We get it, it’s no wonder MS Excel is your go-to choice, as you’ve probably been exposed to it for countless functions already. And it’s been effective, we’re not debating its benefits or functionality.

But rather challenging you to see that Excel time tracking can take your business/processes only to a point, whereas an application designed specifically for this purpose, frees up time for decision-making and helps scale faster.

Looking for an automated and effective time tracking alternative to Excel?

Try Timeular for free

Still, in this article, you will find a step-by-step guide on tracking time in Excel and its downsides, a free Excel timesheet template created by us, and an automated time-tracking tool loved by 10,000 teams: Timeular.

Time tracking in a spreadsheet

Regardless of the purpose of time tracking in Excel, you’d first need to understand the process and learn how to create templates. Here’s a step-by-step process of how it is typically done:

1. Create a time tracking template 

• Open a new Excel spreadsheet & start labeling columns; 
• Label with Date, Employee Name, Project/Client Name, Task Description, Start Time, End Time, Total Hours, and any other relevant details (like Billable or Non-Billable hours)

2. Set up data validation

• Use Excel’s data validation feature to create dropdown lists for common entries, such as project names or tasks, to ensure consistency.
• Apply data validation rules to prevent incorrect data entry (e.g., the end time cannot be earlier than the start time).

3. Incorporate formulas

• Insert formulas to calculate total hours worked. This can be done by subtracting the Start Time from the End Time.
• If the template tracks billable hours, include a formula to multiply the hours by the hourly rate.

4. Distribute the template

• Share your time-tracking template with your team. This can be done via email, a shared network drive, or cloud storage platforms like OneDrive or SharePoint.

5. Track time daily or weekly

• Ideally, the team fills in their time entries daily or weekly, inputting the necessary information in the respective columns.

Read also: How to measure team productivity.

6. Compile the data: 

• At regular intervals (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly), collect the filled templates from all employees.
• Compile the data into a master sheet for overall analysis and record-keeping.

7. Analyze the data and create reports:

• Use Excel’s features such as PivotTables, charts, and filters to analyze the compiled data for insights into workload distribution, project costs, or productivity.
• Generate reports as needed for better management, billing, payroll purposes, or process optimization.

8. Regular updates and maintenance

• Regularly update the template to add new projects or tasks and remove completed ones.
• Modify the template as necessary to adapt to changes in workflow or reporting requirements.

9. Review and validation

• Periodically review the time entries for accuracy and completeness.
• Follow up with team members for any discrepancies or missing entries.

Read also: Ways for keeping track of employee hours

Using Excel pre-defined templates

If you’re looking for a simpler way of tracking time in Excel, to speed up your process, you can use one of the time tracking templates we created for you:

6 Excel’s time-tracking limitations

As presented above, the steps to create your time tracking sheet in Excel involve a lot of time, firstly to create the system, and then maintaining it, while keeping everyone accountable for filling it in. While Excel can be versatile, it is prone to human error and requires significant manual effort, particularly for larger teams. Even if you use a predefined template, you’ll stumble upon challenges such as:

1. Lack of scalability – as your business or team expands, you may find that Excel is outgrown too, and most probably will struggle to keep up. Once you get past several employees or a volume of data, it gets difficult to make sense of it;
2. Error-prone due to manual input – manual data entry from many stakeholders using it, comes with a likelihood of errors. Inputting hours, client or project names can lead to inaccurate time records;
3. Limited reporting capabilities – Excel lacks sophisticated reporting capabilities, and makes it difficult to gain insights into productivity or efficiency at a glance;
4. Lack of automation – Excel lacks features such as automatic stop-start timers, or tracking work for its users in the background automatically, while they perform their tasks.
5. No real-time data – As Excel isn’t inherently a collaboration tool, timesheets are filled in and collected from teams at specific times, which does not offer a bird eye view of the current state of a project or task. 
6. Security and data integrity: The Excel files can be prone to corruption, loss, or even unauthorized access. 

Timeular: Effortless time-tracking alternative to Excel

Timeular is a versatile time-recording app that offers users flexible ways of tracking and managing their time.

From tracking time physically, to manually and automatically, Timeular makes it easy to stay on top of your projects and improve your productivity.

But what exactly makes Timeular the best alternative to time-tracking in a spreadsheet?

Track time in your preferred way

Choose the time tracking method that suits you best – automated time tracking, using a physical time Tracker or keyboard shortcuts – you’re able to use all this array with Timeular.

This way you’re able to speed up your tracking process, while actually enjoying it, and on top, benefit of a clean, calendar-like interface.

• Note: In the above image, you’re seeing how automatic time tracking works in Timeular – it essentially captures all the activities you and your team performed. So that no time goes untracked!

Physical time tracker

The task timer cube transforms your time-tracking experience into an intuitive and interactive experience. All you’ll need to do is to rotate the tracker to switch between tasks, while the physical rotation will be immediately reflected on your time tracking software.

As the physical rotation mimics the workflow, it can be mastered in no time, so that you and your team cultivate a consistent and accurate time-tracking routine.

Note: Using the Tracker is not mandatory to use the Timeular app successfully.

Build a time tracking habit with a physical time tracking device

Track time seamlessly, using Timeular which works with or without the physical Tracker

Learn how it works

Done for you reports and insights

In contrast to Excel, Timeular provides detailed reports and insights into how time is spent across different activities. This removes any manual interference, or handling Pivot tables, which can be cumbersome.

The data is generated visually, it’s intuitive to run through it, and empowers teams and managers to make quick, informed decisions to optimize workflows or enhance productivity.

Real-time data from your team

While in Excel you’d have to share a template with your team, remind them to fill it in, and wait for it to be completed even for weeks, in Timeular, you’re able to see the progress on a project in 24 hours, as a manager.

The entire team has their account, and through the employee timesheet software, their timesheets are completed as they perform their tasks.

This way, you’ll benefit from real-time data, you’ll save time and have the capacity to be proactive in preventing efficiency issues or roadblocks.

Find out more about the productivity time tracker.

Tracking billable hours

Unlike Excel, Timeular works as a billable hour tracker too, to ensure that you bill clients accurately, as well as fair compensation for every hour of work for the team. This way, you won’t need a formula to calculate hours worked.

Having the option to capture both billable and non-billable hours can help you re-think your pricing and increase your business profitability.

Manage work hours, time off and overtime

Timeular works as an employee hours tracker, and automatically logs those additional hours for your project or team, based on its overtime tracker. The system calculates automatically both overtime and shortfall hours, as per the pre-set regular hours and recorded leaves.

You’re also allowed to monitor and handle all types of leaves, with Timeular’s leave tracking system.

Integrations

Timeular effortlessly integrates with the most popular tools from project management to collaboration platforms, and your go-to calendars.

These integrations allow all your time logs to be captured and synced automatically in the tools you utilize.

Integrations:

• Google Calendar time tracking integration
• Slack time tracking integration
• Time tracking in Notion

Conclusions

If this article made you contemplate at the omnipresent Excel templates, and you’ve come to the conclusion that they’re not satisfying your time-tracking needs, as they’re manually intensive, prone to human error, and time-consuming, the best alternative is to use a comprehensive time-tracking solution, such as Timeular.

Timeular is a multifaceted time-tracking platform, allowing you to track time both automatically and manually, generate visual reports without manual interference, have access to real-time data, and track billable or non-billable hours.

Such a tool will, in the end, empower you to improve productivity, track employee performance at a glance, and increase profitability, as it automates and speeds up your processes.

Create a free Timeular account

Ditch chasing Excel timesheets and turn time tracking into a task so easy that your team will even enjoy it

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You might be interested in:

• Strategies to improve team performance
• What is project tracking?
• Xero time tracking integration
• How do consultants track their time?
• Zendesk time tracking

The post Excel Time Tracking: How to Do It, and Its Shortcomings appeared first on Timeular.

Consultants often track time as a practice that extends beyond mere clock-punching or scribbling notes during tasks. It involves effective time management, resource optimization and leveraging time for maximum efficiency.

For that reason, professionals in this industry, often find themselves on the lookout for time tracking software for consultants, that can help them from monitoring project costs, to speed up completion of their consultant timesheets, to accurately bill clients.

Looking for the best time tracking tool for consultants?

Thousands of consulting businesses track their time with Timeular!

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So, whether you’re looking for the best time tracking software, or to understand the concept of time tracking for consultants, in this article we’ve expanded on its necessity, and the key features such a tool should include for the best results.

What is consultant time tracking?

Time tracking is the process of recording the number of hours worked, over a certain period, on a task or client project.

Using time tracking as a work tool allows for monitoring and logging work hours.

Time tracking can be performed manually (for example, Excel time tracking by using Excel sheets – by using predefined timesheet templates) or automatically via time tracking software.

Ultimately, the time tracking process will perform as a time doctor for the consultant’s progress and performance.

Read also: What is project management tracking?

Why is time tracking necessary for consultants?

A consultant’s time might go beyond the traditional employee time clock or standard workday; it involves a meticulous logging of each task and activity.

By diligently recording work hours, a consultant timesheet can provide transparency and accountability in their projects.

Utilizing a consultant time tracking software, whether in a digital or physical format, allows for a detailed and organized approach to tracking billable hours.

This not only aids in fair invoicing, and keeping project costs on track, but also in evaluating the efficiency of time spent on client work.

As consultants usually work by the hour, they are paid based on hourly rates. So, keeping an accurate record of the hours spent working for clients is vital because they will be paid for those registered hours – the billable hours.

These are the main benefits of time tracking for consultants:

1. More transparency

As a consultant, you might generally be required to provide detailed reports on clients projects, which include the overall time spent on the project or even for certain activities.

In order to offer a comprehensive report, you need to track hours, be intentional with time entries on your consultant timesheet, and bill clients accurately.

In turn, you’re able to offer transparency regarding hours spent vs. billing which increases customer retention and improves consultant-client relationships, while informing your pricing for future client projects.

Learn how to calculate your billable hourly rate. 

2. Accuracy and better communication

By adding a time tracking process to your routine, you’ll be 100% aware of how much time and effort is spent on a particular project or client.

The data collected contributes to better time estimation for future projects and accurate billing, or even help you make informed decisions for custom billing rates, if need be.

In order to start collecting time tracking data, to help with the above, you can start using a time tracking software, as it removes any human error, and can automatically record all your billable hours on your behalf.

If you need help with billing, you might be interested in this guide about client billing.

Looking for the best time tracking tool for consultants?

Thousands of consulting businesses track their time with Timeular!

Try 30 days for free

We can easily forget important details that, down the line, may have a crucial role when presenting the results or billing a client.

Accurate time records provide real insights into consulting businesses different tasks, and allow for more efficient resource planning.

If data from a previous project shows that, for example, creating a communication plan takes three days, the consultant can consider that when doing the project management plan for a new client.

Shortly, better time estimations increase client satisfaction since you’ll meet expectations, and you’ll be able to better communicate both internally and externally, as you’re backed by data.

All the above will impact customer retention rates positively, too.

Read also: Ways to get consulting clients.

3. Higher profitability

Keeping track of work hours is also essential and required in identifying and increasing project profitability.

As a consulting business usually charges by the hour, all the time input must be accounted for as billable and non billable hours, since there isn’t the usual 9 to 5 to go from.

The hours tracked are precious time that is worth money. If billable hours are not tracked, the professionals and firms will do work for free and lose profit.

Tribes.ai

So, every activity noted on your project management tool, from the research time, meetings with clients, until the execution of the tasks, is billable. There’s no best time than the beginning of a new project to start diligently tracking every task.

Remember, this process is not about employee monitoring, or controlling employee schedules, but rather optimizing for productivity, and ultimately, profitability.

Besides profitability and productivity, you will learn to create a more accurate time map for yourself, as well as enhancing your task management skills.

4. Increased efficiency

Time tracking provides data on how time is spent with accuracy, and doesn’t leave space for error. With data at hand, you’re equipped to check the project progress, assign tasks differently based on employee performance or capacity, and thus, better optimize your project management.

Hence, the tight deadlines become more manageable, and overtime hours decrease, which can only lead to higher efficiency.

Besides using project management tools, having access to time tracking software for consultants, already adds a competitive edge to consulting teams.

The consultant time tracking software automates a considerable amount of the work, which means your consultant time can be dedicated to focus on what matters the most – being productive and project profitability.

Track time with Timeular to identify time-wasting tasks

Spend less time on unnecessary tasks and work on what matters the most

Learn how

Some tools are even more helpful than others because they allow consultants to export reports anytime. Automated time reports are essential for consultants to deliver and update clients on progress, while not consuming time on filling a consultant timesheet at the end of the week.

As a result, you’ll see a boost in employee efficiency and project managers, as well as for freelancers and the company.

