Time Tracking · Researched comparison

Best Time Tracking Software for Video Production Teams

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Key takeaways

  • Video production companies need time tracking tied to shoots, edits and client projects, because every hour should map to a production or a deliverable.
  • Entry prices run from $3.99 to $9.99 per user per month on annual billing, with Float charging per scheduled person instead of per user.
  • Project budgets, client rates and invoicing often sit on higher tiers, so check which tier holds the features your billing needs.
  • Free plans from Clockify, Everhour, Toggl Track, Harvest, Paymo and Teamwork suit small teams, but user caps and missing features can force an upgrade as the company grows.
  • Start with a pilot on one production, compare tracked hours against the project budget for two weeks, then roll the winner out to the whole team.

Comparison

How these compare
ToolBest forPrice rangeFree plan
ClockifySmall teams on a tight budget$3.99 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
HubstaffTeams that want activity proof$4.99 per user/month (billed annually)Free trial (14 days)
PaymoSmall teams that also manage projects$5.90 per user/month (Solo plan)Yes
Time DoctorTeams that need productivity detail$6.67 per user/month (billed annually)Free trial (14 days)
FloatTeams that schedule crew by project$7 per scheduled person/month (billed annually)Free trial (30 days)
EverhourTeams that live in Asana or Trello$8.50 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
Toggl TrackTeams that want a simple timer$9 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
HarvestTeams that bill clients from hours$9 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
BonsaiSmall teams that also invoice clients$9 per user/month (billed annually)Free trial (7 days)
TeamworkTeams that need project management too$9.99 per user/month (billed annually)Yes

How we choose

We reviewed each vendor pricing page on 12 November 2026 and recorded the lowest tier price, the free plan terms and the trial length. We compared features on the vendor docs pages, including project budgets, invoicing, scheduling, integrations and reporting, and we noted which features sit on higher tiers. We did not run hands-on tests, and we did not use review scores. The order follows entry price, so a company can see the cost range before reading the detail.

Our full method

The shortlist

★ Best overall

The best time tracking software for video production companies

A video production company tracks time across shoots, edits, revisions and client meetings, so the tool must link hours to projects and budgets. The tools below range from simple timers to scheduling and project platforms, and each one was checked against its vendor pricing page on 12 November 2026. The list is ordered by entry price.

2

Clockify

Best for Small teams on a tight budget

Website: https://clockify.me/

Best for: Small teams on a tight budget

Starting price: $3.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Pros: Free plan with unlimited tracking; low entry price for growing teams

Cons: Free plan capped at 5 users; invoicing needs a higher tier

Clockify gives a small video production company a timer, a timesheet view and project tracking at the lowest entry price in this list. The free plan covers unlimited time tracking, which suits a team that wants editors, shooters and producers logging hours before spending anything. Projects, clients and tags keep hours organised by production, and the dashboard shows who worked on which shoot during the week.

The limits show up as the company grows. The free plan caps at 5 users, so a team with six or more people must move to a subscription tier. Invoicing, timesheet approval and scheduling need the Standard tier at $5.49 per user per month on annual billing, and activity monitoring sits on the Pro tier at $7.99. A company that bills clients from tracked time should price the Standard tier, not the Basic tier, because approvals and invoices are part of the billing workflow.

3

Hubstaff

Best for Teams that want activity proof

Website: https://www.hubstaff.com/

Best for: Teams that want activity proof

Starting price: $4.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Pros: Screenshots and activity levels for remote editors; strong payroll integrations

Cons: 2-seat minimum on every tier; Starter caps screenshots at 500 per seat per month

Hubstaff suits a production company with remote editors and freelancers, because screenshots, app and URL tracking, and activity levels show what happened during tracked time. That helps producers who manage editors they never meet in person. The Starter tier at $4.99 per user per month on annual billing covers time tracking, timesheets and basic reporting, with payroll integrations for QuickBooks and others.

The 2-seat minimum applies to every tier, so a solo videographer cannot buy a single seat. Starter caps screenshots and app and URL tracking at 500 per seat per month, which can run short for an editor who tracks every working hour. Payroll, invoicing and deeper reporting sit on the Grow tier at $7.50 and the Team tier at $10. A company that only needs hours and budgets may find the monitoring features unnecessary, so weigh them against the cost.

4

Paymo

Best for Small teams that also manage projects

Website: https://www.paymoapp.com/

Best for: Small teams that also manage projects

Starting price: $5.90 per user/month (Solo plan)

Free plan: Yes

Pros: Project management built in; invoicing from tracked time

Cons: Free and Solo plans are single-user only; Gantt charts need the Pro tier

Paymo combines time tracking with project management, task lists and invoicing, so a small production company can run a shoot from brief to final invoice in one place. The free plan covers one user, one client, two projects and 1 GB of storage, which suits a solo videographer testing the workflow. Time entries feed directly into invoices, and the project view shows budgets against hours worked.

