Quick Overview
- 1#1: Harvest - Simple time tracking and invoicing software designed for freelancers and consultants to accurately bill clients.
- 2#2: Toggl Track - Precise time tracking tool with reporting, invoicing, and integrations for consultants managing billable hours.
- 3#3: FreshBooks - Cloud accounting software with built-in time tracking and automated invoicing for small consulting businesses.
- 4#4: QuickBooks Time - Mobile time tracking app with GPS and QuickBooks integration for effortless consultant billing.
- 5#5: Clockify - Free unlimited time tracker with timesheets, reports, and invoicing for solo consultants and teams.
- 6#6: BigTime - Professional services automation platform with advanced time tracking, billing, and project management for consulting firms.
- 7#7: Paymo - All-in-one work management tool combining time tracking, task management, and invoicing for consultants.
- 8#8: Everhour - Time tracking and budgeting software that integrates with popular project tools for accurate consultant billing.
- 9#9: Accelo - Client relationship and professional services automation with time tracking and automated billing.
- 10#10: Bill4Time - Time billing and invoicing software tailored for professionals and consultants to manage billable work efficiently.
Tools were selected based on a blend of core capabilities (like time tracking, invoicing, and integration), usability (intuitive design, accessibility), reliability (data security, performance), and value (pricing flexibility, scalability), ensuring a mix of robust functionality and practicality for diverse consultant needs.
Comparison Table
This comparison table explores key features of leading consultant time billing software, including Harvest, Toggl Track, FreshBooks, QuickBooks Time, Clockify, and more, offering a clear view of tools tailored to streamline billing and time management. Readers will learn to assess differences in functionality, pricing, and user experience, helping them identify the best fit for their consulting workflow needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvest Simple time tracking and invoicing software designed for freelancers and consultants to accurately bill clients. | specialized | 9.5/10 | 9.6/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 2 | Toggl Track Precise time tracking tool with reporting, invoicing, and integrations for consultants managing billable hours. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.0/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.4/10 |
| 3 | FreshBooks Cloud accounting software with built-in time tracking and automated invoicing for small consulting businesses. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.4/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 4 | QuickBooks Time Mobile time tracking app with GPS and QuickBooks integration for effortless consultant billing. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 5 | Clockify Free unlimited time tracker with timesheets, reports, and invoicing for solo consultants and teams. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 6 | BigTime Professional services automation platform with advanced time tracking, billing, and project management for consulting firms. | enterprise | 8.3/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.6/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 7 | Paymo All-in-one work management tool combining time tracking, task management, and invoicing for consultants. | specialized | 8.3/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.1/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 8 | Everhour Time tracking and budgeting software that integrates with popular project tools for accurate consultant billing. | specialized | 8.3/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 9 | Accelo Client relationship and professional services automation with time tracking and automated billing. | enterprise | 8.1/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.6/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 10 | Bill4Time Time billing and invoicing software tailored for professionals and consultants to manage billable work efficiently. | specialized | 7.8/10 | 8.2/10 | 7.4/10 | 7.6/10 |
Simple time tracking and invoicing software designed for freelancers and consultants to accurately bill clients.
Precise time tracking tool with reporting, invoicing, and integrations for consultants managing billable hours.
Cloud accounting software with built-in time tracking and automated invoicing for small consulting businesses.
Mobile time tracking app with GPS and QuickBooks integration for effortless consultant billing.
Free unlimited time tracker with timesheets, reports, and invoicing for solo consultants and teams.
Professional services automation platform with advanced time tracking, billing, and project management for consulting firms.
All-in-one work management tool combining time tracking, task management, and invoicing for consultants.
Time tracking and budgeting software that integrates with popular project tools for accurate consultant billing.
Client relationship and professional services automation with time tracking and automated billing.
Time billing and invoicing software tailored for professionals and consultants to manage billable work efficiently.
Harvest
specializedSimple time tracking and invoicing software designed for freelancers and consultants to accurately bill clients.
