Toggl Track vs Harvest, Clockify & More – Best Time Trackers for Freelancers (2025)

Time Tracking for Freelancers: Why It Matters

Freelancers and solo developers juggle multiple clients, projects, and hourly rates. A reliable time-tracking tool helps capture every billable minute, automate invoicing, and generate client reports. The right app can integrate with your dev workflow (e.g. GitHub, project management, accounting) and reduce admin overhead. In short, freelancers need accuracy, simplicity, and seamless integrations in a time tracker.

Key benefits for freelancers:

Capture Billable Hours: Log time on tasks or projects so you can invoice accurately
Simplify Invoicing: Turn tracked hours into invoices automatically
Insightful Reporting: Generate reports for clients or personal productivity reviews
Integrations: Connect with tools like GitHub (for devs), Slack, Asana, QuickBooks, Xero, etc.
Ease of Use: Intuitive UI and multi-platform support (web, desktop, mobile, offline)
Cost: Free tiers or affordable plans that fit solo entrepreneurs’ budgets

Real-world example: A freelance web developer can start a timer from a GitHub issue in Toggl Track, switch projects in a browser extension, then export detailed CSV reports or PDF invoices when billing the client. Each tool below offers a unique mix of these features to streamline your workflow.

Key Time-Tracking Criteria for Freelancers

Before comparing tools, consider these factors relevant to solo devs:

Automatic vs. Manual Tracking: Does the tool offer an auto-tracker or AI to capture work (e.g. Timely’s Memory) or rely on manual timers?
Billing & Invoicing: Can you assign hourly rates and generate invoices directly (Harvest and Bonsai include this)?
Reporting & Budgets: Are there built-in reports, timesheet approval, and project budgets to manage scope?
Integrations: Check compatibility with your stack: GitHub/Bitbucket (for code activities), project tools (Jira, Trello, Asana), and financial apps (QuickBooks, Xero, Stripe)
Platform Support: Availability of mobile/desktop apps and offline mode (Toggl and Clockify work offline)
Pricing and Plans: Look for free tiers or trial (most tools offer a free plan or trial for freelancers). Compare per-user costs and what features unlock at each level

By weighing these criteria, you can pick a time tracker that fits your freelance lifestyle—minimizing admin so you can focus on coding.

Toggl Track: Easy, Reliable Tracking (Free & Paid Plans)

Overview: Toggl Track is popular among freelancers for its simple timer, rich integrations, and offline reliability. Its free plan supports up to 5 users and includes basic reports, while paid plans ($9 Starter, $18 Premium per user/month) add billing and advanced analytics.

Key Features:

Timer & Autotracking: Use a one-click timer on web, desktop, and mobile. Toggl’s Autotracker (desktop) can also watch your activity and suggest time entries
Offline Support: Track offline – the timer keeps running if your internet drops and syncs entries later. This prevents lost data during outages
Integrations: 100+ integrations via browser extensions. For example, Toggl embeds a timer button directly in GitHub, Jira, Asana, Trello, and 100+ other apps. This lets devs start/stop tracking without switching windows
Reporting & Invoicing: Detailed time reports (summary, detailed, calendar views) can be exported to PDF/CSV for clients. In Premium, you can set billable rates and create invoices or link to accounting tools

Use Case: A solo developer toggling between coding, meetings, and email will appreciate Toggl’s visual timeline and calendar views. Its summary charts highlight where most time goes, helping optimize schedules. For freelancers, Toggl’s straightforward interface means less setup time and more accurate logging.

Screenshot: Toggl Track’s weekly time entries view (showing color-coded tasks and daily totals). Toggl’s UI lets you switch between list and calendar views to see patterns, ensuring no billable hours slip through.

Harvest: Integrated Invoicing for Billable Freelancers

Overview: Harvest is known for seamless invoicing and time tracking. Its Free plan (forever) is aimed at freelancers: 1 seat, 2 projects, basic reports, and invoicing included. The Pro plan ($11/seat/month) adds unlimited projects/seats and payment integrations.

