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Best Time Tracking App for Projects

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Isabella Harper is a technology writer and editor with a rich background in managing large-scale projects at a top-tier corporation. Before joining ProjectManagementTools.com, Isabella honed her skills as a project manager, overseeing complex initiatives that required meticulous planning and execution. Her deep understanding of project management principles, combined with her passion for writing, led her to transition into a role where she could share her knowledge with a broader audience. As an editor at ProjectManagementTools.com, Isabella curates and creates content that empowers project managers and teams to achieve their goals more effectively. In her spare time, she enjoys mentoring aspiring project managers and exploring the latest trends in technology and productivity.
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Anthony Carter is a veteran technology writer and editor with deep roots in the construction and project management industries. With decades of hands-on experience managing large-scale construction projects, Anthony has a unique perspective on the intersection of technology and construction. His career has been marked by his ability to integrate advanced project management tools into the construction process, improving efficiency and outcomes. Now, as the editor at ProjectManagementTools.com, Anthony leverages his extensive experience to create content that is both practical and insightful, catering to professionals who seek to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry. Outside of work, Anthony enjoys woodworking and mentoring aspiring construction managers.
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Latest Update: Sep 5, 2024, 1:34 pm
Best Time Tracking App for Projects
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Project managers have a difficult enough time as it is, having to handle a myriad of different things and tasks at the same time, juggling responsibilities and making sure that deliverables get handed in on time. Long-term projects require them to track progress and hours spent on each task to not only ensure that these projects are going to get completed on time but also that clients are reimbursing the organization for all the billable hours it has put into work for them.

The best time tracking and employee-monitoring software for projects compile the basic functions of a simple time tracking app and more comprehensive programs that allow users to handle financial data, create projects, carry out task management, and more. In a nutshell, project time tracking software should have all the functions a project manager would need to ensure project progress and continuous improvement at the organization.

To help you find the best project time tracking software for your needs, I tried dozens of the most popular options out there. I arrived at seven great applications for project and resource managers. Each one of them will work best for organizations of different sizes, needs, and workflows. After going through this review, you’ll definitely find the right software for managing project work and tracking billable time.

Overview of the Best Project Time Tracking Software

SoftwarePricing 
Toggl Track Best for: Start-ups that work on multiple projects with limited budgetsCheck pricing 
Salesforce Best for: Large, complex organizations Check pricing 
ProofHub Best for: Productivity-maximizing managersCheck pricing 
BeeBole Best for: Organizations looking to easily control labor costsCheck pricing 
Timely Best for: Navigating through multiple complex tasks and projectsCheck pricing 
Wrike Best for: Organizing documents, tasks, and projectsCheck pricing 
Harvest Best for: Businesses that want to streamline their invoicing processesCheck pricing 
1

Toggl Track

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Toggl Track logo
5
5
Free Plan: Yes
Starts at $9 per user per month
Toggl Track

Best for: Start-ups that work on multiple projects with limited budgets

After experimenting with this Estonian app for time tracking, I can confidently say that it’s a fantastic choice for budding startups or tiny ventures who wish to keep a tab on their team’s working hours and billable rates with utmost precision and ease. With an impressive array of over 100 integrations, Toggl Track makes it a breeze to incorporate its features into the tools you and your colleagues use every day.

Why Toggl Track?

If you’re anything like me, you’ve definitely faced the struggle of losing track of billable hours due to terrible timesheet management or faulty trackers. But fear not, because Toggl Track is here to save the day! According to reports from its users, billable hours have increased by a whopping 25% without any extra workload. 

The problem of lost hours often stems from using unreliable time tracking software or employees mishandling timesheets. But with Toggl Track’s integration with numerous apps and detailed reporting features, these issues will become a thing of the past. Plus, time tracking data generated in Toggl Track can be easily exported to create invoices or impress your clients. So say goodbye to lost time and hello to more billable hours with Toggl Track!

As a lone wolf freelancer or a budding entrepreneur with a few trusted comrades, you can take full advantage of Toggl Track’s diverse range of features at any cost. Their free plan lets you add up to five users, so you can get cracking without worrying about any hidden charges.

Toggl Track compiles exhaustive data that can assist you and your team in optimizing your time management skills, leading to prosperous outcomes and pleased customers. Although it may not be the perfect fit for intricate conglomerates seeking employee time tracking software, the majority of other enterprises should be content with the features and services provided by this Estonian time tracking tool.

