Why freelancers love Setapp workflows: Your secret productivity hack

Freelancers have the freedom to shape their own workday, but that freedom usually comes at the cost of juggling planning, managing files, tracking time, sending invoices, and staying connected with clients. While you could look for tools to aid these processes and piece them together, Setapp offers a much better way to work. 

Rather than deal with dozens of subscriptions, you can enjoy a complete toolset of Mac apps for freelancers. If you’re a solo professional, this all-in-one toolkit for freelancers will help you stay organized and productive without the costs or the clutter.

Getting more curious about how Setapp could help create the best solo work setup on Mac? I’ve compiled a list of freelance workflows for you.

Complete freelance workflow powered by Setapp

Setapp gives you tools for every stage of your freelance workflow: from planning and organizing projects, to writing and content creation, design and visual work, time tracking and productivity, invoicing, client communication, and more.

While I’ve been talking about how you can use Setapp for productivity and to foster smoother workflows, I also want to show it in action. Here’s an example of how freelancers use Setapp for productivity through every stage of a freelance workflow.

1. Planning & organizing projects

Before any work begins, seasoned freelancers will know that the organization phase is the first puzzle to solve. You might map out ideas for your article, set performance goals, or simply work out a schedule to stay on task.

Here’s the list of top planning and organizing project tools: 

• GoodTask is an advanced task list that can be integrated with Apple Reminders and Calendar, expanding on their abilities and helping you organize and prioritize tasks. 

• NotePlan can also group notes together, and it doesn't tie you to one device, so you can sync between multiple devices.

• Dato will lay out time zone differences so you never miss a requirement or deadline.

 "With shoots, edits, and client meetings all over the place, my calendar used to be a mess. Dato changed everything — now I see all my deadlines and time zones right from the menu bar, and I never miss what’s coming up. It’s simple, clean, and keeps my schedule under control without the chaos", shares Alina Shevchenko, video editor, director of photography.

• MindNode Classic can connect your thoughts and ideas on a canvas and let you share your vision.

2. Writing & content creation

Bloggers, copywriters, and others in positions where words and structure are important will need tools to keep their words flowing and writer’s block at bay. 

Here are Setapp’s programs for distraction-free writing environments, tone polishing, and easy publishing:

• Ulysses is the perfect place to begin, as it provides a highly functional writing program with a robust markdown editor and a well-structured library. You can even publish to WordPress or Medium or export a PDF or an ebook. 

• TypingMind offers the best interface for all your favorite AI chatbots. It helps with idea generation.

• Plus can act as your AI writing and editing assistant to fine-tune everything to your liking. And it’s ready to improve or proofread your work.

 "Writing scripts used to take hours. Now I use Plus to brainstorm and shape drafts in under 30 minutes. It helps me get past writer’s block with fresh ideas and AI suggestions, and I love using it to compare different versions before locking in the final one. Just don’t forget to add your voice — that’s what makes the content real", shares Stefan-Radu Gogolan, video editor, digital marketing specialist.

3. Design & visual work

Don’t deal with words in your freelancer role, and typically handle graphics or brand assets? You’ll also find plenty of visual tools that rival full-scale Adobe suites.

Here is the list of design tools for your freelance workflow:

• Luminar Neo is an AI-powered photo editor that can quickly enhance your photos with presets and advanced editing tools. Perfect tools if you have a bunch of images and are ready to edit them to commercial-level quality.

• Then, you can drop them into Mockuuups Studio to turn them into beautiful mockups with 500+ pre-made scenes. 

• Permute can convert them into whatever format you need when it’s time to send them over to the client. 

4. Time tracking & productivity

Regardless of what kind of work you do, productivity and time tracking are non-negotiable for any freelancer.

Here are the best time tracking and productivity tools from Setapp:

• Workspaces can set up your workspace in just one click, so you can automatically launch what you need, when you need it. Especially with multiple clients and projects on the go.

• Once you’re ready to focus, the task-tracking app Be Focused combines the classic Pomodoro method with task chunking, making you less prone to getting overwhelmed. 

