No worries! We’ve compiled a list of impressive web-based tools to help you design dynamic and visually appealing presentations.

Zoho Show

Zoho Show is an excellent choice for creating dynamic slides and collaborating with team members. It allows you to import a variety of presentation formats for editing. The platform offers features like adding animations, transitions, and embedding videos or social media posts.

Once you’re finished, you can broadcast your presentation from anywhere or even embed it on your website.

Cost of Zoho Show

Zoho Show offers a Free Plan for individuals at S$0. For teams and organizations, the Professional Plan starts at S$3 per month.

Visit Zoho Show

Google Slides

Google Slides is another versatile tool that enables you to create, modify, and share presentations. It offers a variety of templates, font options, and multimedia embedding capabilities. However, when it comes to creating highly interactive presentations, it may not be as feature-rich as other options like Prezi and Visme.

Also, check out our posts on:

• Websites to Download Free Google Slides Themes
• 15 Google Slides Tips

Cost of Google Slides

Google Slides is available for free. For business use, the Business Starter plan is $6 USD per month, the Business Standard plan is $12 USD per month, and the Business Plus plan is $18 USD per month.

Visit Google Slides

Prezi

Prezi elevates customization with its extensive template library, allowing users to create interactive and engaging presentations. The platform also enables you to track viewer engagement through detailed analytics and control your presentations remotely using your mobile device.

With Prezi, you can create unlimited presentations while maintaining full privacy control. The platform supports video uploads, presenter notes, and offers specialized online training to enhance your presentation skills.

Check out our tips and tricks to become a Prezi pro.

Cost of Prezi

Prezi offers a free 14-day trial. The Standard plan for personal use is $7 per month, the Plus plan is $19 per month, and the Premium plan is $29 per month.

Visit Prezi

Visme

Visme empowers you to craft compelling visual stories through beautiful presentations and infographics. It transforms ordinary data into captivating narratives that draw in your audience.

With access to over 100 fonts and millions of free images, Visme allows you to enrich your presentations with diverse multimedia. You can also upload audio and video files, adding even more layers of engagement to your content.

Visme provides full control over privacy settings and offers unlimited storage. Presentations can be viewed directly in your browser or downloaded for offline use.

Cost of Visme

Visme offers a Basic plan for free. The Starter plan is US$12.25 per month, and the Pro plan is US$24.75 per month.

Visit Visme

Emaze

Emaze is a user-friendly software that transforms traditional PowerPoint presentations into interactive, storytelling projects. The platform offers a wide array of presentation templates and video backgrounds, allowing you to create visually stunning content.

In addition to templates, Emaze lets you integrate various media forms, including GIFs and live social feeds. Special effects like pan, zoom, and transitions can be applied to make your presentations more interactive and engaging.

As a cloud-based tool, Emaze provides the flexibility to access your projects from any location. It supports 2D and 3D slides, and you can view or edit your presentations on any device. The platform also allows you to share presentations in multiple languages with an automated translation feature, and you can download them as PDFs for offline use.

Cost of Emaze

Emaze offers a Basic Plan for free. The Pro Plan starts at $9 per month.

Visit Emaze

Piktochart

Piktochart enables you to design infographics that can be displayed as slideshows. The platform offers over 600 professionally designed templates, along with a variety of fonts and color styles to make your projects stand out.

With Piktochart, you can easily incorporate charts and maps to enhance your presentations. Additionally, the platform provides access to industry-specific icons. You can either use stock photos from Piktochart’s library or upload your own images and videos for a personalized touch.

Data can be imported from Google Sheets and SurveyMonkey forms, and your final project can be shared online or downloaded and printed in multiple formats, including PDF, JPG, and PNG.

Cost of Piktochart

Piktochart offers a free plan. The Pro Plan is $14 per member per month, and the Business Plan is $24 per member per month.

Visit Piktochart

Genial.ly

Genial.ly is a unique platform that allows you to add interactive effects and animations to your presentations. The tool integrates content from external services like Spotify, YouTube, Google Maps, and Amazon, making your slides more engaging.

Genial.ly offers a variety of premium templates, enabling you to create an unlimited number of presentations. You can upload your own media files or use in-built resources to enhance your content.

All projects can be shared via email or social media platforms, including WhatsApp. Additionally, presentations can be embedded directly onto your website. For those interested in tracking performance, analytics can be enabled for each presentation.

Cost of Genial.ly

Genially offers a free plan. The Pro Plan is USD 7.49 per month, and the Master Plan is USD 20.82 per month.

Visit Genial.ly

Haiku Deck

Haiku Deck is a straightforward tool for creating presentations, though its user interface may feel a bit dated. It offers a variety of fonts, sleek layouts, and image filters that contribute to a professional appearance. The platform provides access to over 40 million stock images, making it versatile for almost any project.

Your slides are stored online, allowing access from any device. Haiku Deck includes features such as PDF downloads and PPTX exports.

For educational settings, Haiku Deck offers a ‘Haiku Deck Classroom’ subscription, which includes all standard features and allows a teacher and multiple students to use the tool in a bundled package.

Cost of Haiku Deck

Haiku Deck offers a basic version for free. The Pro plan is $9.99 per month or $119.88 billed annually. The Premium plan is $29.99 per month or $359.88 billed annually.

Visit Haiku Deck

PowerPoint Online

PowerPoint Online provides all the essential features, including image handling, transitions, animations, and a variety of templates. You can download your presentations as PDFs for offline access or share them online. While user-friendly and familiar, PowerPoint Online lacks some of the advanced features found in other tools like Prezi or Emaze.

Cost of PowerPoint Online

PowerPoint Online is available for free.

Visit PowerPoint Online

Canva

Canva offers a drag-and-drop interface with numerous impressive layouts for various subjects. You can select images, fonts, and colors that align with your brand. Canva provides access to over a million high-quality stock photos and also allows for custom image uploads.

With Canva, you can choose from over 120 different fonts to give your presentation a unique style. The platform enables easy editing and updating of slides, application of striking filters and text options, and sharing directly on social media. Canva also features a ‘Presentation Mode’ that allows you to present directly from your account.

Cost of Canva

Canva offers a free plan. For more premium content, Canva Pro is available at USD 120 per year.

Visit Canva

Flowvella

Flowvella is an adaptable tool designed to make your presentations more interactive and engaging. You can seamlessly integrate various types of media, including images, videos, text, hyperlinks, galleries, and even PDFs.

What sets Flowvella apart is its unique Kiosk Mode, which allows you to securely display your presentation on a digital screen, protected by a PIN code. Additionally, you can share your content through a personalized URL, making it accessible both online and offline.

Cost of Flowvella

Flowvella offers a free plan. The Premium plan is $10 per month, and the Pro plan is $20 per month.

Visit Flowvella

Slides

Slides is an all-in-one platform that ensures compatibility across any device. The tool offers various features, including the ability to add multimedia elements from platforms like YouTube, Google Maps, and Vimeo. It also supports SVG images for enhanced visual quality.

Choose from a wide range of layouts and templates, utilize Google fonts, and easily embed or share your presentations on blogs or websites.

Cost of Slides

Slides offers a free basic plan. The Lite plan is $5 per month, the Pro plan is $10 per month, and the Team plan is $20 per month.

Visit Slides

Slidebean

Slidebean is a powerful tool that enables you to create eye-catching presentations in just minutes. The platform offers a wide variety of professional templates, images, and even GIFs that you can customize to align with your brand.

Once your presentation is ready, you have the option to present it remotely and monitor viewer engagement through its activity metrics.

Cost of Slidebean

Slidebean offers an All-Access plan for $12 per month. The Accelerate plan, which includes additional support for pitching to investors, is $99 per month.

Visit Slidebean

Pitch Deck

Pitch Deck simplifies the presentation design process with its easy-to-use, drag-and-drop templates. You can include various elements such as graphs, images, videos, and even interactive polls.

After completing your presentation, you can effortlessly share it and view it on any device. Additionally, you’ll have access to real-time analytics to assess the impact of your presentation.

Cost of Pitch Deck

Pitch Deck provides two pricing options: the Single Desk plan for $99 per year and the Premium plan for $199 per year. Both options come with a 14-day trial.

Visit Pitch Deck

The post 15 Online Presentation Tools to Win Over Your Audience appeared first on Hongkiat.

If you’re encountering this issue, you’re not alone. After extensive research and troubleshooting, I believe I’ve found a solution. In this article, I’ll share the steps that resolved the problem for me and explore other possible reasons that might cause this error.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

First things first, let’s ensure your internet connection is stable. A shaky or intermittent connection can cause all sorts of sign-in problems.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Open your web browser and try visiting a few websites. If they load without any issues, your internet connection is likely fine.
2. If you’re having trouble, try restarting your router or connecting to a different network.

2. Verify Apple’s System Status

Sometimes, the problem isn’t on your end. Apple’s services occasionally go down for maintenance or due to unexpected issues. Check Apple’s System Status page to see if iMessage or FaceTime is experiencing any outages.

If there is an outage, you’ll need to wait until Apple resolves it.

3. Check Date & Time Settings

Believe it or not, incorrect date and time settings on your Mac can mess with the sign-in process. Here’s how to check and correct them:

1. Go to System Preferences > Date & Time.
2. Ensure the option to Set date and time automatically is checked. If not, check it, and your Mac will sync with Apple’s time servers.

4. Update Your Software

Running an outdated version of macOS can also lead to sign-in issues. Keeping your software up to date ensures you have the latest bug fixes and improvements. Here’s how to check for updates:

1. Open the App Store and click on Updates.
2. If there’s an update available for macOS, download and install it.

5. Verify Your Apple ID

Make sure your Apple ID and password are correct. You can do this by signing in to your Apple ID account page in a web browser.

If you can sign in there without any issues, your credentials are correct. If not, you may need to reset your password.

6. Try Signing Out and Back In

Sometimes, simply signing out and back in can resolve the issue. However, if your sign-out button is stuck loading, follow these steps:

1. Open Messages and go to Messages > Settings (or Preferences).
2. Click on Sign Out. If it stays stuck loading, try restarting your Mac and attempting the sign-out process again.

7. Reset NVRAM (For Intel Macs)

If you’re using an Intel-based Mac, resetting the NVRAM can sometimes help.

Note: This doesn’t apply to Apple Silicon Macs.

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Turn it on and immediately press and hold Option + Command + P + R for about 20 seconds.
3. Release the keys and allow your Mac to restart.

8. Check for Third-Party Software Conflicts

Third-party software, like VPNs or security applications, can interfere with your connection.

Here’s what to do:

1. Go to System Preferences > Network.
2. Ensure no VPNs are active and check the Proxies tab to make sure no proxies are selected.
3. In System Preferences > Profiles, ensure there are no profiles installed that could be causing issues.

9. Boot in Safe Mode

Safe Mode can help you determine if third-party software is causing the problem.

Here’s how to boot in Safe Mode:

1. Intel Mac: Restart your Mac and immediately press and hold the Shift key. Release the Shift key when you see the login window.
2. Apple Silicon Mac: Shut down your Mac. Press and hold the power button until you see the startup options window, then select your startup disk, press and hold the Shift key, and click Continue in Safe Mode.

Try signing in to Messages in Safe Mode. If it works, the issue might be related to third-party software.

Learn more ways to restart your Mac.

10. Manage Keychain Access

Issues with Keychain Access can sometimes block sign-ins.

Try this:

1. Open Keychain Access from the Utilities folder.
2. Search for “iMessage” and delete any related entries.
3. Restart your Mac and try signing in again.

11. Delete Preferences

Corrupted preference files can often cause problems. Here’s how to reset them:

1. In Finder, press Command + Shift + G and type ~/Library/Preferences.
2. Look for files named com.apple.iChat.plist and com.apple.imservice.iMessage.plist.
3. Move these files to the Trash, then restart your Mac.

12. Reinstall macOS

If none of the above steps work, reinstalling macOS might be necessary. This can resolve deeper system issues:

1. Restart your Mac in Recovery Mode (Command + R for Intel, power button for Apple Silicon).
2. Choose “Reinstall macOS” and follow the on-screen instructions.

Conclusion

Running into sign-in issues with Messages on your Mac can be incredibly frustrating, but by following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the problem. From checking your internet connection and verifying your Apple ID to managing Keychain Access and potentially reinstalling macOS, each step brings you closer to a solution.

If all else fails, don’t hesitate to contact Apple Support for further assistance.

The post Fixing Apple ID Sign-In Issues on Messages for Mac appeared first on Hongkiat.

As we rely more on technology, protecting yourself while traveling goes beyond just physical safety – it also includes digital security. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned traveler; dangers can be unpredictable, and cybercrime could be just around the corner.

According to an ExpressVPN blog post, the travel and tourism industries are ranked third-most affected by cyberattacks. It’s always wise to be prepared for the worst-case scenario (knock on wood!).

This article will guide you through practical steps and tech tools to ensure your travels are safe and enjoyable.

1. Secure Your Devices

Your smartphone, tablet, and laptop are essential tools when traveling, but they can also be vulnerable targets for theft or cyber attacks.

To start, set up a passcode, fingerprint, or facial lock on all your devices if you haven’t already – this is absolutely essential.

For smartphones and tablets, ensure that “Find My” (or a similar tracking feature) is turned on. In case your device gets lost, you can easily lock it to prevent unauthorized access.

Also, make sure all the software and apps on your devices are updated to their latest versions.

Keep all the essential apps and programs you anticipate using easily accessible. For example, have map apps, translation apps, and other vital tools readily available on your home screen or desktop. This ensures quick access when you need them most.

2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a critical security measure that adds an extra layer of protection to your online accounts. When enabled, 2FA requires not only your password but also a second piece of information to verify your identity. This second factor could be a text message code, an email confirmation, or an authentication app like Google Authenticator or Authy.

One important thing to keep in mind is that when setting up 2FA for the apps you anticipate using overseas, it’s best to use an authentication app like Authy or Google Authenticator for the second layer of identification, instead of having codes sent to you via SMS. You might not have access to your local phone line when traveling abroad.

3. Use Travel-Specific Apps

Travel-specific apps can be incredibly useful not only for staying safe but also for keeping you informed and organized when you are abroad. The apps you need may vary depending on where you are traveling to, but here are some types of apps to keep in mind:

• Navigation Apps: Maps.me and Google Maps offer offline maps, ensuring you can find your way even without internet access.
• Language Translation Apps: Google Translate and iTranslate can help you overcome language barriers, which can be crucial in understanding safety signs or communicating in emergencies.
• Local News Apps: Keeping a local news app on your phone helps you stay informed about any potential hazards or important updates in the area you’re visiting.
• Ride-Hailing Apps: Uber, Lyft, or local equivalents can provide safe and reliable transportation options.
• Local Government Immigration Apps: These apps can offer crucial information on immigration policies, local laws, and emergency contact details.

4. Keep Backup Copies of Important Documents

Losing important documents like your passport, travel insurance, and booking confirmations can be a major setback while traveling.

To mitigate the impact of such losses, it’s essential to keep backup copies of all your critical documents.

• Digital Copies: Store digital copies of your documents in a secure cloud storage service like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud. This allows you to access them from any device with an internet connection.
• Local Copies: Take photos of your important documents or keep digital copies stored on your phone. This way, even if you are without internet access, you can still access them.
• Email Backup: To be extra safe, email copies of your important documents to yourself. This provides an additional layer of backup that can be accessed from anywhere.

