Quick Overview
- 1#1: Harvest - Harvest provides seamless time tracking that automatically generates invoices for freelancers and teams.
- 2#2: FreshBooks - FreshBooks combines time tracking, professional invoicing, and expense management for small businesses.
- 3#3: Toggl Track - Toggl Track offers intuitive time tracking with direct invoicing and profitability reporting.
- 4#4: Clockify - Clockify delivers free unlimited time tracking with built-in invoicing and team management.
- 5#5: Paymo - Paymo integrates time tracking, task management, and automated invoicing for agencies.
- 6#6: Invoice Ninja - Invoice Ninja is an open-source tool for time tracking, recurring invoices, and payments.
- 7#7: Zoho Invoice - Zoho Invoice features time tracking, multi-currency invoicing, and automation integrations.
- 8#8: BigTime - BigTime offers robust time tracking and invoicing for professional services firms.
- 9#9: Everhour - Everhour provides time tracking with budgeting, forecasting, and invoice generation.
- 10#10: Accelo - Accelo automates time tracking, project invoicing, and client management for service businesses.
These tools were rigorously evaluated based on key factors including core feature strength (seamless tracking, invoicing efficiency, and integrations), user experience (intuitive design, reliability), and overall value (pricing models, scalability) to ensure they deliver exceptional performance across diverse professional scenarios.
Comparison Table
Explore how time tracking and invoice software tools like Harvest, FreshBooks, Toggl Track, Clockify, and Paymo compare, with insights into their key features, usability, and pricing to help readers find the right fit.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvest Harvest provides seamless time tracking that automatically generates invoices for freelancers and teams. | specialized | 9.4/10 | 9.3/10 | 9.7/10 | 9.1/10 |
| 2 | FreshBooks FreshBooks combines time tracking, professional invoicing, and expense management for small businesses. | specialized | 9.1/10 | 9.0/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 3 | Toggl Track Toggl Track offers intuitive time tracking with direct invoicing and profitability reporting. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 4 | Clockify Clockify delivers free unlimited time tracking with built-in invoicing and team management. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.4/10 | 9.6/10 |
| 5 | Paymo Paymo integrates time tracking, task management, and automated invoicing for agencies. | specialized | 8.6/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.1/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 6 | Invoice Ninja Invoice Ninja is an open-source tool for time tracking, recurring invoices, and payments. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.4/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 7 | Zoho Invoice Zoho Invoice features time tracking, multi-currency invoicing, and automation integrations. | enterprise | 8.1/10 | 8.4/10 | 7.8/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 8 | BigTime BigTime offers robust time tracking and invoicing for professional services firms. | enterprise | 8.6/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.9/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 9 | Everhour Everhour provides time tracking with budgeting, forecasting, and invoice generation. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 10 | Accelo Accelo automates time tracking, project invoicing, and client management for service businesses. | enterprise | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.0/10 | 7.2/10 |
Harvest provides seamless time tracking that automatically generates invoices for freelancers and teams.
FreshBooks combines time tracking, professional invoicing, and expense management for small businesses.
Toggl Track offers intuitive time tracking with direct invoicing and profitability reporting.
Clockify delivers free unlimited time tracking with built-in invoicing and team management.
Paymo integrates time tracking, task management, and automated invoicing for agencies.
Invoice Ninja is an open-source tool for time tracking, recurring invoices, and payments.
Zoho Invoice features time tracking, multi-currency invoicing, and automation integrations.
BigTime offers robust time tracking and invoicing for professional services firms.
Everhour provides time tracking with budgeting, forecasting, and invoice generation.
Accelo automates time tracking, project invoicing, and client management for service businesses.
Harvest
specializedHarvest provides seamless time tracking that automatically generates invoices for freelancers and teams.
Automatic invoice generation from time entries, eliminating manual data entry and ensuring accurate billing.
