Top 15 time tracking software for your remote teams
List of 15 time tracking software
- Time Doctor
- Clockify
- ClickUp
- Paymo
- Harvest
- Timely
- Deputy
- Tick
- Everhour
- EARLY
- RescueTime
- TimeCamp
- TrackingTime
- MyHours
- HourStack
Managing virtual teams comes with its own set of challenges, especially when tracking work progress and hours worked. Without face-to-face interactions, it can be difficult to monitor productivity and make sure that employees are staying on task.
Time tracking becomes a crucial tool, but it’s not always easy to find the right solution. Companies often struggle with finding a tool that is both efficient and non-intrusive, allowing employees to maintain their focus while providing managers with the necessary oversight.
This post lists 15 of the top time tracking software that companies may utilize for employees who work remotely.
How a time tracking software works
Time tracking software is designed to help businesses monitor how their employees spend their work hours. Typically, the software allows employees to log in and track time spent on various tasks or projects throughout the day.
It can operate through manual entry or automated tracking, where the software records time based on app usage or activity.
According to a survey by OfficeClip, 34% of businesses report that time tracking tools have increased productivity within their teams. These tools also help companies identify inefficiencies, streamline workflows, and track billable hours for clients.
Additionally, many time tracking platforms integrate with payroll systems to simplify compensation processes. As remote work continues to grow, these tools are vital in maintaining transparency and helping teams stay on track.
What features to look for in a time tracking software
When choosing time tracking software, it’s important to look for features that align with your team’s needs and enhance productivity. Here are some essential features to consider:
User-friendly interface
The software should be simple to navigate, with an intuitive design. Time tracking tools are meant to save time, not complicate tasks. A user-friendly interface allows team members to track their hours quickly without a steep learning curve.
Real-time reporting
Look for software that provides real-time data on employee activity and progress. This feature helps managers track how much time is being spent on different projects or tasks, which can lead to more informed decisions and better resource allocation.
Project and task categorization
The ability to organize time entries by project or task is key for understanding where time is being spent. This feature allows businesses to track specific client work, internal tasks, or particular goals, making it easier to analyze performance and productivity.
Billable hours tracking
For businesses that work with clients, tracking billable hours is essential. Time tracking software that can differentiate between billable and non-billable hours helps businesses manage invoicing and client relationships more accurately.
Integration with other tools
Look for software that integrates seamlessly with other tools your team uses, such as project management platforms or payroll systems. This can help boost work production and reduce the need for duplicate data entry.
Mobile accessibility
As remote and hybrid work becomes more common, mobile-friendly software allows employees to track time on-the-go. A mobile app gives flexibility to workers who may not always be at their desks but still need to log their hours.
These features can greatly improve the way your team tracks time and manages projects, leading to improved efficiency and more accurate insights.
15 Best time tracking software for your remote workforce
These are the top 15 time tracking software that businesses can employ for their remote workers:
1. Time Doctor
Time Doctor is ideal for employers seeking intensive oversight of employee performance.
It stands out with its screen recording functionality, capturing screenshots every three minutes, and offering video screen captures for added insight into employee activity. These features provide a comprehensive view of what employees are doing throughout the day.
Time Doctor recently upgraded to TimeDoctor 2, introducing new features like team collaboration tools, enhanced web and app usage tracking, improved internet connectivity insights, and work-life balance metrics.
2. Clockify
Clockify is perfect for businesses that require time tracking with added location tracking capabilities. This feature proves invaluable for professionals who frequently visit client sites or work in the field.
Clockify’s user-friendly interface is praised for its simplicity, making it easy for new users to get the hang of essential functions quickly.
3. ClickUp
ClickUp is a versatile tool for teams with specialized time-tracking needs that go beyond standard software offerings. Its high level of customizability allows users to adapt the platform to suit a wide range of unique requirements.
ClickUp’s feature-rich design includes tools for task management, project tracking, and time tracking.
4. Paymo
Paymo is an excellent time-tracking solution for small businesses, consultants, and creative teams, particularly those handling client work. It integrates advanced time-tracking features with a simple invoicing system, streamlining workflows.
The software offers various tracking modes, including automatic tracking and the Pomodoro technique, making it easy to manage time effectively.
5. Harvest
Harvest combines time tracking and invoicing into a single tool. This is a great choice for businesses that want to manage both tasks without juggling multiple systems.
It integrates seamlessly with popular project management tools like Asana, Basecamp, and Trello, making it easy to link time entries with project timelines.
