21 Best Employee Time Tracking Software for Small Businesses

Paymo is one of the best employee time-tracking software for small businesses and teams of up to 20 people. It’s excellent value for money, incorporating much-needed functionalities for any small and medium business to thrive. Paymo has native automatic time tracking, project management, resource scheduling, and invoicing and integrates with Google, Zapier, and Slack, to name a few.

Best for: small businesses in need of employee time tracking, timesheet reporting, project management, profitability measurement, and billing for their clients.

Paymo is modern and intuitive agency time-tracking software for project-based businesses. It helps your team manage projects throughout their lifecycle. Plan and schedule your projects, collaborate with your team, share files, track time, and ensure you stay on budget.

Would employees find Paymo helpful?

What makes it appealing is that you can track time in your way: either manually, through the web timer, adding time in bulk, or logging time through a dedicated desktop app, Paymo Track, which automatically tracks time as employees are doing their work diligently. User data is stored locally on their devices; they have total privacy and complete control over what gets logged. The Pomodoro technique is also available for fans who want to timebox their efforts.

Paymo’s desktop time tracker

All the time records are automatically recorded in a standard timesheet, so admins and project managers receive all the necessary insights to run a team effectively.

Note: For employers, Paymo’s invoicing module is a valuable tool for managing payments efficiently. You can create invoices from scratch and integrate them with popular payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.net. Paymo also offers its own payment gateway, PM Payments (available only in the U.S.), making it easier to process credit card and ACH transactions securely. This feature simplifies billing, especially for businesses that need a straightforward invoicing solution without complicated accounting software. Compared to other tools, Paymo includes these capabilities in the free account, without restricting them to the highest-tier plans, making it a cost-effective choice for employers looking to streamline their payment processes.

Another great feature is the Active Timers, which allows you to see who’s tracking time for which task and for how long already at the same time. This is a more discrete way to check with your team instead of using random screenshots or intentional shoulder peeking.

Note: Paymo launched a useful project profitability feature two years ago in 2022, calculating your internal costs against billed hours. Suppose you’re not sure how to calculate it. In that case, you don’t even have to—this project profitability analysis is an excellent example of how tracking your time is crucial to accurate profit estimates.

Paymo offers a range of useful features, but communication can be a drawback. Unlike some competitors, it doesn’t include a built-in chat system, relying instead on task comments, project discussions, and customizable notifications for team collaboration. This setup works well when combined with external tools like Slack, but it might not be ideal for teams that prefer an all-in-one platform with integrated communication features.

Feedback on Paymo’s ease of use varies. Some users find its interface straightforward, while others—particularly those with limited technical experience—feel it’s not as intuitive as simpler alternatives like Toggl Track. Freelancers often prefer Toggl Track for its minimal learning curve. However, for small business teams that need more than just basic tracking, Paymo offers greater functionality without being overly complex. While Toggl Track’s simplicity is a strength for solo users, it can be restrictive when managing more detailed projects, making Paymo a better fit for teams that need a balance between usability and advanced features.

It is not as complex as feature-packed project management tools that include time tracking, like ClickUp. Paymo strikes a middle ground—offering more functionality than basic trackers like Toggl Track without the steep learning curve of all-in-one project management platforms.

Paymo is one of the more budget-friendly employee time-tracking software. Its customer support is on par with what users experience from Timely, Harvest, and Replicon, offering reliable and responsive assistance. This sets it apart from alternatives like TimeDoctor. Paymo is currently running a spring promotion: up to 40% off on your first 3 months. Snag the discount today.

Try out Paymo today free of charge.

TimeCamp is a great option for employees new to time tracking who need a free and easy-to-use solution. It’s also one of the most cost-effective tools available, making it a solid choice for those looking to track their work hours without stretching their budget. The downside is that you need to pay for TimeCamp Planner (formerly HeySpace) to manage tasks, projects, or anything related to project management, features available in the free Paymo account.

Tip: Mark your calendar for deep work and learn how to manage a project with this simple-to-follow guide.

In terms of functionality, TimeCamp is comparable to Paymo, especially with its automatic time-tracking feature. If Paymo doesn’t meet your needs, TimeCamp could be a suitable alternative. That said, keep in mind that TimeCamp’s automatic time tracking isn’t included in the free or basic paid plans. If this feature is essential for your workflow, be sure to check which plan includes it before making a decision.

