Best Free and Paid Time Tracking Software for Freelancers in 2025
- What Is Time Tracking Software for Freelancers?
- Why Is a Timekeeping App for Freelancers Important?
- 8 Key Features to Look for in a Time Tracking App for Freelancers
- The 7 Best Time Tracking Software for Freelancers
- 3 Ways to Track Time Effectively as a Freelancer
- 5 Tips on How to Choose the Best Time Tracker App for Freelancers
- Bottom Line
As a freelancer, you’re used to always being between projects. Sometimes, you’re working on several at the same time, and it’s easy to get lost. This can hurt your ability to meet deadlines and keep clients happy. And this is because you’re still not using a tool that can help you stay professional and maintain your deadlines all the time—a time tracking software for freelancers.
What Is Time Tracking Software for Freelancers?
Frankly speaking, it’s not easy to be a freelancer since you have everything on your shoulders. From marketing to administrative tasks, you also need to answer your customers and potential leads and, of course, do the actual work. But knowing how many hours you have worked for a client is absolutely crucial.
Ultimately, you need to know how to manage your time as a freelancer. And this can be done by using freelance tracking software instead of relying on messy manual spreadsheets or paper timesheets.
Why Is a Timekeeping App for Freelancers Important?
When you work on hourly contracts, having an app for tracking freelance hours is very important. When you need to invoice your client, you’ll have the exact information you need. After all, you don’t want to undercharge or overcharge your clients.
In most cases, freelancers have a contract that shows, among many different aspects, the budget the client has available for a specific project. Freelance contracts often tie hours to project scope and deadlines, so accurate time tracking is essential. Say you’re a web developer with a 40-hour budget for a client project—logging each hour ensures you don’t run over the agreed scope.
While you may use your clock or phone to measure the duration, these are very inefficient tools when you’re a professional—or want to be a professional—freelancer. Besides, an app to track freelance hours gives you much more than just a time tracking tool. It also provides additional features to help you with your projects and even with your productivity.
If you’re also managing clients, you might want to check our guide on the Best CRM for Service Businesses.
8 Key Features to Look for in a Time Tracking App for Freelancers
When you’re looking for the best free or paid time tracking software for freelancers, you want to make sure it includes the right features. Some of the most important ones are:
#1: Real-Time Tracking
Most tools for logging hours for freelancers already come with real-time tracking. This means you can start the clock when beginning a task and stop or pause it when you complete it. A freelance video editor can track exactly how long each editing session takes.
#2: Manual & Automatic Tracking
If you’re learning how to track your hours as a freelancer, there are two different methods: manual and automatic. Some apps only offer one method, while the best apps for tracking freelance hours include both.
As the names suggest, with manual tracking you control when to start and stop the clock, while automatic tracking runs in the background and records the hours you spend working on a document, website, or app. If the app you choose only has manual tracking, it should at least allow you to edit your log. After all, you might forget to stop the clock after finishing a task or stepping away.
#3: Create Invoices
The freelance time tracker you pick should allow you to create invoices automatically from the data it records. This means that the hours you’ve logged for each project or client can be easi;y turned into a ready-to-send invoice. Some tools allow you to add your branding, calculates costs and discounts, email invoices right from the interface and track payment status.
Logging hours is only half the story. Sending a clear invoice is what actually gets you paid. Learn step-by-step in our Complete Guide to Sending an Invoice That Gets You Paid
#4: Reporting
Reporting is always important for any business, and freelancing is no different. Make sure the timekeeping software you choose generates reports on the time spent per project daily, weekly, and monthly, as well as per client.
#5: GPS Tracking
While not all freelancers need this feature, if you’re a content creator or photographer who works on the move, it’s useful if the app you choose can capture the time spent at specific locations.
#6: App & Browser Access
As a freelancer, flexibility matters. Having a tool that works across browsers or comes with its own mobile app (iOS or Android) is very important.
