Time Tracking Software Selection Guide
Do you know that there are more than 90 different time tracking applications on the market today? Even the construction industry is nowadays using construction project scheduling software to manage their time.
We’ve spent dozens of hours to test some of them and create this guide that will help you in making the decision which time tracking software fits your needs. Enjoy!
Define your perfect application:
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All apps
actiTIME
Allows you to keep records of team's working time in terms of customers, projects and tasks. Looks good for team management purposes, rather than for a personal time tracking.
* Provides such management features as task estimates and completion tracking, deadline reminders and budget control notifications.
- Free basic functionality for small teams (up to 5 users)
- Nice design with color schema selection
- Can installed on your intranet server
Time Doctor
Allows finding out the activities employees spend their working time on and how much time was spent on a particular task. You will know how much you should pay your employee and for what.
* Saves screenshots (optional) and tracks used apps
- Allows to prioritize your tasks
- Online payments to employees
Hubstaff
Tracks what your freelancers do and how much they work, showing their current status and screenshots. Allows paying them immediately. Similar to Worksnaps, but with ability to pay contractors and without invoicing.
* Staffing services and GPS tracking are also available
- Modern interface
- Integrates with more than 20 third-party application
- One account supports several organizations
- Free for one user with 'Limited User Settings'
- Not good for invoicing customers
- Dashboard refresh is not frequent enough
- Windows client application stays in your taskbar
Screenshot Monitor
Helps you to see what your employee was doing during a particular day (based on screenshots) and what kind of task/project he/she was doing and how much time he/she spent on it. Additionally, you will be able even to know with whom your employee talked over Skype and what kind of text he/she was typing (again based on screenshots).
* Focused on screenshots
- Modern and simple interface
- Convenient for working with freelancers
- Free for two employees
- Inconvenient for paying for work time (no billing, payrolls)
Minterapp
Best fitted for freelance teams and small businesses, especially if they use Basecamp or Trello to track their projects. Makes easy to send estimates and invoices to customers as well as receive payments from them. Allows to set up daily and project-based time budget. Helps to create professional estimates that include SOW & Contract Agreements Section and allows your client to accept/reject it.
* It does provide a limited free plan (1 User, 2 Clients, 3 Projects) that starts after your 30-day trial ends
- Nice Web 2.0 interface
- Estimates, Invoices and online payments
- Basecamp and Trello integration
- Time tracking browser extension available for Chrome only
Monitask
Easy-to-use time-tracking software designed for remote teams of employees that includes automatic timesheets and screenshots of employees’ workstations as proof of work done. Screenshot monitoring is completely transparent to the employees and they control when the monitoring starts and when it stops.
- Free for up to three users
- Responsive interface
- Automatic timesheets
- Detailed reports
- Inconvenient for paying for work time (no billing, payrolls)
Qbserve
This app keeps track of what you do on your Mac and provides constant feedback on your productivity. It analyses what apps, websites and documents you are working on and relates this time to some project or simply marks it as productive, neutral or distracting according to your rules.
* Tracks YouTube videos and Reddit subs separately, so you can categorize them as productive if necessary.
- Simple-to-use and nice interface
- Scheduled export to JSON and CSV
- Allows to create invoices
- Real-time productivity notifications
- For Mac only
- No team/sync features
Tick
Good for companies working on fixed-price project as it totally focused on budget control. It doesn't count your money, nor invoice your customers, but it tracks your time budget. If you want invoicing, you can integrate it with Freshbooks. If you need payouts, connect it to Quickbooks.
- Time budget control
- No hourly rates and invoicing
Hours
A simple user experience and sleek interface lets you easily track your time on your iPhone, Apple Watch, and on the web – and it’s totally free – unless you want to take advantage of the collaborative team tracking functionality for a minimal cost. Allows to create timers with your own project/client/task information
* Hours’ visual timeline lets you track in real-time or add time retroactively.
- Simple and sleek interface
- 100% FREE for individual use
- Customizable alerts remind you to start and stop timers
- Track and sync time across multiple devices
- Doesn't support hourly rates and invoicing
- No app for Android
TIMEDOCK
This product is different from others because your worker doesn't have to press anything to clock in and clock out, instead just place the card in front of smartphone camera or bring NFC card to compatible smartphone.
* A special temper-proof device TimeTablet™ can be provided for wall-mounting.
