Clockify Alternatives: 5 Top Time Tracking Tools

Author: Madalina Roman

Although Clockify is a popular choice for time tracking, its precision has been questioned, and users have been left complaining about its sluggish responses.

Timetracker is not functioning properly and is taking twice as long to add entries. User on Trustpilot

Clockify has all the baseline features of a time-tracking app, but it has raised concerns about its employee monitoring and privacy features; it doesn’t include AI technology to simplify time-tracking, and its time-tracking methods are limited.

If you are looking for legitimate Clockify alternatives, I will provide you with some options in this article.

Key takeaways on Clockify alternatives

My top recommendation for a Clockify alternative is Timeular, and here is why:

  • Multiple tracking methods, including a physical tracking gadget;
  • Intuitive and user-friendly interface, compared to Clockify’s interface, which is crowded;
  • Antisurveillance policy, respecting and protecting employee privacy, and not allowing managers to take screenshots of employees’ screens every 5 minutes, as Clockify does;
  • AI time entry suggestions based on calendar events and past entries, without needing manual time entries like Clockify;
  • An AI smart productivity dashboard that Clockify doesn’t include.

Other Clockify alternatives mentioned:

  • Harvest goes beyond time-tracking with its invoicing and expense-tracking features, which Clockify does not have.
  • Toggl Track is a more intuitive time tracker than Clockify, with an easier learning curve when used for task management and tracking.
  • RescueTime includes smart coaching focused on optimizing productivity and the website and application blocking feature.
  • DeskTime includes tracking time automatically through app and website monitoring, as compared to clicking on a timer to start monitoring work hours in Clockify.

Best Clockify alternatives

1. Timeular

Timeular tops the list as it covers three main elements of an effective time tracker: effortless, smart, and secure. You need to know that as of today, Timeular has 100,000+ users like Google, Audi, Toyota, McKinsey, and Bang & Olufsen.

In comparison to Clockify, Timeular excels with its intuitive interface and its accurate and versatile time-tracking methods, including a time-tracking gadget. Clockify lacks all of the above and has rather basic time-tracking features.

Moreover, Clockify has a steep learning curve, which is undesirable for a time-tracking app that should be easy to grasp and onboard.

Before diving into its time-tracking features, here are the primary functions of Timeular:

  1. Work hours tracker and timesheet app
  2. Payroll time tracker, overtime tracker, and leave tracking
  3. Project time tracking and time reporting system
  4. AI time tracker

The biggest selling points of Timeular over Clockify:

Clockify is restrictive when it comes to time-tracking methods. In contrast, Timeular allows users to track time in multiple ways, based on what suits them best, with an intuitive interface. Here are just a few of them:

  • QuickTrack: Use keyboard shortcuts to start an activity with one click.
  • Automatic time-tracking: This way allows you to focus on your work, and Timeular automatically records your tasks in the background, based on app usage, visited websites, and calendar events. Then, your calendar is filled with time entries. All you need to do is click on the time entry suggestion, and your timesheet is complete.
automatic time tracking
  • AI time entries: Just work and, with AI at your side, get AI time entries in your calendar. The AI identifies the activities you’ve performed based on your history.
Timeular - best AI tools
  • Physical time-tracking gadget: If you’re a fan of writing or setting physical timers while working, with Timeular, you can flip a dice and start tracking an activity. Once you flip the gadget, the following window opens up:

Note: The gadget is not mandatory, though many Timeular users love it.

  • AI productivity dashboard: Timeular shares with its users smart productivity insights based on historical data to help each of them identify work habits, apps, and websites that are productive or unproductive.
  • Antisurveillance: Timeular protects tracked data provided by employees and is against surveilling them, whereas Clockify allows managers to take screenshots of employees every 5 minutes. In Timeular, the privacy of employees is respected, and managers can only see what an employee worked on with a 12-hour delay on the same day.
  • Data privacy: Timeular stores data on local computers rather than in the Cloud like Clockify.
Looking for a smarter and secure alternative to Clockify?

Timeular is an effortless, secure, and smart time-tracking solution designed for teams aiming to track billable hours, maximize productivity, and generate precise client reports.

Other features in Timeular:

  1. Billable hours tracking

Timeular is the best billable hours tracker and has gone further than Clockify. You can track both billable and non-billable hours. However, the very same task can be set as billable or not whenever you think it is necessary. 

  1. Project budgets

In Timeular, you can also monitor project budgets closely so you can have a real-time overview of project profitability and progress. Stay on top of project risks and be agile in switching priorities and resource allocation as needed.

  1. Easy and intuitive reporting

In Timeular, reports are customizable and interactive. You’ll get the reports in various formats, such as PDF, XLSX, or CSV, in just a few clicks. You’ll get a meticulous activity breakdown for all tasks to be added to your invoices.

