Are you trying to find the best time tracking apps for freelancers? You’ve come to the right place.
A freelancer’s time is their most valuable asset. Especially so if they are charging for the amount of time they invest into their clients’ projects.
In this case, you need to be on top of your daily activities. However, it is extremely easy to forget to do so. Guesstimations and confusion about where your time went only add to the already high stress levels of a person navigating the gig economy.
Finding the perfect time tracking apps for freelancers, however, can be very difficult. There are hundreds of different apps on the market. And they’re all promising to be the best solution.
That is why we’ve come up with our list.
The Ultimate List of the Best Time Tracking Apps For Freelancers
# 1 Time Analytics
# 2 RescueTime
# 3 Toggl Track
# 4 Replicon
# 5 Timeneye
# 6 TMetric
# 7 Harvest
# 8 TimeCamp
# 9 Time Doctor
# 10 Hubstaff
# 11 Apploye
# 12 DeskTime
# 13 ActivTrak
Selection criteria
We have conducted our research thoroughly. Hence, we have a set of criteria for all entries on the list. This is done so you can be sure all suggested solutions are high-quality.
Then, you can simply choose the most appealing solution for yourself. Here are the demands each entry fulfills
- Ease of use
- Features and integrations
- Customer reviews
- Pricing
- App security
Ease of use
Time tracking is a daily process. Hence, it needs to be as accurate as possible. That is why time tracking software needs to be as convenient as possible.
To put it simply, you shouldn’t be spending a lot of time on time tracking. Thus, we’ve selected solutions that don’t require much effort on the user’s end, but still produce a high level of accuracy.
General features and integrations
Even though the primary feature we’re looking for is time tracking, we wanted to give you more choices. Simply put, the features you need highly depend on the work you’re doing.
On the other hand, more features usually mean a steeper price. So, we have given you a choice of simpler, more affordable solutions as well.
Customer reviews
No one can give a more accurate assessment of a solution than the people who have been using it consistently.
That is why we also looked into reviews on Capterra and G2. This is how we made sure the users are happy with the software.
Pricing (Value for Money)
There is quite a range of prices when it comes to time tracking software. We wanted to examine their value for money when it comes to having a single license.
Thus, we will present each entry’s pricing so you can decide which one is the best for you.
Security
We made sure all entries on our list take all security measures necessary for safe use.
Namely, time trackers contain the most valuable information. This information doesn’t only relate to them, but their clients as well.
This is why we needed to make sure all data is absolutely safe.
1. Time Analytics
Time Analytics is a timesheet-based time tracking and management application. The timesheets contain time entries connected to clients and projects. This means that you will never have to worry about cost allocation or proof of work again.
Source: Time Analytics website
Best Features
Time Analytics comes with a convenient, useful, yet lightweight toolkit of diverse features. Here are the most important ones.
Time Tracking
You can use the platform to track time manually or with a simple click of a button
- Manual time tracking – make entries directly in online timesheets as you work or at the end of your workday
- Automatic time tracking – use a simple one-click timer that captures time spent on tasks
- Task list – choose a task connected to a client and project with a click of a button
- Utilization tracker – mark your time as billable or non-billable for accurate invoicing
- Editing – move, copy, and edit time entries at your convenience
Timesheets
Timesheets Time Analytics provides offer a great and comprehensive insight into the way you are spending your time.
- Cataloging – have all the hours invested in any project available at all times
- Templates – customize your timesheets by marking the data you need as mandatory
- Speed – filling in TA timesheets is very quick and helps you remain focused on your work
- Allocation – time is accurately allocated to different clients as you work on tasks related to their projects
- Automation – time clock entries are automatically transferred into the timesheets
Time billing
You can use Time Analytics to create an accurate proof of work for all clients
- Billing rates – set up the billing rate you’ve agreed upon with the client to calculate the cost of your work
- Filtering – show only the information the client needs to see in a customized billing appendix
- Exporting – export and send the invoicing appendices to the client in seconds
Client and Project Time Reporting
There are two sides to every freelancing job – the freelancer and the client. Time Analytics helps you keep an eye on your most profitable projects.
