Which Free Time Tracking App Has the Best Features? 15+ Tools Compared

Most of us juggle tasks, clients, and deadlines every single day—but without a clear record of where our time goes, projects run late, budgets blow out, and stress levels spike. You’ve tried spreadsheets, sticky notes, even generic to‑do apps, yet your productivity still feels elusive. That nagging feeling that you’re wasting valuable hours can eat away at motivation and margins. Fortunately, a free time tracking app can shine a light on hidden inefficiencies, streamline workflows, and help you reclaim hours—no credit card required.

Criteria for Choosing a Free Time Tracking App

When vetting any free time tracking app, consider these essentials:

• User & Project Limits: Are there caps on team size or number of projects?

• Invoicing & Billing: Does the free tier let you generate invoices or set billable rates?

• Automation: Idle detection, auto‑tracking (apps/websites), and reminders.

• Reporting: Custom reports, export formats (PDF/CSV/Excel), dashboards.

• Offline & Mobile: Can you track time without an Internet connection? Are there Android/iOS apps?

• Integrations: Direct links to tools like Trello, Asana, Slack, and calendars.

• Privacy & Hosting: Self‑hosted/open‑source options vs. cloud‑only solutions.

• Advanced Features: Gantt charts, Pomodoro timers, timesheet approvals, GPS & facial recognition.

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Why These Apps Matter

Free time tracking apps today do much more than just clock your hours. I think they’ve evolved into useful tools for project management, invoicing, team coordination, and even personal productivity. People aren’t just using them to track time—they’re using them to better manage work and improve focus. Based on what I’ve seen, different apps stand out in different areas:

• For teams who need everything in one place: ClickUp, Paymo, Bitrix24, Harvest, and TrackingTime combine time tracking with project management and even CRM in some cases.

• For freelancers and small teams who want simplicity: Clockify, Toggl Track, and MyHours keep things lightweight with easy time logging and reports.

• For businesses focused on monitoring employees: TimeCamp, DeskTime, and Bitrix24 offer useful tools like activity tracking, screenshots, and attendance reporting.

• For knowledge workers trying to improve focus: RescueTime, Timely, and ActivityWatch automatically log your digital habits and help you spot distractions.

• For frontline and mobile teams managing shifts: Jibble, Connecteam, and Homebase make it easy to track attendance, schedule shifts, and manage on-the-go staff.

From what I understand, picking the right tool isn’t just about recording time—it’s more about understanding how your time is spent, making projects more manageable, billing clients properly, and even cutting out wasted hours.

Top Free Time Tracking Apps Compared

1. Clockify

Best for: Unlimited teams with simple reporting needs

• Unlimited users, projects, and time entries

• Kiosk mode for shared workstations

• Auto‑tracking integrations and idle detection

• Customizable reports (PDF, CSV, Excel)

• 24/7 support and API access

Many users consider Clockify a reliable free time tracker for teams, especially with its genuinely free forever plan.

2. Toggl Track

Best for: Freelancers who want simplicity + insights

• Free for up to 5 users

• Unlimited projects, clients, and tags

• Pomodoro timer and idle detection

• Autotracker links keywords to projects

• Exportable, shareable reports

From what people say, Toggl Track works well as a free time tracking Android app and iOS time tracker free, especially for solo professionals and small teams.

3. Paymo

Best for: Small teams needing built‑in invoicing & project management

• Unlimited users, time entries, and invoices

• 5 clients, 10 projects on free plan

• Kanban boards, Gantt charts, task dependencies

• Native timesheet approvals

• Paymo Track for desktop activity tracking (privacy-focused, no screenshots)

I think Paymo is a practical option for teams that need to combine invoicing and project management within a free tier.

4. Jibble

Best for: Simple clock‑in/out with GPS for frontline teams

• Unlimited users (up to 2 locations)

• GPS and facial recognition for attendance

• Mobile punch‑in/out interface

• No invoicing or project management modules

Jibble seems useful for teams needing straightforward clock-in features, especially in fieldwork and retail.

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5. TimeCamp

Best for: Auto‑tracking and Trello/Asana integrations

• Unlimited users and projects

• Automatic desktop and browser activity tracking

• Basic reporting, invoicing in paid plans

• Supports Trello, Asana, and more integrations

It’s commonly recommended when you need Asana time tracking free or free time tracking app with Trello.

6. MyHours

Best for: Freelancers and small teams focusing on project profitability

• Free for up to 5 users

• Unlimited projects, tasks, clients

• Budget tracking and profitability alerts

• Simple manual tracking with email reminders

Many freelancers say MyHours is a good choice when you want free project time tracker features without unnecessary complexity.