The employee screenshot feature is only available in the premium plan, priced at $7.99. However, if you’re looking for more advanced employee monitoring options, tools like TimeDoctor or Hubstaff might be a better fit.

TimeCamp has a few drawbacks, including occasional bugs that can affect task submissions and time edits and system lag when handling bulk time entry actions. New users may need time to get familiar with invoicing and client selection. Additionally, the desktop app has received mixed feedback, with some preferring the smoother experience of the Chrome extension or web version.

Would employees find TimeCamp helpful?

Besides geofencing tracking multiple locations, TimeCamp does attendance tracking, meaning it will signal whether employees are working remotely, are on paid leave, working in-office, or simply not working that day through a simple punch-in-and-out dashboard.

I find it curious that they track data such as “Active Computer Usage” and “Total time between computer turn on/off” since people might have different work patterns or might use their personal devices for work—which can render that data useless.

Clockify is a great choice for employers who need time-tracking software with location tracking. This feature is especially useful for managing teams that work across multiple locations. For example, a construction manager can log hours spent at different job sites, a home healthcare provider can track visits to patients and a consultant can record time spent at various client offices. This ensures accurate employee timekeeping while providing employers with clear visibility into their team’s work locations. Tracking time alongside specific locations ensures precise records of work hours and task durations. GPS time tracking also offers verifiable proof of site visits, which helps maintain transparency with clients.

Many users find Clockify’s interface intuitive and easy to navigate, allowing them to grasp the basics within a few hours. This simplicity is especially beneficial for employers training their teams, as it minimizes the need for lengthy tutorials and lets employees start tracking their time with minimal effort.

Would employees find Clockify helpful?

There’s a Time Kiosk that can make it easy for employees to tap in and out of work and break time, aggregating the time logged during that work day or shift. There’s a GPS tracking capability to display your team’s location while on the clock and employee monitoring through screenshots—that’s one every five minutes.

Some users complained of inaccurate reporting, deeming it “borderline useless, at best incredibly confusing,” while others noted that “sometimes the program is a bit slow and unresponsive.” Also, If only the UI didn’t look outdated—let’s just say the interface needs a facelift.

However, Clockify is constantly being updated. In August 2024, Clockify introduced multiple timesheet templates, task expenses, attendance report updates, group search functionality, and a global “Week start” setting. In September, they added auto tracker grouping and budget forecasting features. In January 2025 integration with CAKE and in February 2025 they fixed a lot of bugs.

If you’re looking for employee time-tracking software with detailed reporting features and strong connections to popular project management tools like Asana, Jira, Notion, Trello, Basecamp, or ClickUp, Everhour is a solid option. Its seamless integration with these platforms enhances time tracking while providing in-depth reports for better project analysis. For example, if you’re using Basecamp, which is great for communication but doesn’t include time tracking, adding Everhour can fill that gap and improve its overall functionality. Feature-wise, Everhour is quite similar to Harvest, making it a good option if Harvest doesn’t fully align with your needs. 

Many users appreciate Everhour’s detailed reporting system. That said, it lacks visual elements like charts and graphs, which could be improved. On the plus side, Everhour’s support team receives a lot of praise from users for being responsive and helpful.

Indeed, when working remotely and full-time, not just a side gig, you need an easy tool to help you track time.

What I liked were the project budgeting options. Each user has a unique rate/project, so senior and junior employees can be paid in direct proportion to their level of skills and contributions.

At the same time, the project budget can be reset daily/weekly/monthly, which is an excellent addition if you run retainer projects as part of your business.

Would employees find Everhour helpful?

Besides its attendance tracker, Everhour has an employee monitoring capability via screenshots (taken randomly every 10 minutes), for which your employees will have to install its native screenshot recording app.

Where Everhour excels, though, is team availability. You can set a weekly capacity for each team member and compare their time logs against their schedules on a visual timeline. Available hours will appear in green, breaks/leave days in gray, and overtime in red.

The tool also comes with a native invoicing module, although a bit light if you ask me compared to other bespoke solutions.