You might be interested in our guide to improving business efficiency.

5. Improved focus

Time tracking improves employee productivity levels as it will help you focus on one task at a time, avoiding multitasking and cognitive overload.

According to a study, multitasking can decrease productivity by up to 45%, and multitasking without time tracking decreases productivity by nearly half. Employees who multitask are way less likely to be focused and not send client projects on time.

Hence, time tracking adds healthy pressure and helps professionals stay invested in one task at a time until they finish it.

Get to know the best tips to improve focus and concentration.

6. Better work/life balance

According to data gathered by Zippia, 67.2% of workers report that some aspect of their work, colleagues, or corporate culture is the biggest culprit behind poor work-life balance.

Time tracking can improve this statistic as it can be the basis for completing the work on time. As we explored above, efficiency is highly improved by using a time tracking app.

Billable and non billable hours become clearer; reports are issued faster. By helping with automation, deadlines are met in time, and workers avoid wasting time they can spend on personal life.

Mention: The best time tracking tools come up with the option of adding storing data on the user’s computer, locally, and we suggest for it not be assimilated to an employee monitoring or surveillance tool.

7. Visibility over every detail

If your scenario implies managing a team of consultants on multiple projects, then you probably need to handle an array of things such as: project costs, project budgets, chasing weekly timesheets and maybe generate invoices sometimes.

At the same time, every team member comes with individual development needs, work hours and particularities.

It sounds like a lot, and it’s understandable. This is why a time tracking tool is once again valuable.

It’ll speed up employee time tracking, by giving you timesheet templates already included in the timesheet app, and this way, you won’t need to be the time doctor of the team, but the software will take this role instead of you.

At the same time, individual reports generated with the time tracking apps will clarify quicker every consultant’s strength or improvement areas.

In essence, by tracking time with your team, you’ll be provided with all the data to proactively address roadblocks, and impact a project’s and your team’s success.

How to track time as a consultant? 

If you’re a consultant and have never time tracked before or are willing to improve your current process, this is the best time to dive into this guide!

First, you need to know that you can track your time using a timesheet, a calendar, an email, or a time-tracking tool.

As mentioned, a time-tracking app is the most accurate and easy to use because it’s automatic, and frees up the time spent in googling timesheet templates!

This activity goes beyond choosing the best time to work and pressing play on a tracker. It includes planning ahead. So, ensure you are clear on what tasks you need to track. Let’s see an example.

Example

If you tell a client you will work 6 hours on a project, those hours must be accounted for in detail. 

For example, from these 6 hours, you plan on spending 2 doing some research on the project’s needs and doing benchmark research on the competition.

After this, you’ll need another 2 hours to gather and analyze your findings. After that, you have 2 hours to work on a presentation and report.

For these three separate blocks of time, when will you track the time spent on each of them? How much time did you spend on each task? Consultant time tracking is essential for transparency and resource optimization (when needed).

Time tracking software for consultants

Having in mind the reasons for which consultant time tracking is necessary, and dare we say, even a standard for consulting services, the tool used in this pursuit has a big impact.

And there’s a lot of options for tracking time:

from an email or timesheet that requires a lot of manual work to an automated platform that brings extra benefits such as reporting, billing, and scheduling of breaks.

The choice depends on your needs and preferences, however it must include some key features. We’re listing here all the features that should be part or the best time tracking software for you.

Priority should be given to a tool that:

• It’s versatile: It’s able to track time across clients, projects, and tasks;
• Offers customizable consultant timesheets that can be edited seamlessly and efficiently;
• Offers automated visual reports that allows consultants to keep clients and stakeholders up to date on the progress;
• Offers flexible time logs, with the choice to track both automatically and manually;
• Offers security and privacy for your data – in this case, data could be stored locally only;
• Offers the option to track both billable and non billable hours, which help you to bill clients accurately;
• Allows seamless integration with the finance system used by the consultant, or other apps (calendars, e-mails, Asana, Gitlab, Slack, etc);
• Has dashboards that can be customized to your needs, with features like budget tracking to control project costs, work hours or leave tracking;
• Has a friendly user interface so no time is wasted in the process.

Success Story: discover how consultants improved their productivity with time tracking

Read more

What time-tracking software to use as a consultant? 

Timeular

Timeular is a versatile time-recording app that offers consultants flexible ways of tracking and managing their time, while freeing up more time to scale consulting services. From tracking time physically, to manually and automatically, Timeular makes it easy to stay on top of projects, and improve productivity. It helps consultants to capture both billable and non-billable hours, while keeping track of budgets accurately.

Timeular offers transparent, sharable, and automated reporting, making it easier for consultants, so they can be on top of things.

Other features that can be relevant for consultants within Timeular are: overtime, leave and work hours tracking.

Conclusion

As “time is money” weights differently for a consultant, time tracking comes up as a necessary evil, with countless benefits, as mentioned in this article.

In order to speed up the tracking process, you should consider using an automated time tracking tool that goes beyond a template’s limited features basic functionality. You’d need a tool that has a user friendly interface, generates automated reports for your clients and allows you to track fast, based on your preferred way.

Such features will free up your time to focus on what matters, while having better client relationships, better estimations, and ultimately increasing productivity and profitability.

FAQ

You might be interested in:

• How consultants are compensated
• Everything about business consultants’ fees
• How to sell consulting services
• The best time-tracking tools for freelancers
• How much should you charge for consulting services
• The best client billing tools

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The post Time Tracking for Consultants: The Ultimate Guide appeared first on Timeular.

A time audit provides a comprehensive breakdown of your daily activities, tasks, and commitments, highlighting areas where time is lost and helping you prioritize tasks to craft a more balanced schedule.

Looking for the best tool for your time audit? Try the most effortless time tracking solution

Try Timeular for free

Dive into our detailed guide to learn how to run a time audit, boost productivity, and master time management methods.

What’s a time audit?

A time audit is a method used to assess how time is spent on work-related activities over a designated period, often a week or a month. This technique is especially beneficial for identifying tasks that either contribute significantly to business goals or are less efficient.

In this process, you record all your work tasks and the duration of each. This detailed tracking helps pinpoint high-value activities and time-consuming tasks that might not yield equivalent returns. By analyzing this data, you can adjust your focus and time allocation to enhance overall work efficiency and effectiveness.

Why perform a time audit? Top benefits

1. You discover where your time goes

Regularly performing a time audit for work-related projects enables you to pinpoint all the tasks and activities that occupy your time.

This insight helps you understand how your time is spent and guides you in managing it more productively.

2. Time wasters and inefficiencies get busted

If you are a developer, how much time do you spend writing code? If you are a sales rep, how long do you spend on client calls? Are you spending longer on productive tasks or time-wasting activities?

A time audit reveals an accurate picture of how much time is wasted on non-productive activities and helps you and each team member make informed decisions about how to structure their workday more effectively.

TIP: Read our post and find out why you’re feeling unproductive.

3. You can prioritize and work more productively

Say goodbye to constantly missing deadlines on your most profitable projects! A time audit reveals the high-value tasks and activities that are most crucial to achieving your business goals.

Start your day with high-priority tasks. Often, just a small adjustment in your to-do list or morning routine can significantly boost your productivity and revenue.

Read also: How to organize, plan, and prioritize your work.

4. Accurate planning gets easier

You’ll have the data that you need to plan your days, weeks, and months in a more effective manner so that you have time for the important tasks.

5. Better work-life balance? Yes, please

A time audit exercise leads to improved prioritization and task management, reducing the need for overtime by ensuring work hours are used efficiently.

This effective allocation of time not only supports professional responsibilities but also frees up space for personal life, interests, and hobbies, fostering a healthier work-life balance.

6. Stress levels go down

Time audits enhance time management skills, which in turn reduce work-related stress by ensuring deadlines are met, and important project elements are not overlooked.

By clearly understanding how time is spent, client and team communication becomes more effective, reducing misunderstandings and workload imbalances, especially during high-pressure periods like the holiday season.

Furthermore, time audits allow for adjustments based on personal preferences, helping each team member craft their ideal day, and balancing work demands with personal well-being. This leads to a more relaxed and productive work environment.

• Read: How to deal with the work stress

7. You are much closer to your goals

Conducting a time audit and identifying high-priority activities to adjust your time accordingly helps you effectively work on your quarterly KPIs and achieve your career milestones faster.

More importantly, you get more aware of how to break large projects into smaller tasks and consolidate tasks that are similar to improve efficiency.

TIP: Read our post if you want to know the difference between short-term and long-term goals.

8. Continuous improvement

An in-depth analysis of your time usage allows you to track your progress in adapting time management skills like time blocking, or task batching.

At the same time, it gives you a better idea of how much time you need for specific tasks and how it’s changed over a time period. Maybe your daily tasks that used to take up a significant amount of time now take just an hour or two?

9. Self-development

When you’re learning even more about the way you spend your time and how to be better at it, you become more aware of your own self, which allows for good introspection and personal growth.

You might be interested in: The best free online time management training courses

10. Satisfaction guaranteed

Time audits guide employees to focus on essential tasks, increasing job satisfaction by fostering productivity and a sense of purpose. They also boost motivation, as employees see tangible results from meeting goals efficiently, enhancing their sense of achievement.

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How to run a time audit: A step-by-step guide

Perform a time audit by following the steps described below.

Choose your time frame

Select a period or time interval, like a week or a month, that best represents your typical daily routine for the audit.

Define categories

Break down your activities into categories such as work-related tasks, urgent tasks, personal tasks, leisure, commuting, meals, and breaks. If you create categories, it will be easier to run a later analysis.

Record every activity

Keep a comprehensive log of all your daily activities. You can use a notebook, a spreadsheet, or time-tracking software for accuracy and convenience.

Mark start and end times

While pen and paper is one viable option, using a digital time tracker or a physical time management device can make the process of logging start and finish times for each task, activity, or project much more effortless and faster.

These tools offer precision and convenience, simplifying the task of tracking how much time is allocated to different parts of your day.

Detail your activities

For a thorough time audit, it’s crucial to record each activity with extensive details.

This includes tagging activities, noting project names, specifying if a task is billable, and recording relevant details like hourly rates.

Such specificity not only enhances the audit’s effectiveness but also provides valuable insights into your time allocation and productivity.

Summarize

After your chosen audit period, calculate and summarize the time spent in each category to identify where most of your time goes.

Analyze and reflect

After completing the time audit, review the time audit template and log to analyze patterns in your time management and identify areas for improvement. Examine the data for trends and areas of unnecessary time expenditure.

Spot time-wasters

Identify time wasting activities that consume your time without adding much value.

For instance, certain routine tasks might take longer than necessary, or you might find that you’re spending a disproportionate amount of time on low-priority projects.

Reallocate and prioritize

Based on your analysis, prioritize tasks that significantly impact your goals. Delegate or minimize less important tasks that you used to spend your time on.

Draft a new schedule

Using your insights, create a structured daily schedule and to do list that aligns with your priorities and goals, allocating specific times to tasks.

Implement and tweak

Test your new schedule, making adjustments as needed to maintain optimal efficiency.

Regular reviews

Conduct audits periodically to monitor and refine how you spend your time, ensuring alignment with your set goals.

Example of a time audit template

16 Tips for maximizing results from a time audit

To optimize a time audit process and get the most out of it, consider the following tips:

1. Record your activities honestly and precisely.
2. Employ time tracking software to make the process smoother.
3. Set realistic and clear goals before starting a time audit.
4. Choose an appropriate time frame for thorough analysis.
5. Categorize activities with precision.
6. Analyze patterns to differentiate between productive and unproductive tasks.
7. Prioritize tasks that significantly impact your project.
8. Regularly reevaluate and question your established routines.
9. When planning a new schedule, allocate realistic time for each task.
10. Include buffer time for unforeseen interruptions, tasks, or delays.
11. Implement time-blocking techniques to dedicate specific periods to certain tasks.
12. Reduce multitasking as it can lower productivity, efficiency, and focus.
13. Delegate tasks where possible.
14. Regularly reflect on your progress and make adjustments as necessary.
15. Celebrate every improvement to maintain motivation.
16. Remain flexible to accommodate unexpected events that may affect your project.