Key Features and Integrations

Toggl Track is a time management app that offers a plethora of time tracking options, yet it remains remarkably user-friendly and easy to navigate due to its sleek design and intuitive interface. Don’t let the abundance of features fool you – this app won’t leave you feeling bewildered or swamped. Here are some of the key features of Toggl Track:

  • Great for tracking and monitoring the time your employees spend on projects
  • Email report scheduling
  • Calendar view
  • A comprehensive view of your timeline
  • Automated project time tracking
  • Offline functionality

Toggl Track’s integration game is on point, and I never once felt the absence of a time tracking feature even while juggling multiple web and desktop apps. In fact, Toggl Track boasts over 100 integrations with various programs, and here are some of the best ones:

  • Slack
  • Gmail
  • Google Calendar
  • Outlook
  • Asana
  • Jira
  • Salesforce
  • Photoshop
Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Over 100 integrations
  • Offline tracking
  • Comprehensive free plan for five or fewer users
  • Excellent reports
  • Useful reminder notifications you can customize

Cons

  • Expensive option for larger teams
  • Lack of invoicing functionality
2

Salesforce

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Salesforce Starter
4.9
4.9
Free Plan: No
Starts at $5 per user per month
Salesforce homepage

Best for: Large, complex organizations

Salesforce is undoubtedly a well-known and highly regarded project management solution. Its cloud-based platform is all-encompassing, bringing together the varied workings of every department in your organization. It’s pretty much the real deal!

Why Salesforce?

What really sealed the deal for me with Salesforce was the feeling that it had it all. Like, seriously, I didn’t even need to look elsewhere for additional software to help me manage projects, integrate teams, and handle tasks. Plus, the ability to whip up my own apps within the platform and send them off to the cloud or mobile was just the cherry on top. And let’s not forget about all the user-generated goodies on the AppExchange. 

For big companies with a battalion of staff members and a plethora of clients, the treasure trove of features and functionalities offered by Salesforce can prove to be a boon. Granted, it may take some time to get the hang of it, but once you have a dependable posse of colleagues who are Salesforce-savvy, it unlocks possibilities that other platforms can only dream of.

Key Features and Integrations

The wealth of features available in Salesforce makes it a true powerhouse of project management, time tracking, and pretty much anything else that’s sales or marketing related. Its time tracking capabilities don’t stop at merely measuring the worktime of your employees. While you can use it to record simple time entries, Salesforce’s true time tracking potential is unleashed when you also use it to track project profitability and progress, as well as adjust it to the individual needs and responsibilities of your team members.

With over 2,500 integrations and extra applications, you can easily mold the program to make it work for all of your current and future projects. Unlike most other project management tools and time trackers, Salesforce is incredibly malleable, which allows you to keep using it even if your organization’s workflow and practices are radically altered.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • A wide plethora of partner applications
  • Intuitive sales pipeline management
  • Native, in-app builder platform

Cons

  • Might feel overcomplicated for newbies
3

ProofHub

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Proofhub logo
4.8
4.8
Free Plan: No
Starts at $45 for Unlimited users
Proofhub Homepage

Best for: Productivity-maximizing managers

Upon my initial exploration of ProofHub, I was genuinely blown away by the extensive range of features and tools it offers. In fact, it was almost too much to take in at first! From kanban boards to Gantt charts and everything in between, this software has all the project management solutions you could ever need. Additionally, it excels in task creation and delegation and even includes a dependable time tracking tool to ensure employee accountability.

ProofHub makes employee monitoring a breeze. Not only does the software allow you to effortlessly create timesheets, but it also lets you export time reports that can be easily attached to invoices. And, if that wasn’t cool enough, ProofHub can even create invoices automatically within the app! Plus, no matter what type of workflow your company follows – whether it’s remote work, agile project management, or client management – ProofHub has got you covered.

Why ProofHub?

Having had a hands-on experience with ProofHub for a while now, I can confidently say that it’s an all-encompassing project management tool that tops the charts. Although the time tracking features aren’t out of this world, they do their job well in terms of monitoring your staff and keeping a tab on how much time you devote to client projects. But the real deal-breaker for ProofHub is the extensive range of features that come in a single package.

As soon as you glance over the figures on their site, you might get shocked by the sky-high prices that seem to tower over their competition. But don’t go hitting that back button just yet, because those lofty costs are actually pretty reasonable. Firstly, with ProofHub, you won’t have to shell out any extra cash for each user, so once you’ve paid the monthly flat rate, you can dish out the software to your entire team without any additional fees. They offer two pricing schemes: “Ultimate Control” and “Essential.” The latter is definitely more affordable, but unfortunately, it’s just a watered-down version of ProofHub.