  • Notes and tags: All time entries in this Clockify alternative can have notes and tags so you can add context to each task.
  • Rounding: This feature lets you adjust time entries to be as granular as you need and simplify time records and client billing.
  1. Timeular’s setup is flexible, allowing users to add folders, activities, and tags to track time across clients and projects the way you need it;
  2. You can set custom reminders to notify you to track time and foster a time-tracking habit.
TRAITSTIMEULAR
FeaturesBillable tracking
Physical tracker
Automatic time tracking
AI-generated time entries
Editable time entries
Smart productivity insights
Infinite private and shared folders
Leave, overtime tracking
Custom reminders, also for Pomodoro
Add notes, tags, and mentions in time entries
Drag and drop time entries
Copy-paste time entries
QuickTrack: Keyboard shortcuts
Custom reminders
Import time entries from a calendar
Dark mode
Budget feature
Mobile companion
Automatic tracking
Platform compatibilityiOS, Android, Web app, Mac, Windows, Linux
IntegrationsOver 3000, including:
Google Calendar
GitLab time tracking integration
Outlook Calendar
Apple Calendar
Harvest
Toggl
Salesforce time tracking
Jira
Zendesk time tracking integration
Trello
Asana
Hubspot time tracking integration
Over 100 free apps with Zapier
Tracker8 sides physical tracker USB-C charging, tracks time offline
Pricing model30-day free trial
3 plans with a monthly or yearly subscription (you don’t need to buy the tracker)
Tracker $61,15 (€57.50)+2 months free
RatingCapterra – 4.6
G2 – 4.5
Bye bye Clockify! Welcome Timeular!

Claim your 30-day free trial with Timeular. Start your time tracking today.

time tracking software harvest

2. Harvest

Harvest is another popular online time-tracking tool with a loyal user base that was launched in 2006.

It’s a time-tracking app for smaller businesses, with features for streamlining invoicing and payments, a smaller price, and relies more on manual input.

With Harvest, you can track time spent on projectscollect that data, and export detailed reports with its reporting features and professional flexible invoicing. Note that Harvest doesn’t have advanced project management features. However, it’s effective, and its reports help in making an informed decision and outlining action plans.

Harvest is quite easy to learn, as it has basic features and a simple and intuitive interface. In contrast, Clockify requires some time to learn how to make the best use of its features, but its free plan includes the essential time-tracking features you might need.

The biggest selling point of Harvest over Clockify:

  • Harvest goes beyond time-tracking with its invoicing and expense-tracking features, which Clockify does not have.

Harvest’s key features that might make you rethink trying it:

  • It relies heavily on manual time-tracking ;
  • The free plan is heavily limited
  • The learning curve is pretty steep

Who is Harvest for:

  • Harvest suits small businesses and freelancers that need time-tracking solutions with more features integrated at a small price. That doesn’t imply that it has advanced features, but Harvest comprises features that smaller entrepreneurs need.

Read also: The Best Harvest Alternatives in 2023

TRAITSHARVEST
FeaturesTime tracking and monitoring
Custom reminders
Reports and analysis
Invoicing and payments
Platform compatibilityiOS, Android, Web app, Mac, Windows, Linux
IntegrationsAsana
GitHub
Basecamp
Trello
Slack
Akita
Zendesk
Databox
Zapie
Pricing model1 free plan
1 paid premium with a monthly or yearly subscription
RatingCapterra – 4.6
G2- 4.3
Google Play Store – 2.8

TIP: Read Clockify vs Timeular and find why Timeular is the best

3. Toggl Track

toggl time tracking

Toggl is a popular timesheet tool with a wide range of time-tracking features. This time tracking software includes employee monitoring features that can be done either automatically or manually.

With this Clockify alternative, you can track time, record work automatically in a timeline view, and generate project reports to see how much time was spent on different projects or activities. Toggl track also includes offline tracking and a browser extension to capture work hours directly in the browser you’re working. Toggl Track also allows you to pin your favorite activities and start tracking time right away with one-click timers. Toggl has a more user-friendly interface than Clockify, as it’s more visually appealing and easier to navigate.

In contrast, Clockify feels more crowded and has a steeper learning curve. Clockify does, however, include GPS tracking and kiosk features that Toggl Track does not have.

Read also: Timeular vs. Toggl

The biggest selling point of Toggl Track over Clockify:

  • Toggl Track is a more intuitive time tracker than Clockify, with an easier learning curve when used for task management and tracking.

Toggl Track’s key features that might make you rethink trying it:

  • Its free version includes minimal functionalities
  • There is no AI integrated, which is mandatory nowadays
  • It does not have a wide range of features outside of time-tracking

Who is Toggl Track for:

  • Toggl Track is suitable for small remote teams, individuals, or bigger teams with higher budgets available, as its paid plans are costly.
TRAITSTOGGL
FeaturesBillable tracking
Editable time entries
Add notes in time entries
Individual and multi-user collaboration and tracking
Pomodoro timer
Platform compatibilityiOS, Android, Web app, Mac, Windows
IntegrationsOver 100, including:
Asana
Evernote
GitHub
Gitlab
Google Calendar
Jira
Salesforce
Slack
Pricing model14-day free trial
3 plans with a monthly or yearly subscription
RatingCapterra – 4.6
G2 – 4.6
Google Play Store – 4.6

4. RescueTime

RescueTime tracking app

A reliable Clockify alternative, this time-tracking software is primarily focused on revealing the productivity patterns of individual users. It is, however, a time-tracking solution with automatic tracking and competes well with Clockify.

