Best Startup Tools – Top Options in 2023

Building and growing a startup is not an easy task. In order to expand and be productive, it is essential to use tools for startup that can help you perform various tasks and save resources. 

Today, there are many business startup tools available that cater for the needs of small businesses. Usually, they offer free plans or come at an affordable price that is suitable for a small team. In this article, we are sharing a startup tools list that includes tools and applications that can be helpful for a developing company.

CRM Tools

Customer relationship management (CRM) tools are essential for any business from the moment they get their first customers. Such tools help you grow your business, increase sales, and enhance customer experience. They also can save you time and increase productivity. Some of the best CRM tools for startup owners are:

Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is a tool that includes CRM, project management, planning, scheduling, and invoicing features. It allows to manage your marketing, sales, and customer support activities in one place. Using this platform, you will be able to convert more leads, engage with your customers, and increase your revenue.

Features:

• Sales Force automation;
• Business process management;
• Communications;
• Analytics;
• Marketing automation;
• Predictive sales;
• Customization;
• Team collaboration;
• Remote work.

Pricing:

• Free (for up to 3 users);
• Standard €14 per month;
• Professional €23 per month;
• Enterprise €40 per month;
• Ultimate €52 per month.

Recurly

If you’re looking for a subscription management tool, how about Recurly? This subscription and billing platform can help you automate your processes, get data-driven insights, optimize revenue and more, allowing you to deliver the best subscription experience. Of course, there are many similar platforms on the market, so you can find a strong alternative to Recurly if it doesn’t meet your exact needs — just do your research before making a decision.

Features:

• Centralized subscriber data reports;
• Clear dashboards for easy visibility;
• Easy plan updating and modification;
• One-time and recurring item options;
• Broad email customization.

‍Pricing: 

• $199 per month (custom packages available)

Salesforce Essentials

Salesforce Essentials is a CRM tool that has been created specifically for small businesses. This application integrates with the whole ecosystem of Salesforce apps. It is one of the best tools for startups that are looking for ways to automate their sales and marketing processes with a highly customizable tool. It is possible to use it for contact management, sales management, mass emailing, customer service, etc.

Features: 

• Managing contacts;
• Sales analytics;
• Customer support;
• Mobile application;
• Integrations with other apps.

Pricing starts from $25 per user, per month with a 14-day free trial

HubSpot CRM

HubSpot CRM is also a great option for a small team. It is very user-friendly and easy to use even if you are not a marketing specialist. It is one of the best tools for startup founders who are not fully qualified in the sphere of marketing, but understand the importance of performing marketing activities to promote their products and services. What is more - this solution is scalable, you can add more features to your plan as the business grows.

Features:

• Contact management;
• Website activity;
• Deal tracking;
• Analytics;
• Marketing synchronization;
• Content management tools;
• Social media marketing tools;
• Email connections;
• Integrations.

Pricing: 

• Free plan;
• Paid plans start from $45 per month.

Marketing and SEO Tools

Even with the greatest business idea, it is hard to make sales, if your customers don’t know about your products and services. Using these startup marketing tools, you will be able to manage your social media activities, use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) tools, create automated marketing campaigns, and optimize your online presence.

Mailchimp

‍MailChimp is one of the most popular email marketing tools for startups. This tool provides a reliable service of automating your marketing emails and delivering them right to your users. MailChimp is used by millions of companies for creating engaging content and expanding their audience.

Features: 

• Email automation;
• Pre-built templates;
• A lot of targeting options;
• App integrations.

Pricing:

• Free plan;
• Essentials: $11 per month;
• Standard: $17 per month;
• Premium: $299 per month.

Hootsuite

Hootsuite is among startup tools that help to improve your social media marketing strategies and engage more clients from social media. It allows you to manage all your social media in one place and get great results.

Features:

• Scheduling posts;
• Creating visual content;
• Tracking brand mentions;
• Social media analytics;
• Team collaboration;
• App integrations.

Pricing starts at $49 per month with a 30-day free trial

Ahrefs

Among the most popular startup tools, there is Ahrefs, which can help you improve your website’s SEO promotion. This is one of the best SEO Audit tools for startups that allows you to track your product performance metrics, monitor the website's health rate, and view website analytics and organic traffic. Here you can also explore your competitors’ websites and get some insight on how to improve yours.

Features:

• Tracking SEO performance;
• Researching your competitors;
• Site audit;
• Keyword research;
• Content ideas;
• Rank tracking.

Pricing starts from $99 per month ($83 + 2 free months if paid annually).

Semrush

Semrush is a notable representative of the most commonly used SEO startup tools that allow you to track organic traffic, view website analytics, improve the content, and make your website more visible online.

Features:

• Rank tracking;
• SEO;
• Keyword research;
• Content marketing;
• Competitor analysis;
• Social Media management;
• Link building;
• Paid advertising.

