Quick Overview
- 1#1: Time Doctor - Time Doctor monitors remote employee productivity through time tracking, screenshots, app usage, and detailed activity reports.
- 2#2: Hubstaff - Hubstaff tracks remote workers' time, activities, screenshots, and GPS locations with payroll integration.
- 3#3: Teramind - Teramind offers advanced remote employee monitoring with AI-driven behavior analytics, screen recording, and security features.
- 4#4: ActivTrak - ActivTrak provides productivity insights for remote teams via activity tracking, website usage, and workload balancing.
- 5#5: DeskTime - DeskTime automatically tracks remote employee time, productivity levels, and app/website usage with offline support.
- 6#6: Insightful - Insightful monitors remote workforce productivity with screenshots, activity levels, and performance analytics.
- 7#7: Kickidler - Kickidler delivers real-time remote employee monitoring including video recording, keystroke logging, and violation alerts.
- 8#8: Traqq - Traqq offers simple remote time tracking with screenshots, activity monitoring, and team performance dashboards.
- 9#9: Monitask - Monitask tracks remote employees via screenshots, time logs, and productivity reports for small teams.
- 10#10: Controlio - Controlio provides affordable remote employee tracking with screenshots, keystrokes, and real-time screen viewing.
Tools were selected and ranked based on features (including time tracking, activity monitoring, and integrations), user-friendliness, data security, and overall value to cater to diverse team sizes and operational needs.
Comparison Table
Remote teams rely on tracking software to monitor productivity, manage time, and ensure accountability, and this comparison table features popular tools like Time Doctor, Hubstaff, Teramind, ActivTrak, DeskTime, and more, helping readers understand key differences in features, usability, and additional capabilities to find the best fit for their needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Time Doctor Time Doctor monitors remote employee productivity through time tracking, screenshots, app usage, and detailed activity reports. | specialized | 9.4/10 | 9.6/10 | 8.9/10 | 9.1/10 |
| 2 | Hubstaff Hubstaff tracks remote workers' time, activities, screenshots, and GPS locations with payroll integration. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.7/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 3 | Teramind Teramind offers advanced remote employee monitoring with AI-driven behavior analytics, screen recording, and security features. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.4/10 | 7.6/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 4 | ActivTrak ActivTrak provides productivity insights for remote teams via activity tracking, website usage, and workload balancing. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 5 | DeskTime DeskTime automatically tracks remote employee time, productivity levels, and app/website usage with offline support. | specialized | 8.5/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 6 | Insightful Insightful monitors remote workforce productivity with screenshots, activity levels, and performance analytics. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 7 | Kickidler Kickidler delivers real-time remote employee monitoring including video recording, keystroke logging, and violation alerts. | enterprise | 8.1/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.6/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 8 | Traqq Traqq offers simple remote time tracking with screenshots, activity monitoring, and team performance dashboards. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.3/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 9 | Monitask Monitask tracks remote employees via screenshots, time logs, and productivity reports for small teams. | specialized | 7.7/10 | 7.5/10 | 8.2/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 10 | Controlio Controlio provides affordable remote employee tracking with screenshots, keystrokes, and real-time screen viewing. | other | 7.6/10 | 8.1/10 | 7.3/10 | 7.9/10 |
Time Doctor monitors remote employee productivity through time tracking, screenshots, app usage, and detailed activity reports.
Hubstaff tracks remote workers' time, activities, screenshots, and GPS locations with payroll integration.
Teramind offers advanced remote employee monitoring with AI-driven behavior analytics, screen recording, and security features.
ActivTrak provides productivity insights for remote teams via activity tracking, website usage, and workload balancing.
DeskTime automatically tracks remote employee time, productivity levels, and app/website usage with offline support.
Insightful monitors remote workforce productivity with screenshots, activity levels, and performance analytics.
Kickidler delivers real-time remote employee monitoring including video recording, keystroke logging, and violation alerts.
Traqq offers simple remote time tracking with screenshots, activity monitoring, and team performance dashboards.
