10 Best Project Time Tracking Software for Teams & Managers
Ryan Tanner
Product Marketing Specialist
Aug 5, 2026
Ryan Tanner
Aug 5, 2026
20 min read
Tracking project hours has never been more important, especially for teams that juggle deadlines, clients, and constant updates. The right tool helps managers see where time goes, keep workloads balanced, and make smarter decisions without extra admin work. This guide highlights the 10 best project time tracking software options that deliver clarity and control from day one. You'll find popular names like Clockify, Toggl Track, and Harvest, along with Lark, which combines tracking, collaboration, and workflows in one place. Here is the tool list:
1. Lark: Best project time tracking software for connected team workflows
2. Clockify: Best unlimited free project time tracker
3. Toggl Track: Best time tracking tool for freelancers
4. Harvest: Best for client billing and invoicing
5. Hubstaff: Best GPS-based project tracking for remote teams
6. TimeCamp: Best automatic time tracking software for teams
7. ClickUp: Best all-in-one project and time tracking platform
8. Zoho Projects: Best structured tracking for business PMOs
9. Asana: Best cross-functional project tracking tool
10. Wrike: Best enterprise project reporting software
Project time tracking software at a glance (comparison table)
This quick overview helps you compare each tool side by side, making it easier to choose the right fit. It highlights the key features of popular project management time tracking software so you can decide what works best for your team.
Information source: Official vendor sites
Update time: 2025-11-30
Note: Pricing and plan details reflect publicly available data as of the update date and may vary based on region, billing cycle, and number of agents.
What is project time tracking software?
Project time tracking software is a digital tool that helps teams record, monitor, and analyze the time spent on various tasks and projects. It gives project managers real-time visibility into workload, progress, and productivity, making it easier to plan resources and meet deadlines. Many businesses use project management and time tracking software to streamline workflows, improve accountability, and reduce manual reporting. Modern project management tools with time tracking also integrates budgeting, invoicing, and performance analytics, ensuring complete control over project timelines and overall efficiency.
Project management and time tracking software essentials
Modern teams rely on integrated project controls to stay on schedule, manage budgets, and maintain transparency. The combination of time tracking project management software and organized automated workflows helps managers run projects with accuracy and confidence.
- Task-specific time capture: Effective time tracking project management software allows teams to log hours directly against each task, giving managers precise visibility into effort distribution. This helps identify inefficiencies, refine estimates, and improve performance over time.
- Deadline comparison vs logged hours: The best project management software with time tracking makes it easy to compare planned deadlines with actual logged hours. This helps managers spot delays early, rebalance workloads, and keep the project on track.
- Multi-project budgeting views: Handling multiple projects becomes simpler when all budgets, hours, and resources are visible in one dashboard. With time tracking project management software, managers can monitor spending, avoid overruns, and prioritize resources more effectively.
- Workload balancing: Overloaded team members slow down delivery. The best project management software with time tracking highlights capacity levels in real time, enabling managers to redistribute tasks and maintain a balanced, healthier workload across the team.
- Approval workflows: Built-in approval workflows ensure accuracy in logged hours, expenses, and task updates. Using time tracking project management software, managers can quickly review and validate entries, reducing billing errors and maintaining process integrity.
- Audit histories: Transparent audit logs track every change—from time entries to task edits—making it easy to trace actions and maintain accountability. The best project management software with time tracking ensures all updates are documented for compliance and internal reviews.
- Real-time team status: Real-time status updates show who's working on what, how much progress has been made, and where bottlenecks may form. With time tracking project management software, managers can make faster decisions and adjust plans instantly.
10 best project time tracking software platforms
Looking for the top tools to manage time, tasks, and projects effectively? This list highlights 10 of the best project time tracking software platforms that combine time tracking, resource management, and project planning—helping teams stay organized, on schedule, and on budget.