- More ergonomic time tracking process
- Easy to use
- Tracking of GPS coordinates
- No productivity analysis
- No free plan
Read also:
DeskTime
Allows not only to determine on which websites and applications employees spend their working time (including number of hours), but also to find out who's late and who's in the office on time. Additionally, it is good to determine your own time-spending habits.
* Primarily designed to track employee's full working day
- Modern and simple design
- Quick synchronization
- Automatically determines productivity based on apps and websites being used
- Free for personal use
- Inconvenient for paying for work time (no billing, payrolls, hourly rates)
RescueTime
Helps to find out how much time you have spent, for instance, in Facebook or how productive your general time-spending habit is. Additionally, the app also monitors how your productivity changes over time.
* Determines productivity based on apps and websites being used
- Allows to temporarily disable distractive websites
- Allows to set productivity goals and strive towards achieving them
- Not good for logging work time for billing purposes
Chrometa
Based on applications being used it determines where you have spent your time and how much time you have spent on a particular project.
* Automatic time breakdown based on customizable rules
- Available for the majority of platforms (apart from Linux)
- Client billing and possibility of online payments
- When watching video, periodically popping up message about non-working hours is really irritating
- Issues with non-ASCII symbols in program headers
Worksnaps
Helps you to see how much your freelancers work on your projects and what do they do. Very similar to Hubstaff, but with invoicing instead of contractor payments.
* Saves screenshots and tracks used apps
- Free for one user and one project
- Can take pictures using employee's web-camera
- The client application (for Windows) is not very convenient
- Dashboard refresh is not frequent enough
Time Tracker by eBillity
Tracks your employees' working time and invoices your customers. Especially convenient if you need such payment specifics as flat rate, reimbursement, contingency, overtime, taxes and so on.
* Offers some legal features like ABA Activity, Task Codes, LEDES Invoicing, Trust Accounting и Conflict Checker
- Windows Phone application and Outlook plugin
- Time Sheet Approval
- Many customizable invoice fields
- Allow tracking your time even if you're offline
- Desktop client requires Adobe Air and stays in your task bar
- No free plan
Fanurio
Good for those who works alone and doesn't want to pay monthly subscription for online services. Works in terms of Customer->Project->Task->Expenses.
* Allows to record the distance and time travelled with a vehicle whether for billing or tax purposes.
- Able to export everything to CSV
- Easy to master
- Data backup available
- Only for one worker
- No mobile application
Time Cockpit
Made in Austria and mainly focused on Microsoft technologies. Due to its highly customizability it looks like it was made for developers. Charges basing on the number of active users per day.
* Offered only to organizations and not to consumers. All prices are excluding VAT.
- Full client application for offline work
- Customizable data model, reports, scripting and UI
- Tracks written files and sent emails (via Outlook)
- MS Team Foundation Server and Outlook integration
- Also available in German
- Takes time to master
- No time counter
- Uses Silverlight for web application (HTML5 is coming)
Freckle
Will tell you the exact time-spending habits as well as indicate the busiest days of the team. It has a free plan, but it's hidden in the user's billing page.
* Focuses on tags
- Stylish interface
- As for me, its learning curve is a bit steep
OfficeTime
Helps to find out how much time you or members of your team have spent on a project and the way this time was distributed among task categories.
* Doesn't need connection to the Internet
- No subscription, one-time payment
- Requires manual time import/synchronization from other devices or time of other team members
Toggl
Allows tracking how much time you or members of your team have spent on a project and how that time was distributed among clients, projects and tags.
* Provides Chrome browser extension called 'Toggl Button' that works inside 30+ other productivity tools
- Simple and smooth interface
- Free for up to five users (excluding tracking of paid time)
- No billing option
Harvest
Helps to find out how much time was spent on particular tasks and clients as well as keep record of additional expenses.
- Integrates with a number of applications
- Online payment of invoices
- Advanced invoicing options (cost estimates, advance payments, discounts)
- Making pictures of receipts for accounting purposes
Visual TimeAnalyzer
Will tell you what apps your child is using or the activities your employee has spent his/her time on. Helps you to analyze website, document and software usage statistics as well as to know when employees start working and duration of their breaks.
* Automatically tracks working time, software and Internet usage (That means the user doesn't need to do anything)
- One-time payment
- Suitable if no Internet connection is available
- Only for Windows
- Old-fashioned interface
TSheets
Tracks the location of an employee during work hours, employee's particular tasks and their duration as well as who is working at the moment.