The catch is the single-user limit. Free and Solo are both single-user plans, so a company with two or more staff must start at the Plus tier at $10.90 per user per month on annual billing. Gantt charts and scheduling sit on the Pro tier at $16.90. A company that grows past one person should budget for Plus from the start, because the headline Solo price does not apply to teams.

5

Time Doctor

Best for Teams that need productivity detail

Website: https://www.timedoctor.com/

Best for: Teams that need productivity detail

Starting price: $6.67 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Pros: Detailed productivity and distraction reports; payroll tools on higher tiers

Cons: Basic tier has no integrations or payroll; no free plan

Time Doctor records time with screenshots, app and website usage, and productivity ratings, which gives producers a detailed view of how the editing day is spent. The Basic tier at $6.67 per user per month on annual billing covers time tracking, screenshots and basic reports, and a 14-day trial lets a company test the monitoring features before committing.

Basic is a narrow tier. It has no integrations, no payroll tools and no web and app usage reporting, so a company that needs data to flow into payroll or accounting software must move to Standard at $11.67 or Premium at $16.70. There is no free plan, only the trial, so the cost starts from the first month after the trial ends. Companies that value privacy should also note that screenshots and activity tracking can feel intrusive to editors and freelancers.

6

Float

Best for Teams that schedule crew by project

Website: https://www.float.com/

Best for: Teams that schedule crew by project

Starting price: $7 per scheduled person/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Free trial (30 days)

Pros: Visual scheduling by person and project; budget tracking built in

Cons: No time tracking on the Starter tier; rate cards need the Pro tier

Float is a scheduling tool that shows who is working on which production and when, with a visual timeline that producers can drag and change. The Starter tier at $7 per scheduled person per month on annual billing covers scheduling, capacity views and project budgets, and a 30-day trial of the Pro tier lets a company test the full feature set with no card.

The gap is time tracking itself. Starter has no time tracking, no rate cards and no single sign-on, so those features need the Pro tier at $12 per scheduled person per month on annual billing. A company that buys Float for time tracking alone will be disappointed, because the core value is scheduling. Float fits a company that plans crew across several productions at once and wants hours and budgets in the same view.

7

Everhour

Best for Teams that live in Asana or Trello

Website: https://everhour.com/

Best for: Teams that live in Asana or Trello

Starting price: $8.50 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Pros: Deep Asana, Jira and Trello integrations; budget alerts on projects

Cons: 5-seat minimum on the subscription tier; free plan excludes integrations

Everhour lives inside the tools a production company already uses, adding a timer and budget tracking to Asana, Jira, Trello and ClickUp. The free plan covers up to 5 seats, which suits a small team that wants to test the integration before spending. Budget alerts warn when a production nears its hour or cost limit, and reports break time down by client, project and team member.

The subscription tier has a 5-seat minimum, so the lowest monthly cost on annual billing is $42.50. The free plan excludes all integrations, which removes the main reason to choose Everhour, so most companies will need the Team tier. A company that does not use Asana, Jira or Trello gets less value here, because the native interface is thinner than the integrations that sit on top of it.

8

Toggl Track

Best for Teams that want a simple timer

Website: https://toggl.com/

Best for: Teams that want a simple timer

Starting price: $9 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Pros: Fast one-click timer; free plan with unlimited projects

Cons: Timesheet approvals need the Premium tier; capacity tools cost extra

Toggl Track is the simplest timer in this list, with one-click start and stop, project tags and a clean weekly view. The free plan covers unlimited projects and clients, which suits a small production company that wants every team member tracking from day one. Reports show billable against non-billable hours, and the 30-day trial opens the full feature set for testing.

The limits sit on higher tiers. Timesheet approvals, single sign-on and profitability reports need the Premium tier at $16 per user per month on annual billing, and Capacity Management is a $5 per user per month add-on. A company that needs producers to approve timesheets before invoicing should price Premium, not Starter. For companies that only need hours recorded and reported, Starter at $9 is enough.

9

Harvest

Best for Teams that bill clients from hours

Website: https://www.getharvest.com/

Best for: Teams that bill clients from hours

Starting price: $9 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Pros: Clean invoicing from tracked time; QuickBooks, Xero and Stripe integrations

Cons: Flex usage fees on top of seat prices; approvals need the Enterprise tier

Harvest turns tracked time into invoices with little extra work, which suits a production company that bills clients by the hour for shoots, edits and revisions. The free plan covers one seat and two projects, so a solo videographer can run a small practice on it. The Teams tier at $9 per user per month on annual billing adds unlimited projects, clients and invoicing, plus integrations with QuickBooks, Xero and Stripe.

Two costs deserve attention. Flex usage fees are charged on top of seat prices for active projects, clients, tasks and invoicing, so the monthly bill can rise above the seat price. Timesheet approval, profitability reporting and single sign-on sit on the Enterprise tier at $14 per user per month on annual billing. A company that needs approvals should price Enterprise, and a company with many active productions should ask how Flex fees apply before signing up.

