Quick Overview
- 1#1: Harvest - Tracks time and expenses to generate accurate invoices and manage billable projects seamlessly.
- 2#2: Toggl Track - Intuitive time tracking with detailed reports and invoicing features for freelancers and teams.
- 3#3: Clockify - Free unlimited time tracker with invoicing, reporting, and team management for billable hours.
- 4#4: FreshBooks - Cloud accounting software with built-in time tracking and automated invoicing for small businesses.
- 5#5: QuickBooks Time - GPS-enabled mobile time tracking that syncs with QuickBooks for payroll and billing.
- 6#6: Everhour - Time tracking integrated with project management tools like Asana and Jira for precise billing.
- 7#7: Hubstaff - Advanced time tracking with screenshots, activity levels, and automated invoicing capabilities.
- 8#8: Timely - AI-powered automatic time tracking that captures billable hours without manual entry.
- 9#9: Paymo - All-in-one tool for time tracking, task management, and invoicing tailored for agencies.
- 10#10: BigTime - Resource planning and time tracking software with robust billing for professional services firms.
We evaluated tools based on functionality, user experience, reliability, and value, ensuring our list prioritizes those that deliver exceptional performance across varied business needs.
Comparison Table
Accurately tracking billable time is vital for businesses to optimize resource use and financial health, and this comparison table breaks down top tools like Harvest, Toggl Track, Clockify, FreshBooks, QuickBooks Time, and more. Readers will gain insights into key features, pricing models, and usability to find the software that best fits their operational needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvest Tracks time and expenses to generate accurate invoices and manage billable projects seamlessly. | specialized | 9.5/10 | 9.6/10 | 9.4/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 2 | Toggl Track Intuitive time tracking with detailed reports and invoicing features for freelancers and teams. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.4/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.1/10 |
| 3 | Clockify Free unlimited time tracker with invoicing, reporting, and team management for billable hours. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.0/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 4 | FreshBooks Cloud accounting software with built-in time tracking and automated invoicing for small businesses. | enterprise | 7.8/10 | 7.2/10 | 8.9/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 5 | QuickBooks Time GPS-enabled mobile time tracking that syncs with QuickBooks for payroll and billing. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 6 | Everhour Time tracking integrated with project management tools like Asana and Jira for precise billing. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 7 | Hubstaff Advanced time tracking with screenshots, activity levels, and automated invoicing capabilities. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 9.0/10 | 7.8/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 8 | Timely AI-powered automatic time tracking that captures billable hours without manual entry. | specialized | 8.5/10 | 8.8/10 | 9.4/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 9 | Paymo All-in-one tool for time tracking, task management, and invoicing tailored for agencies. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.2/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 10 | BigTime Resource planning and time tracking software with robust billing for professional services firms. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.6/10 | 7.9/10 |
Tracks time and expenses to generate accurate invoices and manage billable projects seamlessly.
Intuitive time tracking with detailed reports and invoicing features for freelancers and teams.
Free unlimited time tracker with invoicing, reporting, and team management for billable hours.
Cloud accounting software with built-in time tracking and automated invoicing for small businesses.
GPS-enabled mobile time tracking that syncs with QuickBooks for payroll and billing.
Time tracking integrated with project management tools like Asana and Jira for precise billing.
Advanced time tracking with screenshots, activity levels, and automated invoicing capabilities.
AI-powered automatic time tracking that captures billable hours without manual entry.
All-in-one tool for time tracking, task management, and invoicing tailored for agencies.
Resource planning and time tracking software with robust billing for professional services firms.
Harvest
specializedTracks time and expenses to generate accurate invoices and manage billable projects seamlessly.
Seamless automatic invoicing generated directly from tracked time entries
Harvest is a leading time tracking and invoicing platform tailored for freelancers, agencies, and teams to capture billable hours accurately across projects. It offers intuitive timers, manual time entry, expense tracking, and seamless integration with tools like Asana, QuickBooks, and Slack for effortless workflow management. Users can generate professional invoices directly from tracked time, access profitability reports, and forecast project budgets with its scheduling feature.
Pros
- Intuitive time tracking with desktop timers and mobile app
- Direct invoicing from time entries with customizable templates
- Robust reporting and profitability insights
Cons
- Limited free plan (1 user, 2 projects)
- No native task management (relies on integrations)
- Per-user pricing scales up for larger teams
Best For
Freelancers, creative agencies, and small to medium teams focused on accurate billable time tracking and streamlined invoicing.
Pricing
Free for 1 user/2 projects; Pro: $12/user/month (annual) or $15 monthly; Enterprise: custom pricing.
Toggl Track
specializedIntuitive time tracking with detailed reports and invoicing features for freelancers and teams.
Visual Timeline view that reconstructs your day from background tracking for accurate retrospective logging
Toggl Track is a versatile time tracking tool designed for freelancers, teams, and agencies to log hours against projects and clients with a simple one-click timer or manual entry. It supports billable time tracking through customizable rates, profitability reports, and direct invoicing integration. The software provides detailed analytics, idle detection, and seamless integrations with tools like QuickBooks, Asana, and Google Workspace to streamline billing workflows.
