My favorite is Slim Timer - very simple, very easy.

I’ve started using simple and free Google Spreadsheets to track client time. Why? My current client likes to keep tabs on his project and Google Spreadsheets allows me to share a read only version. My client can “check in” anytime. Plus, I can get to my timesheet for that project from anywhere. Not its original intent I know, but it’s a simple little hack.

Keep up the great work.

+1 for slimtimer.com

For an all out client management system, including time tracking.. I am a big fan of Billings. I believe it’s a Mac only app (not sure) but it’s excellent in keeping track of everything. It’s not web based but my laptop is strapped to my back at all times anyways.

Yesterday I started to use Work Timer (for mac users): http://www.gersh.no/projects/worktimer
So far I think it’s very nice and handy (and free!).

Håkan from Sweden

I use SlimTimer too, and I learned about it here, so I was also surprised not to see it on the list.

I exclusively use Taskcapture ($79) http://www.captureworks.com/taskcapture.html

Can be installed on 2 PC’s (ie desktop and laptop)

It paid for itself the same day. I track everything from 5 minute conversations to email replies. All that stuff adds up quick and keeps you honest. I’ll check these other tools, too.

I too am shocked that so far, it’s been mostly Windows. I thought that the majority of designers are Mac based.

I may sound like an old stick in a mud here, but I use good old QuickBooks for all aspects of managing my business (from sales to invoices and taxes) and it has a time tracker built in. Makes it easier for me to have it all in one place.

OfficeTime for Mac is the way to go; been using it for years. Also generates nice reports as well as invoices (though I use QuickBooks for that). Worth more than the $40.00 price.

http://www.officetime.net/download.html

As the rare Linux user, I use Stopwatch which is both cross platform, open source and uses templates for reports. I’ve made a few minor modifications myself, and intend to customize the interface to my needs…but it gets the job done as is so I’ve never really found the time to get started:)

https://stopwatch.dev.java.net/

Great overview!

I would never used something web-based for time tracking, I use on the job. It is very simple but also has useful cool extras such as asking if you want to subtract the time when your computer goes idle with a clock running.

Hey Leo,

A one-stop-shop for the freelancer is oDesk (http://www.odesk.com). For those of you not familiar with the site, oDesk is a global marketplace for remote work. The best part is that once you find a job on oDesk (there are thousands of jobs posted there each month), oDesk’s Team software keeps track of your time and automatically sends your logged time to the oDesk site. Through oDesk, your client’s credit card is charged every week and you can get your paycheck automatically deposited into your account. There are no membership fees and no fees to download any of their software. For more information on their time-keeping tools or how oDesk works, check out http://www.odesk.com.

~Michelle, oDesk

Here’s another vote for slimtimer! I use it all day, every day.

I used “On The Job” (OS X) untill I found SlimTimer.

I can really recommend 14dayz.com
In a free version you can have up to 4 projects and 10 categories (activities like designing, programming, meeting, etc.).
It is web-based and easy to use.

I use slimtimer.com and it does an awesome job, gives good spreadsheets to download, ect. might be a good addition to the list.

Been using Billings as well, found it more than worth its price with the time tracking and the (gasp) billing. So far it has saved me a lot of time and kept me fairly organized.

After looking at several options, I decided on Office Timesheets (www.officetimesheets.com)

The excellent interface, integration with Quickbooks and price ($9.95 per user) were the deciding factors. It also works with Mac AND Windows in the same envirmonment. You can also import/export from a variety of different applications in .csv or xml format.

For the price, it can’t be beat.

I’ve used TraxTime for 5 or more years and love it’s ease of use!

We use Pacific Timesheet (http://www.pacifictimesheet.com) to track time in our company not because of a whizzy interface (though it has that) but because it does what we need really well - time tracking, time off requests, custom reporting and integration into our payroll system. Don’t be fooled by a lot of the products out there that seem nice on the surface but have no depth. We’ve been burned before. Pacific Timesheet really understood our business space and that time payroll sheet software is mission-critical to a company like ours.

D. Chu

I’ve started using http://www.rescuetime.com a few days back, finally an app that records what you’re doing without you fixing it. you also see how much crap you do with your time..