# The 11 Best Time Tracking Software

> The best time tracking software is Harvest for its superb invoicing and project budgeting features, followed closely by Toggl Track for its simplicity and Clockify for its unmatched free tier.

- URL: https://topelevens.com/time-tracking-software
- Last verified: 2026-06-04
- Methodology: https://topelevens.com/methodology
- JSON: https://topelevens.com/api/lists/time-tracking-software · CSV: https://topelevens.com/api/lists/time-tracking-software/csv

## Ranking

### #1 Harvest · 9.2/9.4
- Best for: Agencies and consulting firms that need seamless time tracking, project budgeting, and invoicing in one platform.
- New York, USA · founded 2006 · $$ ($12/user/mo)
- Harvest is the best time tracking software for agencies because it masterfully combines intuitive time tracking with robust project budgeting, expense management, and invoicing, providing a clear view of project profitability.
- Pro: Its invoicing and expense tracking capabilities are best-in-class, turning billable hours into professional invoices with just a few clicks.
- Con: The free tier is quite limited, covering only one user and two projects, pushing teams to upgrade quickly.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-04): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-04.

### #2 Toggl Track · 9/9.4
- Best for: Teams and freelancers who prioritize simplicity, ease of use, and a wide range of integrations to fit into existing workflows.
- Tallinn, Estonia · founded 2006 · $$ ($9 to $18/user/mo)
- Toggl Track earns its high rank for its unparalleled ease of use and extensive integration library, making it the easiest tool for teams to adopt without disrupting their existing project management or communication workflows.
- Pro: The one-click timer and browser extensions are beautifully designed, making time tracking an effortless background task rather than a chore.
- Con: While it has basic invoicing, its billing and expense tracking features are less comprehensive than dedicated agency tools like Harvest.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-04): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-04.

### #3 Clockify · 8.8/9.4
- Best for: Startups, small businesses, and large teams looking for a powerful, full-featured time tracker with an unbeatable free plan.
- Novi Sad, Serbia · founded 2017 · $ ($5 to $15/user/mo)
- Clockify stands out as the best value proposition in the market, offering a free tier with unlimited users and projects that provides more functionality than many competitors' paid plans.
- Pro: Its free plan is astonishingly robust, making it the default choice for any team starting out with time tracking.
- Con: The user interface, while functional, can feel slightly less polished and more cluttered than premium competitors like Harvest or Toggl.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-04): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-04.

### #4 Everhour · 8.5/9.4
- Best for: Teams that live inside project management tools like Asana, Trello, or Jira and want time tracking embedded directly into their workflow.
- Minsk, Belarus · founded 2015 · $ ($5 to $10/user/mo)
- Everhour excels by embedding its time tracking controls directly into the interface of popular project management tools, making it the best choice for teams who want to track time without ever leaving their primary workspace.
- Pro: Its native integration with tools like Asana is seamless, displaying time estimates and logged hours right on the tasks you're already working on.
- Con: As a standalone product, its interface and project management features are less developed, making it heavily reliant on the tools it integrates with.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-04): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-04.

### #5 TimeCamp · 8.3/9.4
- Best for: Businesses focused on measuring project profitability and team productivity through detailed analytics and reports.
- Wrocław, Poland · founded 2009 · $ ($3 to $11/user/mo)
- TimeCamp secures its position with its powerful reporting engine, offering deep insights into project margins, team performance, and billable hours that help businesses make data-driven decisions.
- Pro: The profitability analysis reports are exceptionally detailed, allowing managers to see exactly which projects and clients are most valuable.
- Con: The user interface can feel dated and less intuitive compared to more modern competitors, potentially steepening the learning curve for new users.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-04): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-04.

### #6 Hubstaff · 8.1/9.4
- Best for: Remote or field-based teams that require proof of work, GPS tracking, and detailed productivity monitoring alongside time tracking.
- Indianapolis, USA · founded 2012 · $$ ($7 to $25/user/mo)
- Hubstaff is the leading choice for teams that need more than just time tracking, offering a comprehensive suite of workforce management tools including optional screenshots, activity levels, and GPS tracking.
- Pro: Its suite of monitoring tools provides unparalleled visibility into the activity and productivity of remote and field service teams.
- Con: The employee monitoring features, such as screenshots and activity tracking, can be controversial and may negatively impact team morale if not implemented transparently.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-04): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-04.

