Best Time Management Tools for Startup Founders in 2025

As a startup founder, managing your time effectively is crucial to your success. With numerous tasks to juggle, the right tools can significantly boost your productivity. Here’s an updated list of the best time management tools for startup founders in 2025, ensuring you can maximize your efficiency and focus on what truly matters.

1. Todoist

• Pricing: Free with premium plans starting at $3/month
• Key Features: Task organization, project management, recurring tasks
• Best Use Case: Ideal for individual founders managing multiple projects.

2. Notion

• Pricing: Free for personal use; paid plans start at $8/month
• Key Features: All-in-one workspace, collaborative tools, customizable templates
• Best Use Case: Perfect for founders who need a flexible, multifunctional tool for documentation and task management.

3. Trello

• Pricing: Free with business class options starting at $12.50/month
• Key Features: Visual task management, boards, lists, and cards
• Best Use Case: Great for teams looking to manage projects visually while tracking progress.

4. Clockify

• Pricing: Free with premium features starting at $9.99/month
• Key Features: Time tracking, reporting, project management
• Best Use Case: Best for founders who want to track how much time they spend on various tasks.

5. RescueTime

• Pricing: Free with premium options at $12/month
• Key Features: Automatic time tracking, productivity reports, goal setting
• Best Use Case: Ideal for self-assessment and understanding where time is spent.

6. Asana

• Pricing: Free basic plan; premium features start at $10.99/month
• Key Features: Task assignments, project timelines, and progress tracking
• Best Use Case: Suitable for teams that need a structured approach to project management.

7. ClickUp

• Pricing: Free with paid plans starting at $5/month
• Key Features: Task management, time tracking, goal setting
• Best Use Case: Excellent for founders needing a customizable work management tool.

8. Focus@Will

• Pricing: Plans start at $10/month
• Key Features: Music designed for productivity, timer settings
• Best Use Case: Perfect for founders who need to enhance focus and minimize distractions.

9. Forest

• Pricing: $1.99 one-time purchase
• Key Features: Focus timer, gamified productivity, tree-planting feature
• Best Use Case: Great for those who find motivation in gamification and want to reduce phone usage.

10. Monday.com

• Pricing: Plans start at $8/month
• Key Features: Customizable workflows, automation, reporting
• Best Use Case: Ideal for founders managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders.

Comparison Table of Time Management Tools

| Tool | Pricing | Key Features | Best Use Case | |---------------|------------------------|---------------------------------------|----------------------------------------| | Todoist | Free / $3/month | Task management, recurring tasks | Individual project management | | Notion | Free / $8/month | All-in-one workspace | Documentation and task management | | Trello | Free / $12.50/month | Visual task management | Visual project tracking | | Clockify | Free / $9.99/month | Time tracking, reporting | Time management | | RescueTime | Free / $12/month | Automatic tracking, productivity analysis | Self-assessment | | Asana | Free / $10.99/month | Task assignments, project tracking | Structured project management | | ClickUp | Free / $5/month | Customizable management | Custom workflows | | Focus@Will | $10/month | Productivity music | Enhancing focus | | Forest | $1.99 (one-time) | Gamified focus timer | Gamified productivity | | Monday.com | From $8/month | Custom workflows, automation | Complex project management |

Conclusion

Choosing the right time management tool can make a significant difference in your productivity as a startup founder. Each of these tools offers unique features tailored to different needs, so consider what aspects are most important for your workflow.

For more insights on what tools and strategies Sam and Jordan are using in their own startups, check out the Built This Week podcast. They share real product launches, AI tools exploration, and actionable insights every week.