource management tools to help to manage meeting rooms and equipment, too.

Eliminate confusion with a cloud-based app and put your schedule on cruise control. Real-time updating means you can track scheduling needs and availability efficiently—and so can your whole team.

Keep an up-to-date schedule right in your pocket.

Eliminate no-shows and keep your team members in the loop. With scheduling software, you can:

• Publish and update team schedules regularly so your team will be immediately notified by text, email, and in the app.
• Automatically remind employees of upcoming shifts.
• Add specific notes to shift entries to let your team members know about important instructions or reminders.
• Sync schedules with Google Calendar for seamless schedule management.

Create your ideal schedule in minutes.

Quit stressing about whether the right people are scheduled at the right time. Free scheduler apps can help you simplify the process by:

• Using templates and automatic scheduling to add the “forget it” to “set it”.
• Enlisting more advanced features such as auto-scheduling and shift duplication to track team members’ availability—say goodbye to scheduling conflicts!
• Creating schedules that match up with your labor targets and busiest time slots.
• Finding coverage at the last minute by easily posting open shifts and notifying available employees.

Make sure you always have coverage.

No more going back and forth between team members. Scheduling software lets you track availability, shift trades , and manage coverage for time-off requests without a second thought.

• Employees manage their time off and availability directly in the app.
• Add your team’s availability to the schedule automatically and don’t lose track of requests.
• Set date, time, and maximum limits to time-off requests.
• Employees can coordinate shift trades with each other in the app. No more boss buffer!
• Seamlessly manage schedules and appointments across multiple locations.

Track hours and make adjustments in real time.

Out for the day? No problem. Track and optimize labor costs, adjust schedules on the go, get alerts when employees are late or approaching overtime limits, and message employees for a coverage emergency from anywhere in the world. 

You can even integrate with video conferencing software for seamless remote team coordination. That’s the power of mobile, cloud-based scheduling.

Easy team communication.

In-app messaging tools make it super simple for team members to stay in contact with you and each other. Send critical updates and information, notify your team about shifts, and let your team message each other to coordinate shift trades.

• Tools like Picktime and Calendly can even help you schedule meetings and coordinate team activities.

Get the 5 best free scheduling software options.

You’ve got plenty of options when picking out the best scheduling software for your small business. These are the top five that we think include the most beneficial features.

1. Homebase – Best employee scheduling & time tracking software with GPS

Homebase is an employee management app designed for small service-based businesses in industries like retail, hospitality, education, and beauty. Our all-in-one tool helps you streamline employee scheduling and time tracking. It even includes features like team calendars, time clocks, automatic notifications, and budget forecasting.

The interface is easy to use, simple to onboard, and includes responsive customer support. It includes extensive integration capabilities to work in tandem with your other software systems and messaging tools. 

The Basic Plan is free—forever—for one location with up to 20 employees. Additional paid plans give you access to additional resource management features. For businesses processing over $250K per year, custom pricing plans even include a dedicated account manager.

2. Connecteam – Best free scheduling tool with customizable templates and unlimited checklists

Connecteam is an employee scheduling app that helps you instantly create and share employee schedules with your non-desk teams. Keep every shift running smoothly by building schedules with templates that duplicate or auto-schedule. 

With Connecteam, you can set regulatory limitations to help spot inconsistencies and get real-time insights from digital forms and checklists. Get started with time management, operations management, and employee onboarding with a 14-day free trial. A custom booking page can even help you streamline your client booking process.

3. Acuity Scheduling – Best for appointment-based shift scheduling or recurring appointments

Acuity Scheduling is a free app designed to manage client scheduling, secure payments, and workflow automation. It gives you access to tools meant to help you schedule and earn on your own terms.

This no-cost scheduling software lets you customize how and when clients can book with you, host virtual appointments, and block off personal time. Easily automate appointment bookings and let clients cancel or reschedule their own appointments. Plus, you can create custom intake forms to personalize the customer experience. 