5. Use Smart Travel Gear

Smart travel gear can provide you with extra peace of mind when traveling.

Here are some smart travel items to consider:

• Smart Luggage: Luggage with built-in GPS tracking can help you locate your bags if they go missing. Some smart suitcases also come with locking mechanisms controlled via your smartphone, ensuring your belongings are secure. If you want to track smaller devices, you can also consider using Apple AirTags.



• RFID-Blocking Wallets: These wallets protect your credit cards and passport from RFID skimming, a method used by thieves to steal your information wirelessly.
• Portable Battery Packs: Keeping your devices charged is crucial, especially if you rely on them for navigation and communication. A good portable battery pack can ensure your phone is always powered up.
• Smart Locks: Smart locks for your hotel room or rental property provide added security. These can be controlled via an app, allowing you to monitor and control access.
• Security Cameras: Compact and portable security cameras can help monitor your hotel room or rental property. Some cameras even offer live streaming to your phone, so you can check in anytime.

Bonus: Monitor Your Financial Transactions

Last but not least, keeping an eye on your financial transactions is crucial. Setting up transaction alerts is a good starting point. Most banks and credit card companies offer these alerts via email or SMS, allowing you to be immediately informed of any suspicious activity. This proactive approach helps you catch potential fraud early and take necessary actions to protect your funds.

Additionally, it’s wise to keep your bank’s contact information handy. If you need to report any credit card fraud, having the right numbers at your fingertips can save you from panicking and not knowing whom to call. Being prepared ensures you can quickly address any financial issues, allowing you to enjoy a worry-free travel experience.

Final Thoughts

Traveling abroad is a thrilling way to explore new places and cultures, but staying safe should be a top priority. Using technology can really boost your security on the road. From securing your devices and using VPNs to setting up two-factor authentication and using smart travel gear, these steps help keep your information and belongings safe.

Also, be cautious with public Wi-Fi, keep backup copies of important documents, stay aware of local cyber threats, and monitor your financial transactions closely. These strategies will help you stay protected so you can focus on enjoying your adventure.

By following these tech-savvy tips, you can have a safer and more enjoyable trip, giving you peace of mind to fully enjoy your travels.

The post How to Stay Protected While Traveling Abroad (5 Tips) appeared first on Hongkiat.

With a plethora of help desk ticketing systems in the market, choosing the ideal system for your business can be overwhelming. In this article, I’ll shed some light on some of the best help desk ticketing systems out there so you can determine which is ideal for your business.

Overview:

1. Freshdesk

Freshdesk is an all-in-one customer service software that can be used by small businesses as well as enterprises. It has a wide range of features and tools to manage customer service.

It is highly customizable and easy to use, which makes it one of the best help desk systems on the market today.

Freshdesk features AI-based tools to help solve problems for your customers quickly and efficiently by automating and streamlining your service processes.

For example, it can auto-assign tickets based on set preferences, and its AI-based bot called Freddy can suggest knowledge base articles. Moreover, you can track performance analytics using its customizable dashboards and reports.

Does Freshdesk have a free plan?

Yes. Freshdesk offers a free plan supporting 10 agents, email and social ticketing, a knowledge base, and a ticket trend report.

How much does Freshdesk cost?

• Growth and Pro plans for $18 and $59/agent/month with automation-enabled marketplace apps, custom views, customer fields, time tracking, and more.
• Enterprise plan for $79/agent/month adds sandbox, approval workflows, email bot, etc.

Learn more about Freshdesk

2. Zendesk for Service

Zendesk is an enterprise-ready help desk ticketing system that offers a variety of features for service organizations. It is one of the oldest and most popular names in the help desk ticketing system industry.

One of its interesting features is the strong cross-channel communication for reaching your customers through their favorite channels such as email, live chat, and social media like Facebook and Twitter.

Zenesk AI-powered chatbots can be personalized and send pre-written responses while the agents are busy solving other tickets. You can configure a knowledge base to allow customers to get help on their issues in a self-service manner.

Its workflows can auto-route tickets per configuration and direct customers to FAQs. You also get in-depth analytics on your service teams through its reports.

Does Zendesk have a free plan?

No. Zendesk does not have a free plan but provides trial use of the entire Zendesk Suite Professional plan.

How much does Zendesk cost?

• Suite Team plan starts at $49/agent/month for unified messaging, automation and workflows, reporting and analytics, apps and integrations, and more.
• Growth plan for $79/agent/month offers advanced automation, custom integrations, and more.
• Professional plan for $99/agent/month offers skill-based routing, customizable dashboards, etc.
• Enterprise plan for $150/agent/month offers a lot more, like customizable workspaces, shared dashboards, etc.

Learn more about Zendesk for Service

3. Atera

Atera’s help desk is tailored for IT departments, making daily tasks efficient and simple. This system allows easy management of support tickets and direct communication with users via live chat. Tickets automatically sync between the client’s portal and Atera’s interface, enabling quick interactions and automated email responses for new and resolved tickets.

Scheduling is streamlined with features to manage technician workflows, pre-schedule tickets, and open them from emails or chats. Automated customer feedback surveys are sent once tickets are resolved.

Atera uses AI to tag tickets with keywords, efficiently directing them to the appropriate IT professional for faster resolution. This smart system saves time and enhances strategic operations.

The software also provides detailed automated reports and analytics, eliminating the need for complex manual entries and highlighting team effectiveness.

Additionally, Atera offers a comprehensive knowledge base for storing and sharing articles, tutorials, and videos, supporting user self-service and easing onboarding processes.

Does Atera have a free plan?

Atera currently does not offer free plans. However, they do offer a 30-day trial with no credit card required when signing up.

How much does Atera cost?

Atera offers two pricing plans tailored to different types of users: one for IT departments and another for Managed Service Providers (MSPs).

For IT Departments:

• Pro Plan: $149 per month
• Growth Plan: $169 per month
• Power Plan: $199 per month

For MSPs:

• Pro Plan: $99 per month
• Growth Plan: $129 per month
• Power Plan: $169 per month

The MSP version includes a billing feature that allows you to invoice your customers based on the time spent on tickets and the products and services you sell. This built-in billing option simplifies the process of charging customers. Contrarily, the IT Department version does not include this billing module on its dashboard.

Learn more about Atera

4. Front

Front centralizes communication channels, including email, social media, SMS, and voice, into a single inbox, enhancing team collaboration and efficiency. It features automated message routing, shared drafts, integrations with third-party tools, workflow automation, and analytics. Ideal for industries requiring high-touch customer service, Front combines automation with a personal touch.

Does Front have a free plan?

Front offers a 7-day trial for new users.

How much does Front cost?

• Starter: $19/seat/month for basic features.
• Growth: $59/seat/month for essential features.
• Scale: $99/seat/month for advanced management and increased automation.
• Premier: $229/seat/month for maximum usage and custom integrations.

Learn more about Front

5. SysAid Helpdesk Software

SysAid is a feature-rich help desk software to manage customer relations for your brand. You can resolve your customers’ issues faster by cross-referencing tickets with the users and their assets. Plus, your employees can solve common IT issues independently through self-service features.

The most interesting part of this tool is automation, i.e., it sorts, prioritizes, and routes tickets automatically to the related desk, so your customer’s issues are solved quicker. It also allows the help desk to remotely access user machines and generate performance reports through the dashboard.

Moreover, it offers hotkeys to capture your screen and send the video to a ticket in the self-service portal, saving loads of time in dealing with other ticket queries.

Does SysAid have a free plan?

Yes. SysAid offers a free trial on all its Help Desk and ITSM plans with no credit card needed.

How much does SysAid cost?

Prices of each plan vary depending on the number of administrators, assets, and modules required. Its Basic and Full Editon ranges from $1200+/yr (500 assets) to $1600+/yr (1000 assets).

Check out our review on SysAid’s Helpdesk.

Learn more about SysAid Helpdesk Software

6. Zoho Desk

Zoho Desk is an all-in-one help desk ticketing system that helps customer service teams to manage customer requests and improve the overall customer experience. It offers many features and tools for support agents and managers to provide exemplary service and gain customer service insights.

Zoho Desk is a perfect fit if your business is already using the Zoho Suite. Nevertheless, it is a multichannel help desk system integrating email, live chat, phone, social media, etc., under a single interface.

Moreover, you can create a self-service portal for your customers with FAQs and tutorials (aka knowledge base). Its dashboards and reports provide insights into service performance.

Does Zoho Desk have a free plan?

Yes. Zoho has a free plan supporting 3 agents, email ticketing, customer management, a knowledge base, macros, and more.

How much does Zoho Desk cost?

• Standard and Professional plans for $20 and $35/agent/month, respectively, offer social channels, public knowledge base, assignment and workflow rules, dashboards, integrations, etc.
• Enterprise plan for $50/agent/month offering Zia (AI-powered), live chat, custom functions, validation and layout rules, etc.

Learn more about Zoho Desk

7. Salesforce Service Cloud

Salesforce is a powerful and one of the most versatile CRM tools. It enables businesses to manage customer experience, optimize the support team’s performance, and receive AI-powered insights under one platform.

It offers a service console with many productivity tools, efficient service process automation, omnichannel routing, faster case management process, asset and order management, call center management, analytics, and a vast knowledge base.

Moreover, there are different add-ons you can add to your service cloud, including different field service operations, digital engagement through AI-powered chatbots, and a self-service feature that allows customers to find answers to some common questions quickly.

Check out our review on Salesforce Service Cloud.

Does Salesforce have a free plan?

Salesforce Service Cloud has no free plans, but it comes with a 30-day trial. To try it for free, you will need to fill up your particulars, including your name, email, phone number, and company name, and you will be provided with 30-day trial access to the Service Cloud console.

How much does Salesforce cost?

Its most popular plan, the Enterprise plan, starts at $150/user/month and comes with customizable CRM for comprehensive service. Other plans include the Essential plan at $25/user/month, the Professional plan at $75/user/month; and the Unlimited plan at $300/user/month.

All paid plans, too, come with a free 30-day trial.

Learn more about Salesforce Service Cloud

8. ProProfs

ProProfs is a help desk ticketing system that allows companies to manage their customer service and support. It is designed to work as a simple and efficient tool for customer service departments to manage customer issues or tickets.

ProProfs is an enterprise product that was designed to provide a user-friendly interface for both the customer and the company.

Additionally, ProProfs supports many automation options for speeding up the process of solving customer tickets. You can configure it to auto-assign tickets in a round-robin fashion and set up pre-written responses for improved response times.

Also, there’s an option to create a public knowledge base to help customers self-service on common issues. Its real-time reports help measure and improve performance.

Does ProProfs have a free plan?

No. ProProfs does not have a free plan, but it provides a free trial for 15 days.

How much does ProProfs cost?

• Essentials plan for $15/user/month, offering effective support with shared inboxes and essential help desk features.
• Premium plan for $20/user/month supports unlimited inboxes and an advanced feature set including ticket routing, child tickets, white labeling, etc.
• Enterprise plan adds more like custom automation and integrations, Single Sign-On (SSO), etc. If you need a live chat, it costs an extra $5 per plan.

Learn more about ProProfs

9. HappyFox

HappyFox is a help desk ticketing system that provides a better way for customer support to manage the flow of incoming tickets. It has a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy for customers to submit tickets and get the help they need.

HappyFox also provides powerful features such as workflows, ticket routing, integrations with other tools, customizable templates, etc.

It helps you to manage customer inquiries, requests, and problems. It provides an easy way for both customers and employees to report issues or request assistance from other teams.

Create a knowledge base and a community forum to help your customers with the tool. Its AI assistant can help manage workflows, chat with customers, and improve support.

Does HappyFox have a free plan?

No. HappyFox does not offer free plans or a free trial. However, you can request a demo, and the support team will see if one can be created for you.

How much does HappyFox cost?

• Mighty plan costs $39/agent/month, offering omnichannel tickets, knowledge base, Single Sign-On (SSO), etc.
• Fantastic plan costs $59/agent/month for multi-branding, custom ticket queues, etc.
• Enterprise and Enterprise Plus plans for $79 and $99/agent/month offer even more: asset and task management in Enterprise and agent scripting and all-time reporting history in Enterprise Plus.

Learn more about HappyFox

10. Jira Service Management

Jira Service Management helps teams work together, stay on top of issues, and deliver great customer experiences. It is designed to manage the customer service and support needs of organizations of all sizes.

Using this tool, customers can submit tickets through many channels such as email, phone call, chat, web portal, and social media as well.

It helps you categorize and prioritize tickets, create custom workflows for different types of requests, and set up escalation policies for specific types of requests.

Jira Service Management offers dashboards and reports with all the information about the tickets in one place, helping you analyze your service teams’ performance to drive efficient customer support.

Does Jira have a free plan?

Yes. Jira Service Management’s free plan supports 3 agents, unlimited customers, configurable workflows, analytics and reporting, knowledge management, etc.

How much does Jira cost?

• Standard and Premium plans for $20 and $45/agent/month offer cloud support team, service status pages, etc.
• Enterprise plan offers more features like Atlassian Analytics, Atlassian Data Lake, etc.

Learn more about Jira Service Management

Bonus 1. Kayako

Kayako is a help desk ticketing system that can be used to manage customer inquiries and requests. It provides a ticketing system to track customer issues and helps in resolving them.

The good thing about Kayako is that it can be integrated with third-party applications like CRM or project management tools so that the information of the customers is automatically updated in other systems as well.

Kayako helps drive customer satisfaction, provides insights on improving customer service, and has a web-based interface and compatibility with mobile devices. The software is available as an on-premise solution or as a cloud-based solution that can be accessed from anywhere at any time.

Does Kayako have a free plan?

No. Kayodo does not support free plans but does come with a free 14-day trial for their paid plans.

How much does Kayako cost?

Kayako has a simple pricing structure wherein it offers all features in a single plan for $60/agent/month. It does feel a bit costlier compared to other tools on this list, especially if you have a small team.

Learn more about Kayako

Bonus 2. Mojo Helpdesk

Mojo Helpdesk is another cloud-based service that provides an easy and intuitive way to manage customer requests. It supports shared inbox with multiple channels such as chat, email, phone support, and social media, allowing your customers to get help using their convenient method.

Mojo Helpdesk allows lets you monitor tickets in real-time and keep track of what they have done for each customer inquiry. It also integrates with third-party applications such as Slack, Jira, Zendesk, and more.

Does Mojo Helpdesk have a free plan?

No. Mojo Helpdesk does not have a free plan. However, you can try it for free for 21 days.

How much does Mojo Helpdesk cost?

• Team plan costs $14/agent/month, offering ticket tracking, self-service knowledge base, custom forms, unlimited automation, time tracking, custom views, Single Sign-On (SSO), etc.
• Business plan costs $24/agent/month and offers escalation rules, advanced security, phone support, and more.
• Enterprise plan for $34/agent/month offers more features like advanced reporting, extra quotas, sandbox, etc.

Learn more about Mojo Helpdesk

Bonus 3. Vision Helpdesk

Vision Helpdesk can assign employees and agents to handle tickets, set up schedules, and track responses. You can create ticket templates for different types of requests, monitor ticket statistics, and set up schedules for support agents. It also offers an online live chat function for customers.