• If you want a program that gives you feedback on your productivity, however, there’s nothing better than Session’s deep focus on analytics. It’ll let you revamp your scheduling to improve productivity over time.

5. Invoicing & client communication

Invoicing and communication are also critical parts of a professional freelancer's operation, and Setapp can help you seamlessly complete your entire workflow. 

Here are tools to improve your invoice and communication:

• Invoice Rex is an invoicing utility that lets you build custom invoicing templates, handle bank statements, and log daily expenses — perfect for keeping your cash flow on track and ready for tax season. 

• If you’re heavy on email communication, Spark Mail can help you save time and stay on top of your messages with a ton of mail management tools like priority senders, reminders, access to multiple inboxes, and an AI assistant to write emails for you.

 "Switching from Gmail to Spark Mail was a game-changer — now I spend less time in my inbox, never miss important emails, and finally have a clean, focused space for communication. It’s smart, fast, and actually makes email feel manageable. Check out my comparison of Spark Mail and Gmail — you’ll see exactly why I love it", shares Stefan-Radu Gogolan, video editor, digital marketing specialist.

Note Want to dig deeper into perks like app discovery and work efficiency? Here’s a full look at the benefits of Setapp.

Ideal setups for different types of freelancers

With such a diverse collection of apps, Setapp can create workflows for different kinds of freelancers and needs, including creative freelancers (writers, designers, illustrators), tech freelancers (developers, product consultants), business freelancers (consultants, marketers, coaches), and more.

Creative freelancers (writers, designers, illustrators)

As work revolves around content and visuals, the best tools for creative freelancers need to support both inspiration and delivery.

Here are the best creative freelance apps:

• Craft is your first port of call. Documents and projects can be filed away into neat folders, and you can create better documents with markdown, high-quality media, and more. 

• PixelSnap is the ideal screen measurement tool for web development and design, to accurately measure pixels, distances, and objects. 

• Integrate it with CleanShot X, and it’ll take attractive screenshots of your perfectly scaled elements.

Tech freelancers (developers, product consultants)

Tech freelancers will appreciate tools that work within a Mac-friendly ecosystem, whether it’s managing a database or testing code.

Here’s the list of popular Setapp tech tools for freelancers:

• SQLPro Studio and TablePlus provide a single user interface that works with numerous database types simultaneously, with rich features and straightforward processes. 

• CodeRunner is the lightning-fast code editor you’ve dreamed of for writing, running, and debugging code. 

• DevUtils offers 40+ developer tools that can be used online or offline. It’s the best when you need to access popular development tools.

Business freelancers (consultants, marketers, coaches)

Business freelancers might not need the highly specific apps used by technical creatives or developers, but they still need versatile tools to help with organization and planning. 

Here are the best Setapp tools, if you’re a business freelancer:

• Forget about sticky notes and basic text apps. NotePlan lets you build a complete productivity machine with calendar, bullet journaling, and lists in one place. 
• Taskheat can help you build task connections with a visual flow structure so you know exactly what to prioritize next.

Why freelancers need streamlined workflows: Final words

Freelancers need streamlined workflows because they carry the weight of the entire business on their own shoulders and take full responsibility for their time and tools. That’s a lot of friction, which is why so many lean on apps and programs to help deal with the brunt of the work. The problem is that each task requires a different tool, and few providers do it all. In trying to stay productive, you’ll lose precious time dealing with separate logins and learning curves.

App-switching might be something you’re used to, but the reality is that it breaks your focus and momentum you’ve worked so hard to build. And on top of that, paying for several single-purpose freelance tools for Mac can quietly eat into your monthly income.

A unified and freelancer-curated toolkit like Setapp offers 250+ top-rated Mac, iOS, and web apps in one powerful subscription, so you can stay focused on your work instead of your workflow. That is a more sustainable way to run a freelance business. Plus, you can use Setapp’s 7-day free trial and test all the apps to see how they fit your workflow.