7. ActivityWatch

Best for: Privacy-first automatic tracking across devices

• 100% open source, self-hosted option

• Automatic tracking of apps, websites, and documents

• Completely offline with customizable dashboards

• No data sharing with third parties

I’ve noticed ActivityWatch is popular among privacy-focused users who want a free time tracker for freelancers without cloud dependencies.

8. RescueTime

Best for: Individuals who want productivity insights, not just time counts

• Automated tracking of app and website usage

• FocusTime feature to block distractions

• Daily productivity scores and goals

• Basic free tier; more reports in premium

If you care more about improving focus than logging billable hours, RescueTime’s free time tracking for students and remote workers could be helpful.

9. Timely

Best for: Automatic time tracking powered by AI

• AI-driven Memory app to track activities without timers

• Tags and projects automatically suggested

• Visual timelines for deep-work insights

• Basic personal plan available for free

I think Timely is a solid option for knowledge workers who want to reduce manual time logging and rely on automated insights.

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10. Harvest (Limited Free Tier)

Best for: Small teams combining time tracking and simple invoicing

• Free for 1 user, 2 active projects

• Time tracking with invoicing in one place

• Integrates with Slack, Trello, and Asana

• Clean interface with simple reporting

While limited, Harvest still comes up in discussions for small teams needing invoicing features with simple time logs.

11. TrackingTime

Best for: Collaborative teams needing calendar-style time organization

• Free for up to 3 users

• Unlimited tasks, projects, and clients

• Calendar views, task boards, and basic reporting

• Integrates with project management tools

People like TrackingTime for simple team tracking with visual overviews, though its free tier is more limited in features.

12. Everhour (Free Trial, Limited Free Access)

Best for: Integrations with project management platforms like Asana

• Primarily a paid tool, but some free options for individuals

• Deep integration with Trello, Asana, ClickUp

• Expense tracking, budgeting, and advanced reports in paid

Everhour isn’t fully free long-term, but freelancers often mention it for trial access and rich Asana time tracking free features to test before committing.

13. DeskTime (Limited Free Version)

Best for: Employee monitoring with minimal setup

• Automatic tracking with idle detection

• Screenshots and productivity scoring

• Free Lite version with limited features

• Popular in workplaces tracking both attendance and efficiency

It’s often referenced as a free app with idle detection and basic monitoring without upfront costs.

14. Connecteam (Free Small Business Plan)

Best for: Shift-based teams in industries like retail or construction

• Free small business plan with attendance tracking

• Shift scheduling and geofencing

• Mobile-first with task management

• Tailored for frontline or non-desk employees

People say Connecteam is great for frontline time tracking with scheduling features baked into the free plan.

15. Homebase (Free for Basic Scheduling and Attendance)

Best for: Small businesses managing shifts and payroll basics

• Unlimited employees per location in free tier

• Scheduling, time clock, and hiring tools

• Simple wage cost tracking

• Designed for retail, hospitality, and restaurants

Homebase is widely mentioned in free vs paid time tracker comparisons for covering basic needs without upfront costs.

16. ClickUp

Best for: Teams wanting all-in-one project management with time tracking included

• Free forever plan with unlimited tasks and members

• Manual and automatic time tracking per task

• Time estimates, reminders, and workload views

• Native integrations with Trello, Slack, and Google Drive

From what I’ve seen, ClickUp is often chosen when teams want time tracking baked into a full project management system, especially for startups and tech teams.

17. Bitrix24

Best for: Businesses needing time tracking with CRM and communication tools

• Free plan with up to 5 users

• Time tracking, attendance, and work reports

• Project management, CRM, and internal chat included

• On-premise and cloud options available

Bitrix24 comes up frequently in small business discussions because it offers time tracking along with CRM and collaboration tools, making it useful for companies looking for a broader solution in one dashboard.

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Category Recommendations

I feel these are good picks if your team needs planning tools alongside time tracking

From what I’ve seen, tools like Paymo, Harvest, and TrackingTime make it easier to track time while also handling things like budgets, Gantt charts, and invoicing. If your team works on multiple projects and needs everything in one place, these options seem practical. People also mention Everhour and MyHours as solid alternatives for medium to larger teams that need more advanced reporting features.

For freelancers and small teams, I think these tools keep it simple

If you just want to track time without getting overwhelmed by features you’ll never use, Clockify and Toggl Track come up a lot in discussions. They keep things clean with basic manual entries, timers, and reports—great for freelancers or smaller teams that don’t need complex project setups.