Read also: How to delegate tasks to team members

How a time tracking tool helps to do a time audit

Time tracking tools are essential for conducting a thorough time audit. They provide detailed data and insights crucial for enhancing time management and boosting productivity. Below are key ways in which these tools aid in the effective execution of a time audit:

• Firstly, time tracking tools offer a real-time and objective record of how time is spent. Unlike relying on memory or estimations, a time tracking tool provides precise data on when tasks are started, paused, and completed. This data serves as an unfiltered account of work patterns, enabling an accurate representation of daily activities.
• Secondly, the time tracking app allows for detailed analysis. By categorizing tasks, projects, and activities, you can break down your workday into segments. This segmentation offers a clear picture of where your time is being invested. It helps in identifying time-consuming tasks, frequent interruptions, and bottlenecks, thereby facilitating the identification of areas that need optimization.
• Time tracking helps in assessing productivity. With the data collected, you can measure the time spent on tasks against the output generated. This comparison provides insights into your efficiency and helps in prioritizing tasks that yield high-value results. Time tracking also reveals any time leaks, enabling you to take steps to eliminate distractions and enhance your overall focus.
• Lastly, time tracking data serves as a valuable baseline for future planning and goal-setting. By analyzing your time tracking records, you can identify trends, allocate time more effectively, and set realistic goals for better time utilization. It provides a factual foundation for setting priorities, allocating resources, and making informed decisions regarding workload distribution.

Read also: What is a workload analysis and how to do it

Timeular: The best tool to help you run a time audit

Timeular stands as the most accurate and effortless time tracking software for teams and individuals. As an easy, smart and secure time tracking tool it helps you understand how you spend your time and assists you to identify high-priority activities.

Let’s take a look at the top features of Timeular proving that tracking time spent at work can be simple:

• Effortless time tracking – To track time, you don’t need to use a time-consuming pen and paper method any more. With simple and smart time tracking methods provided by Timeular, capturing your work hours and pinpointing activities that you spend your time on, is fast and effortless.
• A physical time tracker – At Timeular you can use different methods for tracking time. One of them includes using a physical time tracker to add new time entries. The Tracker is an 8-sided dice that you can personalize with stickers and pens and assign different activities to each side. It’s optional though – you don’t need it to use the app.
• Leave tracker and overtime tracker will help you keep track of PTO and all other types of leaves, as well as over-hours.
• Automatic time tracking – By enabling automatic tracking, you ask Timeular to track your app usage, visited websites and scheduled calendar events so that you can later on turn it into time entries without guestimating what you did last Monday at 2pm.
• Automated reports – The best part of Timeular is that it’s doing your time audit automatically. Insights are ready each day, week and month – sent directly to your email or accessible in the app.
• Tags and notes for time entries – Tags and billable/non-billable labels will help you to categorize your time entries. Use notes to add more details to each time entry for clarity.

Track time with zero effort!

“Timeular is the system we rely on in order to get accurately paid, so we are meticulous with our tracking and include every task.” – Kaitlin Snow Seamons, Executive Creative Director at Harmon Brothers

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Conclusion

A time audit is more than just a “one-and-done process”; it’s a continuous journey towards efficient time management. This audit log is essential in understanding how you’re spending your time and identifying which similar tasks align with your personal preferences and goals.

The insights gained enable you to make informed decisions, prioritizing impactful activities while delegating time-consuming ones. Although it requires dedication and self-reflection, tools like Timeular simplify the process of running your own time audit, helping to structure your schedule for enhanced focus and productivity.

The human brain benefits from this strategic approach, leading to improved concentration and overall efficiency.

You might be interested in:

• How to save time: the best ways to do it
• Time management statistics
• Time management training programs
• Why is time management an important soft skill in the present times?

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The post How to Do a Time Audit: A Step-by-Step Guide appeared first on Timeular.

We delve into the most effective strategies for tracking employee hours to boost employee productivity, pinpoint inefficiencies or time wasters, and reduce overtime. From manual methods to best time tracking apps, we cover a variety of time tracking techniques to fit your business needs.

Track your employee hours with Timeular – the tool loved by over 10,000 teams around the world

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This article is your key to integrating time tracking smoothly into your daily operations, fostering a more productive, balanced, and harmonious work environment.

Keep reading to discover the ideal time management solution for your team!

Reasons to track employee hours

If you’re wondering, ‘Should I be tracking employee hours too?’ the short answer is: Yes, particularly in the following scenarios:

• If your team includes hourly employees, it’s important for them to actively log their own time. This ensures accurate tracking of the time they spend on the job.
• When working with various clients and projects and billing by hours worked, accurate timesheets are necessary to invoice correctly and assess the profitability of each project. There are several compelling reasons for this. Let’s explore a few benefits of tracking employee hours.

Smooth payroll processing

First and foremost, without accurate employee timesheets, you won’t be able to process payroll accurately. You simply need to know many work hours your employees clocked in to pay them fairly. (What additionally streamlines a payroll process is a direct integration of your payroll software with your work time tracking app – more about that in the next chapter.)

The perfect way to increase your revenue

Secondly, tracking employee hours helps you optimize business operations and increase revenue. What does time tracking has to do with revenue, you’d ask. The keyword here is billable hours. If your team works for several different customers and projects, time tracking is essential for accurate client billing.

Additionally, by tracking the time of all team activities, you are able to identify the tasks and projects that generate the most significant income and substantially contribute to your business revenue.

Improved employee productivity

Tracking work hours is an excellent way to increase employee productivity. It helps you understand where your time goes and empowers you to make every minute of your employee time count.

Overtime and workload in check

Last but not least, tracking how many hours employees spend at work helps keep a healthy work-life balance. Workload management and overtime tracking suddenly become a breeze, aiding you in keeping team motivation and health in good condition.

Why is it so important to track time accurately?

Why is accurately tracking time so crucial? This is where the concept of the Time Monkey Effect comes into play. It illustrates how our emotions can warp our perception of time, leading to skewed estimations that can jeopardize project success.

When we’re engrossed in enjoyable tasks, time seems to speed up, whereas it slows down during less stimulating activities. This varying perception can result in significant inaccuracies in estimating how long tasks actually take, affecting project planning, budgeting, and productivity.

Accurate time tracking in project management helps correct these distortions, aligning our perceived time with reality and leading to more reliable project outcomes and effective time management.

How to track employee hours

1. Time tracking app

A time tracking app like Timeular is a digital solution that automates the process of recording how much time is spent on various tasks. Unlike traditional methods like manual time tracking or punch clocks, these apps often work in the background, quietly logging hours without requiring constant input from the user.

How they work:

This automated time tracking is what sets it apart — it’s an almost effort-free approach. Your employees are not constantly stopping to write down what they’re doing; the automated time tracking software handles it for them.

This leads to more accurate and less biased data on how time is actually spent, which is invaluable for improving productivity, less labor costs, managing projects more effectively, and streamlining client billing.

• Please note: Time tracking apps provide different methods to track time and not all of them offer automated time tracking.

Pros of using a time tracking app

• No need to chase timesheets ever again: Time is logged in an online platform, accessible around the clock by both employees and employers.
• Automated reporting: Using time tracking apps, you can easily access automated reports or create your own reports with just a few clicks.
• Streamlined payroll and billing: Time tracking software usually effortlessly integrates with your invoicing and payroll software, simplifying all financial processes.
• Quick and engaging time recording: It’s a breeze to record work hours — creating timesheets is quick, easy, and kinda fun, actually (especially with the personalized physical time tracker).
• Automated billable hour tracking: You can label each task as billable or not billable, add hourly rates, and let the employee time tracking app take care of tracking billable time for you.
• Effective leave and overtime management: Time tracking apps like Timeular provide leave tracker functionalities that let you track all types of absences and time off.
• Friendly reminders to track time: If the employee time tracking software spots that your employees don’t record their time during the day, it will send them automated reminders to help maintain consistent and precise time tracking.
• Mobile apps for on-the-go tracking: With mobile time tracking, your employees can track time wherever they are — it’s super handy for those always on the move.
• Great for remote teams: Time tracking apps are ideal for remote work setups, offering flexibility and ease of use regardless of location.

Track your employee hours with Timeular – the 100% effortless and secure time tracking app

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Cons of using an employee time tracking app

To enjoy all the benefits of a work time tracking app, you need to choose wisely. As time tracking software is sometimes perceived by employees as a monitoring tool, you need an employee-friendly solution that doesn’t allow for micromanagement.

Employees will only track time honestly if they don’t feel monitored in real-time. Therefore, Timeular has a 24-hour delay for time entries to appear on the managers’ side.

2. Pen and paper

Despite the digital age transforming most business practices, the traditional pen-and-paper method for tracking employee hours remains in use, particularly among some small businesses. This approach involves manually recording work hours, a process that harks back to simpler times.

While it might seem outdated in a world of apps and automation, for some companies, this method offers a straightforward, no-tech solution that aligns with their operational style. It’s a testament to the enduring value of simplicity in an increasingly complex business landscape.

How it works

Employees write down their arrival and departure times as well as specific tasks completed throughout the day. These details are captured on paper records, such as logbooks or timesheets, and later manually tallied to compute the total work hours.

Pros

• Cost-effective: It’s a completely free method for tracking employee time, requiring no investment in technology or software.
• Simplicity: The process is straightforward and easy to understand and implement.
• No technical skills needed: Anyone with basic writing and counting abilities can effectively use this method for tracking employee time.
• Flexibility: Easily adaptable to different formats and layouts based on specific needs. Immediate Implementation: Requires no setup time or learning curve, unlike digital tools.

Cons

This manual time tracking method for tracking employee hours, while straightforward, has several disadvantages:

• Time-intensive: This manual time tracking method requires significant time for writing, organizing, and calculating hours.
• Error-prone: The risk of human error in recording and calculating hours is higher compared to digital methods.
• Lack of security: Paper records can be easily lost, damaged, or accessed by unauthorized persons.
• No real-time tracking: This method doesn’t offer real-time tracking or instant updates, potentially leading to delays in data availability.
• Limited data analysis: Analyzing trends or generating productivity reports is more challenging and less efficient than with time tracking apps.

Don’t waste your team’s time on manual time tracking

Automate time tracking with Timeular and do it under 1 minute per day

Learn how

3. Online time tracking templates

Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets are popular tools for tracking employee hours, offering a familiar solution in many business settings.

How they work:

Employees record the time spent on various tasks within these templates. With appropriate formulas, these sheets automatically calculate total work hours over daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly periods.

Pros:

• User-friendly for regular users: Intuitive for those who are familiar with Excel or Google Sheets.
• Highly customizable: Easily adaptable, allowing for specific modifications and additional formulas.
• Versatile data handling: Suitable for various tracking and analytical needs.

Cons:

• Time-intensive management: Requires significant effort in setup, data entry, and review.
• Increased complexity: Adding formulas for leaves, PTO, and other variables can make the system more intricate.
• Dependence on estimates: Often relies on approximations of time spent, which may not be completely accurate.
• Limited security and [rivacy: Data stored in spreadsheets can be less secure and more prone to privacy breaches.
• Difficulty in consolidating data: Aggregating information from multiple sheets for analysis or reporting can be challenging.

If you’re looking for a template, we’ve prepared several free time tracking templates ready for downloading.

Read also:

• Time tracking in a spreadsheet

Don’t waste your team’s time on manual time tracking

Automate time tracking with Timeular and do it under 1 minute per day

Learn how

3. Time clocks

Originating in the late 1800s, time clocks are a longstanding method for tracking employee hours. Time clock solutions come in various forms, including card swipes and biometric systems like retina or fingerprint scanners.

How they work

Employees clock in by swiping a card or undergo a biometric check upon arriving and leaving the job site. The time clock system then calculates employee work hours based on these check-ins and check-outs.

Pros of time clocks:

• Ease of use: Time clock requires minimal action from employees; just a swipe or scan at arrival and departure.
• Automated data recording: The time clock system automatically logs and calculates total time spent at work.
• Accurate time tracking: Time clock software provides precise records of employee attendance and hours worked.

Cons of time clocks:

• High implementation costs: Time clocks are especially costly if a company operates multiple job sites.
• Potential hygiene issues: Depending on the employee clocks system (card, fingerprint, retina), regular cleaning is necessary to maintain hygiene.
• Impractical for mobile workforces: Not suitable for employees who work at multiple locations or are frequently on the move.
• Not suitable for remote work: Limited tracking hours of employees physically present at the site, making it ineffective for remote work scenarios.

TIP: Did you know that you can use a time-keeping app as a time clock software?

5. GPS and location tracking

GPS and location tracking tools are widely used by companies with field services to accurately monitor the work hours of employees who are operating in various locations outside the office.

How it works:

Employees carry GPS-enabled devices that automatically record their location at different job sites. This data is then used to accurately calculate their work hours, streamlining timekeeping for field-based tasks.

Pros

• Efficient remote time tracking: These tools make it easy to track the time employees spend outside the office.
• Accurate location data: Provides precise information about where employees are during work hours, ensuring accountability.