Start a free trial—no credit card needed. Acuity Scheduling also offers a customizable online booking page that allows clients to book appointments 24/7.

4. Asana – Best free employee scheduler software for Kanban-style task scheduling

Asana is a work management platform that allows you to set company-wide goals, manage strategic planning, and get work done within a single platform. Increase efficiency across departments with tools to automate workflows, keep employees focused, and enable better real-time decisions.

As a Kanban-style task scheduler, Asana is a visual workflow software. Asana has a Personal Plan for individuals and small teams at no charge, along with other plan options with additional features.  Create a professional booking page with Asana to showcase your business’s services and availability.

5. TIMIFY – Best free resource tracking and scheduling software for small businesses

TIMIFY is an instant appointment-booking solution for your customers that includes an online calendar. Manage all your human and physical resources online and streamline team efficiency by allocating the resources needed for a service in advance with this hassle-free tool. .

Manage working and booking hours, plus create dependencies to auto-reserve essential resources for each booking. The Classic Plan with TIMIFY has online booking essentials for solo entrepreneurs at no cost, and additional paid plans you can try for free for a limited time. Additionally, TIMIFY offers free booking software that allows customers to self-schedule appointments 24/7.

Take a load off. Simplify employee scheduling for free.

Don’t rely on time-consuming, costly, and disorganized manual scheduling processes to make your business tick. Free scheduler software are some of the best ways to streamline scheduling, manage time clocks, and communicate better with your team. Your small business will thank you—and your team will, too. 

Put an end to scheduling chaos— let software like Homebase take a load off. Our all-in-one free scheduling app will help elevate your team’s performance, improve operations, and create a happier, more productive team.

Get started for free today .

Remember:  This is not legal advice. If you have questions about your particular situation, please consult a lawyer, CPA, or other appropriate professional advisor or agency.

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Best Business Expense Tracker Apps 2024

Meaghan Senn is a writer from North Carolina with experience in B2B, technology and digital marketing topics. Throughout her career, Meaghan has worked with B2B, software and digital marketing businesses.

Katie Gray is a Chicago-based editor. She started her career writing and editing content about home services before transitioning to home improvement products. She has spent the last year and a half working at a software company, managing content about CRM, project management and other business topics.

Tracking business expenses is a crucial part of maintaining organized finances so that you can allocate your funds properly and be ready for tax season. An expense tracker app can help with this. It scans receipts, logs business trips, categorizes transactions, reimburses employees and more. 

To help you choose an expense tracker for your business, we at the MarketWatch Guides team have gathered information on nine providers. We have researched, tested and rated each provider. Keep reading for our findings.

Why Trust Us?

Top business expense tracker apps.

• Best Integration With Other Accounting Software: Expensify
• Best Use of AI Integration: Clyr
• Best In-House Integration: Zoho Expense
• Best for Medium-to-Large Enterprises: SAP Concur Expense
• Best for Tracking Employee Use: Rydoo
• Best for Ease of Use: QuickBooks Online
• Best for Small Businesses: Shoeboxed
• Best for Invoicing: FreshBooks
• Best for Freelancers: Everlance

Provider	Our Rating	Superlative	Starting Price	Visit Site
	4.7	Best integration with other accounting software	$5 per user per month
	4.7	Best use of AI integration	Contact for pricing
	4.4	Best in-house integration	$0 per month
	4.4	Best for medium-to-large enterprises	Contact for pricing
	4.3	Best for tracking employee use	$9 per user per month
	4.0	Best for ease of use	$30 per month
	4.0	Best for small businesses	$23 per month
	3.8	Best for invoicing	$19 per month
	3.8	Best for freelancers	$0 per month

Expensify is an expense management platform. Seeing as it only deals with expenses, it integrates with all-in-one software, including QuickBooks and Xero, so that you can get your other accounting tasks done as well. It also integrates with HR software, such as TriNet Zenefits and Gusto, for employee management.

