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Best productivity apps for PC

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PC users are always on the lookout for productivity apps that will make them more efficient. Read on if you’re looking for the most useful apps on the market.

PC users are always on the lookout for productivity apps that will make them more efficient. Luckily, there’s no shortage of options available. Read on if you’re looking for the most useful apps on the market.

The best apps for productivity

Slack

Slack is an excellent collaboration tool that can unite all your team members and ensure effective communication. It’s packed with valuable features that can streamline your workflow including:

  • Video conferencing
  • Channels to organize your projects
  • Plenty of bots you can use for reminders, birthday notifications, games and other purposes

The platform offers various file-sharing options. You can instantly share different formats such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel. You can also connect it to Google Drive to manage files more easily. Slack has many high-end clients that serve as proof of its many capabilities. These include Airbnb, Uber, PWC and Sky.

Dropbox

Dropbox is a cloud storage solution that allows you to seamlessly share files across your business. You can create shared files, spreadsheets and folders that will make collaboration and task management a breeze. The platform has plenty of integration options, allowing you to maximize its potential. It’s even compatible with many Linux systems. You can use it with communication tools such as Slack and Gmail, as well as to-do platforms including Zapier and Trello. Dropbox offers a free version that might be suitable for individual users who don’t plan on storing too many files. That’s because it has a 2GB limit. If you need Dropbox for the whole team, you’ll have to subscribe to the paid version to get the most out of it.

Evernote

Evernote began life as a note-taking app. Over time, it evolved into a full-scale productivity tool. It takes notes to a new level with various useful features such as:

  • Geographic search
  • Calendar integration
  • Task organization

On top of this, Evernote offers convenient PDF annotation that will save you time when you need to revise important documents and contracts. You can also use its image recognition to pull text from pictures or screenshots, making notes and to-do lists easier to create.

Zapier

Zapier is an automation powerhouse. It lets you integrate thousands of apps to create IFTTT (If-This-Then-That) relations between them. A single Zap can execute dozens of actions, enabling superior multitasking. For instance, you can connect Shopify, Gmail and Mailchimp. Zapier will trigger an automatic email and add the buyer to your newsletter if someone buys something from your store. With thousands of apps to choose from, the possibilities are endless. It’s an excellent way to save time on mundane tasks such as invoicing or customer support. Plus, even if you don’t find your desired apps between Zapier’s defaults, you can create custom integrations to automate just about any process group. It’s not open-source, though, so some users might need a more customizable alternative. Zapier offers a free version supporting 100 tasks per month. The pricing structure of the paid options is pretty straightforward, as higher-cost options unlock the ability to create more tasks. You can choose between the Starter, Pro, Team and Company plans, which offer different numbers of tasks.

Asana

Asana is a popular project management tool businesses use worldwide. If you’re working remotely, as are a growing number of businesses, it’s an essential tool to ensure your projects run smoothly. Asana lets you organize and assign tasks, which you can visualize in different ways, similar to Kanban. You can choose from among list view, timeline or boards to group tasks and track progress more efficiently. You can also automate specific processes, such as setting due dates or submitting forms. If you need to organize your workspace and ensure streamlined processes, Asana’s many integrations will get the job done. You can connect it to over 200 platforms such as Outlook, OneDrive, OneNote and many others. The platform offers a free plan suitable for individuals and smaller teams. If you need more features, you can choose between two paid plans to access different features.

Speechify

Speechify is a text to speech platform that turns text into high-quality audio. Whether you are working with Google Docs, physical documents or more, Speechify replaces reading with listening. Speechify can boost your productivity in several ways. First, it makes multitasking easier by letting you listen to content while performing other tasks. Thanks to its adjustable reading speed, it also enables you to go through your content faster. Speechify is available on all major platforms. There are mobile apps for iOS and Android, which ensures you can use Speechify on most mobile devices. In addition to the iPhone, you can use it on other Apple products such as an iPad or a Mac, thanks to the dedicated macOS app. If you need even more versatility, a Chrome extension lets you listen to any content on web pages.

Honorable mentions

With so many productivity tools, it’s hard to go into each one in great detail. If you’re looking for more apps on top of those reviewed above, here are a few other options:

  • Skype - The well-known video call platform remains a valuable tool for remote work.
  • Pomodoro - This app is a great choice if you need help sticking to the Pomodoro technique.
  • RescueTime - This comprehensive time management app lets you see how much time you spend on different apps in real time and helps you stay focused.
  • Todoist - If you need an alternative to Evernote, Todoist can help you manage to-do lists and checklists effectively. It also offers time tracking with the right integrations.
  • Dribble - Content creators can save lots of time with Dribble’s social media templates.

Try Speechify for free today

Whether your text is online or offline, Speechify can turn it into audio in no time. For added functionality, you can choose from among 30 voices and 20 languages. Thanks to the different apps and Chrome browser extension, you can take Speechify wherever you go. If you want to see how Speechify helps people stay productive, you can try it for free.

FAQ

What is the #1 productivity app?

This largely depends on your needs, but the best options include Slack, Dropbox and Asana. Speechify is the No. 1 option for converting text to speech for easy, enjoyable and productive listening.

What are desktop productivity tools?

Desktop productivity tools let you streamline your workflow when working on a PC.

What are the best productivity apps for Windows?

The best productivity apps for Windows include Zapier, Todoist and RescueTime.

Cliff Weitzman

Cliff Weitzman

Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.