* Tracks employees' GPS coordinates and allows them to mark time via phone, twitter and SMS
CaseFox
Being a bit complicated for ordinary freelancers it's rather designed for attorneys, accountants and other professionals. Like eBillity's Time Tracker it's provides additional financial and legal features.
- Google and Dropbox intergation
- Vendor management
- Offers synchronizing calendaring items with external calendars
- Automatic data backups
- No timer application
- Old-fashioned interface overladen with small elements
- The learning curve is steep a bit
TrackingTime
Provides basic task management and time tracking functionality (Clients, Projects, Tasks, Services, Team members). Team collaboration is mainly realized in sharing of task status, comments and current team member status.
* Windows and Linux applications are made in a form of Chrome Application.
- Totally Free
- Nice interface
- Easy to start
- No invoicing
- Poor reporting
Cashboard
Supposed to assist you in project management, time tracking, invoicing and receiving money from your customers. Allows to 'resell' your employee's time to the customers.
- Multiple online payment methods
- Quite complicated interface
Intervals
Tries to combine task management (due dates, task status, daily due reminders), lightweight project management (budget, expenses, payments) and time tracking.
- Plethora of reports
- Document Storage
- Unlimited users
- Old-fashioned, complicated interface
- Web-based time counter only
- No free plan
ManicTime
Records what applications and websites you use allowing to assign tags to all your activities and then generate tag-based time sheets and statistics. Also provides an on-premise server application for you to monitor your team activity.
* Exports reports as pictures and all data as CSV
- Intuitive and simple interface
- Extracts details (eg. document path or skype interlocutor)
- Auto tagging option
- No billing option
- Windows only
Ronin
Especially good for invoicing your customers and working with contractors (in addition to your staff). Though there are no built-in contractor payouts, you can invite contractors to Ronin and their invoices will be payable (if they upgrade to a paid plan).
* It's a GoDaddy company since Oct, 2013
- Supports Stuff and Contractors
- Project Time Budget Control
- Supports Beanstream (CAD only) for invoice payments
- No reports and contractors in Free plan
- Web-based timer only and not evident enough
Motivate Clock
Sitting in the system tray, it distributes your working time among the projects basing on what applications and web sites you're working with. Also tracks how much you rest and reminds you about working and/or resting time.
- Completely free
- Stylish and handy interface
- Doesn't take keywords in app/website titles into account
- Only for Windows
Timing
Being purposed for personal use mainly, it helps you to realize what you spend time on. Thanks to automatic categorization it may especially be helpful for those who frequently switch between tasks and still want to know how much time they spent on a certain project.
* Works locally, nothing is sent to the server
- Simple and intuitive interface
- Supports Apple Script for data export customization
- Exports reports in CSV and JSON
- Compatible with many applications
- Only for Mac
- No personal productivity analysis
- No ready reports for billing purposes
Read also:
Daily
Provides automatic time tracking. But instead of tracking your apps, Daily periodically asks you what are you doing at the moment. Allows setting an activity, for example, presentation or lunch. Possibility to set particular days and hours when time should be tracked.
- Simple and intuitive interface
- You can download CSV reports
- For Mac only
- No personal productivity analysis
TMetric
It's a time tracking web service with built-in timer and reports. It supports team work and integration with other services via Google Chrome plugin. You can group tasks into projects and the system administrator is able to access to reports of any user.
- Simple and intuitive interface
- Completely free
- Exports reports to CSV and PDF
- No application for Mac and Linux
- You can't add new users to projects right away
Clockspot
Allows to track time with hourly rates or fixed salary. Supports overtime for salaried employees. Timer is managed from employee's account via web. Timer works in the background mode which allows to avoid keeping your browser always open.
* Employees can manage timer by calling a designated toll-free telephone number
- Flexible settings for employees' time tracking
- Built-in messaging system
- Manager role available in access permissions settings
- Monthly payment for using the service
- App for employees is not available
BigTime
Perfectly intergates with QuickBooks and Lacerte providing seamless synchronization. Features customizable user interface and flexible reports, but seems to be more appropriate for small and medium sized businesses than for freelancers.
- Seamless QuickBooks integration
- Customizable interface
- Task management
- No free plan
- No desktop timer
Read also:
Screenish
Allows to bind work of remote employees to projects. Projects enable you to limit work time and set up an hourly rate for each employee. Also it takes screenshots and tracks mouse and keyboard activity.