Real-time project budgeting and profitability forecasting that alerts teams when nearing budget limits
Harvest is a leading time tracking and invoicing software tailored for consultants, freelancers, and agencies to accurately bill clients based on billable hours. It offers effortless time entry via desktop timers, mobile apps, or manual logs, with automatic conversion to customizable invoices and expense tracking. Robust reporting provides insights into project profitability, budgets, and team performance, integrating seamlessly with tools like QuickBooks, Asana, and Slack.
Pros
- Exceptionally intuitive interface for quick time tracking and timesheet approvals
- Powerful invoicing with automated billing, payments, and client portals
- Comprehensive reporting and budgeting tools for profitability analysis
Cons
- Limited native CRM or advanced project management features
- Per-user pricing can become costly for large teams
- Free plan has usage limits unsuitable for heavy professional use
Best For
Freelance consultants and small-to-medium agencies focused on simple, accurate hourly billing and client invoicing.
Pricing
Free for 1 user (2 projects limit); Pro plan at $12/user/month (annual) or $17/monthly; Enterprise custom pricing.
Toggl Track
specializedPrecise time tracking tool with reporting, invoicing, and integrations for consultants managing billable hours.
Visual Timeline that displays your entire day's tracked time as an interactive, color-coded overview for effortless auditing and editing.
Toggl Track is a user-friendly time tracking platform that enables consultants to log billable hours with one-click timers, categorize time by clients and projects, and generate detailed reports for invoicing. It supports idle detection, Pomodoro timers, and profitability tracking to ensure accurate billing and productivity insights. With extensive integrations to tools like QuickBooks, Asana, and Google Workspace, it streamlines workflows for solo practitioners and teams.
Pros
- Intuitive one-click tracking and visual timeline for quick time entry and review
- Robust reporting with billable/non-billable breakdowns and client-specific exports
- Seamless integrations with invoicing tools, calendars, and project managers
Cons
- Invoicing and advanced profitability features require Premium plan ($18/user/mo)
- Lacks built-in CRM or expense tracking, relying on integrations
- Team collaboration features are basic in lower tiers
Best For
Freelance consultants and small agencies seeking simple, accurate time tracking for hourly billing without steep learning curves.
Pricing
Free plan for basics; Starter at $9/user/mo, Premium at $18/user/mo (billed annually); Enterprise custom.
FreshBooks
specializedCloud accounting software with built-in time tracking and automated invoicing for small consulting businesses.
Automatic time-to-invoice conversion retaining project-specific billing rates and descriptions
FreshBooks is a cloud-based accounting software tailored for freelancers, consultants, and small service businesses, excelling in time tracking, invoicing, and expense management. It allows users to log billable hours against clients and projects, automatically convert time entries into professional invoices with customizable rates, and track profitability in real-time. The platform also includes client portals for approvals, payments, and collaboration, streamlining the entire consultant billing workflow.
Pros
- Intuitive time tracking with timers, projects, and client-specific rates
- Seamless one-click conversion of time entries to customizable invoices
- Robust client portal for payment tracking and automated reminders
Cons
- Limited advanced reporting and analytics for complex time breakdowns
- Client and bill limits on lower-tier plans restrict scalability
- Higher cost compared to dedicated time-tracking-only tools
Best For
Solo consultants and small service teams seeking an all-in-one solution for simple time tracking and automated billing.
Pricing
Lite ($19/mo, 5 clients), Plus ($33/mo, 50 clients), Premium ($60/mo, unlimited clients); annual billing discounts apply.
QuickBooks Time
enterpriseMobile time tracking app with GPS and QuickBooks integration for effortless consultant billing.
Automatic conversion of tracked time into QuickBooks invoices and payroll entries
QuickBooks Time, formerly TSheets, is a comprehensive time tracking platform tailored for businesses and consultants to log billable hours, manage projects, and generate invoices efficiently. It features mobile GPS tracking, timesheet approvals, scheduling, and deep integration with QuickBooks Online for automatic syncing of time data to payroll and billing. Consultants benefit from detailed reporting and client-specific project tracking to ensure accurate time billing and profitability analysis.
