Buying guide
Best Business & Productivity tools
Build better systems and get more done.
- tools reviewed
- 88
- with a free plan
- 59
- with a free trial
- 26
Our picks
Our top picks
Each slot is assigned by an editor, with the reasoning written next to it. Nobody can buy a position.
Rank #1Zapier
No-code automation platform connecting 7,000+ apps — build workflows without writing a single line of code.
Why it wins this slot: Zapier connects 6,000+ apps and is the easiest to set up of any automation platform. The no-code interface means non-technical teams can build real workflows in minutes, not hours.
- Free plan
Rank #2Make
Visual automation platform (formerly Integromat) connecting 1,700+ apps — a more powerful and affordable alternative to Zapier for complex workflows.
Why it wins this slot: Make (formerly Integromat) handles multi-step, branching logic and data transformations that would be painful in Zapier. Significantly cheaper at higher operation volumes and better for technical users.
- Free plan
Rank #3Airtable
Flexible database-spreadsheet hybrid that lets teams build custom apps, content calendars, project trackers, and CRMs — no coding required.
Why it wins this slot: Airtable's built-in automations are underrated — if your data already lives there, triggering actions from record changes is faster than routing through a separate tool like Zapier.
- Free plan
Rank #4Monday.com
Work OS and project management platform — highly visual, no-code workflows for teams that want power without technical complexity.
Why it wins this slot: Monday's automation recipes are designed for operations teams, not developers. If your automations are mostly about moving tasks, updating statuses, and notifying people, it handles it natively.
- Free plan
- Free trial
Rank #5GitHub
GitHub is a cloud-based Git hosting platform where developers store code, track issues, review pull requests, and run automated workflows through GitHub Actions.
Why it wins this slot: GitHub Actions makes CI/CD, deployment, and code quality automation accessible without leaving your repository. For engineering teams, it replaces many third-party tools in a single platform.
- Free plan
Disclosure: Some links may be affiliate links. We label commercial relationships clearly and never charge you more.
Everything in this category
All Business & Productivity tools
Heptabase
Business & Productivity
Visual note-taking app that helps you learn and research on infinite whiteboards.
Best for: Academics, PhD students, non-fiction authors, and analysts…
- Free trial
Things 3
Business & Productivity
Award-winning task manager for Apple users
Best for: Apple users who want the most polished, beautifully designed task…
Anytype
Business & Productivity
Local-first, encrypted personal knowledge base and operating environment.
Best for: Researchers, knowledge workers, and privacy advocates wanting an…
- Free plan
Notion
Business & Productivity
Notion is an all-in-one workspace that combines notes, databases, wikis, tasks and calendars in a single app — flexible…
Best for: Teams that want documents, wikis and light databases in one place.
- Free plan
AppFlowy
Business & Productivity
Open-source, privacy-first Notion alternative where you own your data.
Best for: Privacy-conscious individuals, open-source teams, and developers…
- Free plan
Rippling
Business & Productivity
Unified HR, IT and finance platform.
Best for: Fast-growing companies that want HR, IT and payroll in a single…
Todoist
Business & Productivity
Simple and powerful personal task manager.
Best for: Individuals and small teams who want a clean, reliable personal task…
- Free plan
Supernotes
Business & Productivity
Frictionless notecard system with bi-directional linking and markdown.
Best for: Students, researchers, and writers practicing atomic note-taking and…
- Free plan
Toggl Track
Business & Productivity
Simple time tracking for freelancers and teams.
Best for: Freelancers and small agencies who need simple, reliable time…
- Free plan
AFFiNE
Business & Productivity
All-in-one workspace for knowledge, notes, whiteboard, and task management.
Best for: Visual thinkers, product designers, and agile teams who alternate…
- Free plan
Microsoft 365
Business & Productivity
Microsoft's productivity suite with Office and cloud services.
Best for: Enterprise organisations who need the most powerful desktop Office…
- Free trial
Reclaim.ai
Business & Productivity
AI calendar scheduling that automatically protects focus time.
Best for: Knowledge workers who want AI to automatically optimise their…
- Free plan
Head to head
Written comparisons
- NordVPN vs 1Password: Comparison and DifferencesCompare NordVPN and 1Password to understand how their distinct cybersecurity features protect network traffic versus digital credentials.
- Notion vs Asana: Which Productivity Tool Fits Your Team?A detailed comparison of Notion and Asana covering features, pricing, project management workflows, and which platform suits your team best.
- Google Gemini vs DeepSeek: AI Comparison and VerdictCompare Google Gemini and DeepSeek across pricing, context windows, API compatibility, multimodal features, and privacy considerations.