3 Free Tools Every Scrappy Startup Should Be Using

When I launched my first startup, I had no budget for fancy tools. Every pound I spent had to work as hard as I did.

Over time, I found a few free tools that didn’t just make my life easier—they kept my business alive in those first scrappy months.

If you’re in that stage now, here are three tools every startup founder should have in their kit (and yes, one is ours because I wish I’d had it back then!).

I’ve used a lot of project management tools, but Notion is the one that actually stuck. It’s free (with a robust plan) and lets you run everything—your to-do lists, SOPs, meeting notes, even your CRM—without feeling like you need a manual to figure it out.

When you’re juggling product, marketing, finance, and hiring, having one space to keep it all straight is a lifesaver.

Unless you’re a designer (and most founders aren’t), Canva will be your secret weapon. Social posts, pitch deck slides, email graphics—you can make it all look polished in minutes.

The free version has plenty to get you started. And trust me, looking put-together early on does make a difference when you’re pitching investors or trying to land your first customers.

I can’t not mention the tool we’re building because it’s exactly what I wish I’d had starting out. Nudge helps you track what your customers are actually doing—not just the vanity metrics. Where they’re dropping off, what’s converting, and where your energy is being wasted.

We built it so founders can make smarter decisions without needing a data team. It’s launching soon, and if you want to be one of the first to use it, join the waitlist here.

Scrappy doesn’t mean sloppy. The right tools won’t just save you time—they’ll keep you sane and help you grow smarter.

Which of these are you already using? And what’s your go-to free tool I should add to my list?