The 5 greatest time monitoring apps in 2026

In case you spent an hour engaged on a shopper challenge, however no timer was round to trace it, did you even do any work? (That is how that saying goes, proper?)

As a freelancer, I am chargeable for each facet of my enterprise, from shopper work to advertising and marketing to record-keeping and admin. I maintain detailed data of how lengthy each enterprise job and shopper challenge takes me, which helps me value my companies precisely and keep away from overbooking my schedule. However whether or not you are a solopreneur like me or a 9-5 workplace employee, understanding the way you spend your time provides you essential perception into—and management over—the place you spend your power.

Time monitoring apps make it simpler to document billable hours, streamline what you are promoting processes, and enhance your private productiveness. One of the best time trackers have built-in timers but additionally allow you to edit or add time manually. A few of these apps even incorporate AI for a hands-off monitoring course of, so you may deal with deep work and go away the analytics for later.

After in-depth testing of practically 30 choices, I’ve rounded up the perfect time monitoring apps for people and groups so you may select the app and options that match your work model greatest.

One of the best time monitoring apps

1. Toggl Observe for a free time monitoring app

2. Memtime for easy automated time monitoring

3. TrackingTime for visualizing time in a different way

4. EARLY (previously Timeular) for automated time monitoring

5. Harvest for ease of use with out sacrificing options

What makes the perfect time monitoring software program?

When you understand how you spend your time, you may analyze your work tendencies and make smarter enterprise selections. Whether or not you are working solo or in a small staff, time monitoring software program may give you an entire overview of your every day, weekly, month-to-month, and yearly work. 

What do you do with this info? Maybe most significantly, challenge time monitoring might help you receives a commission, permitting you to really feel assured about your invoices moderately than making an attempt to estimate how a lot time you labored after the actual fact. In case you’re a part of a staff, time monitoring might help you reply the query, “What have you ever been engaged on this month?”

When evaluating the perfect time monitoring apps, I thought of the next standards: 

• Actual-time monitoring. Almost all time monitoring apps allow you to observe in actual time, that means they offer you a working clock that you simply launch while you begin a job, and you could pause or cease while you end. 

• The flexibility to edit time tracked or manually add time blocks. One of the best apps allow you to appropriate time tracked after the actual fact, corresponding to in the event you by chance go away a timer working whilst you take off for lunch. It is best to be capable to edit the time log to subtract nevertheless many minutes you were not working. You additionally need an app that allows you to enter a block of time publish hoc in case you overlook to launch a timer in any respect. For instance, in case your telephone rings and also you leap right into a 20-minute consulting name, you won’t begin a timer, however you do need to log and invoice for these hours labored.

• Reporting options. Essentially the most highly effective time monitoring apps provide dashboards and studies that allow you to get away every day, weekly, or month-to-month time spent per challenge, per particular person, or per shopper. 

• The flexibility to create an bill or export information. When you mixture all of your time spent in your work, you will have to have the ability to take motion on it. All these apps allow you to both robotically create invoices from the time monitoring information saved within the app or export that info into PDFs, CSVs, or Google Sheets to share with the suitable individuals.

• A number of factors of entry. One of the best time monitoring instruments make beginning a timer simple and handy. They’ve the flexibility to allow you to begin a timer from wherever is most handy to you, whether or not that is your browser, a desktop app, or your cell machine.  

• Bonus: AI options. Synthetic intelligence is automating and simplifying workflows throughout instruments of all industries, and time monitoring apps are not any exception. I gave particular consideration to time trackers that use AI to auto-track your time or use machine studying to robotically assign time blocks to associated duties and initiatives.

What’s not included on this roundup

Right here, I centered particularly on discovering a time tracker for freelancers, people, and small groups. I did not contemplate worker monitoring software program, which regularly contains some kind of time monitoring. I did embrace two automated monitoring instruments that monitor customers’ actions—however the information is for every consumer’s eyes solely. With these instruments, you select how a lot (if any) information to share along with your supervisors. In case you’re in search of extra team-focused apps, check out Zapier’s picks for the greatest free timesheet software program.

