Best Time Tracking Tools in 2026 - Top 6 Compared
Compare the best time tracking tools of 2026. Discover which time tracking solution fits your team and workflow.
Accurate time tracking is essential for project management, invoicing, and understanding how your team spends time. The right time tracking tool makes logging hours effortless without disrupting your workflow. In 2026 options range from simple timer apps to AI-powered automatic time tracking. In this guide we compare six popular time tracking tools based on ease of use, reporting, integrations, and invoicing capabilities to help you make the right choice.
Ranking criteria
- Ease of use and minimal workflow disruption
- Reporting and analysis capabilities
- Integrations with project management and invoicing tools
- Invoicing and budgeting features
- Value for money and free tier
1. Toggl Track
Popular time tracking tool that excels in simplicity and ease of use. Toggl Track offers one-click timers, detailed reports, and over 100 integrations. The intuitive interface makes it suitable for freelancers, small teams, and large organizations alike.
Pros
- +Extremely user-friendly with one-click timer
- +Comprehensive reports and team dashboards
- +100+ integrations with popular tools
Cons
- -Limited project management functionality
- -Advanced features only in paid plans
- -Free tier limited to 5 team members
2. Clockify
Free time tracking tool with unlimited users and projects. Clockify offers timers, timesheets, reports, and a kiosk mode for teams. The generous free plan makes it a popular choice for startups and growing teams looking to minimize costs.
Pros
- +Free tier with unlimited users and projects
- +Timesheets, reports, and project budgets
- +Available on all platforms including kiosk mode
Cons
- -Interface less polished than Toggl
- -Advanced features like invoicing are paid
- -Fewer integrations than competitors
3. Harvest
Established time tracking tool seamlessly combining time tracking with invoicing and expense management. Harvest offers intuitive timers, detailed reports, and direct invoice creation from logged hours. Popular with consultancies and agencies.
Pros
- +Seamless integration of time tracking and invoicing
- +Expense management and budget monitoring
- +Excellent reports for client projects
Cons
- -Relatively high price per user
- -Interface feels more dated than competitors
- -Fewer modern features than newer tools
4. Timely
AI-powered automatic time tracking that records your activities in the background. Timely uses AI to automatically suggest time entries based on the apps and websites you use, making manual tracking unnecessary.
Pros
- +Automatic AI-powered time tracking
- +No need to manually start and stop timers
- +Detailed overview of activities per app
Cons
- -Higher price than manual alternatives
- -AI suggestions still require manual approval
- -Privacy-sensitive due to activity monitoring
5. RescueTime
Automatic time tracking tool focused on understanding and improving personal productivity. RescueTime runs in the background and automatically categorizes time spent on different apps and websites as productive or distracting.
Pros
- +Fully automatic productivity tracking
- +Insightful productivity reports and goals
- +FocusTime blocks distracting websites
Cons
- -Less suited for client invoicing
- -Limited project-specific tracking
- -Privacy concerns with employer use
6. Tempo Timesheets
Enterprise time tracking solution deeply integrated with Jira and the Atlassian ecosystem. Tempo offers timesheets, capacity planning, and budget monitoring specifically designed for teams using Jira for project management who need accurate time logging.
Pros
- +Deep Jira integration
- +Capacity planning and resource management
- +Extensive enterprise reporting
Cons
- -Only useful in combination with Jira
- -High prices for enterprise features
- -Steep learning curve for the full platform
Our pick
At MG Software we use Toggl Track for our daily time tracking due to its simplicity and comprehensive reporting. Integration with our project management tools ensures hours are automatically linked to the right projects. For clients who need invoicing based on hours we recommend Harvest.
Frequently asked questions
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