Cons

• Necessitates manual time calculation: While GPS tracking provides location data, calculating the actual work hours still requires manual effort.
• Privacy and autonomy issues: The use of GPS tracking can raise concerns among employees about privacy and being monitored too closely.
• Reliance on GPS-enabled devices: The effectiveness of this method is dependent on employees having access to and using GPS-enabled devices.
• Vulnerability to technical errors: GPS tracking is susceptible to inaccuracies due to signal issues or device malfunctions.

Read: The best employee time tracking software

6. Monitoring tools

Employee monitoring tools, which companies use to oversee various work activities of their employees, can be quite contentious. These tools monitor app and website usage, scrutinize emails and messages, and may even record phone calls or track locations using GPS.

Although intended to boost efficiency and protect company data, their use is often discouraged. The downsides, like invading privacy, damaging trust, and creating a stressful atmosphere, usually outweigh the perceived benefits.

It’s important to prioritize respect for employee privacy and trust, and to adhere to legal standards, making the use of such monitoring tools generally not recommended.

Cons

This is a method that should be avoided at all costs by companies and, therefore has no pros. Let’s review the cons of employee monitoring:

1. Privacy concerns: They can infringe on employee privacy, creating an atmosphere where employees feel their personal space and autonomy are being invaded.
2. Trust issues: Excessive monitoring can signal a lack of trust from management, potentially damaging the trust-based relationship between employer and employee.
3. Stress and pressure: Being constantly monitored can lead to increased stress and pressure, which can, in turn, affect mental well-being and employee satisfaction.
4. Reduced morale and productivity: Instead of improving productivity, such monitoring can have the opposite effect, as employees might feel valued more for their output than their professional skills and contributions.
5. Potential for conflict: It can lead to workplace conflicts and a negative work environment, as employees may feel they are being treated unfairly or suspiciously.
6. Legal and ethical issues: If not implemented carefully, monitoring tools can lead to legal repercussions and ethical dilemmas, particularly if they are used in ways that violate employee privacy rights or labor laws.

Make sure you use transparent tracking methods to avoid workplace conflicts and respect employee privacy.

Timeular is NOT a monitoring tool

Employees will only track time spent honestly if they don’t feel monitored in realtime. Therefore Timeular has a 24h delay for time entries to appear on the manager’s side.

Learn more

What to look for in an employee hour tracking app

When choosing an employee hour tracking app, it’s essential to focus on top features that enhance usability and accuracy. Here are the top three factors to consider:

• User-friendly interface: The tool should have an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface. This ensures that employees can use it effortlessly, leading to better compliance and more accurate time tracking.
• Multiple time tracking methods: The app should offer various methods for tracking time, such as manual entry, timer-based tracking, or automated systems. This flexibility allows it to cater to different work styles and preferences.
• Automatic time tracking: Look for features that enable automatic tracking of time spent on tasks. This reduces the burden of manual entries and enhances the accuracy of the time recorded.

What is the best way to track employee hours?

The answer to this simple question is also simple: it depends.

Different solutions can work for different companies and businesses. 

When looking for an hour-tracking solution, you should make sure you choose the method that “steals” little to no time, is automated, easy to use, and, if possible and applicable, remote-friendly, as remote work is becoming increasingly popular worldwide. 

Choose what’s best for your company and for employees, and streamline your time tracking processes today!

FAQ about employee time tracking

You might be interested in:

• How to make your team track time?
• How to stay on top of things?
• How to create a time management plan?
• The best tools to manage remote employees
• How to increase billable hours

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The post How to Track Employee Hours without Fuss appeared first on Timeular.

Notion provides various templates, allowing for workspace customization to match specific needs. This includes features for creating to-do lists, setting deadlines, tracking progress, and managing projects efficiently.

However, it’s important to note that Notion doesn’t provide time tracking features.

Fortunately, there is a great Notion time-tracking integration that delivers a smooth time-tracking experience. Let’s explore it!

Looking for a fast, simple and accurate way to track time in Notion?

Timeular integrates effortlessly with Notion, providing a more effective time-tracking solution than ClickUp’s native features

Try Timeular for free

Why is it important to track time in Notion?

Time tracking is a fundamental aspect of effective project management. By tracking time, you get to identify areas of improvement, optimize your workflow, and better allocate your resources. Time tracking also helps you set realistic goals and deadlines, ensuring that you stay on track and meet your project milestones.

Whether you are working solo or as part of a team, tracking time in Notion provides transparency and accountability, allowing everyone involved to monitor progress and make informed decisions.

Here are some key reasons why time tracking is essential in Notion:

• Enhanced productivity: Time tracking provides valuable insights into how time is allocated across different tasks and projects. By identifying time-consuming activities and unproductive patterns, users can make informed decisions to optimize their workflow, eliminate time wasters, and focus on high-priority tasks.
• Improved project management: Accurate time tracking enables effective project planning, budgeting, and resource allocation. It helps determine the actual time required for tasks, allowing managers to set realistic deadlines, prevent scope creep, and ensure projects are completed within budget.
• Identifying areas for improvement: Time-tracking data can reveal inefficiencies and bottlenecks in workflows. By analyzing time spent on specific tasks, users can identify areas for improvement, streamline processes, and eliminate unnecessary steps.
• Data-driven decision making: Time-tracking data provides a solid foundation for making informed decisions about workload management, task prioritization, and resource allocation. It helps avoid overburdening team members, ensuring that time is spent on the most impactful activities.
• Team collaboration and accountability: Time tracking fosters transparency and accountability within teams. It allows team members to visualize their contribution to projects, identify areas for collaboration, and ensure that everyone is pulling their weight.

Does Notion provide time-tracking features?

Notion does not have built-in time-tracking features. While it excels in many areas, it currently lacks native capabilities for tracking and logging time. However, this does not mean you are out of luck. You can incorporate time tracking into your Notion workspace seamlessly with a Timeular integration. 

Timeular: The best Notion time tracking integration

Timeular is a powerful and easy-to-use time-tracking tool that allows you to accurately track the time you spend on tasks without disrupting your workflow.

With an intuitive interface and a wide range of features, Timeular makes it very simple to stay on top of your time and boost your productivity. With Timeular, you no longer need to rely on manual time-tracking methods or juggle between multiple tools to manage your time effectively. 

One of Timeular’s key features is its seamless integration with Notion. By integrating Timeular with Notion, you can consolidate your project management time tracking efforts, streamline your workflow, and increase productivity.

Time tracking made easy

Timeular offers a selection of simple time tracking methods tailored to different workstyles, including using a physical time tracker, keyboard shortcuts, or automatic tracking, all designed for a seamless and quick experience.

As a result, tracking time in Notion typically requires less than a minute each day.

Notion’s time tracking integration with Timeular will effectively fill in gaps when team members overlook time tracking.

Optional physical time tracker

Timeular provides an extra feature for those who enjoy tracking time with a physical device. You can use the optional time management device, which works as a visual reminder and a tool to track time.

• Please note that this is an optional feature, and you can still track time in Timeular without the Physical Tracker.

Seamless integration with multiple apps

As we mentioned before, one of Timeular’s biggest advantages is that it easily integrates with the most popular productivity apps, such as Asana, JIRA, and Notion.

You will be able to automatically track time spent on tasks, emails, and calendar events, which eliminates the need to switch between apps and makes it easy to track your time without losing your focus. 

Timeular integrations:

• Google Calendar time tracking integration
• Microsoft Teams time tracking
• Zendesk time tracking integration

Tracking billable and non-billable hours is automated

Timeular is an ideal tool for freelancers and consultants, offering precise tracking of billable hours for fair and transparent compensation and client billing.

It allows you to categorize tasks as either billable or non-billable, helping you monitor the time dedicated to each project and client.

By assigning hourly rates to tasks or team members, the software automatically calculates costs, aiding in project cost management, ensuring precise billing, and offering insights into team efficiency.

Overtime tracker

The employee overtime tracker automatically logs any additional hours worked on your project or team. It calculates overtime hours and deficit hours based on pre-configured work schedules and recorded leave requests, ensuring accurate calculation of overtime hours.

Detailed reporting

Timeular provides in-depth reports that offer valuable insights into your time usage patterns. These reports break down time spent on projects, tasks, clients, and categories, allowing you to identify areas for improvement and optimize your workflow.

Productivity checker

As a productivity time tracker, Timeular helps you understand where your time goes, simplifies performance tracking, and empowers you to make every minute count.

Easy navigation

Timeular’s intuitive interface makes it easy to start, stop, and manage your time-tracking activities. Quickly access key features and navigate through reports with ease on both desktop and mobile.

How to track time in Notion with Timeular 

It is very easy to integrate Notion with Timeular. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Create a free Timeular account and log into Zapier (you don’t have to pay for a subscription, as you can use it for free for up to 100 integrations.)
2. Connect Timeular with Zapier: to do it you’ll need an API key and a secret API. You can find these in Timeular > Settings > My Account > API > Create a new API key.
3. Create a Zap to track your time on Notion with Timeular.
4. Set up a new Zap. The trigger might create a new item on the board and the action will need to be set to start tracking time on Timeular.

Create a free Timeular account

Try Timeular, which provides frictionless time tracking and seamlessly integrates with Notion

Try Timeular for free

When the integration is complete, you can start tracking time on your tasks and projects in Notion.

• Go to our Support article for more information about integrating Timeular with Zapier.

Check the video below for guided video instructions:

Conclusions

Time tracking in Notion is a crucial element for ensuring productivity and efficiency in your team.

By incorporating time tracking into your workflow, you can optimize your productivity, improve project management, and make informed decisions based on accurate data. You can also unlock valuable insights and achieve your goals more effectively in Notion.

Overall, Timeular is a great way to improve your productivity and get more out of Notion. If you’re looking for a time-tracking solution that is easy to use, versatile, and provides you with valuable insights, then Timeular is a great option. With its many features and benefits, Timeular can help you to be more productive and get more out of Notion.

You might be interested in:

• Top free digital planners
• Productivity 101
• Top team management software
• What is time management?

The post Time Tracking in Notion: How to Do It appeared first on Timeular.

Organizations strive to optimize efficiency and enhance employee performance, and for that, they rely on the implementation of a well-crafted timekeeping policy.

Looking for a simple yet robust time tracker that will aligh with your timekeeping policy?

Try Timeular for free

Work environments no longer look or work as they did in the past, the traditional models are shifting and a structured approach is needed to navigate the nuances of time management and attendance tracking.

This article delves into the intricacies of time management, exploring the significance of a comprehensive timekeeping policy and how it can motivate employee engagement, satisfaction, and organizational success. 

What is a timekeeping policy?

Timekeeping policy is a set of rules and structured guidelines used by employees to record, manage, and account for their working hours.

These policies include various aspects of time management, including:

• clocking in and out processes
• break and lunch periods
• overtime regulations
• methods of tracking attendance

However, the purpose of timekeeping policies goes beyond establishing rules.

They serve as a framework to ensure consistency, fairness, and compliance with labor laws. These policies are integral to fostering a productive and harmonious work environment.

Creating a timekeeping policy is now even more important with the rise of the remote work model that many companies are adopting.

Timekeeping policies play a pivotal role in addressing the unique challenges associated with distributed teams, by outlining expectations for virtual attendance, communication, and task completion to ensure remote workers remain connected and accountable.

7 benefits of a timekeeping policy

1. Increased efficiency and productivity
2. More accurate payroll processing
3. Better resource allocation
4. Full compliance with labor laws
5. Improved accountability and clear expectations for everyone
6. Work time and personal time are better balanced
7. Establishes rules for remote work

1. Increased efficiency and productivity

A well-defined timekeeping policy helps streamline workflows and optimize productivity by providing clear guidelines on work hours, breaks, and task allocation. This contributes to the efficient use of resources and enhances overall organizational performance.

2. More accurate payroll processing

By implementing a systematic approach to tracking hours worked, organizations reduce the risk of payroll errors. This promotes and builds both trust and transparency in workplace relationships.

• TIP: Discover the best and most accurate Payroll tracker.

3. Better resource allocation

Timekeeping data offers valuable insights into resource planning and time allocation, enabling organizations to make informed decisions about staffing levels, project timelines, and resource distribution.

By providing a clear understanding of how time is allocated across various tasks and projects, time tracking becomes a crucial tool in optimizing operational efficiency and productivity.

4. Full compliance with labor laws

Timekeeping policies are crafted to align with labor laws and regulations. This adherence helps organizations avoid legal complications, such as wage and hour violations.

5. Improved accountability for everyone

A timekeeping policy clarifies expectations around attendance and work hours for employees, making it clear what standards they need to meet.

With timekeeping practices being consistent across the board, it helps build a fair and positive work environment, as everyone follows the same rules, reducing the chances of favoritism.

Looking for a smart, effortless time tracking solution to track work hours?

Try Timeular for free!

