Best Time Tracker Apps: Top 5 Picks for Remote Work & Freelancers

Whether you’re a freelancer juggling multiple projects or a remote worker trying to stay focused, the best time tracker app can help streamline your workflow, track billable hours, and enhance efficiency.

With many time tracker apps in 2025, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the top freelancer time tracking tools, comparing their features, pricing, and usability to help you find the perfect fit.

Why Time Tracker Apps Matters for Remote Work and Freelancers

Remote work and freelancing come with unique challenges: distractions, the risk of overworking, and billing headaches. Without tracking, it’s easy to lose both time and money. Understanding how time tracking works and what a time tracker is can significantly improve productivity and budget management. Here are the key benefits:

Benefits of Time Tracker Apps: 

• Accurate Billing: Time trackers ensure Freelancers log billable hours correctly, crucial for invoicing clients accurately.
• Productivity Management: They help identify time-wasting activities, improving efficiency, especially in distraction-prone remote settings
• Work-Life Balance: By tracking work hours, these apps help maintain boundaries, preventing overwork and supporting mental health (source: Monitask)
• Project Management: Time tracking aids in managing deadlines and project progress, which is essential for juggling multiple tasks
• Tax and Financial Management: Detailed time records support expense tracking for tax deductions, an often-overlooked benefit

Ready to tackle these challenges? Let’s explore the best time tracker apps for 2025 that can transform how you work.

Top 5 Best Time Tracker Apps 2025

Here’s a detailed look at the top time tracker apps 2025 has to offer, designed to meet the needs of remote workers and freelancers alike.

1. Toggle Track

Toggle Track is a user-friendly and highly efficient time tracker app designed for freelancers and remote workers. Known for its one-click timer, Toggl Track is accessible across web, desktop, and mobile, ensuring seamless tracking wherever you work. The app integrates with 100+ tools, including Asana, Trello, and Slack, making it easy to streamline workflows and manage projects.

Its detailed reporting system provides insights into time spent on tasks and projects, helping freelancers generate client invoices and improve personal productivity. Toggl Track offers a free plan with basic tracking and reporting, while paid plans start at $10 per user per month, unlocking billable rates, team management, and project dashboards.

1.1 Advantages

✔️ One-click time tracking across all devices

✔️ 100+ integrations with popular project management tools

✔️ Detailed reporting for productivity analysis & invoicing

✔️ Intuitive interface with an easy learning curve

✔️ Robust free plan with unlimited tracking

1.2 Disadvantages

❌ No built-in invoicing – requires integration with third-party tools

❌ Limited team collaboration features in the free plan

❌ Lacks automatic tracking – requires manual start/stop

2. Harvest

Harvest is an all-in-one solution that combines time tracking, invoicing, and expense management, making it an excellent choice for freelancers who need financial management alongside time tracking. It integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks, Xero, and PayPal, making it easy to generate and send invoices based on tracked hours.

Harvest also offers detailed project insights, allowing freelancers and agencies to monitor profitability and progress. Available on web, desktop, and mobile, the app ensures easy access from anywhere. While there’s no free plan, it provides a 30-day free trial, and paid plans start at $12 per user per month.

2.1 Advantages

 ✔️ Time tracking + invoicing in one platform

✔️ Seamless payment integrations with QuickBooks, PayPal, and Stripe

✔️ Project budgeting and cost tracking for freelancers & agencies

✔️ User-friendly interface with clear reporting

✔️ Multi-user collaboration features for teams

2.2 Disadvantages

❌ No free version – only a 30-day trial

❌ Lacks automatic tracking – requires manual input

❌ More expensive than some alternatives

3. Clockify

Clockify is a budget-friendly time tracker offering a free plan with unlimited users, projects, and tracking. Its customizable timers, detailed reports, and offline tracking make it a top choice for freelancers and startups looking for a free, robust tool.

Clockify integrates with tools like Asana and Trello, making it suitable for project management. While the free plan covers most essential needs, paid upgrades start at $3.99 per user per month for features like time audits and advanced reporting.