- Profit generation optimization – learn how to earn more by observing your patterns
- Profit estimates – use the tracked data to assess future projects similar in scope
- Performance tracking – keep track of difficult clients and recognize warning signs
Pricing
Starter plan
- Price: $4.99 per month with the annual license and $5.99 with the monthly
- Features included: time tracking, timesheets, utilization, cost allocation, time and cost reports, performance dashboard, mobile app
- Free trial: 14 days
Optimum plan
- Price: $6.99 per month with the annual license and $8.45 with the monthly
- Features included: all starter features plus invoicing, revenue reports, customized onboarding, email reminders
- Free trial: 14 days
2. RescueTime
RescueTime is an automatic time tracking platform. It gives its users a great amount of insight into their daily activities and identifies distractions.
The app’s most interesting feature is Focus goals. This feature allows you to set up daily challenges to help you focus on the most important tasks at hand.
Source: Rescuetime website
Best Features
- Focus goals – keep your eye on the most important issues you are facing and solve them in due time
- Monitoring – get an overview of all the URLs and apps you’ve interacted with during the day
- Distraction stopping – make a list of unproductive websites and prevent yourself from visiting them
- Reports – receive reports on all important aspects of your practice
Pricing
- Lite: Free (real-time tracking, focus goals, reports, alerts)
- Premium: $12 per month (long-term reports, music apps integration, distraction stopping)
- Free trial: 14 days
RescueTime offers a free version with bare-bones features.
3. Toggl Track
Toggl Track is one of the best time tracking apps for freelancers looking to optimize their budget. You can plan the budget for any project and make sure you’re still on track.
Additionally, the application offers visual performance reports and non-distracting automatic time tracking. The interface is elegant and well-designed.
Source: Toggl website
Best Features
- Time tracking – the application will log your hours on its own without distractions
- Budgeting – plan your budgets for each project and keep an eye on them
- Billing – create an invoicing appendix that lists all the time and tasks that went into a project
- Reports – receive reports on all aspects of your work, identify problems, and solve them
Pricing
- Free: free (unlimited time tracking on clients and projects)
- Starter: $10 per month (tracking time per task, time rounding, estimates billing rates)
- Premium: $20 per month (timesheet templates, fixed-fee projects, reminders, audits)
- Enterprise: custom pricing (priority support, more than one workspace, training)
- Free trial: 30 days
The app offers a free version that doesn’t track time toward individual tasks but projects instead.
4. Replicon
Replicon is among time tracking apps for freelancers that utilize AI. The application itself requires almost no interaction, as it identifies activity based on the applications you are using during the day.
These logs are turned into time entries. All you need to do is go through the logged information to confirm or edit it. This way, you’ll avoid any mistakes and offer the utmost accuracy.
Source: Replicon website
Best Features
- Automatic time tracking – simply make changes in delivered timesheets
- Resources – plan your budget and get smart recommendations on how to best utilize it
- Invoicing – create invoices based on collected data for accuracy and transparency
- Project management – create projects and divide them into manageable tasks
Pricing
- Time & attendance: $6 per user (time tracking, time off tracking)
- Project and tracking: $12 per month (resources, invoicing, tracking by the project)
- PSA and PPM: $29 per month (automating professional services, portfolio managing)
- Free trial: 14 days
The app doesn’t offer a free plan.
5. Timeneye
Timeneye is a time management platform for professionals. It is one of the best time tracking apps for freelancers who want to increase efficiency and profit. The application aims to point out the ways you can use your time better.
Source: Timeneye website
The interface is extremely pleasant and easy to use. Additionally, the app covers all devices, so you can work from anywhere and be sure your time is accounted for.