Key Features:

Built-in Invoicing: Even the free tier lets you turn tracked hours into client invoices. Harvest auto-calculates billable amounts for time & expenses. This streamlines billing without manual entry
Flexible Billing: Supports both “time & materials” and fixed-price projects. You can set hourly rates or flat fees and Harvest will flag budgets or overruns
Reporting: Harvest offers easy daily or weekly timesheet views. It integrates simple charts to show project burn-down. You can also export expense reports and client statements
Integrations: Connect Harvest to many tools: Slack (for reminders), Asana, Basecamp, Trello (project management), and major finance apps. It directly integrates with Stripe, QuickBooks Online, Xero, Deel and more for payments

Use Case: A freelance consultant working on a 10-week contract could use Harvest’s timesheets to log each week, then hit “Create Invoice” at month-end. Integration with QuickBooks or Stripe means payments can be collected and recorded automatically. Harvest’s clean interface (desktop, mobile app) is friendly for non-technical users.

Clockify: Unlimited Free Tracking

Overview: Clockify offers a generous free plan with unlimited users, projects, and time tracking. It’s fully functional forever, making it ideal for budget-conscious freelancers. Paid tiers (from $6.99/user) add team features.

Key Features:

Free Unlimited: Clockify’s standout is “no limits” in the free plan. Track unlimited hours for any number of projects or clients at no cost. Even basic reporting (PDF/CSV) and Pomodoro timer are free
Paid Features: The Standard plan ($6.99/user/month) adds time-off tracking, lock timesheets, and invoicing (generate invoices from tracked time). It also unlocks QuickBooks sync for seamless accounting
Integrations: Clockify’s browser extensions embed timers in GitHub, GitLab, Jira, Asana, Trello, and 80+ apps. For example, you can start a Clockify timer on a GitHub issue or merge request directly. This is great for devs who want minimal context switching
Cross-Platform Apps: Clockify runs on web, desktop (Windows/Mac/Linux), and mobile (iOS/Android). It even offers a Kiosk mode for shared workstations. Users can clock in/out on a single device, useful if a solo developer works in a coworking space

Use Case: A freelancer who needs unlimited free tracking across many small projects (e.g. dozens of gigs) will find Clockify unbeatable. Its feature set is surprisingly rich given the price. For example, you can tag entries as “billable” or “non-billable,” then later export a client-ready report.

Clockify’s apps across web, desktop, and mobile let you track time anywhere. Clockify’s free plan covers basic timers and reports on all platforms; upgrading enables invoicing, team timesheets, and app monitoring.

Timely: AI-Powered Automatic Tracking

Overview: Timely (by Memory.ai) automates time capture. It records all activity (documents, websites, meetings) in the background. Pricing starts at $9/user (Starter) for up to 5 people, which may be steep for solo freelancers but offers a hands-free approach.

Key Features:

Automatic “Memory” Tracking: Timely’s key feature is its AI-driven timeline. No timer clicks needed – it silently logs your activities, then you categorize them. For busy consultants, this means “capture every billable second” without forgetting to start/stop a timer
Ease & Accuracy: Timely claims to reduce admin by ~75% because it handles timesheet generation automatically. You can review and merge entries into projects later. This is ideal for people who hate manual tracking
Plans & Capacity: The Starter plan ($9/mo, or $9/yearly per user) allows up to 20 projects and 5 users. The Premium plan ($20/mo) bumps limits (unlimited projects, 50 users) and adds integrations with PM/accounting tools

Use Case: A solo marketing freelancer who juggles calls, emails, and design work could use Timely to never miss an hour. After working in design software or attending a video meeting, Timely’s timeline will show those activities. The freelancer simply assigns them to a client project for accurate billing. Timely excels when forgetting to track is a concern, but budget is high (no free version).

Bonsai: All-in-One Freelance Business Suite

Overview: Bonsai is more than a time tracker – it’s a full freelancer management platform (contracts, invoices, proposals, forms). Time tracking is built-in. Plans start at $9/user/mo (Basic), with Essentials ($19) and Premium ($29) adding admin tools.

