Top 11 Digital Planning Tools for Your Business [+ Free Tools]

If you want to succeed in a business, you need companions.

Sometimes these are your friends, collagues or customers.

But sometimes, it's the tools you use.

That's why it's crucial to choose the right tools.

In this guide we will discover the best free digital planning tools to boost your business.

First of all,

Planning is important...

But we all know that it can be overwhelming to create a business plan by hand. The world has changed in terms of how people communicate and interact with each other, but one thing remains the same: planning is important. Whether you're a CEO trying to figure out your next big move or an employee who needs to know where your next project fits into the company's timeline, there are plenty of best digital planners available that can help with productivity and organization—and they're much more effective than writing things down on paper (or worse yet, trying to keep track of everything in your head).

Digital planning tools make the process easier by gathering all the information in one place. These tools also allow you to share the information with others in your company or with potential investors so that they can get involved in the planning process as well.

If you're looking for an easy way to create a digital business plan, here are some of our favorite tools you need to add in digital planner tools:

1) Google Drive

Google Drive is a cloud-based storage and collaboration platform developed by Google. It offers users the ability to store, share, and access their files from anywhere with an internet connection, using any device.

Google Drive is an essential tool for individuals, teams, and businesses that rely on the cloud for their storage needs. It offers a vast range of features that help users organize their files, collaborate with others, and keep their data secure.

Features:

• Storage: Google Drive offers users 15 GB of free storage space, with the option to purchase additional storage if needed.
• Collaboration: Users can share files and folders with others, allowing them to view, edit, and comment on the files in real-time.
• Integration: Google Drive integrates seamlessly with other Google tools, including Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
• Mobile access: Google Drive has mobile apps for Android and iOS devices, allowing users to access their files from anywhere.
• Security: Google Drive uses advanced security measures, including two-factor authentication and encryption, to protect user data.

Pros:

• Easy to use: Google Drive has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate.
• Collaborative: Google Drive is an excellent tool for collaborating with others on files and projects.
• Integration: Google Drive integrates seamlessly with other Google tools, making it easy to use.
• Mobility: Google Drive can be accessed from anywhere, making it an ideal solution for remote workers.

Cons:

• Limited storage: The free version of Google Drive only offers 15 GB of storage, which may not be enough for some users.
• Security concerns: While Google Drive offers advanced security measures, some users may be hesitant to store sensitive information in the cloud.

Pricing:

Google Drive offers a variety of pricing plans, including:

• 15 GB - Free
• 100 GB - $1.99 per month
• 200 GB - $2.99 per month
• 2 TB - $9.99 per month

2) FS Poster

FS Poster is a social media auto-poster tool that allows you to share your WordPress content on social media networks. FS Poster allows you to share blog photos, infographics, videos, or other media on visual-sharing platforms directly from within WordPress.

You can share your posts in 20+ social networks which can help you broaden your audience and improve your search engine optimization (SEO) by increasing the number of visitors to your website.

Features:

• Scheduling and auto-postingp.
• Direct share panel within WordPress.
• Custom posting intervals.
• Webhook integrations.
• Unlimited social network accounts.
• Custom post URLs and messages.
• Instagram carousel scheduling.
• Instagram link in bio.
• First comment.

Pros:

• Lets you automate all social media postings from the dashboard.
• Allows carousel scheduling, link in bio and a first comment feature.
• FS Poster enables automatic publishing to the YouTube community too.
• Gives you enhanced analytics reports.
• When you buy FS Poster, you are effectively paying for it to last a lifetime.

Cons:

• You need a WordPress website to use FS Poster.

Pricing:

• FS Poster comes with a lifetime license, for just $45.

3) RecurPost

RecurPost is a social media scheduler that allows users to automate their content distribution and scheduling across multiple social media platforms with the main feature of social media bulk scheduling. With RecurPost, users can easily curate content, schedule posts, and analyze performance, all from one dashboard.

