Social media apps constantly vie for our attention, digital overload is a daily struggle, and work-life balance seems like a distant dream. If you’re a victim of procrastination, worry no more. You’ve found yourself in the right place. The year 2025 is your chance to take control and make things right.
Now is the right time to convert thoughts into actions! Identify the areas of your life requiring management and choose the perfect productivity companion from the list below. Try the software/app to find the right tool to supercharge 2025.
Many of the multiple software applications designed to ease our tasks can be categorized as productivity tools. These tools enhance time usage, decrease time waste, avoid distractions, and help users feel relaxed and calm rather than overwhelmed by the list of tasks.
The productivity tools also comprise AI to automate simple and redundant tasks. While the right productivity tool choice varies depending on one’s needs, the ease of tracking and sharing with efficient security must play a key role in making the final decision.
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Here is the categorized list of personal and business productivity tools, curated with care for you.
Project Management
1. Asana
Asana replaces the need for emails and meetings by informing the team about updates in one place. It aligns tasks and works with company goals while automating the workflow across departments.
Features:
- Progress view with Gantt and timeline view.
- Graph-based project dashboard for a glance.
- Custom project templates.
- Ability to develop forms.
- Set rules while keeping the overall process secure.
2. Trello
Trello is a simple, flexible and powerful productivity management tool. It uses boards, cards and lists to manage projects, workflows and task tracking. It offers customization options for handling files, creating checklists, and automating tasks. This team productivity tool also offers broad insights in an actionable manner with multiple types of user-friendly views.
Features:
- Integration option with numerous key project management apps.
- Compatible with scale-up of the business.
- Comprises built-in automation system ready to use by running commands.
- Timeline view to remain on track with the team’s progress.
3. ClickUp
ClickUp is a single-team productivity tool and an AI-integrated platform that aligns with project needs. It is scalable and encourages collaboration among team and organization members. The presence of online courses, webinars and the Help Center enhances individual ease of usage.
Features:
- Extensive collection of template libraries.
- Integrates with over 1000 other work tools.
- It is useful across various industries.
- User-friendly dashboard for a glance.
4. Jira
Jira is a well-known business productivity tool that automates complicated project workflows. It offers a colorfully distinguished timeline view for a broader perspective and swift insights into the overall information. It also eases communicating updates to stakeholders.
Features:
- Comes with powerful, agile boards such as Scrum and Kanban.
- Real-time updates to keep everybody on the same page.
- Plan the work with a visual graph-based view of the software.
5. Notion
This productivity software eases thinking, writing and planning. Notion allows users to customize and arrange pages as needed and provides seamless collaboration. Users can also comment on and mention colleagues to grab their attention.
Features:
- Customize the view from the calendar to the board as suited.
- Task automation with autopilot feature.
- Team spaces provide specific space for every team and project.
- Get instant answers and edit with a personalized editor.
6. Monday.com
It is one of the best productivity tools for managing basic and important day-to-day tasks. It aids in building processes, developing projects and tailored solutions and ensuring workflow management. Monday.com also allows the creation of customized apps as needed.
Features:
- Automation of tasks with organized work.
- Information like meeting notes, knowledge, proposals, and more can be saved.
- Seamless visualization with dashboards and charts.
- Switch between Kanban, Card and Table views.
7. nTask
It is a productivity management tool that focuses on all the important aspects, such as projects, tasks, issues, risks, time and collaboration. nTask promises four times efficiency with a flexible approach to completing work and in-depth project planning.
Features:
- Allows managing the severity of an issue by creating and assigning the task.
- Provides an option to share the meeting agenda, enhancing team productivity.
- Effective means tracking the time and getting timely timesheet approvals.
- Create the risk matrix with the app to identify and mitigate potential risks.
8. ProofHub
Another business productivity tool, ProofHub, encourages collaboration and efficiency. It allows users to stay focused and is simple and reliable. ProofHub also offers a broad insight into tasks from a bird’ s-eye view. Further, it offers transparency by keeping everyone informed about progress.
Features:
- Visualize with any view such as my view, Gantt, table, calendar and projects.
- Clear tracking allows clarity in tasks, deadlines and real-time chat.
- Easy to understand app with a minimal learning curve.