Learn how it works

6. Work-life balance

By establishing reasonable working hours, break times, and overtime regulations, organizations demonstrate a commitment to employee well-being, reducing the risk of burnout, improving work-life balance, and enhancing job satisfaction.

7. Establishes rules for remote work

As we saw above, in the age of remote work, timekeeping policies are needed in managing virtual teams to set clear expectations.

Key elements of an efficient timekeeping policy

These are the key elements that a timekeeping policy must include:

1. Recording of work hours

This involves monitoring the time an employee dedicates to work-related activities, including regular work hours, overtime, breaks, and meal periods.
TIP: Make your life easier and ensure 100% accuracy by adopting a work hours tracker.

2. Recording of breaks/meal periods

This process involves defining the length and timing of breaks and meal periods throughout the workday. It helps ensure that employees take their necessary breaks and comply with the organization’s policies on rest periods.

3. Recording of holidays/PTO periods

This entails policies for holidays and paid time off (PTO), outlining the methods for documenting and managing these hours (i.e. with a leave tracker).

4. Clocking-in and clocking-out

These are the set procedures that specify how employees should record the start and end of their workday, along with instructions on the appropriate tools for logging these times (i.e. a time clock app).

5. Clarify attendance policies

This covers the rules about regular attendance and dealing with issues like being late and unexcused absences.

6. Recording overtime

The organization’s policy when handling situations where employees work beyond their regular hours (overtime) and how it is recorded.

• TIP: An employee overtime tracking software tracks every extra hour worked and ensures accurate data when calculating overtime pay.

7. How to submit timesheets

This section describes the procedure for submitting time records and the steps required for their approval (Our suggestion is to use a simple timesheet app).

It also includes guidelines on the timelines and specific requirements to ensure a straightforward and efficient approval process.

8. Enforcing time-keeping rules

This section details how the timekeeping rules are applied and what happens if they’re not followed. It describes the steps taken to ensure compliance and the possible outcomes for not adhering to these rules.

9. Remote work guidelines

Outline any flexibility in work hours or locations, especially if employees have the option to work remotely, and what are the protocols for this situation.

• Read also: The remote working essentials

10. Communication channels

Define the channels employees should use for any communication related to timekeeping policies (Check a list of top communication apps for teams).

11. Employees’ responsibilities

Define the responsibilities of employees in adhering to the timekeeping policy.

• NOTE: A timekeeping policy needs to define the legal duration of time the records will be kept in compliance with legal standards, as well as what should be done when there are discrepancies in time records that need to be corrected.

Creating an effective timekeeping policy

To build a complete and adequate timekeeping policy, consider the following essential steps:

1. Assess corporate and organizational needs

It’s essential to start by understanding the specific time-related needs of an organization. Factors such as work hours, break policies, and the nature of tasks have to be considered. 

2. Get informed about legal requirements

Your timekeeping policy has to comply with local labor laws and regulations.

3. Customize the timekeeping policy for your organization

Adjust the policy to accommodate the unique needs of your organization, paying special attention to the inclusion of remote workers and those with flexible schedules.

4. Communicate the policy in a clear way

Use simple language and ensure that everyone understands the guidelines and expectations.

5. Involve employees and keep them informed

Involve employees in creating or updating the policy by asking for their ideas and opinions. Offer regular training on timekeeping rules and make sure everyone knows the guidelines and any changes to them.

6. Implement a user-friendly timekeeping software

Reliable timekeeping software helps streamline the tracking process. Technology ensures accuracy and efficiency, especially in environments with diverse work models, such as remote and in-person.

By incorporating these steps, your organization can create a timekeeping policy that not only ensures compliance but also contributes to a positive and productive work environment.

Looking for an easy time-keeping solution?

Try Timeular for free

Best practices for implementing timekeeping policies

• “Share the policy with everyone at work so they know the rules and what’s expected. Being open about this builds trust;
• Choose the right tools to make time tracking easier. Try a few options to find the best one;
• Apply the policy fairly to all employees. Make sure the same rules and consequences apply to everyone;
• In the beginning, there might be some confusion about the new timekeeping rules. Help employees with training and resources to understand the policy;
• Keep an eye on how well the policy is working. Employee feedback is really important for making improvements;
• Make the policy easy to find and understand for everyone. Leaders should set a good example and help out;
• Regularly update the policy to match any changes in the company, industry trends, or legal rules. This keeps the policy relevant and useful.”
• This version uses simpler language and breaks down the concepts into more straightforward statements for easier understanding.

The role of time-tracking tools in a company’s time-keeping policy

A time-tracking tool, such as Timeular, is an indispensable ally in the implementation of a robust time-keeping policy, basically ensuring that policy guidelines turn into tangible practices.

Time-tracking tools offer a digital framework for employees to record their work hours, breaks, and tasks, minimizing the margin for error associated with manual entry and providing a reliable foundation for policy compliance.

The automated features provided by time-tracking tools help streamline the entire process, from clocking in or out to submitting timesheets. This not only saves valuable time for employees but also enhances overall work efficiency.

Time-tracking tools also provide real-time visibility into employee activities, allowing both managers and employees to monitor their daily progress. The gathered data turns into a valuable asset that helps determine timelines, the need for extra resources, accurate project billing, etc.

Conclusion

As companies evolve to improve efficiency and elevate employee performance, the implementation of a well-crafted timekeeping policy is incredibly important. Traditional models of work are undergoing a deep transformation at the moment, and demand a structured approach to tackle them efficiently.

This article attempts to demonstrate how a comprehensive and effective timekeeping policy can be implemented. Moving beyond mere regulations, these policies help ensure uniformity and adherence to labor laws and serve as the foundation for a balanced and collaborative work environment.

A well-defined timekeeping policy streamlines workflows and optimizes productivity, offering clear guidelines on work hours, breaks, and task allocation. 

Timekeeping data provides valuable insights for resource planning, allowing informed decisions about staffing levels, project timelines, and resource distribution.

Tailor your timekeeping policies to the rhythm of your organization, foster transparency, utilize technology wisely, and ensure its continual relevance by updating and reviewing it as necessary.

Timekeeping policy FAQs

What is the purpose of a timekeeping policy?

The purpose of a timekeeping policy is to make sure that every member of the workforce knows the rules about recording their working hours. It’s a guide that helps the work days run efficiently, plan resources well, and avoid conflicts.

How can a timekeeping policy improve workforce management?

A timekeeping policy is a set of guidelines that assists a company in effectively managing its employees’ work hours. It ensures clarity about tasks and schedules, maintaining organization. Adhering to these rules helps prevent mistakes and promotes fair treatment within the organization.

Are there any legal requirements for timekeeping policies?

Yes, there are, but these legal requirements are specific to each country and corresponding legislation. 

How can I handle time off requests within a timekeeping policy?

Managing time off requests within a timekeeping policy is the best way to keep everything under control. Through an email or a project management platform, employees should know how to request time off, how much notice is needed, and what factors are considered when approving requests. 

TIP: Use an employee time off tracker to increase efficiency and ensure accuracy.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with a timekeeping policy?

Not following a timekeeping policy can lead to different consequences, depending on the seriousness of the case. It can go from a warning or additional training to the loss of certain benefits, temporary suspension, or even demotion. In extreme cases, there can be a loss of salary or termination.

How can I ensure accurate timekeeping for remote employees?

To ensure accurate timekeeping for remote employees, companies use remote time tracking software designed for that, like Timeular. Most importantly, before implementing a tool, clear guidelines and expectations should be set.

How often should a timekeeping policy be reviewed and updated?

A timekeeping policy should be reviewed and updated regularly. Once a year should be the minimum frequency, but if the organization changes in structure or if labor laws are updated, revisions should be made more often.

What technology or tools can assist in implementing a timekeeping policy?

Several tools can assist in implementing a timekeeping policy effectively, from time and attendance software to human resources systems, and task management tools, among others.

Read also: Top apps to track employee attendance

Can a timekeeping policy help improve employee productivity?

A good timekeeping policy helps employees understand and manage expectations, leading to better time management. This clarity, along with promoting a healthy work-life balance contributes to improved productivity and employee satisfaction.

Are there any industry-specific considerations for timekeeping policies?

Industry-specific considerations for timekeeping policies exist since different industries have unique needs and compliance requirements. For example, the healthcare or IT industries need specific guidelines for their vastly different way of working.

You might be interested in:

• How to keep track of employee hours
• Google Calendar time tracking
• How to make your team track time
• Employee performance tracking
• What is a leave of absence?

The post Timekeeping Policy: The Guide Your Business Needs appeared first on Timeular.

However, as mentioned in reviews on Capterra, TimeCamp users have expressed concerns about the software’s complexity, lack of flexibility, and reporting limitations.

Looking for the best TimeCamp alternatives? Try Timeular for 30 days for free!

Try 30 days for free

Considering these cons alongside its features is important when evaluating TimeCamp as a time tracking software and productivity tracking solution.

If TimeCamp doesn’t meet your business’s time tracking expectations, and you’d like to know how many hours each activity and project take, there are numerous TimeCamp alternatives to consider. Let’s delve into 10 best solutions to replace TimeCamp.

Best TimeCamp alternatives for 2024

1. Timeular
2. TimeDoctor
3. Toggl Track
4. Time Clock Wizard
5. Timely
6. Clockify
7. Hubstaff
8. Harvest
9. Quickbooks Time
10. Everhour

1. Timeular – smooth time tracking software for teams

Timeular is an utmost accurate and simple time tracking solution designed for small businesses and bigger teams aiming to track billable hours, increase productivity, and generate precise client reports.

As one of the best TimeCamp alternatives, it consolidates intelligent timekeeping methods into one platform, allowing time to be tracked in a few seconds per day. 

Timeular offers quick insights into budgets, time allocation, and overtime. These valuable insights empower teams to make informed decisions fast, facilitating better resource management and allowing for prompt client invoicing.

High employee buy-in

Fostering a safe and trusting environment is vital for team members to submit honest and accurate timesheets. Timeular prioritizes your company and employees’ privacy, leading to enhanced employee buy-in. 

The user-friendly interface and modern time tracking features further amplify this by streamlining time tracking, making it fast and effortless.

Automatic time tracking

With Timeular’s automatic time tracking feature, you can effortlessly fill in your timesheets based on app usage, visited websites, and scheduled calendar events. Your data remains securely stored on your device, accessible exclusively to you.

Easily tailor your tracking preferences by adding specific apps and websites to a blocklist. Enjoy pre-filtered data, which provides easy analysis without overwhelming dashboards.

The physical Tracker 

At the heart of Timeular is the physical Tracker, an 8-sided dice on your desk, fostering a habit of time tracking. With this intuitive tool, employees find it easy to log their time, ensuring relevant and accurate reports. 

Track time with a physical Tracker

“We have become 20% more profitable because everyone is in the habit of time tracking” – Richard Wingfield, Head Geek at Envision Design

Learn how it works

Quicktrack – add time entries effortlessly with a keyboard shortcut

Timeular users can choose to use the physical Tracker or a digital alternative Quicktrack that allows them to begin tracking a time entry using a keyboard shortcut.

Budget management

Assign a budget to each project and track project progress. Manage expenses by tracking time spent on specific tasks and customers.

Protected employee privacy

Timeular is not an employee monitoring software. It has a strict privacy policy and provides a 24-hour delay for time entries to appear on the manager’s side to prevent micro-management.

Track over-time and any type of leaves

Timeular allows teams and individuals to track all types of leaves and absences in a single platform. If one or more team members are going on holiday, they must add a leave entry directly in your calendar view. Specify the type of absence and its duration, and add an optional note. You can do it both on your desktop and in your mobile app. 

“As a busy manager, I needed a leave tracker that was as efficient as it was user-friendly. Timeular exceeded my expectations with its simplicity and effectiveness. Managing leaves is now a breeze.”

Andrew W, Team Leader at a Marketing Agency

Key features:

• Automatic time tracking
• Team time tracker
• Leave tracker
• Overwork and underwork tracking
• Modern and user-friendly interface
• Automatic overtime tracking
• Time tracking methods that allow tracking time in a few seconds per day
• A physical Tracker fostering the habit of tracking
• Helps to manage budgets
• Detailed reports
• Protected employee privacy
• GDPR compliance
• Unlimited projects
• Mobile time tracking
• Offline and online time tracking
• Overtime tracking

Pricing: 

• 30-day free trial
• Paid plans start at 6.30 EUR per user

Track time with zero effort

“Since we started using Timeular and tracking our time, we’ve never made another mistake in planning, creating accurate proposals or budgeting for clients” – Roman Haag, Partner at iAgentur

Try 30 days for free

2. Time Doctor

Time Doctor is a robust time tracking app offering a wide range of features that help to improve employee productivity. While it includes employee monitoring capabilities like screenshots, screen recording, and activity level tracking, it’s important to note that such monitoring features at Time Doctor can raise privacy concerns among employees. 

