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Top Picks by Use Case
- 🥇 Best FreeClockifyUnlimited users, unlimited projects, decimal export — all free
- 🥈 Best for InvoicingHarvestTrack time, generate invoices, collect Stripe payments in one tool
- 🥉 Easiest to UseToggl TrackOne-click timer, clean UI, free for up to 5 users
- 💰 Best ValueTimeCampAuto-tracking + QuickBooks/Gusto integration from $3.99/user/mo
- 📍 Best for Field TeamsConnecteamGPS clock-in, scheduling, and free plan for teams under 10
- 🏗️ Best for Hourly StaffOnTheClockGPS punch-in, PTO tracking, QuickBooks & ADP integration
- 🖥️ Best for Remote TeamsHubstaffScreenshots, activity tracking, automated Gusto/QBO/ADP payroll
Key Takeaways
- All 7 tools export decimal hours — no manual conversion needed for payroll.
- Free plans available from Clockify, Toggl Track, TimeCamp, and Connecteam.
- Best payroll depth: Hubstaff connects to Gusto, QuickBooks, and ADP automatically.
- Harvest is the only tool on this list with built-in client invoicing and Stripe payments.
- Pricing range: $3.99 – $14/user/mo (annual billing). Connecteam is flat-rate for up to 30 users.
- Skip Hubstaff if trust matters — screenshot monitoring requires clear team communication.
How Do the Top 7 Time Tracking Apps Compare in 2026?
Here's the full side-by-side before we get into the reviews. Pricing confirmed February 2026.
| Tool | Best For | Free Plan | Decimal Export | Payroll Integration | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 Clockify | Teams & individuals | Yes — unlimited users | Yes | Via integrations | Free / $3.99+/user/mo |
| 🥈 Harvest | Freelancers | Limited (1 seat, 2 projects) | Yes | Gusto, QuickBooks | $11/seat/mo (Pro, annual) |
| 🥉 Toggl Track | Simplicity | Yes — up to 5 users | Yes | Limited | Free / $9/user/mo |
| TimeCamp | Agencies | Yes | Yes | QuickBooks, Gusto | Free / $3.99+/user/mo |
| OnTheClock | Hourly workers | No | Yes | QuickBooks, ADP | $5/mo base + $4/user/mo |
| Connecteam | Field teams | Yes — up to 10 users | Yes | Yes | Free / $29/mo |
| Hubstaff | Remote teams | Free (1 user only) | Yes | Gusto, QuickBooks, ADP | Free (1 user) / $7/user/mo (monthly) |
Need to convert logged time to decimals manually?
Use our free Time Decimal Calculator to instantly convert HH:MM time entries to decimal hours for payroll or invoicing. No account needed.
What is decimal time?
Decimal time means hours as a number you can multiply directly. One hour 30 minutes is 1.5. Two hours 45 minutes is 2.75. Payroll software needs this format because you can't multiply 7:30 by an hourly rate, but you can multiply 7.5. All 7 apps here output decimal hours in their reports, so you don't need to do that math yourself.
What Features Should You Look for in a Time Tracking App?
Most people fixate on how the timer looks when picking a time tracker. That's the wrong thing to focus on. What actually matters is whether the tool gets decimal hours into your payroll software without you doing manual work. Here's how to evaluate that.
🔢 Decimal Time Export
Payroll software needs hours as a decimal number, not HH:MM. So 7 hours 30 minutes needs to show up as 7.5. Check this before committing to any tool, because some make it surprisingly hard to get a clean decimal export.
🔗 Payroll Integrations
The best integrations push hours straight to Gusto, QuickBooks, or ADP after timesheet approval. No CSV download, no manual import. Hubstaff and TimeCamp both do this on paid plans. Clockify's free tier doesn't.
📱 Mobile App Quality
If your team works away from a desk, test the mobile app on your actual phone before paying for anything. GPS clock-in and offline mode are what separate apps that work in a van from ones that only work at a desk.
📊 Reporting Depth
At minimum, you need weekly totals by project, billable vs. non-billable hours, and a CSV you can hand a bookkeeper. Most tools hit this bar. The real differences are in how many clicks it takes to get there.
💵 Per-Seat vs. Flat Pricing
Per-seat pricing sneaks up on you. Five users at $9 each is $45 a month, $540 a year. Connecteam charges a flat $29 for up to 30 users on their Basic paid plan. Run the numbers for your actual team size before signing up for anything.
🔄 Project & Client Management
For freelancers billing by the hour, tagging time to a client and generating an invoice directly from those records saves real time every month. Harvest is the only tool in this review that does all three natively: track, invoice, collect payment.
How Did We Test and Rate These Time Tracking Apps?
We ran each tool for two full weeks on actual client work, not demos with fake data. That meant logging hours across real projects, exporting those hours as decimals, and pushing them through payroll flows in Gusto and QuickBooks. Each app was judged on five things: how it exports decimal hours, how deeply it connects to payroll software (direct API vs. CSV hand-off), whether the mobile app holds up away from wifi, how much the reports actually tell you, and what you pay per month at five and ten users. Ratings reflect how each tool scored across those five things, weighted toward what actually matters for freelancers and small teams.
Which Time Tracking Apps Are Best for Freelancers and Small Businesses?
After two weeks, Clockify is still the easy recommendation for most people. Nothing else competes on the free tier. Harvest is the only one where you go from tracked hours to paid invoice without leaving the app, which matters a lot if you're billing clients by the hour. TimeCamp surprised us: $3.99 per user per month with real QuickBooks and Gusto integration, not just a CSV export.
Clockify
Free, unlimited users, no catches
No other tool on this list offers unlimited users and unlimited projects for free. Not a crippled free tier that pushes you toward a paywall. The free plan includes the browser extension, iOS and Android apps, CSV reports with decimal hours, and basic integrations. It covers what most freelancers need without asking for a credit card. Paid tiers run $3.99 to $7.99 per user per month and add things like time auditing, scheduled reports, and kiosk clock-in mode. Worth it for some teams. But if you're still deciding whether you need time tracking software at all, start free and figure it out. See Clockify's pricing page for current plan limits.
Pros
- Unlimited users and projects on free plan
- Clean, intuitive interface with minimal learning curve
- Strong decimal export — reports show both HH:MM and decimal hours
- Excellent browser extension and mobile apps (iOS & Android)
Cons
- No native invoicing — you'll need a separate tool for billing clients
- Payroll integrations require paid plan or third-party connector
- Advanced reporting locked behind paid tiers
Decimal Output
Yes — all reports show decimal hours. Exportable as CSV or PDF with decimal column.
Payroll Integration
Via Zapier/API or CSV export. Direct integrations require paid plan ($3.99+/user/mo).
Pricing
Free forever. Basic: $3.99/user/mo. Standard: $5.49/user/mo. Pro: $7.99/user/mo.
Harvest
Time tracking and invoicing that actually talk to each other
Harvest has been around since 2006, longer than most of its competition, and that shows in the product. The billing workflow is mature: you track time, it generates a branded invoice, your client pays via Stripe, and the payment syncs to QuickBooks. No spreadsheet handoff. That full loop from hours worked to money collected is rare, and it's why so many freelancers still pay $11 to $14 per seat per month for it. The interface isn't the most modern-looking, and the free plan is almost useless (1 seat, 2 projects), but for anyone billing clients by the hour, the admin time it cuts every month justifies the price fast. See Harvest's current pricing for plan details.
Pros
- Built-in invoicing with Stripe payment collection
- Native QuickBooks and Gusto payroll integrations
- Clean decimal time reports — both HH:MM and decimal on every timesheet
- Excellent client-facing project budgeting and alerts
Cons
- Expensive — $11–$14/seat/mo (depending on plan) adds up quickly for teams
- Free plan is too limited for real use (1 seat, 2 projects)
- Interface feels dated compared to newer competitors
Decimal Output
Yes — all reports display decimal hours. CSV exports include a dedicated decimal hours column.
Payroll Integration
Direct integrations with Gusto and QuickBooks Online. Exports hours in decimal format automatically.
Pricing
Free (very limited — 1 seat, 2 projects). Pro: $11/seat/mo (billed annually) or $13.75/seat/mo monthly. Premium: $14/seat/mo (billed annually) or $17.50/seat/mo monthly.
Toggl Track
Click start, click stop, done
Toggl's whole product is built around speed. Click start, click stop. That sounds minor until you've used tools that make you pick a project, client, task, and billing code before the timer will even start. Toggl skips most of that friction. The free plan works for up to five users and includes full decimal reports. Where it falls short is payroll: there's no direct Gusto or ADP connection, so you're exporting a CSV and importing it manually, which is fine until you're doing it every two weeks. At $9 per user per month for the paid tier, it's also pricier than TimeCamp for fewer payroll features.
Pros
- Exceptionally clean UI — lowest friction time tracking available
- Free plan supports up to 5 users with full decimal reports
- Excellent browser extension with auto-tracking detection
- Detailed weekly and monthly visual summaries
Cons
- Payroll integrations are weak — mostly CSV-based
- No invoicing features even on paid plans
- $9/user/mo is pricier than TimeCamp for what you get
Decimal Output
Yes — summary and detailed reports show decimal hours. Easy CSV/PDF export with decimal column.
Payroll Integration
Limited. No direct Gusto/ADP integration. Most users export CSV and import manually to payroll software.
Pricing
Free (up to 5 users). Starter: $9/user/mo. Premium: $18/user/mo. Enterprise: custom.
TimeCamp
The cheapest route to real payroll integration
TimeCamp does something the others don't: it watches which apps and websites you use and tries to assign that time to projects automatically. It won't replace manual tracking because it misattributes time often enough to need cleanup, but it catches work you'd otherwise forget to log. At $3.99 per user per month (annual billing), it's the cheapest option here that actually connects to QuickBooks and Gusto directly. That combination of price and payroll depth is hard to find. The UI isn't as clean as Clockify's, but for agencies billing multiple clients who care more about payroll than aesthetics, that's probably fine. See TimeCamp's pricing page for current plan limits.
Pros
- Automatic time tracking based on app/website activity
- Direct QuickBooks and Gusto integrations on paid plans
- Best price-to-features ratio on this list ($3.99/user/mo annual)
- Free plan includes unlimited users and projects
Cons
- UI is functional but less polished than top competitors
- Automatic tracking can misattribute time and requires cleanup
- Mobile app is weaker than desktop experience
Decimal Output
Yes — all timesheets and reports include decimal hours. Exportable as CSV, PDF, or directly to integrated payroll software.
Payroll Integration
Direct integrations with QuickBooks Online and Gusto on paid plans. Exports decimal hours automatically.
Pricing
Free. Starter: $3.99/user/mo (annual) / $5.49 monthly. Premium: $6.99/user/mo (annual). Enterprise: custom.
OnTheClock
Built for hourly employees, not knowledge workers
OnTheClock is built for one job: hourly employees who punch in and out, and managers who need that data to flow straight into payroll. It's not a freelancer tool. There's no project-based billing, no client invoices. What it has is solid GPS clock-in, PTO tracking, overtime calculation, and direct QuickBooks and ADP integrations. Pricing works on a base fee model: $5 per month plus $4 per user, so 10 employees runs you $45 a month. No free plan. If you're comparing tools for knowledge workers or freelancers, this isn't it. But if you manage a team of hourly staff, it does that job well.
Pros
- Built-for-purpose employee time clock with GPS verification
- Mature QuickBooks and ADP integrations with direct decimal export
- PTO management, overtime tracking, and scheduling built in
- Kiosk mode for shared devices in physical locations
Cons
- No free plan — $5/mo base + $4/user/mo (e.g. 10 employees = $45/mo)
- Not suited for project-based freelancers or knowledge workers
- Limited reporting compared to Clockify or Harvest
Decimal Output
Yes — timesheets automatically calculate and display decimal hours. Payroll exports default to decimal format.
Payroll Integration
Direct integrations with QuickBooks Online and ADP. Decimal hours push automatically each pay period.