Pricing: 

• Free plan;
• Paid plans start from $119.95 per month.

Prepostseo

A startup can benefit greatly by using Prepostseo. This is a platform that provides various tools to improve the quality of your content. With its AI paraphrasing tool, startups can ensure that their content is unique and engaging. With the plagiarism checker, they can ensure that their marketing content is not plagiarized. Other tools such as the summarizer and grammar checker help to make the content clear and concise by making it shorter and free of errors.

Features:

• Content optimization tools;
• Accurate plagiarism check;
• Browser integrations;
• Improved content readability;
• Multilingual support.

‍Pricing starts from $10 per month and goes up to $350 per year.

Design Tools

Design tools are essential for most companies, as they help them create custom logos, posts for social media, marketing materials, infographics, etc. There are lots of design applications on today’s market, so it is up to you to pick the ones that are the most suitable for you. 

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Now, let's have a look at some of the best design tools for startups.

Figma

Figma is a vector graphics editor and prototyping tool which allows to do all kinds of graphic design work like wireframes of websites, mobile app interfaces, prototypes, social media designs, etc. It is browser-based, so you can collaborate ith your colleagues in real-time. It also supports in-app commenting, which is great for providing and receiving feedback.

Features:

• Design tools;
• Prototyping tools;
• Design systems;
• Online whiteboarding;
• Team meetings;
• Downloads.

Pricing:

• Starter plan: free;
• Figma Professional: $12 per editor/month (billed annually);
• Figma Organization: $45 per editor/month (billed annually).

Canva

Canva represents the free startup tools that can help you create beautiful designs for any occasion. There are thousands of templates available – you can choose one of them or create a design work of your own. This startup tool is very user-friendly and suits even those who have no prior experience in design.

Features:

• Photo editor;
• PDF editor;
• Teams;
• Graphs and charts;
• Video intro maker.

Pricing:

• Free version for small teams;
• Paid plans: start from $119.99 annually (for up to 5 users).

Visme

Visme is a platform for creating visual content, which is a tool for startups who need to create all of their branded content and marketing materials in one place. There are thousands of templates, illustrations, stock photos, data visualization tools, and other elements you can use to make your content truly exceptional.

Features:

• Creating presentations;
• Engaging charts and infographics;
• Branded documents;
• Social posts;
• Short videos and animations.

Pricing:

• Basic plan: free;
• Paid plans start from $12.25 per month.

Movavi

Movavi Video Suite is an all-in-one toolkit for startups who want to make the most of their videos and photos. It unites every Movavi program into one big content-making machine, so you can easily convert media files, create slideshows, add captions and watermarks, record screen activity, edit images, and more. It also features a Mobile Companion that will help you transfer files between your smartphone and computer.

Features:

• Drag and drop editor with multiple special effects;
• Multi-format conversion;
• AI video upscaling;
• Screen recording tool;
• AI photo editing – background removal, color correction, etc.

Pricing:

• 7-day trial – free;
• 1-year subscription to Video Suite (includes Video Editor, Video Converter, and Screen
• Recorder) – $152.85;
• 1-year subscription to Video Suite + Photo Editor – $267.80.

Project Management Tools

Project management is vital for modern businesses, as it is necessary to organize work on the project, so that all the tasks are completed in time. There are a lot of tools that can help you simplify this process by planning, assigning tasks, and monitoring the work activity.

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Here are some of the project management tools that you may find useful.

Trello

Trello is considered to be among the top startup tools for project management. This is a web-based application that allows you to see a visual representation of your tasks and make the task management process more effective. It is simple, flexible, and easy to use. It is also possible to integrate Trello with Dropbox, Google Docs, and other applications in order to make your project management even better.

Features:

• Views;
• Templates;
• Workflow automation;
• Integration with other applications.

Pricing: 

• Free plan;
• Paid plans start from $5 per user, per month (if billed annually).

Asana

Asana is a productivity application that can help you organize your projects easily and streamline your workflow. It offers some more advanced functionalities than Trello, which makes it a great option for complex projects, though it is not as intuitive. 

Features:

• Boards;
• Timelines;
• App integrations;
• Workflow automation;
• Reports;
• Calendar;
• Setting goals;
• Desktop and mobile applications.

Pricing:

• Basic: free;
• Premium: €10,99 per user, per month (billed annually);
• Business: €24,99 per user, per month (billed annually).

Basecamp

What concerns tools for startups that work remotely or have hybrid teams, Basecamp is one of the best options in this case. In remote teams, the projects sometimes are scattered across different places – it’s hard to manage the tasks and keep everything under control. Using Basecamp, you can organize everything in one place and see the work progress clearly. Another point worth mentioning, is that it is possible to access Basecamp from anywhere - on the web, on iOS, and on Android.

