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Time Tracking · Researched comparison

Best Work Hours Tracking Software for Employers

By the TaskReports Editorial Team
Published 13 Nov 2026 · Updated 13 Nov 2026Last verified 13 Nov 2026How we score

TaskReports may earn a fee from some links on this page, and some placements are paid and labelled. Neither one decides the order. See our disclosure.

The short answer

Clockify is our top pick for most employers, because its free plan covers up to five users and Basic costs $3.99 per seat per month on annual billing. Buddy Punch is the better pick for hourly staff, with photo and GPS punch controls from $19 a month plus $4.99 per user per month.

Best overall Clockify $3.99 per seat/month (billed annually) Also great Toggl Track $9 per user/month (billed annually) Also great Harvest quote only
On this page

Key takeaways

  • Clockify and TimeCamp are the lowest cost entries here at $3.99 per seat or user per month on annual billing, and both offer a free plan.
  • Buddy Punch and QuickBooks Time charge a monthly base fee plus a per user fee, so a small team pays more per head than the headline rate suggests.
  • Overtime rules and rounding sit on the entry plan at Buddy Punch, but need a higher tier at Clockify, where overtime reporting starts on Standard.
  • Harvest lists no dollar price on its pricing page, so we list it as quote only, and QuickBooks Time needs an active QuickBooks Online account.

Comparison

How these compare
ToolBest forPrice rangeFree plan
ClockifyLow cost hours tracking$3.99 per seat/month (billed annually)Yes, up to 5 users
Toggl TrackSimple hours and billable rates$9 per user/month (billed annually)Yes, up to 3 users
HarvestBillable hours and invoicingquote onlyYes, 1 seat free
HubstaffHours with activity data$4.99 per seat/month (billed annually)Free trial (14 days)
Time DoctorHours with screenshots$6.67 per user/month (billed annually)Free trial (14 days)
Buddy PunchPunch controls for hourly staff$19/month plus $4.99 per user/month (billed annually)Free trial (14 days)
TimeCampHours with invoicing$3.99 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
actiTIMEHours with cost reports$6 per user/month (billed annually)Yes, up to 3 users
PaymoHours with project billing$5.90 per month, Solo (billed annually)Yes
QuickBooks TimeHours inside QuickBooks$20/month plus $10 per user/monthFree trial (30 days)

How we choose

We compared vendor pricing pages, plan details, and product documentation for each tool, opening the pricing pages on 13 November 2026. We weighed the entry price per seat, the free plan limit, whether overtime, rounding, and approvals sit on the entry tier or above it, and whether hours sync to payroll. We list Harvest as quote only because its pricing page showed no dollar figures when we opened it.

Our full method

The shortlist

★ Best overall

Clockify

Best for low cost hours tracking for small employers

  • free plan covers up to five users with timers, timesheets, and reports
  • kiosk clock ins and GPS tracking on higher tiers
Price$3.99 per seat/month (billed annually)
See Clockify pricing

Clockify records work hours with timers, weekly timesheets, and a calendar view, and hours can be sorted by project, task, tag, and client. The free plan covers up to five users with unlimited time entries, reports, and apps for web, desktop, and mobile, which makes it a real option for a team of five with no monthly bill. A shared kiosk mode lets staff clock in from one device.

Basic at $3.99 per seat per month on annual billing adds bulk editing, required fields, time audit, and billable rates. Standard at $5.49 adds invoicing, approvals, time off, and overtime reporting, so an employer that needs overtime totals and approvals should price Standard, not Basic.

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

Free plan: Yes, up to 5 users

Website: clockify.me

Watch out for

  • overtime and attendance reporting need the Standard plan at $5.49 per seat per month
  • invoicing also starts on Standard
2

Toggl Track

Best for simple hours tracking with billable rates
$9 per user/month (billed annually)

Toggl Track records hours with a timer that takes one click, from the web, desktop, or mobile app, or from a calendar entry. Hours land on projects and clients with tags, and reports show who spent time where, with project estimates that warn a lead before a budget runs out. The tool suits employers who want hours and billable rates without a heavy admin layer.

Starter at $9 per user per month on annual billing, or $12 billed monthly, adds billable rates, team reports, and project estimates. Premium at $16 adds profitability reports, labour costs, and approvals, so an employer that needs margin data and approved timesheets pays nearly twice the entry price.

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

Free plan: Yes, up to 3 users

Website: toggl.com

What we like

  • one click timers with calendar integrations and clean reports
  • billable rates and team reports on Starter

Watch out for

  • the free plan ends at three users, so a fourth person moves the whole workspace to Starter
  • approvals and labour costs need Premium at $16 per user per month
See Toggl Track pricing
3

Harvest

Best for billable hours that turn into client invoices
quote only

Harvest ties every hour to a client, a project, and a task, and each project carries an estimate in hours or money, plus billable and cost rates per person. As hours land, Harvest shows how much of the estimate is used, and the same record feeds invoices, so a hours report can turn into a client invoice. Time entries can be approved before they reach an invoice.

