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As someone who has successfully navigated the world of freelancing and placed a high priority on efficiency, I have come to realise the very important role that time tracking tools play. It is non-negotiable that you efficiently manage your work time, regardless of whether you are a freelancer juggling many projects, working a full-time job, managing a team, or running a business.
Each of these situations requires you to effectively manage your time. It is the linchpin that determines whether possibilities for progress are taken advantage of or whether they are allowed to fail to materialise. Nevertheless, because the market is saturated with an infinite number of time monitoring solutions, it can feel daunting to select the one that is the best fit.
Using my personal experiences and the findings of my study, I have combed through the available possibilities in order to identify the best of the best, which are tracking applications and software that are specifically designed to meet the varied requirements of freelancing professionals. Dive into our carefully chosen collection of the nine best time tracking apps for freelancers, which includes a comparison chart that is easy to use and in-depth evaluations of each tool.
Best Time Tracking Software for Freelancers Comparison Table
However, this has made freelance work even more popular because it gives people more freedom than a normal 9-to-5 job. As a freelancer, you have more freedom, but you also have more duties. You’ll have to go out of your way to find chances, keep track of your billable hours, and manage your work and projects. We need software to keep track of time and tools to handle projects in this case.
| Feature | Apploye | Harvest | Freshbooks | Clockify | Toggl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Time & Task Management | Time Tracking & Invoicing | Accounting & Invoicing | Time Tracking & Project Management | Time Tracking & Productivity |
| Key Features | Timesheets, Project Management, Attendance Tracking, Payroll (paid), Expenses (paid), Approvals (paid) | Timesheets, Projects, Clients, Invoicing, Payments, Reporting, Retainers | Invoicing, Expenses, Payments, Projects, Proposals, Accounting, Reporting | Timesheets, Projects, Tags, Billable Rates, Workspaces, Reporting, Integrations | Timesheets, Projects, Tags, Billable Rates, Clients, Reporting, Desktop App, Mobile App |
| Ease of Use | Easy to use, intuitive interface | Easy to use, clean interface | Simple and user-friendly for core accounting | Very easy to use, beginner-friendly | Very easy to use, minimalistic interface |
| Reporting | Basic reports (free), Advanced reports (paid) | Extensive reporting features | Comprehensive reporting suite | Good reporting for time & projects (free), Advanced reports (paid) | Basic reports (free), Advanced reports with visualizations (paid) |
| Integrations | Several integrations (paid) | Many integrations, including Zapier | Connects with popular accounting and business tools | Many integrations, including Zapier | Many integrations, including Zapier |
Best Time Tracking Software for Freelancers
When you’re a worker, you need to be extra careful about how you use your time. Using time tracking tools to help you better handle your time can help you focus, boost your confidence, and make better plans for your day. You can support steady income growth and a healthy work-life balance by keeping track of the time spent on each project, customer, and activity.
Apploye
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Time Tracking | Accurate time tracking for projects and tasks |
| Employee Monitoring | Monitor productivity and track work hours |
| Project Management | Plan and manage projects efficiently |
| Invoicing | Generate invoices based on tracked time |
| Reporting | Detailed reports on employee and project performance |
| Visit Website |
For the purpose of properly managing my team, Apploye has proven to be an amazing asset. It is possible to streamline personnel management, training, and communication with the help of this complete platform, which provides a variety of options.
I have been able to guarantee that my team stays on track while I focus on driving growth for my business by utilising features such as shift scheduling, time and attendance monitoring, and job checklists. These features allow me to keep track of my team’s progress.
The Good
- Comprehensive time tracking capabilities
- Robust employee monitoring features
- Project management integrated for better workflow
- Streamlined invoicing process
The Bad
- Learning curve for new users
- Advanced features may be overwhelming for small teams
Harvest
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Time Tracking | Track billable and non-billable hours |
| Invoicing | Create and send professional invoices |
| Expense Tracking | Monitor and manage project-related expenses |
| Reporting | Analyze project and team performance |
| Integration | Seamless integration with popular business tools |
When it comes to billing customers and keeping track of the amount of time I spend on projects, Harvest has been my go-to tool. Through the use of this flexible platform, I am able to streamline the processes involved in time tracking and effortlessly generate bills based on the number of billable hours.
Using Harvest, I’ve been able to maintain my organization and make sure that my client projects are billed on time, which has eventually resulted in an increase in the bottom line of my company.
