We hear a lot about time tracking, especially in work-related environments. Whether for employees’ work hours or your own work time, you want an easy-to-use app to help you monitor, manage, and schedule time. However, not all time-tracking apps are the same.
Some are mainly designed for mobile devices, such as iPhone and Android devices, while others run in a browser and allow access from any device connected to the internet. Some are straightforward and offer just a few functions, while others are complex software solutions that address payroll, leave management, and shift scheduling. Read along to learn how to choose a time-tracking app and find out our top choices in this area.
Oddly as it may sound, the best time-tracking software is the one that fits your workflow like a glove. If you or your staff have to go out of your way to clock in and out, record worked hours, and keep a well-organized and accurate balance, you need another time-tracking system.
Therefore, the best time-tracking app is adaptable, customizable, and designed for performance. It runs smoothly on whatever devices you use. The app clearly identifies its strengths and targeted customers. For example, you can find dedicated time-tracking apps for construction, consultants, or freelancers.
Amongst good-to-have features are the ability to automatically compute totals (e.g., total worked hours per day, per week, etc.), the possibility to deal with breaks, sick days, and other types of time off, cost-related functions (e.g., hourly fees), and integration with other management tools you may already use. Last but not least, it helps to be free or, at least, have a free version (e.g., one with fewer features or for a limited number of users) because you can try it out at no cost.
Toggl Track | MyHours | TrackingTime | TimeCamp | Harvest | Clockify | Paymo | DeskTime | Everhour | ActivTrak |
Free for up to 5 users | Free for up to 5 users | Free for up to 3 users | Free version with limited features | Free for one user, up to 2 projects | Free with limited features | Free for unlimited users, up to 5 clients, up to 10 projects | Free for one user | Free up to 5 users | Free for up to 3 users |
Web, desktop, mobile apps | Web app | Mobile, desktop apps | Web, desktop, mobile apps | Mobile, desktop apps | Web, desktop, mobile apps | Mobile, desktop apps | Web, desktop, mobile apps | Web, mobile apps | Web |
Auto tracker of used apps and websites for desktop app | Automate timesheet approval | Automated Time Tracker (AutoTrack) | Timer | Timer | Timer, Auto tracker of used apps and websites | Timer | Auto tracker of used apps and websites for desktop app | No | Automatic time tracking |
No billing | Billing rates | Billable hours | No billing | Invoicing | Invoicing | Invoicing | No billing | No billing | No billing |
Pros: Versatile app with unlimited time tracking included in the free version
Cons: Billing and project management tools are available only in paid versions
Key Features: manual and automated time tracking, billing, project and task tracking, reporting, team collaboration, integrations
Pricing: Free version limited to five users, prices starting at $9/user/month for advanced versions that include billing, project management tools, and team collaboration features
Toggl Track is flexible, customizable, and versatile. The free version offers unlimited time tracking for up to 5 users and inactive data storage for up to 6 months. You can create as many tags and clients as you want, export reports, and use Toggl Track extensions for browsers. The app aims to deliver accurate data using requested fields, admin approvals, notifications, and report audits.
Furthermore, Toggle Track fits your workflow perfectly because it is available as a web-based, mobile, and desktop app. The desktop version includes automated time tracking, a feature that automatically records any app or website used for more than 10 seconds. Toggle Track integrates with Google and Outlook calendars, GitHub, Asana, Jira, and other work management tools.
What users say:
Pros: Easy to use and navigate, customizable users and user roles, straightforward budget management
Cons: Not so mobile-friendly as other similar apps, limited reporting options in the free version
Key Features: time tracking, dashboard with detailed time entries, timesheet report, task and project tracking, billing, integrations
Pricing: Free version limited to five users, prices starting at $8/user/month for the pro version, and custom pricing for large organizations
MyHours is easy and efficient, takes no time to set up, and looks a lot like the spreadsheets you are familiar with. It is a web-based app with a free version for up to 5 users. Among its best features are the automated timesheet approval process, billing rates that go directly to payroll or invoicing, reports exported as XLS or PDF files, a stopwatch, custom and required fields, and daily or weekly reminders.
With MyHours, you can monitor your budget or costs for each project. You add billing rates or non-billing labels, which are calculated in real-time.
You’ll also appreciate its customizable features. For example, you can create templates for everyday tasks and avoid repetitive, time-consuming work.