Expensify has several unique expense management features. It keeps track of business trips with unlimited receipt scans and automatic distance tracking. You can create cards with spend limits for traveling employees to use. Or, you can instruct employees to use their personal card and reimburse them later through direct deposit.

Clyr is our pick for innovation because of the way it leverages advanced AI technology. Once you scan receipts, it uses this technology to group them into categories and tie them to transactions in the system. 

Clyr doesn’t offer pre-built plans. Instead, it focuses on creating a custom solution based on your industry. Some industries it commonly works with include construction, property management, legal, nonprofit and event production. To get started, you must provide information about you and your business and talk to a sales representative.

Zoho Expense focuses on expense management, but Zoho has other products to help with additional areas of your business. Seeing as they come from the same provider, integration is seamless, so you can create an all-in-one business management system.

Zoho Expense has several advanced expense tracking features. Depending on the plan you choose, you may have access to cash advances, purchase and travel requests and multi-currency expenses. Unlimited users start with the first paid plan, and unlimited receipt scans start with the plan after that.

Concur Expense is like a mix between Zoho Expense and Clyr. It offers custom solutions like Clyr, and it comes from a provider with other business products like Zoho Expense. Given this mix, SAP Concur works well for large companies that want to build a comprehensive, custom accounting solution.

In terms of the Expense product specifically, it can capture receipts, build reports and create travel policies, to name a few features. Its main goal is to help with spend management so that you can see where every dollar is going.

Rydoo is a comprehensive expense management solution. Many of its features center around employee expenses. For example, employees can track their business trips in the app by logging hours driven and uploading meal, gas and hotel receipts.

From the employer side, you can create expense policies that define what and how much employees can expense. Once you set the rates, Rydoo can reimburse employees automatically. There is also bank account and credit card reconciliation as well as custom reporting.

QuickBooks Online is an all-in-one accounting solution that helps with bookkeeping, bill pay, receipt capture, mileage tracking, financial reporting and more. Even with its various capabilities, we found both the online platform and mobile app to be easy to navigate.

In terms of expense management, QuickBooks Online pulls in transactions from manual entries, trip logs, receipt captures, bank statements, credit card statements and any other sources. It then organizes these items by tax category and expense type. It also links them to any expenses you already have in the system.

Shoeboxed is first and foremost a document storage platform, organizing an unlimited number of files. This makes it useful for small businesses that want to upgrade from storing files on their computer or in Google Drive. 

Shoeboxed has a few features to help with expense management. For receipt capture, you can use the mobile app to take pictures of receipts. Shoeboxed extracts key details from the picture, storing them alongside the photo in a dashboard. The dashboard also has a Gmail integration so that any receipts you receive via email import automatically. Shoeboxed’s mileage tracking capability is less extensive, but it still logs miles automatically in the mobile app using the GPS technology in your phone.

FreshBooks is another accounting software like QuickBooks Online that offers expense tracking alongside other financial management features. It excels at billing with multiple ways to pay and receive payments from clients, vendors, customers, contractors and employees.

FreshBooks offers receipt capture and mileage tracking like the remaining providers in our review. It also creates invoices, accepts online payments, sends payment reminders, connects to bank accounts and more.

Everlance offers plans for both self-employed individuals and small companies. We like the individual plans for freelancers because they offer basic expense management features at an affordable price. Freelancers can use the mobile app to log miles and scan receipts. From there, Everlance adds them to the platform and organizes them into categories.

One of Everlance’s standout features is its deduction finder, which reads an expense and generates a list of potential tax deductions for it. This feature can be particularly useful for freelancers who file their own taxes and need help making the most out of tax benefits.

What Is an Expense Tracking App?

An expense tracking app is a tool that streamlines the process of recording and organizing business expenses. It pulls expenses from receipts, bank accounts, credit card statements and other sources, giving you a comprehensive overview of your finances. Often, it pulls this data automatically, which means you can avoid manual entry and the time commitment and potential errors that come with it.