Moreover, I have never included challenge administration, invoicing, or accounting apps that include an add-on or built-in time tracker. Whereas time-tracking clocks may be very useful inside these instruments, I assume if that is what you want, you are seemingly purchasing for a extra sturdy answer. 

One of the best time monitoring apps at a look

1. Finest free time monitoring app

Toggl Observe (Android, iOS, Home windows, macOS, Linux, Net, and browser extensions)

Toggl Observe professionals:

Toggl Observe cons:

In case you want a time tracker instrument however cannot pay for one, it’s best to use Toggl Observe. The time monitoring instrument has a beneficiant free tier of service that offers you entry to all its apps (Android, iOS, Home windows, macOS, Linux, Net, and browser extensions) and contains all of the core performance you’d count on in a time monitoring app. 

Toggl Observe works so effortlessly primarily as a result of it would not ask a lot of you while you begin timing a job. With many time monitoring apps, you need to have a shopper, challenge, and job entered into your account earlier than the app will allow you to observe time. In case you do not, you need to set your job apart in the interim and enter them. With Toggl Observe, you may observe your time immediately, view your tracked time entries in a grid or calendar format, and fear in regards to the particulars later. 

Moreover, while you use Toggl Observe by means of the Chrome or Firefox browser extension, a Toggl timer button reveals up in nearly each internet app you possibly can think about, from Google Docs (and different Google apps) to Assist Scout. Since you at all times see the Toggl Observe button whilst you’re working, you will have a continuous reminder to trace your time. I additionally like maintaining the desktop app open on my laptop, so even when I begin a timer from my browser window, the working clock will seem on my Mac’s menubar. The straightforward accessibility from wherever I’m makes Toggl’s timer one of the vital versatile and easiest-to-use instruments I’ve examined.

Toggl Observe additionally has a number of the most detailed choices I’ve seen in a time monitoring app. For instance, within the Toggl Observe Chrome extension, you may robotically begin and cease monitoring time primarily based on whether or not the browser is open or not. It additionally has glorious idle detection, which helps you preserve excessive accuracy throughout your data. When the app detects your laptop has been idle however a timer continues to be working, it gives methods to appropriate the recorded block of time. That approach, in the event you’re interrupted whereas working and get sucked right into a 20-minute dialog, Toggl Observe can knock out these 20 minutes out of your document. Toggl Observe even has a Pomodoro Method setting, to be able to work for a set period of time on a challenge that requires your focus after which take a brief break, all with easy stopwatch-like reminders. 

Toggl has additionally not too long ago upgraded its dashboards and reporting options for much more in-depth information evaluation. You may create custom-made dashboards to see weekly stats or staff summaries, after which generate studies filtered by staff, tag, or shopper.

For much more flexibility, use Toggl Observe’s Zapier integrations to attach Toggl Observe along with your favourite apps, so you can begin new time entries in Toggl Observe when calendar occasions begin, add new entries to a spreadsheet, and extra. Study extra about tips on how to automate Toggl Observe, or get began with a pre-made workflow.

Toggl Observe pricing: Free for as much as 5 customers; $9/consumer/month when billed yearly for the Starter plan, which incorporates time rounding, billable charges, saved studies, and extra.

2. Finest time monitoring app for simplified auto-tracking

Memtime (macOS, Home windows, Linux)

Memtime professionals:

Memtime cons:

Memtime is a comparatively new automated time monitoring instrument that has shortly turn out to be my new favourite. Memtime is a desktop app that retains observe of your laptop exercise, so you may categorize it later. No extra remembering to begin or cease a timer; simply go to the app on the finish of your workday to overview and categorize what you have performed.