- Timely deliveries with transparent dissociation of responsibilities.
Collaboration and Communication
9. Slack
Another team productivity tool, Slack, focuses on team collaboration and communication. The messaging app encourages transparency with every little update about the team member. It is a user-friendly software that offers instant access to information. It also offers the search option for personal and channel-based chats, eliminating the requirement for backup.
Features:
- AI-based tool for workflow simplification.
- Eases communication with all the options such as chatting, sending audio and video clips or joining a huddle.
- Enhances communication and connectivity across departments, offices, time zones, and companies.
10. Microsoft Teams
It is among the well-known messaging apps for communication. The widely used app offers multiple options such as file and app sharing, meetings and real-time communications. It comes with Microsoft 365 Copilot to save time and get effective ideas for different tasks.
Features:
- Microsoft Mesh offers avatars and a 3D experience for real-time and intriguing communication.
- Calling option within the app.
- Classroom collaboration with options like PowerPoint Live, Microsoft Whiteboard and AI-generated meeting notes.
- Generate channels, collaborative apps and shared task lists with wide synchronization.
11. Zoom
Zoom is a cloud-based communication platform that connects team members, departments, and organizations. Users can host simultaneous meetings with private and separate rooms and easily switch between them. In addition to meetings, Zoom is suitable for remote work, distance education, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, government and social interactions.
Features:
- Allows recording the meetings.
- Users can host webinars while controlling the flow of meetings through numerous moderation tools.
- Summarize information from chat threads.
- Generate content on the whiteboard.
12. Miro
It is an online whiteboard platform that encourages team collaboration and enhances project management. Miro offers an effective canvas for user-friendly, easy-to-add, and read content. The diagrammatic, tabular and timeline-based creative depiction of thoughts, ideas, and information encourages following the details without hassle.
Features:
- Add data from multiple major platforms such as Google, Adobe, and Microsoft.
- Convert ideas into prototypes, briefs, plans and diagrams with AI.
- AI-powered summaries for instant focus on the right things.
- Obtain feedback with AI Sidekick.
13. Figma
Figma is a web-based design tool highly favored by design and development teams, writers, developers and product managers. This productivity tool allows collaboration and has numerous interesting features. It is an effective tool with a focused view emphasizing details, transparency and the ability to track progress.
Features:
- Allow automatic adjustment of designs with size layout.
- Develop high-fidelity and playable prototypes from the deck.
- Batch edits the numerous frames simultaneously.
- Quickly and easily transform designs into code with an in-built workflow.
14. Chanty: Team Collaboration
An important collaboration tool, Chanty depicts itself as a highly secure option for businesses. It allows various modes of communication, such as messaging, task management, and video calling. Like others, it allows presentation and ensures maximum security with encrypted transactions.
Features:
- 4k video and audio support up to 1000 video participants and 49 videos on screen.
- Create and manage tasks or convert messages into tasks while setting the due dates.
- Security with protection against compliance-related exports.
- Alignment and adherence to General Data Protection Regulation, 2018.
Time Tracking and Focus
15. Toggl Track
Toggl Track is time-tracking software that ensures and increases the effective use of time. It develops custom reports from the team’s time data in an easy-to-understand and actionable format. The tool allows accurate billing, generates simple invoices, compares estimated and actual project time, forecasts costs and revenue and does much more.
Features:
- Mobile applications, software and browser extensions are available on different devices and platforms.
- Calendar view with copy feature for the time options.
- Background time tracking feature with the option to convert activity into time entries as per member’s wish.
- Offers integration with over 100 tools such as Jira, Asana, Salesforce and others.
16. Clockify
Clockify is the time tracker and timesheet app with 4.8-star ratings from over 9000 reviews. It allows users to track work hours across different projects for unlimited free of cost. It has numerous options, such as timesheets, Kiosks, reports, auto trackers, calendars, and projects.
Features:
- User-friendly reports for effective and easy analysis.
- Export the tracked time for brainstorming sessions, deciding the strategies for improvement.
- Generate reports apart from time, such as activity, rates, budgets and location.
- This includes management, control scheduling, approval, time off, invoicing, and multiple other aspects.