Note: In my experience, keeping track of your time and getting paid for it has been a breeze starting these 2020s. Plus, almost all invoicing tools are free, regardless of whether you’re a small business or a freelancer. If you’d like, read our selection of the best invoicing software for small businesses we’ve managed to test and review.

Beebole stands out as an easy-to-use employee time-tracking software, making it a great choice for teams that find technical tools overwhelming. For those still searching for a hassle-free solution, Beebole is definitely worth considering. While it doesn’t have a long list of advanced features, its intuitive interface is often praised for being simple and user-friendly.

What makes Beebole even easier to use is its highly responsive customer support. Users frequently highlight how the support team works alongside the intuitive interface, ensuring that getting help is just as effortless as using the software itself. One review even states, “The most valuable part of Beebole is its customer support,” reinforcing how accessible and helpful the service is.

After receiving some criticism about its aesthetics, Beebole took steps to improve its user interface. The team worked on a redesigned version aimed at making the software more modern and intuitive, showing their commitment to user satisfaction.

Tip: If you plan to or want to become a project manager but don’t know how to learn or what to study first, get started by reading this guide. Here’s another guide if you’re interested in learning more about project management methodologies and types of work styles.

Would employees find Beebole useful?

Beebole can be set up for employees to clock in and out or to track time for clients, projects, and sub-projects using a one-click timer or manual entry. Time tracking can be done on both desktop and the free mobile app, with or without an Internet connection.

It’s also easy to log attendance, vacations, and leaves of absence. Some users may complain of a lack of customization or a steeper learning curve, but overall, they like the simple time tracker that does its job.

Toggl Track is primarily built for freelancers who need a simple and easy way to log hours. Its no-frills approach makes it ideal for individuals who don’t require complex features or detailed project management tools. While it’s not designed with larger teams in mind, its intuitive interface and straightforward functionality make it a practical choice for those who want to track time without dealing with unnecessary complications.

For employers managing teams, Toggl Track may not be the best fit for more complex project management needs, especially when juggling multiple clients and tasks. Some users have noted that its design can be limiting in such scenarios.

A common critique is the excessive empty space in its interface, which reduces the amount of visible information, making it harder to oversee multiple projects simultaneously. Additionally, the reliance on color coding to differentiate clients and projects, while intended to improve organization, has been reported to cause confusion rather than clarity. Some users suggest clearer labeling methods, such as color-coded bubbles or other distinct visual markers, could make identifying entries easier.

While Toggl Track offers one of the more generous free plans for up to five users, its paid plans start at $8 per user, which is on the higher side. More affordable options exist, such as Time Analytics, which starts at $4.99 per user, or Paymo, beginning at $5.90 per user.

One feature that stands out is its powerful reporting, which uses pie charts to help users visualize their time spent.

Would employees find Toggl Track useful?

Users find Toggl Track easy to use and unintrusive, with simple reminders throughout the workday to track their time. Overall, users of Toggl Track find it an intuitive app that does its job. Also, it’s fresh and updated. In September 2024, Toggl Track introduced changes to the Timer page, showing only active workspace data, and added an Audit Log feature for Premium and Enterprise subscribers, enhancing data transparency and management capabilities.

If employees only find the color scheme problematic, namely the complicated color system to classify projects or clients (especially for reports or invoices), but condone time sync issues and don’t complain about close monitoring, then it’s safe to say that it’s an app worth considering.

Similar to Paymo, Harvest offers both time tracking and invoicing, making it a practical choice for employers who want better oversight of employee hours while streamlining the billing process. This integration allows businesses to directly bill clients based on tracked hours without needing to export data to another system.

For teams relying on project management tools like Asana, Basecamp, or Trello—none of which include built-in time tracking—Harvest serves as a convenient add-on. Its simple interface and responsive customer support ensure that employees can log their hours with minimal effort. Harvest is similar in many ways to Everhour, as both depend heavily on integration with project management tools.

Would employees find Harvest useful?

This versatile employee time-tracking software is excellent for businesses requiring a stricter work discipline, partly due to the automatic reminders that nudge team members to clock in. But also, there’s a timesheet approval system through which project managers review and approve time entries, thus preventing potential errors.