Vision Helpdesk provides a centralized place for all help desk tickets with simple workflows based on rule-based triggers. It also includes features for speeding up the process, such as auto-sending notifications, gamifying ticket handling, and a shared knowledge base to help boost customer support.

Does Vision Helpdesk have a free plan?

No. Vision Helpdesk does not have a free plan. A 30-day free trial is available.

How much does Vision Helpdesk cost?

Vision Helpdesk offers five plans with a varied set of features.

• Starter Help Desk at $15/agent/month.
• Pro Help Desk and Satellite Help Desk plans respectively cost $25 and $30/agent/month.
• Pro Service Desk and Ent Service Desk plans cost $40 and $60/agent/month, respectively, with extra features. If you are looking for live chat, too, it requires extra licensing.

Learn more about Vision Helpdesk

The post 10 Best Help Desk Ticketing Systems appeared first on Hongkiat.

By the end of this guide, you’ll be ready to launch your own site.

Signing Up and Starting on Wix

First, visit Wix.com and sign up for an account to get started.

After you create your account, Wix will prompt you with a few questions to help tailor the setup process. Although Wix offers to set up your site using AI, we’ll proceed manually today, so I’ll guide you through each step without AI assistance.

Choosing Your Website Type

Next, Wix will ask what type of website you’d like to create.

For this tutorial, we’re setting up a website for a furniture store. Wix offers a wide variety of designs, and don’t worry – if you change your mind about a design, it’s simple to go back and choose another one.

Setting Up Your Store on Wix

After choosing your website type, Wix will ask you several questions about your business. While some questions might be more pertinent than others, it’s good to answer them all to tailor your site effectively.

Once you’ve completed this step, click ‘Continue‘ to move forward.

Selecting and Customizing a Template

Once you’re set, you can navigate to ‘Design Site‘ > ‘Pick a Template‘. Wix offers a diverse range of templates to choose from.

Find one that catches your eye and click ‘Edit‘ to start customizing it to your needs.

Navigating the Website Builder Dashboard

Once you’ve selected a template, you’ll be taken to your website builder dashboard. On the left-hand side, you’ll find the primary navigation menu. This is where you can add elements, create new pages, and design your website.

You also have the option to integrate apps and include more business information as needed.

Editing the Website Header

Let’s explore the default layout Wix provides. The header at the top serves as a key navigation tool, making it easy for visitors to move between different pages and sections. To learn more about each section, hover over it, and Wix will display its name, helping you identify areas to edit.

As we scroll down, we notice several elements Wix has set up: a large image, an About section, a gallery, client testimonials, and a ‘Get in Touch‘ form. Each plays a vital role in engaging visitors.

The footer, found at the bottom of the page, will be edited later.

We’ll start editing from the top, beginning with the header, where I’ll select ‘Quick Edit‘ to make adjustments.

Managing the Website Menu

Next, click on ‘Manage Menu‘ to decide which pages will appear on your website.

To modify a page or section, hover over the three arrows next to any menu item. Here, you can rename, delete, or temporarily hide a page while it’s under construction or if you’re not ready to publish it yet.

Finally, I’ll add an additional page to my website. By clicking ‘Add Menu Item‘, I can choose and name a new page to include.

Adding New Pages and Templates

Wix offers various templates for new pages, though more design options will become available as we build the page. For now, I’ll start with a ‘Blank Page‘.

After selecting a blank page, I can name it. For this example, I’ll prepare to create a gallery, naming the page ‘Gallery‘.

To rearrange your site’s menu, just drag and drop the pages into your desired order. Once finished, click the home button to return to the main site and continue editing. Close the editor by pressing ‘X‘.

Let’s go back to refining our header. Hover over any icon, and Wix will indicate its function. For instance, if there’s a ‘Call Us‘ icon that’s not needed, right-click and select ‘Delete‘.

The header appears on every page, but its behavior can be adjusted. By clicking the settings on the right-hand side and selecting ‘Header Scroll Behavior‘, you can decide if the header should scroll with the page, remain fixed, disappear, or fade out.

Customizing the Header and Adding Logos

I’m going to add a logo to my header to ensure it appears consistently across all pages of my website. Since there isn’t a pre-existing option to edit for this, I’ll go to the left-hand side navigation bar and choose ‘Add Elements‘.

Next, I’ll select ‘Image‘. Wix offers multiple methods to upload images: directly from your computer, importing from social media or Google, using AI to create an image, or choosing from a vast collection of free images and illustrations.

For this tutorial, I’m adding a pre-designed logo from my computer. If you don’t have a logo yet, Wix provides tools to help you create one directly within the platform.

Editing and Positioning Images

To add my logo, I’ll navigate back to the top of the page and choose ‘Upload Images‘ to select my logo file from my computer.

Once uploaded, click ‘Add to Page‘.

You can then drag and drop the logo to your desired location. Remember, anything added to your header will show on every page of your website. You can also easily adjust the size of the image directly.

If you need to make further adjustments, select ‘Edit Image‘ for more editing options, or change the image entirely if necessary.

Working with Text and Styles

Let’s move on to the welcome section. If you’d like to change the background here, click ‘Change Background‘.

You can choose from the backgrounds Wix offers or upload your own, using the same process we used to upload the logo.

Next, let’s edit the text. Click on the text Wix has provided and select ‘Edit Text‘.

I’ll start by changing what the text says. After that, I can highlight the text to adjust the font, color, and size.

Once you’re satisfied with the text style, you can explore further customization options such as special effects, character spacing, and line spacing.

To save time and maintain consistency across different pages, consider saving your styled text to a theme. This allows you to reuse the style without having to redo it each time.

Adjusting Page Layouts and Backgrounds

After finalizing your text settings, you can adjust the text box’s position to fit your preferred location on the page. If any elements obscure the text, you can move or delete them as needed.

Let’s explore further down the page. Wix has an About section ready, but you might want to customize it. You can edit the text directly as we did before or replace the section entirely by choosing ‘Add Section‘ from the left-hand side menu.

There are many section templates available on Wix. For example, if the default About section doesn’t suit your needs, you can drag a new template onto your page.

Once the new section is in place, right-click the old section and select ‘Delete‘ to remove it.

If you need to adjust the spacing around the new section, simply drag the arrows to add or reduce white space, helping you refine your site’s design.

Editing the Website Footer

We haven’t yet covered the footer, which, like the header, appears on every page of your website.

My footer is currently quite sparse, so I want to add elements that will be useful to my visitors. I’ll start by selecting ‘Add Elements‘ from the navigation bar.

I’ve decided to include a map in the footer to appear on every page, providing location details to my customers. Under ‘Contact & Forms‘, I find the map I want and drag it into the footer.

After placing the map, I can adjust its size and position to fit neatly within the footer, ensuring all location details are correct and easily accessible.

Publishing Your Website

Once you’ve finished editing your website, you’re ready to go live. Simply click the ‘Publish‘ button.

With a free Wix plan, you’ll receive a domain that includes Wix branding. If you prefer not to use the Wix-branded domain, you can connect your own custom domain by selecting ‘Connect Your Domain‘.

You can either link a domain you already own or find a new one to purchase. After choosing your domain, Wix will guide you through the purchase options and pricing.

After publishing, you’ll access your business dashboard, a hub for insights on your website’s performance, including customer leads and contact details gathered through your site.

Upgrading to a premium plan offers additional features like SEM and SEO tools, and the ability to run ads on platforms like Google, Facebook, and Instagram. You’ll also gain access to detailed analytics, such as site visits and user behavior.

Some features are available with the free plan, while others require a subscription.

Optimizing Your Site for Mobile Viewing

While building your website, you may have noticed the desktop icon in the upper left-hand corner. Let’s see how your site looks on mobile devices by selecting ‘Switch to Mobile’.

Wix automatically optimizes your site based on the design elements you’ve chosen. Remember, changes made in the mobile editor won’t affect the desktop version.

For instance, you might want to reduce text size for better balance on mobile screens or change images to improve load times.

To optimize other pages for mobile, navigate to the left-hand side, select the page you wish to edit, and make necessary adjustments.

After ensuring your site looks great on both mobile and desktop, you’re ready to publish.

Final Thoughts

Everything we’ve created today is available through Wix’s free plan. If you decide to upgrade to a premium plan, you’ll receive benefits like a free domain, the ability to accept online payments, manage bookings, and remove all Wix ads.

And that’s it – we’ve just created a website from scratch for free using Wix. I hope this helps!

The post Building Your First Website with Wix (Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners) appeared first on Hongkiat.

The Android ecosystem is loaded with development tools. The Google Play Store offers a range of apps designed for coding, including code editors, compilers, and IDEs. Each app comes with its own set of features and challenges, making the selection process daunting. Here, we explore some of the best free Android code editors that enhance your mobile coding capabilities.

AWD

AWD, or Android Web Developer, is a specialized code editor for Android devices, designed for effective coding on phones and tablets. It supports key web languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP.

Optimized for tablet use, the app features a clean, full-screen interface that enhances productivity through code highlighting, auto-completion, and real-time error checking.

AWD also supports previewing web pages instantly and managing projects both locally and remotely with protocols such as FTP, FTPS, SFTP, and WEBDav. It’s the perfect companion for web developers on the move.

Code Editor by Rhythm Software

The “Code Editor” by Rhythm Software is a focused text editor crafted for coding on Android devices. It comes packed with essential programming features like syntax highlighting, auto indentation, code assistance, and auto-completion. Additionally, it enables code compilation and execution directly on the device.

Although it’s well-regarded for its coding capabilities and remote features, it’s not without its drawbacks. Users have reported issues, particularly with SSH connections to remote servers transitioning from password-based to key-based authentication. This indicates a need for enhancements in user setup processes.

Other concerns include occasional app freezes during loading, pointing to areas for potential optimization to boost performance and user experience.

Acode

Acode is a compact yet potent code editor and web IDE designed for Android. It revolutionizes your coding practice with efficient project file management and a robust find-and-replace utility. The app’s command palette facilitates smooth navigation, and the built-in terminal is easily accessible for quick commands.

Further, Acode includes a Python interpreter, which simplifies the execution of Python code directly within the app and offers easy plugin management.

Universal Code Editor

Universal Code Editor is a coding tool for Android that supports a comprehensive list of programming languages, including Kotlin, C, C++, C#, Go, Java, MySQL, Objective C, PHP, NodeJS, Python, Ruby, Swift, VB.Net, Dart, and Bash.

This wide-ranging support ensures that developers from diverse programming backgrounds can efficiently write, debug, and manage their code. It’s the perfect choice for professionals seeking a dependable and flexible coding environment on their Android devices.

VScode for Android

VScode for Android brings the renowned capabilities of Visual Studio Code’s desktop version to your mobile device. Adapted for on-the-go usage, this app allows you to write, edit, and debug your code anywhere. It supports a broad array of programming languages and file types, making it possible to handle any project with ease.

The app is also equipped with customizable themes, a wide selection of extensions, and IntelliSense for streamlined coding.

CodeSnack IDE

CodeSnack IDE is the first mobile Integrated Development Environment (IDE) designed specifically for mobile devices and tablets.

This pioneering app offers fast and user-friendly tools that enable anyone to create impressive programs. Whether you’re a beginner learning through guided samples or an experienced developer ready to deploy real-world applications, CodeSnack facilitates quick learning and efficient coding.

Spck Editor Lite

Spck Editor Lite is a dynamic code editor for Android devices, tailored to boost coding efficiency on the go.

It offers features such as TypeScript autocompletion, handy code snippets, and an additional on-screen keyboard, enabling quick modifications and streamlined coding sessions. The editor also supports HTML file previews and debugging, creating a comprehensive environment for web development.

One of the standout features of Spck Editor Lite is its integration with various git repositories. It allows users to easily sync changes, clone projects, and manage updates from platforms like GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, AWS CodeCommit, and Azure DevOps.

WebCode

WebCode is a specialized integrated development environment (IDE) for web development on mobile devices, supporting key web languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

The editor boosts efficiency with features such as auto-completion for HTML and CSS, syntax highlighting, and smart indentation. This IDE is ideal for developers who need to quickly edit or test web pages on their mobile device.

Python Code-Pad

Python Code-Pad is tailored for learning and practicing Python code. This AI-powered tool is designed for both beginners and experienced coders, enabling them to enhance their Python skills through interactive exercises and real-time coding.

Users can write, run, and evaluate Python scripts and programs directly on their mobile devices.

The post 9 Free Code Editors For Android – Best Of appeared first on Hongkiat.

Zapier stands out as a highly popular automation tool. It’s compatible with hundreds of web services and even supports conditional workflows. Plus, you can start using it for free! While the free version does have some limitations (like missing out on conditional workflows), it’s definitely worth exploring. Intrigued yet?

How does Zapier function?

Zapier operates by establishing links between various web applications and services. These links are referred to as “Zaps”, which are based on the concept of cause and effect, or more specifically, triggers and actions. In Zapier’s terminology, a “Zap” is a connection that binds a trigger and an action together.

To illustrate, suppose you post an image on Twitter, which is set as a trigger. Zapier recognizes this activity and then executes the corresponding action. For instance, it might take the image from your tweet and save it to your Google Drive. Fascinating, isn’t it?

How to create and use zaps?

Before talking about the useful zaps, let’s see how to create and use them:

1. First of all, open and log in to Zapier (or sign up if required).



2. You’ll see the home screen asking you to create your first zap. Type and search for the apps you wish to connect. Next, select a trigger and an action from their dropdown and click “Use Zap“.

   Note: Alternatively, you can click the links given below to check out those zaps directly, and then, you can continue below to configure them.



3. In the zap editor, click “Connect an Account” to connect the trigger app or service first. Then, click the “Save + Continue” button.



4. Now, pick a sample (if asked) to test the zap and click Continue.
5. Then, select the app or service to carry out the action when the trigger happens. You need to select this again even if you picked it earlier.



6. Now, select an action to perform in the zap. Of course, if you selected it before, it will be pre-selected for you. So, just click Continue.



7. Then, press “Connect an Account” to connect the app or service you wish to perform an action. After you connect it, click Test to check its connection with Zapier, and finally, click “Save + Continue“.



8. Next, you must configure the options for the action. It will differ per the action in your zap, but it will be simple as shown here. For example, I am creating a zap for saving my tweets’ links to a text file in Dropbox.



9. Finally, on the next screen, test your zap before activating it. If you’re satisfied with it, click Finish to save and activate your zap.

Zaps for Google Apps & Services

Allow me to introduce you to the concept of “zaps”, a tool for automating Google apps and services. While Google Apps Scripts offer a more customizable approach to automation, Zapier provides a quick and easy alternative.

For those seeking greater flexibility, we recommend exploring our collection of handy Google Apps Scripts. These scripts can help you master Gmail and automate tasks in Google Drive.

Gmail

Google Calendar

Google Contacts

Google Drive

Google Forms

Google Sheets

Zaps for Productivity Tools

Next, let’s check out the zaps aka recipes for automating productivity apps like Evernote and Slack. Then, you can boost productivity even more.

HubSpot

Evernote

Slack

Todoist

Zaps for Social Media

Let’s now explore the automation tools, often referred to as ‘zaps’, for social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. With these tools, you can conveniently share images and updates across multiple networks by simply forwarding them from one platform to another.

