Time Tracking · Researched comparison

Best Remote Time Tracking Software for Freelancers

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The short answer

Toggl Track is the top pick for remote freelancers, because the one click timer and clean client reports make hourly billing fast at $9 per user per month billed annually, and the free plan covers 3 users. Clockify suits freelancers who want a free start with billable rates at $3.99.

On this page

Key takeaways

  • Toggl Track leads for remote freelancers because the one click timer and clean client reports make hourly billing fast at $9 per user per month.
  • Clockify suits freelancers who want a free start, with billable rates at $3.99 per user per month billed annually.
  • Harvest suits freelancers whose hours turn straight into invoices for the client that hired them.
  • Timely suits freelancers who forget to start the timer, because it records the working day automatically.
  • Check the free plan user cap and seat minimums before you buy, because solo freelancers often pay for seats they do not use.

Comparison

How these compare
ToolBest forPrice rangeFree plan
Toggl TrackFast one click timers and clean client reports$9 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
ClockifyA free start with room to grow for solo workers$3.99 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
HarvestFreelancers who bill clients for hours and want invoicing built in$9 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
TimelyAutomatic tracking that builds the timesheet from the working day$9 per user/month (billed annually)Free trial (14 days)
EverhourFreelancers who plan work in Asana, Trello, or Jira$5 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
MyHoursSimple billing with rates at a low entry price$4 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
TrackingTimeA free start with no cap on users$4.50 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
TimeCampAutomatic tracking on a free plan with no user cap$3.99 per user/month (billed annually)Yes

How we choose

We compared vendor pricing pages, product documentation, and feature lists for remote time tracking tools that suit freelancers, 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 log hours fast, handle hourly rates and client billing cleanly, keep a usable free plan or trial, and show a clear price for invoicing.

Our full method

The shortlist

★ Best overall

Toggl Track

Best for Fast one click timers and clean client reports

  • One click timer with a clean interface
  • reports split time by client and project
Price$9 per user/month (billed annually)
See Toggl Track pricing

Toggl Track keeps time tracking close to one click, which matters for a freelancer who switches between clients all day. Start the timer, add a short description, pick a client, and the entry is logged. The timer runs on web, desktop, mobile, and browser extension, so a freelancer can start work on a laptop and stop it on a phone without losing the entry. Reports show time by client, project, and week, which makes invoicing faster at month end.

The free plan covers 3 users on new accounts, which suits a freelancer plus two regular collaborators, while older workspaces keep 5 seats. Starter costs $9 per user per month billed annually and adds billable rates, project templates, and scheduled reports. Premium costs $16 per user per month billed annually and adds approvals, labor costs, and profitability. A freelancer who bills by the hour will want Starter for billable rates, but the free plan covers the core timer and reporting well enough to start.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: toggl.com

Watch out for

  • Free plan covers only 3 users on new accounts
  • approvals and profitability need Premium
2

Clockify

Best for A free start with room to grow for solo workers
$3.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Clockify gives a remote freelancer a timer, timesheets, and a calendar view without a large monthly bill. A freelancer starts a timer or adds time by hand, and reports show hours by project, client, and week. The free plan covers up to 5 users with unlimited projects and clients, which is enough for a freelancer plus a few regular collaborators to run real client work before spending anything. The timer runs on web, desktop, and mobile, so hours can be logged from anywhere.

Basic costs $3.99 per user per month billed annually and adds billable rates, kiosk clock in, and project templates. Standard costs $5.49 per user per month billed annually and adds invoicing, timesheet approval, and time off. Pro costs $7.99 per user per month billed annually and adds scheduling, budgets, expenses, and GPS tracking. The step up in price is tied to clear features, so a freelancer can start free and move up only when invoicing becomes part of the routine.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: clockify.me

What we like

  • Free plan covers up to 5 users with unlimited projects
  • timers on web, desktop, and mobile

Watch out for

  • Billable rates need a priced tier
  • activity monitoring and GPS need Pro
3

Harvest

Best for Freelancers who bill clients for hours and want invoicing built in
$9 per user/month (billed annually)

Harvest links tracked hours to invoices in one place, which suits a freelancer whose hours are billed straight to a client. A freelancer starts a timer against a project, Harvest totals the hours at the client rate, and the invoice goes out from the same record. That short path from hours to invoice is the reason freelancers keep using it, because there is no export and reentry step between tracking and billing. Expense tracking sits alongside time, so travel and materials for a client job stay in the same record.

