14 Best Employee Time Tracking Software & Apps

By: | Updated: May 01, 2023

Here is our list of time tracking software, tools, & apps!

Time tracking tools are programs used to measure employee or your own time spent on projects, tasks, or daily responsibilities. Professionals in industries that bill by the hour, such as law, consultancy, or creative freelancing, commonly utilize these tools. However, these apps and software are useful for any individual to log hours. The purpose of these tools is to measure productivity.

These tools are similar to employee monitoring software, employee scheduling software, and task management software, and can be used to manage remote teams. This software can help facilitate time management best practices.

This article contains:

  • free time tracking software
  • time sheet software
  • employee time tracking apps
  • project time tracking software

So, here is the list!

List of time tracking tools

Here is a list of the best ways to monitor and track your own or employee time online, on the computer, or on smartphones and tablets.

1. Clockify

Clockify is one of the most popular free time tracking apps. This tool includes a timer, labels, timesheet functions, reporting capabilities, as well as a sleek dashboard and calendar interface. The software enables users to track time across projects, invite coworkers and measure team progress, and mark entries as billable or not. Clockify offers integrations to track time across apps like Trello, Monday, and Asana. The basic version of Clockify is free, while paid versions include bonus features such as audits and alerts.

Check out Clockify.

2. Quickbooks

Formerly known as TSheets, this is one of the more widely used employee time tracking apps. QuickBooks created the program and offers the service for a base price and monthly fee, with a free thirty-day trial available. The platform has two tiers, premium and elite, the latter of which includes features such as geofencing, comparisons between estimates and reports, and progress tracking. Notable features include scheduling abilities, a time clock kiosk with facial recognition, and scheduling. A QuickBooks integration streamlines invoicing and accounting processes.

Check out Quickbooks Time Tracking.

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3. Toggl Track

Toggl creates HR software that simplifies time tracking procedures, project management and hiring processes. Toggl Track is a simple tool with both free and paid plans. The free version of Toggl includes features such as time-tracking and timelines, a pomodoro timer, and hundreds of app integrations.The paid versions unlock features such as templates, audits, billable rates, estimating tools, and dashboards. Toggl Track’s autotracker and background tracker capabilities monitor minutes spent on programs and websites and make time logging suggestions.

Check out Toggl Track.

4. My Hours

My Hours is one of the best free time tracking software for freelancers and employers. The software incorporates freelance-friendly features such as the ability to set and adjust billable rates, a dashboard that displays total and billable hours, costs, and customizable reports. You can also add comments to clarify discrepancies with team members. Emailable reports and invoicing options make client communications seamless.

Check out My Hours.

5. TimeCamp

TimeCamp is a time tracking tool that offers standard basics: time and productivity tracking, attendance records, task scheduling billables and invoicing, reporting, collaboration capabilities, and app integration. What the program lacks in frills it makes up for in functionality and ease of use. TimeCamp has a straightforward, sleek, minimalist interface that satisfies rudimentary time tracking needs. The program comes in four affordable tiers ranging from a free personal version to an enterprise option.

Check out TimeCamp.

6. ClickUp

ClickUp is a project management tool used by teams worldwide. The app includes tools to manage time, projects and people. For the time tracking functions, you can select start and stop times, set estimates, add notes, and view reports. ClickUp also has a global timer and time tracking widgets that you can build into your dashboard.

Check out ClickUp.

7. Harvest

Harvest is a virtual time tracking tool that provides accurate records alongside valuable business insights. The program tracks individual and team hours, costs and expenses, and project progress. The resulting reports and monitoring tools can help keep operations on track. Software integrations enable managers to incorporate the program into existing systems, including analytics, CRM’s, and project management tools. Harvest’s time tracking tool complements its forecasting software that allocates team members to tasks and projects. The software comes in free and paid versions, with a free 30 day trial available.

Harvest’s central mission is to allocate employee time wisely and ensure that remote workers do not overwork. This mission can help optimize productivity and boost employee morale.

Check out Harvest.

8. HourStack

HourStack has personal and team plans. Since the layout mirrors a traditional calendar, with blocks of time designated for entries, this program is an ideal fit for fans of paper planners and visual learners. Drag and drop features let users plan and reschedule with ease. Hourstack offers scheduling, timing, and reporting for individuals and teams, along with the ability to set permissions for group members. Monthly pricing starts at around $9 per user for the most basic option.

Check out HourStack.

9. EverHour

EverHour is a project-management tool that boasts features such as billing and invoicing, scheduling and task management, monitoring and reporting, and easy integration with hundreds of apps. EverHour’s layout makes it easy to visualize teammates’ time and workflows, spot gaps or overlaps, manage occurrences like absences and time off, and avoid worker burnout. Key tools include an invoice generator, weekly timesheet template, time card calculator, budgeting and expense trackers, and a visual planning dashboard. EverHour removes the mystery from productivity by providing data and visuals that help managers assess team input, predict revenue and project completion, and plan endeavors more efficiently.

Check out EverHour.