The Good
- Precise time tracking for billing purposes
- Professional invoicing capabilities
- Efficient expense tracking
- Comprehensive reporting for analysis
The Bad
- May lack some advanced project management features
- Pricing might be on the higher side for small businesses
Freshbooks
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Cloud Accounting | Manage expenses, invoices, and financial reports |
| Time Tracking | Track billable hours easily |
| Client Portal | Allow clients to access invoices and documents |
| Mobile App | Access and manage accounts on the go |
| Automated Late Fees | Automatically apply late fees for overdue invoices |
One more useful instrument that I have at my disposal is FreshBooks, which is a cloud-based accounting software that completely transforms the processes involved in financial management. From meticulously recording spending and providing detailed financial reports to invoicing customers with automatic precision, FreshBooks has been an invaluable tool in automating the financial operations of my company, which has enabled me to devote more of my attention to the things that are most important to my business.
The Good
- User-friendly interface
- Excellent mobile app functionality
- Automated late fee feature saves time
The Bad
- Limited customization in reporting
- May lack some advanced accounting features
Clockify
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Free Time Tracking | Track time for unlimited projects for free |
| Project and Task Management | Organize work with projects and tasks |
| Reports | View detailed time and productivity reports |
| Collaboration | Collaborate with team members on projects |
| Browser Extensions | Integrate with browsers for seamless tracking |
From the beginning of my search for effective time management and tracking, Clockify has shown to be a trustworthy companion. My ability to precisely monitor my productivity levels and properly spend my time across a variety of projects and tasks has been made possible by its user-friendly design and strong capabilities, which include timesheets, project tracking, and informative reporting functionalities.
The Good
- Free and unlimited time tracking
- Simplified project and task management
- Browser extensions for convenient use
The Bad
- Limited advanced features in the free version
- User interface could be more intuitive
Toggl
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| One-Click Time Tracking | Start and stop time tracking with a single click |
| Pomodoro Timer | Improve productivity with built-in Pomodoro timer |
| Calendar Integration | Sync time entries with Google Calendar |
| Auto-Tracker | Automatically track computer usage and time |
| Customizable Reports | Create and export customized reports |
My overall productivity and my ability to manage my time more effectively have both been greatly improved as a result of using Toggl. With its user-friendly interface and practical features such as one-click timers, project tracking, and insightful reporting tools, Toggl has provided me with invaluable insights into how I allocate my time throughout the workday. These insights have enabled me to make informed decisions that will optimise my workflow and achieve better results.
The Good
- Simple and quick time tracking
- Pomodoro timer for enhanced productivity
- Calendar integration for seamless scheduling
The Bad
- Limited features in the free plan
- Auto-tracking may not be accurate in some cases
Key Features to Look for in Time Tracking Software
When selecting time tracking software for your business, consider the following key features:
- Time Entry Methods: Look for software that offers multiple time entry methods, including manual entry, timers, clock-in/clock-out functionality, and mobile apps. This ensures flexibility for employees to record time accurately and conveniently.
- Project and Task Tracking: Choose software that allows employees to allocate time to specific projects, tasks, or clients. This feature helps managers track billable hours, monitor project progress, and analyze resource allocation.
- Reporting and Analytics: Look for robust reporting capabilities that allow you to generate customizable reports on employee time data. Features such as time summaries, timesheet approvals, and analytics dashboards help you gain insights into productivity, project costs, and workforce trends.
- Integration with Other Tools: Consider software that integrates seamlessly with other business tools such as project management software, accounting systems, payroll software, and HR management systems. Integration streamlines data sharing and eliminates the need for manual data entry across platforms.
- Mobile Accessibility: Choose software with mobile apps or responsive web interfaces that allow employees to track time from anywhere using their smartphones or tablets. Mobile accessibility is essential for remote workers and employees who travel frequently.
- Ease of Use: Prioritize software with an intuitive user interface and simple navigation to minimize training time and ensure widespread adoption among employees. Features such as drag-and-drop timesheet editing and calendar integrations enhance usability.
- Customization Options: Look for software that offers customization options to tailor the system to your business needs. This includes customizable fields, settings, permissions, and workflows to accommodate unique requirements.
- Overtime and Leave Management: Ensure the software supports tracking of overtime hours, as well as different types of leave such as vacation time, sick leave, and holidays. Features such as automated overtime calculations and leave accrual tracking streamline HR processes.
Questions and Answers
Everhour is a multi-functional time-tracking program that helps freelancers with job management, billing, visual planning, and a great deal more. As a result, it is an excellent choice for those who seek to work independently. Everhour is a time tracker that assists freelancers in maintaining complete control over essential activities, such as budgeting, payroll, and invoicing responsibilities.
You can begin by creating a free account with Clockify and then adding tasks or projects to it. Employee kiosk pins, project templates, and time tracking are all included in the free edition of the software. Alternatively, you may sign up for a free trial of Clockify Pro, which includes the ability to report expenses, utilise scheduling features, and track GPS activities.