What I like a lot about Memtime is its simplicity. The opposite auto-tracking instruments I examined have a lot emphasis on staff challenge administration and timesheet creation that it is easy to turn out to be overwhelmed. If, like me, you are not collaborating on initiatives with others or planning to submit detailed timesheets to your supervisor, extra sturdy instruments is perhaps overkill. Memtime’s interface is way more minimalist, with a working log of your exercise, an area the place you may create entries with a click on, and an summary of your day’s work. There’s additionally a web page for challenge administration—the place you may add purchasers and initiatives manually or import them out of your different apps—and a reporting web page along with your productiveness stats. It’s also possible to sync Memtime along with your calendar to view occasions alongside captured actions.

To create new time entries within the Timeline view, it is easy to click on on the timeline and drag your cursor to regulate the entry’s period. The show is damaged down into time intervals, and you may select how granular they’re, setting the “zoom” wherever from 1 minute to 1 hour. Alternatively, you should utilize Listing view, which helps you to drag and drop actions to log new entries. 

One factor to remember is that Memtime solely works in a desktop app; no cell app or internet entry.

In case you’re trying to dip your toe into automated time monitoring however do not need to be overwhelmed with staff or challenge administration options, I completely advocate making an attempt Memtime.

Memtime pricing: $12/consumer/month (with a 24-month subscription) for the Fundamental plan, which comes with totally automated time monitoring and calendar sync. The Join plan begins at $18/consumer/month for challenge administration software program integration.

3. Finest time monitoring app for visualizing time in a different way

TrackingTime (Android, iOS, Home windows, Mac, Net, Chrome, Firefox)

TrackingTime professionals:

• Nice for time blocking and planning

• Simple interface

• Constructed-in challenge administration function

TrackingTime cons:

TrackingTime is a collaborative time monitoring instrument that appears totally different from many different time monitoring apps. It represents time in blocks or home windows, simply as if that working time have been an occasion in your calendar. It isn’t the one app that lays out your time on this style, nevertheless it does provide essentially the most alternatives for personalisation. For instance, you may select between a day, week, month, staff, or stacked view.

The every day view has essentially the most useful format I’ve seen, displaying the complete month’s calendar on the left (with every day displaying an icon to indicate the period of time tracked) and the day you choose on the suitable, color-coded and arranged by blocks of tracked time.

TrackingTime additionally places extra emphasis on planning your time earlier than you begin working in comparison with different apps. For instance, you may schedule blocks of time in your calendar for duties you plan to work on later within the week or for recurring occasions, like conferences—it is nearly like a combo time-tracking and time-blocking app.

The Work tab is the closest to a conventional challenge administration instrument that I’ve seen, with a smooth and user-friendly interface. It seems to be much like an Asana listing, the place you may view duties damaged down by challenge, shopper, precedence, or date. Clicking on a job expands a aspect panel the place you may view tracked time, add attachments or subtasks, and set customized fields. In case you’re in search of a time tracker that doubles as a comparatively sturdy job supervisor, TrackingTime is value testing.

In case you’d moderately maintain your job supervisor separate, TrackingTime’s Chrome extension integrates with a number of productiveness instruments, permitting you to begin a timer instantly from apps like Airtable, Asana, and Notion. Or you may join TrackingTime to Zapier to assist it discuss to all the opposite apps you employ.

TrackingTime pricing: Free for primary options and limitless customers; $3.75/consumer/month for the Starter plan for added options like monitoring billable and non-billable hours, autotracking, and reporting.

4. Finest time monitoring app for automated time monitoring

EARLY (previously Timeular) (Android, iOS, Home windows, Mac, Net, Linux)

EARLY professionals:

• Seamless computerized monitoring

• Constructed with privateness in thoughts

• Offline tracker obtainable

EARLY cons:

One of the best time trackers provide options that save you time, not add to your workload. They make it seamless to document your time and add particulars shortly, each time it is handy. That is the promise of most time monitoring apps—EARLY (previously Timeular) is likely one of the few that really lives as much as it.

