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Top 5 single source of truth tools for lone wolves who do it all

Writer's picture: Diego TorresDiego Torres

Being a solopreneur means you're a lone wolf juggling multiple roles and tasks. Having a single source of truth (SSOT) is crucial to staying organized and efficient. However, there are two different types of SSOT models we encourage you to consider when determining the best solution for your unique needs.


  1. Single source of truth platform

  2. Single source of truth ecosystem


SSOT Platforms vs. Ecosystems

A single source of truth platform is a singular application that brings multiple aspects of work together in one system. On the other hand, a single source of truth ecosystem is an interconnected network of applications, and this is often where the word "integration" is introduced. An interconnected ecosystem of apps could look like the following:


  • Notion for managing projects, tracking tasks, and writing notes

  • Miro for whiteboarding, brainstorming, and visual collaboration

  • Grow for reporting and analytics

  • Microsoft Outlook and Teams for communication


In this post, we'll give you options to explore both types of solutions, with the first three representing single sources of truth platforms and the last two representing ecosystems. Here are our top five solutions that can help you manage everything seamlessly.


Single Source of Truth Platforms


1. ClickUp

ClickUp is an app that positions itself as "one app to replace them all." It brings project management, task management, documentation, knowledge management, communication, reporting, and visual collaboration into one system.



If you think about what that could mean for cost and time savings, you could replace a range of tools like Microsoft Word for documentation, Notion or Confluence for knowledge management, Slack for communication, Power BI for reporting, and Miro for visual collaboration. Let me be clear: it doesn't mean that ClickUp or any other tool consolidating many aspects of work into one platform offers better features than individual tools. You will likely find more robust whiteboarding features in a tool like Miro or Mural since those apps are focused on the whiteboarding experience and not necessarily project management. However, an app like ClickUp allows you to operate on one platform and connect different aspects of work for ultimate contextualization, often with robust features that will make you confident in your decision to stay on an SSOT platform.


Here's a glimpse at the powerful built-in features of the ClickUp platform that can help you streamline your workflow and control costs:

Feature

Replaces

Project management

Asana, monday.com, Wrike

To-do lists

Any.do, Todoist, TickTick

Relational database management

Airtable, Smartsheet, Microsoft Lists

Documentation

Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Notion

Knowledge management

Confluence, Notion, Microsoft SharePoint

Communication (within the context of your work)

Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Chat

Reporting and analytics through custom dashboards

Tableau, Grow, Microsoft Power BI

Visual collaboration/whiteboarding

Miro, Mural, Microsoft Whiteboard

Goal tracking

Teamwork, Productboard, Smartsheet

Interested in ClickUp? You can test drive the platform for free! Open your free account without entering your credit card details and bring your work into one centralized platform.


2. Notion

Notion is a versatile tool that combines note-taking, task management, and database functionalities. It's perfect for those who need flexibility in organizing their thoughts and tasks.



The most notable feature of Notion is its drag-and-drop interface for custom page designs. Everything in the app is a page: your tasks, databases, projects, etc. This page structure lets you create the look and feel you want when visualizing your data. You can create dashboards, track projects, and store information effortlessly.



Here's a breakdown of the features Notion can offer you as a solopreneur.

Feature

Replaces

Project management

ClickUp, monday.com, Asana

To-do lists

Any.do, Todoist, TickTick

Relational database management

Airtable, Smartsheet, Microsoft Lists

Documentation

Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Confluence

Hosted Notion site

Wix, Microsoft SharePoint, Google Sites

Knowledge management

Guru, Confluence, Microsoft SharePoint

Basic reporting and analytics

---

Goal tracking

Teamwork, Productboard, Smartsheet


3. Wix

Wix is an all-in-one website builder that allows you to create stunning websites without any coding knowledge. It's perfect for entrepreneurs and freelancers who need an online presence and control costs by bringing multiple aspects of work into one system.



Here's a breakdown of what Wix handles and how you can leverage its all-in-one platform for more than just web design:

Feature

Replaces

Drag-and-drop web design

Webflow, Weebly, Squarespace

Hosting

Bluehost, Hostgator, IONOS

e-commerce

Shopify, Volusion, BigCommerce

Content Management System (CMS)

Wordpress, Webflow, Drupal

Blogging

Wordpress, Webflow, Hubspot

Email Marketing

Mailchimp, GetResponse, AWeber

Website Reporting & Analytics

Google Analytics, Tableau, Power BI

To-Do Lists

Any.do, Todoist, Microsoft To Do

These apps help you streamline your workflow and keep everything organized. Whether managing a business or handling personal projects, having a single source of truth is essential for success. Try these tools and see which one best fits your needs.


