Top 5 Time & Productivity Tracking Software

The need for time management software dates back to the pre-pandemic period.

Individuals, small and large teams alike found it challenging to calculate the time it takes them to complete their work, which in turn affected their deliverables and the way they handled clients’ payments.

Now, with an increasing number of organizations shifting their operations to an outsourcing model, the need for time tracking tools like Outlook timesheets and productivity apps and software is growing as well. New solutions are released to the market as we speak, all of which claim to offer a unique set of features that will meet users’ unique requirements. So which ones are really worth your time?

The top 5 that have made our list were selected based on their rating, number of users, features and pricing. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide based on your or your organization’s specific needs and preferences.

Here are our front-runners:

1. Time Doctor

Due to its versatility, Time Doctor has rightfully deserved the title of one of the best time tracking software on the market. It is optimized to meet the needs of individuals and large teams, no matter the industry or type of tasks they need to track. It is simple to download and use – in only a few minutes you can set it up on your computer or browser and simply press play when you wish to start tracking your progress. You can access the data via an intuitive dashboard and take a look at the time spent working last week, this week, or this month. You can even take advantage of an option “Add Time” manually and in that way measure the time spent on individual projects and tasks.

Time Doctor does more than just record the time spent on a project. It also comes with a monitoring option, which makes it possible to retrace your steps later and see what precisely you have been doing in that time.

Another great feature of Time Doctor is the fact that it easily integrates with other project management tools, and it can be connected to a Payoneer, PayPal or TransferWise account, which simplifies the payment process.

Pricing: There is a 14-day trial version. If you like it, you can transfer to one of their paid plans which start from $7 a month for a Basic plan and go up to $20 per month for their Premium package.

2. Toggl

Toggl is a popular time-tracking software available for PC and mobile devices. It can also be run in the browser or installed as an extension, depending on your specific needs. It is mostly used by small businesses and freelancers who simply wish to track the time they spent on specific projects, without the employee monitoring option.

It is incredibly intuitive and easy-to-use. You can create separate sections – for individual projects and clients – and then track the time you spend using Toggl as you would the old-fashioned timer. It is also possible to create sub-sections and in that way see how much you’ve spent on individual phases of a project. Paid users can even gain access to their peer’s times, which is why Toggl is commonly used by small teams who need to provide detailed reports once the work is finished. The data synchronises seamlessly across all your devices, which makes it an excellent option for people on the go.

Pricing: There is a 14-day trial version, as well as a Free version for up to 5 users a month, but it comes with limited features. The two paid plans, Standard and Business, come at highly competitive prices and can be paid per user per month or annually.

3. Hubstaff

Hubstaff is among the most frequently used time tracking and monitoring tools for remote workers. It was primarily used by managers who wanted to keep an eye on their teams, as the software is programmed to capture screenshots at irregular intervals and measure productivity based on cursor movement and other activities.

In time, it has grown to be an invaluable tool for organizations who need a practical way to schedule multiple shifts. In addition to tracking, Hubstaff has a reporting option, which is rather basic but sufficient for individuals and smaller teams. You can gain insight into your employees’ work times and even receive a notification when you reach the budget or staff limits. Ultimately, this tracking tool ends up saving the time you would otherwise spend on organizing your team and calculating payroll.

Pricing: Hubstaff has a free plan that comes with limited features for 1 user. The Basic plan starts at $7 per user per month, and there are Premium and Enterprise options for $10 and $20 per user per month (both come with a free trial). 

4. RescueTime

As its name suggests, RescueTime was built to help you take back control of your time. In the last 12 years, the software has collected more than 2 million users who have logged over 3 billion hours. It is available for desktop and mobile devices (only Android).

For some, RescueTime can be a bit confusing at first, as it provides a lot of information, but what makes it so great are its customization options. Users can categorize the work or software they use on a daily basis, and rate them on a 5-point scale (very productive, productive, neutral, unproductive, and very unproductive). At the end of the day, RescueTime interprets a user’s day by calculating their productivity score. For mobile users, the tool comes with a silent option to minimize distractions.

Aside from software, the RescueTime team offers a 4-week masterclass designed for people who want to learn how to better manage their time.

Pricing: Like with the majority of time-tracking tools from the list, RescueTime comes with a 14-day trial. If you wish to continue using RescueTime, you will be charged $12 per month.

5. Clockify

Clockify is a versatile time tracker and timesheet designed for, well – everyone. It has been popular among individuals, freelancers and remote workers, as well as teams, SMBs and large enterprises.

Clockify is widely-praised for its attractive interface which can be easily mastered even by people who have never used a similar time-tracking tool before. It records individual users’ time, categorizing it by projects to provide insight into their productivity and billable hours. For individuals, it represents a practical tool they can use to improve time management and ease the payment process (if you charge your clients by an hourly rate).

Pricing: Clockify offers 3 different pricing plans, starting from $9.99 a month (flat or per user), while premium users can go for a full-featured option at $29.99 a month (flat). There is also an unlimited Free plan for users who just wish to use it as a time-tracking tool.

Conclusion

Time-tracking software and apps come with multiple benefits for both employers and employees. These tools make it possible for managers and sales teams to estimate the time it will take for the project to be completed, as well as to monitor their team’s performance to maximize productivity. However, employees shouldn’t look at these solutions and think about The Big Brother watching them. Actually, they can utilize them to get a clearer picture of how they spend their time, learn how to optimize it, and most importantly – how to value it.