7 Best Time Tracking Tools for Freelancers in 2026
We tested 15+ time tracking apps to find the best for freelancers. These tools help you track billable hours, generate invoices, and provide professional client reports that justify your rates.
Toggl Track is the most popular time tracker for a reason. One-click timers make tracking effortless. Beautiful reports show clients exactly where time went. Integrates with 100+ tools. The free tier covers most freelancer needs. Simple yet powerful.
Starting priceFree
Strengths
One-click tracking
Beautiful reports
Great free tier
100+ integrations
Cross-platform
Limitations
Invoicing costs extra
No expenses in free
Reports limited in free
No project budgets free
Who it's for: Best for freelancers who want simple, reliable time tracking with great reports.
Harvest combines time tracking with invoicing seamlessly. Track time, then convert to invoices with one click. Accept online payments directly. Expense tracking included. Professional reports impress clients. The go-to for freelancers who bill hourly.
Starting priceFree
Strengths
Built-in invoicing
Online payments
Expense tracking
Professional reports
Easy to use
Limitations
More expensive
Less integrations
Limited free tier
No project management
Who it's for: Best for freelancers who want time tracking and invoicing in one tool.
Clockify is the most generous free time tracker available. Unlimited users, unlimited projects, unlimited tracking. Core features work great without paying. Paid tiers add invoicing and advanced features. Perfect for cost-conscious freelancers.
Starting priceFree
Strengths
Unlimited free tracking
All platforms
Good reports
Team features free
Affordable paid
Limitations
Invoicing is paid
Expenses paid only
Less polished UI
Basic integrations
Who it's for: Best for freelancers who want powerful free time tracking.
FreshBooks is accounting software with excellent time tracking. Track time directly in your accounting workflow. Invoices pull from tracked hours automatically. Expenses, payments, and taxes in one place. Great for freelancers ready for proper accounting.
Starting price$17/mo
Strengths
Full accounting
Best invoicing
Payment processing
Tax-ready reports
Professional look
Limitations
Higher price
Overkill for simple needs
Learning curve
Client limits on cheap plans
Who it's for: Best for established freelancers needing full accounting with time tracking.
Everhour excels at project-based time tracking. Set budgets and estimates, then track against them. Integrates inside Asana, Trello, and other PM tools. Real-time budget monitoring prevents scope creep. Great for project-based freelancers.
Starting priceFree
Strengths
Project budgets
PM integrations
Budget alerts
Good free tier
Clean interface
Limitations
Basic invoicing
No expenses
Fewer standalone features
Needs PM tool
Who it's for: Best for freelancers who work in project management tools.
Paymo combines project management, time tracking, and invoicing in one platform. Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and task lists for project work. Time tracking flows into invoices. Good for freelancers who want everything together.
Starting priceFree
Strengths
All-in-one platform
Good PM features
Built-in invoicing
Expense tracking
Good free tier
Limitations
Can be complex
Jack of all trades
Less specialized
UI can be busy
Who it's for: Best for freelancers wanting PM, time tracking, and invoicing together.
Moxie is built specifically for freelancers. CRM for managing clients, proposals for winning work, contracts for agreements, time tracking for billing, and invoicing for getting paid. The complete freelancer business platform.
Starting price$20/mo
Strengths
Built for freelancers
Full business suite
CRM included
Proposals + contracts
Professional look
Limitations
No free tier
Learning curve
Newer platform
Less integrations
Who it's for: Best for freelancers who want one platform for their entire business.
We tested each tracker for real freelance workflows and client billing.
Ease of Tracking (25%) — How easy it is to start and stop timers.
Invoicing Features (25%) — Ability to convert time to invoices.
Reporting (20%) — Quality of reports for clients and tax purposes.
Integrations (15%) — Connections to tools freelancers use.
Pricing (15%) — Value for solo freelancers.
How to Choose
Choose Toggl Track if you need simple time tracking.
Choose Harvest if you need need invoicing too.
Choose Clockify if you need want free forever.
Choose FreshBooks if you need full accounting.
Choose Everhour if you need project budgets.
Common Questions
Track everything but categorize as billable or non-billable. This helps you understand your true hourly rate including admin time. Many freelancers discover they spend 30-40% on non-billable work.
Share summary reports showing total hours by task or project phase. Avoid showing every minute - clients want to see where time went, not micromanage. Most tools offer professional PDF reports.
Yes, all these tools support multiple clients and projects. Use projects to separate work and generate per-client reports. Color coding helps identify which client you are working on.