Facebook Pages

Instagram

Twitter

YouTube

More Zaps & Recipes

Finally, let me list some recipes for a few more apps and tools — all the useful ones like Dropbox and WordPress.

Dropbox

Typeform

WordPress

I believe in automation in spite of the debates going on around its issues as it boosts productivity. It helps me every day in my work, and I hope it will help you too.

The post 100+ Zapier Zaps (and Recipes) to Boost Productivity appeared first on Hongkiat.

These systems are more than mere tools; they’re vital lifelines for businesses dedicated to exceptional customer service and efficient support processes. The ideal ticketing system can elevate your support strategy, transforming every customer interaction into a chance for growth and building loyalty. If your aim is to streamline and keep track of customer interactions, these systems are indispensable.

In this post, we’re excited to spotlight the best support ticketing systems available, both free and paid.

Overview:

	Zendesk: Great when integrated with other Zendesk products. See details ↓ Starts at $19/agent/mth. Try for free
	Atera: All-in-one IT management with flat-rate pricing See details ↓ Starts at $99/user/mth. Try for free
	NinjaOne: Boosts IT efficiency with rich features. See details ↓ Visit site for pricing. Try for free
	Front: Centralizes multiple communication channels into one collaborative inbox. See details ↓ Starts at $19/user/mth. Try for free
	Hiver: Integrates with Gmail. See details ↓ Starts at $15/user/mth. Try for free
	SysAid Helpdesk: Easy to set up. See details ↓ Visit site for pricing. Check price
	Freshdesk: Free for up to 10 agents. See details ↓ Starts at $15/agent/mth. Has free plan. Try for free
	Zoho Desk: Great choice for current Zoho users. See details ↓ Starts at $14/user/mth. Try it
	ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus: Easy-to-use interface. See details ↓ Starts at $10/user/mth. Try it
	Salesforce Service Cloud: With the most comprehensive features. See details ↓ Starts at $25/user/mth. Try for free
	Hesk: Free and self-hosted content management system. See details ↓ Free. Download
	Tidio Ticketing System: Easy to set up, requiring no coding knowledge. See details ↓ Starts at $29/agent/mth. Has free plan. Try for free
	osTicket: Free, open-source, and community-supported. See details ↓ Free. Cloud-hosted starts at $12/agent/mth. Download

Zendesk

The first in our list is Zendesk. It is a great tool created to cater to the requirements of customers, service agents, and managers. It has a user-friendly interface that lets customers raise their concerns or issues through different platforms such as websites, emails, phone calls, and even Facebook. Service agents can view customer details and participate in group discussions, while managers have access to important data and reports for analysis.

Additionally, Zendesk can be used on Android and iOS devices.

Zendesk’s price:

Zendesk starts at $19/month. Try a demo.

What we like:

What we don’t like:

Check out Zendesk

Atera Helpdesk

Atera Helpdesk is an all-in-one IT platform that combines remote monitoring and management with professional service automation. This powerful tool simplifies IT operations by integrating various functions into a single, easy-to-use interface. IT professionals can efficiently manage support tickets, monitor client networks, and conduct remote troubleshooting.

Featuring real-time analytics and automated workflows, Atera optimizes efficiency and reduces response times. Its comprehensive set of tools supports everything from patch management to security monitoring, ensuring IT systems operate smoothly and securely. Atera’s predictive analytics enhance proactive maintenance and facilitate informed decision-making, improving customer satisfaction.

Ideal for small to medium-sized IT businesses, Atera Helpdesk offers a cost-effective, flat-rate pricing model that allows for unlimited scalability, helping IT teams reduce manual tasks and focus on more strategic initiatives.

Atera’s price:

Atera offers a free 30-day trial with no credit card required.

Its Pro paid plan starts at $99/month. Other paid plans include the Growth plan, starting at $129/month, and the Power plan at $169/month.

What we like:

What we don’t like:

Check out Atera

NinjaOne

Formerly NinjaRMM, NinjaOne’s ticketing system enhances IT support efficiency with its feature-rich platform. Its standout customizable ticketing system allows detailed device information display and quick actions like remote access from the ticket, centralizing control and streamlining IT problem management.

NinjaOne also optimizes IT team workflows by auto-filling ticket details, minimizing errors and saving time. Intelligent ticket routing directs issues to the most qualified technicians, ensuring effective problem resolution. Additionally, features like messaging and activity feeds foster team collaboration, aiding in efficient problem-solving.

NinjaOne’s price:

NinjaOne does not publicly display their pricing options on their website. However, they offer a 14-day free trial for those interested in trying out their services. For detailed pricing information, potential customers can request a quote directly from their pricing page.

What we like:

What we don’t like:

Check out NinjaOne

Front

Front is a customer communication platform that consolidates email, social media, SMS, and voice channels into a single inbox, simplifying management and response processes.

It offers features such as automated message routing, shared drafts for team collaboration, and integrations with third-party tools to enhance the context of customer interactions. Workflow automation reduces manual tasks, allowing teams to focus on more important interactions, while analytics tools provide insights into team performance and customer engagement. Other features include snooze, rules, templates, collision detection, and customer history.

Ideal for industries like technology, financial services, and logistics, Front combines automation with a personal touch to improve customer satisfaction and team efficiency. By streamlining communication and providing valuable tools for managing interactions, Front helps teams deliver a better, more personalized customer experience.

Front’s price:

Front offers four main pricing plans:

• Starter at $19 per seat/month for basic features,
• Growth at $59 per seat/month for essential features,
• Scale at $99 per seat/month for advanced management and increased automation, and
• Premier at $229 per seat/month for maximum usage and custom integrations.

Each plan is billed annually and offers additional add-ons like AI Answers and premium channel integrations. Front also offers a 7-day trial.

What we like:

What we don’t like:

Check out Front

Hiver

Hiver stands as a unique support ticket or helpdesk solution that is based on Gmail, specifically designed for businesses looking to optimize their customer support operations within their existing email environment.

It enables effective team collaboration and communication across multiple channels, including email, live chat, and voice communication, all integrated within the Gmail interface. This integration creates a unified inbox experience, which simplifies the handling of multi-channel support and boosts team productivity.

Hiver’s price:

Hiver starts at $15/user/month

What we like:

What we don’t like:

Check out Hiver

SysAid Helpdesk Software

SysAid is a flexible customer support software designed to help customer service and IT teams handle customer problems effectively. Rather than manually creating and sorting tickets, this tool automatically categorizes, directs, and prioritizes tickets to the appropriate teams.

Additionally, it provides features that allow your support staff to solve numerous customer issues via a self-service portal. They can also remotely connect to user computers and oversee IT resources through the service desk.

Read our review on SysAid.

SysAid’s price:

SysAid Helpdesk Software provides a free trial. The Basic or Full Edition starts at $1211 per year, which includes 500 assets and 5 users, or $1611 per year for 1000 assets.

What we like:

What we don’t like:

Check out SysAid Helpdesk Software

Freshdesk

Freshdesk, a product of Freshworks, is among the top support ticketing software available. It even offers a lifetime free plan for three support staff members. In terms of features and simplicity, it is on par with Zendesk, and it is also quite user-friendly and easy to manage.

Freshdesk allows your customers to submit complaint tickets with ease and equips your support staff with the necessary tools to handle these complaints efficiently.

Freshdesk’s price:

Freshdesk can be used for free, with plans ranging from $15/month to $79/month.

What we like:

What we don’t like

Check out Freshdesk

Zoho Desk

Zoho Desk provides a multi-channel customer service tool that enables you to respond to and follow up with your customers. This tool utilizes AI technology to proactively sort support tickets, and you can incorporate workflow automation to handle repetitive tasks.

Furthermore, you can address customer inquiries via email, social media, chat, phone, and your website.

You also have the option to link your account with third-party tools using REST APIs.

Zoho Desk’s price:

Zoho Desk is free for up to 3 agents, albeit with limited functionalities. Paid plans commence at $14/month.

What we like:

What we don’t like:

Check out Zoho Desk

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus is an intuitive tool for IT and customer management. It boasts a plethora of advanced features, including multi-channel support compatible with nearly all platforms, customer account and contact management, a self-service portal for customers, and a help desk that provides comprehensive information.

To obtain pricing information, you can input your specific details and requirements to receive a personalized quote. However, you have the option to test the service via a limited free trial before subscribing.

ServiceDesk Plus’s price:

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus offers a free trial. After the trial period, you can request a pricing quote.

What we like:

What we don’t like:

Check out ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus

Salesforce Service Cloud

Salesforce’s Service Cloud enables you to deliver an efficient and personalized customer experience. Customer agents can access all customer data through a unified dashboard. Additionally, managers can optimize their sales team’s performance using apps and AI-powered insights.

Some of the most impressive features of Salesforce’s Service Cloud include a service console with keyboard shortcuts and templates, efficient case management with access to comprehensive customer interaction data, service automation, analytics, and an extensive knowledge base for agents.

Read our review on Salesforce Service Cloud.

Service Cloud’s price:

The Essential plan starts at $25/user/month; the Professional plan at $75/user/month; the Enterprise plan at $150/user/month, and the Unlimited plan at $300/user/month.

Salesforce Service Cloud does not offer a free plan, but all plans include a 30-day trial.

What we like:

What we don’t like:

Check out Salesforce Service Cloud

Hesk

Hesk is a free help desk software that can be utilized for customer support or as an IT help desk.

Its features encompass the submission of support tickets via a web form or email integration (including OAuth for Microsoft 365), organization of tickets by category and urgency, automatic assignment to users, response templates, customization, and reporting.

Hesk is equipped with a fully-integrated knowledge base that can offer self-help guides to users either through a search function or by automatically suggesting relevant articles when a ticket is submitted.

Hesk’s price:

The self-hosted version of Hesk is available at no cost. The cloud-based version commences at $29.99 per month for 10 support agents.

What we like:

What we don’t like:

Check out Hesk Hesk Live Demo

Tidio Ticketing System

Tidio is a comprehensive customer communication tool that incorporates a live chat, chatbots, email marketing templates, and a proprietary ticketing system. It enables the management of all support requests in a single, organized, and efficient location.

With Tidio, you can establish priorities, delegate tasks, and revisit older conversations without the need for any third-party tools. This streamlines the process, making it more straightforward and enjoyable for both support agents and clients.

Tidio’s price:

Tidio’s ticketing system is available for free. However, paid plans that offer additional features start at $17 per month.

What we like:

What we don’t like:

Check out Tidio

osTicket

osTicket, the most popular open-source ticket system, is available in two versions: downloadable and hosted. The downloadable version is free and requires hosting on your own server. The hosted version, marketed as SupportSystem, is a paid ticketing service that offers the reliability and security of managed cloud hosting.

osTicket’s price:

osTicket’s downloadable version is free.

What we like:

What we don’t like:

Check out osTicket osTicket Live Demo

Spiceworks

Spiceworks is a free software suite designed for IT professionals and businesses. It provides a variety of tools that streamline IT tasks, such as a network manager, help desk software, and a question-and-answer forum. The help desk software is furnished with features like ticket submission through a web portal or email, ticket organization, automated ticketing tasks, and a knowledge base.

What we like:

What we don’t like:

Check out Spiceworks

Request Tracker

Request Tracker, developed by BestPractical.com, is a free (when self-hosted) and open-source issue tracking system. It boasts a plethora of features such as a dashboard, relationship graphs, a mobile-optimized interface, time-tracking and reporting, PGP support for emails, branding and custom theming, and a knowledge base, among others.

What we like:

What we don’t like:

Check out Request Tracker

Vision Helpdesk

Vision Helpdesk is a multi-channel, web-based helpdesk software. It distinguishes itself with unique features such as a Satellite helpdesk, Ticket billing, and Blabby. It also connects separate helpdesks to a central helpdesk. Its functionality can be expanded with modules and app integrations, and it also offers a mobile version.

Vision Helpdesk provides a free 30-day trial, with plans starting at $12/month.

What we like:

What we don’t like:

Check out Vision Helpdesk

HelpSpot

HelpSpot is a comprehensive, web-based help desk software. It offers a wide range of features such as a centralized help desk portal, ticket management, filtering, automation, a mobile-optimized interface, customer management, time tracking, benchmarking and performance reporting, and multi-brand support.

HelpSpot offers a free 21-day trial, with plans starting at $14/agent/month.

What we like:

What we don’t like:

Check out HelpSpot

JitBit Helpdesk

JitBit Helpdesk is available in two versions: Web-Based Help Desk and SaaS Help Desk. The former can be downloaded (upon purchase) and hosted on your server, while the latter is hosted remotely in JitBit’s cloud and can be accessed via the web. It offers features such as a knowledge base, reporting, asset-tracking, a customizable interface, unlimited agent allowance, email integration, and more.

Plans for JitBit Helpdesk start at $1699/year.

What we like:

What we don’t like:

Check out JitBit Helpdesk JitBit Live Demo

Kayako

Kayako provides unified help desk support and multiple channels to over 30,000 organizations. Some of its features include ticketing through the helpdesk or email, ticket routing and prioritization, reports, feedback, and ratings.

Plans for Kayako start at $30/month.

What we like:

What we don’t like:

Check out Kayako Kayako Live Demo

Bonus: Ticket Systems for CMS

Support Genix (WordPress)

If your objective is to enhance customer support directly from your WordPress dashboard, Support Genix is the ideal choice. With its robust WordPress ticketing system plugin, you can swiftly generate and manage support tickets. The transfer feature facilitates easy movement of issues between departments or teams as needed.

For businesses with a rapidly expanding customer base, the Genix Support ticket plugin is ideal for managing all customer inquiries. Consequently, this remarkable WordPress Support Ticket Plugin can manage everything from a single location.

Support Genix offers both a free and a pro version, with the pro version providing additional features and support. The most economical Personal package is priced at just $29/year, which includes unlimited tickets and business email piping. Alternatively, a one-time payment of $59 grants access to similar features with lifetime updates and support.

WordPress Advanced Ticket System (WordPress)

This ticket system is feature-rich and comes in two versions. The free version provides basic ticketing features, while the premium version offers more features for handling customer tickets more efficiently. Features can be expanded using plugins.

Support Ticketing System (Drupal)

This is a ticketing system designed for Drupal. It offers basic ticketing features such as ticket creation, ticket assignment to users, email integration and notifications, ticket overviews, and ticketing activity charts.

RSTickets! Pro (Joomla!)

RSTickets’s help desk ticketing system for Joomla. It includes features like ticket creation and management, automatic ticket assignment, performance management, an integrated knowledge base, customized email messages, and a dashboard for quick access to all customer support areas.

The post 10 Best Support Ticketing Systems for 2024 (Free and Paid) appeared first on Hongkiat.

In this post, I want to introduce five tools that mesh well with any CMS, whether you’re using WordPress, Drupal, Magento, or Shopify. These tools – Froala, Filestack, Cloudflare, Typeform, and Intercom – offer unique benefits that can refine and elevate your site’s functionality.

Each tool serves a distinct purpose, from improving site aesthetics and handling media files more efficiently to enhancing security, gathering feedback, and facilitating better communication with your audience. Integrating these tools with your CMS can create a smoother, more secure, and engaging online environment for your visitors.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at how these tools can complement your CMS.

Overview:

Froala

Froala, which we’ve previously also mentioned in our Best WYSIWYG HTML Editor post, is a WYSIWYG editor that seamlessly integrates with CMSs, making the process of writing and editing content straightforward and intuitive. It’s designed for instant use, appealing to both web developers and content creators with its simple, clean interface.