There are two types of expense trackers: comprehensive accounting platforms and dedicated expense management apps. The former helps with expense management alongside other accounting and bookkeeping tasks. The latter focuses solely on expenses. A dedicated app is usually enough for independent contractors and small businesses, but mid-to-large-sized businesses might want a comprehensive platform to help with other areas of financial management.

How Much Do Expense Tracking Apps Cost?

The cost of expense tracking apps varies depending on the provider and plan. Many providers offer free trials, though some also have free plans. The plans usually follow a monthly subscription structure. These plans either come with user limits, or they have unlimited users with a monthly fee per user.

Below, you can see the pricing for the providers in this review:

Expensify	$5 per user per month	✅
Clyr	Contact for pricing	✅
Zoho Expense	$0 per month	✅
SAP Concur Expense	Contact for pricing	✅
Rydoo	$9 per user per month	✅
QuickBooks Online	$30 per month	✅
Shoeboxed	$23 per month	✅
FreshBooks	$19 per month	✅
Everlance	$0 per month	✅

How To Choose a Business Expense Tracking Software

In addition to type and price, there are other factors to consider as you choose an expense tracker. During our research and rating process, we also looked at features, compliance, integrations, user experience and customer reviews.

If you opt for a comprehensive accounting solution, it may have additional features, but these are the features we recommend you look for when it comes to expense management:

• Receipt scanning: Using a mobile app, you take photos of your receipts to store them digitally.
• Mileage tracking: Mileage tracking uses the same mobile app to log the miles you drive for business purposes.
• Credit card and bank account reconciliation: This feature connects your bank accounts and credit cards to your expense management platform. That way, you can cross-reference which transactions you have logged to ensure you haven’t missed any.
• Transaction categorization: As you add expenses, this feature categorizes them to keep them organized and allocated to the right funds.
• Employee reimbursement: Many expense trackers help you create your reimbursement policy. As employees submit their expenses, the tracker automatically approves and reimburses them according to the terms of the policy.
• Reporting and analytics: Reporting gives you insights into your spending patterns so that you can make informed financial decisions moving forward.

All expense tracking software must comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act , which mandates guidelines for financial reporting and transparency for businesses. The guidelines vary by industry, but there are a few that apply across the board, including the one that requires expense data to be stored for a minimum of seven years.

Integrations

If you use accounting software, look for an expense tracker that integrates with it. With this type of integration, you can transfer financial data between the two platforms without using manual entry. If you use HR software or other solutions to run your business, you can check for integrations with them as well.

Customer Reviews

Reviews offer firsthand accounts of an app’s functionality and performance from real users. Giving you an idea of users’ overall satisfaction with the product, you can determine if it suits your needs.

Ease of Use

The design of the interface can make all the difference in how easy it is to set up and use the expense tracking app. A user-friendly design streamlines implementation, allowing you to start tracking expenses promptly without encountering technical hurdles. While customer reviews can give you a general idea of user experience, we recommend signing up for a free trial or free plan to test the platform yourself as well.

The Bottom Line

Expense tracking apps can make it easier to record and manage business expenses. There are several apps on the market to consider. We recommend QuickBooks Online and FreshBooks if you want expense management alongside other accounting and bookkeeping features. 

For a dedicated expense tracker, there is Clyr, Concur Expense, Everlance, Shoeboxed, Rydoo, Zoho Expense and Expensify. Everlance and Shoeboxed have basic features for independent contractors and small businesses. Clyr and Concur Expense build custom plans based on your specific needs. Expensify and Zoho Expense have extensive integrations, and Rydoo specializes in tracking and reimbursing employee expenses.

Frequently Asked Questions About Business Expense Tracker Apps

How do small businesses track expenses.

Small businesses can track expenses through various methods, including spreadsheets, accounting software and expense tracking apps.

Does the IRS require receipts for business expenses?

The IRS typically requires receipts for business expenses, but the guidelines may vary based on the type of expense.

Which business expenses should be tracked?

