16 Best Windows 11 Productivity Apps to Boost Performance
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Key notes
- You can get work done on your computer and, with the right apps, do it more efficiently.
- Whether you need to manage your emails and schedule or if you’re looking for better ways to collaborate with your team, we’ve got you covered.
- We've focused this list on tools that will appeal to office workers, but some of these apps are useful in a home setting too.
Productivity is a very important virtue in life. It helps you complete your tasks and achieve success. However, useful as it may be, it takes time to achieve but with Windows 11 productivity apps, you can up your game.
It’s not hard to spend your day in a state of constant distraction. You can always find something to do, but that doesn’t mean it’s always the most important thing you could be doing.
There are certain factors that help you improve your productivity, such as energy, focus, organization, etc. However, you can also improve your productivity by using tools that are specially designed for that purpose.
To really focus on what is important, you need to eliminate anything that isn’t important. That’s where the right productivity apps come in.
Productivity apps help you get things done. They can remind you to do something, or automate a task that you need to do often. They can also help you focus on your work by blocking distractions or making it easier to concentrate on specific tasks.
In this article, we will take a look at some of the best productivity apps that you can use to make progress and achieve success in life.
It is really difficult to select the best ones to install on your device as there are many, and you probably can’t use them all. So here we are with some of the best productivity apps for Windows 11 that you must try this year.
Quick Tip:
One of the best ways to improve your productivity is to have quick access to the apps you use most. That’s why it’s nice to have quick access to the frequently used apps.
Opera One offers a smart way to improve performance by grouping the most important apps you use into sidebars. Integrated messaging , and features like workspaces and tab islands create a smart way to organize.
Opera One
Organize your work and increase your productivity with intelligent features.Can I sideload apps on Windows 11?
Yes, you can sideload apps on Windows 11. Sideloading is the term used when installing apps directly from the developer rather than downloading from an app store.
On Windows 11, you can download apps from the newly improved Microsoft Store but you’ll find that it does not contain an exhaustive list of all the apps you may need.
This is where sideloading comes in. When using this method, you must be careful as there are a lot of sites that contain malicious software that can harm your system.
Feel free to visit our guide on how to sideload Android apps on Windows 11 if you choose to install them from third-party sites.
What are some of the best Windows 11 productivity apps?
Mailbird – Best for email organizing
If you’re looking for a Windows email client that can handle Gmail, Outlook, and other accounts without any trouble, give Mailbird a try.
Mailbird is an email client that packs in dozens of features while managing to keep things simple and straightforward.
The app strikes the perfect balance between being feature-packed but not overwhelming or hard to use.
Since we’re talking about an email client app, we must mention that it offers some solutions for easier and quicker email management.
These include a speed reader, a snooze feature, and intuitive keyboard shortcuts that help you easily archive, reply, compose, and forward your emails.
The app is also known for its advanced search options. You can find emails, contacts, and attachments with the help of keywords.
The search tool has advanced filtering. You can search by folder, sender or recipient, subject, email size, email date, and more.
Some of the additional features include:
- Allows for third-party integration with other apps
- Mailbird has an app store that you can use to add additional features
- You can customize your layout from the library of themes to match your preferences
- Find your contact’s LinkedIn accounts
Mailbird looks great too. Its minimalistic design makes for a clean and distraction-free experience.
Mailbird
Access all your email accounts, categorize your inbox, and organize your contacts with a modern email client.Monday.com – Best for organizing teams, tasks and project
Monday.com is the most popular project management app on the market, and for good reason. The platform has a simple interface that allows you to create multiple projects and invite team members to collaborate.
With Monday, you can create boards to organize just about anything, including tasks, teams, projects, and more.
On your dashboard, you will get insightful real-time reports on how your projects are progressing.
This information can help you decide what you can do to improve your workflow and determine what past decisions turned out to be successful.
With the help of the Gantt chart feature, you can plan, execute and track your projects with simple visualizations.
What makes it stand out from other similar apps is the automation that helps you work more quickly and effectively.
The free version is limited, but there are other plans available for teams of five or more.
Some of the additional features include:
- You can set up your Monday dashboard with color-coded columns so you can organize your tasks better
- The platform also has a mobile app to keep tabs on your work while you’re on the go
- You can rearrange projects in order of priority by dragging and dropping
Monday.com
Create, assign and keep track of all your projects with insightful information about your progress.Grammarly – Best for grammar checking
Grammarly is the ultimate app that helps you perfect your writing. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to ensure they have a proper grasp of grammar and spelling.
It is one of the most essential companions in all your Windows 11 programs. It automatically displays common errors and suggests corrections as you type.
This handy tool goes beyond just the basics of grammar and spelling checks to ensure that your writing is actually clear and easy to read.
While most word processors have spell checkers built-in, there’s no substitute for Grammarly’s real-time feedback as you type. For more useful features, you can upgrade to the premium or business plan.
Some of the additional features include:
- Integrates other apps o check for any errors
- Can adjust the tone of your writing to match your audience
- Offers you a readability check and tips to improve your writing
Grammarly
Make sure your written text has impeccable grammar and a logical structure with this easy-to-integrate tool.Teamwork – Best for tracking projects and team progress
Staying productive is hard. Really hard. You have to remember to follow your to-do list, manage your team, hit deadlines and make sure everyone’s happy, all at the same time.