Harvest is a leading time tracking and invoicing software tailored for freelancers, agencies, and small teams to effortlessly log hours, manage projects, and bill clients. It offers intuitive timers across web, desktop, and mobile apps, expense tracking, detailed reporting, and seamless invoice creation directly from time entries. With robust integrations like QuickBooks, Asana, and Slack, it streamlines workflows and provides budgeting tools for better project oversight.
Pros
- Intuitive, cross-platform time tracking with automatic reminders
- Seamless invoicing and expense management from tracked data
- Excellent integrations and customizable reports for teams
Cons
- Pricing increases significantly with team size
- Limited advanced payroll features
- Reporting customization could be more flexible
Best For
Freelancers, consultants, and small to medium agencies needing simple, reliable time tracking tied directly to invoicing.
Pricing
Free for up to 2 users (1 project); Pro at $12/user/month (annual) or $15 monthly; Elite at $18/user/month (annual) or $21 monthly.
FreshBooks
specializedFreshBooks combines time tracking, professional invoicing, and expense management for small businesses.
Automatic conversion of tracked time and expenses into polished, client-approved invoices with one click
FreshBooks is a user-friendly cloud-based accounting platform tailored for freelancers and small businesses, excelling in invoicing, time tracking, expense management, and project billing. It enables seamless time logging via desktop, mobile, or GPS-enabled tracking, with automatic conversion of billable hours into professional invoices. The software also offers client portals, automated reminders, and integrations with payment gateways like Stripe and PayPal for efficient cash flow management.
Pros
- Intuitive interface with drag-and-drop time entry and mobile app support
- Seamless integration of time tracking into customizable, branded invoices
- Excellent automation for recurring billing and late payment reminders
Cons
- Limited advanced reporting and analytics for complex needs
- No built-in inventory or payroll management
- Pricing scales quickly with number of clients and billable users
Best For
Freelancers and small service-based teams who prioritize easy time tracking tied directly to professional invoicing.
Pricing
Starts at $19/month (Lite, annual billing) for basic invoicing; Plus ($33/month), Premium ($60/month), and custom Select plans for advanced features and team sizes.
Toggl Track
specializedToggl Track offers intuitive time tracking with direct invoicing and profitability reporting.
Visual Timeline for effortless review and editing of past time entries
Toggl Track is a user-friendly time tracking tool designed for individuals, freelancers, and teams to log hours accurately via a one-click timer, manual entries, or calendar integrations. It offers robust reporting, project and client management, and generates professional invoices directly from tracked billable time with customizable rates and taxes. While excelling in time tracking, its invoicing capabilities provide a solid foundation for billing without needing separate software.
Pros
- Exceptionally intuitive interface with one-click timer and idle detection
- Powerful customizable reports and 100+ integrations
- Seamless invoice creation from billable time entries
Cons
- Invoicing lacks advanced features like recurring bills or payments processing
- Advanced reporting and profitability tools require Premium plan
- No built-in expense tracking beyond basic billable items
Best For
Freelancers and small agencies needing simple, accurate time tracking paired with straightforward invoicing.
Pricing
Free plan for basic tracking; Starter $9/user/month (invoicing included), Premium $18/user/month, Enterprise custom (billed annually).
Clockify
specializedClockify delivers free unlimited time tracking with built-in invoicing and team management.
Unlimited free time tracking and team collaboration without user limits
Clockify is a user-friendly time tracking and invoicing software designed for freelancers, teams, and agencies to monitor billable hours across projects and clients. It features a simple one-click timer, manual time entry, customizable reports, and automated invoice generation based on tracked time. With robust team collaboration tools and extensive integrations, it scales from solo users to large organizations while emphasizing simplicity and accuracy.
Pros
- Completely free plan with unlimited users and tracking
- Intuitive interface with one-click timer and quick setup
- Strong reporting, expense tracking, and time-based invoicing
Cons
- Invoicing lacks advanced customization and payment gateways in free plan
- Reporting can feel overwhelming for absolute beginners
- Some premium integrations and automation require paid upgrades
Best For
Freelancers and small to medium teams seeking a no-cost, straightforward time tracker with reliable invoicing capabilities.
