Best Project Management Software for Freelance Designers 2026

The best project management software for freelance designers depends on one thing: do you mostly need to track your own tasks, or do you need to run the whole client side too? I read the official pricing pages for four popular tools on November 3, 2026. Here is how I would choose. Quick answer Trello if you think in boards and want a simple free start. Asana if you juggle many deadlines and want list, board, and calendar views for free. Notion if you want tasks, briefs, and notes in one flexible workspace. HoneyBook if your real pain is proposals, contracts, and getting paid, not task lists. Many freelancers do well with one free task tool plus one client tool. You rarely need more. What freelance designers actually need from a project tool Most roundups list ten tools built for big teams. A solo designer has different problems. You are the designer, the account manager, and the bookkeeper. These are the criteria I used: Visual layout. Designers tend to like boa...
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Digital Privacy Basics, How Companies Use Your Data

Quick answer
  • Companies collect what you search, click, buy, and where you go, then use it to show ads and build profiles. Much of it is collected through apps, websites, and advertising IDs.
  • You can limit a lot of it with seven settings: app tracking, advertising ID, location, app permissions, browser tracking, account privacy checkups, and a password manager with two-step verification.
  • Children under 13 have extra protections under the U.S. Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

Have you ever seen an ad for something right after talking or searching about it? Often the explanation is simpler than a hidden microphone: companies combine your browsing, purchases, app activity, and location into a profile.

This guide explains in plain language what personal data is, how it is used, and seven settings that give you more control. It also has a short section for talking with kids.

Helpful to have from this guide: webcam covers
See webcam covers on Amazon →
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

1. What Counts as Personal Data

Examples of personal data that companies collect online
  • What you search for, watch, and buy.
  • Places you go, from your phone’s location.
  • Your device and advertising IDs.
  • Contacts, photos, and messages you share with apps.
  • Information you type into forms and sign-up pages.
A small webcam cover is a cheap way to add peace of mind.
My take (20 years in IT): Start with the settings that take two minutes: app tracking, the advertising ID and location. You do not need to do all seven in one evening.

2. How Companies Use It

How companies use personal data for ads and profiles
  • To show targeted ads and measure whether they work.
  • To build interest profiles across apps and sites.
  • To personalize feeds and recommendations.
  • To share or sell information to partners such as data brokers.
  • To train and improve products, depending on the company’s policy.

3. Seven Settings to Check

Seven privacy settings to review on your phone and browser
  • App tracking: on iPhone, Settings, Privacy and Security, Tracking, and turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track.
  • Advertising ID: on Android, open Settings, Privacy, Ads, and delete or reset your advertising ID.
  • Location: set apps to While Using or Never, and turn off precise location when not needed.
  • App permissions: remove camera, microphone, contacts, and photos access from apps that do not need them.
  • Browser: block third-party cookies and use a privacy-focused search or tracking protection.
  • Account checkups: run the privacy checkup in your Google, Apple, and social accounts.
  • Passwords: use a password manager and turn on two-step verification.
Narrowing it down? Prices and availability change often, so check the current listing.
Privacy screen filters →

4. Data Brokers and Opting Out

Data brokers and how to opt out
  • Data brokers collect public records and online data and sell it.
  • Many brokers have opt-out pages, and some states offer deletion rights, such as California.
  • Opting out takes time, and information can reappear, so repeat the process periodically.
  • Limit what you share publicly on social media.

5. Talking With Kids About Privacy

Teaching kids about online privacy and personal data
  • Explain that personal data is like a digital fingerprint that can be shared.
  • Set privacy settings together and review app permissions.
  • Teach kids not to share full names, addresses, school names, or passwords.
  • Under COPPA, websites aimed at children under 13 have extra rules about collecting information.
  • Make it easy for them to tell you if something online feels wrong.
Ready to compare options? Prices and availability change often, so check the current listing.
Security keys →
My take (20 years in IT): A password manager with two-step verification protects you from more problems than any single privacy toggle. Add it before you spend time on the rest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my phone listening to my conversations?

There is no simple proof either way for every app. Ads often match you through searches, browsing, location, and purchases, so reviewing permissions and tracking settings matters more.

Does a VPN make me anonymous?

A VPN hides your traffic from your network and changes your visible IP address, but companies can still identify you through logins, cookies, and device IDs.

What is an advertising ID?

It is a device identifier that lets advertisers recognize your device across apps. You can reset or delete it on Android and limit it on iPhone.

How do I protect my children’s data?

Use family controls, review permissions, teach basic rules, and check whether the apps they use follow COPPA.

Related Guides

Resources

Last updated: October 22, 2026.

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