Startups often run on adrenaline, vision, and… the right tools.
Sure, your success depends on many more factors, like your team, product-market fit, business model, and the market itself. But one thing is clear: your startup tech stack can help you work faster, stay organized, and focus on what truly matters.
To run lean and smart, startups and small businesses typically need accounting software like QuickBooks, CRM systems like HubSpot or Salesforce, project and task management tools like Trello or Monday, and marketing platforms like Mailchimp.
But this is just the beginning. There are many more areas where software can help you. That’s why we’ve created our comprehensive guide to the 36 best tools for startups.
TL;DR: Here, you can explore which tools are available in 2025 and find the right software solutions for you (we added tips at the end on how to do this).
Let’s dive in!
Why do you need startup tools and software?
Before choosing any tool, it’s worth asking: why does it matter for you and your business?
The answer is pretty simple, in fact,—good startup resources give you real-time visibility into your finances, customers, and team. That means you make fewer mistakes, take faster decisions, and have more clarity across the board.
As a founder, you’re juggling a hundred things—answering emails, managing people, keeping an eye on cash flow, and, yes, somehow also doing marketing. But as soon as your efforts start to pay off—more customers, more sales, more growth—the chaos around you grows exponentially.
You feel it’s harder to manage marketing campaigns, your leads start slipping through the cracks, your team expands, and suddenly, everyone needs your attention It’s a lot. But it doesn’t have to be. With the best tools for startups in place—built for the right part of your business—you get your time back, your focus back, and your sanity back.
So, with the why-question, it’s clear: software can make your startup life easier. Now, only two things are left: which resources are available in the market in 2025 and how to choose the best tools for your startup.
We’ll answer them in the next two sections.
Best tools for startups and small businesses in 2025
The upside—there are plenty of great tools for businesses out there.
The downside—it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Maybe you’re not sure which tools are available now, or you simply don’t know where exactly you need this “software” help.
This section makes it easier. We’ve broken startup tools down by category—so whether you’re looking to streamline marketing, manage your team, or get a grip on finances, you’ll find the best software options for your company.
Block #1: Business planning & research tools
Before jumping into execution, you better take a pause and make sure you have a solid foundation. That means doing research, understanding your market, and building a clear plan.
Startup stack for planning
Can help you map out your business model, forecast finances, and define your goals. Many also offer ready-made frameworks and templates for startups to take the guesswork out of planning.
Some of the best planning tools for small businesses:
LivePlan: Simple business plan templates with built-in financial forecasting (from $20 per month).
Bizplan: Interactive platform where you can create detailed business plans from scratch (from $29 per month).
Market research tools
Will help you understand your customer needs, analyze competitors, and spot trends early—that’s what you need for making smarter decisions in product and marketing.
Best tools for startups:
SurveyMonkey: Great for running surveys and collecting feedback. Team plans start at $11 per user/month.
Google Trends: A free tool for startups to analyze search trends and shifts in consumer interest.
Statista: Ideal for in-depth market research and industry data. It’s free business software, but full access starts at $149/month.
Block #2: Financial management & operations tools
When you run a business, you have to make sure you’re on track for growth. And to do this, you need to know how to handle your finances and day-to-day operations.
Accounting tools
These startup tools can help keep your books in order and your cash flow healthy:
QuickBooks Online: Is one of the best tools for small businesses as it gives you all the necessary accounting features at a reasonable price (from $9.50 per month).
FreshBooks: Combines accounting, payroll, and billing in one place. And it also has cool customer support (from $6.30 per month).
Wave: Solid free software for startups with paid add-ons and a Pro plan at $16/month.
Payroll & HR tools
You can pay your employees, stay compliant, and scale your team with ease due to this software and tools for small businesses.
Examples worth exploring:
Justworks: Simple payroll, compliance, and benefits for $8 per person + $50 base fee per month.
Gusto: One of the best tools for startups, as it combines payroll and HR features ($49/month plus $6/user).
Rippling: Another solution that has both payroll and HR management in one place. Pricing starts at $8 per month (custom quotes).
BambooHR: It’s an easy-to-use platform with all the necessary features you may need for your HR tasks (pricing upon request).