Froala offers a wide range of editing capabilities, such as text formatting, adding images and videos, and designing custom layouts. This array of options enables creators to produce content that’s not only informative but also visually captivating, enhancing visitor engagement and retention.

For developers, Froala provides extensive API access and numerous plugins, allowing for precise adjustments and expansions based on specific project requirements.

Incorporating Froala into your CMS does more than just enrich the content editing experience. It simplifies the development process, offering compatibility across various programming languages and ensuring smooth integration into any CMS framework.

Price

Froala offers a one-time payment option for a perpetual license, with the price depending on the number of developers and projects. Alternatively, there’s a subscription option that comes with continuous support and updates.

Froala also has a free trial, so users can try out its features and see how well it integrates and customizes before buying.

Learn more about Froala

Filestack

Next, we have Filestack, a powerful file handling service designed to streamline and enhance the workflow for both content management system (CMS) users and developers.

Filestack effortlessly integrate into various web and mobile applications, providing a seamless file upload experience. It offers a wide array of features including, but not limited to, image optimization, file conversion, and content delivery network (CDN) services, ensuring that your media is not only easily accessible but also presented in the best possible quality and format across all devices.

For developers, Filestack’s File API offers extensive flexibility and customization options, allowing for easy integration into existing projects with minimal coding required.

For CMS users, Filestack simplifies media management through automated workflows and an intuitive interface, making it easier than ever to manage, transform, and share content globally.

For more details, you can visit Filestack’s features page.

Price

Filestack’s pricing is structured around a usage-based model. It provides a free trial for 21 days, including 75 GB of Bandwidth, 20,000 Uploads, 50,000 Transformations, and 50 GB of Filestack Storage.

Filestack also offers several paid plans:

• Start: $69 per month, offering 75 GB of Bandwidth, 20,000 Uploads, 50,000 Transformations, and 50 GB of Filestack Storage.
• Grow: $199 per month, providing 200 GB of Bandwidth, 50,000 Uploads, 150,000 Transformations, and 150 GB of Filestack Storage.
• Scale: $379 per month, featuring 400 GB of Bandwidth, 125,000 Uploads, 300,000 Transformations, and 350 GB of Filestack Storage.

Learn more about Filestack

Cloudflare

If you haven’t heard of Cloudflare yet, you certainly should. Cloudflare enhances your website’s speed and security against online threats. Think of it as both a guardian and an accelerator for your website.

Cloudflare offers a variety of services to protect and accelerate websites; at its core, it functions as a content delivery network (CDN), distributing your site’s content across its global network to ensure faster access for users everywhere.

Cloudflare also provides protection against a broad spectrum of threats, including DDoS attacks, malicious bot activities, and data breaches. It efficiently filters out harmful traffic, ensuring your site remains secure and accessible to legitimate users.

In addition, Cloudflare offers tools for SSL encryption, web optimization, and analytics, affording site owners valuable insights into traffic patterns and security threats.

Price

Cloudflare offers a free plan designed to improve website performance and security, which includes access to its global CDN and basic DDoS protection.

For more advanced features, such as enhanced security options, more detailed analytics, and 24/7 support, Cloudflare provides a range of paid plans (Pro, Business, and Enterprise) starting at $20/month.

The pricing for these plans varies based on the desired level of service and features. To learn more about what’s included in the free plan and their paid plans, check out their plans and pricing page.

Learn more about Cloudflare

Typeform

Online forms are crucial, no matter the type of website you operate. If your CMS collects information from users, Typeform is the solution you need.

Renowned for its user-friendly interface and customizable design, Typeform turns traditional forms into engaging conversations. This tool transforms the form-filling process from a mundane task into an interactive dialogue, increasing the likelihood that users will complete and submit their information.

Typeform offers a wide range of form types, such as surveys, quizzes, registration forms, and feedback forms. One of its standout features is the ability to create forms that feel personal and conversational, which can significantly improve response rates.

Typeform integrates seamlessly with many CMS platforms, facilitating easy data collection and analysis. Its advanced features, including logic jumps that tailor questions based on previous answers and various integration options that automate workflows, make Typeform a powerful tool for effectively gathering and managing user data.

In the context of online forms for your website, also check out our post on Free Online Form Builders.

Price

Typeform provides a basic free plan for creating forms and surveys. For more advanced features, there are tiered paid plans:

• Basic: $25/month – Includes 100 responses/month, 1 user, unlimited typeforms and questions.
• Plus: $50/month – Includes all Basic features, 1,000 responses/month, 3 users, no Typeform branding, and a custom subdomain.
• Business: $83/month – Includes all Plus features, 10,000 responses/month, 5 users, conversion tracking, and priority support.

Learn more about Typeform

Intercom

Last but not least, we have Intercom. Intercom is a communication platform designed to enhance how businesses interact with their customers directly from their website or within their app, making it an invaluable tool for CMS-driven sites.

Intercom offers real-time chat support, targeted emails and in-app messages, as well as a help desk and a knowledge base. These features collaborate to provide a seamless communication channel between the site and its users.

It is particularly useful for e-commerce platforms, service-based businesses, or any site aiming to improve customer engagement and satisfaction. With Intercom’s targeted messaging and powerful analytics, website owners can understand user behavior, enabling them to tailor their content, offers, and support to meet the specific needs of their audience.

Price

Intercom does not offer a free plan but provides a 14-day free trial period for its various plans.

Following the trial, users can select from several subscription options, including:

• Essential – $39 per user/month
• Advanced – $99 per user/month
• Expert – $139 per user/month

Click here to learn more about all its plans and features.

Learn more about Intercom

Conclusion

To wrap things up, think of your website as a finely-tuned instrument. Incorporating tools like Froala, Filestack, Cloudflare, Typeform, and Intercom is akin to adding the right accessories that not only enhance its performance but also its appeal.

These aren’t just add-ons; they’re essential components that enrich the user experience, streamline content creation, safeguard your site, and foster better connections with your audience. Imagine creating more visually engaging content, effortlessly managing files, speeding up your site, engaging in meaningful conversations, and gathering valuable feedback – all with a few smart integrations.

No matter if you’re running a bustling e-commerce site, a detailed blog, or any other online venture, these tools are your allies in navigating the digital world’s challenges.

So, go ahead, give your CMS that extra edge, and watch as your site transforms into a more dynamic, secure, and engaging space for everyone who visits.

The post 5 Synergizing Tools For Your Content Management System appeared first on Hongkiat.

As it is important to have the right tools, so choosing one can be a daunting task. In this write-up, I will introduce you to 10 of the best project management tools for businesses that can help you manage your projects more easily and efficiently.

Read Also:  9 Tools Every Project Manager Should Know

Overview:

1. Monday.com

Monday.com is an online project management tool that helps teams to track their projects and stay on top of deadlines. It provides a centralized place for teams to plan projects, collaborate, share files, and communicate efficiently.

It also provides an AI-powered chatbot that can automate tasks like setting up meetings, scheduling tasks, and updating task statuses.

Monday.com offers multiple views like kanban boards, Gantt charts, etc. like other tools on this list.

Its customizable forms and project approval automations improve productivity. Its templates help you speed up creating repeatable project resources and structures. Moreover, its dashboards help monitor performance and make project decisions effectively.

Monday.com’s Price: (Offers free plan)

monday.com has a more complex pricing structure than most other tools here. Its Free plan offers bare minimum for 2 members.

The Basic Plan for $9 /seat/month offers unlimited projects and a dashboard.

Both Standard and Pro Plan go for $12 and $20 /seat/month, respectively, offer more features, and the Enterprise plan offers more power for enterprises.

Manage Projects with Monday.com

2. Wrike

Wrike is yet another project management software that makes it easy for teams to collaborate and get work done. It has all the features of a typical project management tool, but what sets it apart is that it can integrate with other applications and services.

This allows you to create custom workflows and automate tasks, saving teams time and improving efficiency.

Wrike provides a 360-overview of all the projects in a list, kanban board, Gantt chart, or time log per your preference, as well as detailed reports about your team’s time spent, deadlines, and critical path analysis, which helps you make strategic decisions about allocating resources.

On top of that, Wrike also offers automated workflows and customisable forms to speed up repetitive work.

Wrike’s Price: (Offers free plan)

Wrike offers a free plan offering common features along with Work Schedules.

Other plans include Professional plan that goes for $9.80 /user/month, Business plan costing $24.80 /user/month with most features like custom fields and workflows, Automation Engine, project approvals, time tracking, and more.

Its Enterprise plan meets extra demands like Single Sign-On (SSO) and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).

Manage Projects with Wrike

3. ClickUp

ClickUp is an all-in-one project management tool that provides a collaborative workspace for team members with modular add-ons called ClickApps. Its comprehensive set of features includes task management, file sharing, time tracking, and invoicing.

Though I find ClickUp to be more complex than some other tools like Trello, it does, however, offer some advanced features that any project manager or team would need.

The user interface is clean and easy to navigate with the capability to add extra features through its apps like Email, Milestones, LineUp, Task View, etc.

ClickUp’s Price: (Offers free plan)

ClickUp offers a free plan that meets most requirements of individuals and small teams looking for a simple project management tool.

Its Unlimited plan cost $9 /member/month, offers a lot more charts, integrations, and storage.

The Business and Business Plus goes for $19 and $29 /member/month, respectively, offer more features targeted towards enterprises like advanced automation, Single Sign-On (SSO), etc.

Manage Projects with ClickUp

4. Smartsheet

Smartsheet is a spreadsheet-like project management tool that helps teams track, plan, and collaborate on projects. So, if you like Excel, you will feel right at home with Smartsheet.

The platform offers features for team collaboration, project management, project scheduling, resource allocation, and task management. You can also create templates for repeatable tasks to save time.

Smartsheet offers useful features like workflow automation, task visualization, and more in calendar and Gantt chart views. You can also create and share templates, assign tasks, update status, and upload files. Its integrations for popular business and team apps work wonders, helping you to boost productivity while following the agile project management approach.

Smartsheet’s Price: (No free plan)

Smartsheet does not have a free plan.

Its Pro plan costs $9 /user/month and offers unlimited dashboards and reports, calendar and Gantt charts, automation rules, and more.

Business plan costing $19 /user/month offers more automation, proofing, custom branding, etc.

Enterprise plan offers more like Smartsheet Advance, Single Sign-On (SSO), domain sharing, Work Insights, etc.

Manage Projects with Smartsheet

5. Zoho Projects

Zoho Projects — one of the offerings from Zoho — is a project management tool designed to help teams collaborate, organize, and manage projects efficiently. It offers features such as task management, resource management, time tracking, project reporting, and file sharing.

Zoho Projects offers a variety of views like Gantt charts, kanban boards, etc. It features various collaboration tools, including real-time chat, Google Docs-like document editing, and video conferencing.

It also supports project budgeting, which along with its integration with Zoho Books and Zoho CRM helps you complete projects successfully within budget and on deadline.

Zoho Projects’ Price: (Offers free plan)

Zoho Projects Free plan allows 2 projects and 3 users with basic features — two features hardly available in other tools’ free plans.

Premium plan costs $5 /user/month offers unlimited projects, custom views, and automation options.

Enterprise plan costs $10 /user/month offers custom fields, custom roles, SSO, and more enterprise-ready features.

Manage Projects with Zoho Projects

6. Trello

Trello is a leading project management and collaboration tool that helps teams organize their work, set priorities, and stay on track. It offers an intuitive interface with a kanban board layout that lets you drag and drop cards to update task status quickly.

Users can also add checklists, attachments, labels, and comments to cards to add detailed information about the tasks.

One of my favorite features is custom fields, which enable adding extra data to cards. If you add automation with custom fields, it supercharges your task boards.

Though Trello started as a kanban board last decade, now it offers more views like dashboard, timeline, calendar, etc. However, it lacks advanced project management features like email integration, milestones, etc., unlike ClickUp.

Trello’s Price: (Offers free plan)

Trello has a simpler and more affordable pricing structure than ClickUp. It provides a free plan with the bare minimum to get started.

The Standard and Premium plans cost $6 and $12.50 /user/month, respectively, add extra options like unlimited boards, custom fields, unlimited storage, and more, and its Enterprise plan costs $17.50 /user/month if billed annually.

Manage Projects with Trello

7. Asana

Asana is another popular project management tool that allows users to set up projects, assign tasks, and keep track of their progress.

The app is designed to be easy to use and helps people keep track of tasks and deadlines. Users can also set due dates and attach files, and it features approval rules and workflows.

Asana provides a simple kanban board and a to-do list as well as templates for common projects such as marketing campaigns or software development projects. It has a clean interface and also features various integrations and custom fields and forms for automation.

Asana’s Price: (Offers free plan)

Asana offers a free plan that should suffice the project management needs of small businesses.

The Premium and Business plans cost $13.49 and $30.49 /user/month, respectively, with additional features like workflow builder, unlimited reporting, admin console, and more.

You can also get a customized Enterprise plan with support for SSO.

Manage Projects with Asana

8. Teamwork

Teamwork is a kanban-based project management suite offering advanced reporting features — all within the same kanban board-like intuitive interface as Trello. Its Workload feature helps manage resources and identify risks at the outset of projects to get better prepared for completing projects.

Teamwork offers kanban boards like many agile-based project management tools and features like dependencies and milestones and a portfolio view to visualize the complete project.

It also supports integrations with popular third-party tools for tracking time, invoicing, and more. Interestingly, it also supports custom branding, custom domain, and more.

Teamwork’s Price: (Offers free plan)

The Free plan works for 5 users, comes with basic features.

Deliver and Grow plans costing $12.50 and $22.50 /user/month, respectively, offer invoicing, team chat, extended kanban boards, table view, and more.

Its Scale plan offers more though I could not find SSO or other enterprise features.

Manage Projects with Teamwork

9. MeisterTask

MeisterTask is a project management tool that allows organizations to assign and manage tasks and track their progress. Its features include an activity dashboard, custom fields, backlog management, and file sharing between team members. It is as visually appealing as popular tools like Trello though its revision management interface can be improved.

MeisterTask includes kanban boards, gantt charts, timelines, dashboards, and more for agile teams. You can add attachments and checklists to tasks, set dependencies and relationships, and more using its easy-to-use interface.

It also supports automation and recurring tasks like many other tools on this list, along with detailed reports and statistics, which help improve productivity.

MeisterTask’s Price: (Offers free plan)

Surprisingly, MeisterTask has one of the cheapest plans on this list.

Its Basic plan is free for up to 3 projects and limited integrations.

Pro and Business plans goes for $8.25 and $12.49 /user/month when paid annually offer unlimited projects and integrations.

Enterprise plan offers Single Sign-On (SSO), account manager, etc.

Manage Projects with MeisterTask

10. GoodDay

GoodDay is a project management tool for small businesses. It’s a web-based tool that helps you to easily distribute tasks, set deadlines, and keep track of progress. It offers features for kanban and scrum methodologies like goals and workloads for an easy project management.

GoodDay provides a collaborative and intuitive interface that makes it easy to manage projects. Some of its best features include time tracking, invoicing, expense tracking, and integrations with hundreds of productivity tools like Excel, Jira, Slack, and Trello, like most tools on this list.