10

Bonsai

Best for Small teams that also invoice clients

Website: https://www.hellobonsai.com/

Best for: Small teams that also invoice clients

Starting price: $9 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Free trial (7 days)

Pros: Contracts, proposals and time tracking in one place; simple client portal

Cons: Basic tier has no invoicing or contracts; Elite tier needs a 3-user minimum

Bonsai is built for small service businesses and freelancers, with time tracking, contracts, proposals and invoicing in one platform. The Basic tier at $9 per user per month on annual billing covers time tracking and basic project tools, and a 7-day trial lets a company test the workflow before committing. Client portals and branded invoices suit a production company that wants a polished client experience.

Basic is a narrow tier. It has no invoicing, no payments, no proposals and no contracts, so those features start on the Essentials tier at $19 per user per month on annual billing. The Elite tier at $49 needs a 3-user minimum. A company that buys Basic for invoicing will be disappointed, so price Essentials if client billing is the goal. Bonsai fits a small team that wants contracts and invoices alongside time tracking.

11

Teamwork

Best for Teams that need project management too

Website: https://www.teamwork.com/

Best for: Teams that need project management too

Starting price: $9.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Pros: Full project management with time tracking; free plan for small teams

Cons: Basics tier has no timesheets or invoicing; 3-user minimum

Teamwork combines project management with time tracking, so a production company can plan shoots, assign tasks and log hours in one place. The free plan covers up to 5 users and 5 projects, which suits a small team testing the workflow. The Basics tier at $9.99 per user per month on annual billing adds more projects, storage and reporting, with a 14-day trial to test the full set.

Basics has no timesheets, no invoicing and no workload or capacity planning, so those features start at the Accelerate tier at $24.99 per user per month on annual billing. Basics also has a 3-user minimum. A company that wants timesheets for client billing should price Accelerate, not Basics. Teamwork fits a company that wants project management first and time tracking as part of it.

What to check before you buy

Check the tier that holds invoicing, because many production companies bill clients from tracked time and need invoices in the same tool. Check the free plan user cap, because a 5-user cap forces an upgrade as soon as the sixth person joins. Check whether project budgets and alerts are included or need a higher tier, and ask about usage fees on top of seat prices. Check the trial length and whether a card is required, then run a pilot with one production for two weeks before rolling the tool out to the whole team.

FAQ

What is the cheapest time tracking software for video production companies?

Clockify is the cheapest entry point in this list, at $3.99 per user per month on annual billing, and its free plan covers unlimited tracking for up to 5 users. Hubstaff follows at $4.99, and Paymo Solo costs $5.90 for a single user. The cheapest option is not always the best fit, because invoicing and scheduling often sit on higher tiers, so check which tier holds the features your billing needs before choosing on price alone.

Can time tracking software handle project budgets?

Yes, Everhour, Float, Harvest and Toggl Track on its higher tiers all track hours against project budgets, with alerts when a production nears its limit. Float shows budgets on the scheduling timeline, while Everhour adds budget alerts inside Asana and Trello. Check whether budget alerts are included in the tier you buy, because some tools put them one tier above the entry price.

Which tools have a free plan?

Clockify, Everhour, Toggl Track, Harvest, Paymo and Teamwork all offer a free plan, with user caps from 1 to 5 seats. Hubstaff, Time Doctor and Bonsai offer a free trial instead, from 7 to 14 days, and Float offers a 30-day trial of its Pro tier. A free plan suits a pilot, but most companies outgrow the caps within a year, so plan the upgrade cost from the start.

Does time tracking software work for freelancers and contractors?

Yes, Toggl Track, Clockify, Harvest and Bonsai all suit freelancers and contractors, because they track time by client and project and turn hours into invoices. Bonsai adds contracts and proposals, which helps a freelancer formalise client work. Check whether the tool lets you invite external collaborators, because some tiers charge for every seat, including freelancers who only work a few hours a month.

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

A simple timer such as Toggl Track or Clockify takes a day to set up, because you add clients, projects and users, then invite the team. A scheduling platform such as Float or a project platform such as Teamwork takes one to three weeks, because crew schedules, budgets and integrations need configuration. Plan a two-week pilot with one production, compare tracked hours against the project budget, then roll the tool out to the whole team.

Sources we checked

  • https://clockify.me/pricing
  • https://www.hubstaff.com/pricing
  • https://www.paymoapp.com/pricing/
  • https://www.timedoctor.com/pricing
  • https://www.float.com/pricing
  • https://everhour.com/pricing
  • https://toggl.com/track/pricing/
  • https://www.getharvest.com/pricing
  • https://www.hellobonsai.com/pricing
  • https://www.teamwork.com/pricing/
How we score

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The best time tracking software for video production companies#1 PICK