Productivity Tools

7 Best Time Tracking Apps in 2023 (Free & Paid)

By Alex • Updated July 3, 2023

Time is a valuable asset. Tracking your time can improve productivity and lead to better business decisions for individuals or small teams. Time tracking apps offer detailed reports for daily, weekly, or monthly work, optimizing processes, project management, and even revenue.

This guide lists the top seven time tracking apps in 2023 with unique capabilities to meet various needs. Explore each tool's attributes below.

Best Time Tracking Apps

1. Toggl Track
2. Clockify
3. Time Doctor
4. RescueTime
5. Timely
6. Harvest
7. Rize

What Makes a Great Time Tracking App

Before we delve into the details of each time tracking app, let us understand what makes a great time tracking app. Here are some key features to look for:

• Real-time tracking: The app should provide a running clock that you can start when you commence a task and pause or stop when you finish.
• Manual time entry: The ability to edit tracked time or manually add time blocks is essential. This allows you to correct time logged and record time spent on a task post hoc.
• Detailed reports: Comprehensive dashboards and reports that break down time spent per project, per person, or per client can provide valuable insights.
• Invoice creation or data export: The app should enable you to create invoices from the tracked time data or export this information into shareable formats.
• Multiple access points: A good time tracking app should allow you to start a timer from wherever is most convenient, whether that's your browser, a desktop app, or your mobile device.

1. Toggl Track

Toggl Track is a robust and user-friendly time tracking app designed for freelancers, small businesses, and teams. It provides comprehensive reports on your time usage and offers both a built-in timer and manual time entry.

Available On: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, Web, and browser extensions

Key Features:

• Real-time tracking with a built-in timer
• Ability to edit tracked time or manually add time blocks
• Detailed reports with dashboard
• Invoice creation from time tracking data
• Multiple access points for starting a timer

Our Take: Toggl Track is an excellent tool for anyone looking for an easy-to-use, comprehensive time tracking solution. It offers a balance of simplicity and power, providing essential time tracking features along with detailed reporting and invoicing capabilities.

2. Clockify

Clockify is a flexible time tracking app that suits freelancers and solopreneurs. It allows users to track billable hours and hourly rates across various platforms with just one click.

Available On: Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux, and browser extensions

Key Features:

• Real-time tracking and manual time entry
• Billable rates for calculating money earned
• Detailed reporting capabilities
• Invoicing, expenses, and budgeting features

Our Take: Clockify is ideal for freelancers who need to track their billable hours across different tasks and projects. It adapts to all freelancers' needs with features such as invoicing, expenses, and budgeting.

3. Time Doctor

Time Doctor is a powerful tool for remote teams and collaboration. It provides detailed reports on time spent on different activities and offers a range of employee monitoring features to help users stay on track.

Available On: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and Chrome extension

Key Features:

• Real-time tracking with automatic screenshots
• Detailed reports on tasks and websites visited
• Payroll functionality with various payment methods
• Integration with project management tools

Our Take: Time Doctor is a comprehensive time tracking solution, especially for remote teams. It provides a rich set of features that not only tracks time but also monitors employee productivity.

4. RescueTime

RescueTime is an automatic time tracking app that helps users understand their daily habits so they can focus and be more productive. It provides detailed reports on the time spent on applications and websites.

Available On: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and browser plugins

Key Features:

• Automatic time tracking of activities
• Detailed reports and insights on time usage
• Goal setting and real-time alerts
• Focus time blocks to minimize distractions

Our Take: RescueTime is perfect for individuals who want to improve their productivity. It provides valuable insights into how you spend your time, allowing you to make informed decisions about your work habits.

5. Timely

Timely is an automatic time tracking tool that captures the time you spend on every single piece of work. It uses artificial intelligence to translate your tracked activity into accurate timesheets.

Available On: Web, iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows

Key Features:

• AI-powered automatic time tracking
• Real-time project dashboards
• Detailed reports on project and team performance
• Invoice and billing features

Our Take: Timely is an innovative time tracking tool that uses artificial intelligence to provide more accurate and effortless time tracking. It's ideal for teams and businesses that want to automate their time tracking process.

6. Harvest

Harvest is a simple online time tracking software that allows you to track time, log expenses, and manage projects. It also offers invoicing and reporting features.

Available On: Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows

Key Features:

• Time and expense tracking
• Project budget tracking
• Invoicing and payment tracking
• Integration with project management tools

Our Take: Harvest is an excellent tool for individuals and teams looking for a simple and effective way to track time and expenses. It offers a clean interface and useful features to manage your projects and bill clients.

7. Rize

Rize is a time tracking tool that focuses on employee wellbeing. It provides insights into your work trends and offers personalized, research-backed recommendations to help you work smarter.

Available On: Web, iOS, Android

Key Features:

• Real-time tracking with automatic categorization
• Personalized goals and productivity insights
• Wellbeing features to prevent burnout
• Integration with project management tools

Our Take: Rize is a unique time tracking app that not only tracks your work but also helps you improve your wellbeing. It's a great tool for individuals and teams who want to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a time tracking app work? A time tracking app works by recording the amount of time you spend on different tasks or projects. You start a timer when you begin a task, and stop it when you finish. The app then logs this time and provides a detailed report.

Can a time tracking app improve my productivity? Yes, a time tracking app can significantly improve your productivity. It provides insights into how you spend your time, allowing you to identify time-wasting activities and focus on more important tasks.

Is it worth paying for a time tracking app? If you're a freelancer or run a small business, a paid time tracking app can be a worthwhile investment. It can help you track billable hours, generate invoices, and provide detailed reports that can help you make better business decisions.

Can a time tracking app help with team management? Yes, many time tracking apps offer features that can help with team management. These include project tracking, team performance reports, and integrations with project management tools.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a time tracking app can be a valuable tool for individuals, freelancers, and teams looking to improve their productivity and efficiency. By providing detailed insights into how you spend your time, these apps can help you make smarter business decisions and optimize your processes. It's worth taking the time to research and choose the best time tracking app that fits your specific needs.

All Time Tracking Apps