The pricing page lists Teams and Enterprise tiers, with one seat on the free plan, but the page we opened showed no dollar figures, so we list Harvest as quote only. Integrations cover more than 50 tools, including Asana, Slack, QuickBooks, and Xero

Price: quote only

Free plan: Yes, 1 seat free

Website: getharvest.com

What we like

  • timers, budgets, billable rates, and invoicing in one record
  • project estimates in hours or money with alerts

Watch out for

  • the pricing page we opened on 13 November 2026 showed no dollar figures, so budgeting needs a quote
  • the free plan covers only one seat and two projects
See Harvest pricing
4

Hubstaff

Best for hours tracking with activity data and payroll
$4.99 per seat/month (billed annually)

Hubstaff records hours with a timer that also captures activity levels, screenshots, and app and website use, with optional GPS for field staff. Hours feed timesheets, invoices, and payroll, so an employer can move from tracked time to payment in the same tool.

Starter at $4.99 per seat per month on annual billing, or $7 billed monthly, covers time tracking, limited screenshots, activity and app tracking, and basic reports, with a two seat minimum on every plan. Grow at $7.50 adds more screenshots and limits, and Team at $10 adds scheduling, time off, and payroll

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

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: hubstaff.com

What we like

  • screenshots, activity levels, and app tracking on the entry plan
  • payroll and invoicing built in on higher tiers

Watch out for

  • no free plan, only a 14 day trial, and every plan has a two seat minimum
  • scheduling and payroll need the Team plan at $10 per seat per month
See Hubstaff pricing
5

Time Doctor

Best for hours tracking with screenshots and attendance
$6.67 per user/month (billed annually)

Time Doctor tracks hours in the background, with a desktop app that records time automatically, takes screenshots, and builds a timeline of the day. Managers get activity levels and project reports, and staff can see their own time Attendance and payroll sit on the Standard tier, with schedules and time off in the same place.

Basic at $6.67 per user per month on annual billing, or $8 billed monthly, covers tracking, tasks, and screenshots. Standard at $11.67 adds attendance, payroll, schedules, app and website usage reports, and more than 60 integrations. Premium at $16.70 adds video screen recording and deeper analytics

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

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: timedoctor.com

What we like

  • automatic tracking with screenshots, timelines, and activity data
  • attendance and payroll on Standard

Watch out for

  • no free plan, only a 14 day trial
  • web and app usage reports need Standard at $11.67 per user per month, not Basic
See Time Doctor pricing
6

Buddy Punch

Best for punch controls that stop buddy punching
$19/month plus $4.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Buddy Punch focuses on one problem and solves it well: making sure the person clocking in is really that employee. Facial recognition, GPS stamps, geofence rules, and optional photos at punch time give managers evidence without constant supervision. Rounding and automatic overtime sit on every plan, and time card approvals keep hours clean before payroll.

Starter costs $19 a month as a base fee plus $4.99 per user per month on annual billing, or $5.99 billed monthly. Pro at $6.99 per user per month adds scheduling and kiosk options, and Advanced at $12.99 adds more controls. A team of five pays $43.95 a month on Starter, so the base fee is nearly half the bill at that size.

Price: $19/month plus $4.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: buddypunch.com

What we like

  • facial recognition, GPS stamps, geofences, and optional photos at punch time
  • rounding and automatic overtime on every plan

Watch out for

  • the $19 monthly base fee lifts the bill for tiny teams
  • scheduling needs Pro at $6.99 per user per month, and payroll is a separate add on
See Buddy Punch pricing
7

TimeCamp

Best for hours tracking with invoicing at a low price
$3.99 per user/month (billed annually)

TimeCamp records hours with manual timers, weekly timesheets, and automatic tracking from the desktop app, which matches time to projects by keyword. The free plan covers unlimited users with timers, timesheets, and basic reports, which suits an employer that wants hours and little else. Attendance, billing, and invoicing grow with the higher tiers.

The entry subscription plan costs $3.99 per user per month on annual billing, and Premium adds budgeting, invoicing, and profitability reports. An employer that needs invoices from tracked hours should price Premium rather than the entry figure

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: timecamp.com

What we like

  • free plan for unlimited users with timers and timesheets
  • automatic tracking with keyword based project matching

Watch out for

  • budgeting and profitability reports need the Premium plan
  • attendance features are thinner than Buddy Punch or QuickBooks Time
See TimeCamp pricing
8

actiTIME

Best for hours tracking with cost and profitability reports
$6 per user/month (billed annually)

actiTIME records hours against projects and tasks, with weekly timesheets, leave tracking, and approvals in one place. Cost and profitability reports show what each hour cost and what it earned, and invoicing turns tracked time into a client bill without a second tool.

The free plan covers up to three users, and the single subscription plan costs $6 per user per month on annual billing. Because every feature sits in that one plan, budgets, invoicing, scheduling, and approvals all come with the price shown.

