Time Tracking · Researched comparison

Best Online Time Tracking Software for Remote Teams

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The short answer

Time Doctor is the top pick for remote teams, because screenshots and activity levels give managers a clear record of remote work at $6.67 per user per month billed annually. It runs on web, desktop, and mobile, so staff in different time zones can track hours, and payroll reports turn that time into pay figures without extra tools.

On this page

Key takeaways

  • Time Doctor leads for remote teams because screenshots and activity levels give managers a clear record of remote work at $6.67 per user per month.
  • Hubstaff suits remote teams with field staff as well as office staff, because GPS and payroll sit on the same record at $4.99 per user per month.
  • Clockify suits remote teams that want a free start, with unlimited tracking for up to 5 users and Basic at $3.99 per user per month.
  • Timely suits remote teams that hate manual timers, because automatic tracking builds timesheets from app and site use at $9 per user per month.
  • Tell the team what the tool records before you turn monitoring on, because trust matters more when nobody shares an office.

Comparison

How these compare
ToolBest forPrice rangeFree plan
Time DoctorScreenshots and activity data for remote staff$6.67 per user/month (billed annually)Free trial (14 days)
HubstaffRemote teams with field and office staff$4.99 per user/month (billed annually)Free trial (14 days)
ClockifyA free start for small remote teams$3.99 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
DeskTimeAutomatic tracking and productivity reports$6.42 per user/month (billed annually)Free trial (14 days)
EverhourRemote teams that plan work in Asana, Trello, or Jira$8.50 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
Toggl TrackFast timers and clean client reports$9 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
HarvestRemote teams that bill clients and want invoicing built in$9 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
TimelyAutomatic timesheets for remote teams$9 per user/month (billed annually)Free trial (14 days)

How we choose

We compared vendor pricing pages, product documentation, and feature lists for online time tracking tools that suit remote teams, and we checked free plan limits and starting prices on each vendor site. This guide was prepared by the Taskreports Editorial Team. We reviewed published prices and plan details rather than claiming hands-on use, and we favored tools that work across time zones, offer a usable free plan or trial, show a clear starting price, handle billable rates and client billing cleanly, and run on web, desktop, and mobile. We left out tools that hide prices or that lack a clear plan for distributed teams.

Our full method

The shortlist

★ Best overall

Time Doctor

Best for Screenshots and activity data for remote staff

  • Screenshots and activity levels for remote work
  • payroll reports from tracked time
Price$6.67 per user/month (billed annually)
See Time Doctor pricing

Time Doctor suits a remote team that needs a clear record of what a distributed team worked on each day. Screenshots and activity levels show which apps and sites each person used, and the timer runs on web, desktop, and mobile. Payroll reports turn tracked time into pay figures, and project tracking shows hours by client and job. The focus is on accountability, which helps when the team works across time zones and the manager cannot see them.

Basic costs $6.67 per user per month billed annually and adds screenshots, activity tracking, and payroll reports. Standard costs $11.67 per user per month billed annually and adds more integrations and deeper reporting. There is no free plan, only a 14 day trial, so a remote team should trial Time Doctor with one team before committing. Check the screenshot storage limit on Basic before you buy, because a large remote team builds a large record.

Price: $6.67 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: timedoctor.com

Watch out for

  • No free plan, only a 14 day trial
  • screenshot storage is limited on Basic
2

Hubstaff

Best for Remote teams with field and office staff
$4.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Hubstaff suits a remote team that mixes office work with field work. GPS tracking records where each person clocked in, and geofences limit clock-ins to approved job sites. The timer runs on web, desktop, and mobile, and screenshots and activity levels show what a remote team worked on. Payroll turns tracked hours into pay figures, and scheduling and time off sit on the same record, so a manager does not need a separate tool for attendance.

Starter costs $4.99 per user per month billed annually and covers time tracking, screenshots, activity levels, and limited reports. Higher plans add payroll, scheduling, and client invoicing. There is no free plan, only a 14 day trial, so a remote team should trial Hubstaff with one crew before it commits. Check the screenshot and GPS settings before rollout, because staff should know what the tool records.