Fundraising tools
If you plan to raise funding, you can turn to the following investor networks or crowdfunding platforms:
Waveup Copilot: Your fundraising copilot with free insights and dashboards. A paid version includes access to pitch deck and financial model templates, VC fundraising tools, and 1500+ VC contacts.
AngelList: Can help connect you with necessary investors, hire top talent, and build a network.
Kickstarter: Best for creative projects looking to crowdfund early support.
Data security & compliance software
Don’t forget to protect your sensitive data and comply with the regulations like GDPR or HIPAA.
Some of the best tools for startups that can help you do this:
NordLayer: It’s a great network security platform to defend your operations (from $8 per user/month).
Vanta: Automate your security and compliance processes (pricing upon request).
Project & task management startup resources for entrepreneurs
Can help you and your team stay organized, even if you’re wearing many hats:
Asana: A great tool for startup founders who want a task management platform with a free basic plan (paid plans start at $ 13.49 per user/month).
Monday.com: A visual and flexible project tracking tool. Free for two seats; paid starts at €9/seat/month.
Trello: Easy, Kanban-style task organizer with a free tier (paid plans start at $6 per user/month).
Business intelligence tools
Help track KPIs, spot trends, and analyze data across the board—just what you need to make faster, smarter decisions.
Examples of BI software and tools for small businesses:
Tableau: A cool tool to create interactive dashboards that plug into Excel, Salesforce, Google Analytics, and more (pricing depends on setup).
Microsoft Power BI: If you need deep data analysis and visualization and are in the Microsoft ecosystem, this can be the best tool for your startup (pricing starts at $14 per user/month but with a free trial).
Zoho Analytics: A good, affordable BI option for small businesses on a tight budget (from $22 per month, and a 15-day free trial is available).
Block #3: Marketing, sales & customer acquisition tools
To grow your business, you need to get the word out, attract the right customers, and turn interest into sales. These best tools for small businesses can help you do that—without burning out in the process. For a deeper dive into this category, check out our list of the best marketing tools for startups.
Marketing & SEO tools
Whether you’re launching a campaign or optimizing your website, these resources help you create, run, and measure across multiple channels.
Here are some top tools for startups:
Mailchimp: Easy-to-use email marketing with automation, analytics, and a solid free plan. A cool digital tool for your business with paid plans starting from $10 per month.
Ahrefs: It can be your ideal assistant in SEO and competitor research (from $129 per month).
Google Search Console: A free business tool for your startup to monitor and improve how your site shows up in Google search.
Sales tools & CRM systems
While sales tools can help you find, reach, and close leads faster, CRM systems will keep your relationships with customers organized and growing.
Top sales and CRM tools for small businesses in 2025:
HubSpot CRM: Free, user-friendly CRM with sales automation. But if you want to unlock more features, you’ll need to pay.
Pipedrive: Visual sales pipeline tool that’s simple to use (from $14 per seat/month, but with a 14-day trial period).
Salesforce: Scalable and powerful CRM for teams that need depth. As pricing depends on your setup, it’s best to reach out directly.
Block #4: Innovation tools and software
Tech is developing very fast, changing the way we work, behave, and even think. When it comes to business, founders should be agile enough to catch up with the trends and know how to squeeze them to the maximum benefit for themselves.
Best AI tools for startups
AI is everywhere, making people’s lives easier and more automated, so why not use its benefits for your business? AI tools can take the boring stuff, help you make smarter decisions, and streamline everything from customer service to data analysis.
Top startup business tools:
ChatGPT/OpenAI: Research assistant, content writer, chatbot—you name it. Free to start, with pro plans from $20/month.
Perplexity AI: Cool free software for real-time research and info analysis (for a pro plan, you’ll pay $20 per month).
Grammarly: Helps you write with clarity and confidence, whether it’s a pitch deck or a social post. It’s free, but if you want more features, you can pay $30 per member/month.
Emerging tech for startups (blockchain, IoT, and AR/VR)
Help you work smarter, build trust, and stand out in the market (but, of course, if you know how to use them to your advantage). Blockchain can make your transactions secure and decentralized, IoT connects devices to share data more efficiently, and AR/VR lets you build immersive, interactive customer experiences.