This is not to say that the software is not intuitive. On the contrary, the team overview comes with analytics to see which projects take most of their efforts and whether they’re working on the right ones—I’m talking about the billable vs. non-billable time breakdown.

All in all, Harvest is a simple time-tracking software for those who value insight.

RescueTime is a personal time and productivity tracking software that provides self-working analytics to evaluate one’s work and motivate them to be on the right track. It can be used as a personal productivity tracker and a team performance analyzer. In a nutshell, RescueTime helps you understand where your time goes each day to optimize your energy and regain control of your day.

Would employees find RescueTime useful?

RescueTime helps employees understand how they spend their time, block distractions, and focus on the work they want to get done. This time management and analytics tool can be handy for employees of a small company since it limits monitoring—so, no screenshots or GPS tracking—yet it promotes accountability by tracking the time spent on different applications, documents, and websites, providing users with an accurate picture of their day. From what I’ve seen, RescueTime provides privacy options allowing users to control what gets tracked, ensuring that sensitive or personal information remains private.

Time clock app

• Web: Windows, Mac, Linux
• Mobile: Android, iOS
• Plugins: Chrome, Firefox
• Desktop apps: Windows, macOS

Pricing

• Free plan available.
• Premium: $12/user/month.

RescueTime is, by excellence, a time-tracking app, so don’t expect robust project management features, cost tracking, invoicing, etc. Read this subsection of RescueTime for a detailed explanation of its time-tracking features.

Hubstaff is, by excellence, an employee monitoring software with time-tracking capabilities that allows managers and business owners to manage their employees closely.

By close monitoring features, I mean screenshots, URL and app tracking, keystroke and mouse click tracking, scheduling, GPS and location monitoring, idle time, etc. The whole gamut of surveillance features. Hubstaff tracks hours worked by employees and monitors their productivity, which is measured by keystrokes and mouse clicks.

Would employees find Hubstaff useful?

Hubstaff is suitable for those teams who want to see what everyone is working on, and that’s done with screenshots and activity rates.

Hubstaff’s employee monitoring randomly takes up to three screenshots every 10 minutes. Plus, Hubstaff calculates activity levels based on the percentage of keyboard and mouse strokes over time.

Users complained about how this close monitoring is mentally taxing and even denting their overall performance since tracking keystrokes and clicks might not reflect productivity, especially when various factors, from a slower internet connection to work away from keyboard, might skew said “activity and productivity levels.”

My Hours offers essential task management, an advanced time-tracking module, invoicing, and cool-looking reports. Profitability is another neat feature, and it’s a core part of their unique selling proposition: to run profitable projects from start to finish. Honestly, the interface looks a bit outdated compared to the competition. It’s not necessarily the most intuitive either, but it does its job.

One feature that some would find helpful is the import data, which allows you to easily import clients, projects, tasks, and time entries from Excel. Only two integrations are available (Quickbooks and Zapier), but those with coding skills can use their public API to create their integrations.

In 2024, MyHours added custom IDs for users and projects, allowed admins to let normal users create tasks, introduced a setting to disable billable switch, and enabled non-billable tasks on billable projects.

Would employees find MyHours useful?

MyHours looks and feels like a timesheet-style task management tool, and it provides a simple and easy way to track time spent on different projects and tasks. Managers can generate detailed reports that provide insights into employee productivity and time usage, helping employees understand their work habits and identify areas for improvement. It’s worth noting that there’s no employee monitoring, such as screenshots or URL tracking.

Connecteam offers a full range of features such as scheduling, task management, time clock, and other work management features. In addition, there’s an employee messaging system—direct messages, chats, voice calls, bulletin boards, social feeds—to help employees and teams communicate easily.

Would employees find connecteam useful?

Employees will find it easy to clock in and out right from their smartphones, and their entries will sync with the job scheduler, leaving little room for inaccuracies. Depending on the nature of the business, connecteam can be useful or not. As a manager, you’ll get notifications when employees clock in late or not at all, and you can set up a digital geofence to ensure employees clock in/out on-site if you’re in any field service industry. If employees are out on the field, you’ll get complete visibility of your employees on the go, during work hours, or if commuting.

