Time tracking splits into two camps: tools you start and stop yourself, and tools that watch what you do and fill the timesheet for you. Which you want depends on whether you're billing clients or trying to understand your own day. We graded all four on both.
At a glance
four dimensions, scored 1–5
Toggl Track
Toggl Track is the easiest timer to actually keep using: one click to start, apps on every platform, browser extensions that add a timer to 100+ tools, and reporting that's clear without being heavy. The free plan is genuinely usable for individuals. It's manual-first, with reminders rather than full auto-capture.
Harvest
Harvest is time tracking built for getting paid: log hours against clients and projects, then turn them into invoices and collect payment in the same tool. Budget tracking and profitability reports are its standout. If your time directly becomes a bill, Harvest closes the loop better than anything here.
Timely
Timely records what you actually do in the background — apps, docs, meetings — then uses AI to draft your timesheet, which you review rather than write. For teams that lose billable time to forgotten entries, that's the pitch. It's pricier and privacy-conscious teams should weigh the always-on capture.
Rize
Rize is less about billing and more about self-improvement: it automatically categorizes your work, scores your focus, and nudges you to take breaks and cut context-switching. It's a personal-productivity tool rather than a team timesheet — excellent for understanding where your hours really go, narrower for agency use.
The full scorecard
every dimension, side by side
Deals worth knowing
terms change — confirm before you buy
What they really cost
Open-source tools are “free” but you pay per token; paid tools bundle usage until you outgrow it. Bars show the honest monthly range for a daily driver.
Questions we get asked
For most people, Toggl Track is the best overall — simple, free to start, and it works everywhere. Harvest is best if you invoice clients, Timely if you want AI to fill your timesheet automatically, and Rize if you're a solo worker optimizing your focus.