6. Timely
Timely is designed for employees who frequently shift between tasks or focus areas. This type of context shifting, common in consulting or multitasking roles, can make time management challenging.
Timely helps employees track their time without the hassle of manual adjustments, allowing them to focus on their work. Its automatic tracking system is designed to handle the complexities of multitasking, ensuring accurate time logs without disruption.
7. Deputy
Deputy is a powerful time-tracking and employee scheduling tool that puts a strong emphasis on labor compliance and adherence to fair workweek laws. With seamless integrations with payroll, POS, and HR systems, it simplifies workforce management for businesses of all sizes.
Deputy’s intuitive time clock app augments the scheduling process, making it easy for managers to assign shifts, handle time-off requests, and track attendance. Employees also benefit from easy clock-in/out processes and a mobile app for greater accessibility.
8. Tick
Tick (formerly TickSpot) is a simple, straightforward time-tracking app, perfect for freelancers working on a single project or task. It’s available across multiple platforms, including desktop, mobile, and a Chrome extension.
The app is geared toward tracking billable hours rather than project management, making it ideal for those looking for an easy way to log time without complicated features.
Tick’s free tier makes it especially appealing to freelancers or small business owners who only need basic tracking.
9. Everhour
Everhour is a time-tracking tool that excels in offering advanced reporting capabilities and integrations with popular project management platforms like Asana, Trello, and ClickUp.
Its integration with these platforms helps create a more cohesive workflow by delivering detailed reports and project insights.
Everhour’s comprehensive reporting features make it an essential tool for teams who require an in-depth understanding of their time usage.
10. EARLY
EARLY (formerly known as Timeular) is a unique time-tracking app that caters to businesses and individuals such as software houses, design agencies, freelancers, and legal professionals.
Although the software offers common time-tracking functions like reporting, analytics, and invoicing, the ZEIº physical time-tracking gadget is its most notable feature. This 8-sided polygon device can be customized to track specific tasks.
EARLY’s approach blends simplicity and innovation, providing a fresh way to keep track of time with both digital and physical elements.
11. RescueTime
RescueTime offers a unique approach to managing productivity. Unlike many other time management solutions, it emphasizes trust and encourages creative problem-solving to address work-related challenges.
The software stands out by promoting a four-day workweek, advocating for more balanced work schedules. It focuses on automating time tracking by recording activities across various applications and websites, eliminating the need for manual time logs.
Additionally, its cutting-edge Timesheets AI (still in beta) further automates the process, offering enhanced tracking capabilities.
12. TimeCamp
TimeCamp is perfect for individuals new to time tracking and seeking a free solution. It provides a broader free tier, a good starting point for beginners.
TimeCamp is known for being budget-friendly. It delivers essential features like automatic time tracking, ensuring that users can efficiently monitor their time without needing to start timers manually.
13. TrackingTime
TrackingTime is for teams that frequently forget to start their timers. It addresses this issue with two standout features:
- An automatic reminder system.
- A function that compares scheduled hours with actual logged hours.
The reminders are designed to be timely and relevant, so they capture attention when needed most.
TrackingTime is particularly beneficial for teams managing recurring tasks and projects where time tracking consistency is key.
14. MyHours
MyHours is a user-friendly time-tracking tool that focuses on simplicity and ease of use. It is often compared to Paymo and TimeCamp due to its intuitive design and clean interface, which minimizes distractions.
Users appreciate the straightforward nature of the tool, which removes unnecessary complexity from the time-tracking process. If you’ve struggled to find a time-tracking app that feels simple and easy to use, MyHours may be the perfect fit.
15. HourStack
HourStack is a flexible scheduling and time-tracking application that works well for groups of all sizes. It offers a drag-and-drop calendar view that makes it easy to schedule tasks and track time.
The software allows users to pull reports, integrate with other tools like Asana, and import data seamlessly, streamlining workflow.
HourStack is good for teams that need an all-in-one solution to manage time and tasks effectively.
Choosing the right time tracking software for your remote staff
Choosing the right time tracking software for your remote staff can be a challenge, as it requires balancing efficiency, ease of use, and flexibility. Here are some tips to help you select the best option:
- User-friendly interface. Remote teams need a platform that’s easy to navigate without a steep learning curve.
- Automation features. Look for tools that can track time automatically to reduce the need for manual input.
- Integration with other tools. Ensure the software works well with project management or payroll systems you already use.
- Mobile accessibility. A mobile app can be useful for remote employees working from different locations or on the go.
- Real-time reporting. Having access to live data helps managers stay updated on productivity and team progress.
Invest in a time tracking tool that fits your team’s specific needs.
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