What users say:
”As a boutique interior design studio, we have a range of different scale projects that we need to keep track of. What I like about My Hours is the ease of entering information, categorizing tasks and running reports so that we can have a clear view of how projects are tracking.”
”My only one very minor irritation is that I track down to 15-minute increments and I haven't found a way to change the default for the duration entry to be minutes, not hours.”
Pros: The free version provides access to most of the features for an unlimited number of users
Cons: It has a steeper learning curve than other similar software
Key Features: timesheets, time cards, attendance tracking, invoicing, reporting, integrations
Pricing: Free version with limited features, advanced versions starting at $3.75/user/month
TrackingTime aims to be an all-in-one solution that provides not only time-tracking functionality but also project-tracking features, reports, and tools for complying with internal and external requirements. It integrates smoothly with over 50 management tools, runs on desktops and mobile devices, and facilitates any working style.
You get a complete dashboard where you can see every user, project, and client and their worked hours. Timesheets are customizable and designed to prevent errors, and you can export reports and invoices for billable hours.
Remote employees will appreciate the automatic time tracking feature that records worked hours in real-time and the timesheet audit feature that helps them register accurate data and make no mistakes.
What users say:
”I know where to pull my resources of time, energy and management and use them effectively for every unique project that comes across my desk.”
”I used the free trial to track the hours for my freelance services. I loved the PDF reports; it's a pity they are gone after the free trial.”
Pros: Fast and customizable time tracking with advanced features for workforce monitoring
Cons: Setting up the automatic time tracking might take a bit of time to get it right, slow to get updates, and may be a little buggy
Key Features: manual and automated time tracking, workforce monitoring, invoicing, timesheets, and attendance management
Pricing: Free version for simple time tracking, prices starting at $2.99/user/month for pro versions
If you’re looking for an exclusive time-tracking solution, TimeCamp is a perfect choice. Its time-tracking features are available for free for an unlimited number of users and projects. The free version runs as a desktop, mobile, or web-based app, includes a Time Clock Kiosk, and features geofencing.
TimeCamp is user-friendly and intuitive, includes multiple work schedules and time off types, manages overtime, and offers a fast and efficient approval process. Thanks to its graphic analytics and detailed reports, it also makes project monitoring easy. In addition, if you are also looking for a collaboration tool, you can pair TimeCamp’s time-tracking app with their collaboration platform, TimeCamp Planner. If not, you can settle for one of the many management tools TimeCamp is compatible with.
What users say:
”I like the user interface of TimeCamp; it is simple, straightforward, and easy to use.”
”It does not automatically calculate time when manually logging a slot. Something about calculating billable does not add up.”
Pros: Easy to set up and use, straightforward timesheets, good integration options
Cons: No automated time tracking, limited budget management tools
Key Features: time tracking, live timers, invoicing, payment tools, reporting, integrations
Pricing: Free version for one seat and two projects, prices starting at $11/seat/month for premium versions
Harvest aims to track time across projects, help you monitor attendance and keep an eye on the budget, manage invoicing, and more. The free version allows one user and a maximum of two projects, which is a little but covers a freelancer or consultant. You can add, remove, or modify projects at any time, track time worked on a project or in a Google Calendar event (Hint: you can monitor how much time you spend in meetings), and generate invoices and email them to your clients with just one click.
Harvest allows for hourly rates or fixed fees, integrates with Xero and QuickBooks for online payments, and sends payment reminders when it’s the case.
What users say:
”Its simplicity. Pick a project, pick a task, enter your time and a note, and voilà. Perfect for using it every day. Highly integrable with other systems thanks to its API. You can configure each aspect of a project: users assigned, tasks, costs, etc.”
”Lacks integration of AI and automation of time tracking. It offers very limited features.”
Pros: Free time tracking and timekeeping, easy attendance management
Cons: No invoicing tools, limited budget management tools, less user-friendly mobile app
Key Features: timer, kiosk app, timesheets, automated time tracker, calendar, attendance management, reporting
Pricing: Free for minimum features. Basic features: $4.99 per user per month and Standard version comes with a $6.99 cost per user per month
Clockify is the ultimate time-tracking app, and it is entirely free. It runs as a web-based app and on both desktop and mobile devices. Clockify features most of the functionalities you want in a time-tracking app: a timer that runs in the background, weekly timesheets, a kiosk tool, billable and non-billable hours, project monitoring, and reporting. It even includes an automatic time tracker that records activity on websites and apps.
