Best Apps for Time Tracking While Working Remote
Time tracking can help with billing, payroll, project planning, and workload visibility. It can also feel invasive if the team does not know what is tracked or why.
For a related Working Nomads article, read design collaboration tools for beginners before you decide your next step.
Pick a tool that matches the job. A freelancer needs billing clarity. An agency needs client reports. A field team may need GPS or geofencing. A remote software team may only need project-level time entries.
Features to look for in a time tracking app
Start with the reason you need time tracking.
- Timesheets: Let people review and approve entries before payroll or billing.
- Reports: Show time by client, project, task, or person.
- Integrations: Connect to payroll, project management, invoices, or calendars.
- Privacy controls: Be clear about screenshots, app tracking, GPS, or automatic tracking.
- Offline support: Help people track time when the connection drops.
Time tracking apps worth checking
These tools cover different needs, so start with the one that matches your team’s work style.
Clockify
Clockify is a time tracker and timesheet app for tracking work hours across projects. It is a practical fit for teams that want a low-friction starting point.
Toggl Track
Toggl Track focuses on time tracking, client reports, profitability, project tracking, and payroll use cases. It works well for agencies, consultants, and teams that care about clean reports.
QuickBooks Time
QuickBooks Time fits teams already using QuickBooks or teams that need payroll-related time tracking. Intuit also documents GPS and geofencing options for some plans.
Timely
Timely focuses on automatic time tracking and project reporting. It can fit teams that want time records drafted from work activity instead of manual timers.
Spreadsheet and app comparison
| Need | Spreadsheet | Time Tracking App |
|---|---|---|
| **Payroll prep** | Manual review and cleanup | Timesheets and approvals |
| **Client billing** | Easy to forget details | Project and client reports |
| **Remote visibility** | Limited and delayed | Clearer workload data |
| **Privacy control** | Simple but manual | Depends on app settings and policy |
Talk to the team before rolling out tracking. Explain what you track, what you do not track, and how the data will be used.
What to Read Next
Read best calendly alternative apps for scheduling and booking if you want a related next step on remote work tools.
Use how to ask for vacation days when you work remotely for better focus when you need more context before your next decision.
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