5 Best Time Tracking Software for Architects
In a dynamic and time-sensitive work environment, architects like you usually need to juggle multiple projects with tight deadlines.
To handle it, you need reliable time tracking software (aka timesheet software) that streamlines architectural project workflows, helps to accurately bill clients, and to optimize resource allocation.
Looking for the best time tracking software for architects? Just found it!
“Thanks to Timeular, the billable hours we enter on timesheets are accurate and provide better value to the clients for our time” – Leona, Senior Architect at Farnsworth Group
This is why in this article, you will find a list of 5 best time tracking software for architects that help with efficient time management, productivity enhancement, and work goals.
The Best time tracking software for architects
1. Timeular – No 1 time tracking software for architects
Timeular is an intuitive and user-friendly time tracking app used by architecture and engineering firms, as well as other professionals who want to track their time in under one minute a day and:
- Increase billable hours
- Improve their productivity
- Create automated time tracking reports
“I could never get time tracking to work effectively. That’s changed now thanks to Timeular”
Rachael, Senior Developer
How an architecture firm uses Timeular to prioritize projects and capture billable time
Key features
- It makes time tracking simple and fun! Thanks to a modern and intuitive interface, intelligent time tracking methods, and a physical Tracker, time tracking with Timeular is so effortless that you actually enjoy it.
- Automatic tracking. See which apps, docs, and websites you’ve used at which time and what was in your calendar, and then add them to your time tracking overview in one click! Your privacy is protected 100%: The data is stored solely on your local machine, so nobody else can access it.
- Time expense tracking – keep project budget in check. Set a budget for each project and receive alerts when you are getting close to exceeding it. Results: Track project progress to avoid exceeding budgets and undercharging.
- Simple and precise tracking of billable hours. Define each tracked activity as billable or non-billable and assign hourly billing rates to capture all tasks performed for a client and bill them accordingly.
- It’s perfect for teams. Projects run by architects often involve collaboration among teams and multiple stakeholders. Timeular offers features that facilitate efficient resource allocation and seamless team collaboration. Architects can track their own time and share time entries, notes, and tags with team members. Shared folders enable real-time visibility into project progress, enabling better coordination and maximizing team productivity.
- Overwork and leave tracking. Architects can bring even more transparency to their reports, tracking when they have time off and if they are overworked for a project. Learn more on leave tracking in Timeular.
- Precise reports for client satisfaction. Architects can generate transparent and detailed reports, providing clients with a clear breakdown of the work completed and fostering trust and transparency in the billing process. Automated time tracking reports, customizable to individual and client requirements, ensure clear communication and transparency.
- Flexibility with a mobile app. Architects are often on the move, visiting construction sites or meeting with clients. Timeular offers mobile apps for iOS and Android, providing architects with the flexibility to track time wherever they are.
- It helps to build a time tracking habit. Timeular is widely known for its physical time tracking cube that connects to the app via Bluetooth. As you can easily customize it through colorful stickers and pens, the 8-sided dice serves as a physical reminder that sits on your desk.
“I am not one that finds joy in tracking my time. Thankfully, I can now simply flip the Timeular Tracker.”
Melissa, Senior Analyst in Health
Build a time tracking habit with the Timeular Tracker
“I would highly recommend Timeular for small teams like ours. Timeular has been a game-changer for us, and we couldn’t be happier with our choice” – Keith Reynolds, CEO of spokemedia.io
Ratings
- App Store: 4.6/5
- Capterra: 4.6/5
Timeular Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Team-focused features: shared folders, tags, and notes | 30-day free trial but no free plans |
| Time tracking with keyboard shortcuts | |
| Intuitive calendar-like interface | |
| Mobile app, web app, and desktop app | |
| 3,000 integrations with architect project management software, task management tools, and other solutions | |
| Tracks billable and non-billable hours | |
| Project costs under control: expense tracking software | |
| Physical Tracker | |
| Mobile app, web app and desktop app |
Pricing plans
- 30-day Free Trial
- Personal: 6,30 EUR per month paid yearly (8 EUR paid monthly)
- Personal Pro: 9,60 EUR per month paid yearly (12 EUR paid monthly)
- Team: 14,60 EUR per month paid yearly (18 EUR paid monthly)
Start tracking time with Timeular. Test 30 days for free
“Thanks to Timeular, the billable hours we enter on timesheets are accurate and provide better value to the clients for our time” – Leona, Senior Architect at Farnsworth Group
2. Time Doctor
Time Doctor, an effective Timecamp substitute, is a robust and specialized time tracking software for architects to measure and enhance productivity effectively. With its comprehensive set of features, Time Doctor offers not only employee time tracking but also project management and budgeting functionalities, making it a versatile tool for architectural teams.