Furthermore, you can use Clockify to manage time off, generate invoices, and monitor expenses and fees per project. This tool allows every employee to receive custom access, making the workflow smooth and transparent.
What users say:
”Overall, I found Clockify to be very efficient, both in functionality and cost effectiveness. It improved project management, including when we used freelancers. We were able to identify productivity bottlenecks and optimize our workforce.”
”The only con I have experienced with Clockify so far is the limited access on the mobile app from the administrator standpoint.”
Pros: Complete software solution covering the entire workflow from time tracking to payment
Cons: Requires some time for setting up and learning to navigate the app
Key Features: manual and automated time tracking, task management tools, Gantt Chart, Kanban Board, invoicing and estimates, payment tools, team collaboration tools
Pricing: Free for up to five clients or ten projects, prices starting at $5.9/user/month for premium versions
Paymo is a complex time-tracking solution, but unfortunately, the free version includes only a small part of its features. Still, the free version allows unlimited users, so if you want just a time tracker, Paymo can be a time tracking app all your employees can use for free.
Paymo features worked hours per client and project, billable and non-billable hours, timesheets with customizable settings, a web timer to track time directly in the browser, and live reports. It also includes a stopwatch and a Pomodoro timer for better time management.
What users say:
”Paymo is a hassle-free, easy to use all in one solution for my business. From time tracking to invoice or price estimates, it has it all. Perfect price/quality ratio.”
”This can be frustrating for users who rely heavily on Excel for data analysis or further manipulation of project timelines. While Paymo does offer exporting options for Gantt charts in other formats such as PDF or image files, the inability to export directly to Excel may pose an inconvenience for those accustomed to working extensively with Excel spreadsheets.”
Pros: Accurate tools for employee tracking, a diverse range of time tracking tools
Cons: Reports may need a bit of improvement and customization options
Key Features: manual, offline, and automated time tracking, project-based time tracking, private time setting, attendance management, shift scheduling, reporting
Pricing: 1-month free trial version, prices starting at $6.42/user/month
DeskTime provides a free version with limited features, which includes most of the app’s time-tracking functionalities. In addition, the free version doesn’t limit the number of users or projects so that you can use it for your staff regardless of your number of employees. You can use it in a browser, on a desktop computer, or as a mobile app.
DeskTime features many automatic functionalities designed to prevent burnout. For example, the desktop version includes automated time tracking, tracks breaks and time spent away from the computer, and provides a web timer. It also tracks programs, apps, and websites.
The dashboard provides easy access to all data and is customizable. The detailed reports with visual analytics will be much appreciated.
What users say:
”What I like the most about DeskTime is its accuracy in tracking time and monitoring employee productivity based on the parameters we, as administrators, define. It captures screenshots regularly—no matter how many monitors the employee uses—which adds an extra layer of visibility and accountability.”
”More desktop alerts, stronger hour-reporting, and offline time mapping would all help in making DeskTime the ultimate tool for time management.”
Pros: Accurate tools for employee tracking, a diverse range of time tracking tools
Cons: Reports may need a bit of improvement and customization options
Key Features: time tracking, team management, budgeting, invoicing, reporting, integrations
Pricing: Free for up to five users, $8.50/seat/month for more than five users
Everhour is a straightforward time-tracking solution that runs on a browser and mobile app. It allows you to track time over tasks and projects, monitor real-time progress, visualize weekly team timesheets, and generate detailed reports. Reminders are automatically sent if no time is tracked for two hours or less than the daily norm. You can, of course, personalize these to match your staff’s workflow.
In addition, you can use Everhour to manage time off, keep employee records in one easily accessible place, edit them when necessary, and generate the reports you need for payroll and invoicing.
What users say:
”Everhour is a well-designed, easy to use, powerful time-tracking tool that has one of the most unique integrations with a number of key Saas productivity tools. It seamlessly flows into the UI of apps like Asana and Notion in ways that enhance the experience for both apps. I don't see any other apps in the market doing this as well as Everhour does.”
”I wish there were a way to integrate Everhour with payroll providers like ADP to help automate admin tasks like paying employees.”