Teamwork is a platform that allows you to collaborate with anyone, anywhere. It’s not just about managing tasks but also making sure that everyone is aligned on what’s happening across the business or department.
You can create and manage your projects from one central location. You’ll be able to work faster and smarter so you can finish your projects sooner.
Teamwork offers simple but powerful tools for communication including group chat and file sharing.
Some of the additional features include:
- Offers a time-tracking feature
- You can customize your view from Gantt charts, boards, or list view
- Allows third-party app integration
Teamwork
Manage and track your team’s progress and enable easier collaboration with this customizable platform.Desktop.com – Most options for organizing
If you want to eliminate distractions and get quick access to every tool you need for your work, we can’t think of a better app than Desktop.com.
With this application, you will be able to create neatly organized virtual desktops where you can include every application you use on a regular basis.
It has a modern interface that lets you easily search for every app and resource you need so you can say goodbye to keeping dozen of browser tabs open.
It integrates hundreds of third-party productivity applications such as Google Sheets, MS Office Apps, Slack, and Mailchimp, so you will surely be able to add all you need.
Not only that, but the tool also supports teamwork. Besides creating shareable desktops, the app also supports multiple third-party messengers and VOIP applications.
You can use Desktop.com to access your email, worksheets, email, create presentations, hold meetings, and keep track of all your projects.
Some of the most important features of Desktop.com include:
- Bookmark manager to keep track of all your resources
- Categorize your applications and workspaces with your own tags
- Unified chat that includes all third-party accounts you connect
- Powerful encryption and abuse monitoring
This cloud-based application can be accessed on the web, or you can get a native app for your PC. It is also one of the best productivity tools that offer apps for Android and iPhone.
Microsoft 365 – Easiest to use
Microsoft 365 is a collection of apps that work together seamlessly to help you get more out of every day.
That can mean automating your budgeting, keeping track of your meetings, keeping your inbox under control, or staying connected to friends and family across the world.
You are getting an all-in-one deal with Microsoft 365. You can collaborate on documents using Google Docs or Google Sheets. Presenting demos is made easier with Google Slides.
If you were to look at only one productivity app in this roundup, it would be hard to find a better choice than Microsoft 365.
Some of the additional features include:
- Store photos and videos securely in OneDrive so you can access them anywhere at any time
- Organize your emails into folders by date
Trello – Most intuitive for task-management
Trello is a task-management app that allows you to get organized. You can create custom boards to keep track of your big projects or office events. The Trello app makes it simple to stay on top of your tasks without having to pay a dime.
If you have multiple tasks that need to be completed in a short span of time, this is the app that will help you prioritize and check off completed tasks by keeping track so that you don’t miss out on any deadlines.
Once you have an item added to Trello, you can add more information like a description, comments from your team members, due date, attachments, and more.
The free plan has all the basic features you might need but if you are in a large team, you may benefit from more premium features in the premium, business, or enterprise plans.
Some of the additional features include:
- Ability to sync across devices so you can use it anywhere
- Save on time with the workflow automation feature that streamlines your team’s processes so that you don’t have to worry about which task comes next, who needs to complete it, and when it needs to be done
- You can also color-code cards based on categories or progress levels
Clockify – Great at tracking team work time
If you have a lot of tasks on your plate and tend to spend too much time on one, Clockify should be on the list of apps you need.
Clockify makes your workday easier by helping you track how much time you spend on tasks, so you can tell what works for you and what doesn’t.
It has a user-friendly interface, easy to learn, and it’s free. To help you work efficiently, Clockify will help you learn how to structure your workday, get better at planning your tasks, manage meetings, and more.
When you know you have a dedicated amount of time to work on a task, you won’t waste any time and this will help you complete your tasks sooner.
Some of the additional features include:
- You can track time from anywhere whether desktop or on a phone
- Unlimited number of users and projects
- Has tons of integrations with other project management tools like Trello
TidyTabs – Great for desktop organizing
If you are working on multiple projects at the same time on a laptop, then you are familiar with how frustrating it can be to work with multiple sets of tabs in a browser.
Opening a new tab is easy, but keeping track of your tabs can be tough. TidyTabs makes it easy to declutter your desktop.
The best part about TidyTabs is that it brings tabbed browsing to all of your programs. Once installed, it will allow you to combine multiple instances of the same program into a single window.
With TidyTabs, you can have multiple sets of tabs open without getting overwhelmed or confused by them all. It works with all programs, including web browsers, text editors, terminals, media players, and so on.
Some of the additional features include:
- Works everywhere not just on browsers
- Easy to use with the drag and drop feature to move tabs around
- You can rename and highlight tabs for better management
F.lux – Great for reducing eye strain
The first step in being productive and remaining productive is by protecting your eyes. Spending too much time staring only at your screen can affect how you work.
If you don’t get enough sleep because the light from your screen affects you, it is almost impossible to maintain a healthy work routine.