GoodDay’s Price: (Offers free plan)

GoodDay has a free plan with all the basic features.

Professional plan starts at $6 /user/month offers advanced analytics, advanced integrations, Gantt and timeline views, and more. Enterprise plan comes with more features like unlimited members and storage, Single Sign-On (SSO), etc.

Manage Projects with GoodDay

That’s all about the best project management tools for small businesses. Though these all are the top tools in this space, the best one for you will depend on your requirements.

For example, I use ClickUp for managing my freelance projects and Asana for managing blog posts. Which one did you pick?

The post 10 Best Project Management Tools for Businesses appeared first on Hongkiat.

The good news? There’s a vast universe of free apps out there, perfectly suited for beginners looking to enhance their Mac experience right from the start. Navigating this landscape can seem daunting at first, but that’s where we come in.

We’ve curated a list of 20 essential free apps, covering everything from productivity boosters to security enhancers. These picks are all about making your Mac journey smoother, more efficient, and enjoyable without costing you a dime. Let’s explore these free gems that are just waiting to make your Mac life better.

Content Creation & Productivity

Microsoft To Do

Microsoft To Do is an intuitive app that helps you keep track of daily tasks and notes. With cloud synchronization, your lists are always updated across all devices.

Alternatives: Workflowy, Google Tasks, and Any.do.

Google Docs

Google Docs offers a powerful, cloud-based word processing tool. Its real-time collaboration feature makes it ideal for team projects and personal note-taking.

Alternatives: ONLYOFFICE, CryptPad, Apache OpenOffice, and Pages.

LibreOffice

For those seeking a comprehensive office suite, LibreOffice includes word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and more, rivaling paid alternatives.

Alternatives: WPS Office, and SoftMaker FreeOffice.

Evernote

Evernote stands out for its ability to organize notes, images, and clips from the web into a searchable database, enhancing research and project management.

Alternatives: Obsidian, Standard Notes, and Simplenote.

Slack

Slack revolutionizes team communication, offering instant messaging, file sharing, and integration with numerous productivity apps, essential for remote work and collaboration.

Alternatives: Google Chat, Chanty, and Microsoft Teams.

Internet & Communication

Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox is a fast, privacy-focused web browser with robust customization options, making it a great alternative to Safari for those concerned about privacy and online tracking.

Alternatives: Brave, Opera, and Chrome.

Thunderbird

Also developed by Mozilla, Thunderbird is a powerful and customizable email client with support for multiple accounts, making managing emails simpler and more efficient.

Alternatives: Spark, Apple Mail, Canary Mail, and Mailspring.

Skype

Skype is a familiar and user-friendly app for video calls, voice calls, and instant messaging, perfect for both personal and professional communication.

Alternatives: Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.

WhatsApp Desktop

Stay connected with friends and family around the globe with WhatsApp Desktop, offering seamless synchronization with your mobile device’s WhatsApp account.

Alternatives: Telegram, Viber, and Signal.

Media & Entertainment

VLC Media Player

VLC is a versatile media player that supports almost any video format, eliminating the need for multiple players or codecs.

Alternatives: Elmedia Player, MPV, and IINA.

Spotify

Spotify offers a vast library of songs and podcasts with its free tier, making it easy to discover new music and manage playlists.

Alternatives: Tidal, YouTube Music, SoundCloud, and Google Play Music.

GIMP

GIMP is a powerful, open-source photo editing software that rivals paid options, offering extensive tools for image manipulation and creation.

Alternatives: Inkscape, Paintbrush, and Seashore.

HandBrake

Convert videos from nearly any format to a selection of modern, widely supported codecs with HandBrake, simplifying media management and sharing.

Alternatives: FFmpeg, MPEG Streamclip, and MacX DVD Ripper.

Security & Privacy

Avast Security for Mac

Protect your Mac from malware, viruses, and other threats with Avast Security, offering real-time protection and regular updates.

Alternatives: AVG AntiVirus, Avira Free Antivirus, and Malwarebytes.

LastPass

LastPass securely stores and manages your passwords, with autofill options for online forms to simplify your digital life.

Alternatives: Bitwarden, Dashlane, and KeePass.

NordVPN

NordVPN provides a secure and private internet experience, encrypting your online activity and bypassing geographical restrictions on content.

Alternatives: VPN Plus, ProtonVPN, and UrbanVPN.

Utility & Tools

Alfred

Alfred boosts your efficiency with hotkeys, keywords, and text expansion, acting as a command center for your Mac.

Alternatives: Quicksilver, and LaunchBar

OnyX

Keep your Mac in top condition with OnyX, a multifunction utility for maintenance, optimization, and personalization of macOS.

Alternatives: CCleaner, CleanMyMac X, and EtreCheck.

Spectacle

Spectacle allows you to easily organize and control windows using customizable keyboard shortcuts, enhancing multitasking and screen real estate management.

Alternatives: Rectangle, and Magnet.

The post 20 Essential Free Mac Apps for New Users appeared first on Hongkiat.

But here’s the catch: not all collaboration tools are created equal. Picking the perfect one for your team is more art than science, balancing user-friendliness, seamless integration, iron-clad security, and of course, cost-effectiveness. The goal? To boost your team’s productivity without bogging them down with another cumbersome tool to master.

Check out this guide as we unveil the top 10 project collaboration tools, breaking down their features, pros, cons, and ideal use cases to help you make an informed choice for your team’s unique needs.

Overview

1. ClickUp

ClickUp is not just a project collaboration tool; it’s a platform designed to accommodate every aspect of work in one place. With its highly customizable features, ClickUp adapts to your team’s unique workflow, whether you’re managing tasks, tracking project progress, or creating documents. It stands out for its ability to replace multiple productivity tools with its comprehensive suite of features, including task assignments, time tracking, goal setting, and even an email integration.

This makes ClickUp an all-in-one solution for teams seeking to streamline their processes, reduce tool fragmentation, and focus on delivering high-quality work efficiently.

Key Features

• Customizable views for tasks, docs, and goals
• Built-in document and wiki creation tools
• Integration with over 1,000 tools

Ideal Use Cases

• Teams looking for a comprehensive project management platform that can adapt to a wide variety of needs and workflows
• Organizations aiming to consolidate multiple tools into one platform

Tryout ClickUp

2. Monday.com

Monday.com stands as a highly customizable platform that excels in enabling teams to tailor their project and workflow management processes. It’s distinguished by its user-friendly interface and a wide array of features designed to accommodate various project types, from simple task management to complex project planning.

Monday.com facilitates collaboration through shared boards, automation of routine tasks, and integration with numerous external applications, streamlining communication and enhancing productivity. Its adaptability makes it suitable for a diverse range of industries, including marketing, software development, and operations, proving to be a great tool for teams seeking to optimize their workflows.

Key Features

• Highly customizable dashboards
• Automation to streamline tasks
• Integration with popular apps

Ideal Use Cases

• Teams that require a high degree of customization in their project management processes
• Businesses looking for a scalable solution

Tryout Monday.com

3. Asana

Asana is a project management tool designed to help teams organize, track, and manage their work with ease. It offers a comprehensive platform for creating projects, assigning tasks, setting deadlines, and updating statuses, making it easier for teams to stay on top of their objectives.

With its intuitive interface, Asana encourages collaboration by allowing team members to communicate directly on tasks, share files, and set priorities, ensuring that everyone is aligned and focused on their goals. Its ability to integrate with a wide range of other tools enhances its utility, making it a favored choice for many organizations.

Key Features

• Customizable dashboards
• Integration with over 100 apps
• Robust security measures

Ideal Use Cases

• Complex projects requiring detailed task management
• Teams looking for high customization

Tryout Asana

4. Trello

Trello is a highly visual project management tool that utilizes boards, lists, and cards to help organize and prioritize projects in a flexible and fun manner. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes managing tasks and projects straightforward, allowing users to set up boards quickly for various projects and workflows.

Trello is well-suited for individuals and teams looking for a simple yet effective way to track progress and collaborate on tasks. With its ability to integrate with a wide array of other applications, Trello enhances productivity by centralizing task management in one accessible location.

Key Features

• Drag-and-drop functionality
• Integration with popular apps
• Easy to set up and use

Ideal Use Cases

• Small to medium-sized projects
• Teams needing quick task visualization

Tryout Trello

5. Slack

Slack is an advanced communication platform designed to simplify team interaction. Central to its design is the ability to create channels for different projects or topics, enabling focused discussions and efficient information sharing.

It supports direct messaging for private conversations, file sharing, and integrates with numerous third-party applications, enhancing its functionality beyond mere messaging. Slack’s intuitive interface and customizable notification settings make it a popular choice among diverse teams, from tech startups to large corporations, looking to streamline their communication process and boost productivity.

Key Features

• Real-time messaging in channels and private groups
• Integration with over 2,000 third-party apps
• File sharing and collaboration

Tryout Slack

6. Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is more than just a collaboration tool; it’s an integrated part of the Microsoft 365 suite, offering a comprehensive solution for communication and collaboration. It combines chat, video meetings, file storage, and application integration within a single interface.

Teams facilitates seamless collaboration across departments and project groups, offering features such as document collaboration in real-time, meeting scheduling, and a vast ecosystem of integrated apps and services. Its deep integration with Microsoft 365 ensures that users have a unified experience, leveraging tools like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint within the collaborative framework of Teams, making it a comprehensive solution for organizations of all sizes.

Key Features

• Chat, video calls, and meeting organization
• Integration with Microsoft 365 apps
• Extensive file storage and sharing capabilities

Tryout Microsoft Teams

7. Zoom

Zoom has transformed the way teams communicate, providing a robust platform for video conferencing, webinars, and live chats. Its intuitive interface allows users to set up and join meetings with ease, facilitating collaboration across different locations and time zones.

With high-quality video and audio, screen sharing capabilities, and secure meeting options, Zoom supports a variety of use cases from daily team check-ins to large-scale virtual events. Its scalability and reliability make it a preferred choice for businesses of all sizes, ensuring seamless communication whether in the office or working remotely.

Key Features

• High-quality video and audio conferencing
• Screen sharing and collaboration tools
• Secure meeting options

Integration with Collaboration Tools

Zoom integrates with several project collaboration tools, enhancing communication within project management workflows.

Tryout Zoom

8. Google Workspace

Google Workspace, formerly known as G Suite, is a comprehensive collection of cloud-based productivity and collaboration tools developed by Google. It seamlessly integrates various applications such as Gmail, Docs, Drive, Calendar, Meet, and more, facilitating real-time collaboration across teams and organizations.

With its user-friendly interface, Google Workspace enables users to create, communicate, and collaborate on projects from any location, making it an ideal solution for businesses seeking efficiency and scalability. Its powerful integration capabilities enhance workflow, allowing for a streamlined experience that supports a wide range of business functions and processes.

Key Features

• Real-time collaboration on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations
• Email integration with Gmail
• Secure cloud storage with Google Drive

Tryout Google Workspace

9. Basecamp

Basecamp offers a refreshingly simple approach to project management and team collaboration. It stands out for its clarity and ease of use, emphasizing streamlined communication and organization. With features like to-do lists for task management, milestone tracking for project progress, message boards for team discussions, a centralized schedule, and direct messaging for quick conversations, Basecamp suits teams looking for a no-fuss solution.

It’s particularly favored by small to medium-sized businesses and projects that prioritize clear, concise communication and the efficient management of tasks without the complexity of more elaborate systems. This focus on simplicity helps teams to maintain a high level of productivity with minimal overhead.

Key Features

• To-do lists, milestone tracking, and message boards
• Centralized schedule with deadlines and assignments
• Direct messaging and file sharing

Ideal Use Cases

• Small to medium-sized teams looking for a straightforward project management solution
• Projects that require a high level of team communication

Tryout Basecamp

10. Jira

Jira is the go-to platform for teams practicing agile project management, especially within the software development sector. Designed to enhance team agility and efficiency, Jira facilitates the planning, tracking, and managing of software development projects with customizable scrum and kanban boards. It stands out for its ability to adapt to various agile methodologies, offering powerful reporting and advanced issue tracking that ensures teams can pinpoint bottlenecks, manage sprints, and deliver projects on time.

Its integration capabilities with a vast array of developer tools streamline the development process, making Jira an indispensable tool for agile teams aiming for continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Key Features

• Customizable scrum and kanban boards
• Agile reporting tools
• Integration with developer tools

Tryout Jira

FAQs on Project Collaboration Tools

What are project collaboration tools?

Project collaboration tools are software applications designed to help teams plan, execute, and track the progress of their projects efficiently, facilitating communication and collaboration.

How do collaboration tools improve team productivity?

By providing a centralized platform for task management, communication, and document sharing, collaboration tools reduce the need for lengthy meetings and email chains, thus improving team productivity.

Can small businesses benefit from project collaboration tools?

Absolutely. Small businesses can significantly benefit from the organizational and efficiency improvements that collaboration tools offer, allowing them to compete more effectively in the market.

Are there free project collaboration tools available?

Yes, many collaboration tools offer free versions with basic features, which can be suitable for startups or small teams with limited budgets.

How secure are project collaboration tools?

Most reputable project collaboration tools offer robust security features, including encryption, two-factor authentication, and compliance with data protection regulations, to ensure user data is securely managed.

Conclusion

Selecting the right project collaboration tool is crucial for enhancing your team’s efficiency and productivity. By considering your project needs and evaluating each tool’s features, pros, and cons, you can make an informed decision that best suits your team’s workflow.

The post 10 Best Project Collaboration Tools for 2024 appeared first on Hongkiat.

Time management isn’t just about crossing tasks off your list; it’s about prioritizing what truly matters, setting achievable goals, and finding that elusive balance in life. With the right approach, you can say goodbye to stress and hello to a more organized, rewarding daily routine. Whether you’re a professional striving for career advancement, a student aiming for academic success, or simply someone yearning for a more structured life, the insights from these books will equip you with the tools you need.

Prepare to revolutionize the way you manage your time, boost your productivity, and transform your life with wisdom from the best in the field. Let’s embark on this journey together, discovering how effective time management can turn aspirations into realities.

The 80/20 Principle

In “The 80/20 Principle,” Richard Koch delves into the Pareto Principle, revealing its power to boost efficiency and productivity in our personal and professional lives. This principle suggests that a small portion of our efforts (about 20%) produces the majority of our results (around 80%).

Koch offers advice on pinpointing the 20% of activities that deliver the most significant benefits. With real-life examples, he shows how adopting the 80/20 rule can lead to more success and enjoyment in life, allowing us to achieve more by doing less.

This book is an invaluable resource for anyone eager to enhance their effectiveness and productivity, presenting a method for not just managing businesses but also navigating the complexities of everyday life.

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The Art Of Getting Things Done

Vincent A. Santiago’s “The Art of Getting Things Done” is an essential guide for improving time management in our busy lives. This book presents actionable strategies for increasing productivity by focusing on doing less. Santiago highlights the significance of a positive mindset, effective task lists, task prioritization, staying focused amid distractions, and the rejuvenating power of breaks.

He explores the development of productive habits that enhance daily management, moving beyond time management to managing oneself efficiently. This guide is a vital tool for anyone looking to reduce stress and organize their life more effectively.

