The Best Time Tracking Software
Five leading time trackers for billing, payroll and understanding where hours go, compared on the things that actually matter.
Last updated Jul 3, 2026
We compared five widely used time-tracking tools, Toggl Track, Harvest, Clockify, Hubstaff and Timely, on ease of use, reporting accuracy, value and integrations. Each was scored on what decides whether a team keeps tracking consistently and trusts the numbers, not on marketing claims. Any affiliate links on this page are disclosed and never change the ranking or the scores.
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1
Toggl Track
Our pickA frictionless one-click timer with clean reporting that people actually keep using.
8.7/ 10Pros
- + One-click timer and idle detection make consistent, accurate tracking genuinely painless
- + Clean, flexible reports that are easy to filter and export for billing
- + Generous free plan and browser, desktop and mobile apps with 100-plus integrations
Cons
- − No built-in payroll or invoicing, so billing needs an integration or export
- − Scheduling and resource-planning features are limited compared with all-in-one suites
- − Some advanced reporting and billable-rate features need a paid tier
From $9.00 /monthVisit Toggl Track -
2
Harvest
Best for teamsA time tracker with built-in invoicing that is a favourite of client-billing agencies.
8.3/ 10Pros
- + Tracked time flows straight into native invoices and expense records
- + Simple, clear interface that client-services teams adopt quickly
- + Solid integrations with tools like Asana, Trello, QuickBooks and Xero
Cons
- − Project-planning and scheduling features are thin beyond time and billing
- − Per-seat pricing gets expensive for larger teams
- − Reporting is capable but less customisable than dedicated analytics tools
From $11.00 /monthVisit Harvest -
3
Clockify
Best valueA capable time tracker whose unlimited-user free plan is hard to beat on value.
8.3/ 10Pros
- + Free plan supports unlimited users, which is unusually generous for time tracking
- + Broad feature set including timesheets, reports, and apps across every platform
- + Low-cost paid tiers unlock billing, approvals and detailed reporting
Cons
- − The interface is busier and less polished than lighter rivals
- − Useful controls like locked timesheets and invoicing sit behind paid tiers
- − Occasional sync and performance quirks in larger workspaces
From $3.99 /monthVisit Clockify -
4
Hubstaff
A tracker with monitoring, GPS and payroll aimed at remote and field teams.
7.9/ 10Pros
- + Optional activity monitoring, screenshots and GPS give managers oversight of remote work
- + Built-in payroll and automatic pay based on tracked hours
- + Strong reporting on activity, projects and budgets across teams
Cons
- − Monitoring and screenshot features can feel intrusive and raise privacy concerns
- − The most useful oversight features require higher-priced tiers
- − More setup than a simple timer, with a minimum-seat requirement on some plans
From $4.99 /monthVisit Hubstaff -
5
Timely
Best for beginnersAn automatic tracker that logs your activity in the background and drafts timesheets for you.
7.7/ 10Pros
- + Automatic background capture drafts timesheets so users rarely forget to track
- + AI suggestions turn logged activity into billable entries with little effort
- + Private-by-design memory that only the user sees until they log time
Cons
- − Always-on activity capture is more than some teams want to run
- − Pricing is higher than several manual-timer competitors
- − Fewer third-party integrations than the most established trackers
From $11.00 /monthVisit Timely
Side-by-side
| Product | Ease of Use | Reporting and Accuracy | Value for Money | Integrations | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toggl Track | 9.3 | 8.4 | 8.2 | 8.4 | 8.7 |
| Harvest | 8.6 | 8.2 | 7.8 | 8.2 | 8.3 |
| Clockify | 8.0 | 7.8 | 9.2 | 8.0 | 8.3 |
| Hubstaff | 7.6 | 8.4 | 7.6 | 8.0 | 7.9 |
| Timely | 8.2 | 8.0 | 6.8 | 7.4 | 7.7 |
How we scored this
Every tool is scored 0 to 10 on four weighted criteria: ease of use (weight 3), reporting and accuracy (weight 2), value for money (weight 2), and integrations (weight 1). Ranks are set editorially from those weighted scores and independent of any affiliate payout; a paid placement is never presented as an earned pick.