#7: Integrations
The best time tracking apps for freelancers integrate with many different tools you’re likely already using (CRMs, task trackers, accounting, etc.).
#8: User-Friendly
As with any other app or software, a freelance timer app should be intuitive and easy to use. Obviously, you don’t need to waste billable hours figuring out how to start a timer or navigate menus.
The 7 Best Time Tracking Software for Freelancers
#1: Harvest
Harvest is a great option when you’re looking for a time tracking app for the self-employed. With live tracking that you can start and stop manually, Harvest also helps you manage invoices and payments.
One of the things customers really like about Harvest is how simple and easy it is to use. As soon as you log in, the main screen is your timesheet. From there, you can add time manually or pick a project you’ve been working on to start tracking. When you pause or stop the timer, your entries are immediately displayed on the timesheet in a list.
If you’re already using other tools, chances are you can integrate them with Harvest.
On the downside, Harvest doesn’t include automatic time tracking, and the free plan is very limited.
#2: Toggl Track
If you’re looking for a straightforward timesheet app for freelancers, Toggl Track is worth considering.
Available for both mobile and desktop, Toggl Track offers a set of tracking tools to help freelancers and solopreneurs log billable hours.
One of the things clients really like about Toggl Track is that you can install it on multiple devices, and it will immediately sync your data across all of them. It’s also faster and easier to use than many other apps. Unlike some tools on this list, Toggl Track lets you start the timer right away without needing to add a project or task first. The app also supports both manual and automatic tracking.
Reporting is another strong feature. You can quickly generate reports by client, tag, or team.
On the negative side, Toggl Track doesn’t include planning or task management tools. It’s strictly a time tracking app with solid reporting.
#3: Traqq
When you want to keep track of freelance hours, Traqq is another option, though it currently offers only a desktop app. This tool lets you record the time you spend working on websites and programs.
It’s important to note that Traqq only supports manual time tracking, which means you need to click start and stop yourself. However, it does let you edit your time entries in case you forget to set or stop the clock. In addition, the app allows you to create reports and timesheets.
Traqq is available in three different plans, including a free option specifically designed for freelancers.
#4: Flowlu
Flowlu is more than just a time tracker, it’s a complete work management system with integrated project management and CRM. Still, it includes time tracking tools and plenty of other features that freelancers and solopreneurs will find useful.
With Flowlu, you can manage your entire freelance business in one place, thanks to dozens of available modules and hundreds of integrations. From its intuitive dashboard, you can organize clients, projects, tasks, and invoices, accept online payments, and even collaborate with other freelancers.
For time tracking specifically, you can use project-based tracking. All recorded data is stored in a timesheet, and invoices can be generated automatically from that data—saving you time and effort.
Flowlu offers a free trial, and you don’t need a credit card to sign up.
#5: TimeCamp
TimeCamp is another great time management app for freelancers, available on both mobile and desktop.
It supports both manual and automatic time tracking. For manual tracking, you simply use the timer. For automatic tracking, TimeCamp relies on keyword-based triggers that capture your activity across apps and websites.
When it comes to invoicing, TimeCamp integrates with Kiosk, which makes it easy to create employee timesheets, invoices, and even handle payroll if you’re running an agency.
#6: Memtime
Memtime is a desktop-only app (no mobile version) that tracks your time automatically. It starts as soon as you power on your computer and runs quietly in the background. At the end of the day, you can log into the app to categorize or edit your activities.
If you want a minimalistic app that automatically records your hours without manual timers, Memtime is a strong choice. You can try it with their 14-day free trial.
#7: Timely
Timely is available as a web, desktop, and mobile app for tracking time—and it goes beyond that by helping you measure project profitability.
One of the features freelancers appreciate most is its automatic tracking. You don’t need to remember to start or stop a timer; the app registers your activity in the background. From there, you can create timesheets and invoice your clients accurately.
On the downside, recorded activities can only be reviewed in the web app since the data is stored in the cloud.