Monitask tracks remote employees via screenshots, time logs, and productivity reports for small teams.
Controlio provides affordable remote employee tracking with screenshots, keystrokes, and real-time screen viewing.
Time Doctor
specializedTime Doctor monitors remote employee productivity through time tracking, screenshots, app usage, and detailed activity reports.
Proof of work screenshots with optional blur and OCR for verifiable activity tracking
Time Doctor is a leading remote employee tracking software that provides comprehensive time monitoring, productivity insights, and accountability tools for distributed teams. It automatically tracks time spent on tasks, captures periodic screenshots, monitors app and website usage, and generates detailed reports on employee activity. Ideal for managers seeking to boost productivity while ensuring remote workers stay focused, it integrates with popular project management and payroll tools for seamless workflow management.
Pros
- Robust screenshot capture and activity level monitoring for real-time productivity insights
- Advanced reporting and analytics with customizable alerts and productivity scores
- Seamless integrations with tools like Asana, QuickBooks, and Slack for streamlined operations
Cons
- Screenshots and tracking can raise privacy concerns among some employees
- Steeper learning curve for advanced customization and reporting features
- Higher pricing tiers required for full feature access in larger teams
Best For
Remote team managers and businesses needing detailed employee monitoring and productivity optimization without constant oversight.
Pricing
Starts at $7/user/month (Basic), $9.99/user/month (Standard), $19.99/user/month (Premium), billed annually; free trial available.
Hubstaff
specializedHubstaff tracks remote workers' time, activities, screenshots, and GPS locations with payroll integration.
Periodic screenshots with blurring options for visual proof of work without full invasiveness
Hubstaff is a robust remote employee tracking software designed for monitoring distributed teams through automatic time tracking, activity levels, and periodic screenshots. It captures keyboard and mouse activity, app/URL usage, and GPS locations for mobile workers, while offering productivity reports, payroll integration, and scheduling tools. Managers gain insights into work patterns without constant oversight, making it ideal for remote and hybrid workforces.
Pros
- Comprehensive tracking with screenshots, activity levels, and GPS for full visibility
- Seamless integrations with tools like Asana, QuickBooks, and Slack
- Built-in payroll and invoicing streamline operations
Cons
- Privacy concerns from screenshots and monitoring can affect employee morale
- Desktop app occasionally requires troubleshooting on some systems
- Higher-tier features needed for advanced reporting increase costs
Best For
Small to medium businesses with remote teams needing detailed time and productivity oversight.
Pricing
Free for 1 user; paid plans start at $7/user/month (Starter) up to $20/user/month (Enterprise), billed annually.
Teramind
enterpriseTeramind offers advanced remote employee monitoring with AI-driven behavior analytics, screen recording, and security features.
AI-powered User Behavior Analytics with dynamic, real-time risk scoring for predicting and preventing insider threats.
Teramind is a comprehensive employee monitoring and user behavior analytics platform tailored for remote workforce tracking, providing real-time visibility into employee activities on endpoints. It features screen recording, keystroke logging, application/website usage tracking, email monitoring, and file activity analysis to boost productivity and detect anomalies. Leveraging AI-powered behavior analytics, it offers dynamic risk scoring, insider threat detection, and compliance reporting, making it ideal for security-conscious organizations.
Pros
- Extremely detailed activity tracking including OCR-enabled screen recording and network forensics
- Advanced AI-driven anomaly detection and predictive risk scoring for proactive threat prevention
- Robust compliance tools with customizable rules and detailed audit logs
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to complex interface and extensive configuration options
- High resource usage on monitored devices which can impact performance
- Premium pricing that may be prohibitive for small businesses or basic needs
Best For
Mid-to-large enterprises requiring advanced insider threat detection, compliance monitoring, and detailed remote employee analytics.
Pricing
Custom quotes based on users and features; starts at ~$10/user/month for basic monitoring, scaling to $25+/user/month for full UBA and enterprise editions.
ActivTrak
specializedActivTrak provides productivity insights for remote teams via activity tracking, website usage, and workload balancing.