Key Features:

Time & Tasks: The Basic tier ($9) includes time tracking, unlimited projects/clients, task management and a mobile app. This covers core needs for scheduling and logging hours
Invoicing & Contracts: Essentials ($19) adds automated invoices/payments, proposals, contracts, forms, and scheduling. This means you can track time and immediately bill clients within the same tool. There’s no separate invoice app needed
Advanced Project Management: Premium ($29) adds project reports, Gantt charts, pipelines, and integrations (QuickBooks, Calendly, Zapier). Bonsai’s client portal also lets clients view project status and invoices in one place

Use Case: Freelance designers or consultants who currently juggle multiple tools may like Bonsai’s “all-in-one” approach. For example, after tracking 15 hours on a project, you can generate an invoice, have the client sign it, and even automate payment reminders – all inside Bonsai. It simplifies workflows, though it’s less focused on advanced time analytics than specialized trackers.

TMetric: Affordable Tracking with Team Features

Overview: TMetric offers a straightforward tracker with generous features. The Free plan (up to 2 users) gives unlimited projects, clients, and report exports. The Professional plan (≈$5/user/mo) adds invoicing and project budgets, and the Business plan ($7) adds time-off, screenshots, and QuickBooks/Jira integration.

Key Features:

Free Tier: Up to two users can track unlimited time at no cost. Even on the free plan you get client and project reports. This is great for a solo freelancer testing the tool
Pro Features: At $5/user/mo (billed annually), you get billable rates, expenses, project budgets/alerts, and client invoicing. It also offers calendar sync (Outlook/Google) and task management
Business Tier: For $7/user/mo, add advanced team features: a time-off module, team timesheets, app/site monitoring (screenshots), and integrations like QuickBooks, Jira, Redmine, and ClickUp
Offline & Apps: TMetric has desktop and mobile apps with offline tracking. It includes idle detection and timesheet locking, useful for any structured workflows

Use Case: A freelancer who sometimes works with an assistant or small team could start on Free (2 seats) and upgrade as needed. If solo, the free plan already supports invoicing (in the Pro tier) and reports. TMetric’s interface is clean and data-rich (e.g. it shows money earned per project). It’s a budget-friendly choice that grows into team use if you hire subcontractors.

Feature Comparison Table

Feature / Tool	Toggl Track	Harvest	Clockify	Timely	Bonsai	TMetric
Free Plan	Up to 5 users	1 user, 2 projects	Unlimited users/projects	No (14-day trial)	7-day trial only	2 users
Starting Price	$9/user/mo (Starter)	$11/user/mo (Pro)	$6.99/user (Standard)	$9/user (Starter)	$9/user (Basic)	$5/user (Professional)
Billable Rates & Invoicing	Invoicing in paid plans; offline timer	Built-in invoicing (even free)	Invoicing in paid plan	Available in paid plan	Invoices & contracts at $19+	Invoicing at Pro
Integrations	100+ apps (GitHub, Asana, Slack, etc)	50+ (Asana, Slack, Stripe, QuickBooks, Xero)	80+ (GitHub, Jira, Trello, QuickBooks)	12 Project/accounting tools	QuickBooks, Xero, Zapier, Calendly (Premium)	Jira/Redmine/ClickUp, QuickBooks (Business)
Offline Mode	Yes (syncs later)	No (must be online)	Yes (desktop/mobile apps)	No	Mobile app (iOS/Android)	Yes (desktop app)
Unique Features	Autotracker, Pomodoro timer; rich reports	Forecast & capacity planning; integrations with accounting	Fully free; Kiosk mode for shared clock; robust reporting	AI “Memory” auto capture	All-in-one (contracts, templates, CRM)	Screenshots & activity monitoring; payroll features

Sources: Official pricing and feature pages of each tool, as well as integration guides.

Decision Checklist: Picking the Right Tracker

Use this checklist to match your needs:

Budget & Free Tier: Do you want a 100% free solution? Clockify offers unlimited usage for free. Toggl gives 5 seats free. Harvest offers a free single-user plan with invoicing
Invoicing & Contracts: Need in-app billing/proposals? Harvest and Bonsai have strong invoicing and contract features built-in. TMetric and Clockify require paid plans for invoicing
Integration with Dev Tools: For GitHub/Jira/etc, Toggl and Clockify both embed timers in code/project platforms. TMetric also integrates with Jira and QuickBooks (business plan)
Automation Needs: Want auto-tracking? Timely is unique with its AI memory that logs everything. Toggl’s Autotracker suggests entries based on usage, while Clockify offers manual tracking only
Team Collaboration: Planning to scale beyond one person? TMetric Business and Clockify Enterprise add team timesheets and approvals. Harvest Pro supports unlimited team members and project permissions
Mobile & Offline: If you track on the go or in unreliable internet spots, ensure mobile apps and offline mode. Toggl, Clockify, and TMetric all support offline tracking
Ease of Use: If you prefer minimal setup, Toggl and Harvest are praised for intuitive UIs. Bonsai is optimized for freelancers’ business needs