1. Lark: Best project time tracking software for connected team workflows
Lark is a unified workspace designed to help teams track time, manage projects, and stay connected seamlessly. Its Lark Base, Gantt & timeline views, dashboard, and built-in Calendar and Messenger turn schedules, tasks, and communications into measurable, actionable insights. Teams can visualize workloads, adjust priorities in real time, and coordinate effortlessly across projects, ensuring everyone stays aligned and productive
Break down the project into tasks for accurate tracking
Lark Base helps you organize projects into clear, manageable tasks. Each task can include details such as name, start and end dates, status, priority, and an assigned owner. When managing multiple projects, tasks can be linked using the Project field for easy organization. Track progress and priorities directly in the table, and visualize your workflow with Kanban, Grid, or Gantt views for a clear overview of project status.
Gain clean views of the time process with a project dashboard
Lark Base dashboards simplify project time tracking with intuitive blocks. Countdown blocks highlight deadlines and milestones, keeping tasks on schedule. Progress charts show how projects advance toward goals, while metrics blocks track performance over time. Together, these features help teams stay organized, monitor progress, and make data-driven decisions.
Automations keep you on track and notify you when needed
Lark Base helps teams track project timelines automatically and efficiently. Flow fields and automations record the completion time of key steps, updating date fields as actions occur. Automated reminders and notifications keep team members informed of due dates and updates. Formula-calculated dates can also be used in automations, ensuring accurate and flexible scheduling throughout the project.
Ready-to-use templates boost the quick start
Lark offers ready-made templates to help teams monitor tasks, deadlines, and milestones with ease. The templates support multiple views like Gantt and columns like "Task", so you can track progress and timelines in the way that works best for your workflow. Fields such as task name, status, priority, and assigned owner are customizable, making it scalable for projects of any size. Real-time collaboration lets team members update progress, share feedback, and stay aligned without switching tools.
- Starter plan: Free forever plan that includes 11 powerful tools for up to 20 users. It also comes with 100GB of storage, 1000 automation runs, AI translations, and more.
- Basic plan: $6/user/month (billed annually) for up to 500 users. It includes everything in Starter plus group calling for up to 500 attendees, 5TB of storage, 1000 automation runs, and more.
- Pro plan: $12/user/month (billed annually) for up to 500 users. It includes everything in Starter plus group calling for up to 500 attendees, 15TB of storage, 50,000 automation runs, and more.
- Enterprise plan: Contact sales for custom pricing. Supports unlimited users and includes even more automation runs and advanced security, compliance, and management features.
Starter
Pro
Enterprise
Starter
For small teams with simple communication needs
$0
/ user / month
20 users max
18 months message history
1-on-1 video meetings
100 GB storage
Lark Docs & Mail
1000 Base automation runs/month
2000 rows per table in Base
Pro
For companies with comprehensive collaboration and management needs
$12
/ user / month
500 users max
Unlimited message history
500-participant video meetings
15 TB storage
Lark Docs & Mail
50k Base automation runs/month
20k rows per table in Base
Enterprise
For large companies with advanced security and organizational management needs
Get a personalized demo and pricing
Unlimited users
Unlimited message history
500-participant video meetings
15 TB storage + 30 GB storage/user
Lark Docs & Mail
500k Base automation runs/month
50k Base automation runs/month
Single sign-on (SSO)
Pro
For companies with comprehensive collaboration and management needs
$12
/ user / month
500 users max
Unlimited message history
500-participant video meetings
15 TB storage
Lark Docs & Mail
50k Base automation runs/month
20k rows per table in Base
2. Clockify: Best unlimited free project time tracker
Clockify is a strong pick for teams seeking timesheet software for small business free with unlimited users. Its timers, manual logs, and project tagging create a simple workflow any team can adopt. Small businesses benefit from minimal setup and easy onboarding. With reports and dashboards included, owners get instant visibility into workloads.
Image source: clockify.com
Key features:
- Core time tracker with timers and manual time entry
- Timesheets view for weekly or daily approvals
- Projects, tasks, tags, and billable rate settings
- Summary, detailed, and weekly reports
- Team management and limited scheduling on paid plans
Pros:
- Very generous free plan with unlimited users and projects
- Simple interface that works for many different team types
- Affordable paid plans for additional features like approvals and advanced reporting
- Strong browser extension and app coverage
Cons:
- Advanced features (like approvals, budgets, and more automation) sit on paid tiers
- Interface is functional but less "modern workspace" compared to all-in-one suites
Pricing:
- Free plan: $0/month—unlimited users & time‑tracking
- Basic: $3.99 per user/month (annual billing)
- Standard: $5.49 per user/month (annual billing)
- Pro: $7.99 per user/month (annual billing)
- Enterprise: $11.99 per user/month (annual billing)
3. Toggl Track: Best time tracking tool for freelancers
Toggl Track is one of the most popular time tracking apps known for its simplicity and clean interface. Designed for freelancers, consultants, and small teams, it focuses on effortless time logging without unnecessary complexity. Its browser extensions, mobile apps, and integrations make tracking seamless across all workflows. Toggl helps users stay organised and bill clients accurately with minimal setup or training.