The free plan covers 1 seat and 2 active projects, which works for a freelancer on one or two client jobs. Teams costs $9 per seat per month billed annually and adds unlimited projects, invoicing, and estimates, while Enterprise costs $14 per seat per month billed annually and adds higher allowances and extra controls. Usage fees apply beyond the base allowances for active projects, clients, tasks, and invoicing on priced tiers, so check the allowance before a busy month with many small jobs.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: getharvest.com

What we like

  • Invoicing built in from tracked time
  • clean reports by client and project

Watch out for

  • Free plan covers only 1 seat and 2 projects
  • usage fees apply beyond base allowances on priced tiers
4

Timely

Best for Automatic tracking that builds the timesheet from the working day
$9 per user/month (billed annually)

Timely suits a remote freelancer who forgets to start the timer, because it records the working day automatically. The Memory timeline shows apps, documents, and meetings, and the freelancer drags each block onto a project to build the timesheet. That automatic record catches the small tasks that manual timers miss, which matters when every billable hour counts. The interface is calm and visual, so reviewing the day takes a few minutes.

Starter costs $9 per user per month billed annually and adds unlimited projects and AI time entries. Higher tiers add more capacity and team features. There is no free plan, only a 14 day trial, so a freelancer should trial Timely with a real client week before committing. Check the plan limits before you buy, because the number of projects and AI entries rises with the tier.

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

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: timelyapp.com

What we like

  • Automatic tracking records the working day without a manual timer
  • clean visual timeline

Watch out for

  • No free plan, only a 14 day trial
  • higher tiers are needed for more projects and capacity
5

Everhour

Best for Freelancers who plan work in Asana, Trello, or Jira
$5 per user/month (billed annually)

Everhour suits a remote freelancer who already plans work in Asana, Trello, or Jira, because it lives inside those tools. The timer sits on the task itself, so hours are logged without opening a second app, and reports show time by project and client for invoicing. The free plan covers up to 5 users with basic time tracking and reporting, which is enough for a freelancer plus a few collaborators. Budgets and estimates sit alongside time, so a freelancer can see whether a fixed fee job is still profitable.

Lite costs $5 per user per month billed annually and adds billable rates, integrations, and invoicing, with a 2 seat minimum and a 10 seat maximum. Team costs $8.50 per user per month billed annually and adds budgets, approvals, and more integrations, with a 5 seat minimum. A solo freelancer should note the 2 seat minimum on Lite, because it means paying for 2 seats even when working alone.

Price: $5 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: everhour.com

What we like

  • Timer lives inside Asana, Trello, and Jira
  • budgets and estimates sit next to time

Watch out for

  • Free plan covers only 5 users and blocks integrations
  • Lite needs a 2 seat minimum
6

MyHours

Best for Simple billing with rates at a low entry price
$4 per user/month (billed annually)

MyHours keeps the focus on hours and rates, which is what a freelance engagement usually needs. A freelancer logs hours against a project and a task, the client sees the total at the agreed rate, and the report is ready for the invoice. The layout is plain and quick to learn, so a freelancer can log hours correctly on the first day without a training session. That low learning curve is worth more than extra features when every hour is billable.

The free plan covers up to 5 users with unlimited projects and clients, which is enough for a freelancer plus a few regular collaborators. Basic costs $4 per user per month billed annually and removes the 5 user cap while adding team log management and API access. Pro costs $8 per user per month billed annually and adds rates and budgets, permissions, approvals with an audit log, and invoicing. The price stays low even as the client list grows.

Price: $4 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: myhours.com

What we like

  • Simple timer and timesheet with hourly rates
  • low entry price for solo workers

Watch out for

  • No built-in invoicing on the free plan
  • fewer scheduling and approval features than larger tools
7

TrackingTime

Best for A free start with no cap on users
$4.50 per user/month (billed annually)

TrackingTime gives a remote freelancer a free plan with no cap on users, which is rare at this price. A freelancer can set up projects and clients, invite collaborators, and collect timesheets in one place without counting seats. The online timesheet is easy to read, and the timer runs on web and mobile, so hours can be logged from anywhere. Reports show hours by person, project, and client, which is enough for payroll and client billing on short jobs.

