Time Tracking Software | Productivity Tracking Software

Time tracking software helps you record how long you and your team spend on tasks, projects, and clients. It replaces paper timesheets and spreadsheets with automatic timers, digital logs, and reports. You can use the data to run payroll, bill clients, and spot where time is being lost.

The global market for these tools reached $3.35 billion in 2025 and is growing at 17.5% per year (Mordor Intelligence). Remote and hybrid work has pushed adoption higher. Today, 88% of large companies and 56% of small businesses use some form of workforce management software (IMARC Group).

Quick Comparison Between Top 10 Time Tracking Tools in 2026

Here’s a quick side-by-side look at the top time tracking tools in 2026, including who they fit best, their free plans, pricing, and trial periods.

The best tool depends on your team size, budget, and workflow. Use this comparison to shortlist the options that match your daily tracking and reporting needs

Detailed Reviews: The 10 Best Time Tracking Tools in 2026

1. Toggl Track: Best for Freelancers and Agencies

Toggl Track is one of the easiest time trackers to use. It has a one-click timer that works on web, desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux), and mobile. There are no screenshots or activity monitoring. The tool focuses on trust, not surveillance.

It connects with over 145 other apps, which is more than any other tool on this list. The desktop Autotracker records which apps you use, but only you can see that data. Managers see approved timesheets only.

2. Clockify: Best Free Time Tracker for Teams

Clockify has the most generous free plan in this category. You get unlimited users, unlimited projects, and unlimited time tracking at no cost, forever. Paid plans start at just $3.99 per user per month, making it the most affordable full-featured tool on this list.

It also includes kiosk mode for shared time clocks, GPS tracking on higher plans, invoicing, and scheduling. You can choose where your data is stored: EU, UK, USA, or Australia.

3. Harvest: Best for Client Invoicing

Harvest makes it easy to turn tracked hours into invoices and collect payment. You can track time, create invoices, collect payment via Stripe or PayPal, and sync everything to QuickBooks or Xero in one workflow. Over 70,000 companies have used it for 15+ years.

Note: Harvest was bought by Bending Spoons in 2024 and changed its pricing. Many users on G2 and Capterra report price increases at renewal. Check current rates before signing up.

4. Time Doctor: Best for Remote Team Monitoring

Time Doctor is built for companies that manage remote and hybrid teams. It tracks which apps and websites employees use, takes screenshots, and flags unusual activity, such as mouse jiggling or keyboard simulators. Its AI tool uses data from 250,000+ users to give productivity benchmarks.

It has 60+ integrations and flexible settings. Screenshots can be blurred or turned off. Employees can see exactly what is being tracked.

5. RescueTime: Best for Personal Productivity Insights

RescueTime is different from every other tool on this list. It runs in the background and records what apps and websites you use automatically. No timers needed. Only you can see your full activity timeline. Managers see only approved timesheets.

It also blocks distracting websites during focus sessions and gives you a daily Productivity Pulse score from 0 to 100.

6. Hubstaff: Best for Field Teams and GPS Tracking

Hubstaff combines time tracking with GPS tracking, geofencing, scheduling, payroll, and invoicing in one place. It is a strong choice for field-based businesses in construction, delivery, and services. It is one of only two tools on this list that works with both QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop.

You can set up automatic clock-in and clock-out when employees arrive at or leave a job site. Built-in payroll supports PayPal, Wise, Gusto, Deel, and more.

7. Everhour: Best for Project Management Integration

Everhour puts timer buttons directly inside your project management tools. It works inside Asana, Jira, ClickUp, Trello, Monday.com, Notion, GitHub, Linear, and Basecamp. You do not need to switch to a separate app to log time. This is why it reports around a 95% team adoption rate.

Project budgets update in real time. You get alerts at 75%, 90%, and 100% of your budget. Invoices export directly to QuickBooks Online, Xero, or FreshBooks.

8. Timely: Best for AI-Powered Automatic Tracking

Timely uses AI to record all your digital activity in the background. Its AutoSheet tool then drafts your timesheets from that data. You only need about 10 minutes a week to review and approve entries. Only you see your full activity. Managers see approved hours only.