Best Features
- Time tracking – simple and organized timesheets that remind you to fill them
- Project time tracking – review the time you’ve spent on each project and client
- Reporting – the app’s insights will help you improve your business practices
Pricing
- All-in-one: $7 (all features)
- Free trial: 30 days
The application doesn’t have a free version at the moment.
6. TMetric
TMetric is a result-oriented time tracking app. It is among time tracking apps for freelancers who are looking for a comprehensive understanding of their daily habits.
The application aims to reduce the time you’d usually spend on mundane repetitive tasks. Hence, it offers multiple helpful options, including invoicing and project management.
Source: TMetric website
Best Features
- Time tracking – let the app capture your activity without much interaction
- Billing – enter custom hourly billing rates to simply calculate your earnings
- Project management – create and overview projects, tasks, and subtasks
Pricing
- Free: free (time tracking, project and client management, reports)
- Professional: $5 per month (timesheet templates)
- Business: $7 per month (scheduling, activity monitoring)
- Free trial: 30 days
The application offers a free version without the activity monitoring feature.
7. Harvest
This option is great if you are looking for something more lightweight. The application comes with an intuitive interface on all devices for accurate time logs.
The app’s goal is to help its users resolve issues before they become serious problems. Hence, it offers a selection of insightful and accurate reports.
Source: Harvest website
Best Features
- Time tracking – track time via manual timesheet entries and an automatic time clock
- Invoicing – create invoices and send them to your clients to be more transparent
- Reports – make positive changes to your practices with helpful insights
Pricing
- Free: free (two projects)
- Pro: $12 per month (unlimited projects)
- Free trial: 30 days
Harvest has a free version. However, you will be limited to two projects, which can be an issue.
8. TimeCamp
TimeCamp is another one of the time tracking apps for freelancers that allows both automatic and manual logging. The automatic entries are turned into timesheet logs for an easier overview.
Source: TimeCamp website
You can track your performance, identify, and implement the changes you need to optimize your work habits. The app also tracks all resources that go into the projects.
Best Features
- Automatic time tracking – the app runs in the background and collects data without interruptions
- Monitoring – find out which URLs and apps are distracting you
- Budgeting – create budgets for all projects and see them through
- Invoicing – automatic invoice creation with the data you collect
- Reporting – receive valuable reports and see where you can improve
Pricing
- Free: free (track time on tasks and projects)
- Basic: $7.99 per month (reports, integrations, time rounding)
- Pro: $10.99 per month (billing rates, screenshots, invoicing)
- Enterprise: custom pricing (self-hosted server, custom training, private cloud)
- Free trial: 14 days
TimeCamp has a free version with basic time tracking features.
9. Time Doctor
Time Doctor is one of the longest-standing time tracking apps for freelancers. The platform is complex, so it’s best to use it if you need to track it as accurately as possible.
Source: Time Doctor website
Time tracking itself is completely automatic. The app also monitors app use and URLs you visit. Then, it delivers detailed reports that can help you optimize your workload.
Best Features
- Monitoring – make sure you understand your distractions and are able to avoid them
- Budgeting – plan your budget and see it through without overstepping it
- Distraction alerts – the app will send you a notification when your device activity stops
- Reports – get detailed insights into your work, projects, and clients
Pricing
- Basic: $7 per month (screenshots, time tracking, and activity monitoring)
- Standard: $10 per month (app and URL tracking, integrations)
- Premium: $20 per month (video monitoring, client login, VOP support)
- Free trial: 14 days
Time Doctor doesn’t have a free version at the moment.
10. Hubstaff
Hubstaff is another time tracking app that covers both time and activity. It is a good solution for freelancers and offers options for collaborations as well.
Source: Hubstaff website
The time tracking process is simple. The application gathers data on its own in the background. Then, it turns it into time entries and fills the user’s timesheet for them.