### #7 QuickBooks Time · 7.9/9.4
- Best for: Businesses already using the QuickBooks ecosystem for accounting and payroll who need integrated time tracking for their employees.
- Eagle, USA · founded 2006 · $$$ ($20 base + $8-10/user/mo)
- QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets) is the definitive choice for businesses embedded in the Intuit ecosystem, offering flawless integration for payroll and invoicing that saves significant administrative time.
- Pro: The deep integration with QuickBooks for running payroll based on tracked hours is seamless and a massive time-saver for administrators.
- Con: It is more expensive than many competitors and offers less value if you are not a QuickBooks user, as its primary strength is its ecosystem lock-in.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-04): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-04.

### #8 ClickTime · 7.7/9.4
- Best for: Mid-sized to large businesses, particularly government contractors and professional services firms, that require robust compliance and expense reporting.
- San Francisco, USA · founded 1999 · $$ ($10 to $18/user/mo)
- ClickTime carves out a niche by focusing on the needs of larger organizations, offering powerful expense tracking, resource planning, and compliance features like DCAA that are critical for specific industries.
- Pro: Its support for DCAA (Defense Contract Audit Agency) compliance is a critical feature for any firm doing business with the U.S. government.
- Con: The user interface feels less modern and can be more complex to navigate than newer, more agile competitors, making it less suitable for small, fast-moving teams.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-04): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-04.

### #9 RescueTime · 7.5/9.4
- Best for: Teams and individuals aiming to improve focus and understand their digital habits, rather than just tracking hours for billing.
- Seattle, USA · founded 2008 · $$ ($6 to $12/user/mo)
- RescueTime is the best tool for understanding and improving personal and team productivity, as it automatically tracks time spent on apps and websites and provides insights to help build better work habits.
- Pro: Its 'Focus Session' feature actively blocks distracting websites, providing a powerful tool to encourage deep work.
- Con: It is not designed for client billing or project-based time tracking, lacking essential features like billable rates, invoicing, and manual time entries.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-04): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-04.

### #10 actiTIME · 7.3/9.4
- Best for: Teams that need a straightforward, no-frills timesheet and project scope management tool, available both in the cloud and on-premise.
- Toronto, Canada · founded 2004 · $ ($6 to $7/user/mo)
- actiTIME provides a solid, traditional timesheet-based approach to time tracking that is highly effective for internal project management, work scope definition, and tracking cost of work.
- Pro: Its focus on task estimation and scope management is a key differentiator, helping teams plan projects more accurately from the start.
- Con: The interface and feature set feel less modern than the leading cloud-native solutions, and it lacks the extensive integration ecosystem of its competitors.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-04): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-04.

### #11 [WILDCARD] Timely by Memory.ai · 7.1/9.4
- Best for: Teams and individuals who hate manual time tracking and want an AI-powered tool to automatically capture and categorize their work.
- Oslo, Norway · founded 2013 · $$ ($9 to $22/user/mo)
- Timely is a contrarian pick because it completely reimagines time tracking; instead of manual timers, its AI automatically captures all computer activity into a private timeline, allowing users to log hours accurately after the fact.
- Pro: The automatic activity tracking is magical, creating a perfect memory of your workday and ensuring no billable minute is lost.
- Con: The AI-driven approach requires a learning curve and a level of trust that can be a hurdle for some teams, and the privacy implications of the underlying app need careful consideration.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-06-04): No material public risk signals as of 2026-06-04.

## FAQ

**What is the best free time tracking software?**

Clockify is widely regarded as the best free time tracking software due to its incredibly generous free plan, which includes unlimited users, unlimited projects, and core time tracking features that are often paid on other platforms.

**How do I track employee hours for payroll?**

For payroll, it's best to use a tool with strong timesheet, approval, and overtime features. QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets) is a top choice as it's designed for this purpose and integrates directly with QuickBooks Payroll. Hubstaff is another strong option with detailed activity monitoring.

**Can time tracking software improve productivity?**

Yes, by making teams more aware of how they spend their time, it can highlight inefficiencies and distractions. Tools like TimeCamp and RescueTime provide specific productivity analytics, but even simple trackers help maintain focus and provide data for better project planning.

**Does time tracking software take screenshots?**

Some time tracking tools, often called 'employee monitoring software,' offer optional screenshot and activity tracking features. Hubstaff is a prominent example. However, many of the top tools focused on agency billing, like Harvest and Toggl Track, do not include these features, prioritizing trust and simplicity.