One of Time Doctor’s capabilities is employee monitoring, which includes features such as screenshots, screen recording, and activity level monitoring. These features aim to provide managers with detailed insights into employee work patterns and improve accountability. However, it is important to acknowledge that such monitoring features can potentially raise privacy concerns among employees.
While Time Doctor offers numerous benefits in terms of time tracking, project tracking, and productivity analysis, it is crucial to obtain employee buy-in and address privacy concerns for accurate and effective time tracking data. Without the acceptance and cooperation of employees, tracking time data accurately becomes challenging, potentially impacting the overall efficiency and reliability of the time management software.
Key features
- Employee monitoring
- Project time tracking
- Detailed reporting
- Distraction alerts
- Screenshots, screen recording, and activity levels
Ratings
- Capterra: 4.5/5
Time Doctor pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Distraction alerts | Privacy Concerns |
| Offline time tracking | Employee monitoring |
| Mobile app | |
| Email notifications |
Pricing plans
- Basic (70$ user/year)
- Standard (100$ user/year)
- Premium (200$ user/year)
- 14-day free trial
Read: The best Time Doctor alternatives
3. Toggl Tracker
Toggl Tracker is a popular time tracking and billing software for architects. With Toggl Track, you can record time across the web app, desktop app, mobile app, or browser extension with just one click, and all your entries will sync automatically.
Another helpful feature is idle detection, where the app reminds you when you aren’t using your computer and offers to correct your timeline.
Whether you’re an independent architect, a remote worker, or part of a larger organization, this top-rated timesheet app provides flexible features like project tagging, reminders, and customizable reports.
While Toggl serves as a solid tool for basic time tracking, it might not be optimal for individuals seeking heightened precision in their time tracking and reporting. The methodology of tracking time in Toggl can lead to occasional oversights in switching between activities, consequently yielding less precise reports.
Moreover, it lacks integration capabilities with physical time tracking devices, which significantly help to build a time tracking habit.
Key features
- Tracking team’s productivity
- Tracking billable hours
- Tracking project budgets
- Reporting
- Payroll
- Integrations with project management tools
Ratings
- Capterra: 4.7/5
Read: Toggl vs. Timeular
Key features
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free plan available | No physical tracker |
| No employee monitoring | Limited functionality in the free version |
| Multi-user collaboration | Limited team management features |
| Limited budget tracking |
Pricing plans
- Free: $0
- Starter: $10/seat paid yearly ($9 if paid monthly)
- Premium: $20/seat paid yearly ($18 if paid monthly)
- Enterprise: Custom pricing plans
4. Harvest
Harvest is a feature-rich time tracking tool for architects, and also one of the best time tracking apps for designers, who need to streamline time management for users. In addition to simplifying time tracking, Harvest also offers automation for invoicing and reporting, enhancing overall efficiency.
With an extensive list of integrations encompassing time analytics, reporting apps, architect project management software, productivity tools, and finance software, Harvest works seamlessly with various applications to provide a comprehensive experience.
Harvest is accessible across multiple platforms, including online, desktop software, and a dedicated mobile app, ensuring users can conveniently access their time tracking and management tools.
While Harvest does not introduce revolutionary features, it serves as a reliable option for those seeking a straightforward application to meet their time tracking needs. However, it is worth noting that despite its solid functionality, Harvest has received mixed reviews on the Google Play Store, with a rating of 2.8. Recent updates have been criticized by users for slowing down the app and making it challenging to use.
