Top 10 Free Time Tracking Apps for Freelancers
Usually two words “freelancer” and “time” go together. Freelancers can’t juggle multiple tasks simultaneously and that’s why we need to allocate time carefully. Time is an essential source of freelancer financial success.
There are lots of web apps that help track time and create reports. If you use one of the tools on a daily basis, you can turn your work into a structured schedule, get more spare time for fun, and improve your productivity. Here’s is an overview of 10 top free apps for time management for freelancers.
Google Calendar
Google Calendar
Google Calendar is a free universal tool to track your time, appointments and organize your freelance tasks. Google app may serve as a calendar or a to-do list. Besides, it’s easy to export Google calendar data to lots of project management solutions and thus, you can always keep an eye on your schedule.
OfficeTime
OfficeTime
OfficeTime is an elegant cross platform time tracking application. You can track your activity on your computer and iPad. OfficeTime contains advanced time management features: dashboard, spreadsheets data import and stat reports. Besides, the app has built-in invoicing options. So it enables you to start your freelance project, assign a rate per hour and generate the final invoice.
TimePanther
TimePanther
TimePanther claims to be a time tracker for freelancers. The app includes time management options that help set tasks, divide them between your projects and calculate your revenue. TimePanther allows you to sync all freelance tasks without any mess within clients.
Cube
Cube
Cube Anywhere is a nice time tracker for any device. Freelancers are famous for mobility; that’s why our time tracker must be a cross-platform product. Add your tasks, create a schedule and manage your earnings per hour. Cube has an easy sign-up from. You can quickly create an account with your Google ID.
Clockodo
Clockodo
Clockodo is an easy time tracking suite. It lets you manage tasks, track time and view reports. The stylish web app represents all information in a simple to comprehend way and turns time management into a real pleasure.
Klok
Klok
Klok is a cross platform time management program that work on Windows, Linux, Mac and Android OS. You can analyze your time consumption and share your calendar with freelance colleagues. Moreover, you can transfer data smoothly between Basecamp, Harvest or Fresh Books.
Paymo
Paymo
Paymo is a freelancer business center. The app has lots of handy features inside: time tracking, billing and invoicing, project management tools. It’s up to you to select the options you need. For example, you can count hours and create reports for your clients.
Chrometa
Chrometa
Chrometa has an exceptional approach to time tracking. It automates time tracking. Install a tiny app on your computer and it will record your software usage. Examine your daily reports and see how much time you spend on web surfing, Skype, Photoshop or coding. Thus, Chrometa lets you revalue your time and boost your freelancing productivity.
30 Boxes
30 Boxes
30Boxes is a web calendar. Fill it with important tasks and alerts. Plus, place your personal reminders and track all key events in one place. This way 30 Boxes lets you balance your freelancing life efficiently.
Your Timer
Your Timer
As you see the list contains only 9 apps for freelancers to track time. The last but not the least can be a default timer app, your favorite spreadsheet program, or your watch. Let us know which time tracker you prefer that deserves to be on this list!
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I use Toggl.
I registed when it was free, but now is paid to new users.
I can recommend another simple desktop tool, you can download it for free from http://www.timetrack.eu – it works for windows, linux, mac and mobile phones as well. It has reports available in pdf, word, excel and outlook calendar
Sérgio, I also used Toggl but yes now its paid and infact they have increased prices so quite costly. These days I am using Talygen (http://www.talygen.com) it is cost effective for me and my small team and has web, desktop and mobile options so I can track time whereever I go. Only thing their blackberry app, which I was looking forward to is delayed.
I use harvest for time tracking, billing, estimating and on and on. Definitely worth the 10bucks a month.
I used to use Toggl. It is very simple to use and setup. But I recently switched to Paymo because of the added functionality it offers.
I recently switched to TSheets when QuickBooks time tracker was discontinued and love it
I also use Toggl as well and I couldn’t be happier with it, it’s exceptionally easy to use!
Slimtimer has served me well for years, and it’s free… http://slimtimer.com
I use toggl as well. It’s getting better and better
Good list! If you are looking for project management + time tracking then do check out DeskAway.com
All the best!
Hello everyone,
I would like to have some feedback on the app Daily Routines for iOS.
The idea is that after you set up your settings, the day after you just launch the app and all the timers/notifications will be put in place (not need to do it everyday).
Obviously not as complete as the ones mentioned above but the aim is to satisfy one specific need/niche.
The link to the app: http://bit.ly/zR6YE4
thank you in advance,
G
PS promos available
I use GrindStone. It’s an excellent time-tracking desktop based app for Windows.
Second that on Grindstone. It’s a very lightweight app and makes it super easy to switch tasks. All our subcontractors use it. The client is always free.
We use paymo. it has great cross-platform apps for time tracking and project management tool.