Pros
- Seamless integration with QuickBooks for instant invoicing from timesheets
- Robust mobile app with GPS and geofencing for on-the-go tracking
- Comprehensive reporting and project profitability insights
Cons
- Pricing scales with users and higher tiers required for advanced features
- Occasional sync delays with QuickBooks reported by some users
- Overkill for solo consultants not using QuickBooks ecosystem
Best For
Consultants and small firms already using QuickBooks who need integrated time tracking for effortless billing and payroll.
Pricing
Premium plan at $20/user/month + $8 base (billed annually); Elite at $40/user/month + $10 base; free trial available.
Clockify
specializedFree unlimited time tracker with timesheets, reports, and invoicing for solo consultants and teams.
Unlimited free time tracking for teams with no user or project limits
Clockify is a user-friendly time tracking software designed for tracking billable hours across projects, clients, and tasks with a simple one-click timer. It provides detailed reports, expense logging, and basic invoicing to help consultants generate bills based on tracked time. Available on web, desktop, and mobile, it supports unlimited users and projects on the free plan, making it accessible for solo consultants and small teams.
Pros
- Completely free core plan with unlimited users, projects, and tracking
- Intuitive one-click timer and cross-platform synchronization
- Robust reporting and basic invoicing tailored for billable hours
Cons
- Advanced invoicing and automation require paid upgrades
- Reporting customization is limited in the free version
- Lacks deep integrations with complex accounting software
Best For
Freelance consultants and small agencies seeking a no-cost, straightforward solution for time tracking and simple hourly billing.
Pricing
Free forever plan (unlimited everything); Pro at $3.99/user/month; Enterprise custom pricing.
BigTime
enterpriseProfessional services automation platform with advanced time tracking, billing, and project management for consulting firms.
Advanced profitability forecasting with budget-vs-actuals tracking and resource utilization dashboards
BigTime is a cloud-based professional services automation (PSA) platform designed for consulting firms, offering robust time tracking, project management, expense logging, and automated billing. It enables consultants to capture billable hours via desktop timers or mobile apps, generate invoices directly from time entries, and track project profitability in real-time. The software integrates with accounting tools like QuickBooks and provides customizable reporting for forecasting and resource allocation.
Pros
- Comprehensive time tracking with mobile support and timers
- Strong project budgeting and profitability analytics
- Seamless integrations with QuickBooks and CRM tools
Cons
- Steep learning curve for advanced features
- Higher pricing for smaller teams
- Limited customization in reporting templates
Best For
Mid-sized consulting firms requiring integrated time billing, project management, and profitability tracking.
Pricing
Starts at $10/user/month (Essentials), $25/user/month (Premium), $45/user/month (Elite); annual billing required, minimum 5 users.
Paymo
specializedAll-in-one work management tool combining time tracking, task management, and invoicing for consultants.
Automatic invoice generation from billable time entries, including fixed fees, expenses, and taxes for streamlined consultant billing
Paymo is a comprehensive work management platform tailored for agencies, freelancers, and consultants, offering robust time tracking, task management, resource scheduling, and invoicing capabilities. It enables users to log billable hours via timers or manual entry, generate invoices directly from time entries, and track profitability with detailed reports. The software integrates project oversight with billing, making it ideal for consultants managing client work and finances in one place.
Pros
- Seamless time tracking with desktop timers, mobile apps, and timesheet approvals
- Automated invoicing from tracked time, expenses, and retainers with QuickBooks integration
- Profitability reports and resource scheduling for optimized billing insights
Cons
- Interface can feel cluttered for simple time billing needs due to full project management suite
- Advanced reporting requires higher-tier plans
- Mobile app lacks some desktop features like detailed scheduling
Best For
Small consulting firms and freelance professionals seeking an integrated tool for time tracking, invoicing, and light project management.
