This article gives a detailed review of the 10 best free time tracking apps.
In today’s challenging economic times and fast-paced workplace environment, business owners and managers are seeking ways to make more efficient use of their time.
Unfortunately, manual time management is no longer effective for this purpose. So, if you have been doing it manually or are new to time tracking, it makes economic sense to try the best free time tracking apps.
These apps will enable you to get a feel of how time-tracking systems work without stretching your pocket.
However, there is a wide range of options that the industry provides, making it difficult to choose the right tool.
It is even worse when you consider that some of these tools have similar features. So, to help you make better decisions, we have compiled a list of the top time-tracking apps.
Our Top Three Picks
Summary of The Best Free Time Tracking Apps
Review of The Best Free Time Tracking apps:
1. TimeCamp
We included TimeCamp on this list of the best free time tracking apps because of its automatic time tracking capability.
It works in the background to generate timesheets and useful reports showing your performance analysis.
Apart from this, TimeCamp provides a timesheet approval feature and creates invoices based on time entries.
Other key features of this time tracking system include attendance tracking for payroll processing, time and budget estimates for projects, and compatibility with 30+ tools.
Such as Jira, Asana, ClickUp, Zendesk, and Azure DevOps. We also like its robust time-reporting function.
2. Clockify
Clockify is not only a simple tracker but is also visually appealing. It comes with top-notch features, including automatic time tracking, billable hours, manual entry capability, and one-click tracking.
Like the majority of top time tracking apps, Clockify generates detailed timesheets as you log hours. Additionally, Clockify has an impressive calendar view, which visualizes your schedule and enables you to block time slots for critical tasks.
With this feature, you can import entries from Google Calendar or Outlook and edit blocks. Another impressive feature of this app is its dashboard, which centralizes and summarizes your time breakdown, tasks, projects, and statuses.
3. Toggl Track
Toggl Track is feature-rich yet free. It is also easy to use. What we liked most about this software are its time tracking and reporting functions.
They make this tool a worthy addition for small businesses and freelancers. Besides the time tracking feature, Toggl Track has other impressive features such as one-click tracking, team management, and an intuitive dashboard.
Its dashboard doesn’t bombard you with too much confusing information while still giving you what is necessary to work optimally.
A special functionality that is lacking in some free apps is that you can kick off time tracking without the need to enter client or project details.
Also, the Pomodoro timer enables you to take advantage of the Pomodoro technique to improve your productivity.
4. TimeTrack
Due to its easy accessibility, impressive time tracking, and productivity enhancement capabilities, TimeTrack is definitely one of the best free time tracking apps.
The app is easy to use, provides unlimited time tracking, and is customizable. That is why it powers more than 2000 businesses with 2–500 employees.
The good thing is that the free option comes with several excellent features. TimeTrack’s fantastic features include attendance tracking, time tracking, task and project tracking and management tools, work hours tracking, and employee scheduling.
In addition to this, the app generates detailed reports on employee performance and attendance. In general, this app helps you stay organized and focused, but it has several features that might take time to learn.
Also Read :Best apps for employee time tracking in 2024
5. Harvest
Harvest is also another excellent time-tracking app with an intuitive interface. The tool allows you to track time, create tasks, manage projects, generate invoices, and control costs.
The good thing about it is that it generates invoices automatically from your time entries and even empowers you to send them to clients directly from your system.
More importantly, the Harvest app can integrate with several platforms, including leading CRMs, finance and payment systems, and communication platforms.
Harvest’s time tracking functionality supports manual entries, start-stop timers, and tracking reminders. On top of this, the time reports provide a visual summary of how you use your time, enabling you to identify areas for productivity enhancement.
6. MyHours
MyHours is famous for its clean, intuitive interface and, of course, because it is free. The tool lets you track time spent on each task and generates a summary report for you to understand how you use your time.
It is also impressive that you can integrate this app with other productive tools, thus improving your overall time management.