RecurPost provides an intuitive interface that allows users to manage their social media accounts in a few clicks. It offers a content library where users can store and organize their evergreen content for easy reuse and is amongst the best buffer alternatives available in the market. This feature helps users to recycle their best-performing content without having to recreate it from scratch.

Features:

• RecurPost allows users to connect multiple social media profiles, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and more.
• Users can easily schedule posts in advance, either as a one-time post or as a recurring post that will automatically publish on a set schedule.
• RecurPost offers a content library where users can store and organize their evergreen content for easy reuse.
• The tool also provides a RSS feed integration to share relevant content from the web directly to their social media profiles.
• With analytics features, users can track their post performance, including engagement rates and follower growth.
• RecurPost has a Chrome extension that lets users quickly add content to their social media queue while browsing the web.

Pros:

• RecurPost's content library and RSS feed integration make it easy for users to find and curate relevant content for their audience.
• The tool's scheduling and automation features save users time by allowing them to schedule posts in advance and recycle evergreen content.
• RecurPost offers detailed analytics that help users understand how their social media strategy is performing.
• The Chrome extension makes it easy for users to add content to their social media queue without having to switch between different tools or windows.

Cons:

• RecurPost's pricing plans can be expensive for small businesses or individuals who only manage a few social media profiles.
• The tool doesn't provide any built-in image editing features, so users may need to use a separate tool to create or edit images for their social media posts.

Pricing:

RecurPost offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. After the trial period, users can choose from three pricing plans:

• Free: This plan allows users to connect up to three social media profiles and schedule up to 100 posts per month.
• Solo: For $15 per month.
• Agency: For $79 per month.

4) Canva

Canva is a free online graphic design tool that makes it easy to create beautiful designs for your business. You can use Canva to create posters, social media images, infographics and more. Canva has a library of over 1 million stock images from Unsplash and Pixabay that you can drag-and-drop into your designs or search for something specific. You can also import photos from your computer or Google Drive account if you have the paid version ($9/month).

The interface is intuitive enough that even beginners will be able to get started right away--just choose what kind of project you want (poster, flyer etc.), then drag-and-drop preformatted shapes onto the canvas until they're arranged exactly how you like them!

Features:

• Design templates: Canva offers thousands of templates for different design types, including social media graphics, presentations, and flyers.
• Customizable graphics: Users can choose from a vast library of graphics and customize them to fit their design needs.
• Fonts: Canva offers a wide range of fonts that can be used to create unique designs.
• Collaboration: Canva allows users to collaborate with others on a design project, making it ideal for teams.
• Image editing: Canva has basic image editing features that allow users to adjust brightness, contrast, and saturation.

Pros:

• Easy to use: Canva has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for anyone to create professional-looking designs.
• Wide range of design options: Canva offers thousands of templates and graphics, making it possible to create designs for any occasion.
• Collaboration: Canva allows users to collaborate with others on a design project, making it ideal for teams.
• Affordable: Canva offers a free plan, and its paid plans are affordable, making it accessible to everyone.

Cons:

• Limited customization: While Canva offers a wide range of templates and graphics, some users may find it challenging to customize them to fit their needs.
• Limited features: Canva has basic image editing features, but it doesn't offer advanced features like Photoshop.

Pricing:

Canva offers several pricing plans:

• Free - includes basic features and access to thousands of templates and graphics.
• Pro - $12.99 per month.
• Teams - 14.99 per month.

5) Trello

Trello is a free project management tool that makes it easy to organize your projects, collaborate with others and get things done. Trello's simple interface helps you break down your projects into lists, called boards. You can add checklists, comments and attachments to each card in your board.

It's suitable for small teams who need simple task management and collaboration tools--but not necessarily those who need robust reporting capabilities or advanced scheduling features. Trello uses a Kanban-style approach to project management, where users can create boards for different projects and then create cards for each task within those projects. These cards can be moved between different columns to represent their progress, such as "to-do," "in progress," and "completed."