Pros: Accurate employee monitoring tools for improving productivity and avoiding burnout
Cons: It may take some time to set up and learn to navigate it
Key Features: hybrid and remote workforce management, productivity management and measurements, employee monitoring, financial analysis, reporting
Pricing: Free for time tracking and limited features, prices starting at $10/user/month for premium versions
ActivTrak aims to cover all the necessary tools to maximize your business’s performance. Regarding time tracking, the app offers a free version, which is ideal for small teams. It features real-time reporting, activity summaries by person, team, apps, websites, and categories, automatic time tracking, and logs and reports. The admit defines roles and permissions, monitors applications and website usage, and receives real-time alerts when the app is not being used as it’s supposed to be.
The dashboards are intuitive and packed with graphics for measuring progress and productivity. They also allow you to spot team productivity patterns over 30 days and monitor each person’s activity in real-time.
What users say:
”Easy way to monitor staff productivity and snapshots of workstations. The insights help our leadership know who to keep track of.”
”Set up is confusing, especially if you have to reinstall, as is the website. I wish I could view the screen without additional fees.”
List your requirements, including feature-related ones (what you need the app to do), workflow-related ones (user number, data storage, etc.), and technical ones (devices, operating systems, browsers, etc.). Then, evaluate the time-tracking apps that promise to deliver everything you need on the following basis:
Time-tracking apps are essential for payroll and billing. You need to know how many hours your employees have worked to pay them accordingly, and you or your staff need to know how much time they spent working on a project to bill your customers accordingly.
They are also important for legal purposes. Tracking how many hours your employees work allows you to avoid paying for overtime or breaking labor laws. Employees can work a limited number of hours and are entitled to time off. Keeping an eye on their workload and attendance is impossible without time tracking.
In addition, time-tracking reports provide valuable insights into your business. They allow you to analyze patterns and statistics and increase your productivity. You can easily predict absenteeism trends, learn the busiest times of the month or year, and act before it’s too late.
Everyone benefits from intelligently using time-tracking apps, from employees to managers to business owners. They help even when you only have yourself to manage. Find the right app for your business and staff, and you’ll see why. Here are the most common benefits to expect:
As an employer, you are responsible for your employees’ welfare. You must ensure they are fairly paid according to their worked hours balance. For example, you must compensate them for working overtime or on a public holiday. At the same time, you are responsible for granting them the amount of time off they are entitled to by law. Time tracking helps you gather real-time accurate data and generate the reports you need for payroll.
In addition, these vast amounts of data gathered over extended periods are vital for future project estimates, cost estimates, and workforce-related patterns. They translate into research for future projects, showing you how much workforce you need for a specific task, how long a project might take, and which are the most productive months of the year.
In short, time-tracking apps increase profitability for employers, business owners, and project managers.
As an employee, you want to be fairly paid for all your work, including overtime, night shifts, and weekend shifts. Time tracking apps accurately record your effort and ensure all data goes to payroll.
Furthermore, you get to see how you organize your work. For example, a simple clock-in / clock-out app may show your tendency to arrive late at work, or, on the contrary, it may show a tendency to stay late at work. In response, you may analyze what makes you arrive or stay late at work and either improve your morning routine or work on short, less important tasks in the afternoon. Therefore, time-tasking apps can help you prioritize work, manage your daily agenda better, and improve your productivity.
Employees also have a group advantage. Using time-tracking apps provides transparency and improves shift scheduling and leave management. You avoid over-allocation and can react quickly to an unexpected absence and cover for a missing employee. Employees benefit from better work conditions, a healthier work environment, and better team management.
Efficient time tracking is key for consultants and freelancers. It provides accurate data for billing your clients and managing your activity. Time tracking helps you understand how you use your time and where there is room for improvement. Consequently, you learn to prioritize tasks, complete your work faster, and estimate your fees better.
Furthermore, time-tracking data helps you estimate costs for future projects, make better business decisions, manage budgets better, and never miss a deadline. It’s a guideline for managing your business, being transparent with your team, and taking accountability for your projects.
Wrap up
In conclusion, when choosing a time-tracking app, it's important to consider its adaptability, features, and compatibility with your workflow. The top choices, including Toggl Track, MyHours, and TrackingTime, offer various features and are available in free versions for a limited number of users. Depending on your specific needs and preferences, these apps can help streamline time tracking and management tasks effectively.