There are hundreds of software solutions available for businesses. Most of them are bloated with functionality and a majority have absolutely terrible interfaces. After a while of using such software, you simply get tired of not being able to do things simply and quickly. And if you’re a desktop user, tough luck carrying that around everytime you travel or want to work outside of your office.

We like web applications way more than software for this reason. They are more portable and multiple users can have access to it without having to purchase additional licenses. There is also no upfront fee for setting it up and you can dump the application if it gets old or doesn’t work like you want it to. We like having the option to change our mind and not getting penalized for it.

If you run a small business, we prescribe that you move over to something that is more affordable and gets the job better than enterprise solutions. Each of these are not only incredible applications in what they do, but they are also impossible to beat on the price front:

Backpack: Just updated, backpack helps you keep a track of your To-Do’s, manage multiple lists, and jot your notes down. The modern day notebook. Cost: Free
Basecamp: The god of project management systems, it will help manage any type of project no matter the context or size. We even had HP Product Development team switch over to this for daily communication and management! Cost: Free - $150/month
Blinksale: Simple invoicing which will manage your receivables. Cost: Free - $50/month
GMail: Best email application with the most effective search system. Cost: Free
GTalk: Simple chatting application with clean interface. Cost: Free
Google Docs: Shareable documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Cost: Free
Highrise: Manage you contacts and keep track of communication. Cost: Free - $150/month
Strongspace: Quick and simple web storage. Cost: $15-$100/month