All expenses pertaining to the operation of a business should be tracked.

Is expense tracking included in accounting software?

Yes, expense tracking is usually included in accounting software packages.

Are there free expense tracking apps?

Some expense tracking apps, such as Zoho Expense and Everlance, have free plans. If they don’t offer a free version, they usually have a free trial.

Methodology

We at the MarketWatch Guides team spent over 100 hours researching and testing 15 accounting software providers. We looked at all-in-one tools, such as QuickBooks, as well as specific tools for mileage tracking and expense management. 

We conducted a survey in 2024 of 200 professionals who were currently using accounting software or had used accounting software within the past year. We analyzed the results of this survey to determine the following rating criteria:

• Reputation and Reviews (15%)
• Features (63%)
• Pricing (10%)
• User Experience (7%)
• Customer Support (5%)

Visit the full accounting methodology page for more details on our rating system.

If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at  editors@marketwatchguides. com .

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Best Free Checking Accounts of 2024

Chanelle Bessette is a personal finance writer at NerdWallet covering banking. She previously worked at Fortune, Forbes and the Reno Gazette-Journal. Her expertise has appeared in The New York Times, Vox and Apartment Therapy.

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Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

The best free checking accounts do more than keep money in people’s wallets by having no monthly fees. They also typically offer other free services or pay interest.

Why trust NerdWallet

Strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage to help you choose the financial accounts that work best for you. See our criteria for evaluating banks and credit unions .

More than 90 financial institutions surveyed by our team of experts.

More than 50 data points considered for each bank, credit union and banking technology firm (or neobank).

Here’s a list of our favorites based on research into dozens of institutions. We scoped out accounts based on interest rate, ATM network, rewards and other factors.

» Looking for a place to stash your savings? See NerdWallet's picks for best savings accounts

Best free checking accounts

• SoFi Checking and Savings

Why we like it: SoFi’s online Checking and Savings account offers competitive interest rates on both checking and savings, and customers have access to a large, free ATM network.

No overdraft fees.

No monthly fees.

Large, free, nationwide ATM network.

Early direct deposit.

Checking account pays interest once requirements are met.

No branch access.

Fees for cash deposits.

• Chime Checking Account

Why we like it: Chime’s customers have access to a broad no-fee ATM network as well as a strong overdraft program. They can also receive their paychecks up to two days early with direct deposit.

No minimum opening deposits.

"SpotMe® on Debit is an optional, no fee overdraft service attached to your Chime Checking Account. To qualify for the SpotMe on Debit service, you must receive $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account each month and have activated your physical Chime Visa® Debit Card or secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card.

Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account for up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially but may later be eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. The SpotMe on Debit limit will be displayed within the Chime mobile app and is subject to change at any time, at Chime's sole discretion. Although Chime does not charge any overdraft fees for SpotMe on Debit, there may be out-of-network or third-party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe on Debit will not cover any non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. SpotMe on Debit Terms and Conditions: https://www.chime.com/policies."

Chime also says: "Once the retailer accepts your cash, the funds will be transferred to your selected Chime Account. Barcode and debit card cash deposits land in the Checking Account. Credit Builder card cash deposits first go through your Card Account and then land in your Secured Account. Cash deposit fees may apply if using a retailer other than Walgreens and Duane Reade."

• Ally Bank Spending Account

Why we like it: Ally offers interest on its free checking account as well as nationwide ATM fee reimbursements of up to $10 a month.

Checking account pays interest.

No cash deposit.

• Alliant Credit Union High-Rate Checking

High-Rate Checking

Why we like it: Alliant High-Rate Checking customers earn interest and have access to more than 80,000 fee-free ATMs in addition to a $20 monthly fee rebate for out-of-network ATMs.

Anyone can become a member.

Why we like it: Customers who are over 18 and make at least $500 in monthly direct deposits can qualify for One’s generous overdraft protection policy, which can cover up to $200 in overdrafts.