Price: $4.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: hubstaff.com

What we like

  • GPS tracking and geofences for field staff
  • payroll built from tracked time

Watch out for

  • No free plan, only a 14 day trial
  • activity monitoring can feel heavy for office teams
3

Clockify

Best for A free start for small remote teams
$3.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Clockify suits a remote team that wants to start tracking hours without a monthly bill. The timer runs in a browser, on desktop, and on mobile, and time can be entered by hand in a weekly timesheet. Projects, clients, and tags keep hours organised, and billable rates turn tracked time into figures a manager can use for client billing. Reports show hours by person, project, and client, and exports go to CSV, Excel, and PDF for payroll and invoicing.

Basic costs $3.99 per user per month billed annually and adds time off, invoicing, timesheet approval, and manager roles. Standard costs $5.49 per user per month billed annually and adds attendance, overtime, and QuickBooks sync. The free plan covers up to 5 users, so a remote team of 6 needs Basic. Check the seat count before you buy, because every active or invited user on the team page occupies one seat.

Price: $3.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: clockify.me

What we like

  • Free plan with unlimited tracking for up to 5 users
  • one click timers on web, desktop, and mobile

Watch out for

  • Free plan limits reporting depth
  • advanced scheduling sits on the Pro plan
4

DeskTime

Best for Automatic tracking and productivity reports
$6.42 per user/month (billed annually)

DeskTime suits a remote team that wants tracking to happen on its own. The desktop app records app and site use automatically, then sorts time into productive and unproductive categories. Idle time detection marks breaks, and the mobile app and web timer cover staff who work away from a desk. Reports show hours by person, project, and day, and the admin dashboard gives a manager a clear view of team capacity across time zones.

Pro costs $6.42 per user per month billed annually and covers automatic tracking, productivity calculations, and calendar integration. Premium costs $9.17 per user per month billed annually and adds screenshots, integrations, and shift scheduling. There is no free plan, only a 14 day trial. Check the productivity categories before rollout, because a team should agree on which apps count as productive work.

Price: $6.42 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: desktime.com

What we like

  • Automatic tracking with productivity calculations
  • shift scheduling on the Premium plan

Watch out for

  • No free plan, only a 14 day trial
  • screenshots need the Premium plan
5

Everhour

Best for Remote teams that plan work in Asana, Trello, or Jira
$8.50 per user/month (billed annually)

Everhour suits a remote team that already plans work in Asana, Trello, Jira, or ClickUp. The timer lives inside those tools, so a person tracks time without opening a second app. Budgets, billing rates, and invoicing sit on the same record, and reports show hours by project, task, and person. There is one Team plan with every feature included, so a remote team does not need to compare tiers to find the feature it needs.

Team costs $8.50 per seat per month billed yearly and covers all features, including budgets, invoicing, and single sign-on. The free plan covers up to 5 seats with limited features and no integrations. Note the minimum of 5 seats on the Team plan, so a team of 2 or 3 still pays for 5 seats. Check the integration list before you buy, because the timer works best inside a supported project tool.

Price: $8.50 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: everhour.com

What we like

  • Timer lives inside Asana, Trello, Jira, and ClickUp
  • one plan with every feature included

Watch out for

  • Free plan covers up to 5 seats only
  • Team plan carries a minimum of 5 seats
6

Toggl Track

Best for Fast timers and clean client reports
$9 per user/month (billed annually)

Toggl Track suits a remote team that wants time tracking to feel light. The timer starts in one click on web, desktop, mobile, and in the browser extension, and calendar events can turn into time entries. Tasks and boards help a remote team plan work, and summary reports break hours down by project, client, member, and tag. The design stays simple, which helps a team adopt the tool without a long training session.

Starter costs $9 per user per month billed annually and adds billable rates, team reports, and timeline views. Premium costs $16 per user per month billed annually and adds labor costs, profitability reports, and timesheet approvals. The free plan covers a limited number of users with manual timers and personal reports. Check the free plan user limit before rollout, because a growing remote team may need Starter sooner than it expects.