Key features
- Desktop and mobile app
- Custom reminders
- Personal reports
- Invoice management
- 50+ integrations
Pricing plans
- Free plan: 1 set, 2 projects
- Pro: $12/per seat paid yearly ($10 if paid monthly)
Ratings
- Capterra: 4.6/5
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Harvest offers a free trial for 30 days although it’s limited to one user and two projects | Users report that recent updates to the mobile app created glitches and made the app slower. |
| You can track time wherever you work — desktop, browser, and mobile | Users are generally not happy with the new interface and say it became overly complicated, slow, and clunky. |
| Some users have reported occasional issues with working offline |
Read also: The best alternatives to Harvest
5. Hubstaff
Hubstaff is a robust and comprehensive time clock software designed for effective employee time monitoring and management. With features like accurate time tracking, GPS-based location monitoring, a project management tool, and invoicing functionalities, Hubstaff is a popular time tracking solution for teams and a great substitute for Desktime.
One standout feature of Hubstaff is its automatic time tracking capability, eliminating manual time entry and ensuring precise recording of work hours. This streamlines payroll and invoicing processes, saving time and reducing administrative burdens.
The GPS tracking feature is especially beneficial for mobile workers, allowing managers to stay informed about their location and optimize resource allocation. This enhances productivity and facilitates efficient workflow management.
It’s important to note that while Hubstaff is highly regarded as a top employee time tracking software, some individuals may find it intrusive and potentially promote toxic micromanagement. Hubstaff tracks keyboard and mouse activity, raising concerns about privacy and autonomy.
Key features
- GPS tracking
- Mobile, desktop, and web-based time tracking apps
- Tracking time off, holidays and breaks
- Automated tracking
- Payroll integration features
Ratings
- Capterra: 4.6
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Hubstaff is easy to use and it has a user-friendly extension and app. | The Chrome extension crashes frequently |
| Hubstaff offers a free trial for 14 days. It has a free plan for individuals. | Some users feel uncomfortable with the level of monitoring provided |
| Smaller teams or organizations with a more flexible work structure might find the software to be too robust for them | |
| Hubstaff integrates with over 30 apps, which is not much compared to other options on the market |
Pricing plans (time tracking only)
- Time Free – $0 for one user only
- Time Starter – $5.83 per user per month ($7 if paid yearly)
- Time Pro – $8.33 per user per month ($10 if paid yearly)
Read: The best alternatives to Hubstaff
Key features of a time tracking app for architects
Key features of a time tracking tool for architecture firms typically include:
- Accurate time tracking: The app should provide precise and reliable time tracking capabilities, allowing architects to track their working hours spent on different projects and tasks.
- Collaboration tools: Architects often work in teams. A time tracking app should provide team-friendly features that allow for smooth team collaboration.
- Mobile app: Architects may need to track time on the go or while visiting project sites. A time tracking app with a mobile version allows architects to easily track and manage their time from their smartphones or tablets.
- User-friendly interface: An intuitive and user-friendly interface makes it easier for architects to navigate the app, track time, and access key features without confusion or a steep learning curve.
- Privacy and security: As time tracking involves sensitive data, the app should prioritize privacy and data security, adhering to industry standards and regulations to protect user information.
- Projects, folders and tags: Architects often work on multiple tasks within numerous projects. The app should allow them to categorize and label tasks, making it easier to track time spent on specific activities.
- Reporting and analytics: The app should provide comprehensive reporting and time analytics tools, allowing architects to generate detailed reports on time allocation, project progress, billable working hours, and productivity. Visualizations and time tracking data insights can help architects make informed decisions and optimize workflows.
- Integration capabilities: Seamless integration with other tools commonly used by architects, such as a project management tool, accounting software, and communication tools, can enhance productivity and streamline workflows.
By offering these key features, a time tracking app tailored for an architecture firm can help them efficiently manage their time, improve productivity, accurately bill clients, and optimize project workflows.
To choose the best time-tracking software for architects, architecture firms need to take into consideration how they want to track billable hours, manage projects and create time estimates.
Conclusions
This article provided a detailed overview of the top 5 time tracking software options for architects. Each time management software offers unique features and benefits to enhance time management, productivity, and project workflows.
While all the mentioned options have their strengths and weaknesses, architects need to consider their specific needs and preferences when selecting a time tracking software.
Ultimately, the best time tracking software for architects will depend on individual and team time tracking software requirements and the desired balance between features, usability, and privacy considerations.
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