In a nutshell, ProofHub is a great choice for medium to large-scale businesses in search of a time tracking app combined with a project management tool. However, if you’re already using other software to handle your projects and tasks, ProofHub may not be worth your while. The same applies to freelancers, as it boasts a wide range of features that may exceed your requirements. In such a case, you’d be better off opting for a cheaper time-tracking service. But if you’re a manager who has to handle a team of dozens of employees, ProofHub can be a game-changer for you. At this price, I can definitely recommend it.

Key Features and Integrations

ProofHub caters to its paying users with an abundance of features. However, the wide range of options may sometimes work against its favor. While the primary features of the app function without any glitches, a few of them seem slightly incomplete owing to the developer’s attention being divided into multiple areas. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the prominent features of ProofHub.

  • Time tracking for projects
  • In-app messenger
  • Large-scale project management
  • Task and subtask functionality
  • Workflow creation
  • Easy planning of daily agendas

Given that ProofHub is a project management tool and time tracking app rolled into one, the developers didn’t see the need to bombard users with a plethora of integrations. However, if you’re keen on integrating ProofHub with other apps, you’ll be pleased to know that it plays nice with the following:

  • Box
  • Slack
  • Google Drive
  • OneDrive
  • Dropbox
  • Google Calendar
  • iCal
  • Freshbooks
Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Time tracking and project management in a single app
  • Perfect mid-to-large business solution
  • You can add unlimited users for a flat, monthly rate
  • Great functionality for a low price

Cons

  • The low-cost plan is very limited
  • No stand-out feature among many decent ones
  • Smaller businesses and freelancers won’t find as much use for it
4

BeeBole

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Beebole logo
4.7
4.7
Free Plan: No
Starts at $6,99 per user per month
Beebole Homepage

Best for: Organizations looking to easily control labor costs

Honestly, my first impression of BeeBole was a bit of a letdown due to its basic design and user interface. Nevertheless, I was determined to explore the app further and was surprised by the numerous benefits it offered for task and time management. Despite the design resembling an older era of web development, I found myself using BeeBole with ease and efficiency.

Whether it’s the web app on my PC or the mobile app I downloaded, BeeBole runs smoothly on both platforms. Personally, I found the desktop version more convenient for my daily tasks, but the mobile app still performed well. Overall, I was impressed by BeeBole’s functionality and its ability to effectively manage tasks and time.

Why Beebole?

In my experience, BeeBole has proven to be an excellent tool for managers seeking to evaluate labor costs and compare them against their employees’ output. Its exportable reports provide valuable insights into areas that require improvement and areas where cost-saving measures can be implemented by reducing the time spent on specific projects.

Additionally, the BeeBole app allows employees to request time off and set their schedules according to their preferences. Alternatively, managers can set schedules based on company policies. This flexibility and ease of use make BeeBole a fantastic tool for HR representatives and managers seeking to streamline payroll and time management.

All in all, BeeBole is a powerful software that caters to the diverse needs of companies in various industries. Whether you’re looking to manage your labor costs, improve your payroll process, or enhance your employees’ experience, BeeBole has got you covered. Its intuitive interface and comprehensive features make it a must-have tool for businesses of all sizes.

Key Features and Integrations

In my opinion, the time tracking software I reviewed may have limited options compared to its competitors, but its core features are highly effective and efficient. These features include creating schedules, requesting time off, stopwatch time tracking, and exportable reporting capabilities.

However, one downside of BeeBole is that it does not integrate with any third-party applications. This limitation could be a dealbreaker for larger companies with distributed teams who require a more streamlined and accurate way to measure time spent on various programs.

Despite this limitation, I still find BeeBole to be a reliable and valuable tool for managing time and tasks effectively. Its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features make it a practical solution for businesses of various sizes and industries.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Simplified schedule management
  • Easy on-the-go tracking and management thanks to the mobile app
  • Insightful reports that can be exported for future analysis

Cons

  • Outdated design
  • Lack of integrations with other apps
Timely logo
4.6
4.6
Free Plan: No
Starts at $9 per user per month
Timely Homepage

Best for: Precision-oriented businesses that navigate a lot of projects and tasks

Initially, I had my doubts about Timely’s time tracking approach that relied on AI. I mean, how can a machine judge whether someone is genuinely working or just pretending to be while the tab or app runs on their device? However, after playing with all the features for a while, I’m glad to say that Timely has surpassed my expectations. It turns out that my skepticism was misplaced.