Timely offers three pricing plans. The basic plan, best for freelancers, costs $9 per month (billed annually).
3 Ways to Track Time Effectively as a Freelancer
We can’t emphasize enough that you should start using a reliable time tracker for freelancers. It will save you loads of effort and headaches. However, simply using a freelance work app won’t solve all your problems—you also need to avoid some of the most common pitfalls:
#1: Under or Overestimating Your Time
If you’re just starting out as a freelancer, it’s normal to agree to a deadline only to discover that you actually need twice as much time to complete it. On the other hand, you might set a deadline of one week and finish the project by the end of the first day.
The key is finding a balance between these two extremes. While it may be difficult at first, it becomes more natural with experience.
#2: Lack of Accuracy
This usually happens when freelancers rely on manual time tracking. If you think about it, it makes sense, it’s easy to forget to turn the timer on or off if you’re not used to using it. Unfortunately, this results in inaccurate timesheets.
Simply put, if you often forget to start or stop the clock, it’s time to consider a different method of capturing your working hours.
#3: Not Accounting for Interruptions or Breaks
Everyone needs a break from time to time. However, many freelancers don’t account for breaks or unexpected interruptions, like phone calls.
The reality is that freelancers are their own bosses, but it also means that if they don’t work, they don’t get paid. For this reason, many avoid taking breaks—which is a mistake. Skipping rest can compromise your work by reducing concentration, limiting creativity, and leading to mental fatigue.
To prevent this, schedule short breaks throughout the day and include buffer time for interruptions. This way, you’ll maintain progress without burning out.
5 Tips on How to Choose the Best Time Tracker App for Freelancers
#1: Determine Your Needs
The first thing you need to do is determine what you actually need. If you’re looking for online time tracking for freelancers only, you don’t need to worry about extra features like invoicing or reporting. However, you may want additional features to help you manage and grow your freelance business.
#2: Set Your Budget
While there are some free time tracking apps for freelancers, they usually don’t include as many features as paid versions. It’s important to compare both features and pricing before making a final decision.
#3: Look at the Features
Earlier, we mentioned 8 key features the best time tracking tools for freelancers should have. While you may not need all of them, you’ll want to make sure you get most of them.
#4: Check Integrations
Integrations are crucial. They save you time by reducing the need to switch between apps and allow you to manage more of your business in one place. Generally, the more integrations available, the better.
#5: Make Use of Free Trials
Most of the time tracking software for freelancers we mentioned above offers free trials. Take advantage of them to test your favorite tools before making a final decision.
Freelancers need more than a timer. Organizing clients, leads, and communications is just as vital. That’s where CRM can help. See our guide: What Is a Web-Based CRM, and How Does It Work?
Bottom Line
Learning how to track time as a freelancer is very important. From admin functions to communicating with clients, managing marketing campaigns, and working on multiple projects at the same time is not easy. Think of a social media manager handling five clients at once—without time tracking, invoicing fairly becomes nearly impossible. Fortunately, there are many free tools for freelancers available on the market, including Flowlu, which offers a strong all-in-one option.
Start taking control of your time today and watch your business grow.
There are mainly two types of time tracking apps: manual and automatic. Depending on whether you prefer to hit the timer yourself or have it start automatically, you may prefer one over the other. Some apps for freelancers include both options.
Freelancers always have a lot on their plate. Managing time is crucial to ensure they meet deadlines while also running their business effectively.
We mentioned several apps that offer free plans or trials. Harvest and Toggl Track both include limited free versions, while Traqq has a free plan designed specifically for freelancers. Flowlu also provides a free trial, and Memtime offers a 14-day trial. The right choice depends on whether you want only basic tracking or extra features like invoicing and reporting.
Yes. Many of the apps listed above include invoicing features. For example, Harvest and Flowlu let you generate invoices directly from tracked time, while TimeCamp integrates with invoicing and payroll tools.