17. RescueTime
Identifying screen time, the software offers completely automated and, hence, uneditable time tracking. It provides detailed information on exactly where the time went while using the digital device. The insights are provided through detailed reports, time sinks, working habits, etc.
Features:
- The offline time-tracking option is also available to provide complete insights into the day.
- Focus sessions for increased productivity.
- RescueTime Assistant simplifies the actions by performing numerous tasks like checking alerts, meeting schedules, etc.
- App integration with multiple ones, including Calendar, Asana, Slack and more.
18. Focus@Will
Music-based software ensures that the focus is on work, and the tool acts to enhance productivity. The platform is scientifically designed by top-performing neuroscientists globally and created by platinum-selling music producers. The software comprises numerous unique tracks that prevent distraction due to sound, smell, vision, touch and boredom.
Features:
- Works within 20 minutes of listening to the music or audio of choice.
- The software comprises a built-in productivity tracker and time to understand oneself’s focus and productivity sessions.
- Works well with laptop speakers, personal earbuds and over-room-filling speakers.
- Compatible with Android, iOS and desktop apps
19. Forest
Time management goes perfectly well with focus. The Forest app works on the same principle. It requires planting a tree in the app when the user wants to remain focused. The plant’s growth depends on the user, where the focus will develop it while leaving the app for distractions will lead to its death. Enhance productivity by growing the forest.
Features:
- The app team plants the tree if users spend virtually earned coins in the app.
- Allows monitoring progress, encouraging a gradual increase in focus.
- Enhances personal development and prevents unidentified, unwanted and spontaneous triggers from using the phone.
20. Harvest
It is a team productivity tool that tracks time and expenses. The tracked time can be invoiced and shared to receive payment. It has multiple options: scheduling, task assignment, and project management.
Features:
- Integrates with apps like Google Calendar, Zero, QuickBooks and others.
- Generate reports instantly for team capacity, cost, and time expenses.
- Set the budgets for projects and monitor as the project progresses.
21. Calendly
Calendly is an appointment scheduling software that helps with focused, deep discussion and communication. It is an app for prescheduling meetings that eliminates the requirement of email exchange and distractions during spontaneous interactions. Calendly is a perfect companion for different industries, such as IT, education, recruiting, sales, marketing, and customer success.
Features:
- Integration options with numerous apps
- Sign-up options with Google, Microsoft or simply the email
- Multi-person adopted scheduling
- Promises security with adherence to numerous security guidelines and regulations
22. Reclaim.ai, Inc.
Reclaim.ai ensures users reclaim their time for maximum efficiency and productivity. The app is an AI-powered productivity and time management tool that helps to optimize schedules. It helps in task prioritization and organization. Schedules the links, synchronizes calendars, generates smart meeting schedules and performs many more functions.
Features:
- Offer scheduling with buffer time like catch-up time, traveling time and others.
- Comes with a habit feature that considers the routines while not jamming the calendar with additional schedules.
- Get statistical insights for productivity analysis and balancing work and life.
- Offers usage with Google Calendar interface through the add-on option.
23. Akiflow
One of the best productivity tools, Akiflow works by offering you a limited time on the apps. It offers all the tools on one platform and blocks the time for tasks in the calendar. The tool automatically schedules tasks and events in a clear and actionable form without any haphazard.
Features:
- Automatic synchronizing of tasks and events.
- Integrates with over 3000 apps.
- Share the available slots with smart scheduling links.
- Works offline as well to enhance focus and productivity.
24. Google Calendar
Google Calendar is a freely available Google-integrated online calendar. An effective and friendly tool, it helps manage work and personal life and is available across different devices. Google Calendar allows you to create events, set notifications with or without an alarm, and set the time for notifications.
Features:
- Create and view multiple calendars and appointment schedules.
- Schedule event meeting rooms.
- Out-of-office features to ensure hassle-free vacations and leaves.
25. DeskTime
This productivity tool manages workflow, tracks time and monitors the employees. Beneficial for businesses and freelancers, it easily schedules shifts and oversees absences. DeskTime is an effective tool for identifying top performers, determining shortcomings, and managing projects and budgets. It is a safe tool that does not include video screen recording and keystroke tracking.
Features:
- Screenshot feature for effective tracking of the employees.
- Integrates with multiple project management tools and informs about the time spent.