Why Timely?

Thanks to its impressive artificial intelligence programming, the app can monitor your employees’ web app usage with absolute accuracy. You won’t have to rely on guesswork, manual tracking, or dodgy stopwatches anymore. Timely is the perfect solution for anyone who needs to keep tabs on their workers or bill clients based on precise time usage. Trust me, with Timely, your time tracking data will always be on point.

I’m a big fan of how Timely’s crew handles privacy. They’re totally against invasive practices like spying on keystrokes or taking screenshots of staff members’ screens. Those tactics only create a culture of suspicion and distrust, which is a total bummer. Luckily, Timely’s use of AI to track time keeps everyone accountable without resorting to creepy tactics. Pretty clever, right?

Key Features and Integrations

Apart from its automatic time tracking feature, Timely has a bag full of other surprises that make it a versatile tool to keep you focused on the most pressing tasks in your business. Let me give you a quick rundown of its main functionalities:

  • Time tracking powered by AI
  • Detailed reports with project health insights
  • Calendar with all tracked activities on display

Timely, being a stickler for precision when it comes to tracking time, has a plethora of integrations with a wide range of apps. These include the most popular programs out there that are sure to meet all your time-tracking needs:

  • Asana
  • Basehunt
  • Github
  • Google Drive
  • Slack
  • Azure AD
Pros & Cons

Pros

  • A unique and effective time tracking solution
  • Very affordable
  • Helps you keep tabs on project progress
  • Commitment to employee privacy

Cons

  • The hands-off approach may not suit all managers
  • Not all managers will appreciate Timely’s hands-off approach
Wrike
4.6
4.6
Free Plan: Yes
Starts at $9,80 per user per month
Wrike Homepage

Best for: Those who like their documents and tasks seamlessly organized

Wrike, the project management webapp, is a clever tool that manages to pack a whole lot of punch into a user-friendly package. This customizable solution is a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to customer relationship management – it’ll help you track leads, manage profiles, and everything in between.

Why Wrike?

I was drawn to Wrike because of its chameleon-like abilities. It not only kept track of my contacts and deadlines with ease but also proved itself a powerhouse project management tool. Wrike’s automation feature was a godsend – it kept everyone in my organization in the loop without me having to lift a finger. Plus, I could organize customer folders and prioritize tasks effortlessly. It’s a true all-rounder that can be customized to suit your every need.

If you’re on the hunt for a tool that’s got all the bells and whistles when it comes to document management and reporting, then Wrike is the real deal that won’t disappoint.

Key Features and Integrations

Using Wrike quickly helped me realize just how much time around the office gets wasted on menial tasks pertaining to document management and manual project tracking. This app turned the way I approached each project on its head. It allowed me to keep all the data related to multiple projects in one place and improved overall project performance. Some of my favorite features of Wrike include the following:

  • AI work creation
  • Time tracker tool that doesn’t get in the way of working
  • Project templates
  • Highly customizable workspaces for different teams

Wrike can be integrated with over 400 apps from the get-go. They include popular apps such as Slack, Salesforce, Jira, or Zoom, but also a few of the more niche applications often preferred by smaller teams and freelancers. But that’s not all. Thanks to the Wrike Integrate feature, you can create custom integrations for programs that are not compatible with Wrike by default. With a little bit of time and effort, you can truly turn it into a project time tracker that’s completely compatible with your organization’s specific needs.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Simple, effective document organization
  • Doesn’t only track time, but also leads, sales, and interactions with customers
  • Advanced reporting features
  • Wrike Integrate feature

Cons

  • Fully customizing Wrike to your needs can get very time-consuming
7

Harvest

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Harvest logo
4.5
4.5
Free Plan: Yes
Starts at $10,80 per user per month
Harvest Homepage

Best for: Businesses that want to streamline their invoicing process

Invoicing and expense tracking are about as enjoyable as a root canal, and the paperwork that goes with it is a full-on nightmare. But fear not, my friends, for Harvest has descended from the heavens to rescue us from this dreary task. With its powers of time tracking and financial management, it’s saved me oodles of time, especially during that dreaded end-of-the-month billing frenzy.

I must say, this app for tracking time has been flawless for me. It might not be as flashy as some of its competitors, such as Toggl Track, but the fact that it doubles as an expense-tracking tool definitely makes it worth a try! Give it a go, you won’t regret it.