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Deep Work

Cal Newport’s “Deep Work” dives into the importance of concentrated effort in today’s distraction-filled world. Newport, an expert in computer science, showcases deep work as a unique and highly valuable skill that fosters success and fulfillment. The book is neatly divided into two sections: the first makes the case for deep work’s relevance in various fields, and the second provides a pragmatic approach to developing a deep work habit through four practical “rules.”

With engaging narratives and practical tips, Newport encourages readers to achieve more with focused effort, emphasizing the significance of depth in work and life. “Deep Work” serves as both a guide to productive work habits and a call to find deeper meaning in our endeavors.

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Eat That Frog!

Brian Tracy’s “Eat That Frog!” is a motivational guide that tackles procrastination head-on and boosts productivity. Tracy shares 21 effective methods for sorting through tasks and focusing first on the most significant ones, your “frogs.”

The essence of the book lies in tackling the biggest challenges at the start of the day, leading to greater achievement and satisfaction. Tracy stresses the necessity of clear goals, decisive actions, detailed planning, and a disciplined approach to managing time. The book is structured with easy-to-apply principles, designed for quick learning and application in everyday routines.

For anyone battling delay or seeking to step up their productivity game, “Eat That Frog!” is packed with timeless wisdom to accomplish more in fewer hours, proving indispensable for reaching higher efficiency and goal fulfillment.

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Four Thousand Weeks

Oliver Burkeman’s “Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals” takes a profound look at managing time with the understanding that our lives are inherently limited. Rather than prescribing efficiency hacks, Burkeman encourages a meaningful approach to living within our time constraints, based on the average lifespan of eighty years.

He draws from various fields to argue against the productivity craze and suggests that accepting our limitations can lead to a more meaningful existence. This book shifts the focus from doing more to doing what’s important, offering readers a chance to rethink their approach to time, productivity, and life choices.

With compelling narratives and deep insights, Burkeman’s work is a call to embrace our finite time and make conscious decisions about how we live, making it a pivotal read for anyone seeking to understand the true value of their time.

Get this book

Getting Things Done

David Allen’s “Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity” offers a groundbreaking method for enhancing organizational and productivity skills. Since its first release, it has altered millions of lives through its straightforward, yet powerful approach to managing work and life. Allen introduces the “GTD” method, a system that helps people organize their tasks by capturing them in a physical or digital manner and breaking them down into actionable steps.

This technique not only boosts productivity but also clears the mind, reducing stress. The updated edition includes contemporary workplace challenges and technological advancements, reinforcing GTD’s relevance in the digital era. It’s more than a productivity system; it’s a way to achieve a peaceful yet efficient mindset, focusing on what truly matters.

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The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Stephen R. Covey’s iconic “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” has been a source of inspiration for countless individuals looking to improve their lives. This 30th-anniversary edition, refreshed with input from Sean Covey, brings new life to its proven wisdom. It lays out a principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems with integrity, honesty, and dignity.

The seven habits offer a roadmap to effective living, stressing the importance of being proactive, setting clear goals, prioritizing effectively, seeking mutually beneficial outcomes, communicating empathetically, synergizing with others, and pursuing continuous personal growth. This updated edition ensures Covey’s principles remain relevant, providing invaluable guidance for leading a productive and meaningful life.

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How to Stop Procrastinating

Steve Scott’s “How to Stop Procrastinating” is a hands-on manual designed to help readers conquer procrastination and boost their productivity. Scott lays out a clear, step-by-step strategy for cultivating a proactive mindset in all areas of life. He describes procrastination as a significant hurdle to success, leading to setbacks in academia, career, health, and finances.

The book advocates for the formation of the “anti-procrastination habit,” providing practical tips for tackling tasks promptly and efficiently. Ideal for anyone from the occasional dawdler to the chronic procrastinator, this guide is crucial for achieving personal and professional objectives.

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Make Time

“Make Time” by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky is an insightful book focused on effective time management to prioritize what’s genuinely important. The authors propose a unique, adaptable method for reshaping daily routines, backed by their success with Google Ventures’ design sprints. They introduce a four-step plan to boost readers’ energy, focus, and time management.

With easy-to-implement advice and techniques, the guide emphasizes making incremental changes to one’s surroundings to dodge the pitfalls of constant busyness and distraction.

This book is perfect for anyone eager to step off the daily treadmill and carve out more significant, fulfilling experiences in their life.

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Organize Tomorrow Today

“Organize Tomorrow Today” by Jason Selk, Tom Bartow, and Matthew Rudy is a revolutionary guide focusing on maximizing achievements through efficient planning and prioritization. By sharing eight transformative strategies derived from their coaching experiences with elite athletes and executives, the authors offer a comprehensive approach to enhancing productivity and performance beyond mere time management.

With actionable insights for attaining peak performance without the risk of burnout, this book serves as an essential playbook for anyone aiming to excel by working smarter, not harder.

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The Productivity Project

Chris Bailey’s “The Productivity Project” offers an insightful exploration into maximizing productivity through the effective management of time, attention, and energy. Bailey shares findings from a year-long journey of self-experimentation and expert interviews, providing a unique perspective on achieving higher productivity levels. His book is packed with actionable advice, covering over 25 best practices for engaging in focused work, eliminating unnecessary tasks, and harnessing the power of strategic procrastination.

This guide is indispensable for anyone interested in refining their productivity practices to lead a more accomplished and purposeful life.

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15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management

Kevin Kruse’s “15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management” offers a deep dive into the time management strategies of highly successful people, including billionaires, Olympic athletes, and top entrepreneurs. Kruse reveals their unique routines and techniques, debunking common time management myths and introducing effective tools like the “Time Travel” technique to beat procrastination, and the productivity-boosting E-3C system.

This book is more than a time management guide; it’s a blueprint for optimizing every aspect of your life, promising readers a pathway to reduced stress and doubled productivity. It’s an indispensable resource for anyone eager to unlock their full potential and lead a more organized and fulfilling life.

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Stifled: Where Good Leaders Go Wrong

“Stifled: Where Good Leaders Go Wrong” by James G. Wetrich is a critical examination of leadership in the modern era, offering insights into what distinguishes truly effective leaders. Wetrich tackles the challenges leaders face in fostering team dynamics, promoting diversity and inclusion, and adapting to the rapid changes in the global business landscape.

With a focus on empowering millennials and zoomers, enhancing transparency, and embracing the global workplace’s evolution, “Stifled” provides a roadmap for leaders looking to navigate the complexities of leadership post-pandemic. It’s a vital read for current and aspiring leaders seeking to inspire and develop their teams fully.

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SYSTEMology

“SYSTEMology” is a practical guide for business owners looking to streamline their operations and enhance profitability through effective systemization. Authored by David Jenyns with a foreword by Michael E. Gerber, this book addresses the common pitfalls that prevent businesses from operating efficiently.

Drawing from over two decades of experience, Jenyns introduces a step-by-step framework designed to help even the busiest entrepreneurs implement systems that ensure business reliability. The book covers the essentials of systemizing a business, from identifying which systems to create first to engaging your team in the process. It debunks the myth that businesses need to be as systemized as McDonald’s to succeed, offering strategies for innovation and team compliance.

Whether you’re struggling with a key-person dependent business or simply looking to scale, “SYSTEMology” offers a pathway to transform your business into a self-sustaining entity.

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The 5AM Club

Robin Sharma’s “The 5AM Club” is a life-changing book that champions the power of waking up early. It argues that rising before dawn can elevate productivity, health, and tranquility. The narrative follows two individuals who, guided by a wise tycoon, learn the secret to extraordinary success through early rising. Sharma provides a compelling formula for early risers that promises inspiration, focus, and a dedicated time for self-improvement.

This guide is more than about waking up early; it’s a comprehensive strategy for achieving excellence in all areas of life. It’s a must-read for those committed to transforming their daily routine and living their best life.

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Time Management in 20 Minutes a Day

Holly Reisem Hanna’s “Time Management in 20 Minutes a Day” provides a straightforward and actionable approach to mastering productivity with minimal time investment. Hanna outlines simple, yet impactful strategies that fit into a busy lifestyle, covering everything from email management to decluttering and smart meeting tactics. The use of technology for better time management is also emphasized, making this guide invaluable for anyone seeking to enhance efficiency in both personal and professional spheres with quick, daily actions.

It’s an ideal read for those aiming to boost their productivity and take control of their time without overhauling their entire schedule.

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Time Management for the Overwhelmed

“Time Management for the Overwhelmed” by Violet Mendez provides invaluable insights for those feeling swamped by the demands of daily life. Mendez debunks the common belief of never having enough time, offering strategies to identify what truly matters, prioritize effectively, and optimize time use. The book addresses key challenges such as task prioritization, managing distractions, and overcoming procrastination, offering readers a comprehensive toolkit for achieving work-life harmony and advancing toward their goals confidently.

With Mendez’s guidance, readers will learn to manage their time in a way that reduces stress and enhances productivity, leading to a more balanced and fulfilling lifestyle.

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The Time Management Solution

Damon Zahariades’ “The Time Management Solution” is a practical guide for anyone looking to take charge of their time, increase productivity, and achieve a meaningful work-life balance. The book offers 21 actionable tactics, focused not only on productivity but also on enhancing well-being. Zahariades provides a customizable approach to time management, addressing how to efficiently handle meetings, emails, and interruptions, and includes specific exercises to help integrate these strategies into daily life.

This book is an essential resource for navigating the complexities of modern life, helping readers to create a personalized system that leads to a more productive and satisfying lifestyle.

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Winning the Week

“Winning the Week” by Demir and Carey Bentley provides a fresh perspective on achieving superior productivity and mastering time management. The Bentley duo shares their effective seven-step system that has helped thousands to streamline their weeks, focusing on strategic planning and execution. This book guides readers through overcoming procrastination, setting smart priorities, and staying focused, offering a blueprint for success tailored to professionals and busy individuals who aspire to break free from burnout and enhance their output significantly.

An essential resource, this book equips readers with the strategies to design a productive week and realize their ambitions efficiently.

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Automate Your Busywork

“Automate Your Busywork” by Aytekin Tank offers a visionary approach to reclaiming time through automation. As the founder of Jotform, Tank explores the transformative potential of no-code tools to minimize repetitive tasks and maximize productivity. The book champions an automation-first mindset, guiding readers from monotonous tasks to meaningful work. It presents an engaging argument for “timefulness,” empowering readers with strategies to focus on what truly matters by leveraging technology for automation.

This guide is a vital resource for anyone aiming to optimize their workflow and dedicate more time to impactful endeavors.

Get this book

The post 20 Best Time Management Books to Boost Your Productivity appeared first on Hongkiat.

Leveraging the latest in AI technology, these apps make sophisticated video and photo manipulation astonishingly simple and accessible to everyone. As we explore the top picks in this exciting realm, you’ll discover how easy it is to add a layer of magic to your everyday moments or create content that stands out. Whether for a quick laugh, a creative project, or a dive into genealogy with a twist, these apps offer a unique blend of entertainment and discovery.

Get ready to be introduced to a world where your digital persona can travel through time, swap faces with friends or celebrities, and bring static images to life in ways you never thought possible.

Lensa AI

Lensa AI is your digital photo editing fairy godmother, transforming selfies with the wave of its magic wand. This app simplifies photo enhancement, ensuring you look your absolute best without the complexity of traditional editing tools. From smoothing skin to accentuating eyes and blurring backgrounds to keep you the center of attention, Lensa does it all with ease.

But there’s more to it than just basic tweaks. With Lensa, you can delve into the finer details like erasing under-eye bags or perfecting your eyebrow shape with just a swipe. It even lets you play with background effects, offering options to blur, adjust depth, or add motion for that dynamic selfie effect. The app is designed for both quick auto-adjustments and detailed editing, catering to your every need.

Available with various subscription options, Lensa aims to be your go-to for effortless selfie perfection, whether you’re looking for a quick touch-up or an in-depth photo overhaul.

Download Lensa AI for:

Android iOS

Reface

Reface is the ultimate app for face-swapping fun, offering a seamless way to see yourself in a new light. With a simple tap, transform your selfie into a variety of exciting personas, from celebrities to historical figures. It’s not just about static images; Reface brings photos to life, allowing you to animate yourself into any scene or song.

Looking to professionalize your online presence? Reface’s AI-generated headshots ensure your profile stands out. Join a vibrant community of over 150 million users, exploring an ever-expanding library of videos, gifs, and effects. Whether for creating personalized greeting cards or experimenting with different looks, Reface keeps you entertained with fresh styles and trends.

Download Reface for:

Android iOS

MyHeritage

MyHeritage offers a unique journey into your family’s past, enabling you to build your family tree and discover relatives you never knew you had. Its user-friendly platform simplifies the search for ancestors by combing through vast databases of historical records and other family trees, acting like a personal genealogy detective.

But MyHeritage is more than just a research tool. It brings history to life with innovative features like the AI Time Machine™, which lets you see yourself in different historical eras, and Deep Nostalgia™, which animates old family photos, making it seem as if your ancestors are smiling back at you. These features add a magical touch to your family history exploration, making it a truly immersive experience.

Download MyHeritage for:

Android iOS

Deep Art

Deep Art transforms your ordinary photos into stunning artworks that seem as if they were crafted by legendary artists like Van Gogh or Picasso. This app isn’t just another photo editor; it’s like having a personal art studio right in your pocket. With a selection of over 40 art styles, you have the freedom to experiment until you find the perfect artistic effect for your photo.

What sets Deep Art apart is its use of AI and machine learning to apply these effects, ensuring that each photo is not just altered but truly reimagined in the style of famous art movements. You’re not limited to the pre-set styles either; the app allows you to create your own unique art styles by feeding the AI any image of your choice. This means your photos can become one-of-a-kind pieces of art, ready to share on social media or keep for your personal gallery.

Download Deep Art for:

Android iOS

Face Swap Live

Face Swap Live elevates the fun of swapping faces by allowing you to do it in real-time with your camera’s live feed. It’s not just about static images; this app brings your swaps to life, whether you’re exchanging faces with a friend for a laugh or impersonating a celebrity for a quirky selfie video. The app stands out with its live swapping feature, creating spontaneous moments of humor and surprise.

Beyond simple face swaps, Face Swap Live also animates faces onto any picture, making static images come alive with your expressions. Ever imagined sporting Marilyn Monroe’s hairstyle or seeing yourself as your favorite pet? This app turns those whims into reality.

Download Face Swap Live for:

Android iOS

FaceApp

FaceApp revolutionizes the way we edit selfies, making it effortless to achieve magazine-worthy photos in seconds. With a user base exceeding 500 million, its popularity is a testament to its simplicity and effectiveness. This app offers a suite of over 60 filters that can drastically change your appearance, from altering your hairstyle and color to experimenting with facial hair, and even trying on makeup.

But FaceApp isn’t just about beautification. It also adds a playful touch by allowing you to change your gender, age, or even see what you’d look like at different weights. The app is designed for ease, transforming photos with a single tap and sharing them directly to social media. For those seeking more, FaceApp PRO unlocks exclusive filters and styles, ensuring your photos stand out.

Download FaceApp for:

Android iOS

FaceMagic

FaceMagic is an innovative app that invites you to explore the playful side of technology through face swapping. Using AI, it transforms your selfies into entertaining clips where you can become the star of your favorite movie or make your friends dance in a video. It’s all about seeing yourself and your friends in new, hilarious scenarios with just a few taps.