Striking the right balance between productivity tracking and respecting privacy is crucial to ensure accurate and effective time tracking data.

For teams seeking TimeCamp alternatives, it is essential to prioritize employee buy-in and address privacy concerns to maintain a positive and productive work environment.

Key features:

• Employee monitoring
• Project management and budgeting
• Detailed reporting
• Distraction alerts
• Screenshots, screen recordings, and activity levels

Pricing: 

• 14-day free trial
• Paid plans start at $5.90 a month per user

Pros:

• Distraction alerts
• Offline time tracking
• Mobile time tracking
• Email notifications
• Privacy Concerns
• Employee monitoring

Cons:

• Privacy concerns
• Employee monitoring

Read also: Top Substitutes to TimeDoctor

3. Toggl Track

Toggl Tracker is a well-known time tracking app that offers a convenient one-click time tracking experience across various platforms. It includes useful features such as idle time detection to remind you when you’re not using your computer and customizable reports.

Whether you’re an independent worker or part of a team seeking for TimeCamp alternatives, Toggl Tracker provides flexibility with project tagging, reminders, and customizable reports.

However, while it serves as a solid tool for basic time tracking, individuals seeking heightened precision in their time tracking and reporting may find some occasional oversights in activity switching, leading to less precise reports.

Additionally, Toggl lacks integration capabilities with physical time tracking devices, which can be essential for building a consistent time tracking habit.

Key features:

• Employee time tracking
• Client billing and client invoicing
• Project budgeting
• Reporting
• Payroll management
• Idle time detection

Pros:

• Free plan available
• No employee monitoring
• Multi-user collaboration

Cons:

• No physical tracker

• Multi-user collaboration

• Limited functionality in the free version

• Limited team management features 

• Limited budget tracking 

Pricing: 

• Free plan available
• Paid plans start at $9 per month per user

TIP: Read our post “Clockify vs Toggl” and find out which one is the best.

Don’t chase employee timesheets again!

Try Timeular’s automatic time tracking and create time reports automatically

Try 30 days for free

4. Time Clock Wizard

Time Clock Wizard is an online employee time tracking software and workforce management system designed to streamline attendance tracking and payroll processes. 

Its interface and features enable employers to monitor time and attendance, leave requests, and generate payroll reports, aiming to optimize workforce productivity and compliance. 

However, user reviews on Capterra mention concerns about an outdated and less intuitive user interface, occasional technical glitches, limited advanced features and integrations, subpar customer support, mobile app performance issues, and confusion around the pricing structure. 

Key features:

• Employee scheduling
• Tracking working hours
• Time tracking
• Task management
• Payroll reporting

Pros: 

• Task management
• Mobile app
• PTO reports
• Payroll reporting

Cons: 

• Less intuitive user interface
• Occasional technical glitches 
• Limited advanced features and integrations
• Subpar customer support 
• Mobile app performance issues

Pricing: 

• Free plan
• Paid plans start at $34.95 per month per user

5. Timely

Timely is great time tracking software for users seeking automation. It sets it apart from other TimeCamp alternatives as AI-powered automatic time tracking software. It ensures time tracking features allowing for precise and effortless daily records of time employees spend on activities like document work, meetings, emails, website usage, and video calls. 

A standout feature, the Memory Tracker, operates silently in the background, eliminating manual entry by seamlessly capturing tasks, apps, and meetings users engage in. And, this is one of the main features that makes Timely a valid time tracker replacement for DeskTime.

With a strong focus on data privacy, Timely does not endorse employee screenshots, keystroke monitoring, or any surveillance methods, making it a reliable and secure option for generating comprehensive timelines and detailed insights into time allocation across different apps and devices.

TIP: Get to know the best Timely alternatives

Key features:

• Automated time tracking
• Project tracking
• Memory tracker feature
• AI-driven
• Protected user privacy

Pros: 

• Saved time thanks to automated time tracking
• Easy-to-use interface
• Memory tracker feature
• Anti-surveillance policy

Cons: 

• Steep learning curve
• No offline mode
• No manual time entry option

Pricing:

• Paid plans start at 9 EUR monthly per user

6. Clockify

If you’re searching for TimeCamp alternatives, Clockify could be the best free alternative, especially if you have a large workforce with budget constraints. Clockify offers a free plan with basic time tracking features, allowing unlimited users and projects. Their paid plans are also affordable, making it a cost-effective choice.

Clockify is particularly beneficial for industries that require effective employee monitoring. With features such as GPS tracking, screenshot captures every 5 minutes, and the ability to disable manual time editing for specific workers, it ensures efficient project management.

However, keep in mind that Clockify’s interface might feel overwhelming with some duplicate features that cannot be turned off. But if you need sophisticated management and administration capabilities, Clockify excels in providing those. It’s worth noting that the software focuses more on managers’ experience than on regular employees’ motivation and productivity.

Overall, Clockify remains a strong contender for those seeking reliable time tracking alternatives to TimeCamp.

Key features:

• Ideal for industries requiring effective employee monitoring, like construction
• GPS tracking for accurate project management
• A screenshot captures every 5 minutes for enhanced monitoring
• Option to disable manual time editing for specific workers
• Cost-effective solution for efficient project management and tracking billable hours
• Provides sophisticated management and administration capabilities

Pros

• Free version available with basic time tracking features
• Invoicing is not available in the free plan. The software also lacks integrations with payroll providers
• Clockify integrates with several apps, and the setup process is simple

Cons

• 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
• You can’t pause sessions. You have to stop it and create a new one

Pricing: 

• Free plan
• Paid plan starts at $3.99 per user

7. Hubstaff

Hubstaff is a robust time clock software designed for effective employee time monitoring and management. With accurate time tracking, GPS-based location monitoring, project management, and invoicing functionalities, it’s a reliable alternative to TimeCamp for teams. 

One standout feature is Hubstaff’s automatic time tracking, eliminating manual entries and ensuring precise recording of work hours, streamlining payroll and invoicing. GPS tracking benefits mobile workers, optimizing resource allocation and workflow management. 

However, it’s essential to consider that while Hubstaff is highly regarded for employee time tracking, some may find it intrusive and potentially promote toxic micromanagement due to its tracking of keyboard and mouse activity, raising concerns about privacy and autonomy.

Read also: Top 10 Hubstaff alternatives and competitors

Key features:

• GPS-based location monitoring 
• Project management functionalities 
• Client invoicing capabilities 
• Automatic time tracking 
• Streamlined payroll and invoicing processes
• Includes advanced reporting

Pros

• Easy to use
• Free plan

Cons

• Low number of integrations (only 30 apps, which is not much compared to other TimeCamp alternatives)
• Privacy concerns due to employee monitoring features
• Smaller teams or organizations with a more flexible work structure might find the software to be too robust for them

Pricing: 

• 14 days for free
• Paid plans start at $4,99 per user

8. Harvest

Harvest is a robust time tracking tool designed to simplify time management for users, offering automation for invoicing and reporting to enhance efficiency. With an extensive list of integrations, it seamlessly works with various applications, providing a comprehensive experience. Accessible across multiple platforms, Harvest ensures convenient time tracking and management.

While Harvest may not introduce groundbreaking features, it serves as a reliable option for straightforward time tracking needs. However, it’s worth noting that recent updates have led to mixed reviews, with some users on the Google Play Store reporting challenges with app performance and usability.

For those exploring alternatives to TimeCamp, considering user feedback is essential in finding the right fit for their time-tracking requirements.

Read also: Harvest vs Toggl

Key features:

• Time tracking
• Invoice management
• Analytics features

Pros

• Detailed reports and analytics
• Integration with management tools
• Invoicing

Cons

• Some users have reported occasional issues with working offline

• Users report that recent updates to the mobile app created glitches and made the app slower
• Users are generally not happy with the new interface and say it became overly complicated, slow, and clunky

Pricing: 

• Free plan
• Paid plans start with $10.80 monthly per user

TIP: Read our post to know the competitors and alternatives to the Harvest time tracker.

9. Quickbooks Time

A good alternative to Time Doctor, QuickBooks Time is a time-tracking and employee scheduling software designed to help businesses efficiently manage and track employee hours.

QuickBooks Time allows its users to create employee work schedules, track and manage employee time for payroll purposes, and invoice clients based on billable hours.

It also features GPS time tracking and geofencing tracking as a reminder for employees to clock in or out upon entering or leaving a job site.

Real-time reports provide live-time monitoring of employees currently on the job, while the inclusion of overtime alerts helps you avoid exceeding your budgeted hours.

Furthermore, it works as a timesheet software because it allows you to track and approve employee timesheets through the convenience of a mobile or desktop app.

QuickBooks Time offers various plans, each comprising a monthly base fee along with a monthly per-user fee. 

Pros

• The software offers a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate and understand.
• It integrates smoothly with other QuickBooks products like QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll.
• The software includes employee scheduling capabilities, allowing businesses to manage work shifts and optimize workforce allocation.

Cons

• 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
• Some users may find that the mobile app lacks certain features or experiences occasional performance issues 
• It primarily operates online, meaning an internet connection is required to use the software

Read also: QuickBooks time tracking

10. Everhour

The tool is a basic time tracking app for teams that facilitates billing and invoicing, and that’s why it’s considered a great alternative to Timecamp.

Everhour offers a budget feature that helps you monitor the progress of each project.

What stands out in Everhour is the large integration stack, but users lament the steep learning curve.

Pros

• Billing features
• Integration with apps
• Invoicing
• Detail reports

Cons

• Clunky mobile app
• Pricing
• Limited support
• Short trial period
• Steep learning curve

Pricing

• Free plan
• Premium plans start at 5$ per user/month

Why is Timeular one of the best alternatives to TimeCamp?

If you are looking for the best time tracking apps to easily track time spent on individual tasks and projects, Timeular is your best choice. With its automated time tracking, the physical Tracker, and unlimited smart time tracking features, it helps you log your day within a few seconds per day. 

It’s a perfect TimeCamp alternative for small teams, remote teams, as well as on-site teams, ensuring all essential features to:

• Simplify time management
• Provide valuable insights
• Increase the team’s productivity
• Manage remote employees
• Create project estimates

Tracking time and billable hours with Timeular is easy! Imagine the world without manual time tracking and guesstimations and try Timeular 30 days for free.

Other articles you might be interested in:

• The Best Working From Home Apps
• The Top Workload Management Tools
• 10 Best Project Cost Management Software
• The Best Small Business Tools for Business Growth
• The best employee attendance tracker apps

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The post 10 Best TimeCamp Alternatives in 2024 appeared first on Timeular.

By tracking time spent on individual projects, customers and activities, you can support steady revenue growth and a healthy work-life balance.

Explore the best time tracking apps for freelancers in 2024 and unlock your time!

Looking for the best time tracking tool for freelancers?

Join thousands of freelancers who already track their time with Timeular

Try Timeular for free

The best time-tracking apps for freelancers

1. Timeular
2. Everhour
3. FreshBooks
4. Harvest
5. Timely
6. Toggl Track

1. Timeular

Top features:

• Easy time tracking for you everywhere you go
• Automatic time tracking
• Design your own tracker, a physical remote control for the app
• Actionable data visualization and insights
• Timer app – Enhance productivity with time blocking or the Pomodoro method.
• Time off tracking – Enjoy greater flexibility and transparency in leave tracking and reporting to clients
• Accurate billing with custom reports & data export
• Dazzle your clients with great-looking reports
• Assign values to activities and track your billable time
• Integrate it with Jira, Quickbooks, and 3,000+ other apps

Track your time and never miss a billable hour again!

Join thousands of freelancers who already track their time with Timeular

Try Timeular for free

With the Timeular app, accurate time-tracking has never been easier. Timeular is one of the best time-tracking tools for freelancers you can ask for:

• quantify the time you spend with time wasters
• increase your focus
• transform how you spend your time at work
• Add more transparency to your client’s reports by tracking your time off

Timeular wins the hearts of many freelancers and stands out from other software for many reasons. With its time tracker cube that automatically tracks activities when flipped, Timeular is truly one of a kind and comes in extremely handy if you’re not working in an office. You can track up to 1,000 activities with the Tracker. Simply leave one or more sides of your Tracker empty. Every empty side will act like a joker side. It will open Quicktrack and let you choose what you want to track

You can easily connect with many popular tools, such as Zapier, Jira, Harvest, and Toggl, and get comprehensive analytics. Also, with the Timeular app, you can share time reports and export your data to CSV, PDF, or even Excel.

If you want to live by the motto “work smarter, not harder,” then you need Timeular. Timeular gives you full control of your time and allows you to be as time-efficient as possible.