If monitoring your team’s activity is your priority, I’d consider these

Some businesses really want to see how their teams spend time during work hours, and tools like TimeCamp and DeskTime are often mentioned for that purpose. They offer options like screenshots, activity scoring, and even productivity trends to help managers understand what’s going on.

These seem useful if you want to improve focus and reduce distractions

Knowledge workers often talk about how hard it is to avoid distractions. From what I’ve read, Timely, RescueTime, and ActivityWatch are popular because they automatically track where your time goes and offer insights that help with focus—not just counting hours but actually improving how you work.

For tracking shifts and attendance in jobs on the move, these seem reliable

In industries like retail, healthcare, or construction, teams need tools to clock in and out, manage shifts, and track attendance. Connecteam gets mentioned a lot for features like geofencing and mobile punch-ins, while Homebase seems useful in food service and hospitality for making shift management easier.

Quick Comparison Table of the Best Free Time Tracking Apps

Key Takeaways

• Unlimited vs. Limited Plans: Tools like Clockify, TimeCamp, and ClickUp allow unlimited users, while others like Toggl Track, MyHours, and Bitrix24 have user limits on their free tiers.

• Freelancers and Simple Needs: Clockify, Toggl Track, and MyHours are regularly mentioned by freelancers for being simple and quick to set up.

• Teams Wanting Project Management Plus Time Tracking: Paymo, ClickUp, Bitrix24, and Harvest offer time tracking as part of wider project management suites, useful when you want everything in one workspace.

• Privacy-First and Offline Options: ActivityWatch and TimeCamp provide offline tracking, with ActivityWatch offering a self-hosted privacy-first approach.

• Best for Employee Monitoring: TimeCamp, DeskTime, and Bitrix24 provide monitoring tools like screenshots and activity reports.

• Integration-Friendly Choices: ClickUp, Clockify, TimeCamp, and Toggl Track offer helpful integrations with Trello, Asana, Slack, and other common work apps.

FAQs

How can I track my work hours for free?
Sign up for a free plan on Clockify, Toggl Track, or Paymo—install desktop/mobile apps and start the timer.

What is the best free time tracking app?
For teams: Clockify; for freelancers: Toggl Track; for invoicing: Paymo; for privacy: ActivityWatch.

Which free time tracker lets me add unlimited team members?
Clockify and TimeCamp offer truly unlimited users on their free tiers.

How can I track my freelance hours for free?
Use Toggl Track or MyHours for detailed client and task-based logging without fees.

Is there a free time tracking app with idle detection?
Yes—Clockify, Toggl Track, and TimeCamp all include idle‑detection prompts.

Can I use a free time tracker offline?
ActivityWatch is fully offline; Toggl Track and Clockify cache entries until you reconnect.

Best free time tracking app for Android?
Clockify, Toggl Track, and Jibble lead the pack with full-featured Android apps.

Free vs paid time tracker: Which should I choose?
Start with free for basic needs; upgrade when you require advanced invoicing, custom roles, or deeper analytics.

Free time tracker that integrates with Trello or Asana?
Clockify and TimeCamp both offer seamless Trello/Asana integrations.

Which free time app has the best reporting features?
Clockify’s customizable dashboards and Toggl’s straightforward reports are top choices.

How do I set up a free time tracking app for my team?

1. Sign up on the app’s website

2. Invite teammates

3. Create projects/clients

4. Install desktop/mobile apps

5. Start tracking and review reports

Is ClickUp a good free time tracking app?
Yes, ClickUp includes time tracking in its free forever plan alongside project and task management features, making it popular among startups and teams who want everything in one workspace.

Can I track time and manage projects for free in Bitrix24?
Bitrix24’s free plan covers up to 5 users and includes project time tracking, work reports, attendance tools, and even CRM, which many small businesses find helpful.

Which free app is better for all-in-one project management with time tracking?
From what people say, ClickUp is more popular with tech teams for modern workflows, while Bitrix24 appeals to businesses needing CRM and communication features alongside time tracking.

Is there a free time tracking app with both project planning and invoicing?
Paymo combines time tracking, project management, and invoicing within its free plan, but you can also explore Bitrix24 for project work and ClickUp for advanced task planning.

Conclusion

Choosing the right free time tracking app boils down to your team’s size, your need for invoicing or project management, and how much manual versus automated tracking you prefer. Whether you’re a solo freelancer, a growing startup, or a privacy‑minded developer, there’s a no‑cost solution tailored for you. Ready to boost your productivity? Sign up for the one that fits your workflow best, and start reclaiming your hours today.