AI-powered Activity Scores and Risk Alerts that predict and flag unproductive or risky behaviors
ActivTrak is a robust employee monitoring platform tailored for remote workforce management, capturing detailed activity data including app usage, website visits, and periodic screenshots. It leverages AI to generate productivity scores, risk alerts, and behavioral insights, enabling managers to optimize team performance without constant oversight. The software provides customizable dashboards and reports for trend analysis, making it suitable for tracking distributed teams across devices like Windows, Mac, and Chromebooks.
Pros
- Comprehensive tracking with screenshots, app/website monitoring, and AI productivity scoring
- Intuitive dashboards and real-time alerts for risk detection
- Scalable for remote teams with strong reporting and trend analysis
Cons
- Privacy concerns from invasive monitoring like screenshots
- Requires agent installation on each employee device
- Pricing escalates for larger teams without mobile support
Best For
Mid-sized businesses with remote or hybrid teams needing AI-driven productivity insights and behavioral risk alerts.
Pricing
Free for up to 3 users; Pro plan at $10/user/month (billed annually), Premium and Enterprise with custom pricing.
DeskTime
specializedDeskTime automatically tracks remote employee time, productivity levels, and app/website usage with offline support.
Automatic random screenshots paired with productivity categorization for visual activity verification
DeskTime is a comprehensive employee monitoring and time tracking software tailored for remote teams, automatically logging time spent on applications, websites, and projects while categorizing activities as productive or unproductive. It includes features like optional screenshot capture, idle time detection, and detailed productivity reports to help managers assess performance and optimize workflows. The tool supports integrations with popular project management platforms and offers offline tracking capabilities for flexible remote work environments.
Pros
- Precise automatic time tracking with app/website usage breakdown
- Screenshot and idle detection for verifiable activity insights
- Robust reporting, productivity scoring, and integrations
Cons
- Screenshot feature raises privacy concerns for some teams
- Limited native mobile tracking compared to desktop
- Per-user pricing can become expensive for large teams
Best For
Small to medium remote teams needing detailed activity monitoring and productivity analytics without manual time entry.
Pricing
Lite: $7/user/month; Pro: $10/user/month (billed annually); Enterprise: custom pricing.
Insightful
specializedInsightful monitors remote workforce productivity with screenshots, activity levels, and performance analytics.
Proof of Work videos that compile screenshots into timelapse footage for quick work verification
Insightful (insightful.io) is a robust employee monitoring platform tailored for remote teams, providing real-time tracking of computer activities, automated screenshots, and productivity analytics. It captures app and website usage, keyboard/mouse activity, and generates detailed reports to help managers assess work patterns and efficiency. With features like privacy modes and AI-powered insights, it balances visibility with employee autonomy.
Pros
- Comprehensive tracking with screenshots, timelines, and activity levels
- Strong privacy controls and customizable monitoring modes
- Advanced analytics and integrations for actionable insights
Cons
- Pricing can add up for larger teams with advanced plans
- Setup and initial configuration may require time
- Some users report occasional desktop agent glitches
Best For
Remote and hybrid teams needing detailed productivity monitoring without constant oversight.
Pricing
Starts at $6.40/user/month (billed annually) for Light plan; Basic at $12.40, Pro at $19.40, with Enterprise custom pricing.
Kickidler
enterpriseKickidler delivers real-time remote employee monitoring including video recording, keystroke logging, and violation alerts.
Real-time continuous video recording of employee screens for forensic-level activity review
Kickidler is a robust employee monitoring software designed for tracking remote and office workers through real-time screen video recording, periodic screenshots, and detailed activity logs on apps and websites. It provides productivity analytics, keystroke monitoring, and instant alerts for inefficiencies or policy violations. Ideal for businesses seeking granular oversight, it supports Windows environments primarily and scales with team size.
Pros
- Comprehensive monitoring with continuous screen video recording
- Detailed productivity reports and real-time alerts
- Customizable rules and user activity timelines
Cons
- Invasive features raise privacy concerns
- Primarily Windows-focused with limited Mac/Linux support
- Setup requires IT involvement for agent deployment
Best For
Mid-sized businesses with remote teams needing in-depth visual oversight of employee screens and activities.