3.1 Advantages

✔️ Completely free plan with unlimited tracking & users

✔️ Simple and user-friendly interface

✔️ Works offline – great for remote workers with unstable internet

✔️ Integrates with project management tools

✔️ Scalable for small teams & businesses

3.2 Disadvantages

❌ Lacks advanced automation – no automatic tracking like RescueTime

❌ Basic reporting in the free version – premium version needed for deeper insights

❌ No built-in payroll integration

4. TimeCamp

TimeCamp is a powerful automatic time tracker that logs time spent on tasks and applications without requiring manual input. This is a huge advantage for freelancers who often forget to start timers.

The app also offers productivity reports, invoicing tools, and GPS tracking, making it an excellent choice for both remote and on-site workers. Timecamp provides a free plan for basic tracking, with paid plans starting at $3 per user per month.

4.1 Advantages

✔️ Automatic tracking – no need to start/stop timers manually

✔️ Comprehensive productivity reports for time analysis

✔️ Affordable pricing – great for freelancers on a budget

✔️ GPS tracking – useful for mobile workers

✔️ Invoicing and billing features included

4.2 Disadvantages

❌ Lacks extensive integrations – not as many as Toggl or Clockify

❌ Requires some setup to enable automatic tracking properly

❌ UI feels slightly outdated compared to competitors

5. Timely

Timely is an AI-powered time tracking app that automatically categorizes time entries based on your activities. This feature reduces manual effort, making it ideal for freelancers managing multiple projects.

Timely also offers project management tools, time allocation insights, and strong data privacy controls. While there’s no free plan, a 14-day trial is available, with pricing starting at $11 per user per month.

5.1 Advantages

✔️ AI-powered automatic time tracking

✔️ Minimal manual effort required – auto-categorizes tasks

✔️ Privacy-focused – does not track keystrokes/screenshots

✔️ Ideal for managing multiple projects

✔️ Clean and intuitive user interface

5.2 Disadvantages

❌ No free plan – only a 14-day trial

❌ Higher cost than some alternatives

❌ Lacks invoicing tools – requires third-party integration

Detailed Comparision of the Best Time Tracker Apps

Here’s a quick snapshot to compare the best time tracker apps at a glance:

This table makes it easy to weigh your options based on budget, features, and specific freelancer time tracking needs.

How to Choose the Right Time Tracker App for you

1. Set Your Budget

If you need a free option, Clockify offers unlimited tracking and users at no cost, making it ideal for freelancers and small teams. If you're willing to invest in advanced features like invoicing and expense tracking, Harvest provides excellent value with plans starting at $12 per month.

2. Prioritize Invoicing and Billing Features

For freelancers who frequently bill clients, Harvest is the best choice with its built-in invoicing and expense management features. It allows users to generate invoices directly from tracked time and integrate with payment platforms like PayPal and QuickBooks. Timecamp also includes invoicing features, but it’s not as robust as Harvest’s.

3. Look for Ease of Use

If you prefer a simple, intuitive interface, Toggl Track and Timely are great choices. Both apps provide easy-to-use dashboards and one-click timers, making them ideal for beginners or those who want hassle-free time tracking. Timely’s AI-powered tracking further reduces manual entry, automatically categorizing work time.

4. Consider Remote Work and Flexibility

If you work remotely or have a flexible schedule, Timecamp’s automatic tracking ensures that all work time is logged without manual input. This is especially useful for freelancers who frequently switch between tasks. If managing remote employees, Hubstaff offers additional workforce monitoring features, including GPS tracking and automated payroll.

5. Decide Between Solo or Team Use

 If you’re an independent freelancer, Toggl Track and Harvest offer the best balance of ease of use and invoicing tools. For teams, Clockify stands out with its unlimited free user access, making it a budget-friendly choice for growing businesses.

Conclusion

Finding the best time tracker app is key for freelancers, remote workers, and businesses aiming to boost productivity, track billable hours, and streamline project management. Whether you need basic tracking, invoicing features, or team collaboration tools, there’s an option that suits your needs.

With many apps offering free plans or trials, testing a few will help you find the best fit. The right tool will enhance efficiency, simplify billing, and improve time management, helping you stay organized and productive.