- Allows switching between automatic and manual time tracking.
- Detailed and comparative information about the teams and employees.
Automation and Efficiency
26. Zapier
It is an automation tool that eliminates the requirement to perform repetitive tasks. Enhancing productivity, the tool does not require coding, making it a user-friendly option. Zapier offers services for lead management, sales, Revops, marketing, data, IT, etc. Powered by AI, Zapier also includes the option to customize workflows into apps, among other functions.
Features:
- Collaboration with business processes via whiteboard connected with workflows.
- Template library to instantly start using the software.
- Summarize sales calls and draft email replies.
27. IFTTT (If This Then That)
It is a connectivity platform that connects different apps and services for task automation and developing new functions. IFTTT works by creating simple and conditional statements called ‘applets.’ The applet comprises a trigger and action where each is defined. It also does not require coding.
Features:
- Integrates with over 900 apps and services.
- Connect multiple accounts per service.
- Comprises AI content creator.
- Perform bulk actions simultaneously.
28. Microsoft Power Automate
It is a cloud-based automation platform from Microsoft. The software creates automated workflows to eliminate the need for manual processes. It is available with 150 standard connectors. It is a low-code platform that is easy to use and works perfectly with small-scale to large-scale systems.
Features:
- Involves task and process mining to enhance efficiency.
- Offers digital and robotic process automation.
- Microsoft Power automation provides 360-degree monitoring and built-in security and governance.
- Includes Microsoft’s Co-Pilot.
29. Make (formerly Integromat)
Among business productivity tools, Make is an integration tool. It connects apps, designs workflows, aligns teams, builds systems and offers a platform for converting ideas into actions, contributing to automation and efficiency. It is suited across different industries, including operations, IT, and customer care.
Features:
- Visual workflow creation, building and automation.
- Includes drag and drop features.
- Thousands of workflow templates.
File Management and Storage
30. Google Workspace
It offers collaborative services for productivity, collaboration and storage. Combining all the G suite tools, such as Calendar, Gmail, Docs, Drive, Forms, and others, offers a deeply integrated user experience. Google Workspace also involves better security features like data loss prevention, group-based policy controls, and more.
Features:
- Preview option rather than opening the different links.
- Create a document for guests in the chatroom.
- Involves smarter mentions and shortcuts.
31. Dropbox
It is a cloud storage device that eliminates the physical storage requirement. Further, it allows easy usage, sharing and access to files from various devices. It encourages easy collaboration in alignment with safety and quick speed.
Features:
- Edit and sign the documents.
- Allows to work with anyone, anywhere and on any device.
- Disaster-proof the documents with a 30-day restoring option.
- Includes access control feature for added security.
32. OneDrive
Microsoft’s cloud storage tool, OneDrive, offers easy connection and sharing of all files. It also allows the backup of files from all devices, such as desktops, phones, and Xbox. The storage amount varies according to the purchased plan.
Features:
- Data and device protection with Microsoft Defender.
- Automatic data backup.
- Allows to create shareable links.
- Ability to expand storage.
- Request-based access to files.
33. Box
Box is an AI-powered cloud platform that offers options for content and workflow management and secures collaboration. It is equipped with enterprise-grade security and compliance. The tool’s functions involve easy access, sharing, editing, and annotation of content while simultaneously automating workflows.
Features:
- Ask questions across workspaces and portals.
- Instant summarized view of documents.
- Generate new content from the existing data.
- Includes e-signature capabilities.
- Involves over 1500 app integrations.
Writing and Note-taking
34. Evernote
This note-taking app allows easy task management. It synchronizes the notes across devices and offers schedules in one place. Evernote allows the addition of text, images, audio, scans, documents and PDFs to the notes.
Features:
- Powerful and flexible search capabilities.
- Advanced note editor with a table of contents, linker headers, highlighting option, etc.
- Customization for personalizing the app.
- Includes calendar for better planning.
35. Obsidian
The makers introduce it as a private and flexible note-taking app. No one, not even the app team, can access written notes. Obsidian can be used for educational purposes, journaling and project management. It also encourages the organization of ideas.
Features:
- Customizable options through themes and plugins.
- Allows to link the written content.
- Visualize the connection between the notes through the graph.
- Offers the large canvas to add a diagram.