Image source: toggl.com
Key features:
- One-click timer and manual time entry options
- Project and client tagging for clear categorisation
- Detailed reports and visual summaries of tracked hours
- Integrations with tools like Asana, Trello, and Google Calendar
- Idle detection to prevent inaccurate tracking
Pros:
- Extremely easy to use with no learning curve
- Generous free plan for individuals and small teams
- Works across web, desktop, and mobile devices
- Strong reporting and export capabilities for clients and teams
Cons:
- Limited advanced features in the free version
- Lacks built-in invoicing and expense tracking
Pricing:
- Free Plan: Core tracking features for up to 5 users
- Starter Plan: $9/user/month – billable rates, time rounding, and project templates
- Premium Plan: $18/user/month – advanced reporting, team dashboards, and time audits
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing – tailored support and dedicated success manager
4. Harvest: Best for client billing and invoicing
Harvest is ideal for businesses that need project-based time logs with lightweight invoicing, even though it's not entirely positioned as timesheet software free. It helps contractors and agencies log hours per client or task while capturing expenses and generating quick invoices. The interface is simple enough for teams with minimal tech experience. Data syncs easily to accounting systems.
Image source: getharvest.com
Key features:
- Time tracking across projects and tasks
- Invoicing for billable time and expenses
- Basic expense tracking for client work
- Reports on project budgets, utilization, and costs
- Connections to accounting tools (QuickBooks Online, Xero, etc.)
Pros:
- Excellent for agencies and consultants billing clients by the hour
- Clean UI, easy to train teams on
- Strong project and budget reporting for small/medium firms
- Simple pipeline from logged time → invoice → payment
Cons:
- Less suitable as a full HR timesheet/attendance solution
- Per-user pricing can add up for very large teams
Pricing:
- Pro: $11 per seat/month (unlimited seats & projects)
- Premium: Custom pricing with advanced reporting, approvals & SSO
5. Hubstaff: Best GPS-based project tracking for remote teams
Hubstaff blends time tracking with GPS, productivity insights, and scheduling, which makes it a strong timesheet app for employees in mobile or field roles. Workers can clock in via phone while managers see location-verified logs. Its monitoring tools help distributed teams stay accountable. The combination of tracking and automation supports accurate reporting.
Image source: hubstaff.com
Key features:
- Time tracking with desktop, web, and mobile apps
- GPS tracking and geofencing for field workers
- Activity levels with optional screenshots and app/URL usage
- Scheduling, timesheets, and payments (on higher plans)
- Budgeting, reports, and optional add-ons (locations, more screenshots, etc.)
Pros:
- Ideal for mobile and field teams needing location-aware tracking
- Flexible tiers from simple tracking to advanced monitoring
- Scheduling and payroll-style features on mid/high plans
- Add-ons let teams choose how much detail they want
Cons:
- Monitoring (screenshots, activity) may feel invasive for some teams
- Add-ons and per-seat pricing can become costly at scale
Pricing:
- Free trial: 14-day trial
- Starter: $4.99/seat/month (annual), 2-seat minimum
- Grow: $7/seat/month (annual), 2-seat minimum
- Team: $10/seat/month (annual), 2-seat minimum
- Enterprise: $25/seat/month (annual), includes custom setup & dedicated support
6. TimeCamp: Best automatic time tracking software for teams
TimeCamp gives teams a simple way to track work without constant manual updates. Its automatic tracking captures activity in the background and links hours to tasks, projects, and clients. The attendance tools help managers monitor shifts, overtime, and overall availability with less effort. Together, these features offer clearer insights into workloads and make scheduling, billing, and reporting much easier.