- Simple and intuitive interface
- Allows to connect to employee's social profiles
- No free plan
- The first screenshot is taken after 10 minutes after work is started
2015-03-19 @ 13:41
Sweet guide! Maybe you could add Saus (https://saus.us) to it? It is a time tracking tool I recently start using and so far I am liking it best! I asked them about invoicing as well, and they told me they are currently working on it, as well as on mobile phone apps.
2015-03-19 @ 20:59
Yast.com if you have time.
2015-04-01 @ 01:37
Hi Robert, I tried to signup but after clicking “register” button the popup disappears and nothing happens. I did it twice…
2015-03-25 @ 08:31
We have to define “whether it is web based timesheet, cloud based timesheet or installed app….
2015-03-25 @ 10:23
Hi, do have any suggestion or you just promote your product?
2015-03-26 @ 07:09
i think we can use cloud based timesheet.The reason is “it can be accessed from anywhere anytime and data stored can be secured”.
2015-03-25 @ 12:49
Nice article! Another suggestion is Attainr.com. Very easy to use and nice design.
2015-03-25 @ 17:52
Thanks for including us! Much appreciated, and if you have any questions we’d be glad to get them answered here.
2015-04-10 @ 11:12
Would you consider adding http://www.yanomo.com? Should be a good match for your list. Thanks, Joost – Yanomo CTO
2015-04-10 @ 15:30
Hi Joost, what’s unique about Yanomo? What’s your USP? – Mike
2015-04-11 @ 00:26
Hi Mike,
Most of our clients switch to us for one of these reasons:
– Calendar based with Google Calendar and Outlook exchange integration to log time directly to your calendar items.
– Support for larger organisation though internal business units (“Firm” plan)
– Multi currency (“Firm” plan)
Cheers,
Joost
PS: Our API is not advertised but available: https://www.yanomo.com/site/en/apidocs/
2015-04-11 @ 18:38
We use ZipTimeTracker.com and like its simplicity and mobile version. Also have used Paymo.
Great article btw, love how you can filter the results based on tags.
2015-04-12 @ 17:23
Thanks, Alan.
2015-04-13 @ 20:58
Please add CreativeWorx TimeTracker (http://www.creativeworx.com). It *automatically* captures activity and learns to intelligently assign the correct billing code. Works with Adobe Creative Suite, calendars, Office, browsers and virtually every other application on Mac & Windows. Integrates with large-scale ERP platforms such as NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics and more…plus online invoicing tools, such as Freshbooks, Quickbooks and Harvest. Individual and Teams plans, too. http://www.creativeworx.com. Thanks!
2015-05-07 @ 01:01
Nice reviews! When you have time please also review https://www.temponia.com We’re fairly new on the market, our focus is on a graphical calendar interface to log time (so no start/stop timers). We got native mobile apps and flexible reporting / dashboards. We integrate with Xero and Zoho (others on request) and got an API available to let others integrate.
If you got any questions please let us know!
2015-05-11 @ 12:49
Thanks a lot, cool guide! I propose to add Motivate Clock ( http://motivateclock.org/en/ ). It is totally free and handy time tracking app.
2015-05-11 @ 21:20
Nice app. Is it possible to filter applications by keywords in the title (not only by the application type)?
2015-05-11 @ 21:31
Now it’s not possible, but it will be useful feature.
2015-05-11 @ 21:36
I’d say it’s a must. I tested your app. It looks very nice, but for me it’s almost useless since I use same applications for different projects and MotivateClock can’t determine what project I’m working on. All your competitors do it.
2015-05-11 @ 21:43
Thanks for the review 😉 This feature is scheduled in future releases.
2015-05-14 @ 17:12
Hi, Michael. I would love to read your opinion on time tracking by primaERP: http://www.primaerp.com
Been using it and so far I like and recommend it. I like the way it creates the time records and its pricing and billing features are quite good too.
Thanks for the list. A lot to explore there. There are a few I did not know. Cheers!
2015-05-14 @ 17:17
Hi Gabriel, why do you want to know my opinion on primaERP if you already use and like it? Are you affiliated with it somehow?
2015-05-21 @ 21:49
Very useful guide specially the criteria for defining the perfect time tracker. Wonder if you are able to try out OfficeMA Timesheet (http://www.officema.co.uk), It’s a cloud based timesheet that features manual time entry or using a timer, it has a Chrome browser extension and mobile apps in addition to other features, such as clients, projects, tasks, revenue, rates and report.