Some of the best startup tools:
Alchemy: You can build anything you want on a blockchain with this platform (custom pricing).
MetaMask: A free crypto wallet for startups exploring Web3 (watch out for gas fees).
AWS IoT Core: Helps businesses connect and manage their smart devices, making it easier to collect and use data (pricing is based on usage).
Unity: Ideal for startups building AR/VR experiences. It’s free to start and is packed with many creative tools.
A great startup tech stack isn’t built around just one tool—it’s about finding the right mix for what you actually need. That’s why we’ve put together a few top tool combos for startups from different industries:
How to choose the best tools for your startup
It’s only a small part of software that can help you run your business. Of course, the startup tool market is massive. And it’s no surprise that you can easily get lost or struggle to understand which tool fits you and your business needs better.
Sure, you could try every tool yourself. But let’s be honest—founder time is too valuable for that. So before you start paying monthly fees, here are a few simple rules to keep in mind:
- Know what you need
Start with your real pain points. Where do you need support—marketing, finance, hiring? Focus on tools for startups that best solve specific problems, not just the ones getting the most hype.
- Think in the long run
It’s always tempting to go for whatever is cheapest. But here, it’s better to choose tools that can grow with you—more users, more data, more features. Try to look for options with flexible plans, active development, and responsive support.
- Try before you buy
The golden rule here is to feel what’s truly yours. But you can’t do this until you try the tool. Use free tiers, trials, or sandbox demos to get hands-on. This is the best way to see if a startup tool fits your workflow before your card gets charged.
Pro tip: Set a calendar reminder a few days before any free trial ends—so you can decide to upgrade or ditch without surprise bills.
- Check integrations
Before adopting anything, check how well this tool integrates with the rest of your startup stack. Can your CRM sync with your email tool? Does your accounting software connect to your payment processor? Even if this is a great tool but it doesn’t integrate, you’ll get more manual work (and less time).
- User experience matters
If the tool is clunky or confusing, your team won’t use it—no matter how powerful it is.
Go for intuitive dashboards, clean interfaces, and easy onboarding. The best tools for startups make work feel smoother, not more frustrating.
- Be smart with your budget
Don’t fall into the “more features = better” trap. Most early-stage startups simply don’t need all those enterprise-level features (yet). Choose lean tools that do a few things really well—and upgrade only when you need to.
Wrap-up: Choose the best tools for your startup wisely
Even the coolest tools won’t build your startup for you. But they can definitely make the hard things easier, faster, and more manageable.
Whether it’s planning your next move, keeping your finances in check, or scaling your marketing, you can shift this burden to the right “software assistants.”
Don’t worry about finding the “perfect” tool from day one. Maybe you need more time to understand what you need and why you need this. Start with what solves your most pressing problems, test what feels right, and build your startup tech stack as you grow.
And remember—tools for business are only powerful when they actually work for you.
The same goes for your pitch deck, business plan, and financial model. You can find a hundred startup templates, but if you don’t know how to tailor them for you and your company, they won’t get you very far.
At Waveup, we know what truly matters for investors in startup pitches, and we know how to make your startup fundraise, grow, and scale effectively. Contact our team, and we’ll gladly help you.
If you need expert help with business development, planning, market research, and due diligence, check out our guides on top consultants:
FAQs
What is the best free software for small businesses?
There are plenty of good free tools for startups and small businesses, so it’s hard to choose only one. We’ll list some of the top picks below:
• Wave — Free accounting software
• HubSpot CRM — Manage contacts, track deals, and automate workflows
• Google Trends — Spot search patterns and market trends (perfect for early research)
It’s always a good idea to start with free tools—they give you a feel for what works well for you. But if you want the full toolkit and access to more advanced features, you’ll likely need to invest a little.
What software do businesses use the most?
Most startup teams tend to use a similar tech stack. You’ll usually see accounting software like QuickBooks, project management tools like Trello or Monday, CRM systems like HubSpot, and marketing tools like Mailchimp.
Although every business is a little different, most use a mix of tools that cover the basics: money, communication, task tracking, and customer management. The most important thing here is to find the best tools for your startup.