Price: $9 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: toggl.com

What we like

  • Fast one click timers with calendar integration
  • clean summary reports by project and client

Watch out for

  • Billable rates need the Starter plan
  • capacity planning is an add-on
7

Harvest

Best for Remote teams that bill clients and want invoicing built in
$9 per user/month (billed annually)

Harvest suits a remote team that bills clients by the hour and wants invoicing on the same record as time tracking. One click timers and weekly timesheets capture hours, and expense tracking logs receipts beside time. Invoices are built from tracked hours, and project estimates show hours and cost before work starts. The Forecast integration adds resource planning, which helps a remote team see who is free next week across time zones.

Teams costs $9 per seat per month billed annually and covers unlimited seats, projects, and clients, with invoicing and expense tracking. Enterprise costs $14 per seat per month billed annually and adds profitability reporting, timesheet approval, and single sign-on. The free plan covers 1 seat and 2 projects, so it suits a solo user more than a team. Check the Flex usage fees for active projects and clients, because they sit on top of the seat price.

Price: $9 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: getharvest.com

What we like

  • Invoicing and expense tracking built in
  • Forecast integration for resource planning

Watch out for

  • Free plan covers 1 seat and 2 projects only
  • no screenshots or activity monitoring
8

Timely

Best for Automatic timesheets for remote teams
$9 per user/month (billed annually)

Timely suits a remote team that forgets to start timers. It records app and site use automatically, then drafts each timesheet for review, so hours are captured without manual entry. Project health views show budget spend, and reports show hours by person, project, and client. Location tracking on the mobile app adds a record of where field staff worked, and integrations sync time with project tools and accounting software.

Starter costs $9 per user per month billed yearly and covers up to 5 users and 20 projects, with automatic tracking and AI timesheets. Premium costs $16 per user per month billed yearly and covers up to 50 users with unlimited projects, team management, and budget tools. There is no free plan, only a free trial. Check the 5 user cap on Starter before you buy, because a remote team of 6 needs Premium.

Price: $9 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: timelyapp.com

What we like

  • Automatic tracking builds timesheets from app and site use
  • AI drafts timesheets for review

Watch out for

  • No free plan, only a free trial
  • Starter caps at 5 users and 20 projects

What to check before you buy

Check the free plan user cap first, because a remote team of 6 often outgrows a free plan built for 5 users. Clockify and Everhour both cap free use at 5 seats, while Timely caps Starter at 5 users. Next, check whether screenshots and activity monitoring fit the team culture, because remote staff should know what the tool records before rollout. Check time zone handling in reports, because a team spread across zones needs hours shown in one consistent view. Check mobile apps and offline tracking when staff travel, and check the monthly price as well as the annual price, because the annual figure is lower.

FAQ

Is there a free online time tracking tool for remote teams?

Yes. Clockify offers a free plan with unlimited tracking for up to 5 users, and Everhour offers a free plan for up to 5 seats with limited features. Toggl Track and Harvest also offer free plans with limits on users and projects. A free plan suits a small remote team that is starting out, but check the user cap and reporting limits before you rely on it for client billing.

What is the best online time tracking software for a remote team?

Time Doctor is the best fit for most remote teams, because screenshots and activity levels give managers a clear record of remote work at $6.67 per user per month billed annually. Hubstaff is a strong second choice when the team also needs GPS and payroll. Clockify is the best free start for a small remote team that does not need monitoring.

Do remote teams need screenshots and activity monitoring?

Not every remote team needs screenshots. Timers, timesheets, and project reports are enough for client billing and payroll in most cases. Screenshots help when a manager needs a clear record of work from staff in different time zones. Tell the team what the tool records before you turn monitoring on, and check local rules on workplace monitoring first.

Can a remote team bill clients from tracked time?

Yes. Harvest, Everhour, and Toggl Track Starter all turn tracked hours into invoices, with billable rates by project, task, or person. Clockify adds invoicing on the Basic plan. Set billable rates before the team starts tracking, and check whether invoicing sits on the plan you picked, because some tools keep it on a higher tier.

How long does it take to set up online time tracking for a remote team?

Most teams can start in a day. Create a workspace, add projects and clients, invite the team, and set billable rates. Clockify, Toggl Track, and DeskTime need little setup, while Hubstaff and Time Doctor need extra time for GPS, screenshots, and payroll rules. Run a trial with one team for two weeks before you roll the tool out to everyone.

Sources we checked

How we score

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