Image source: timecamp.com
Key features:
- Time tracking per task or project
- Start/stop timers or manual entries
- Reporting dashboards and time estimates
- Billable time tracking with budget alerts
- Integrations with calendars and third-party tools
Pros:
- Fully integrated with task and project management
- Highly customisable and flexible
- Great for agile and sprint-based teams
- Affordable pricing for feature depth
Cons:
- Can feel overwhelming for new users
- Mobile apps are less polished than desktop
Pricing:
- Free: $0/month: basic time tracking
- Starter: $1.49/month (annual)
- Premium: $2.99/month (annual) , includes billable hours & budgeting
- Ultimate: $3.99/month (annual) , adds approvals, expenses, advanced reporting
- Enterprise: $11.99/month (annual) , for large teams with custom integrations and priority support
7. ClickUp: Best comprehensive project and time tracking platform
ClickUp stands out as the best all-in-one project and time tracking platform because it brings tasks, timelines, and time logs into one unified workspace. Teams can plan projects, track progress, and record hours without switching tools. Its customizable workflows and dashboards make project execution smoother and more transparent. For businesses seeking a single hub for productivity and time management, ClickUp delivers exceptional versatility.
Image source: clickup.com
Key features:
- Offers list, board, calendar, and Gantt views for flexibility in tracking.
- Helps map each task to company-wide objectives for clear prioritization.
- Keeps documentation accessible and tied directly to project boards.
- Highlights relationships between tasks to prevent bottlenecks.
- Consolidates real-time analytics for progress tracking and reporting.
Pros:
- Fits diverse workflows from agile sprints to traditional coordination.
- Offers time tracking, goals, and workload management in one dashboard.
- Combines messaging, notes, and document sharing in context.
- Works seamlessly with GitHub, Jira, and Slack for IT project coordination.
Cons:
- Customization options can overwhelm beginners.
- Certain features are desktop-only.
Pricing:
- Free plan: $0/month—unlimited users, basic task management
- Unlimited: $7 per user/month (annual billing)
- Business: $12 per user/month (annual billing)
- Enterprise: custom pricing (contact sales)
8. Zoho Projects: Best structured tracking for business PMOs
Zoho Projects is the best structured tracking solution for business PMOs that need organized, process-driven project management. It offers clear task hierarchies, milestone planning, and consistent documentation across all projects. With built-in time tracking and reporting, it keeps execution disciplined and audit-ready. For PMOs that value order, clarity, and governance, Zoho Projects delivers exactly that.
Image source:zoho.com
Key features:
- Offer comprehensive visibility over deadlines, dependencies, and deliverables.
- Monitors bugs, feedback, and task-related issues in one place for fast resolution.
- Helps monitor billable hours and improve resource forecasting.
- Streamline routine coordination processes like notifications and approvals.
- Keep project materials centralized and accessible to all stakeholders.
Pros:
- Ideal for startups and small businesses looking for full functionality at a lower cost.
- Simplified setup means quick adoption with minimal training.
- Integrates seamlessly with other Zoho applications like CRM and Finance.
- Helps teams manage parallel projects without losing control.
Cons:
- The layout feels dated compared to modern alternatives.
- Best suited for mid-sized operations rather than large enterprises.
Pricing:
- Free plan: $0/month—up to 5 users, 3 projects, 5 GB storage
- Premium: $4 per user/month (annual billing)—unlimited projects, 100 GB storage, time tracking, subtasks, Gantt, templates
- Enterprise: $9 per user/month (annual billing)—unlimited users/projects, 120 GB storage, custom fields, custom roles, advanced features
9. Asana: Best cross-functional project tracking tool
Asana excels as a cross-functional project tracking tool that brings teams from different departments onto a unified platform. It enables seamless collaboration, task assignment, and progress tracking across functions. With flexible views and integrations, Asana adapts to workflows of marketing, development, HR, and more—all in one place. For organizations needing cross-team coordination and clarity, Asana delivers an efficient, collaborative workspace.
Image source: asana.com
Key features:
- Lets teams design unique task flows while capturing essential project data.
- Helps coordinators map dependencies and deadlines visually for better time management.
- Reduces repetitive task assignments by automating workflow rules.