Pricing
Free plan for up to 1 user and 5 clients; paid plans start at $9.95/user/month (annual billing) for Pro, $19.95 for Business, and custom Ultimate.
Everhour
specializedTime tracking and budgeting software that integrates with popular project tools for accurate consultant billing.
Embedded time tracking widgets that appear directly in integrated project management tools for zero-context-switching logging
Everhour is a time tracking and productivity tool that integrates deeply with project management platforms like Asana, Jira, Trello, and Monday.com, allowing consultants to log hours directly within their workflows. It supports time-based billing through features like invoicing, budgeting, expense tracking, and detailed reporting on billable vs. non-billable time. The software also offers visual scheduling, capacity planning, and profitability analysis to help optimize consultant workloads and client billing.
Pros
- Seamless integrations with 50+ project management tools for effortless time tracking
- Comprehensive invoicing and reporting tailored for time-based billing
- Visual planning tools for accurate budgeting and forecasting
Cons
- Higher pricing tiers required for advanced features like unlimited projects
- Less effective as a standalone tool without PM integrations
- Occasional sync delays with certain integrations
Best For
Freelance consultants or small agencies using tools like Asana or Jira who need integrated time tracking and client invoicing.
Pricing
Free for up to 5 users; Team plan at $10/user/month (annual billing), Business at $18/user/month, with 30-day free trial.
Accelo
enterpriseClient relationship and professional services automation with time tracking and automated billing.
Automated workflows that link sales quotes directly to time-tracked projects and invoices for seamless profitability tracking
Accelo is a comprehensive professional services automation (PSA) platform tailored for consultants and agencies, combining CRM, project management, time tracking, and billing in one system. It enables precise time logging, automated invoicing based on billable hours or retainers, and profitability analysis across projects. Ideal for service-based businesses, it streamlines operations from sales quotes to final payments.
Pros
- Robust time tracking with mobile app support and automatic billing rules
- End-to-end automation from CRM to invoicing for efficient workflows
- Real-time profitability reporting and retainer management
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to extensive features
- Pricing can be high for small teams or solo consultants
- Mobile app lacks some desktop functionalities
Best For
Mid-sized consulting firms needing an all-in-one PSA tool for time billing, projects, and client management.
Pricing
Starts at $39/user/month (Plus plan, billed annually), with Professional at $79, Elite at $99, and custom Ultimate tiers.
Bill4Time
specializedTime billing and invoicing software tailored for professionals and consultants to manage billable work efficiently.
Seamless QuickBooks Online integration for automatic syncing of time entries and invoices
Bill4Time is a versatile time tracking and billing platform tailored for professionals like consultants, lawyers, and small firms. It offers cross-device time entry via web, desktop, and mobile apps, along with invoicing, expense tracking, client management, and payment processing. The software emphasizes accurate billing through detailed reports and QuickBooks integration, making it suitable for consultant time billing workflows.
Pros
- Cross-platform time tracking with offline mobile support
- Strong invoicing and QuickBooks synchronization
- Comprehensive reporting for billable hours analysis
Cons
- Dated user interface requiring some adjustment
- Higher pricing for advanced team features
- Occasional glitches in mobile app syncing
Best For
Solo consultants or small firms needing reliable time tracking and billing without enterprise-level complexity.
Pricing
Starts at $27/user/month (Solo plan, billed annually), scaling to $67/user/month (Team plan), with a 14-day free trial.
Conclusion
Evaluating the top 10 tools reveals a range of strong options for consultant time billing, with Harvest leading as the top choice for its simplicity and accuracy in tracking and invoicing. Toggl Track and FreshBooks stand out as excellent alternatives, offering precise time management and seamless accounting integration, respectively, to suit diverse needs.
Begin optimizing your billing workflow by trying Harvest—its user-friendly design and robust features make it the perfect starting point for consultants aiming to manage billable work efficiently.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison
Referenced in the comparison table and product reviews above.