Homebase is an employee management software with time-tracking capabilities focused on employee scheduling, time clocks, payroll, HR, and more. It is designed for teams working in shifts, flexible hours, or for managers who need to manage people hourly, such as bookings and appointments. Their customers are in hospitality, beauty & wellness, medical & veterinary, caregiving, etc.

Would employees find Homebase useful?

Homebase is an excellent tool for shift management with GPS-enabled time tracking. There’s also a reporting feature with milestones and performance metrics, such as on-time arrivals vs. tardies, shifts worked, missed breaks, and a team roster where managers can keep employee data—think birthdays and anniversaries—and team contributions.

It’s safe to say employees find homebase helpful due to the nature of their work, especially as there’s an in-app messenger and a feedback system. Plus, employees can manage their finances directly in the app—for example, access some of their earnings before payday. Homebase is mainly known for its employee scheduling features, making it a strong choice for small businesses looking for an affordable solution. It streamlines staff scheduling, tracks clock-ins and outs, manages time cards, and improves workplace communication.

Many users appreciate how simple it is to copy weekly schedules and the built-in messaging system that eliminates the need for employees to exchange personal contact details. The platform also receives positive feedback for its group announcements, shift reminders, and alerts for late arrivals.

If you or your team often forget to start or stop the timer, TrackingTime is an employee time-tracking software designed to make the process effortless. It tackles this common issue with two standout features. 

First, an automatic reminder system ensures that time tracking isn’t left to memory. What makes it even more effective is its ability to compare scheduled work hours with actual logged-in time, helping to catch any missed entries. Unlike generic reminders that get ignored, these alerts pop up exactly when needed, making time tracking more accurate without adding extra work.

The second key advantage of TrackingTime is its seamless integration with various apps. Instead of switching between tools, it places a ‘play’ button right where you need it. Whether you’re working in Asana, Trello, Gmail, or other platforms, you can start tracking time with a single click—directly from your tasks or emails

Would employees find TrackingTime useful?

TrackingTime allows users to set up multiple trackers, making tracking time for specific or general tasks and scheduling repeating events easy. There’s also automatic data sync with Calendar apps. TrackingTime supports Gmail, Outlook, Mail, and all the other major email clients for syncing due dates for tasks and projects.

One helpful feature is “Working On!,” where managers can see what tasks are being tracked from the activity tab to avoid unnecessary interruptions and empty time slots in the team’s schedule. One con is that there is no idle time detection, which users must manually edit.

From what I’ve tested, TrackingTime can be a useful tool for small company employees. It provides them with an easy and efficient way to track their time and improve productivity. The multiple trackers, visual capabilities, and mobile access features make it convenient for employees to track their time from anywhere and ensure accurate billing.

Tick (formerly TickSpot) is an easy-to-use employee time tracking software available on desktop, mobile, and as a Chrome extension. While it isn’t designed for a specific industry, it’s particularly useful for freelancers who need a straightforward way to track billable hours. Instead of offering complex project management tools, Tick focuses on making time tracking effortless by allowing users to set up projects and tasks. However, it may not be the best fit for teams managing large-scale or highly detailed projects.

One of Tick’s standout features is its unconventional pricing model. Unlike most time-tracking tools that charge per user per month, Tick bases its pricing on the number of projects. Freelancers working on just one project can use it for free, making it a cost-effective option.

That said, the price increases to $19 per month for up to 10 projects, which is comparable to what other platforms charge for multiple users. Despite this, teams working on only a handful of projects may find Tick to be an affordable alternative compared to traditional pricing structures.

Users often praise Tick for its simple design and responsive customer support. It also includes automated time tracking and integrates with over 700 apps, including Apple Watch, Basecamp, and QuickBooks, providing flexibility for those who want a lightweight but functional time-tracking tool.

Would employees find Tick useful?

Tick is useful for users on the go thanks to Apple Watch integration and mobile versions for Android and iOS. Time tracking happens on a card level, where you have to select your project and task and then enter your time. You may leave multiple timers as you move between tasks. A macOS desktop app, Tick Mac App, can also run in the background to capture work in real-time.

However, Tick may not offer the level of customization that some users require; for example, some users may want to track time in different formats or with more detailed descriptions. While Tick offers time-tracking and reporting features, it may not have the same range of features as other time-tracking software. For example, it may not offer project management or team collaboration features.