Pricing
Free forever plan for unlimited users; paid plans (Basic $3.99/user/mo, Pro $5.49/user/mo, Essentials $8.99/user/mo) billed annually unlock advanced features like scheduling and profitability reports.
Paymo
specializedPaymo integrates time tracking, task management, and automated invoicing for agencies.
Profitability tracker that visualizes project margins by integrating tracked time, expenses, and invoice revenue in real-time dashboards
Paymo is a comprehensive work management platform designed for freelancers, agencies, and small teams, offering robust time tracking, task management, resource scheduling, and invoicing in one tool. It enables users to log time via desktop, web, or mobile apps, automatically generate invoices from timesheets, and track project profitability by combining expenses, costs, and revenue. With features like Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and client portals, it streamlines workflows from planning to payment.
Pros
- All-in-one solution combining time tracking, project management, and invoicing
- Accurate multi-device time tracking with offline support and automatic timers
- Advanced profitability reporting that factors in time, costs, and revenue
Cons
- Steeper learning curve for beginners due to extensive features
- Free plan is limited, pushing users toward paid tiers quickly
- Fewer integrations compared to specialized time tracking tools like Toggl or Harvest
Best For
Freelancers and small agencies needing an integrated platform for time tracking, project oversight, and client invoicing without juggling multiple apps.
Pricing
Free for solo users (limited to 10 clients); paid plans start at $5.90/user/month (Starter, annual billing), $11.90 (Small Office), $19.90 (Business), with Ultimate custom pricing.
Invoice Ninja
specializedInvoice Ninja is an open-source tool for time tracking, recurring invoices, and payments.
Fully open-source self-hosting for complete control and no recurring fees
Invoice Ninja is an open-source invoicing and time tracking platform designed for freelancers and small businesses to create professional invoices, quotes, and proposals. It includes built-in time tracking with timers, task management, and project tracking that seamlessly converts hours into billable invoices. The software supports client management, expense tracking, payment processing via gateways like Stripe and PayPal, and offers both self-hosted and cloud-hosted options for flexibility.
Pros
- Free self-hosted open-source version with full data ownership
- Seamless integration of time tracking into invoicing workflow
- Supports multiple payment gateways and recurring billing
Cons
- User interface feels dated and less intuitive compared to modern competitors
- Self-hosting requires technical setup and maintenance
- Limited advanced reporting and automation in free tiers
Best For
Freelancers and small agencies seeking a cost-effective, customizable solution for invoicing combined with basic time tracking.
Pricing
Free self-hosted; cloud-hosted plans start free (limited to 1 client), Pro at $14/month (annual billing, unlimited clients), Enterprise at $30/user/month.
Zoho Invoice
enterpriseZoho Invoice features time tracking, multi-currency invoicing, and automation integrations.
Direct conversion of time entries into customizable invoice line items with billable rates
Zoho Invoice is a cloud-based platform that combines robust invoicing with built-in time tracking, enabling users to log hours via timers or manual entries and directly convert them into billable invoices. It supports customizable templates, multi-currency billing, client portals, and integrations with payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe. As part of the Zoho ecosystem, it scales well for small to medium businesses handling projects and freelance work.
Pros
- Seamless integration of time tracking with invoicing for quick billing
- Generous free plan suitable for solopreneurs
- Strong automation and client portal features
Cons
- Time tracking lacks advanced analytics and reporting depth
- Interface can feel cluttered for new users
- Customer limits on free plan restrict scaling
Best For
Freelancers and small businesses seeking affordable, integrated time tracking and invoicing without complex setups.
Pricing
Free plan for up to 3 clients; paid plans start at $9/organization/month (billed annually) for more customers and features.