Features:

• Boards: Trello allows users to create boards for different projects and then add cards for each task within those projects.
• Customizable columns: Users can create custom columns within their boards to represent the different stages of their projects.
• Assigning tasks: Users can assign tasks to other team members and set due dates for those tasks.
• Comments and attachments: Users can leave comments on cards and attach files or links to those cards.
• Integrations: Trello integrates with other tools like Slack, Google Drive, and GitHub.

Pros:

• User-friendly: Trello has a simple and intuitive interface that is easy to navigate.
• Flexible: Trello can be used for a wide range of projects and tasks, from personal to business projects.
• Collaborative: Trello allows users to collaborate with others on tasks and projects, making it ideal for team projects.
• Integrations: Trello integrates with other tools, making it easy to connect with other tools and workflows.

Cons:

• Limited functionality: While Trello is great for simple project management, it may not be sufficient for more complex projects that require advanced features.
• Lack of privacy: Trello boards are visible to everyone who has access to them, which may be a concern for those who want to keep their projects private.

Pricing:

Trello offers several pricing plans:

• Free - includes basic features like creating boards, cards, and checklists, and attaching files and comments.
• Standard - $6 per user per month - unlimited board.
• Premium - $12.50 per user per month - includes advanced features like different views, observers, data export.

6) AWeber

AWeber is an email marketing software that helps businesses create and send professional-looking emails, newsletters, and automated campaigns to their subscribers. It offers easy-to-use email templates, automation features, integrations with popular marketing tools, and detailed analytics on campaign performance. AWeber is designed to help businesses build relationships with their customers and grow their audience. It is designed to help businesses build relationships with their customers and grow their audience.

Features:

• Email templates: AWeber offers a variety of customizable email templates to help users create professional-looking emails quickly and easily.
• Automation: AWeber allows users to set up automated email campaigns based on subscriber behavior.
• Integrations: AWeber integrates with popular marketing tools like Shopify and WordPress.
• Analytics: AWeber provides detailed analytics on email campaign performance, including open rates and click-through rates.
• List management: AWeber allows users to manage their email lists and segment subscribers based on behavior or demographics.

Pros:

• Easy to use: AWeber is easy to set up and use, even for users with no previous email marketing experience.
• Automation: AWeber's automation features save time and help businesses deliver targeted messages to their audience.
• Integration: AWeber integrates with popular marketing tools, making it easy to manage multiple campaigns.
• Analytics: AWeber's detailed analytics provide valuable insights into campaign performance.

Cons:

• Limited features: AWeber may not have all the features that more advanced email marketing tools offer.
• Cost: AWeber can be expensive for larger businesses or users who need more advanced features.
• Limited customer support: Some users have reported that AWeber's customer support can be slow to respond.

Pricing:

AWeber offers a free digital planners on the number of subscribers:

• Free - includes basic features and up to 500 subscribers.
• Lite - starts at $14.99 per month unlimited subscribers.
• Plug - starts at $29.99 per month unlimited subscribers.

7) OnePageCRM

OnePageCRM is a free CRM that you can use to manage your contacts, leads and sales opportunities. It works on all devices and browsers, and you can even use it offline.

OnePageCRM is simple to set up, so you don't have to spend hours configuring it before using it for the first time. You can create different types of entities like leads, prospects, accounts and more by using the drag-and-drop feature provided in this tool. The best thing about OnePageCRM is that once you create an entity or contact record on this platform, they will automatically be synced with other platforms like Salesforce or MailChimp so as not to lose any data while working with multiple systems at once!

Features:

• Contact management: OnePageCRM allows users to manage their contacts, including adding notes and assigning tasks.
• Sales pipeline management: Users can track their sales pipeline and progress through each stage.
• Task management: Users can create and assign tasks to themselves and other team members.
• Email integration: OnePageCRM integrates with Gmail and Outlook, allowing users to manage their emails within the platform.
• Reports: Users can generate reports to track their sales performance and identify areas for improvement.

Pros:

• User-friendly: OnePageCRM is easy to use and navigate, even for users who are not familiar with CRM tools.
• Sales-focused: OnePageCRM is designed specifically for sales teams, making it a powerful tool for managing sales processes.
• Mobile app: OnePageCRM offers a mobile app, making it easy for users to manage their sales on the go.
• Affordable: OnePageCRM is reasonably priced, making it an affordable option for small and medium-sized businesses.

Cons:

• Limited functionality: OnePageCRM is designed specifically for sales teams and may not be suitable for businesses that require more advanced CRM features.
• No customization: OnePageCRM does not offer much customization, so users are limited to the features provided by the platform.

Pricing:

OnePageCRM offers two pricing plans:

• Professional - $9.95 per user per month.
• Business - $19.95 per user per month.

Read More: The Importance of a Social Media Presence for Businesses

8) Recordly

Recordly is a simple and easy to use digital planning tools for recording and managing your meeting notes. Recordly is available on desktop, mobile, and the web. It's free to use for up to five team members so you can easily record meetings from anywhere in the world with just one click.

If you want more features than simply recording meetings then Recordly has got you covered there too! You can create checklists within each recording which makes it easy for everyone involved in the project or task being discussed at hand (even those who weren't present) stay up-to-date on what needs doing next by simply checking off items as they're completed.

Features:

• Audio recording: Recordly allows users to record audio directly from their smartphone.
• Transcription: Recordly offers automated transcription, which saves time and makes it easier to transcribe interviews and other audio recordings.
• Editing tools: Recordly provides editing tools to help users refine their transcripts and make changes to their recordings.
• Organization: Recordly allows users to organize their recordings and transcripts by project and tag them for easy reference.
• Collaboration: Recordly allows users to share their recordings and transcripts with others, making it easier to collaborate on projects.

Pros:

• User-friendly: Recordly is easy to use and navigate, making it an ideal choice for journalists and researchers who are not familiar with transcription software.
• Automated transcription: Recordly's automated transcription feature saves time and makes the transcription process more efficient.
• Editing tools: Recordly provides powerful editing tools to help users refine their transcripts and make changes to their recordings.
• Collaboration: Recordly allows users to share their recordings and transcripts with others, making it easier to collaborate on projects.

Cons:

• Limited compatibility: Recordly is only available on iOS devices, limiting its accessibility to some users.
• Cost: Recordly is more expensive than other transcription apps, which may be a barrier for some users.

Pricing:

• Recordly does not have a clearly specified pricing page. You have to contact them to get a price quote.

9) LinkedIn Sales Navigator

LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a powerful sales prospecting tool that helps sales professionals find and connect with potential customers on the LinkedIn platform. Follower growth is an essential aspect of using Sales Navigator effectively, as it can expand your reach and increase your visibility on the platform, ultimately leading to more sales opportunities.

By consistently posting high-quality content, engaging with other users on the platform, and tracking your LinkedIn follower growth, you can optimize your use of Sales Navigator to achieve your sales goals.

Features:

• Lead recommendations: Sales Navigator provides lead recommendations based on user preferences and previous interactions.
• Advanced search: Sales Navigator offers advanced search filters to help users find prospects based on criteria like job title, company, and location.
• Sales insights: Sales Navigator provides insights on potential prospects, including news mentions, recent job changes, and company growth metrics.
• Team collaboration: Sales Navigator allows users to share leads and insights with team members and collaborate on sales efforts.
• Integration: Sales Navigator integrates with popular CRM tools like Salesforce and HubSpot, allowing users to easily import and manage leads.

Pros:

• Advanced search: Sales Navigator's advanced search filters make it easy to find potential prospects.
• Sales insights: Sales Navigator provides valuable insights on prospects to help users personalize their outreach efforts.
• Integration: Sales Navigator integrates with popular CRM tools, making it easy to manage leads and sales efforts.
• Team collaboration: Sales Navigator allows for easy collaboration among team members, streamlining the sales process.

Cons:

• Cost: Sales Navigator can be expensive, especially for small businesses.
• Learning curve: The tool can have a learning curve for users who are not familiar with LinkedIn's interface.
• Limited features: Some users may find that Sales Navigator's features are not as robust as other sales tools.

Pricing:

Sales Navigator offers three pricing plans:

• Pricing is based on quotes and requires LinkedIn premium to access.

10) Typeform

Typeform is a great digital planning tools for creating surveys. You can use Typeform to create surveys that are easy to fill out and understand, so you get accurate results. Typeform also offers a free plan, which has all the features you need for most small businesses.

Typeform allows you to collect data from your customers through their website or app (or both). The information collected can be used in different ways: you can use it as part of an email marketing campaign, add it into a CRM with text messaging like Salesforce or HubSpot Sales CRM, send notifications via email or SMS text message when new responses come in--the possibilities are endless!

Features:

• Interactive design: Typeform's interactive design makes forms and surveys more engaging and interactive.
• Logic jumps: Typeform allows users to create logic jumps, which customize the form or survey based on the respondent's answers.
• Integration: Typeform integrates with popular marketing and CRM tools like HubSpot and Mailchimp.
• Analytics: Typeform provides detailed analytics on form and survey responses, allowing users to gain insights into their audience.
• Templates: Typeform offers a variety of customizable templates to help users create forms and surveys quickly and easily.

Pros:

• Interactive design: Typeform's interactive design improves user engagement and response rates.
• Logic jumps: Typeform's logic jumps feature helps personalize the form or survey for each respondent.
• Integration: Typeform's integration with other marketing and CRM tools makes it easy to manage responses.
• Analytics: Typeform's analytics provide detailed insights into audience behavior.

Cons:

• Limited features: Typeform may not have all the features users need for complex forms and surveys.
• Cost: Typeform can be expensive for larger teams or users who need more advanced features.

Pricing:

Typeform offers a range of pricing plans:

• Basic - starts at $29 per month.
• Professional - starts at $59 per month.
• Premium - starts at $99 per month.

11) Dropbox Sign

Dropbox Sign is an electronic signature software that allows users to sign and send documents securely and efficiently, in real time & is amongst the best digital planners in the market. You can use it to get rid of paper and mail, and make sure that signatures are legally binding. It simplifies the signing process by eliminating the need for printing, scanning, or faxing.

The best part? It's free for up to 10 users!

Features:

• Electronic signatures: Dropbox Sign allows users to sign and request signatures on documents electronically.
• Templates: Dropbox Sign offers customizable templates that can be reused for frequently used documents.
• Integration: Dropbox Sign integrates with popular tools like Dropbox and Google Drive.
• Security: Dropbox Sign provides bank-level security to protect sensitive documents.
• Mobile-friendly: Dropbox Sign is mobile-friendly, making it easy to sign documents on the go.

Pros:

• Easy to use: Dropbox Sign is easy to use and eliminates the need for printing, scanning, or faxing.
• Templates: Dropbox Sign templates save time and simplify the document signing process.
• Integration: Dropbox Sign integrates with popular tools, making it easy to manage documents.
• Security: Dropbox Sign bank-level security protects sensitive documents.

Cons:

• Limited features: Dropbox Sign may not have all the features that more advanced electronic signature software offers.
• Cost: Dropbox Sign can be expensive for larger businesses or users who need more advanced features.
• Limited customization: Some users have reported that Dropbox Sign's customization options are limited.

Pricing:

Dropbox Sign offers a range of pricing plans:

• Essentials - starts at $20 per month.
• Standard - starts at $30 per month.

Conclusion

The digital world is a great place to start your business and find customers. There are many free tools that can help you with planning your business and understanding your customers better. We've gone through the top 11 digital planning tools for your business, but there are many more out there. If you have any other favorites that we didn't cover, please let us know in the comments below!

About Author

Dr. Dinesh Agarwal is a research scientist turned entrepreneur. He is the founder of RecurPost, a social media management tool that helps businesses maintain a consistent presence on social media without spending a lot of time on it.