The best new apps that stressed entrepreneurs and freelancers should use to manage projects, boost productivity, and keep costs down

• There are countless apps that promise to help you run your business, but the downside to this abundance is that you can easily find yourself wasting time choosing and using the right ones.
• A recent wave of so-called "low-code" platforms are reducing the need for single-purpose apps by giving users more control over how they use cloud database tools.
• Business Insider looked at how well five of the leading services meet seven critical business management needs that offer enterprise-grade tools at startup prices for startups, small businesses, and freelancers.
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When it comes to apps and platform tools to run your business, the choices can be overwhelming.

If there's a business management problem to solve, odds are there's a tailor-made service to help out.

The downside to this abundance is that you can easily find yourself wasting time choosing and using different apps for project planning, customer resource management, inventory tracking, financial bookkeeping, or almost anything else you need on a daily basis.

And after you've done all that, you may still need another set of apps to get them to work together.

But what if you could use just one app to handle the job of several?

After all, most productivity apps are powered by databases and cloud computing, and programmed in a way that makes them more user friendly.

If you're comfortable with using spreadsheets like Excel or Google Sheets, there are a recent wave of solutions for you to consider.

Tapping into the power of databases

They're called "low-code" platforms, and they're reducing the need for single-purpose apps by giving users more control over how they use cloud database tools.

It might sound scary at first, but it's helpful to think of a database as just a fancy term for spreadsheets that can interact with each other.

Each row of the spreadsheet is called a record, and records can be almost anything you like, such as a task with a deadline, or individuals' names and contact information.

(In fact, you're using a database to read this story right now - most websites employ a database called a content management system to organize stories, headlines, and media assets).

Enterprise-grade tools at startup prices

The main advantage of these low-code platforms is that they are extremely user-friendly, and all of them come with pre-built templates that allow you to just get started without having to learn a bunch of tech skills.

Now, individuals and small teams can use tools at a fraction of the skill level and cost that made them the exclusive domain of established enterprise firms.

We looked at how well several of the leading apps meet the following seven critical business management needs: simplicity, security, collaboration, productivity tracking, project and resource management, pricing scalability, and integration with other apps.

If you've used Google's suite of apps, you'll be right at home. Plus, all of them are free to get started, so you can try them yourself before taking the plunge. (Annual memberships range from about $100 to $300 per user, but some services offer discounts for startups and educational teams).

Continue reading to see our roundup of the five best low-code database apps for startups, small businesses, and freelancers.