F.lux runs on Windows to adjust the color of your computer monitor to the time of day. It’s designed to reduce eye strain during nighttime use. F.lux is free to use so you don’t have to worry about being light-sensitive anymore.
Some of the additional features include:
- You can adjust the color for evening and daytime
- It will remind you to take a break or go to sleep when you have been working for too long
Quick Access Popup – Great for shortcuts
You are probably not going to be surprised to hear that the more you use your PC, the more you need Quick Access Popup.
Shortcuts make the world go round and Quick Access Popup delivers just that. It gives you quick access to your most-used folders, documents, and programs via a popup menu.
Its main advantage is that it can be used as an alternative to the standard Windows Start Menu. It offers more functionality and personalization options than the standard one.
You can use it to open any folder, document, or program in a few seconds, without having to browse through the Start Menu or the File Explorer.
Some of the additional features include:
- You can personalize the popup menu by adding your favorite items
- It also has a powerful filtering feature that allows you to quickly find any item on your computer by typing just a few letters of its name
- The application is very lightweight and fast. It does not hog your system’s memory when running in the background.
TeamViewer – Good for remote connections
This is the ultimate productivity tool for everyone. If you are always on the go but need to access your primary PC, TeamViewer is your go-to.
Teamviewer is one of the most widely used software for remote desktop access, online meetings, and file sharing.
It can be installed on Windows and is completely free for personal use but requires you to sign up. You no longer need to put off meetings or tasks if you are away from your desk.
You can easily share your screen and do a demo even without your main computer. However, if you use it for work, you will need a license.
Some of the additional features include:
- Remotely administer unattended computers
- Gain access to your office desktop with all of its documents and installed applications
- Supports multiple platforms
Lightkey – Good for text prediction
No matter how accurate you are, working for hours on end on your screen tends to slow even the best of us.
To stay on top of your game, Lightkey comes in to save the day. It is a text prediction software for Windows, with powerful and advanced features to help you type faster and boost your productivity so you can move on to other tasks.
It will learn the language and words you use frequently and provide them to you as suggestions based on what you have previously typed.
Some of the additional features include:
- Dramatically reduce your spelling errors rate
- Reduce the time you spend on writing by 50%
- Understand your writing context over time to offer better predictions
Slack – Great for team communication and collaboration
Slack is an easy-to-use and powerful messaging platform. But it’s also one of the best Windows 11 apps around, thanks to the ability to run multiple instances of the app.
While there are other popular messaging platforms available, such as Google Hangouts, Slack is arguably the favorite among businesses and those who work in technology.
It’s a great way to keep in touch with your teams and share documents, images, audio files, and more. And because you can use Slack on Windows 11, you can keep in touch from any device or location.
For more advanced features especially if you are part of a large team, upgrading to the plus and enterprise plans is recommended.
Some of the additional features include:
- Audio and video call support
- Ability to save and pin important messages
- Integration with other third-party apps
- Emoji support
Buffer – Good for multi-media sharing
In today’s age of social media, you cannot afford to be left behind when it comes to getting and delivering the latest updates in real-time.
Buffer is a great tool for managing your social media presence. Just add your posts and Buffer will publish them for you automatically, according to the schedule you pick.
You can queue up a bunch of posts in advance and have them go out on their own, without having to be at your computer at specific times. If you have a lot of tweets to share this is a pretty handy feature alone.
Some of the additional features include:
- Supports multi-media sharing
- Gives you access to analytics and insights for each site
- Buffer automatically shortens your links across all social networks
Seer – Good for desktop tabs management
Opening and closing a bunch of files throughout the day especially if you are looking for something particular can be time-consuming.
Seer enables you to preview files, folders, and pictures without opening them. You simply hover over the item you want to preview with your mouse cursor and Seer will open a small window that displays a preview of its contents.
It works with all common image formats, PDFs, and text files, so you can preview your work without having to open a bunch of apps just to see which file is which. It can also play videos on full screen or as an overlay in your window so you can preview them easily.
Some of the additional features include:
- You can copy content in preview mode
- Supports multiple formats of images, videos, and documents
- The search function lets you find and open files quickly, even if you don’t know where they are located on your hard drive
⇒ Get Seer
Is my system safe if I download apps from unofficial sites?
You can never be too sure. If you want to use apps from third-party sites, you need to make sure that they are safe to install.
Windows 11 has an in-built security system that protects your computer from any malware or virus. However, it cannot do so if you download apps from sites that do not have a good reputation.
There are a few ways you can sideload apps on your computer. You can either go to the official website of the app and download it from there or use third-party sites. The former is recommended as it is always safer and more secure than the latter.
If you want to use third-party sites, make sure that they are legitimate and do not contain any malicious code or software.
As always, it is recommended that you add an extra layer of protection with an additional antivirus program. Check out our top recommended antiviruses for your PC.
Should you encounter any problems opening apps on Windows 11, we also have a dedicated guide to help you resolve the issue.
If you were having a problem staying productive, we hope one or more of the apps listed in this guide was able to come to your rescue and your day is a little more organized.
We’d love to know what other apps are helping you stay on top of things. Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