2015-06-06 @ 00:00
Please add BigTime: http://www.bigtime.net/track-your-productivity/
2015-06-11 @ 14:52
Nice. You should definitely also add TimeSheet Reporter to your list. This makes it possible to track time via your Microsoft Outlook calendar appointments. – http://www.timesheetreporter.com
Thanks.
Tom
http://www.timesheetreporter.com/dk
2015-06-24 @ 11:01
I use time tracking software. It helps me. It helps to concentrate on the tasks. I use “Time Tracking primaERP”. It increases of my productivity.
2015-06-26 @ 13:18
I’m a big fan of timecamp (https://www.timecamp.com). You should definitely add it to your list 😉 It has automatic tracking which is a must HAVE for me. I dont want to waste my time doing it manually…
2015-07-06 @ 16:59
Well there’s a great time tracking software missing from this list: https://www.timeneye.com I’ve been using it for more than a year now and it’s great, simple and free.
2015-09-14 @ 13:01
Hello,
I’d recommend this app as an alternative to the above: projects.tm
It’s integrated with Google apps and follows the GTD methodology. It’s available on the web, Android and an iOS app is coming soon.
Give it a try!
2015-09-17 @ 11:32
Wow! What a great list.
We are a bit jealous not to be listed ;P
http://www.timr.com is a comprehensive online time tracking tool. We provide native apps for iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone.
We have a free plan as well as an on-premise solution and since the last update our time tracking apps work online and offline – anywhere.
I would be more than happy, if we made it onto this list. If you have any question, please contact me!
2015-10-30 @ 13:16
If you want to be in this list please contact us directly via https://ergonotes.com/contact-us/
2015-11-01 @ 11:11
I’m on it. Alex Nowak (derfalschehase@gmail.com) turned your email into a to-do.
Comment on Time Tracking Software Selection Guide
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To-do receipts are automatically sent to let you know that your email was added to the recipient’s to-do list in Handle.
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2015-09-30 @ 18:47
Disclaimer: I work at TSheets.
Found this excellent list browsing Quora discussions. Would love it if you could add TSheets (http://www.tsheets.com).
Here’s the integration list: https://www.tsheets.com/app-marketplace/
– QuickBooks (online & desktop)
– Square
– ZenPayroll (now Gusto)
– Results CRM
– Flint
– Cougar Mountain
– ActiveHours
TSheets is the the #1 rated app in the QuickBooks app marketplace (currently over 1,400 reviews – https://appcenter.intuit.com/tsheets) and has the most amazing free (phone, chat, email) support you can possibly imagine. Really.
14-day free trial and free support questions are available and welcome during the free trial.
https://www.tsheets.com/signup?type=business
2015-09-30 @ 21:21
It’s already there, isn’t it?
2015-10-29 @ 19:39
Cool list!
I work at BigTime Software (https://www.bigtime.net)
It would be awesome if you can add BigTime on here.
Simple breakdown:
– #1 Time Tracking app in the Intuit Marketplace (https://marketplace.intuit.com/v2/f-time-tracking/software-solutions.aspx?sort=surveyhigh)
– Cloud-based time and expense tracking software, with reporting.
– Apps for iOS and Android
– Quickbooks Integration
– Lacerte Integration
– Zapier Integration – allows us to hundreds of applications (https://zapier.com/zapbook/)
– 1-2 users… FREE – Time Tracking, Quickbooks Integration, Reporting
– 3+ users… 14-Day Trial (https://www.bigtime.net/sign-up/) – Includes expense tracking, project/budget tracking, billing/invoicing, advanced reporting… and more.
2015-10-30 @ 13:24
If you’re related to bigtime.net and want to be in this list please contact us directly via https://ergonotes.com/contact-us/
2015-10-30 @ 15:30
Great, thanks guys.
2015-11-18 @ 11:52
I’ve been trying this Practicepanther software,and works better than some of the other software
I tried to use. I’m on its trial since it is free ‘till the first month of the following year, I’ve been planning to use this permanently…The best as it’s easy to use so far…
2015-11-18 @ 12:27
Thanks, is it designed specifically for attorneys?
2016-01-15 @ 15:44
Hi all, many of the apps listed are insufficient for the mid and enterprise market. Take a look at companies such as Cronforce.com, Replicon.com, Clarizen.com for more advanced solutions.
2016-01-22 @ 10:45
Thank you for the good article. I prefer to use TMetric (https://tmetric.com/) in my work. This app is free of charge, easy and convenient. Work day is visualized as a timeline. The tool integrates with many popular project management systems such as Trello, Asana, Red Mine, Basecamp, Githab and other.