Features:

• Message board;
• Schedule;
• ToDos;
• Docs and files;
• Group chat;
• Automatic check-ins.

Pricing:

• Basecamp Personal: free;
• Basecamp Business: $99 per month.

Jira

Jira is a reliable project management tool that allows to manage any number of projects across different teams and spheres. It is very flexible and easy to customize. It is widely used in the tech field, as it has all the features necessary to manage an IT project, like sprint management, code deployment, reports, monitoring the progress of a software team, etc.

Features: 

• Agile boards;
• Product development roadmaps;
• Reports and insights;
• Project flexibility;
• Drag and drop automation.

Pricing:

• Free plan for up to 10 users;
• Paid plans start from $7.5 per user, per month.

Productivity Tools

Productivity tools are also a very useful way to keep track of all the things you need to do. The apps from this category help you work more effectively, create to-do lists, collect and store information, book meetings, etc. 

Calendly

Calendly is an application that allows you to set the times you are available to let people make schedule meetings with you in an easy and convenient way. It is also possible to connect the app with other tools you use, share your booking link with others, and even embed the Calendly form on your website so that your clients are able to book a meeting directly.

Features:

• Team scheduling;
• Forms;
• Embedding content;
• Calendar connections;
• Meeting polls;
• Availability preferences.

Pricing: 

• Free plan;
• Paid plans start from $8/month per user.

OneBar

OneBar is a knowledge management platform that helps your team collect and store all sorts of information and access it anywhere. It can help you build a smart FAQ knowledge base from your Slack conversations and use a Slack bot to respond to questions in channels automatically.

Features:

• Internal knowledge base;
• Public knowledge base;
• Slack integration;
• Slack bot;
• Chrome Extension.

Pricing:

• Free plan for up to 3 users;
• Paid plans start from $200 per month;

Todoist

Todoist is one of the best tools for startups that help to create to-do lists. With this application, you will be able to keep all of your tasks organized and the work process productive. It is also possible to delegate tasks, add them to the calendar, discuss them with your team members, and much more.

Features:

• Adding tasks;
• Recurring tasks;
• Priority levels;
• Favorites;
• Reminders;
• Boards;
• Reminders;
• Email integrations.

Pricing:

• Free plan;
• Pro: $4 per user, per month (if billed annually);
• Business: $6 per user, per month (if billed annually).

Messaging Tools

Instant messaging is an essential part of business communication with customers and the team members. Here are some of the applications that can be used to ensure reliable communication.

Slack

Among the free startup business tools that allow team members to communicate easily and effectively, a leading place is taken by Slack. It is a convenient tool for group and one-on-one messaging. Slack offers an opportunity to divide your conversations into channels so that the relevant information is easy to find. Also, there is a Slack mobile application and a possibility to integrate it with many other tools, for example, Trello, Jira, Twitter, etc.

Features:

• Public and private channels;
• Collaboration with other teams;
• Audio and video calls;
• Workflow automation;
• File sharing.

Pricing:

• Free plan;
• Pro: $6.67 per user, per month (if billed annually);
• Business+: $12.50 per user, per month (if billed annually).

Pronto

Pronto is a highly effective and reliable communication platform, which helps you build engagement within the team, and keep everyone on the same page. It is a great application for teamwork, as it is simple, but powerful, and offers a lot of customization options. 

Features:

• One-on-one chats;
• Group chats;
• Video meetings;
• Real-time translation of the messages;
• Search;
• File sharing;
• Announcements;
• Task management.

Pricing:

• Free trial;
• Talk to the sales team to get a quote for further use.

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams was initially created for companies with an Office 365 subscription, but now it offers a free plan for small businesses and startups. This application offers unlimited messages, channels, and search history and integrates with 140 other apps. Microsoft Teams allows you to connect with your teammates freely and easily, and be more focused and efficient.

Features:

• Audio and video meetings;
• Chats;
• File sharing;
• Working together with your team in real-time;
• Data encryption.

Pricing:

• Free plan;
• Paid plans start from $4 per user, per month.

MVP Tools

If your business is involved in developing web or mobile applications, it can be a good option to build a minimum viable product (MVP) to test the idea and see how it affects your business. It is also possible to experiment with new concepts and approaches, and figure out your preferred market niche. 

Balsamiq

Balsamiq is a great option for startup businesses owners who are looking for ways to create an MVP. This is a graphical application that helps you create prototypes and wireframes. It also offers an opportunity to work in collaboration with your teammates while working on the project.

Features:

• Interactive prototypes;
• Reusable symbols;
• UI Components & Icons;
• Keyboard shortcuts;
• Collaboration support.

Pricing:

• Free trial version;
• Paid plans start from $9 per user, per month. 