Starter costs $4.50 per user per month billed annually and adds reports, estimates, and project views. Pro costs $6.50 per user per month billed annually and adds billing rates, invoicing, timesheet approvals, and time off. Business costs $10 per user per month billed annually and adds time off policies, advanced roles, and audit logs. The step from free to Starter is small, so a freelancer can start free and upgrade when reporting needs grow.

Price: $4.50 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: trackingtime.co

What we like

  • Free plan covers unlimited users and projects
  • simple online timesheets for teams

Watch out for

  • Reports are simpler than larger tools
  • approvals and invoicing need the Pro plan
8

TimeCamp

Best for Automatic tracking on a free plan with no user cap
$3.99 per user/month (billed annually)

TimeCamp suits a remote freelancer who works across many apps, because the free plan covers unlimited users with no seat cap. Automatic tracking records time spent in apps and websites, which helps when a freelancer moves between client tools and forgets to switch the timer. Timesheets, reports, and invoicing sit on the same record, so the client invoice has one source of truth. The timer runs on web, desktop, and mobile, so hours can be logged from anywhere.

Starter costs $3.99 per user per month billed annually and adds attendance, time off, overtime, and invoicing. Premium costs $6.99 per user per month billed annually and adds billable time, budgets, and app tracking. Ultimate costs $9.99 per user per month billed annually and adds approvals, screenshots, labor costs, and expenses. The free plan covers the core timer for any number of users, so a freelancer only starts spending when invoicing and budgets become part of the routine.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: timecamp.com

What we like

  • Free plan covers unlimited users
  • automatic time tracking from apps and sites

Watch out for

  • Attendance and overtime need Starter
  • the interface takes time to learn

What to check before you buy

Check how billable rates and invoicing are handled, because freelance pay depends on those features. Toggl Track Starter adds billable rates, Clockify Basic adds billable rates, and Harvest Teams adds invoicing. A freelancer who bills by the hour needs rates on the entry tier, so check the tier before you buy, and trial the tool with a real client week before you commit.

Check the free plan user cap before you count on free, because freelancers often add collaborators. Clockify covers 5 users free, Toggl Track covers 3 users free on new accounts, and TimeCamp and TrackingTime cover unlimited users free. Harvest covers 1 seat free, Everhour covers 5 users free, and Timely has no free plan, only a 14 day trial. Watch seat minimums too: Everhour Lite needs 2 seats and Team needs 5 seats. Trial the top two tools with a real week of client hours before you commit, and confirm the price on the vendor pricing page on the day you buy.

FAQ

Which remote time tracking tool is best for freelancers?

Toggl Track is the best choice for most remote freelancers, because the one click timer and clean client reports make hourly billing fast at $9 per user per month billed annually. Clockify suits freelancers who want a free start with billable rates at $3.99. Harvest suits freelancers whose hours turn straight into client invoices.

Can freelancers track time for free?

Yes, with Clockify, which covers up to 5 users free, and with TimeCamp and TrackingTime, which cover unlimited users free. Everhour and MyHours cover 5 users free, Toggl Track covers 3 users free on new accounts, and Harvest covers 1 seat free. Timely has no free plan and gives a 14 day trial instead. Check the cap first, because freelancers often add collaborators.

How do freelancers bill clients from tracked hours?

Tracked hours are multiplied by the hourly rate for each client, then invoiced from the same record. Toggl Track Starter adds billable rates, Harvest Teams adds invoicing from tracked time, and MyHours Pro adds invoicing with rates and budgets. Set the rate per client or per project, review the timesheet each week, and send the invoice from the tracked record.

Do these tools work across devices?

Yes. Toggl Track, Clockify, and TimeCamp run on web, desktop, mobile, and browser extension, so a freelancer can start the timer on a laptop and stop it on a phone. Harvest, Timely, Everhour, MyHours, and TrackingTime run on web and mobile as well. Check the mobile app before you buy, because freelancers often log hours away from a desk.

What should a freelancer check before choosing a tool?

Check the free plan user cap and the seat minimums, because solo freelancers often pay for seats they do not use. Everhour Lite needs 2 seats and Team needs 5 seats. Check which tier adds billable rates and invoicing too, because those features decide whether the tool can bill clients. Trial the top two tools with a real client week first.

Sources we checked

How we score

Need the method behind these picks?

We publish the criteria and the weights, so you can disagree with them.

Toggl Track#1 PICK
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