I like paymo, thank you for share.
I have to send some love out to Yast. I love how easy it is to use. I have a tendency to try programs and then not use them, but it is so easy I have been using it for a year.
I use Freckle and pretty happy with what it does, http://letsfreckle.com/
Thanks for listing clockodo!
I can recommend Easy Time Tracking. It is the easiest time tracking and invoicing software.
I don’t really use a tool that’s JUST for tracking time. I used to use Toggl, but now I’ve started working at a company that develops a project management tool called HappyTodos (http://www.happytodos.com), I just use the inbuilt timer when I start working for a task. Saves me time having to switch backwards and forwards between tools, which was getting a bit redundant.
We have been using Worksnaps (http://www.worksnaps.net) to track our freelancers in various locations. It not only captures the time, but also the work evidences such as screen shots, application used, keyboard/mouse volume. We use it to verify that the freelancers are actually working on the assigned tasks and not goofing off on web surfing and facebooking. It works great if you have remote workers and it has become our essential tool. In additon, we are also able to sync the time logged from Worksnaps into Freshbooks and do the invoicing. Nice tool to check out.
I use Outlook Contacts and Journal. I can create a new journal entry (task) start and stop the time and when done save/close. It lists all tasks by client. Then I just move them over to an Excel spreadsheet for invoicing.
I use Toggl at the moment, but they’ve recently changed their reports so that they no longer include the pie chart my clients loved. They had an issue over the weekend with logged hours not appearing on the report, so I’m looking around for another choice. I’d upgrade Toggl if they added the pie charts back in and responded to the thread reporting the issue I’m having…
Does anyone have a recommendation for a system they love that provides pie charts? About to look into Clockodo…
I use RescueTime before and it works great for me. It is easy to use with no data entry needed. It runs silently on the background when installed. It also helps me to stay focus on tasks by blocking unrelated to work websites in a period of time. In which you organize the sites that are not needed at work. It also tracks what websites, documents, and applications that are actively being used. However, I found out that it cannot track time spend on separate tasks. I’m currently using this time tracking tool that is a good alternative tool to Rescutime. You can also check these comparative reports of an alternative tool and Rescuetime.
http://www.timedoctor.com/blog/2010/07/25/how-is-time-doctor-different-than-rescue-time
I also recommend you comindware task management & tracker software for simplify issue tracking. Easy & useful product with a lot of flexible notifications and reporting features. Really good solution for freelance too.
I had been using Replicon’s time tracking software (http://www.replicon.com/time-tracking-software) product suite and this one is just so beautiful app. Has got lots of good features, usability and great support. No wonder, has been very effective and productive for business project management.
Cool list! I have been using TimeDoctor software and this software is also integrated with a freelancing site called Staff.com. Its has a user friendly interface, with screenshots, tasks recorder and time is recorded real time on the server. It guarantees job being done in staff.com.
I use auto time logger,its free and for my needs is enought. http://www.csharper.wz.cz/atl
Our company uses an android time tracking solution called Hours and tracks multiple clients and multiple jobs without running down the battery or taking up a ton of space on our phone. You should do a write up on this app.
I DEFINITELY want to vote up YAST. The free version is perfect. I have tried others but the organization of this one makes it the best IMHO. Thanks!
If you are looking for a web-based time tracker, you need not look further than Talygen. I would like to suggest you Talygen time tracking tool for small and large business. It is very easy to install and application is capable of tracking projects, subprojects, employees, clients, etc. absolutely perfectly. It is very useful for project managers and HR personnel, for it saves their time and efforts.
Just wanted to throw Hours Tracking out there too – http://hourstracking.com It was developed by one of the companies I work with for their team projects, and I’ve started using it for my freelance work as well. It’s not free, but just $1/month for a freelancer. What’s nice is that you get ALL of its functionality for that price – not just a scaled-down version, which is what most other providers offer for freelancers.
Great list of apps,
I use Time Meter for Android (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rk.timemeter). What is nice is that it allows to track not only work hours but other things like sport/home. And it’s really simple and has some nice features.
We grew to 50+ company, $10 per head started being too much. We recently switched to http://www.flapps.com, it’s very simple, has great features at great price $3.95 /month. And it includes reports with pie charts!! I recommend!
Non of these are free anymore… Any recommendations for free sites for freelancers?
@Channah – Take a look at Traxmo. Still free, if I’m not mistaken.
@Fred – totally agree. Our people are on the go most of the time and the mobile app in Flapps is perfect. http://flapps.com
FYI — Most of the time trackers on this list are not free. I loved Clockodo for the last few weeks but at the free trail it goes up to $8 per user per month… too too expensive and NOT FREE as listed above.
You could also try Freshdesk – an online help desk software with advanced time tracking capabilities! Check out more details at – http://freshdesk.com/time-tracking/
Also, Freshdesk comes at $ 0 if you are a one man help desk!!