Jotform Apps

Jotform Apps is a useful tool if you are looking to increase the reach of your brand and expand it to include a mobile app. It lets you create no-code mobile apps that work seamlessly on any device and can be shared with a link or QR code. Collect form submissions and keep track of your data with your team. Create a company portal to store internal documents and forms.

Features:

• Forms;
• Customization;
• Easy sharing;
• Form analytics;
• App templates;
• Integrations;
• Collaborative;

Pricing:

• Free plan;
• Bronze: $34 per month (if billed annually);
• Silver: $39 per month (if billed annually);
  
• Gold: $99 per month (if billed annually);
• Enterprise: Custom

Webflow

Webflow is a website design tool for startup founders that allows the creation of prototypes or websites without coding. It is very user-friendly and has an intuitive interface. Using Webflow, you can easily convert the created prototypes into a ready website. 

Features:

• CMS;
• Website designer;
• Interactions;
• Online store management;
• SEO support;
• Customizable workflows;
• Hosting services.

Pricing:

• Starter plan: free;
• Paid plans start from $12 per month.

Startup Launch Tools

Launching a startup is quite a challenging task. There are a lot of factors that influence the success of a new application, from the initial idea of an app to its execution. However, there are multiple tools that can help you make the process of launching a startup more efficient.

Product Hunt

Product Hunt is among the most popular startup launch platforms. This platform showcases new tech products every day, it is possible to share and discuss your new products there. Launching on Product Hunt can help your product or startup get discovered by a large audience of tech enthusiasts.

Features:

• Stories;
• Discussions;
• Events;
• Changelog;
• Topics;
• Collections;
• Upcoming products;
• Collections.

Pricing: Free.

Beta List

Beta List is a pre-launch platform that can help you launch your application successfully. This platform allows you to present your idea in front of the business community and get useful feedback, which is vital for MVP validation. Thanks to Beta List you will be able to do a research of the audience in order to understand the customers better, and create the right type of product for them.

Features:

• Submitting startups;
• Advertisements;
• Posts;
• Newsletters.

Pricing:

• Hobby: Free;
• Startup: $129;
• Funded: $299.

Fundraising Tools

​​The financial part of the business is important for startups as well, that's why many companies consider joining an incubator or accelerator. It is crucial to understand how to attract investment, what startup funding stage you're at, where the revenue comes from, and how the business is going to work in future. Many of your decisions will be based on whether you are opting for startup scaling or not. That is why it is necessary to use financial and fundraising tools for startups in order to fulfill your goals.

Foundersuite

FounderSuite is a tool that helps to raise capital for launching a startup. It helps you build effective and reliable investor relationships, and brings structure, speed and efficiency to the fundraising process as you pitch investors.

Features:

• Investor CRM;
• Investor Database;
• Investor Updates;
• Startup Docs;
• Founders Market.

Pricing:

• Basic: Free;
• Silver: $44 per month;
• Gold: $62 per month;
• Agent: $150 per month.

Crunchbase

Crunchbase is a platform that allows you to connect with experts and look for new business opportunities. There are millions of entrepreneurs that use Crunchbase to power their businesses.

Features:

• Finding investors;
• Planning investments;
• Finding prospects;
• Market research;
• Enriching your database;
• Data integrations.

Pricing:

• Essential: Free;
• Pro: $29 per month;
• Enterprise: Custom.

Lead GenerationTools

Beaconstac

‍Beaconstac's digital business card solution lets you create digital business cards for convenient and ROI-driven networking in a hassle-free manner. With easy creation, automated distribution, and sharing capabilities, the digital business card solution has become an easy choice for many sales reps looking to make the jump to digital while streamlining their lead generation process. You can customize the business card with your image or logo, contact information, website links, social media handles, and more. Plus, neither you nor your prospects won't need any additional application or tool. 

Features:

• Pre-made templates for easy creation of digital business cards;
• 4000+ integrations with CRMs and sales stacks;
• GDPR and SOC Type-2 compliant;
• Built-in analytics for analyzing the performance of the cards;
• Apple and Google Wallet shareability feature;
• Bulk creation capabilities.

Pricing:

• The solo plan for 3 unique digital business cards starts at $6/month;
• For enterprise plans, connect with their sales team.

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Final Word

There are lots of tools for startups that are worth mentioning. Each of them has its own benefits for companies; they help to make their work processes quick, convenient, and efficient. Of course, all businesses are different, and what is right for one may not be suitable for another.

We hope that you find something useful for your business in this startup tools list, and if you have any questions, feel free to contact our team, we are always ready to help. Upsilon is an experienced MVP development company that helped lots of businesses with their launch and further growth, plus, we use a flexible sprint-based pricing model. So, if you need affordable services for early-stage startups, don't be shy to reach out!