Timely supports 50+ currencies and works well for teams across multiple countries. It is used by 5,000+ businesses in 160 countries.

9. Replicon: Best for Enterprise Compliance

Replicon, now part of Deltek, is built for large companies with complex needs. Its ZeroTime AI captures time from 100+ work apps. It covers labor laws in 145+ countries. It also has FedRAMP Moderate approval and supports DCAA-compliant timesheets for government contractors.

Pricing is modular. You pay only for the parts you need: project time, time and attendance, expenses, or leave management.

10. Paymo: Best All-in-One for Small Creative Teams

Paymo combines project management, time tracking, and invoicing in one tool. It works best for small teams up to 20 people. Creative agencies, studios, and consulting firms use it most. It includes file proofing, Gantt charts, and automatic scheduling features.

Time can be tracked via timer, manual entry, or the automatic Paymo Track desktop app. Invoices are created from tracked hours and can be sent to QuickBooks Online, Xero, Stripe, or PayPal.

Key Features to Look For in Time Tracking Software

Must-Have Features

• Web and mobile apps (iOS and Android) with sync across all devices

• Start/stop timers and manual time entry

• Timesheet export (CSV, PDF, Excel)

• Billable vs. non-billable hour tracking with custom rates

• Project and task-based time logging

• Basic reports: summary, detailed, and by client/project

• Integration with QuickBooks, Xero, or another accounting tool

Good-to-Have Features

• Overtime alerts and labor law compliance tools

• Timesheet approval workflow: submit, review, approve

• PTO and leave tracking

• Project budget tracking with threshold alerts

• Built-in invoicing from tracked hours

• Break tracking and idle detection

• Reminders for missing or incomplete timesheets

Advanced Features (for Larger Teams)

• GPS tracking and geofencing for field workers

• Kiosk mode for shared time clocks on site

• AI automatic background tracking

• Screenshot capture for remote accountability

• Team scheduling and shift management

• Resource planning and workload views

How to Pick the Right Time Tracking Software?

1. Think about your main use case. Do you need basic hour logging, client billing, employee monitoring, or full payroll integration? Start there.

2. Check your work setup. Office, remote, hybrid, or field? Field teams need GPS. Remote knowledge workers do better with automatic tracking.

3. List your current tools. Check that the tracker connects with your accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero), project tools (Asana, Jira), and payroll system (Gusto, ADP).

4. Work out total cost. Annual per-user pricing adds up. A 15-person team on Toggl Premium costs $3,240 per year. The same team on Clockify Basic costs $719 per year.

5. Run a proper trial. Every platform offers a free trial (7 to 30 days). Use it with real projects and real team members. Measure how many people use it daily, not just how many features it has.

6. Check compliance needs. U.S. employers must keep time records for all non-exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Global teams need country-specific compliance tools.

Pricing Comparison: All 10 Tools at a Glance

Time Tracking by the Numbers: Key Stats for 2026

• $3.35 billion: size of the global time tracking software market in 2025 (Mordor Intelligence)

• 17.5%: annual market growth rate, projected to reach $7.47 billion by 2030

• 75% of U.S. businesses are affected by time theft, costing up to 7% of annual payroll (American Payroll Association)

• 44% of employees admitted to adding 15 to 60 minutes to their timesheets at least once (QuickBooks Time survey)

• 1 in 5 U.S. payrolls contains at least one error, costing an average of $291 per error (Ernst and Young, 2022)

• $274 million+ recovered by the U.S. Department of Labor in 2023 related to time recording and wage violations

• 47% productivity increase reported among employees using time tracking tools (Forbes-cited study)

• 60% reduction in payroll errors reported by companies using automated tracking (Lift HCM)

• 88% of freelancers and contractors now use time tracking tools (TimeChamp, 2026)

Choosing the right time tracking software depends on your team size, budget, and workflow. For most small teams, Clockify offers the best value. For agencies billing clients, Harvest is hard to beat. For AI-powered hands-free tracking, Timely leads the pack.

Frequently Asked Questions About Time Tracking Software