BigTime
enterpriseBigTime offers robust time tracking and invoicing for professional services firms.
Skills-based resource scheduling and utilization forecasting tied directly to time-tracked profitability
BigTime is a comprehensive professional services automation (PSA) platform designed for time tracking, project management, and invoicing, primarily targeting accounting, architecture, engineering, and consulting firms. It enables detailed timesheet entry via web or mobile apps, automatic billing calculations based on tracked time and expenses, and seamless invoice generation with customizable templates. The software also offers robust reporting, resource scheduling, and profitability insights to help firms manage billable work efficiently.
Pros
- Advanced time tracking with approvals, GPS, and mobile accessibility
- Integrated invoicing with AR tracking and QuickBooks/Xero sync
- Detailed profitability reporting and project forecasting tools
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to extensive features
- Pricing scales quickly for small teams with minimum user requirements
- Interface feels somewhat dated compared to modern competitors
Best For
Mid-sized professional services firms needing integrated time tracking, project budgeting, and invoicing for billable hours management.
Pricing
Starts at $10/user/month (Essentials), $20/user/month (Pro), $40/user/month (Elite); annual billing required, minimum 5 users.
Everhour
specializedEverhour provides time tracking with budgeting, forecasting, and invoice generation.
Deep, native integrations that auto-populate tasks and enable one-click time tracking directly within PM tools
Everhour is a robust time tracking and invoicing software that integrates deeply with project management tools like Asana, Jira, Trello, and Monday.com. It enables accurate time logging via timers, manual entry, or offline tracking, with features for budgeting, forecasting, expense management, and generating invoices from billable hours. The platform provides detailed reporting and visual timelines to help teams monitor productivity and profitability.
Pros
- Seamless integrations with 50+ project management tools for effortless time tracking
- Powerful budgeting, forecasting, and detailed reporting capabilities
- Straightforward invoicing based on tracked time and expenses
Cons
- Invoicing features are functional but less advanced than dedicated accounting software
- Full functionality relies heavily on integrations, limiting standalone use
- Pricing scales per user, which can add up for large teams
Best For
Teams using project management tools who need integrated time tracking with basic invoicing and budgeting.
Pricing
Developer plan at $8.50/user/month, Team at $12/user/month, Business at $20/user/month (billed annually; 30-day free trial).
Accelo
enterpriseAccelo automates time tracking, project invoicing, and client management for service businesses.
Profitability tracking that automatically calculates margins by combining time entries, expenses, and invoice data in real-time
Accelo is a comprehensive professional services automation (PSA) platform that integrates time tracking, project management, CRM, and invoicing into a single workflow. It enables users to log billable hours against projects and clients with timers and manual entries, then automatically generate, send, and track invoices based on tracked time. Ideal for agencies and consultancies, it emphasizes profitability insights by linking time data to revenue and costs.
Pros
- Seamless integration of time tracking with invoicing and project management
- Advanced reporting for profitability and resource utilization
- Automation features like recurring invoices and approval workflows
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to extensive features
- Higher pricing may not suit small teams or simple needs
- Mobile app lacks some desktop functionalities
Best For
Mid-sized agencies and consultancies needing an all-in-one PSA tool beyond basic time tracking and invoicing.
Pricing
Starts at $39/user/month (Growth plan, billed annually) up to custom Enterprise pricing; includes time tracking and invoicing in all tiers.
Conclusion
With robust features tailored to varied needs, the reviewed tools deliver reliable time tracking and invoicing solutions. At the top, Harvest shines with its seamless integration of time tracking and automatic invoicing, making it a top choice for many. FreshBooks and Toggl Track follow closely, offering strong alternatives—FreshBooks for all-in-one small business management, and Toggl Track for intuitive tracking and profitability insights.
Ready to simplify your workflow? Start with the top-ranked Harvest to effortlessly manage time, generate invoices, and grow your business with ease.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison