The Best Time Tracking and Billing Software for Consultants in 2024
As the consulting industry continues to thrive, consultants find themselves juggling multiple tasks simultaneously, from project management to client communication and, most importantly, time tracking and billing.
To streamline these crucial processes and enhance productivity, a plethora of time tracking and billing software solutions have emerged.
Looking for the best time tracking tool for consultants?
Thousands of consulting businesses track their time with Timeular!
In this article, we will explore the 10 best time tracking and billing software for consultants, discussing their pros and cons, and offering insights into how to choose the best app for your specific time management needs.
Top 10 Time tracking and billing software for consultants
- Timeular
- Toggl Track
- Harvest
- FreshBooks
- Clockify
- QuickBooks Time
- Paymo
- Zoho Invoice
- Everhour
- ClickTime
1. Timeular
Timeular is the time tracking app for consultants that will revolutionize the way you manage your consulting business. With its innovative hardware and intuitive software, Timeular offers a seamless and effortless approach to tracking your billable hours.
But why is Timeular the best billable hour tracker and such a great option for consultants? Let’s find out.
- Smart time tracking methods that automate your time tracking process, like Context tracking and more.
- Fostering time tracking habits: Timeular Tracker, which is an 8-sided dice that sits on your desk, helps you to remember to log your time. Customize it by assigning different activities to each side (it’s not only 8 activities! With one JOKER side, you can track as many activities as you want) and flip the dice to start tracking.
Track your time with Timeular Tracker!
The Tracker is a proven way of fostering a strong time tracking habit, which increases time reports accuracy
- Productivity tracker tool: With powerful reporting and analytics, Timeular takes time tracking to the next level with its comprehensive reporting and analytics features. Gain valuable insights into how you spend your time, identify areas where you can improve productivity, and make data-driven decisions to optimize your consulting workflow. Whether you need to monitor individual project or client progress or assess team performance, Timeular’s robust reporting capabilities have you covered.
- Transparent billing: Timeular is the perfect time-tracking app for consultants, as it allows you to track both billable and non-billable hours, assigning hourly rates to each task and consultant. With automated reports, you can easily create invoices based on real-time data and provide more transparent billing to your customers. Learn more about how to track billable hours.
- Effortless mobile app: With the Timeular mobile app you’ll have the power of time tracking at your fingertips. The mobile app allows you to continue tracking your hours even while you’re on the move, making it ideal for consultants who are always on the go. With a user-friendly interface, you can effortlessly manage your tasks, view reports, and analyze your productivity—all in one place.
- Seamless integrations: The app integrates with popular project management and invoicing software, such as Trello, Asana, QuickBooks, and more. This integration ensures that your time tracking effortlessly syncs with your existing workflow, saving you valuable time and effort.
- Track time off, overwork, and leaves: Teams can record time off and overwork, adding more clarity to their work schedule. The time leave tracking features offer greater flexibility and transparency in leave tracking and reporting. Learn more about leave tracking.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to use: Timeular’s intuitive and user-friendly interface makes it incredibly easy for users to track time accurately and efficiently | 30-day free trial but no free plans |
| Versatile: The app and its features are highly adaptable to individuals, teams, and all sizes of consultant businesses | |
| Data accuracy: Timeular’s user-friendly approach ensures that the tracked data is more accurate than other solutions, minimizing discrepancies | |
| Track billable hours: Allows individuals, teams, and businesses to accurately track billable and non-billable hours | |
| Physical time Tracker: Incredibly useful and valuable for those who have several clients, the Tracker’s physical nature makes it easy to establish a time-tracking habit through muscle memory, ensuring users never forget to track their time again |
Looking for the best time tracking tool for consultants?
Thousands of consulting businesses track their time with Timeular!
2. Toggl Track
An effective replacement for Timely, Toggl Track is a popular time-tracking app that caters to consultants and freelancers alike. Its simple and intuitive interface allows users to track their work hours. Moreover, Toggl Track integrates with various project management and invoicing tools, ensuring smooth billing processes. However, some users may find its reporting features somewhat limited compared to other options.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to use: Intuitive and easy-to-use interface | Price: many users consider the non-free packages expensive, considering the features available |
| Free version: Toggl’s free version — while limited — offers a range of services, allowing employees to track time and export reports. It’s a great way to test the app | Accuracy: Ease of forgetting to switch between activities when tracking time, resulting in less accurate reports |
| Easy setup: Its setup is very simple, allowing users to start tracking time without significant disruptions | Reporting and analytics: The available features are limited for those who want detailed reports |
Toggl vs Timeular
Find why Timeular is a better option to increase the profitability of your business.
3. Harvest
Harvest is renowned for its comprehensive time-tracking and invoicing capabilities. Its user-friendly interface and ability to generate detailed reports for clients are two reasons why Harvest is considered a top-time tracking and billing app for consultants.
Additionally, it integrates well with accounting software like QuickBooks.
However, Harvest’s pricing can be a bit steep for small consulting businesses and certain advanced features may require additional costs.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to use: User-friendly interface | Price: The pricing can be on the higher side for smaller consulting businesses |
| Integrations: It integrates with various accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero | Additional features: Certain advanced features, such as team timesheets and forecasting, come with additional costs |
| Employee scheduling: The software includes employee scheduling capabilities, allowing businesses to manage work shifts and optimize workforce allocation | Mobile app limitations: Some users may find that the mobile app lacks certain features or experiences occasional performance issues |
| Limited offline access: It primarily operates online, meaning an internet connection is required to use the software |
TIP: Harvest doesn’t suit your needs? Then, you need to read our guide and find the best Harvest alternatives.
4. FreshBooks
FreshBooks is a well-rounded invoicing and time tracking software that caters to consultants of all sizes. With an array of features like expense tracking and project management, it streamlines various consulting tasks in one place. However, some users may find the reporting functionalities somewhat limited compared to other specialized tools.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to use: Intuitive dashboard | Reporting: Some users may find the reporting functionalities somewhat limited compared to other tools |
| Invoices and payments: Automatic generation of invoices with integration with popular payment gateways, facilitating smooth online payments | Project management features: Advanced project management features are not as robust as other dedicated project management software |
| Limited resources: it limits on users and billable clients. If you need more resources, you will have extra costs, which means that’s expensive to scale up |
5. Clockify
A good productivity tool, Clockify offers a powerful time-tracking platform with a free version that allows users to manage projects and track billable hours efficiently.
The paid version unlocks more advanced features such as integrations with other tools and enhanced reporting. Yet, consultants who require more sophisticated invoicing capabilities may find Clockify slightly lacking.
TIP: Read our head-to-head comparison “Clockify vs Toggl” and find out which one is best for you.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free version: available with basic time tracking features | Limited features: Invoicing is not available in the free plan. The software also lacks integrations with payroll providers |
| Integrations: Clockify integrates with several apps, and the setup process is simple | Stability: Some users experience occasional glitches while using the mobile app |
| Limited resources: it limits on users and billable clients. If you need more resources, you will have extra costs, which means that’s expensive to scale up | |
| Reporting and analytics: The available features are limited for those who want detailed reports | |
| Tracking: You can’t pause sessions. You have to stop it and create a new one |
Timeular vs Clockify
Read our head to head comparison and find which app is the best for you!
6. QuickBooks Time
A reliable alternative to Time Doctor, QuickBooks Time provides seamless integration with the popular accounting software QuickBooks, making it an excellent choice for consultants seeking a unified financial solution. Its mobile app also enables consultants to track time while on the go. Nevertheless, users who don’t require accounting features might find the tool to be overkill and opt for more specialized options.
TIP: QuickBooks Time tracking integration
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Integrations: it integrates smoothly with other QuickBooks products to streamline billing and accounting processes | GPS tracking: it may lead to privacy concerns and micromanagement feelings that can lead to employee disengagement and unmotivation |
| GPS tracking: for remote teams and field consultants that can help reduce inefficiencies | Mobile app limitations: Some users may find that the mobile app lacks certain features or experiences occasional performance issues |
| Pricing: It has a monthly base fee along with a monthly per-user fee. Depending on the size of your team, the cost may be a consideration | |
| Limited offline access: It primarily operates online, meaning an internet connection is required to use the software | |
| Features: Lack of invoice capabilities and the emphasis on accounting features might be excessive for consultants who primarily need time tracking |
Read also: RescueTime alternatives
7. Paymo
Paymo is a comprehensive project management and timesheet software designed for consultants. It offers a wide range of features, including invoicing, task management, and resource scheduling. This all-in-one approach can be advantageous for some, but others may prefer using separate tools to handle specific tasks more effectively.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| User-friendly: easy-to-use interface with an emphasis on project management and collaboration | Steep learning curve: beginners and some teams/companies may find the interface overwhelming due to the extensive feature set |
| Invoice: it includes invoicing features with customizable templates and integration with PayPal and Stripe | Integrations: Integrations with other third-party apps are limited compared to some competitors |
| Languages: it is available in 23 languages | Technical errors: some users report technical errors while using the app |
| Project list personalizing: Paymo is primarily meant for freelancers, so the only way to see how much time you’ve spent on a job since the last recording time is to navigate through a few pages to hunt down the number | |
| Mobile App: the mobile app version is not as intuitive as web which is not good for consultants on the go |
8. Zoho Invoice
Zoho Invoice is a part of the Zoho suite of products and focuses primarily on invoicing and time tracking for consultants and small businesses.