Why Harvest?

Monitoring the work hours of each employee can be a real pain, even if they do it consistently. The same goes for gathering all the info required to bill your clients. But with Harvest, you can kiss those dreary tasks goodbye! This amazing tool automatically matches tracked time records to invoices, saving you time and effort. It’s also compatible with popular payment processing systems like PayPal and Stripe, so you can send invoices and get paid faster than ever before. Let’s face it: Harvest practically eliminates the need for you to stress over timely invoicing and payments!

If you’re on the lookout for time-tracking software that can whip up invoices in a jiffy, Harvest is the way to go. Of course, in case you’re looking for something grander, you might want to explore other options. But with Harvest’s reasonable price, it would be unwise not to give it a shot. 

Key Features and Integrations

While Toggl Track may have a bit more to offer, don’t count Harvest out just yet. This app may come with a lower price tag, but it still packs a punch with its various features beyond just tracking time. From personalized reminders to in-depth expense breakdowns and financial reports, Harvest is the whole package. Plus, it easily integrates with other fan favorites like Trello, Jira, Slack, and Teamwork. Don’t let the price fool you, Harvest is a worthy contender in the world of time-tracking apps.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Invoicing that’s on par with dedicated financial programs
  • Detailed, comprehensive reports
  • Cross-platform time tracking

Cons

  • The app is missing a calendar feature
  • Unintuitive integration with certain software

Why Is Time Tracking Important for Project Management Software?

Managing projects in 2023 is more demanding than ever. The popularity of remote work has led to an increased number of distributed teams, even in large corporations and organizations that have previously been exclusively office-based. Keeping track of remote employees is definitely a challenge for any manager, especially if the projects they’re in charge of are time-sensitive ones.

Integrating project management software with time tracking tools is the best way to ensure that your employees remain accountable for their time at work. It is also a good method of keeping your clients’ expectations in check, as all the programs I’ve outlined in my review are capable of producing detailed reports that clearly show time spent on different aspects of each project. These reports can then be forwarded to customers to give them a better idea of what your teams are capable of doing within any given period of time.

How I Picked the Best Time Tracking Software for Projects

Whenever I review software, I try to approach it from a number of different points of view. Some programs can be incredibly useful for large organizations with hundreds of employees, but their wealth of features and complexity is not really all that well-suited for small businesses. Thus, with each piece of software I try out, the very first question I answer is: what type of business would find this application most helpful?

When it comes to time tracking and project management software, my main criterion is how well the tracking feature is integrated with all of the project-based components of the app. Things like dedicated timers for a specific task or project, or automatic time tracking for specific assignments are just two examples of what I take into account.

Finally, I consider the price, plans, number of integrations, and extra features, as these are all important factors that can help prospective users determine whether or not a particular app is the right one for them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Project Time Tracking Apps Safe?

Yes, project time tracking apps are generally safe to use. Most reputable time tracking webapps use encryption to secure user data and have robust security measures in place to protect against unauthorized access. However, as with any online service, there is always a risk of security breaches and data leaks. To minimize it, it’s important to choose a trustworthy time tracking app with a proven track record of security and privacy. The apps I’ve selected in this review all abide by industry standards, and you’re definitely safe using any one of them. To protect yourself as much as possible, you should also always follow best practices for online security, such as using strong passwords, avoiding public Wi-Fi networks, and enabling two-factor authentication.

Will Project Time Tracking Software Save Me Money?

Project time tracking software can potentially save businesses money by providing insights into how employees spend their time, identifying areas where time is being wasted, and streamlining payroll and invoicing processes. By accurately tracking the time spent on each project, you can identify inefficiencies and make adjustments to improve productivity and reduce your organization’s costs.

Additionally, it can help businesses avoid overpaying employees for time not worked and ensure that invoices accurately reflect the time spent on each project. While the upfront cost of time tracking software may seem high, the potential cost savings and productivity gains can make it a worthwhile investment in the long run.

Can Project Time Tracking Improve My Employees’ Productivity?

Time tracking software for projects can definitely improve your employees’ output by providing them with a clear understanding of how they’re spending their time and how much of it they have allocated to specific tasks. When workers are aware of how they’re spending their time, they can identify areas where they can be more efficient and optimize their workflow to increase productivity. Furthermore, project time tracking applications can help employees prioritize their tasks and manage their workload more effectively. By having a clear picture of their time usage and workload, employees can be more focused and motivated, leading to better results.