MyHours has a free option that has fantastic features such as task and project time tracking, insights reporting, billable rates, and the ability to support unlimited projects and users.
Unfortunately, it might not be ideal for complex projects.
7. actiTime
actiTime is one of the best free time tracking apps if you require a system with multiple timekeeping options.
It enables you to stay in control of their projects, monitor deadlines, and view work statuses. Besides this, you can add billing rates and deadlines to tasks and projects, manage tasks, and create invoices.
Leave time tracking is also one of its outstanding features. With it, you can choose a leave type, specify the length of the time off, and submit it.
Another benefit of this system is the calendar view option. By clicking it, you can change from the timesheet view to get a weekly timeline of your projects.
From here, you can drag and drop tasks or adjust their duration. The only shortcoming of this system is that it doesn’t have an automatic tracking feature, as you need to manually log hours.
8. TMetric
TMetric is also among the best free time tracking apps that help you stay productive. We liked it because of its clean and straightforward user interface.
Another positive thing about this app is that it provides detailed reports on how you spend your time. So, you can see areas that you need to optimize to improve the workflow.
On top of this, it integrates smoothly with top project management platforms such as Trello, Jira, and Asana.
The TMetric free plan comes with useful features, including time tracking and reporting, integrations, and unlimited projects.
Its paid plans offer even more robust features. Tmetric’s only drawback is the lack of an in-built Pomorodo technique timer.
9. TopTracker
This free time tracker is ideal for freelancers who need to add billable hours and invoice clients. The good thing about this tool is that it allows you to use both automatic time tracking and manual time entries.
Its developer, Toptal, ensures that you can monitor your mouse clicks and keyboard hits to record any useful activity. Moreover, you can start and stop the time tracker with a single keystroke.
Other notable features of this time tracking app include reports, dashboards, and its compatibility with major operating systems.
Specifically, the insights generated by the system enable you to identify waste and boost productivity.
10. TimeTag
If you prefer using calendar apps to log your time, then Timetag is an excellent choice. The app works seamlessly with any calendar app. Once connected to a calendar, it searches it for entries and transfers them to your timesheet.
It also means that Timetag automatically captures any new entries into your calendar. Besides the calendar syncing capability, this app allows you to run detailed reports on your projects and get insights into how time is distributed.
Due to its limited free plan, this plan might suit solopreneurs and freelancers. The free option might also be useful if you are still trying out different functionalities of the app.
Also Read: The Best Time Management & Tracking Apps
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You are already aware by now that you don’t have to track your time manually.
There are several free time tracking apps, including the ones above, that enable you to improve your time usage and productivity.
A majority of these apps have crucial features such as automatic time tracking, invoicing, and reporting.
While you should be careful with anything free, the best free-time tracking apps guarantee some level of security.
These apps have critical security features such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) or two-factor authentication.
Besides this, they offer data encryption, document their frequent security patches and updates, monitor user activity, and have intrusion detection capabilities.
The good thing about most of the above tools is that they offer the same level of security as the paid ones. After all, most of them have paid options, so they won’t want to mess with privacy protection.
As you choose your time tracker, it is important to consider these four vital factors:
– Customer support
– Ease of use
– Features and functionalities
– Value for money (if you decide to pay for a time tracker)
Improve Your Productivity With Time Tracking Apps
Picking the right time-tracking software can help you keep tabs on your time across projects and clients.
Most of them will provide insightful reports, while others have extra features, such as invoicing and employee scheduling.
You might also want to check on systems that integrate with tools you are already using.
To wrap up, it is important to choose a time-tracking system that matches your specific needs.
We recommend testing several tools to see how they work and fit your needs.
At a minimum, check on features that are crucial for you.
If you still need to try other tools, here is a bigger list of free time tracking apps.
Related Posts: Top 10 Best Mac Time Tracking Apps For 2024 [Including Free Options]
