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Small-business tech, compared and priced

The right tools for a small team, compared and priced

Plain-English guides to the software and gear a small team runs on - automation, payments, meetings, backups, Wi-Fi and hiring - sized to your headcount and priced to the month.

Your business
Website Meetings Automation Team apps Time tracking Backups Hiring & HR POS Payments AI at work
Head to head

The comparisons small teams ask for most

ZapierMake Which one is cheaper at your task count, and where each one breaks. Read the comparison SlackTeams Chat, calls and price per seat for a team of 5 to 50. Read the comparison WorkspaceMicrosoft 365 Email, storage and the plan each team size needs. Read the comparison SquareStripe In-person or online, and what the fees come to each month. Read the comparison TogglClockify Billable hours, timesheets and the free plan's limits. Read the comparison QuickBooksXero Invoicing, payroll add-ons and what your accountant expects. Read the comparison
Pick the job

Every guide, by the job in front of you

Website & Online Website cost, builders, domains, business email, security and email lists for a small business online. 29 Meetings & Video Calls Cameras, speakerphones, headsets and transcription for meeting rooms and desks, sized to the room. 28 Automation Zapier, Make, n8n and Power Automate compared and priced, and the jobs worth automating first. 27 Team Apps Slack or Teams, Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, Notion, ClickUp and the plan each team size… 27 Time Tracking Time trackers, time clocks and employee monitoring, compared for billing, payroll and fairness. 27 Backup & Security Backups, NAS boxes, encryption and recovery plans that a small office can actually keep running. 26 Hiring & HR Applicant tracking, onboarding checklists, payroll and HR software for teams that hire a few a month. 22 POS & Card Readers Point-of-sale systems and card readers for shops, cafes and pop-ups, with the fees that come with… 18 Payments & Invoicing Card fees, payment processors, invoicing and accounting software, worked out for small volumes. 18 AI at Work The AI tools that save a small team real hours - writing, meeting notes, video -… 17 Office Wi-Fi & Network Routers, mesh Wi-Fi, PoE switches and VPNs for a small office, sized to the floor and… 16 Small Business IT Hardware Setup Helps small business buyers decide on computers, servers, printers, and peripherals optimized for their team size,… 1
In our guides

Tools our guides recommend, when they fit

Each one is recommended only where it solves the problem in that guide. They take turns at the front of this list.

Productivity & AutomationVocal

Vocal is a software tool that allows users to record and send voice notes via email, complete with AI transcription and customizable features.

  • Send voice messages directly from Gmail or Outlook.
  • Access AI transcription for all voice messages.
  • Customize voice message appearance and content.
See how Vocal works

One-time payment, lifetime access

VPN serviceAdGuard VPN

AdGuard VPN is a virtual private network service that helps users secure their internet connection and protect their online privacy.

  • Secure your internet connection and protect your data from prying eyes.
  • Access content from over 75 locations worldwide.
  • Use the VPN on multiple devices simultaneously.
See how AdGuard VPN works

Free version with 3 GB of traffic monthly; subscription options available.

Cybersecurity softwareBitdefender

Bitdefender is a cybersecurity software that provides threat prevention, detection, and response solutions for businesses and consumers.

  • secure confidential data and maintain business reputation
  • reduce attack surface without impacting productivity
  • access to award-winning security products and threat intelligence
See how Bitdefender works
VPN serviceNordVPN

NordVPN is a virtual private network service that secures your internet data and helps maintain your online privacy.

  • Connect to over 6230 servers in 110+ countries
  • Encrypt internet data with military-grade security
  • Maintain privacy during web browsing
See how NordVPN works
Docs, Legal & HRResumeUp.AI

ResumeUp.AI is an AI-assisted resume and cover letter builder that helps create ATS-friendly resumes, check them against ATS standards, and track job applications.

  • Build or tailor an ATS-friendly resume and cover letter using AI and 20+ customizable templates
  • Get a comprehensive ATS quality score and feedback on 20+ ATS/recruiter standards and fix issues with AI in…
  • Convert a LinkedIn profile into an ATS-friendly resume and optimize the LinkedIn profile
See how ResumeUp.AI works

One-time payment, lifetime access

Customer SupportBit Assist

Bit Assist is a WordPress chat plugin (manageable from WordPress with an External Publish script for other platforms) that combines 30+ messaging, support and action channels into one customizable floating widget.

  • Let visitors choose and contact you via their preferred channel (WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram, Instagram…
  • Customize how the widget looks (icon, color, position, size, shape, spacing, custom CSS) and how it behaves…
  • Add support and action tools inside the widget such as custom forms, FAQ, knowledge base, WP Search…
See how Bit Assist works

One-time payment, lifetime access

Website Builders & WordPressWP Reset Pro Plan

WP Reset Pro Plan is a WordPress plugin that helps developers, freelancers, and agencies reset, repair, and recover WordPress sites quickly by allowing selective resetting, snapshot backups, and bulk plugin/theme…

  • Reset or delete select sections of a WordPress site instantly
  • Create and bulk-install plugin and theme sets (Collections)
  • Take and automate snapshots to restore site states
See how WP Reset Pro Plan works

One-time payment, lifetime access

Computer monitoring softwareSentryPC

SentryPC is a cloud-based software that provides computer monitoring, content filtering, and time management features for parents and employers.

  • Monitor user activities in real-time.
  • Filter content and applications based on user settings.
  • Schedule device usage to manage screen time.
See how SentryPC works

Some links on this site are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products where they genuinely fit the problem.

What it really costs

Prices worked out for a small team, not a sales page

Start here

The guides readers open first

Website & Online

All 29

Meetings & Video Calls

All 28

Automation

All 27
How we size a tool

Your team size first, the feature list last

  1. 1Start from the headcount

    Every guide is sized to a real team - 3 desks, 12 staff, 40 laptops - because that decides the plan you need.

  2. 2Price it to the month

    Seats, tasks, card fees and add-ons from the vendor's own pricing page, added up for that team.

  3. 3Say what breaks

    Limits, lock-in and the point where a cheaper tool stops being enough, said plainly.

  4. 4Date every check

    Prices and plans change. Each guide says when it was last checked, and is updated when they move.

Jordan Ellis edits CircleBytes. Every guide is sized to a real team, priced from the vendor's own pricing page and dated, so you can see when it was last checked. About CircleBytes