The Timeular time tracking app works perfectly to help you with all your needs as a freelancer!

This software is also very flexible and adapts to your working conditions: whether you’re working in the office or you’re out, and shooting content, Timeular gives you all the information you need to take your business to the next level.

Timeular also comes with different pricing plans for you and your business.

You can profit from a 14-day free trial. No credit card is needed.

Timeular is available on the web, macOS, Linux, Windows, Android, and iOS.

Track your time and never miss a billable hour again!

Join thousands of freelancers who already track their time with Timeular

Try Timeular for free

2. Everhour

Everhour is a very good option for freelancers as it’s a multi-function time-tracking software that assists in task management, billing, visual planning, and much more. Everhour is a time tracker that helps freelancers stay on top of important workflows such as invoicing, payroll, and budgeting. Get simple and flexible project billing, set budgets to track progress in real-time, receive timely notifications, and much more.

Everhour integrates many management software such as Trello, Asana, Monday, etc. This app is focused on budgeting, payroll, and invoices. It also allows you to create tasks, organize them and add time estimates to keep everything in the loop and on track.

So, track time from the app you already use, keep all your projects on budget, increase transparency with your clients, and make your workflow more efficient.

Looking for the best time tracking tool for freelancers?

Join thousands of freelancers who already track their time with Timeular

Try Timeular for free

Top Features

• Set billing and budgeting with timely notifications
• Timecard calculator
• Invoicing and reporting

Increase your productivity with these effective time tracking tips.

3. FreshBooks

FreshBooks is explicitly built for freelancers with features designed to make accounting and tracking easier for the self-employed, just as a freelancer.

With FreshBooks, you can easily track everything client-related. With billing and payments all in one place, everything is organized and easy to track. Things such as professional invoices, online payments, and automated payment reminders are guaranteed with FreshBooks.

By tracking your time, you better understand exactly how long you spend on clients and projects. And when the work’s done, easily generate an invoice for your clients. It’s that easy!

Top Features

• Customizable invoices and payment reminders
• Tax calculations and categorization of expenses
• Review and create project estimates
• Collaboration and file sharing
• Automatic payment recording

Track your time and never miss a billable hour again!

Join thousands of freelancers who already track their time with Timeular

Try Timeular for free

4. Harvest

Harvest is one of the best time-tracking tools on the market. It’s a popular time-tracking app very well known for client billing and invoicing. It’s available as an online version, a desktop solution, and a mobile app, making it very flexible for your needs. Plus, it can be integrated with many software platforms that you’re used to using.

Thanks to Harvest, you can record every working minute and then convert your time-tracking results into professional-looking invoices and reports for your clients. Another significant advantage of Harvest for freelancers is that it can be synced with different online payment systems, which can come in super handy. This feature makes it more convenient for your clients to pay for your services and work in due time.

If you’ve already tried this and it doesn’t suit your needs, you might be interested in knowing the best Harvest alternatives.

Top Features

• Create invoices and receive payments from clients
• Reminders to clients about invoices to be paid
• Reports

5. Timely

This is one of the best time trackers for Android. With the Timely app, you can expect to be as productive as possible. It records the time you spend in different work apps and creates accurate automatic timesheets.

You can expect this app to be extremely suited for freelancers, as it makes recurring tasks much more manageable. Actually, it’s considered one of the best time tracking software for designers.

With Timely, you can automatically track time spent in every web and desktop app for you and get a precise daily record of your time in documents, meetings, emails, websites, and video calls. With Timely you can see not only what’s been worked on but also what was planned. Likewise, find out how much you have left to assign for more tasks and resources.

One of the top features of Timely is task planning. You can manage the tasks (drag and drop), to have a clearer vision of your day and week. This helps with efficient project timeline planning which is crucial for successfully finishing your projects.

Top Features

• Protect your privacy and trust
• Automatic time tracking
• Visual planning

TIP: Read our post, if you need to find the perfect alternative to Timely.

6. Toggl Track

Known to be an effective RescueTime alternative, Toggl Track is also highly famous among freelancers tool, considered one of the best apps for self-employed people. Available through the web timer or browser extension, Toggl Track has hundreds of integrations, from Asana to Zapier, Salesforce, etc. This way, you can integrate it with your client’s tools.

Create visual and easy-to-understand reports for your clients to know how much time you’ve worked on their projects and if the time spent complies with the initial estimations.

Another useful feature is idle detection, where the app reminds you when you aren’t using your computer and offers to correct your timeline. This comes in extremely handy when working with a time-tracking app. Is there a worse feeling than leaving your time tracker on at the end of the day and ending up with a 16-hour task? 

As a very polished and well-established app in the world of time tracking, the pricing is a bit higher than in some other tools, so make sure you keep that in mind when choosing this tracker.

TIP: Ge to know the best Salesforce time tracking integration.

Top Features

• Get the data you need without disrupting your client’s workflow. 
• Time tracking syncs across multiple platforms.

Toggl vs. Timeular: which is better for you?

How to choose the best time-tracking app as a freelancer?

Choosing the right time-tracking software can be decisive in whether your business is successful or not. But between all the great time trackers that exist out there, how do you know which one better works for you? How to know which one is “la crème de la crème” for you? What are the most important things you must consider before choosing? 

Let’s find out!

Pricing

Your budget is one of the key points when choosing the time-tracking software for you. Just know that you don’t have to spend a lot of money on an effective solution.

Depending on what your needs are, you’ll find different price points. Keep that in mind when choosing your time tracker. 

What device you’re using

As a freelancer, you probably use your phone for work much more than most people. Therefore, you probably should consider an app that’s perfectly made for IOS or Android. 

Integrations

Time tracking should be easy, not something dreadful. Therefore, when looking for the perfect software for you, consider your usual workflow and aim to find a tool that fits. For instance, if you’re already using project management tools with your clients, such as Trello or Asana, make sure you choose a time-tracking tool that integrates smoothly.

Read also: The best Trello time tracking integration

Software’s features

You should ask yourself, what features does your time-tracker need to have to work for you? Consider your workflow and note down all the characteristics your tool should have. Is it just the basics, or will you also need some special features? 

Some of the more basic features would be to:

• Track time spent on activities in real-time or add it manually.
• Create projects and tasks, and associate with your clients.
• Add tags depending on the type of work you have.
• Count billable hours and set your hourly rates.
• Generate reports for clients, and export them to PDF, CSV, and Excel.

However, depending on your needs, you may need some extra features. Things like customizing your reports, managing invoices and payroll, using the software offline, and accessing it across various devices are some of the features that not all time trackers may have. Make sure you check every single detail before you make a final decision.

Now that you have in mind some things you should consider before choosing the perfect time-tracking software for your business. Now, let’s see what the major benefits of using a timekeeping app as a freelancer are.

Read our guide to learn how to calculate your billable hourly rate as a freelancer.

What are the benefits of time tracking for a freelancer?

Here’s our detailed overview of the best time tracking software out there. Time tracking is not simply fashionable nowadays.

Time-tracking software boosts your productivity by making you more efficient and organized. By choosing the best time-tracking software, you ensure greater accountability. 

Now, let’s see the main benefits of tracking your time when you’re a freelancer.

Whether your client is paying you hourly or per project, there are many benefits to keeping track of time as a freelancer. You can clock in to keep yourself focused on projects while showing your client that you’ve worked hard.

You’ll see how much time is spent on each project so you can optimize your efficiency and give accurate information to your clients. Time efficiency is everything when it comes to freelancing. You can take on more projects and earn more money when you work faster.

Here are some significant benefits to start tracking time as a freelancer:

1. Identify all your activities: You only have so many daily hours. A time tracker can show you just how much time you’re spending on small tasks that aren’t moving your business forward and the ones that are.
2. Stay focused: Ensure you’ll remain on track with fulfilling your projects on time.
3. Bringing clarity to business goals: As a freelancer, many different business goals can pull you in different directions. Thanks to tracking time, you can put your business goals into a more realistic perspective and do what it takes to accomplish them.
4. Determine rates: Time tracking software is also great for determining how much you should charge your clients. Whether you charge by hours or by projects, with a billable hour tracker you can get accurate information about the time spent and how much you should earn.
5. Optimize your task estimates: Sometimes, we don’t have a clear notion of how much time we spend doing some of the tasks we have for the day. Thanks to a time tracker, you can predict how long a specific task will take, helping you better define your time estimates for future projects.
6. Create daily schedules: It can be challenging to schedule a daily routine if you aren’t keeping track of time. That’s why a time tracker would help you determine how long you should spend on each task, like replying to emails, invoicing, project work, etc.

Whether you’re a freelancer just starting out, well-experienced, or beginning to subcontract, knowing the different time-tracking apps available and their features can greatly support you. But how do you know which app to choose? 

Conclusion

Hope you found the best time tracker for you as a freelancer!

All the best apps for self-employed featured in this article can help you with task management, effective scheduling, time management, and weekly planning. There’s no workaround time tracking if you want to increase your personal and professional productivity.

Friendly advice: Start tracking your time, and start today. To be as successful as you wish, you need to cover every detail to get the perfect match to find the ideal time tracker for your business.

Thanks to this article, you can now reflect and hopefully, make some good decisions and act upon them.

We can’t say this enough. Time tracking allows you to make more intelligent decisions about how you price and run projects, schedule your workflow, and even spend your day.

It can be a decisive factor in whether your business is profitable or not. 

FAQ

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• The top free digital planners
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• Timeboxing: Definition and Benefits
• The best time trackers for iPhone
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• The best time tracking apps for accountants
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The post 6 Best Time Tracking Apps for Freelancers in 2024 appeared first on Timeular.

Traditional methods of tracking work hours on paper or using basic spreadsheets can lead to human error and are a massive waste of time.

Additionally, as more businesses embrace remote work and flexible work conditions, the demand for a versatile and accessible timesheet solution has become more critical than ever.

The good news is that a solution to your time tracking and time management distresses is just around the corner. This article will explore the top 10 best timesheet software in 2024, highlighting their pros and cons.

Never chase a timesheet again!

Get automatic timesheets from your team, every day, with Timeular!

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The 10 best timesheet software

Which apps best support teams and individuals in tracking time automatically? Which of them helps to implement the best time management techniques like time blocking or time boxing? Review the timesheet software listed below and make your choice.

1. Timeular

Timeular is the most effortless and accurate timesheet app for teams.

In Timeular, you can forget about chasing timesheets at the end of the month. The team’s data is automatically aggregated and ready for invoicing whenever you need it. With the Timesheet feature, you can get a quick overview of the time you or your team have recorded in a daily/weekly/monthly summary.

Timeular stands out as the best timesheet software for teams because:

• It’s a team time tracking app and payroll tracker adopted by over 10,000 teams worldwide. You can easily track time with your entire team
• It’s effortless to use. It has multiple time-keeping methods that help your team remember to track.
• Provides transparent and accurate reports automatically.
• It seamlessly integrates with 3,000 apps and all calendars.
• Allows teams to track leaves and time off of any type
• Enables overwork and underwork tracking
• Teams can track time together, but everyone’s privacy is respected because all users have control over their timesheets.

Unlock better timesheets: Timeular has you covered

Effortlessly track your team’s time, and get automated insights daily. Never chase a timesheet again with Timeular.

Try Timeular for free

Multiple timekeeping methods for teams

The Timeular Tracker

Timeular has gained considerable recognition for its physical time management cube tracker, which establishes a Bluetooth connection with the app. When flipped, the Tracker also changes the activity tracked on the app.

It is essential to emphasize that the Timeular software remains fully functional and accessible without the physical Tracker.

Users can initiate a new time entry by associating various activities with each side of the Tracker by flipping the dice. Should any adjustments be necessary, users can easily edit the entry through the app by appending tags and notes. In essence, the process is incredibly user-friendly and efficient.

“Once you set up your tracker’s sides, just flip it, fill in a tag or two, and at the end of the day your timesheet is ready! So much better than compiling Excel sheets or even writing down hours with a pen”

Thomas L, Capterra

Track time with a physical Tracker!

Make time tracking tactile and fun with the Timeular Tracker.

Learn more

Quicktrack

Beyond the Tracker, team members can track time with Quicktrack, a series of keyboard shortcuts that allow a fast and easy task switching without opening the app.

Leave and overtime tracking

Beyond work hours, Timeular also works as an employee overtime tracker and leave tracker, providing comprehensive control over your team’s work schedule. That’s an easy method for adding and monitoring all leave requests from the whole team.

Automatic time tracking

Timeular also developed automatic time tracking. Each team member can see which apps, docs, and websites they’ve used at which time and what was in their calendar, and then add them to their time tracking overview in one click!