What sets FaceMagic apart is its ease of use and the way it harnesses deepfake technology for fun, rather than complex editing tasks. Whether you’re aiming to lighten the mood on social media or just see yourself in iconic TV moments, FaceMagic offers a straightforward platform to unleash your creativity.

Download FaceMagic for:

Android iOS

Avatarify

Avatarify transforms any photo into a lively video, making it seem as if the subject is actually speaking. This innovative app uses cutting-edge neural network technology to animate still images, allowing users to create videos where the person or pet in the photo appears to express emotions and mouth words.

Whether you’re aiming for a laugh by animating a photo of your boss, want to hear your pet ‘talk’, or wish to send a personalized greeting with a celebrity’s image, Avatarify makes it all possible with just a few taps. It opens up a world of creative possibilities, from making amusing videos to impersonating famous figures for fun greetings.

Download Avatarify for:

Android iOS

FacePlay

FacePlay transforms your digital presence by letting you dive into a world of imagination and style with just a few taps. It’s not merely about face swapping; it’s an adventure into different personas, from cinematic characters to comic heroes, all from the comfort of your home. Updated daily, FacePlay keeps you on the cutting edge of digital trends, allowing you to explore various looks and scenes with ease.

Ever wondered how you’d look through the decades or in outfits from around the globe? FacePlay makes these fantasies a reality, offering a fun and creative way to experiment with your identity. Beyond just changing outfits, the app converts your videos into personalized comics or animations, adding a unique flair to your social media.

Download FacePlay for:

Android iOS

RE/STYLE

RE/STYLE is an app that breathes new life into your photos and videos, transforming them into eye-catching artworks. It empowers you to effortlessly convert a simple snapshot into a range of artistic styles, including professional headshots, whimsical cartoons, or even anime characters. This variety ensures your social media feeds stand out with a unique flair.

But RE/STYLE isn’t just about still images; it also works its magic on videos. With its AI-driven transformations, you can give your clips a cartoon-like essence that adds a layer of charm and engagement.

Download RE/STYLE for:

Android iOS

Facehub

Facehub brings a twist to digital creativity, allowing users to swap faces in photos and videos with ease. Imagine starring in your favorite movie scenes or transforming into a comic book hero – all through a simple selfie. This app offers a user-friendly platform to experiment with AI-generated artistic styles, making it fun to personalize your digital presence.

With a vast collection of video templates, from classic cinema to contemporary trends, Facehub lets you craft unique and entertaining content.

Download Facehub for:

Android

Mimic

Mimic is a quirky mobile app that transforms ordinary photos into entertaining deepfake videos with just a few taps. Imagine making a picture of your friend, pet, or even your boss dance or sing to any song without needing any dance moves or singing skills! It’s all about adding a fun twist to photos by animating them with AI, creating videos that are not just hilarious but have the potential to go viral.

Whether it’s making your dog ‘speak’ or having your baby ‘say’ their first words, Mimic makes it super easy and fun. You simply pick a photo, choose a song from their music collection, and voila, you’ve got a funny, deepfake video to share on social media. It’s a fresh way to engage with friends and followers, offering laughs and surprises with every creation.

Download Mimic for:

Android

Conclusion

We’ve got everything from Lensa AI making our selfies magazine-worthy, to MyHeritage bringing old family photos to life, and even Deep Art turning our pictures into pieces that look like they belong in a gallery. It’s a blast seeing what kind of fun and artistic twists we can add to our digital selves!

But here’s the thing – with great power comes great responsibility. As much as we love seeing ourselves as movie stars or painting subjects, it’s super important to keep it cool and ethical. Let’s make sure we’re all about spreading joy and not doing anything that could hurt or mislead others. After all, the goal is to have a good time and keep things positive in this amazing digital playground we’ve all got access to. So, let’s keep creating, sharing, and laughing, but remember to do it in a way that’s respectful and kind.

The post 12 Deepfake Mobile Apps to Ignite Your Creativity and Fun appeared first on Hongkiat.

Known for its simplicity and power, Dropbox stands out among cloud storage options. This post will unveil various hidden tips and tricks to help you master Dropbox, enabling you to do much more than merely store and sync files. Let’s dive into these insights.

Request files from anyone, get them in Dropbox

Did you know that anyone can send files to your Dropbox, even if they don’t have an account? The File Requests feature makes this possible. It allows you to collect and receive files of any size directly into your Dropbox, offering a convenient way for others to send you what you need.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to request files anonymously:

1. Log in to your Dropbox account.
2. Access the “File requests” option from the left sidebar.



3. Select “Create a file request”.
4. Provide a brief description for your request and choose “Change folder” to specify where the incoming files should be stored. Then, click “Next”.



5. Copy the provided link and share it with anyone from whom you wish to receive files. Alternatively, enter their email addresses and hit “Send” to invite them directly.

Preview almost any file format

Struggling to open a file on your computer? Upload it to Dropbox and use its versatile “file preview” feature. This handy tool lets you peek into various file types such as PDF, PSD, AI, PNG, JPG, SVG, and BMP, among others.

Enhance your productivity with the integration of Office Online, allowing you to read and edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations right from your browser for free.

Here’s how to preview or edit files in Dropbox:

1. Click on any file to open it in Dropbox.
2. In the preview window, look for the arrow next to the “Open” button and click it.
3. Select from options like “Microsoft Word/Excel/PowerPoint Online” to start editing.

Protect your account with two-step verification

To enhance the security of your Dropbox account against unauthorized access, it’s highly recommended to enable two-step verification. This security measure introduces an additional layer of protection by sending a unique code to your phone each time a sign-in is attempted from an unfamiliar device.

Though it may seem like an additional task, the increased security for your account is substantial. Activating this feature is straightforward and can be done through the security settings of your account. Here’s how:

1. Sign in to dropbox.com using your credentials.
2. Navigate to Settings > Security.



3. In the “Two-step verification” section, choose and set up your preferred verification method.

Re-access deleted or left-shared folder

Ever left or deleted a shared folder and needed it back? With Dropbox, retrieving it is straightforward. Here’s how you can re-access shared folders:

1. Go to “Sharing” in the left sidebar of your Dropbox.
2. Under the “Folders you can add to your Dropbox” section, find the folder you wish to rejoin and click “Add”.

Track everything you’re sharing

Ever wondered what exactly you’ve shared on Dropbox? It’s easy to keep track and ensure you haven’t accidentally shared something unintended. Dropbox provides a straightforward feature to view all your shared items.

Simply log in to your Dropbox account and select the ‘Shared’ option in the left sidebar.

You’ll see a list of all your shared folders and files, including last modification dates. This list encompasses both the folders you’ve directly shared and those you have access to but haven’t added to your space. You can also manage who has access, adding or removing contributors as needed.

For a detailed look at each link-shared file or folder, click on the ‘Links’ tab. Here, you can review the sharing date for each item and, if necessary, delete any link to revoke access, ensuring complete control over your shared content.

Check recent activities of your files

Looking for the latest updates or the last file you worked on? Dropbox makes it easy with the “Recents” section in the left sidebar. This feature provides an updated list of recently opened or modified files, so you’re always in the loop.

From here, you can share, download, comment, delete, or view previous versions of your files with ease.

Work on files as a team

Team collaboration is a breeze with Team Dropbox. It’s a feature designed for groups to share and manage files efficiently, offering different privileges to team members. And the best part? It’s free!

Start by sharing a single folder with the entire team or specific groups. You can manage access, organize content, and even create groups to share files with everyone in the group instantly, similar to Friend Lists in Facebook.

Setting up a new Team Dropbox account is easy:

1. Select the “Team” option from the left sidebar in Dropbox and choose “Create free team”.
2. Enter your team’s name, create a new Team Dropbox, and provide your personal/work email and password for the team, then click “Continue”.



3. Invite members to your team as needed and proceed by clicking “Continue”.



4. Finalize by clicking “Create team Dropbox”, and you’re all set.

Customize Dropbox notifications

For those heavily using Dropbox, the influx of email and push notifications can become overwhelming. Fortunately, customizing these alerts is a straightforward process to keep only the most relevant updates coming your way.

Managing Email Notifications

Begin with email notifications by heading to Dropbox.com and adjusting the ‘Notification settings’ under your ‘Personal account’. Tailor these settings to receive only the notifications you find most pertinent.

Configuring Desktop Notifications

For desktop alerts, dive into your Dropbox settings and select the ‘Notifications’ tab under Preferences. This area allows you to specify which updates you want to see on your desktop.

By fine-tuning these settings, you can streamline your notifications to ensure you’re only alerted about the most critical updates, helping maintain focus and reduce unnecessary interruptions.

Access files without Internet

Need to access certain files on the move, but stuck without internet? No problem. Dropbox’s Offline feature allows you to keep important files accessible on your mobile device, anytime, anywhere.

To make files available offline, simply:

1. Open the Dropbox mobile app and navigate to the files you want to access offline.
2. Tap the icon to the right of the file and switch on the “Available offline” toggle. Dropbox will download the files to your device, making them accessible without an internet connection.
3. Access these offline files anytime by tapping on “Offline” in the app.

Boost synchronization speed

Dropbox is designed to be considerate of your internet usage, typically using only 75% of your maximum upload speed. However, if you’re looking to speed up your uploads or syncs, you can adjust this setting.

To maximize Dropbox’s bandwidth usage:

1. Right-click the Dropbox icon in your system tray.
2. Click the gear icon and select “Preferences”.



3. Go to the “Bandwidth” tab.



4. Choose “Don’t limit” under the “Upload rate” to allow Dropbox to use the full speed of your internet connection for uploads.

Delete files without leaving tracks

Accidentally stored a sensitive file in Dropbox and need to remove it discreetly? Dropbox’s cache folder, “.dropbox.cache”, is a hidden folder where deleted files are temporarily stored. Clearing this cache ensures that files are completely removed.

To clear the Dropbox cache and delete files permanently:

1. Open your file manager and enter %HOMEPATH%\Dropbox\.dropbox.cache in the location bar, then press Enter.
2. This takes you directly to the Dropbox cache folder, where you can permanently delete any files or folders you no longer want.

Access older versions of files

Ever wish you could undo changes to a file? With Dropbox, you can! It keeps older versions of your files for 30 days, allowing you to revert to previous versions if needed, much like the File History feature in Windows 10.

Here’s how you can access an older version of a file:

1. Next to the file of interest, click the three dots and choose “Version history”.



2. Preview the versions listed and click “Restore” on the one you want to revert to.

Smart bookmarks with Dropbox

Imagine having all your bookmarks accessible from any device via the cloud. Dropbox introduces a seamless way to store and sync your bookmarks just by dropping them into a designated folder.

Note: While this works great with Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge does not support the drag-and-drop feature for this purpose.

To organize and sync your bookmarks using Dropbox:

1. Create a “Bookmarks” folder in your Dropbox. This will be your central hub for all links.



2. Simply drag the small icon next to the browser’s location bar and drop it into your “Bookmarks” folder in Dropbox.

Get direct download links

Typically, when you click a Dropbox link, it opens a preview page with an option to download. But there’s a neat trick to bypass this and start the download immediately.

For a direct download link, change the dl=0 at the end of the Dropbox link to dl=1. This simple tweak turns it into an instant download link.

Share screenshots on the fly

Gone are the days of manually dragging screenshots to Dropbox to share them. With Dropbox’s screenshot sharing feature, you can streamline the process and share your screenshots instantly.

To set up quick screenshot sharing:

1. Right-click the Dropbox icon in your system tray.
2. Click the gear icon and choose “Preferences”.



3. Navigate to the Import tab, select “Share screenshots using Dropbox”, and click “OK”.



4. Now, when you take screenshots using the Ctrl + Print Screen keys, Dropbox will automatically save them to a “Dropbox/screenshots” folder and copy the link to your clipboard, ready for quick sharing.

Add comments to files

Dropbox not only makes file sharing effortless but also includes a powerful commenting feature to facilitate discussions directly on any file. Whether you’re inviting someone to view a file or sharing a link, don’t miss out on this collaborative tool.

Accessible via Dropbox’s web, mobile, and desktop applications (specifically the Dropbox app, not the file browser on your computer), this feature allows you to select any file or view it in preview mode to access the comment sidebar.

In this sidebar, you can input your observations, ask questions, or tag teammates with an @ to bring them into the conversation. They’ll receive a notification either in Dropbox or via email, allowing you to see the dialogue unfold in real time.

This commenting tool centralizes all discussions related to a file, ensuring that every detail is noted and nothing is missed. As you and your team update the file, the online preview updates as well, keeping everyone in sync with the latest version.

Back up Desktop and Documents folders

Expand your Dropbox’s utility beyond just syncing a specific folder—now it can also protect the entirety of your Desktop, Downloads, and Documents folders.

Setting up is straightforward:

1. Access your Dropbox settings,
2. locate the ‘Backups’ section, and
3. select the ‘Manage backups’ option.

Choose the folders you wish to sync and back up.

This functionality offers a handy way to safeguard essential files outside your main Dropbox folder, ensuring your Desktop and other crucial areas are always up-to-date and secure in Dropbox with minimal effort.

Sync required files and folders only

If you’re looking to save space on your computer or conserve bandwidth, Dropbox’s Selective Sync feature is your ally. It allows you to choose only the folders you need to sync, keeping your hard drive clutter-free and your Internet usage optimized.

To enable Selective Sync:

1. Right-click the Dropbox icon in your system tray.
2. Click the gear icon and select “Preferences”.



3. Go to the “Account” tab and click “Selective Sync”, then hit “OK”.



4. In the Selective Sync window, deselect any folders you do not want to sync to your computer. Click “Update”, then “OK” to confirm your changes.

Note: Deselecting folders will remove them from your computer’s hard drive but keep them accessible through dropbox.com and other devices.

Check Dropbox files activities

The “Events” feature in Dropbox is a powerful tool that logs various activities within your account, such as file creation, sharing, deletion, and restoration. This log is not just a timeline but a detailed record that you can filter by category and date, and sort for easier navigation.

To access the event log in Dropbox:

1. Click on “Events” in the left sidebar of your Dropbox page.
2. Explore the timeline to see a detailed log of all activities associated with your account.

Auto-sync your memories

Dropbox isn’t just for files and folders; it’s also an ideal space for storing and viewing your photos and videos. With its online gallery feature, you can easily view your media without the need to download them, making Dropbox a perfect place to safeguard and enjoy your precious memories.

To view your photos and videos in Dropbox:

1. First, upload your photos and videos to Dropbox.
2. Go to dropbox.com and select “Photos” from the sidebar to access your media.
3. Browse through your photos and videos, neatly organized in a gallery format.

Bonus: Sync data of portable apps

Dropbox’s synchronization isn’t limited to documents and media; it can also keep your application data consistent across multiple computers. This feature is particularly handy for portable apps, allowing you to have the same settings, bookmarks, and history across all devices without needing to rely on individual app sync features.

Here’s a guide to syncing a portable app’s data using Dropbox, demonstrated with Thunderbird:

1. Download and install the portable version of an app (e.g., Thunderbird) directly into your Dropbox folder.



2. Run the portable app from the Dropbox folder as you would normally. Any changes or data will be automatically synchronized across all your devices through Dropbox.

Explore these lesser-known tips to maximize your productivity and make the most out of your Dropbox experience. Happy dropboxing!

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