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Going freelance in 2026 is exciting – but it’s also gloriously unglamorous.
Clients won’t care how curated your desk looks; they’ll care that you reply quickly, deliver on time, and don’t lose a day to a laptop that wheezes (so get the best laptop) or a chair that turns an afternoon of design work into a backache (instead find the best office chairs for back pain).
We’re well placed to pull together a starter kit like this because we spend all year testing creative kit and pressure-checking what actually holds up once you’re juggling pitches, invoices, and tight turnarounds.
What's the best freelance hardware?
When you go freelance, your chair becomes part of your earning power. The Sihoo M18 keeps costs down while still covering the ergonomics that matter: breathable mesh, adjustable headrest, and dual-adjustable lumbar support.
A great freelance “one machine” pick: light enough to carry, fast enough for most workloads, and silent because it’s fanless. Apple says the MacBook Air M4 has up to 18 hours of battery life, and it can drive two external displays alongside the built-in screen.
Widely considered to be the freelancer’s safety net: fast NVMe transfers keep projects moving, while IP65 dust-and-water resistance and a 5-year limited warranty suit life on the go. Add 256-bit AES password protection for client files.
A 27-inch 4K screen gives you breathing room for layouts, timelines, and multitasking, which is exactly what freelancing demands. The Dell 27 Plus 4K monitor supports 3840×2160 resolution with an up to 120Hz refresh rate and has built-in speakers.
The Logitech MX Master 3S is a freelancer classic because it’s comfortable for long days, quiet in shared spaces, and quick for scroll-heavy work. There's a MagSpeed scroll wheel and an 8,000 DPI sensor that can even track on glass.
If you type proposals, briefs, and feedback all day, a better keyboard pays you back fast. The LoFree Flow 2 is a low-profile mechanical board with an aluminium body, and flexible connectivity (2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, or USB-C), so it suits both desk and travel setups.
A power bank is a helpful little tool – especially if you hotspot, travel, or take client calls on the move. Anker’s Nano pairs 10,000mAh capacity with a built-in USB-C cable and up to 30W charging, enough to top up modern phones fast.
A dock turns a laptop into a proper workstation with one cable – crucial when your “office” can be a kitchen table or studio. HP’s USB-C Dock G5 delivers up to 100W to the host and supports up to three displays.
Good headphones help you edit video, check audio, or simply get into focus mode in noisy environments. The FiiO FT1 Pro uses an open-back planar magnetic design with a large driver, and a light-ish 374g build, offering serious listening without flagship pricing.
What's the best freelance software?
Procreate is perfect for freelancers who need to sketch ideas quickly, build concepts, or create polished illustration without a subscription hanging over them. It’s a one-time buy and runs beautifully on iPad.
Canva earns its spot because freelance work isn’t always “pure design”. The free tier covers a lot, and paid upgrades can be worth it when you’re producing volume or collaborating.
If you’re watching every outgoing cost, Affinity is the rare creative suite that can remove a major line item. Canva recently relaunched Affinity as a unified all-in-one app, positioned as free to use and subscription-free.
DaVinci Resolve is one of the best video apps and is hugely capable even before you spend anything. The free version is packed with pro features, supporting editing and finishing up to Ultra HD (3840 × 2160) at up to 60fps, plus deep colour tools and more.
Figma is a smart pick when your freelance work touches digital products, or you collaborate with clients, developers, or other designers. The pricing structure evolves, but the free Starter route remains useful for getting going.
Notion is less “creative software” and more your freelance operating system: briefs, checklists, contracts, client notes, and content calendars in one place. Notion is free for individual use with generous limits.