Pricing
Starts at €3.90/user/month for basic screenshot monitoring (min 5 users); €9.90/user/month for full video recording; annual discounts available.
Traqq
specializedTraqq offers simple remote time tracking with screenshots, activity monitoring, and team performance dashboards.
Automatic screenshots combined with real-time activity feeds for visual productivity verification
Traqq is a time tracking and employee monitoring software tailored for remote teams, offering automatic time logging, activity tracking, and productivity insights. It captures periodic screenshots, monitors app/website usage, keyboard/mouse activity, and generates detailed reports for better workforce management. The platform emphasizes simplicity and affordability, making it suitable for small to medium-sized businesses tracking remote employee performance.
Pros
- Affordable pricing with a generous free plan for solo users
- Comprehensive tracking including screenshots, app usage, and idle detection
- User-friendly desktop app and intuitive web dashboard for quick setup
Cons
- Privacy concerns due to screenshot and keystroke monitoring
- Limited advanced integrations compared to enterprise competitors
- No native mobile app for employee tracking on the go
Best For
Small to medium remote teams seeking cost-effective basic employee monitoring without complex setup.
Pricing
Free for individuals; team plans start at $5.40/user/month (Temple, billed annually) up to $7.20/user/month (Boss plan).
Monitask
specializedMonitask tracks remote employees via screenshots, time logs, and productivity reports for small teams.
Random-interval screenshots with productivity scoring based on activity levels
Monitask is a remote employee tracking software that automatically monitors time spent on tasks, captures periodic screenshots, and tracks computer activity including app usage and websites visited. It generates productivity reports, detects idle time, and provides proof-of-work features to verify remote employee performance. The tool supports Windows, Mac, and Linux, with options for timesheet approvals and integrations with payroll systems.
Pros
- Affordable per-user pricing with no hidden fees
- Straightforward setup and intuitive dashboard
- Detailed screenshots and activity reports for proof of work
Cons
- Limited advanced AI analytics compared to competitors
- Screenshot monitoring raises privacy concerns
- Mobile app tracking is basic and not fully featured
Best For
Small to medium businesses and freelancers seeking simple, cost-effective monitoring for remote contractors.
Pricing
Free for 1 user; paid plans start at $4.99/user/month (billed annually) up to $9.99/user/month, with free trial available.
Controlio
otherControlio provides affordable remote employee tracking with screenshots, keystrokes, and real-time screen viewing.
Blazing-fast screenshots captured every 10 seconds with AI-powered activity classification for accurate productivity scoring
Controlio is an employee monitoring software focused on tracking remote workers' productivity through real-time screenshots, application and website usage logs, keystroke monitoring, and detailed activity reports. It supports Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing managers to assess performance, detect idle time, and generate productivity scores. The tool emphasizes stealth mode for discreet monitoring and provides alerts for suspicious activities.
Pros
- Cross-platform support for Windows, Mac, and Linux
- Detailed productivity analytics and real-time screenshots
- Affordable pricing scalable for small teams
Cons
- Privacy concerns due to invasive tracking like keystroke logging
- Limited integrations with popular HR or project management tools
- Occasional reports of installation issues on some systems
Best For
Small to medium-sized businesses needing robust cross-platform monitoring for remote teams without complex setups.
Pricing
Starts at $4.99/user/month (Basic, billed annually) up to $9.99/user/month (Enterprise), with a free trial available.
Conclusion
The review of top remote employee tracking tools highlights solutions designed to boost productivity. Time Doctor reigns as the top choice, excelling with comprehensive time tracking, activity reports, and detailed insights. Hubstaff and Teramind follow, offering unique strengths—payroll integration with GPS tracking and AI-driven analytics—making them solid alternatives for diverse needs. Each tool empowers teams to maintain focus and perform effectively in remote environments.
Ready to optimize your remote team’s workflow? Start with Time Doctor to streamline tracking and unlock their full potential.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison
