7 Tools to Help You Thrive as a Digital Nomad
If you want to work remotely and move around different countries, the digital nomad lifestyle is more accessible than ever. The first thing you should do is build up a skillset that others will pay you for—whether that’s through freelancing, being an employee, or having a business. But once you’ve done that, your work still isn’t fully done.
The romanticized version of being a digital nomad paints the picture of working from your laptop on a beach. However, it often overlooks the bureaucracy involved—along with the need to plan your work schedule, book flights, and manage your finances. You can use several tools to help you enjoy the digital nomad lifestyle, and we’ll discuss seven of the best today.
1. Workspace by Fiverr
Workspace by Fiverrwas previously known as AND.co, and it’s one ofthe best bookkeeping platforms for freelancers and small business owners. The tool lets you create professional-looking invoices, and you could connect your PayPal and Stripe accounts if you want to make it easier for clients to send you money.
When using Workspace by Fiverr, you could manage your accounts in multiple currencies. You’ll find more commonly used ones, such as the US Dollar and Euro. Beyond that, however, you can manage your books in less frequent currencies—such as the Norwegian Krone and the UAE Dirham.
Workspace by Fiverr also allows you to set income goals, add frequent clients, and set up recurring expenses for subscriptions you may have. The app has a free version, but it’s possible to get all features for $18 per month (annual subscription; $24/mo if you pay month-to-month).
Download:Workspace by Fiverr foriOS|Android(Free, in-app purchases available)
2. Schengen Calculator
Europe has several excellent destinations for digital nomads, with Portugal being one especially popular spot for remote workers. EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens can move around each other’s countries with relative ease, but things are more complicated for people not holding a passport or ID card from one of those nations.
Schengen visas are available for non-EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens planning to visit these countries for a short period. You can stay for up to 90 or 180 days; after that, you need a long-term residence permit. People who overstay their visas are subject to penalties, so it’s important that you know your restrictions.
The Schengen Area consists of every EU member state apart from the Republic of Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Romania. Croatia was previously a non-Schengen EU member state, but it joined the region in 2023. Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland are all—despite not being in the EU—also part of the Schengen Area.
Schengen Visa Calculatoris a free tool offered by the websiteSchengen Visa Info, which allows you to calculate how long you’ve been in the Schengen Area. You can enter your dates of travel, and the calculator will identify the date by which you have to leave the region by.
It’s worth noting that even with a Schengen visa, you often cannot legally work unless you have a residence permit for the country you’re in. Moreover, you should remember that the UK is neither in the EU nor the Schengen Zone—so you’ll need to abide by that country’s immigration laws. Check the rules for the countries you visit before traveling to ensure that you’re on the right side of the law.
If you want to succeed as a digital nomad, it’s better to have a steady cash flow than it is to burn through your savings. Setting yourself up as a freelancer isn’t easy, and you should beware of severalcommonly-made beginner freelance mistakes. Managing clients and tracking your projects are both crucial to getting repeat work and growing your reputation.
You might have seen a lot of people talking about Notion, and you may wonderwhether the app is truly worth the hype and why everyone’s using it. Notion is one of the best productivity tools for managing your work, and even the free version has several useful features that can help you organize your projects better.
As a digital nomad, you can use Notion to track your current projects and their deadlines. If you’re in an outreach phase, you can also keep track of the openings you’ve applied for and companies you’ve emailed. You’ll find several useful templates to help you manage everything better, but you can also create your own pages and tables.
If you’re new to using Notion, you can check out ourcomplete beginner’s guide to the app.
Download:Notion foriOS|Android|Windows|Mac(Free, in-app purchases available)
4. Skyscanner
Whether you’re staying in countries for extended periods or traveling more frequently, it’s wise to look for the best flight deals in advance. You can pick from various tools to help you in this respect, but Skyscanner is one of the best.
Skyscanner lets you search for flights by choosing exact dates, and if you’re more flexible, you can look for flights within entire months. The app shows you which dates are more expensive to fly on, too, meaning that you can work more easily within your budget.
If you’d rather avoid long layovers or having to change through multiple airports, it’s possible to choose to only see direct flights. These might not always be possible, but the app will show you the best options if they are.
Skyscanner also has a handy feature that lets you pick one airport and search for flights everywhere. So, if you’re feeling spontaneous, you may want to use that tool.
Download:Skyscanner foriOS|Android(Free)
You’re going to juggle a lot as a digital nomad. While you need to set aside time for work, you’re also probably traveling because you want to meet new people and explore different places. So, you should set aside some time for socializing and getting to know the local culture. If you don’t plan all of this in advance, you can quickly become overwhelmed.
Brite is one of the best tools you can use to plan your week. The app lets you divide work and personal tasks, making it easier for you to gain a full overview of what you need to do. Moreover, you can create notes and add countdowns for your next trip.
Another cool feature in Brite is the ability to prioritize important tasks. Besides that, you can time yourself to ensure that you stay productive. We’ve writtena full guide to planning your week in Briteif you want to learn more.
Download:Brite foriOS(Free, in-app purchases available)
6. H&R Block
If you’re a US citizen, it’s important to remember that you must still report your income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The tax-free allowance changes every year; in 2023, it was $120,000. But even if you don’t owe anything, you must still file your returns.
US tax return files can often feel confusing, and it’s best to work with an accountant to ensure that all of your details are correct.H&R Blockis one of the most popular US expat tax filing services, and the company can help you—regardless of if you’re self-employed or a full-time worker.
If you’ve not complied with the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR), you can also use H&R Block to file a streamlined tax return. However, you’ll need to print the files off and send those yourself. Normal tax returns can be submitted digitally. Pricing for using H&R Block differs depending on the service that you use, but it’s pretty well-priced for the service that you get.
Download:H&R Block Tax Prep foriOS(Free, extra fees for tax help etc.)
Over the 21st century, international payments have advanced significantly. You’ll find several multi-currency account options, and Wise is arguably the best option. Wise lets you send money to accounts in multiple countries, and you can open accounts in USD, EUR, and various other currencies.
You’ll get an accurate exchange rate when converting your money, and the Travel hub feature lets you quickly see what the current conversion rates are for various nations. When using Wise, you can receive both physical and digital bank cards. The app also lets you schedule transfers, request payments, and auto-convert.
Download:Wise foriOS|Android(Free)
Set Yourself Up for a Successful Life Working and Traveling
Preparing for the digital nomad lifestyle will make it much easier to actually enjoy your time traveling, rather than needing to worry about several stressors. You can use several apps to help you find flight deals, ensure you don’t overstay your visa, and comply with tax regulations.
You can also make it easier to set up international payments, along with organizing your client workflow and more. These apps should give you a good base to help you thrive as a digital nomad.
Are you a freelancer planning to move abroad? Here are some things to consider that can help your transition to a new country go smoothly.
Lose your laptop without this feature, and you’ll wish you had turned it on.
Obsidian finally feels complete.
Windows is great, but adding this makes it unstoppable.
My iPhone does it all, but I still need my dumb phone.
These plugins will make you wonder why you used Photoshop in the first place.