I’ve been using vitamin R which also lets me put in how focused I felt and tracks how much time I spend on things for me. It’s fantastic.
http://www.publicspace.net/Vitamin-R/
Great article and options! Just a head’s up….a lot of these are free for a 30 day trial and then you pay.
We are using http://www.timetag.it (completely free).
It uses Google Calendar (or another iCal based calendar) as input. By using specific #tags in the calendar entries you can book time on different projects.
In the webapp you can then see statistics (for the whole team) and create reports for invoicing your customers.
This one’s super simple:
http://www.gieson.com/Library/projects/utilities/timetrek/
We use free http://projectsputnik.com it tracks billable time and actual time. Then reports you about your productivity
We use http://88miles.net – it’s a simple punch in/punch out system, and is really effective. I used to hate having to compile my time sheets
toggl still has a free version. I just installed it on my Macs a couple of weeks ago.
If you are looking for a simple task timer for Mac, here’s one for the list: http://hrmacapp.com/
I like to use PlanetSoho for tracking my time and creating/sending invoices. It’s similar to Freshbooks, not sure if any of you have used that. I’d give PlanetSoho a try if you’re struggling with tracking billable hours, as it’s a free app.
This one should be added to the list: http://www.kulixir.com
It was specifically designed for web developers and graphic designers. They offer a forever free version.
We use http://www.hubstaff.com and it works awesome. Screenshots, invoicing, time tracking, etc.. does everything we need it to!
The title of this article is “Top 10 Free Time Tracking Apps for Freelancers”. Officetime, #2, costs $47. Is this the twilight zone or were you not aware of that?
I am not sure how good these free apps are, but I would risk time for 5 or 10$. Couple of years ago, when I decided to track my time, my first go was with a free tool and my experience with it was awful, hence I signed up with Replicon Resource management software and now its all hassle free.
Hi you should check out nutcache.com it allows you to track your time by project and employees and you can invoice it to customers with one click.
And best of all, it s free.
If you have a Android phone, check out Timesheet from LlamaLab. It’s a free app with features like hourly rates (overtime, off-hours), expenses, automatic mileage calculation, customizable itemized or aggregated reports and much more.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.llamalab.timesheet.free
I recently installed timecase (http://www.timecase.net) in my company because it’s very easy to use and my employees like it. It has user roles built-in as well as very good reporting system. I am also using this app for tracking my own time.
I’d like to introduce ProTimes. Although it is not completely free, it provides a reasonable solution for online project time tracking.
Hi all,
Can someone help me to find a personal time tracker app which registers the time connected to the wlan of the office? I work irregular shift so it’s hard to manage all the days i worked. It for an ipad.
Thnx in advance
I thought this article was for “Free” time tracking apps. None of these are free, however, they seem like great platforms. Does anyone know of a good time tracking app that is 100% free?
Hi V,
If you have an Android device, you may try Time Meter. It’s completely free and allows to track time easily.
I want to add that nowadays good time trackers go far beyond simple time tracking. In our consulting company we also use http://projectsputnik.com and have a positive impression of it. It is advanced in terms of project management, task management, comments, files and invoices. We use it as replacement for task manager, time tracker, invoicing tool and issue tracker. In spite of all this functionality the system has simple interface and very responsive. Additionally it shows % ratio of billable time to actually worked time on the project with breakdown by employees.
Hi all
I use http://hours-calculator.com for tracking my time. It’s super easy to use. Not like other solutions with tons of unnecessary features. But it can do all I need and it’s free.
Our company uses Timesplitter. It’s great for company’s with multiple employees in a workspace who can all access their time tracking on one device. http://www.timesplitter.net
It’s free for small companies, and mobile time tracking is working really well!
If you’re on iOS, check out Now Then (www.angryaztec.com/nowthen.html). It’s not free, but is super cheap, and focuses on rapid time recording. Set up a task list to suit the way you work and simply tap on a task to start/stop. Easy-peasy. Great for keeping track of what you spend your day doing, and see at a glance on the charts where you’re wasting it. Fully editable/configurable, and data can be exported for those looking for help producing their weekly timesheets.
Hello all,
My name is Mike. I’m CEO of small web development agency.
I’m personally and our team for a long time had a problem with time management. We also tried a number of different apps: Harvest, Toggl and many others. But eventually come up with our own. For God’s sake we had to do it at the very beginning. It solved so many problems and improved our team performance.
After a while, we decided to share it with other people to hear their opinions and suggestions. I’m sure there are still many problems to solve and we would like to create something better with your help.
If you feel interest signup here – http://signup.everhour.com and be notified about our Private Alpha (most probably next week).
We will return a favor to our early adopters and advisors.
Respectfully,
Mike