In my expertise testing the app, EARLY gives essentially the most seamless auto-tracking I’ve come throughout. My favourite technique to view time is the Day view, the place the app interface is ready up in three columns: actions on the left, tracked time within the center, and auto-tracked exercise on the suitable. You may add this computerized information into your official tracked time log with as few as two clicks. In case you join your calendar, you may see these occasions in a further column on the suitable—and you may simply toggle what the app calls “context” (learn: your computerized monitoring and calendar columns) open and closed.

Within the Actions column, each exercise you have beforehand logged is listed. It takes one click on on the play button subsequent to any given exercise to begin the timer. Within the left-hand menu, choose Insights to view in-depth studies on the way you’re spending your time or Budgets to set and observe detailed time budgets by shopper or challenge.

You need to use EARLY by way of internet, cell, or desktop apps. It is one of many few apps I examined with a reasonably constant feature-set throughout every entry level, however you may want the desktop or cell app to activate computerized monitoring—and all that information is saved domestically in your machine, the place it is non-public and safe. Plus, you may add sure apps or URLs to your blocklist in settings, and the app will not observe them.

One other distinctive function of EARLY is the choice to buy a separate bodily tracker. The tracker seems to be like an eight-sided die, which you’ll be able to program to correlate with eight totally different actions, together with offline work. Merely flip to the aspect of your alternative, and the timer begins monitoring and robotically syncs with the EARLY app.

You are able to do much more while you join EARLY with Zapier, automating workflows like updating your Slack standing, logging time throughout apps, and extra. Check out a couple of pre-made workflows to get you began.

EARLY pricing: From $7.50/consumer/month for the Private plan, which incorporates limitless computerized time monitoring and commonplace options.

5. Finest easy time monitoring app with numerous extras

Harvest (Android, iOS, Home windows, Mac, Net, and browser extensions)

Harvest professionals:

• Tremendous easy time monitoring movement

• Native invoicing and challenge administration

• Intensive third-party integrations

Harvest cons:

In case you’re in search of a lifeless easy answer to trace your time, Harvest is a powerful contender. The consumer expertise is straightforward, however the app definitely is not missing in options.

Your timesheet is the primary display you may see while you log in. From there, it takes one click on on the inexperienced plus signal so as to add time. Merely select a challenge and class from the dropdown menus, after which both add time you have already labored or hit Begin timer. As soon as tracked, time entries are displayed in an inventory in your timesheet.

Harvest gives its personal native invoicing, expense monitoring, and challenge administration options. Creating an bill from tracked time is tremendous fast, and Harvest gives equally easy, but in-depth, studies to trace time logs, uninvoiced work, and profitability by shopper, challenge, staff member, and job class.

The app even features a Shopper Dashboard module, which you’ll be able to allow or disable from the Settings display. When enabled, it generates a novel URL you may share with purchasers to permit them to view all of their invoices and funds.

Harvest gives a ton of integrations with third-party challenge managers, invoicing and fee software program, communication instruments, and extra. Plus, you may automate tons of workflows while you join Harvest with Zapier. Study extra about tips on how to automate Harvest, or get began with a pre-made workflow.

Harvest pricing: Free for 1 consumer and as much as 2 initiatives; from $11/consumer/month for the Professional plan to get limitless customers and initiatives, staff reporting, accounting and fee integrations, and extra.

What makes the perfect time tracker?

The appropriate time monitoring app takes the guesswork out of scheduling and accounting in your workday. Simply begin and cease timers, add or edit time entries manually, and export or overview your information for extra correct invoicing and planning. And it can save you much more of your invaluable time by automating the info movement between your different apps and your time tracker of alternative. That approach, you are spending your time the place it issues most.

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This text was initially revealed in September 2018 by Emily Esposito and has additionally had contributions from Nicole Replogle. The latest replace was in February 2026.