Price: $6 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes, up to 3 users

Website: actitime.com

What we like

  • every feature in one subscription plan, including invoicing and approvals
  • project cost and profitability reports included

Watch out for

  • $6 per user per month is above the cheapest entries here
  • the interface is dated next to Toggl Track and Clockify
See actiTIME pricing
9

Paymo

Best for hours tracking joined to project billing
$5.90 per month, Solo (billed annually)

Paymo joins hours tracking with project work and billing. Team members log time against tasks in a project, and the same record feeds estimates, invoices, and expense tracking, with kanban boards and Gantt charts for the project side. Scheduling and leave management help a lead plan availability each week, and time entries can be approved before they reach an invoice.

The free plan covers basic tracking, and Solo costs $5.90 per month on annual billing for one user. A team needs Small Office at $11.95 per user per month, which is the real entry price for team use, and Business adds advanced reports and portfolio views.

Price: $5.90 per month, Solo (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: paymoapp.com

What we like

  • projects, tasks, time tracking, and invoicing in one tool
  • team scheduling and leave management on higher tiers

Watch out for

  • Solo at $5.90 covers one user, so a team needs the Small Office plan at $11.95 per user per month
  • advanced reporting sits on the Business plan
See Paymo pricing
10

QuickBooks Time

Best for hours tracking inside QuickBooks Online
$20/month plus $10 per user/month

QuickBooks Time, formerly TSheets, records hours with timers, timesheets, and a time kiosk, with GPS stamps for mobile staff. Hours sync directly into QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll, so an employer that already runs QuickBooks can move from tracked time to payroll without an export step.

Premium costs $20 a month as a base fee plus $10 per user per month, and Elite costs $40 a month plus $12 per user per month. Both need an active QuickBooks Online subscription, which adds to the real cost A team of 10 pays $120 a month on Premium before the QuickBooks Online fee.

Price: $20/month plus $10 per user/month

Free plan: Free trial (30 days)

Website: quickbooks.intuit.com

What we like

  • hours sync directly into QuickBooks Online and Payroll
  • GPS tracking and time kiosk on both plans

Watch out for

  • Premium costs $20 a month as a base fee plus $10 per user per month, and both plans need an active QuickBooks Online account
  • no free plan, only a 30 day trial
See QuickBooks Time pricing

What to check before you buy

  • Overtime: confirm the tool calculates overtime automatically and lets you set the rules, since Buddy Punch includes it on every plan and Clockify keeps overtime reporting on Standard.
  • Base fees: check for a monthly base fee on top of the per user price, since Buddy Punch adds $19 and QuickBooks Time adds $20, which lifts the bill for small teams.
  • Approvals: if a manager must approve hours before payroll, check that timesheet approval is in your plan, since Toggl Track keeps it on Premium and Clockify keeps it on Standard.
  • Payroll link: check whether hours sync directly to your payroll tool, or whether you need a manual export each pay period, since QuickBooks Time syncs natively and Hubstaff runs its own payroll.
  • Punch controls: if staff work on site, check for GPS stamps, geofences, and photo or face checks, since Buddy Punch includes them and most desk tools do not.
Team sizeLowest monthly bill on annual billingTool
3 people$0Clockify free, up to 5 users
5 people$0Clockify free, up to 5 users
10 people$39.90Clockify Basic, 10 seats at $3.99
10 people$69.90Buddy Punch Starter, $19 base plus 10 users at $4.99
10 people$120.00QuickBooks Time Premium, $20 base plus 10 users at $10
25 people$99.75Clockify Basic, 25 seats at $3.99
25 people$143.75Buddy Punch Starter, $19 base plus 25 users at $4.99
25 people$270.00QuickBooks Time Premium, $20 base plus 25 users at $10

FAQ

What is work hours tracking software?

Software that records the hours each employee works, with timers, weekly timesheets, and reports by person, project, and job. A basic tracker only logs start and stop times. Work hours software adds overtime totals, approvals, and payroll exports, so a manager can check the week, approve the hours, and send them to payroll without retyping.

Which tool is best for hourly staff on site?

Buddy Punch fits best, since facial recognition, GPS stamps, geofences, and optional photos at punch time stop buddy punching, and rounding with automatic overtime sits on every plan. Starter costs $19 a month plus $4.99 per user per month on annual billing.

How much does work hours tracking software cost?

Entry prices run from $3.99 to $10 per user or seat per month on annual billing, with free plans at Clockify, Toggl Track, TimeCamp, actiTIME, and Paymo. A team of 10 pays about $39.90 a month on Clockify Basic, $69.90 on Buddy Punch Starter, or $120 on QuickBooks Time Premium. Base fees and a QuickBooks Online account add to the real cost.

Do these tools calculate overtime?

Several do, but not always on the entry plan. Buddy Punch includes automatic overtime on every plan, and QuickBooks Time handles overtime inside QuickBooks Payroll. Clockify keeps overtime reporting on Standard at $5.49 per seat per month, and Toggl Track keeps labour cost reports on Premium. Confirm the overtime rules match your pay policy before you buy.

Which tool is best for a team that already uses QuickBooks?

QuickBooks Time fits best, since hours sync directly into QuickBooks Online and Payroll, with GPS tracking and a time kiosk on both plans. Premium costs $20 a month plus $10 per user per month, and both plans need an active QuickBooks Online account.

Sources we checked

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How we score

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