The Best Time Tracking for Freelancers (On a Budget)

Freelancers need time tracking software that not only enhances productivity but also simplifies invoicing and client reporting.

Given these unique needs, we went in search of the time-tracking tools that would suit freelancers best. We compared and evaluated a list of the most popular time-tracking software tools, to determine which served the needs of freelancers at the lowest price.

Here’s what we found.

The Winners

It goes without saying that your choice of a time-tracking tool can greatly influence your workflow and productivity. Here are some of the best time tracking software options for freelancers:

• Best for User-Friendly Interface: Toggl Track
• Best for Comprehensive Features: Harvest
• Best for Budget-Conscious Freelancers: Clockify
• Best for Advanced Monitoring: Hubstaff
• Best for Detailed Productivity Insights: Time Doctor

1. Toggl Track – Best for User-Friendly Interface

Toggl is a very popular product that is known for having a user interface that almost anyone can use. Its style is its greatest feature, making it a product that freelancers will actually want to interact with.

Pros:

• Beautiful and easy-to-navigate user interface
• One-click timers for easy time tracking
• Offline time tracking with automatic sync
• Mobile desktop apps for tracking on the go

Cons:

• Limited advanced features in the free plan
• Limited integration with premium subscription

Freelancers who appreciate a product that is easy to use will find Toggl Track’s user-friendly interface to be a standout feature. The layout is intuitive, allowing users to:

• Start tracking time with a single click
• Pin frequently used time entries to the top
• Use the offline tracking feature, which automatically syncs time entries when back online

However, while the free version has a lot to offer, including basic time tracking and detailed timesheets, some advanced features are only available with the premium plan. These include extensive integration options. However, Toggl Track remains a solid choice for freelancers looking for a straightforward and effective free time tracking app.

Price:

This product is available in four different packages, and a 30-day free trial is also available. The free plan allows for up to five users, while the Starter plan costs just $9 per user, per month and is ideal for small companies. The Premium package costs $18 per user, per month, and the Enterprise package has a price that is available by contacting the company.

Rating:

• Price: 4/5
• Design: 5/5
• Features: 3/5
• Usability: 5/5

2. Harvest – Best for Comprehensive Features

Harvest has quickly become one of the most popular time-tracking products for freelancers and small companies because of its powerful time-tracking features and easy integration with billing systems.

Pros:

• Comprehensive time-tracking and invoicing features
• Customizable invoice templates with tax calculations
• Expense tracking with receipt capture
• Detailed reporting on billable hours and productivity

Cons:

• Higher cost compared to some competitors
• A steep learning curve for new users

With its comprehensive feature set, Harvest proves to be an ideal choice for freelancers juggling multiple projects and clients. Some of the features that freelancers seem to appreciate include:

• Comprehensive time-tracking
• Invoicing feature that allows users to generate professional-looking invoices
• Seamless integration that simplifies the billing process and ensures accuracy
• Customizable invoice templates

Overall, Harvest is a powerful piece of software that helps freelancers manage their time and billing more efficiently.

Because this product is so feature-rich, you should expect that the learning curve is a little steeper. The Premium plan’s price can also start to add up if you have a lot of users or projects. However, the range of functionalities justifies the cost, especially for freelancers who manage complex projects and require detailed reporting.

Price:

Harvest offers a free plan available for 1 user and 2 projects, and a Premium plan that starts at $10.80 per seat per month. These are both available with a free trial and a discounted price when purchased on an annual basis.

Rating:

• Price: 3/5
• Design: 4/5
• Features: 5/5
• Usability: 4/5

3. Clockify – Best for Budget-Conscious Freelancers

One of the features that a lot of people appreciate about Clockify is that the free trial is legitimate and allows you to really try out the product before buying. If you have purchased other time-tracking packages in the past, then you know how important this is.

Pros:

• Free plan with unlimited tracking for clients, projects, and tasks
• Mark hours as billable or non-billable
• Detailed reporting features
• Mobile app and browser extension for flexibility

Cons:

• Basic design with fewer customization options
• Advanced features require a premium subscription

Budget-conscious freelancers will find Clockify’s free plan to be a great starting point. Here are some key features:

• Unlimited tracking for clients, projects, and tasks
• Ability to mark hours as billable or non-billable
• Detailed reporting features, including the ability to export reports in various formats like PDF and Excel

It goes without saying that these features are essential for analyzing project progress and making data-driven decisions, even for single freelancers on their own.

On the downside, the basic design and limited customization options may not be up everyone’s alley. While the free version is quite comprehensive, some advanced features are only found in the more expensive, premium plans. Despite these limitations, Clockify remains an excellent choice for freelancers seeking a cost-effective time-tracking solution.

Price:

Clockify offers four different packages, including Standard, Pro, Enterprise, and Cake.com Bundle. The Standard package is available for $5.49 per seat, per month when billed annually. The Pro package is available for $7.99 per seat, per month when billed annually. The Enterprise costs $11.99 per seat, per month when billed annually, and the Cake.com Bundle starts at just $12.99 per seat, per month when billed annually.

Rating:

• Price: 5/5
• Design: 3/5
• Features: 4/5
• Usability: 4/5

4. Hubstaff – Best for Advanced Monitoring

One of the biggest selling points of Hubstaff is its ability to incorporate GPS information into time-tracking. Not all of the competing products do this, so it is something to look at if GPS data is important to you.