Best Features
- Time tracking – do your work and let Hubstaff fill your reports automatically
- Timesheets – receive an overview of all your activities
- Reports – the collected data is turned into actionable reports
Pricing
- Desk free: free (single user, basic functions)
- Desk starter: $7 per user per month (one integration, idle time tracking, screenshots)
- Desk pro: $10 per user per month (app and URL tracking, invoicing)
- Enterprise: custom pricing
- Free trial: 14 days
The free version offers limited functionality. Paid plans have a 2-user minimum.
11. Apploye
Apploye is a time tracking application that also focuses on tracking and optimizing productivity. If you’re privy to using your calendar, the platform’s timesheet structure will be a great solution for you.
Apploye has additional budgeting and invoicing options, which can help any user keep on track. They will give you internal and external transparency the clients will appreciate.
Source: Apploye website
Best Features
- Time tracking – use calendar-like timesheets to keep track of your work
- Task management – divide projects into smaller tasks to make things more convenient
- Budgeting – calculate your budget and see if you’re sticking to it successfully
- Invoicing – create and send invoices automatically created from collected data
Pricing
- Solo: $4 per month (time tracking, task management, invoicing)
- Standard: $5 per month (calendar dashboard, real-time tracking, integrations)
- Premium: $6 per month (GPS location, geofencing)
- Elite: $7 per month (URL and app tracking, screenshots, activity reports)
- Free trial: 10 days
12. DeskTime
Desktime is a great option for the freelancers looking to track their daily computer activity more closely. The app focuses on increasing productivity and performance.
That is to say, you will be able to assess your own capabilities and detect distractions. Additionally, the reports will stir you toward improving your business practices without necessarily working more.
Source: DeskTime website
Best Features
- Monitoring – see which apps and URLs are taking up your valuable time
- Reports – identify and resolve issues with your work and client relationships
- Pomodoro timer – use the popular time blocking method directly from the app
Pricing
- Lite: free (task time tracking, app and URL monitoring)
- Pro: $7 per month (productivity reports, project time tracking)
- Premium: $10 per month (booking, offline time approval, shift scheduling)
- Enterprise: $20 per month (unlimited projects and tasks, VIP support)
- Free trial: not listed
The app offers a free plan. However, it doesn’t include time tracking by the project, which can be an issue when working with multiple clients.
13. ActivTrak
The final among our time tracking apps for freelancers is ActivTrak. The application aims to create healthy work habits and improve users’ approach to work. Hence, it monitors activity.
However, the specific details, like keystroke logs, URL tracking, and app monitoring aren’t a part of the app. Instead, it logs activity levels and points you to your most productive hours.
Source: ActivTrak website
Best Features
- Monitoring – understand how you spend your time and find when your activity spikes
- Dashboard – visual reports on work structure, peak productivity time, etc
- Productivity reports – have a deeper look at your overall productivity
Pricing
- Free: free (30 days of data history)
- Essentials: $10 per user per month(6 months of data history) – 5-user minimum
- Professional: $17 per user per month (a year of data history) – 5-user minimum
- Enterprise: custom plan
- Free trial: 14 days
The application is geared toward freelancing teams. The free option offers only one month of data retention. This often isn’t enough for more serious projects.
How to Choose the Best App For Yourself?
All of the time tracking apps for freelancers we’ve gone through have different approaches, features, and pricing points.
The good thing about freelancing is that you can easily decide on which features you need. In other words, you won’t have to go through an implementation process with your team.
Hence, you should focus on your needs – personal and professional.
Personal needs answer the following questions:
- How distracted do I get?
- Do I need to monitor my activity?
- Do I want to control the program or take the back seat?
- What is my budget?
On the other hand, there are professional questions. They refer to industry standards and your clients’ expectations.
Time Analytics is a platform that allows a lot of freedom for more independent freelancers. However, it can also offer support to beginners.
The platform is user-friendly with its intuitive and non-distracting interface. It doesn’t require a lot of time or effort but still manages to deliver useful and actionable reports.
Hopefully, our list has helped you get one step closer to your decision.
Jelena Lukic
Jelena has a Master’s Degree in teaching Serbian literature and language. Creative writing is her biggest passion.