Privacy is protected 100%: The data is stored solely on their local machine, so nobody else can access it. It eliminates the hassle of manual data entry, saving valuable time and minimizing human error.

Ge transparent and accurate reports, automatically

In Timeular, each team member can create transparent time reports of their productivity and for clients’ billing purposes. The app provides a precise breakdown of activities to ensure each little task is tracked and added to the invoice. You can export your reports to PDF, XLSX, or CSV.

“We are much better at accurately tracking our time, which improves client billing.”

Michele C., Founder at Clementine Healthcare Marketing

Integration with over 3,000 tools

One of the standout features of Timeular is its seamless integration with various productivity apps, calendars, and project management platforms, enabling smooth data synchronization and boosting overall efficiency.

• You can invoice your hours tracked through the Quickbooks time tracking integration;
• Transform Google events into time entries with one click;
• Track time spent on tickets in Jira or Asana;
• Monitor time spent on deals in HubSpot;
• Update your status in Slack based on what you’re tracking.

Timeular Pros

• Intuitive time tracking: with a user-friendly interface and multiple tracking methods, Timeular makes time tracking effortless and fun.
• Seamless integration: Timeular seamlessly integrates with various productivity apps, calendars, and project management platforms, ensuring that users can effortlessly incorporate it into their existing workflow without disruptions.
• Precise data insights: the platform provides comprehensive analytics and reports, empowering users to gain valuable insights into their time allocation, productivity patterns, and efficiency. These actionable data enable users to optimize their daily routines and focus on what truly matters.
• Suitable for individuals and teams: whether you work solo or as part of a team, Timeular caters to your needs with its versatile features, making it the ideal solution for freelancers and businesses alike.
• Elimination of human error with automatic time tracking: by automating the time tracking process, Timeular significantly reduces the risk of human error in manual time logging, ensuring accurate data for better decision-making.

Read also: How to track time in Google Calendar

Timeular Cons

• It doesn’t offer a free plan, but it has a 30-day free trial.

Reviews

• App Store: 4.6/5
• Capterra: 4.6/5

Read also: Top time trackers for remote employees

2. Paymo

Paymo is a comprehensive time-tracking solution. It also has project management features that are designed to enhance productivity and streamline workflows.

Its best features include time tracking, task management, team collaboration, invoicing, and resource scheduling.

Pros

• All-in-one solution: Paymo offers a wide range of features, integrating time tracking, project management, collaboration, and invoicing into a single platform, providing users with a centralized solution for their needs.
• Collaboration features: communicate, share files, and collaborate within the platform. It fosters efficient teamwork and minimizes the need for using multiple tools.
• Invoicing and budgeting: Paymo streamlines the invoicing process and allows users to set project budgets, ensuring projects stay on track financially.

Cons

• Learning curve: while the interface is user-friendly, some users may still require time to fully grasp and utilize all the features and functionalities.
• Feature depth: Paymo provides a well-rounded set of features, but for some complex project management needs, specialized tools may offer more in-depth capabilities.

Reviews
Capterra: 4.7/5
Apple Play: 4.8/5

Read also: The best time tracking software used by lawyers

3. Toggl Track

A reliable alternative to HoursTracker, Toggl Track is a popular and user-friendly solution to streamline time management.

Its standout feature is its simplicity, enabling users to effortlessly track their tasks with just one click.

Pros

• User-friendly: Toggl Track’s straightforward design makes it incredibly easy to use, requiring minimal effort to log and manage time effectively.
• Real-time insights: the real-time tracking dashboard offers valuable insights into time usage, enabling users to identify productivity patterns and optimize their workflow.
• Integration: sync with other popular tools to ensure a seamless workflow for users.

Cons

• Limited free version: while there is a free option available, some advanced features are reserved for paid plans, which might be a limitation for users on a tight budget.
• Advanced project management: while Toggl Track is excellent for time tracking, it might lack some advanced project management features that other dedicated project management tools offer.

Reviews
Capterra: 4.7/5
Apple Play: 3.2/5

Read also: Timeular vs. Toggl Track

4. Tsheets (by QuickBooks)

TSheets, by QuickBooks, is a timesheet software that caters to the needs of businesses and remote teams.

Its best features include mobile time tracking, GPS tracking, timesheet approvals, scheduling, and payroll integration.

Pros

• Mobile time tracking: user-friendly mobile app makes it convenient for employees to track their work hours from anywhere, catering to the needs of remote teams and field workers.
• Payroll integration: seamlessly integrates with QuickBooks, simplifying payroll processing and reducing administrative tasks.
• Scheduling: the platform’s scheduling capabilities aid in effective workforce planning and shift management, ensuring optimal staff coverage.

Cons

• Additional costs: offers a free trial; certain features may be limited to higher-priced plans, which could be a drawback for businesses on a tight budget.
• Complex for some users: TSheets’ extensive features may require some time for users to fully grasp and utilize effectively, particularly for smaller businesses with simpler needs.
• Privacy issues: the GPS tracking features may lead to privacy issues and unmotivated employees.

Reviews
Capterra: 4.7/5
Apple Play: 4.5/5

Read also: Excel time tracking

5. Harvest

Harvest is a solution that caters to the needs of small businesses and freelancers alike. Its best features include time-tracking capabilities, expense tracking, invoicing, and project budgeting.

Curiosity: Did you know that Harvest is one of the best DeskTime alternatives?

Pros

• Time tracking efficiency: Harvest offers accurate and easy-to-use time tracking tools, making it ideal for individuals and teams to monitor their work hours effectively.
• Expense tracking: the ability to log and categorize expenses associated with projects provides a comprehensive overview of project costs, aiding in budgeting and financial management.
• Invoicing integration: Harvest integrates seamlessly with accounting software, streamlining the invoicing process and reducing manual data entry, saving valuable time and reducing errors.

Cons

• Learning curve: Harvest’s extensive features might require some time for new users to fully grasp and utilize them effectively.
• Limited advanced project management: while Harvest excels in time tracking and expense management, it may not offer the same depth of project management features as specialized project management tools.

Reviews
Capterra: 4.6/5
Apple Play: 3.8/5

Read also: The best alternative to Harvest

6. ClickTime

ClickTime is a reliable timesheet software designed to simplify time management for businesses of all sizes.

Its best features include time tracking, expense tracking, resource planning, project budgeting, and detailed reporting.

Pros

• Versatility: ClickTime’s wide array of features, from time and expense tracking to resource planning, makes it a comprehensive solution suitable for diverse business needs.
• Budget management: the project budgeting feature helps businesses set financial targets and monitor project expenses, ensuring projects stay within financial constraints.
• Custom integrations: only available on the Enterprise solution/plan.

Cons

• Limited free version: while ClickTime offers a free trial, some advanced features may be limited or require higher pricing tiers, which could be a drawback for budget-conscious users.
• Project complexity: for businesses with highly complex project management needs, specialized project management software might provide more in-depth features.
• Learning curve: it may be hard for beginners to set up the app.
• Pricing: the pricing plans are more expensive for the features they offer when compared to competitors.
• Invoicing capabilities: it lacks advanced invoicing capabilities found in some other time tracking and billing software

Reviews
Capterra: 4.6/5
Apple Play: 4.6/5

Read also: The best time trackers for architects

7. Hubstaff

Hubstaff is a feature-rich timesheet software with employee-monitoring features.

This app is tailored for remote teams and freelancers, and its features include time tracking with automatic screenshots, GPS tracking, activity level monitoring, and online timesheets.

Pros

• Reporting: the platform provides comprehensive reports on time worked, project progress, and activity levels, helping businesses gain valuable insights for better decision-making.
• Payroll management: the timesheet and invoicing features assist in accurate payroll management, simplifying the payment process for both employers and freelancers.
• User-friendly: Hubstaff is easy to use and it has a user-friendly extension and app.

Cons

• Employee privacy concerns: the automatic screenshot and activity tracking features may raise privacy concerns among some employees.
• Learning curve: Hubstaff’s extensive features may require some time for users to fully understand and optimize for their specific needs.
• Integrations: it integrates with over 30 apps, which is not much compared to other options on the market.

Related article: The best time tracking software for designers.

Reviews
Capterra: 4.6/5
Apple Play: 4.5/5

Find the best alternatives to Hubstaff in this article

8. Timecamp

TimeCamp is a comprehensive time tracking and project management software designed to enhance productivity and efficiency. Its best features include automatic time tracking, manual time entry, detailed timesheets, invoicing and billing, and project management tools.

Pros

• Automatic time tracking: TimeCamp’s automated tracking feature saves time and reduces human error, providing accurate insights into work hours without manual effort.
• Versatility: the software caters to freelancers, small businesses, and large enterprises, making it suitable for various industries and teams of all sizes.
• Budget tracking: TimeCamp’s project management capabilities, coupled with budget tracking features, help businesses stay on top of project costs and financial targets.

Cons

• Learning curve: due to its wide range of features, new users may require some time to fully explore and utilize all of TimeCamp’s capabilities.
• Interface complexity: some users may find the interface a bit overwhelming at first, but once accustomed, it becomes a powerful tool for efficient time management.
• Android App: user reviews on Google point out bugs in the app.
• Data accuracy: some users experience problems with data accuracy.

Reviews
Capterra: 4.7/5
Apple Play: 3.7/5

9. ClockShark

ClockShark is a user-friendly time-tracking and employee scheduling software tailored to the needs of field and remote teams. Its best features include mobile time tracking, GPS tracking, job and project tracking, and timesheet approvals.

Pros

• Mobile time tracking: ClockShark’s mobile app enables employees to track their work hours and tasks from their smartphones, making it perfect for field teams and remote workers.
• GPS tracking: the GPS tracking feature enhances workforce management, allowing businesses to monitor employee locations and optimize their time and resources effectively.
• User-friendly interface: the platform’s intuitive design and easy navigation make it accessible for both employees and managers, minimizing training time.

Cons

• Limited project management: while ClockShark excels in time tracking and employee scheduling, some users may find its project management capabilities lacking in depth compared to specialized project management tools.
• Specific industry focus: ClockShark is primarily tailored for field teams and may not offer as many features applicable to non-field industries.

Reviews
Capterra: 4.7/5
Apple Play: 3.0/5

10. Zoho Projects

Zoho Projects is a comprehensive project management software that empowers teams to plan, collaborate, and execute projects seamlessly.

This project cost management software includes time tracking, task management, document collaboration, reporting, and integration with other Zoho products.

Pros

• All-in-one solution: Zoho Projects offers a comprehensive set of project management features, making it a one-stop solution for teams to handle tasks, time tracking, document collaboration, and reporting all in one place.
• Integration with Zoho Suite: the seamless integration with other Zoho products enhances overall productivity and data management, creating a unified ecosystem for businesses.
• Scalability: Zoho Projects caters to the needs of small businesses and enterprises alike, providing scalable features and pricing plans for diverse requirements.

Cons

• Limited free version: while Zoho Projects offers a free trial, some advanced features are restricted to higher-priced plans, which might be a consideration for budget-conscious users.
• Complex for simpler projects: for smaller teams or projects with straightforward needs, Zoho Projects’ extensive capabilities might feel overwhelming or unnecessary.

Reviews
Capterra: 4.3/5
Apple Play: 4.3/5

Conclusion

In conclusion, the inefficiencies of manual time tracking and spreadsheet-based timesheets are no longer viable today.

Embracing innovative timesheet software is the key to efficient time management, ensuring accurate tracking, and streamlining productivity.

You can find on the market a diverse range of time tracking and project management software, each with its unique strengths. Depending on specific needs, users can find many innovative, versatile, and accessible solutions.

Timeular emerges as the best software for creating team timesheets because of its intuitive interface, ease of use, automated reporting and tracking, and seamless integration capabilities.

You might be interested in:

• How to increase billable hours
• The best employee attendance tracker apps
• Ways to improve business efficiency
• How to increase revenue
• The best alternatives to Timely

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The post The 10 Best Timesheet Software in 2024 appeared first on Timeular.

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!

Try 30 days for free

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

1. Timeular
2. Toggl Track
3. Harvest
4. FreshBooks
5. Clockify
6. QuickBooks Time
7. Paymo
8. Zoho Invoice
9. Everhour
10. 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

Learn how it works

• 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.

Looking for the best time tracking tool for consultants?

Thousands of consulting businesses track their time with Timeular!

Try 30 days for free

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.

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.

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.

5. Clockify

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

You might be interested in:

• Harvest vs Toggl
• How to get consulting clients
• How do consultants track their time?
• How to increase revenue from existing customers
• Increasing billable hours in your business
• Desktime alternatives and competitors
• The best Timecamp alternatives

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The post The Best Time Tracking and Billing Software for Consultants in 2024 appeared first on Timeular.