Single Source of Truth Ecosystems

These next two platforms are considered single-source-of-truth ecosystems: a network of interconnected apps that can handle almost every aspect of your productivity workflow. We consider these “Business Suites” in our catalog because they infuse a range of business needs, including governance, domain connection, hosting, productivity, collaboration, and others.


Unfortunately, you’re limited to two primary choices: Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. You will likely have heard or worked with these, even for personal use in life or school. There are other ways to bring multiple apps together to create a business suite, but these options offer apps under one umbrella that can be used to manage your solo business.


4. Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 is fourth because it offers more apps than Google Workspace. Some of these apps come at an additional cost, but for just $6 per month, you can manage all aspects of your business with all the apps included in the 365 ecosystem. You’ve probably worked with most of these apps, like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. However, Microsoft has added more powerful apps to its productivity suite, such as Planner, Loop, and modern SharePoint. Best of all, everything you do is accessible on any MacOS, iOS, and Android device.



Here’s a breakdown of all the Microsoft 365.

App

Description

OneDrive

Cloud file storage

Word

Documentation

Excel

Spreadsheets

PowerPoint

Slide decks

OneNote

Digital note-taking

Outlook

Email

Teams

Text chat and video calls

SharePoint

Intranet and team sites

Publisher (Desktop only)

Desktop document and stationery publishing

To Do

To-do lists

Planner

To-do lists and basic project management

Lists

List management and basic relational databases

Loop

Real-time collaboration for task management and online docs

Whiteboard

Visual collaboration on a digital whiteboard

Forms

Form creation and management

Sway

Interactive online slide creator

Visio

Visual diagramming

Stream

Video streaming and management

Project

Advanced project management

Power Automate

Automation generator

Bookings

Online calendar bookings

Clipchamp

Video editing and publishing


5. Google Workspace

Google Workspace offers a comprehensive set of business apps, including Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Docs. It's perfect for those who rely on the Google ecosystem for productivity and prefer browser-based tools like Docs, Sheets, and Slides over native desktop applications. Google is primarily cloud-first, so everything you do will live in the cloud, and all your files will be stored in Google Drive. Working with Google can also simplify your login experience across other apps outside of Google, such as Miro, Wix, and any other app using Google single sign-on (SSO). With easy sharing capabilities, cloud files accessible across devices, and prioritized integration for third-party apps, Google Workspace is a solid and flexible choice for just $7 per month.


Google Workspace Landing Page
Google Workspace Landing Page

Here’s a breakdown of the Google Workspace apps that are available to you.

App

Description

Drive

Cloud file storage

Docs

Documentation

Sheets

Spreadsheets

Slides

Slide decks

Keep

Digital note-taking

Gmail

Email

Chat

Text chat, group channels, and video calls

Meet

Video calls

Sites

Intranet, team sites, and public sites

Tasks

To-do lists

Lists

List management and basic relational databases

Forms

Form creation and management

Visio

Visual diagramming

Power Automate

Automation generator

Calendar

Online calendar bookings


Making a Decision: Microsoft or Google?

Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace are both exceptional picks for solopreneurs. Ask yourself the following questions to determine which is right for you.

Do you prefer the look and feel of Microsoft apps or Google apps?

Don't underestimate how you respond to the user interface design of both Microsoft and Google apps. Don't let anyone ever tell you the look and feel of an app is not important. You're going to use an app every day; it ought to be aesthetically pleasing and structured in a way that makes sense and feels comfortable for you.

Do you use Windows, macOS, or ChromeOS as your daily driver?

Do you enjoy the ease of Google single sign-on with so many apps across the internet?

Do you want to cut costs and use a built-in project and task management tool?

Do you want most of your admin settings to be set up by default?

Do you prefer to use native desktop apps or browser-based apps for your office suite?

Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote have more robust features than Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Keep. If you’re a macOS or iOS user, this may not apply since you can directly access Pages, Numbers, and Keynote on your devices to supplement the need for 365 apps.

Do you consistently share files with others?

How many apps do you need to integrate?


Start Your Quest 🏁

The best part? You can test all the apps we mentioned in this article for free! The best way to choose the right software is to give it a trial run.


You can start a free trial of Microsoft 365 Business here.

You can start a free trial of Google Workspace here.


If you want some tips for testing these business suites, check out our Quick SaaS Testing Guide to make the most out of your free trial.


Thanks for reading! 👋🏽

It’s been a pleasure sharing my insights with you.

Have a question or feedback? Let us know what’s on your mind: hey@saasquest.io

Choosing new productivity software doesn't have to be difficult

Kickstart your next product hunt with our exclusive Product Selection Guide: a downloadable eBook with seven steps you can take to effectively choose a new SaaS product for your business.

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