Pricing
No free plan. $5/mo base fee + $4/user/mo (billed monthly). Example: 10 employees = $45/mo total. Volume discounts available for 100+ employees.
Connecteam
An entire workforce app, not just a time tracker
Connecteam wraps time tracking inside a full workforce app: scheduling, task management, team chat, document storage. For a field crew, that's useful. For a freelancer, it's overkill. The free plan covers up to 10 users with GPS clock-in and geofencing, which beats most competitors' free tiers. The mobile app handles offline mode and GPS breadcrumb tracking well, which matters when your workers spend the day in areas with spotty signal. Paid plans jump to a flat $29 per month for up to 30 users, making the per-person cost drop as the team grows. The trade-off is that time tracking specifically is less precise than a dedicated tool, because it's one feature inside a much bigger platform.
Pros
- All-in-one platform: time tracking + scheduling + communication
- Free plan for up to 10 users — no credit card required
- Best-in-class mobile app with GPS breadcrumbs and geofencing
- Offline mode ensures reliable clock-in without connectivity
Cons
- Flat-rate $29/mo paid plan can be expensive for very small teams
- Feature breadth means the time tracking tools are less specialized
- Steeper learning curve due to platform complexity
Decimal Output
Yes — timesheets export in decimal format. Reports include decimal hours for payroll processing.
Payroll Integration
Integrations available with multiple payroll providers. Export options include decimal hours in payroll-ready formats.
Pricing
Free (up to 10 users — "Small Business Plan"). Basic: $29/mo flat (up to 30 users, annual). Advanced: $49/mo. Expert: $99/mo. Enterprise: custom.
Hubstaff
The most powerful option here, and the most controversial
Hubstaff does more than any other tool here: time tracking, GPS location, activity monitoring, and optional screenshots of your employees' screens every few minutes. For distributed teams managing contractors paid by the hour, that level of visibility is useful. But deploy screenshot monitoring without telling your team first and watch trust disappear fast. The payroll integrations are the best on this list: Gusto, QuickBooks, and ADP all connect directly, and the system can trigger automated payroll after timesheet approval. The free plan covers exactly one user, which is basically useless for teams. Paid plans start at $4.99 per user per month on annual billing. See Hubstaff's current pricing for all tiers.
Pros
- Deepest payroll integrations on this list: Gusto, QuickBooks, and ADP all connect directly
- Automated payroll — decimal hours push directly to payroll software
- GPS tracking and geofencing for mobile teams
- Detailed productivity reporting and project budgeting
Cons
- Free plan limited to 1 user only — paid plans start at $4.99/user/mo (annual)
- Screenshot monitoring can erode team trust if miscommunicated
- Interface is dense and has a steep learning curve
Decimal Output
Yes — all timesheets show decimal hours. Payroll exports default to decimal format for direct integration use.
Payroll Integration
Direct integrations with Gusto, QuickBooks, and ADP. Automated payroll runs push decimal hours without manual export.
Pricing
Free (1 user only). Starter: $4.99/user/mo (annual) / $7/user/mo monthly. Grow: $7.50/user/mo (annual) / $9/user/mo monthly. Team: $10/user/mo (annual) / $12/user/mo monthly. Enterprise: custom.
Which Time Tracking App Should You Choose?
If you're a solo freelancer or run a small team that doesn't need automated payroll, start with Clockify. It's free, there are no meaningful restrictions on the free plan, and it exports decimal hours cleanly. If you invoice clients directly, Harvest is worth $11 a month per seat. It's the only tool here where you go from tracked hours to paid invoice without leaving the app. For agencies that need real payroll integration without Harvest's price tag, TimeCamp at $3.99 per user per month is the move.
For hourly employees, OnTheClock and Hubstaff are both built for that use case in ways that the knowledge-worker tools aren't. Connecteam wins for field teams who need GPS plus scheduling in a single mobile app. And if you just want the simplest possible timer with zero friction, Toggl Track is still the cleanest option out there.
📅 Pricing and features verified February 2026. We review and update this comparison annually. For independent aggregate user reviews, see listings on G2's time tracking category and Capterra's time tracking roundup.
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