Pros
- Intuitive one-click timer with idle detection and Pomodoro support
- Comprehensive billable reports, profitability tracking, and invoicing
- Extensive integrations with 100+ apps including accounting and PM tools
Cons
- Advanced reporting and team features locked behind Premium plan
- No native payroll processing
- Mobile app lacks some desktop functionalities
Best For
Freelancers, agencies, and remote teams needing effortless billable hour tracking and profitability insights.
Pricing
Free (up to 5 users, basic features); Starter $9/user/mo (billed annually); Premium $18/user/mo; Enterprise custom.
Clockify
specializedFree unlimited time tracker with invoicing, reporting, and team management for billable hours.
Unlimited free users and projects, allowing teams of any size to track billable time without cost barriers.
Clockify is a user-friendly time tracking software that enables individuals and teams to log billable and non-billable hours via timers, manual entry, or kiosks. It provides detailed reports, profitability analysis, and invoicing tools to facilitate accurate billing and client management. With extensive integrations and mobile apps, it supports seamless workflow integration for freelancers and agencies.
Pros
- Unlimited users, projects, and tracking on the free plan
- Intuitive one-click timer with idle detection and reminders
- Robust reporting, expenses, and invoicing for billable hours
Cons
- Invoicing and advanced scheduling locked behind paid plans
- Reporting dashboard can feel overwhelming for beginners
- Limited customization options in the free tier
Best For
Freelancers, small teams, and agencies needing a cost-free, scalable tool for precise billable time tracking and basic invoicing.
Pricing
Free plan with unlimited tracking; Pro at $3.99/user/month (annual); Unlimited at $5.49/user/month (annual).
FreshBooks
enterpriseCloud accounting software with built-in time tracking and automated invoicing for small businesses.
Automatic conversion of tracked time entries into professional invoices
FreshBooks is a cloud-based accounting platform tailored for freelancers and small businesses, with built-in time tracking to log billable hours against clients and projects via timers or manual entry. It excels in converting tracked time directly into customizable invoices, streamlining the billing process. The software also offers reporting on billable vs. non-billable time, expense tracking, and client management, making it a comprehensive tool for service-based professionals.
Pros
- Seamless integration of time tracking with invoicing and automated billing
- User-friendly interface with mobile app for on-the-go time entry
- Robust client and project management tied to billable hours
Cons
- Limited advanced time tracking features like payroll integration or deep analytics
- Reporting capabilities for time data are basic compared to dedicated trackers
- Pricing scales quickly for teams or high-volume users
Best For
Freelancers and small service-based agencies needing simple time tracking integrated with invoicing and client billing.
Pricing
Lite ($19/mo, 5 clients), Plus ($33/mo, 50 clients), Premium ($60/mo, unlimited clients); monthly or annual billing with discounts.
QuickBooks Time
enterpriseGPS-enabled mobile time tracking that syncs with QuickBooks for payroll and billing.
One-click transfer of billable time to QuickBooks invoices
QuickBooks Time is a comprehensive time tracking platform from Intuit, formerly known as TSheets, designed to help businesses capture billable hours, manage employee schedules, and integrate seamlessly with QuickBooks for invoicing and payroll. It features mobile GPS tracking, geofencing for accurate time punches, project-based time allocation, and customizable timesheets with approval workflows. Ideal for service-based businesses, it automates billing by converting tracked time into invoices directly within QuickBooks.
Pros
- Seamless integration with QuickBooks for automatic billable invoicing
- Robust mobile app with GPS tracking and geofencing for precise time capture
- Advanced reporting and timesheet approval processes for accurate billing
Cons
- Pricing scales per user, which can become expensive for large teams
- Some advanced customization requires higher-tier plans
- Occasional glitches in mobile GPS accuracy reported by users
Best For
Small to medium-sized service businesses already using QuickBooks that need reliable billable time tracking tied to invoicing.
Pricing
Premium plan starts at $20 base + $8/user/month (billed annually); Elite at $20 base + $10/user/month; free for solo users.
Everhour
specializedTime tracking integrated with project management tools like Asana and Jira for precise billing.
Native integrations that embed time tracking directly into project management tools without switching apps
Everhour is a robust time tracking solution designed for teams using project management tools, offering seamless integrations with Asana, Jira, Trello, Monday.com, and more to capture billable hours directly in workflows. It provides features like visual budgeting, capacity planning, profitability reporting, and automated invoicing based on tracked time. This makes it particularly effective for service-based businesses and agencies focused on accurate billing and resource management.
Pros
- Seamless integrations with major PM tools for effortless time tracking
- Comprehensive budgeting, forecasting, and profitability reports
- Automated invoicing and expense tracking from time entries
Cons
- Limited value as a standalone tool without integrations
- Pricing can add up for large teams
- Advanced reporting requires higher-tier plans
Best For
Agencies and teams relying on project management tools who need precise billable time tracking integrated into their existing workflows.
Pricing
Free for up to 5 users; Team plan at $10/user/month (billed monthly) or $8.50/user/month (annual); higher tiers like Pro at $20/user/month.