RescueTime’s standout feature is its Focus Sessions tab, which allows users to monitor, understand, and optimize their time-spending patterns. This feature allows users or employers to choose specific websites that contribute to employee productivity and manage the ones that do the contrary. Moreover, as a user, you can control or restrict disruptive notifications so you can stay focused.

With RescueTime, you’re also getting smart coaching, as it sends you messages based on past activities. This way, you’re able to stay on track with work. You can, with this time tracking software, generate detailed productivity reports and categorize tasks into buckets, such as productive and unproductive.

In contrast, Clockify does not have a website and application blocking feature, and it’s rather focused on business metrics than individual productivity. Moreover, Clockify does not include smart coaching or activity categorization.

The biggest selling point of RescueTime over Clockify:

  • Smart coaching focused on optimizing productivity and the website and application blocking feature.

RescueTime’s features that might make you rethink trying it:

  • It’s more suited for individuals rather than teams
  • It does not include billable hours tracking, which is needed for businesses

Who is RescueTime for:

  • RescueTime is a good Clockify alternative for individuals who are looking to optimize their productivity. Note that it’s not designed for teams looking for advanced features such as automatic time tracking, invoicing features, or billing processes.

Read also: The best alternatives to RescueTime

TRAITSRESCUETIME
FeaturesTime tracking and monitoring
Digital productivity insights
Website and application tracking
Distraction management
Focus sessions
Productivity reports and analytics
Categorization of activities
Platform compatibilityiOS, Android, Web app, Mac, Windows, Linux
IntegrationsGoogle Calendar
Outlook Calendar
Slack
Zapier
Spotify
Pricing model1 free plan
1 paid premium with a monthly or yearly subscription
RatingCapterra – 4.6
G2 – 4.1
Google Play Store – 3.6

5. DeskTime

DeskTime is a time-tracking software with the purpose of helping teams and individuals track work hours.

DeskTime includes automatic time tracking, app and website monitoring, absence tracking, as well as reporting features. Like RescueTime, it also allows for the categorization of activities as productive and unproductive so you can boost productivity. The mentioned feature tracks URLs and applications in order to determine how certain websites and tools help or jeopardize productivity and project progress.

In contrast, Clockify works more like a simpler timer app without time-tracking automation; therefore, in Clockify, you have to always remember to click on the on and off timer.

The biggest selling point of DeskTime over Clockify:

  • Tracking time automatically through app and website monitoring, as compared to clicking on a timer to start monitoring work hours in Clockify.

DeskTime’s features that might make you rethink trying it:

  • DeskTime’s charts and reports are confusing to understand at times, as users report on Softwareadvice.com.
  • It has a starting price ($7/user) higher than Clockify, which is $4.99/user.

Who is DeskTime for:

  • DeskTime is suitable for both small businesses and individuals who are looking to understand their tracked time, optimize it, and become more time-efficient.
TRAITSDESKTIME
FeaturesAutomatic time tracking
Offline time tracking
Document title tracking
Pomodoro Timer
Private time option
Custom reports
Cost calculation
Screenshots
URL & App tracking
Platform compatibilityAndroid, Web app, Mac, Windows, Linux, and iOS
IntegrationsGoogle calendar
Outlook Calendar
Trello
Gitlab
Asana
Basecamp
Jira
Zapier
Pricing model1 month free with an annual plan
1 free plan (limited features)
3 plans with a monthly or yearly subscription
RatingCapterra – 4.5
G2 – 4.6
Google Play Store – 3.9

What is the best alternative to Clockify?

The article thoroughly compares five time-tracking tools that serve as alternatives to Clockify.

Among the five alternatives introduced, Harvest, Toggl, RescueTime, and DeskTime-Timeular are the standout choices. It not only offers automated time tracking but also excels in providing the most effortless and accurate methods for tracking time.

Moreover, it has a more user-friendly interface, diverse tracking options, and robust capabilities for monitoring billable hours and budgets, making Timeular the highly recommended alternative for time tracking needs.

Bye bye Clockify! Welcome Timeular!

Claim your 30-day free trial with Timeular. Start your time tracking today.

FAQ

Is Clockify a project management software?

No, Clockify is primarily a time-tracking tool, not a full-fledged project management software. While it has some basic project tracking features, it lacks the comprehensive functionality of dedicated project management platforms.

What’s better than Clockify?

Top Clockify alternatives are:
Timeular (best overall) – AI-powered features, multiple tracking methods, intuitive interface, focus on privacy
Harvest – invoicing and expense-tracking features
Toggl Track – intuitive time tracker, easier learning curve
RescueTime – smart coaching, website/app blocking feature
DeskTime – automatic time tracking via app/website monitoring