• Navy Federal Credit Union Free EveryDay Checking

Why we like it : Customers at Navy Federal Credit Union have access to more than 30,000 shared Co-op Network ATMs and 350 branches worldwide. They also have multiple options when it comes to overdraft coverage.

No monthly fees on Free Everyday Checking account.

24/7 customer service by phone.

Branches available worldwide.

Limited branch access.

Limited membership.

Our Nerds say:

“When shopping for a checking account, it’s great to find one that has no monthly fees, but you should also think about the other features you might want and need. For example, you might want to earn interest or cash back , or you might need a bank that’s part of a large, free ATM network or that offers ATM fee reimbursements.

"Also, you might want to look for a bank that has a generous overdraft policy . Some banks will even spot you up to a certain amount of money if you overdraft.”

- Chanelle Bessette, NerdWallet banking writer

Checking accounts help you manage the transactions you need to make on a regular basis, such as paying bills, receiving your paycheck and depositing or withdrawing cash. They usually come with a debit card and the ability to write checks.

The fee on your checking account can add up quickly over time. Free checking accounts give customers access to all the perks of a checking account without the burden of paying a monthly maintenance fee.

The best checking accounts have no fees and ideally earn interest, give cash back or offer a bonus. You should also make sure that the bank offers good customer service and is convenient for your lifestyle. Some accounts also offer early access to direct deposits .

The best checking accounts have no fees and ideally earn interest, give cash back or offer a bonus. You should also make sure that the bank offers good customer service and is convenient for your lifestyle. Some accounts also offer

early access to direct deposits

Methodology

We took a close look at over 90 financial institutions and financial service providers, including the largest U.S. banks based on assets, internet search traffic and other factors; the nation’s largest credit unions, based on assets and membership; and other notable and/or emerging players in the industry. We rated them on criteria including annual percentage yields, minimum balances, fees, digital experience and more.

Financial institutions and providers surveyed are: Affirm , All America Bank , Alliant Credit Union , Ally Bank , Amalgamated Bank , America First Credit Union , American Express National Bank , Andrews Federal Credit Union , Associated Bank , Axos Bank , Bank of America , Bank5 Connect , Bank7 , Barclays , Bask Bank , Bethpage Federal Credit Union , BMO , BMO Alto , Boeing Employees Credit Union , Bread Savings , BrioDirect , Capital One , Carver Federal Savings Bank , Charles Schwab Bank , Chase , Chime , CIBC U.S. , CIT Bank , Citibank , Citizens , Citizens Bank , City First Bank , Climate First Bank , Commerce Bank , Community First Credit Union of Florida , ConnectOne Bank , Connexus Credit Union , Consumers Credit Union , Current , Delta Community Credit Union , Discover® Bank , E*TRADE , EverBank (formerly TIAA Bank) , Fifth Third Bank , First Foundation , First National Bank , First Tech Federal Credit Union , Flagstar Bank , FNBO Direct , Global Credit Union , GO2bank , Golden 1 Credit Union , Greenwood , Hope Credit Union , Huntington Bank , Industrial Bank , Ivy Bank , KeyBank , Lake Michigan Credit Union , LendingClub Bank , Liberty Bank , Live Oak Bank , M&T Bank , Marcus by Goldman Sachs , Navy Federal Credit Union , NBKC , One , OneUnited Bank , Pentagon Federal Credit Union , PNC , Popular Direct , Quontic Bank , Regions Bank , Revolut , Salem Five Direct , Sallie Mae Bank , Santander Bank , SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union , Security Service Federal Credit Union , Securityplus Federal Credit Union , Self-Help Credit Union , Service Credit Union , SoFi , State Employees’ Credit Union of North Carolina , Suncoast Credit Union , Synchrony Bank , TAB Bank , TD Bank , Truist Bank , U.S. Bank , UFB Direct , Upgrade , USAA Bank , Varo , Vio Bank , Wells Fargo and Zynlo Bank .

How we rate banks and credit unions

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