Hubstaff
specializedAdvanced time tracking with screenshots, activity levels, and automated invoicing capabilities.
Automated screenshots and activity rate tracking that provide visual proof of billable work
Hubstaff is a robust time tracking and employee monitoring software tailored for remote teams, freelancers, and agencies focused on billable hours. It automatically tracks time across desktop, mobile, and web apps, captures periodic screenshots, monitors keyboard/mouse activity, and supports GPS for field workers. The platform excels in generating timesheets, invoices, and payroll reports, with integrations for tools like QuickBooks and PayPal to streamline billing workflows.
Pros
- Comprehensive proof-of-work features like screenshots and activity tracking for accurate billing verification
- Seamless invoicing, payroll, and timesheet approvals for efficient billable hour management
- Strong integrations with accounting tools and project managers like Asana and QuickBooks
Cons
- Screenshots and monitoring can raise privacy concerns among employees
- Advanced features require higher-tier plans, increasing costs for small teams
- Desktop app setup and initial configuration has a moderate learning curve
Best For
Remote agencies, freelancers, and distributed teams needing verifiable billable time tracking with productivity insights.
Pricing
Free for 1 user; paid plans from $7/user/month (Basic) to $20/user/month (Enterprise), billed annually with a 14-day free trial.
Timely
specializedAI-powered automatic time tracking that captures billable hours without manual entry.
Memory technology – AI-driven visual timeline that auto-suggests and categorizes time entries from your entire workday
Timely is an AI-powered automatic time tracking software that captures time spent on apps, websites, and documents without requiring manual timers or start/stop buttons. It uses 'Memory' technology to create a visual timeline of your day, allowing users to review, categorize, and approve time for accurate billable hours tracking. Designed for teams and freelancers, it offers robust reporting, profitability analysis, and seamless integrations with tools like Asana, Jira, and QuickBooks.
Pros
- Automatic time tracking eliminates manual entry errors
- Intuitive Memory timeline for effortless time review and categorization
- Advanced profitability reports and project budgeting tools
Cons
- No built-in invoicing (relies on integrations)
- Pricing scales quickly for larger teams
- Mobile app is functional but less feature-rich than desktop
Best For
Agencies and consultants who want hands-off time tracking for precise billable hours and profitability insights.
Pricing
Starter at $10/user/month, Metered (pay-per-tracked-hour from $0.70/hour), Unlimited at $20/user/month (annual billing); 14-day free trial.
Paymo
specializedAll-in-one tool for time tracking, task management, and invoicing tailored for agencies.
Automatic generation of invoices directly from billable time entries
Paymo is an all-in-one work management platform designed for freelancers, agencies, and small teams, with robust billable time tracking at its core. Users can start timers, log time manually or via mobile app, assign entries to projects/tasks/clients, and flag them as billable or non-billable. It integrates time data seamlessly into invoicing, reporting, and profitability analysis, helping teams maximize billable hours.
Pros
- Precise time tracking with timers, offline mode, and billable/non-billable categorization
- Direct invoicing from time entries with customizable templates
- Comprehensive reports on billable hours, profitability, and project budgets
Cons
- Feature-rich interface can feel overwhelming for simple time tracking needs
- Free plan limited to 5 users and basic features
- Higher-tier plans required for advanced scheduling and forecasting
Best For
Freelancers and small agencies needing integrated billable time tracking with invoicing and project management.
Pricing
Free for up to 5 users; paid plans from $9.95/user/month (Starter, annual billing) to $24.95/user/month (Business).
BigTime
enterpriseResource planning and time tracking software with robust billing for professional services firms.
Real-time budget vs. actuals tracking with phase-level profitability insights
BigTime is a professional services automation (PSA) platform designed for billable time tracking, project management, and resource allocation in consulting, accounting, and engineering firms. It enables mobile and desktop time entry with approval workflows, integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks and other accounting tools, and provides real-time profitability reporting. The software emphasizes accurate billing through budget tracking, expense management, and customizable invoicing.
Pros
- Robust timesheet approvals and mobile tracking
- Deep integration with accounting software like QuickBooks
- Advanced project budgeting and profitability analytics
Cons
- Steep learning curve for complex features
- Pricing can be high for small teams
- Overkill for simple time tracking needs
Best For
Mid-sized professional services firms needing integrated billable time tracking with project management and invoicing.
Pricing
Custom pricing starting at $10/user/month for Essentials, up to $40+/user/month for Premium/Elite tiers, billed annually.
Conclusion
After comparing the top 10 tools, Harvest emerges as the clear front-runner, offering seamless time and expense tracking paired with intuitive invoicing. Toggl Track impresses with its simplicity and detailed reporting, ideal for freelancers and teams, while Clockify excels as a budget-friendly choice with unlimited free plans and robust management features. Each tool caters to specific needs, but Harvest stands out as the most versatile all-around solution.
Don’t miss out on optimizing your billable hours—start with Harvest to experience effortless tracking and professional invoicing, or explore Toggl Track or Clockify if their features better suit your workflow.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison
Referenced in the comparison table and product reviews above.