Its seamless integration with other Zoho tools allows for efficient management of overall business operations. However, those seeking more advanced time tracking features might find Zoho Invoice a bit basic.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Project planning and tracking: Zoho Projects offers features such as task management, time tracking, and budget control, facilitating comprehensive project cost management | Integration limitations: while Zoho Projects integrates with popular applications, some niche or industry-specific integrations may be limited |
| Document and file management: the software provides a centralized repository for documents and files, ensuring easy access, version control, and collaboration | Advanced features in higher plans: some advanced functionalities, such as resource utilization charts or time tracking reports, may only be available in higher-priced plans |
| Customizable dashboards: Zoho Projects allows users to create personalized dashboards, providing real-time project cost insights and key performance indicators | Time tracking: the time tracking features may not be as robust as some dedicated time tracking tools |
| Invoice: customizable invoicing templates and recurring invoice capabilities |
9. Everhour
Listed as a great time tracker for small businesses, Everhour is a time tracking software that seamlessly integrates with project management tools like Asana, Trello, and Basecamp. Due to this, it’s considered one of the best time trackers for consultants who rely heavily on these platforms. However, the lack of native invoicing capabilities might require integration with a separate billing tool.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Billing features: it allows you to set billing and budgeting with timely notifications | Invoicing: it lacks native invoicing capabilities, necessitating integration with separate invoicing software |
| Integrations: it integrates smoothly with other management software such as Trello, Asana, Jira, etc | Limited customization options: reports and dashboards could be more customizable |
| Mobile app: lacks some advanced features available on the web platform | |
| Steep learning curve: the initial learning curve for configuring advanced settings may be slightly steep for new users |
Read also: The best way to track time in Jira
10. ClickTime
ClickTime offers an intuitive and straightforward time-tracking experience for consultants. Its reporting and project budgeting features allow for better insights into project performance. However, some users might miss having advanced invoicing capabilities within the platform.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Project management features: project budgeting and resource management features for effective project planning | Invoicing capabilities: it lacks advanced invoicing capabilities found in some other time tracking and billing software |
| Custom integrations: only available on the Enterprise solution | User interface: the user interface may not be as visually appealing and easy to use as some competitors |
| Reporting: customizable reports for analyzing project progress and profitability | Pricing: the pricing plans are more expensive for the features they offer when compared to competitors |
| Learning curve: it may be hard for beginners to set up the app |
How to choose the best time tracking and billing software for consultants
With a wide array of time-tracking and billing software for consultants available, finding the best app for your consulting needs can be overwhelming. To make the right choice, consider the following factors:
- Specific requirements: Identify your unique requirements, such as project management, expense tracking, or integration with other tools. Choose an app that aligns with your consulting workflow.
- Scalability: Consider the potential growth of your consulting business. Opt for an app that can accommodate your expanding needs and client base.
- User-friendly interface: An intuitive interface will save you time and frustration when tracking your hours and generating invoices.
- Integration capabilities: Look for apps that integrate with your existing tools and accounting software to streamline your workflow and avoid double data entry.
- Reporting and analytics: Robust reporting features will provide valuable insights into your consulting performance, aiding in decision-making and improving efficiency.
- Mobile accessibility: If you work on the go, ensure the app offers a mobile version or has responsive design elements.
- Pricing: Consider your budget and evaluate if the features offered justify the cost. Some apps offer free versions with limited features, which can be beneficial for smaller consulting businesses.
Read also: Project reporting: In-depth guide
Conclusion
In conclusion, as the consulting industry continues to grow and evolve, time-tracking and billing apps have become indispensable tools for consultants seeking to enhance productivity and streamline their workflows.
As you have seen, there are a lot of reliable time trackers and billable tools for consultants that offer a wide range of features and functionalities, catering to the diverse needs of consultants of all sizes.
Timeular stands out as the greatest time tracker for both teams and individual consultants, revolutionizing time tracking with its hardware and mobile app integration. Its powerful reporting and analytics capabilities provide valuable insights for optimizing consulting workflows and boosting productivity.
When selecting the best time tracking and billing software, consultants should consider some aspects such as specific requirements, scalability, user-friendliness, and integration capabilities, among others.
By carefully evaluating these factors, consultants can make an informed decision that aligns with their unique needs and sets them on a path to increased productivity and success in their consulting endeavors.
In the fast-paced world, choosing the right time-tracking and billing software for consulting is not just a matter of efficiency; it’s a strategic investment in success.
With the right tool at your disposal, you can efficiently manage your projects, accurately track billable hours, and maintain transparent communication with your clients.
So, embrace the power of technology and empower your consulting business to thrive in today’s competitive landscape.
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