by Amber Leigh Turner on August 30th, 2010 under Resources : 3 Comments

Student freelancers often don’t have the budget to buy a lot of the applications that they need to help them with their freelancing. Thankfully, there are companies out there that offer their apps free, and there are some mighty good free apps out there. Below is a list of seven really great apps that student freelancers can find useful, and the best part is that they all are free or have a good free version!

Mozy

I have recently begun using Mozy as more of a test run for finding a really good service for off-site backup. Their free version allows for up to 2GB of free online storage, which I use to back up all of my freelance business files. Mozy allows has a nice desktop application you can download as well that will automatically back up all of your files as many times as you want throughout the day. This is a really great app for the student freelancer who needs to back up their very precious files so that they are stored off site.

Dropbox

I use Dropbox mainly as a large storage box for my clients and I to share large files. I believe they start you off with 2GB free online storage, and the more friends you recommend Dropbox too and the more they sign up, the more they increase that storage, for free. Use it as a nice hub for all of your files or use it as a backup. It is great to use it as a large file sharing system as well, by designating shared folders with particular people (who also have a Dropbox account). Very easy to use, and free!

Skype

Skype is an online video messaging service, but it does much more than just video messaging. Instant messaging and phone service is also some of their most popular features. I use Skype primarily as an instant messenger since I don’t have a mic or camera on my computer, but I also downloaded their free Blackberry app, so now when clients or other freelancers want to call to chat, I can answer it for free on my Verizon Blackberry without ever costing me a penny or any of my minutes. Skype is free when chatting with other Skype users, be it video conferencing, instant messaging, or calls.

Outright

I wrote a nice post on Outright on this site before, but as a refresher, Outright is a wonderful free finance app to help everyone, including student freelancers, keep track of their income and expenses. Another added bonus is that the app also helps you with your taxes by preparing a Schedule C for you for your federal tax return. Read my detailed post about Outright here.

Pandora

Ok, so not really an app only for freelancers, but Pandora is a great free online radio that you can customize to play only the types of music you like. They also have free apps you can put on just about any phone to listen to your favorite music on the go. I love Pandora and their recently added “Top Hits” stations, that are also customizable.

Open Office

A wonderful alternative to Microsoft Office, Open Office is a free desktop productivity tool that includes document processing, database, and presentation type applications. What makes this app awesome is that it can read AND write Microsoft Office files. Great app if you want to save some money for this most needed software needs.

Evernote

Last but not least, Evernote is a great app to keep all of your notes in one place. Insert your notes and other items in Evernote, tag it, and let Evernote do the rest. Search everything, even hand written notes, inside Evernote for a quick reference. Great to organize your client notes and files, and keep track of any other notes you may have, even school notes.

Have any other awesome apps you use as a student freelancer?

Tags: apps, freelancing apps

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