Top 5 Free Creative Apps that Boost My Productivity
Take advantage of the free resources right in front of you
As a content creator, I am constantly working on something, whether it’s a YouTube thumbnail for an upcoming video, preparing a post for Instagram, or writing an article for Medium. My time is limited, so I am always looking for tools that can help me be more efficient and productive with the time I have. I also try to spend as little money as possible. I have gone through quite a few apps trying to find the ones I like the best and want to save you some time and share my favorites with you, so you, too, can try them and see if they work for you.
Canva
Canva is a MUST for content creators. I use Canva to create all my YouTube thumbnails. It gives you many size ratios depending on what type of project you are working on. On top of YouTube thumbnails, you can create things like Instagram posts and stories, flyers, banners, resumes, logos, and so much more. It offers many selections of fonts, colors, shapes, free-to-use pictures (you can even upload your own photos), and more. I have found that the possibilities are endless!
They offer a free and paid version. The paid version is called Canva Pro, costs $12.99/month or $119.99/year, and offers more features like a wider selection of pictures, shapes, fonts, and background, as well as the ability to download with a transparent background. This comes in handy when creating YouTube thumbnails because it saves you time in removing the background.
However, I have a trick to get around this if you want to stick with the free version which I will talk about next.
With the free version, you can still take advantage of the paid version features on a per-use basis if you want a particular background or image from time to time. It usually costs anywhere from $1-$3 per purchase. I like they offer a free and paid version in case you would like to upgrade in the future. For now, the free version works just fine for me.
Eraser App
This is the hidden gem I want to share with you all. I have mentioned this app to a couple of people and neither had ever heard of it, so I wanted to tell you about it so you can take advantage of this free app as well!
This app gives you the ability to remove the background of photos or images. I have seen so many apps out there that are recommended to use for this purpose, but they all cost money. The Eraser app is free! However, you have to manually erase the background yourself (unlike most paid apps, which do so automatically), which takes time, but to me, it’s worth it. You can zoom in on different portions of the image to be more detailed. If your image is a pretty common shape, you can take advantage of the erase “target area” feature. This allows you to just tap the area you want to remove, and it will remove the background around the image for you. You also have the option of adjusting the photo quality and background as well as cropping.
This is the only free app I have found that allows you to remove the background from photos and images, so take advantage of this tool if this is something that would benefit you in your content creation.
Notes
I think we all know this app. It might sound simple and not too exciting, but nothing beats having a notepad at your fingertips at all times to jot down any thoughts, ideas, or reminders that are needed throughout the day.
As a writer, I know that when an article idea pops into my head; I need to write it down somewhere immediately. I will forget my ideas as quickly as they came into my mind. This isn’t just handy for writing ideas, but anything actually. I am a forgetful person and have learned that I need to write things down so I do not forget them. So if you are anything like me, then the Notes app will come in handy daily.
Podcasts
I listen to different podcasts throughout my day on topics including sports, pregnancy, motherhood, health, and more. These podcasts are not only for entertainment but education as well. It is a great way to spark my creativity with some new writing topic ideas. I enjoy listening to podcasts while I am at work because even if I cannot completely concentrate and absorb each word spoken; I am still subconsciously absorbing the information and learning while I complete other tasks. If you are looking for writing inspiration, try to find some podcasts in the niche or niches, you write in or topics that interest you. You will find inspiration this way.
Spotify
Show of hands… who can go without music?
I know I couldn’t. Music is good for the soul. It sparks all kinds of creativity and is a great mood booster. Listen to whatever you enjoy. I listen to music while I get ready for work in the mornings while doing housework, during my workouts, in the shower, etc.
Don’t forget to belt out those lyrics! You are the best singer in the world while in the shower.
The only time I prefer complete silence is when I am reading or writing. I have a hard time concentrating if there are loud noises going on around me. My mind gets distracted easily. Many people enjoy listening to music while they write. It is all about what works for you.
Spotify has some great playlists that I enjoy, depending on my mood. Some of them include:
To Recap
There are many free tools out there for you to take advantage of to spark creativity and boost productivity. My top 5 free creative apps to boost productivity are Canva, Eraser, Notes, Podcasts, and Spotify. They are all available in the Apple and Android stores.
Which apps make your list?
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