10. RescueTime

RescueTime is a time tracking tool that prioritizes focus, employee engagement, motivation, and productivity. RescueTime also offers courses and online productivity challenges that help workers learn skills needed to maintain productive habits and stay on task. The program emphasizes distraction blocking and optimized workflows, which are ideal traits for a remote work environment.

Check out RescueTime.

11. Hubstaff

Hubstaff is a productivity monitoring tool designed to improve team and overall business efficiency. Highlights include productivity measurement, online timesheets and payroll software, optional employee monitoring features, reporting and budgeting capabilities, and scheduling. Hubstaff streamlines administrative processes associated with scheduling. For example, you can use the tool for tracking attendance, soliciting updates, and sticking to deadlines. The software integrates with programs such as Asana, Jira, Trello, Quickbooks, and Github, as well as Hubstaff’s project management software.

Check out Hubstaff.

12. Time Doctor

Time Doctor is online software that tracks attendance, breaks, and payable hours. The tool can also monitor web usage, take automatic screenshots, and send gentle reminders when workers stray to non-work websites or spend time on non-work tasks. The program offers integrations with all major project management platforms, as well as automatic billing and payroll processing features. One notable offering is the ability to add clients to Time Doctor at no charge so that customers and collaborators can stay updated and in the loop on project progress.

Check out Time Doctor.

13. Microsoft Office 365 Timesheet Template

Some professionals prefer manual time entry to automatic programs. These individuals tend to use Excel to complete time tracking spreadsheets, yet Microsoft offers a sleek timesheet template easily integratable into Office 365. The simple sheet contains fields for employee information, pay period start and end dates, hours worked, date, and time in and time out. Users can either download the file or edit within the browser, then share via email, in-suite, via social media, or through Microsoft Teams. Microsoft’s online office suite makes this sheet a viable option for managers who want to keep systems and processes self-contained, and the simplistic nature of the sheet is agreeable for employees of all levels of technical proficiency.

Check out this Microsoft time tracking spreadsheet template.

14. Timeular

Timeular is a productivity tool ideal for tactile learners. Timeular is a customizable eight-sided die. Workers assign a task or category to each side, such as phone calls, emails, breaks, or project tasks. The tool communicates with a mobile app via Bluetooth. Users change the position of the die based on changes in tasks, and the app records the amount of time spent on each activity per day. Timeular is a visual reminder that encourages focus, and appeals to hands-on, tactile teammates. The device also gamifies work and generates valuable data with very little effort. Timeular integrates with thousands of apps, making for a seamless addition to current office setups.

Check out Timeular.

Conclusion

Freelancers and hourly professionals have always needed reliable means of tracking and sharing billable hours. The rise of remote work necessitates the demand for simple and functional time tracking software. Time tracking tools give virtual managers and leaders the ability to gauge individual and team performance. This helpful data enables leaders to quickly determine the most time intensive operations and more effectively plan or improve systems for the future.

Next, check out this list of time management books, this list of project management books and these tips for successful virtual teams.

We also have a list of software platforms for remote work, list of free Pomodoro apps and a list of the best business VPNs.

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FAQ: Time Tracking Software

Here are answers to common questions about employee time tracking tools.

What are time tracking tools?

Time tracking tools are software, apps, and other programs that help employers, employees, and freelancers record working hours.

Who uses time tracking software?

Freelancers and contractors use time tracking software most often. Professionals that charge by the hour like consultants and lawyers also rely on this technology. These tools are helpful for any worker needing to keep track of hours worked, especially remote employees or workers with nonlinear schedules.

What are the best time tracking software and apps?

The best time tracking tools include Clockify, Toggl Track, My Hours, Harvest, and RescueTime, along with the other entries on this list.

How can I track my time?

While some individuals prefer to keep track of hours via paper and pencil, using time tracking software tends to be an easier and more practical option. With a few clicks of a button, professionals can log hours and easily access those records later. Plus, users can integrate most apps and software into other programs like project management tools or email interfaces, and can access time tracking platforms on mobile devices via app.

Should I use a time tracking software that monitors employee activity?

Some time tracking tools, like Hubstaff and Time Doctor, include employee monitoring capabilities that will track worker activity. While these tools may boost short-term productivity, they can also erode trust and employee morale. Remote work requires a great deal of trust. Employees do not want to feel spied on or micromanaged, and monitoring software can induce anxiety in remote workers.

If you do choose to use these capabilities, then the best approach is to present the features as a tool to help employees focus rather than a basis for potential punishment. Better yet, employ a method like RescueTime which takes a more gentle, teaching approach to distraction elimination. Or, judge your employees based on their overall outputs and results rather than the breakdown of their daily routines. After all, an employer’s main concern is that the work gets done satisfactorily, regardless of whether an employee spends every minute of the workday on visibly productive tasks.

Author avatar

Author:

Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com.
Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

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1 comment
  • Amelia Walker says:

    Hello, Thanks for sharing the time tracking software. I found your list very interesting. Keep sharing 🙂

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