Pros:

• Employee monitoring features like screenshots and app usage tracking
• GPS time tracking with geofencing
• Advanced reporting tools with customizable reports
• Automated payroll integration

Cons:

• May be too comprehensive for solo freelancers
• Privacy concerns with monitoring features

For those in need of advanced monitoring capabilities, Hubstaff is an excellent choice. The software includes employee monitoring features such as optional screenshots, app usage tracking, and website tracking. What this means is you will have a clear picture of work time utilization. Your employees might not like it but your clients will!

GPS time tracking with geofencing is particularly useful for mobile or remote employees. This feature enables them to automatically clock in and out based on their location. The advanced reporting tools also offer deep insights into productivity, budget management, and employee performance.

These extensive monitoring features may not be necessary for those working on their own, and they also pose potential privacy concerns. However, Hubstaff’s robust capabilities make it a great choice for those requiring detailed insights and advanced project management features.

Price:

Hubstaff is available with a full 14-day free trial as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee. The Free package allows for up to five users, while the Premium package starts at just $4.17 per user, per month, and allows unlimited users and unlimited projects.

Rating:

• Price: 4/5
• Design: 4/5
• Features: 5/5
• Usability: 4/5

5. Time Doctor – Best for Detailed Productivity Insights

Time Doctor comes with a lot of unique features that you won’t find in any products, including those that are focused on helping you make the most of your time. Ensuring freelancers achieve a proper work/life balance is an important part of how this product works.

Pros:

• Detailed productivity reports and visual analytics
• Automated timesheets and optional screenshots
• Work-life balance alerts and website/app usage tracking

Cons:

• Can be intrusive for some users
• A higher learning curve for new users

For those seeking to optimize their time usage, Time Doctor offers various features to help analyze and improve productivity. These include:

• Detailed productivity insights
• Visual reports and transparent workforce analytics data
• Automated timesheets
• Optional privacy-friendly screenshots
• Work-life balance alerts
• Website/app usage tracking

These features all enable freelancers to track their work hours and activities, maintain healthy work habits, and ensure that time spent on projects is productive. This is a rather unique take on time-tracking and one that is not found in similar products.

One word of warning is that the extensive monitoring features can feel intrusive for some users. The learning curve can also be steep for those who wish to make the most of the features that are available. Nevertheless, Time Doctor’s comprehensive reporting and productivity insights make it a top choice for freelancers who want to work smarter.

Price:

Free plan available, premium plans starting at $7/user/month

Rating:

• Price: 4/5
• Design: 4/5
• Features: 5/5
• Usability: 3/5

How to Choose the Best Time Tracking Tool for Your Needs

Choosing the best time-tracking tool will depend on you assessing your specific needs and preferences. The first step is to find a product that is easy for you to use and doesn’t require a lot of training. Customizable dashboards are also important as they allow users to tailor their interface to highlight key metrics relevant to their workflows.

Integration capabilities are also important to some freelancers. Tools like Harvest are able to integrate with over 50 other apps such as Slack, Trello, and Asana. Another crucial factor to consider is the level of technical support provided. The more complicated the software is, the more help you might need.

Finally, put some thought into the actual needs of your business. Whether you need advanced reporting, offline capabilities, or comprehensive invoicing features, identifying these requirements will help you choose a tool that meets your needs.

Key Features to Look For in Time Tracking Tools

All of the time-tracking tools that we have reviewed have one thing in common – they are able to help you track your time accurately and easily. Harvest allows manual logging and auto-detect idle time to ensure precision which is something you might require. For freelancers often on the move, offline capabilities are crucial. Clockify enables you to have the ability to track time even without an internet connection.

Mobile accessibility is more important than ever before. Hubstaff includes GPS tracking and geofencing which are beneficial for those who need to track time remotely. Customizable reporting features are also important, as are automation features such as automatic data capture and real-time reporting. Hubstaff is a product that is particularly robust when it comes to efficient time management.

The tool you choose should also support managing multiple clients and projects with different hourly rates. Finally, don’t forget compatibility with existing software and hardware.

Balancing Cost and Functionality

One of the key considerations when picking any piece of software is the balance between cost and functionality. Here are some factors to consider:

• Initial setup costs
• Ongoing maintenance costs
• Long-term stability
• Consistent performance
• Risk of disruptions

It is worth weighing the trade-offs between functionality and ease of use. A tool with advanced features might have a lot to offer but the learning curve may be too steep. The right balance between cost and functionality will depend on your specific tasks and business requirements.

Evaluating User Reviews and Trials

Before choosing your software, take the time to do your research. You can do this by:

• Evaluating user reviews and trials
• Evaluating end-user feedback
• Evaluating online reviews from e-commerce sites and third-party platforms

Not all products will have a lot of real-time reviews from legitimate customers, but many do. By learning more about how a company like yours has benefited from a particular product, you can often predict how well it will work for you.

Summary

Choosing the right time-tracking tool can significantly impact your productivity and efficiency as a freelancer. Some people want a user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, while others prefer more budget-friendly options, advanced monitoring, or detailed productivity insights. In short, there are many options for you to choose from, but Toggl Track, Harvest, Clockify, Hubstaff, and Time Doctor each offer unique benefits tailored to different situations..

By taking a look at factors such as ease of use, integration capabilities, cost, and functionality, you can make a more informed decision, leading to increased productivity and success in your freelance business.