Getting Started & Migration Tips

Trials and Free Plans: Most tools offer a free plan or trial. Start by signing up for the free tier of your top choice to evaluate the interface and reports. Toggl Track and Harvest both let you get started without a credit card
Initial Setup: Create projects/clients first, set your hourly rates, and install any browser extensions (e.g. for GitHub or PM tools). For accurate migration, import any existing time data via CSV if supported (TMetric Professional supports time import)
Reporting and Billing: After a week of tracking, experiment with generating a report for a client. Check if you can directly create an invoice from your tracked data (Harvest does this on any plan). Adjust your workflow based on which reports and invoices the tool can automate
Common Pitfalls: Don’t forget to enable settings like idle detection or reminders (available in Toggl, Clockify) to avoid missing time. Also, beware data loss: Toggl and Clockify support offline usage, while Harvest requires connection

Community & Support Resources

Official Documentation: Each tool provides guides – for example, Toggl’s help center explains GitHub integration, and Clockify’s knowledge base has tutorials for migrating data
User Forums & Reviews: Check user forums and recent reviews for freelancer experiences (e.g. Clockify’s blog or G2 reviews). Freelance communities like Reddit often discuss workflows with these tools
Developer Integrations: For custom workflows, all tools offer APIs (Toggl, Clockify, TMetric) – see their developer docs for automation scripts or linking to your accounting system

FAQs for Freelancers

Q: Which free tool lets me track unlimited time?

A: Clockify stands out with a free plan allowing unlimited users, projects, and hours. Toggl Track also offers a free tier (up to 5 users, unlimited tracking). Both are fully usable at no cost, with paid tiers for extra features.

Q: Can I generate invoices from tracked time?

A: Yes. Harvest includes invoicing even on its free freelancer plan, linking time entries to billable amounts. Bonsai and TMetric (paid plan) have built-in invoices as well. Clockify and Toggl require upgrading to paid plans or using integrations for billing.

Q: How do these tools work with GitHub?

A: Both Toggl and Clockify offer browser extensions that add a timer button to GitHub issues and pull requests. For example, Toggl’s Chrome extension lets you start/stop a timer right from GitHub’s UI. Clockify’s extension similarly adds a timer in GitHub. This makes it easy for developers to log coding time without context switching.

Q: Is it hard to switch between tools?

A: Many tools support data export/import (CSV) for time entries. Start by trying the free tier to ensure all needed features are there. When migrating, export your current time logs and import into the new app if supported. Double-check that client/project names match to avoid duplicates. Most providers also offer migration guides.

Q: Do any tools have mobile apps?

A: Yes, almost all have mobile apps. Toggl Track, Clockify, Harvest, Bonsai, and TMetric each offer iOS/Android apps. Timely also has mobile apps (and even GPS tracking) for consultants on the go. These apps sync with the web service so you can track time anywhere.

Conclusion

For most freelancers and solo developers, Toggl Track and Harvest often top the list. Toggl Track wins on ease-of-use, offline reliability, and developer integrations. Clockify is unbeatable for a completely free, unlimited solution. Harvest and Bonsai shine if you need seamless invoicing and proposals built in. Timely offers hands-free tracking for those who value automation, but at a premium price. TMetric is a solid, affordable choice with payroll and team tools for small agencies.

Ultimately, the best tool depends on your workflow: if quick onboarding and integrations matter, start with Toggl’s free tier; if zero-cost tracking is key, try Clockify; if you want contracts and invoices all in one, Bonsai is worth considering. Whichever you choose, take advantage of free trials to ensure it fits your freelance lifestyle.

Ready to optimize your freelance workflow? Subscribe to Stackworthy for more tool comparisons, productivity tips, and developer workflow insights delivered to your inbox.

Disclosure: This article includes affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up through these links, at no extra cost to you. All pricing and feature information is current for 2025 and based on official sources. Always verify details on the vendor’s website before purchasing.