- Use on any device with synchronization and version history.
36. Grammarly
It is a popular cloud-based writing assistance app. With AI integration, the app offers improved grammar, punctuation, spelling, clarity and more. It also informs about readability and plagiarism while offering suggestions for improved writing.
Features:
- Offers rephrasing options.
- Assists in customization of style and tone of language.
- Works across a wide range of devices along with browser extensions.
Also Read: Best Content Writing Tools To Master Content Creation!
37. Bear
Bear is a note-taking app for Apple users that allows easy note organization and projects with flexible tags. Users can also include text, tables, photos and to-do lists in the notes. The minimal user interface makes it easy to understand and use.
Features:
- Works offline and includes OCR search.
- Comprises beautiful aesthetic themes and over 250 icons for tags.
- Easy sharing and export options.
- Link preview options.
- Notes encryption.
38. Google Docs
It is a cloud-based writing tool that allows ample space for writing. It is easy to create documents and has numerous options to enhance the style, including adding images, tables, diagrams and more. Google Docs is a freely available word processor that can be accessed on any device.
Features:
- Allows document presentation through the in-built Google Meet option.
- Allows sharing with different privacy settings.
- Offers version history to track the activity.
- Allows the document to be moved to a separate folder from within the document.
Personal Productivity and Habits
39. Habitica
Habitica is a game-based productivity app that positively influences your habits. It develops accountability and responsibility by encouraging the performance of real-life tasks. Habitica is a habit-building app that offers satisfaction and happiness with simple progress.
Features:
- Include in-game rewards and punishments.
- Shared quests affect friends’ performance in developing co-responsibility.
- Common interest groups and challenges.
- Open-source web browser-based app.
40. Todoist
Encouraging the organization of the work and life of individuals with the simple platform, Todoist is a task manager and to-do list app. It is a user-friendly app with easy sorting options through existing and custom filters.
Features:
- Easy-flowing natural language to offer speed with accuracy.
- Allows scheduling the due dates, planning and organizing the tasks on a calendar.
- Shared space for collaboration while keeping separate space for personal tasks.
- Access to over 50 templates.
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Still looking for more? Find 15 more AI productivity tools:
- Runway
- Jasper
- ElevenLabs
- Clockwise
- BeeDone
- Tome
- Teal
- Claude
- Hypotenuse AI
- Midjourney
- DALLE.3
- Otter AI
- FeedHive
- Mem
- Avoma
Final Thoughts
As you can see, these productivity tools offer a lot. They can optimize your work process by automating routine tasks, efficiently spreading your efforts between tasks, enabling you to maximize your time, and keeping your productivity at peak. They also make planning your way through a project easier, help you ward off distractions and stay on track with your tasks.
However, these tools are nothing without the skills behind them. They can improve productivity, but they can’t do it alone. Therefore, if you struggle with managing your projects or fall behind on tasks, it’s worth learning project management and practicing various techniques involved in successfully driving a project from start to finish. Programs like the Post Graduate Program in Project Management or PMP® Certification Training Course can help you master key project management concepts and best practices while also giving you in-depth knowledge of various relevant tools, such as productivity tools.
FAQs
1. What are productivity tools?
Productivity tools are software, mobile or web applications or services that ensure users maximize their efficiency and productivity in the spent time. These tools enhance focus, streamline tasks, automate redundant workflows, organize schedules and do much more.
2. What are the 4 Ps of productivity?
The 4 Ps of productivity include Purpose, Prioritisation, Proactive and Processes.
3. Is Google a productivity tool?
Google Workspace, offered by Google, is a collection of productivity tools. It comprises multiple Google apps such as Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Meet and many more.
4. Is Zoho a productivity software?
Yes, Zoho allows real-time collaboration and productivity among the team members. It is available in forms such as Zoho Writer, Sheet and Show.
5. What are the five steps to productivity?
The five steps to productivity are:
Step 1: Organization of each action and task to be performed.
Step 2: Prioritize and break down the tasks into actionable forms and develop goals.
Step 3: Go for practically possible results and measurable success.
Step 4: Ensure deep focus while working by selecting the appropriate time and place of work.
Step 5: Take breaks when needed and work on the hindering aspect of your mindset.
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