- Connects easily with Slack, Gmail, and cloud storage tools for centralized coordination.
- Provides visual analytics to monitor progress and identify blockers.
Pros:
- Enables quick onboarding for new teams with minimal training.
- Templates make it easy to replicate successful setups.
- Keep communication and task tracking connected.
- Offers list, board, and timeline formats for flexible coordination.
Cons:
- Some may find advanced options unnecessary for simple projects.
- Detailed analytics require paid tiers.
Pricing:
- Free plan: $0/month—basic plan, core task & project management
- Starter: $10.99 per user/month (annual billing)
- Advanced: $24.99 per user/month (annual billing)
- Enterprise: Custom pricing (contact sales)
10. Wrike: Best enterprise project reporting software
Wrike stands out as the top choice for enterprise-level project reporting, offering robust analytics and customizable dashboards for large teams. It lets stakeholders track project progress, resource utilization, and timelines across multiple departments with clarity. With flexible reporting tools and integration support, Wrike adapts well to complex organizational needs. For companies needing advanced oversight and transparency at scale, Wrike delivers powerful reporting capabilities.
Image source: wrike.com
Key features:
- Allow visual tracking of dependencies and project phases.
- Allocates workload effectively across large teams.
- Simplifies creative project coordination through real-time approvals.
- Standardizes project intake and prioritization.
- Offer a centralized view of overall project health and metrics.
Pros:
- Keeps all stakeholders aligned with clear timelines and workloads.
- Handles multi-department and high-volume project portfolios.
- Enables deep insight into performance trends.
Cons:
- Can feel heavy for smaller teams.
- Teams need time to leverage its full potential.
Pricing:
- Free plan: $0/month—unlimited users, basic task & project‑management features
- Team: $10/user/month—unlimited projects/tasks/subtasks, Gantt charts, dashboards, integrations.
- Business: $25/user/month—project templates, advanced workflows, approvals, reporting.
- Enterprise: custom pricing—enterprise‑grade security, scalability, advanced admin features.
- Pinnacle: custom pricing—advanced analytics, BI, complex workflows, premium support.
How to choose the right project tracking solution
Selecting the right tracking system depends on how your team works, how you bill, and how precise your records must be. A well-designed employee project time tracking software or modern time tracking project software should align with your operational model, compliance needs, and team structure.
- Contract vs in-house labor models: Your labor type greatly affects the kind of tracking tool you need. Companies that rely heavily on contractors often require employee project time tracking software that supports detailed billable hour logs, rate differences, and project-based invoicing. In-house teams, on the other hand, may prioritize productivity analytics, internal cost tracking, and integrated project scheduling.
- Compliance or audit requirements: Industries with strict regulations—such as IT, government, finance, and healthcare—need time tracking project software that offers robust audit trails, secure data storage, and precise time-entry verification. These features ensure you remain compliant during audits and maintain transparent documentation for every hour logged.
- Internal vs billable hour accuracy needs: If your work involves billing clients, accuracy is non-negotiable. Teams handling client projects need employee project time tracking software capable of capturing exact billable hours, differentiating between skilled roles, and linking time directly to project budgets. For internal teams, the focus may shift toward performance management, productivity trends, and cost allocation.
- Team size volatility: Growing or fluctuating teams require flexible tools that can scale quickly. Good time tracking project software adapts to changing team sizes without complicating onboarding. Features like role-based permissions, automated time capture, and simple integrations help maintain consistency even when the team expands or contracts.
- Hybrid scheduling challenges: With distributed and hybrid teams, scheduling becomes more complex. The right employee project time tracking software supports remote, on-site, and hybrid work patterns by offering real-time visibility into availability, project assignments, and logged hours. This ensures managers can coordinate workloads effectively, regardless of where team members are working.
Why project managers depend on time tracking software
Project managers rely heavily on time tracking because it gives them real-time clarity on team performance, workload, and project progress. When combined with time tracking and project management software, it becomes a powerful system for controlling timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
- Forecasting workloads before burnout hits: Accurate time records help project managers understand how long tasks actually take, allowing them to predict upcoming workloads with confidence. With clear visibility into team capacity, they can redistribute tasks early and prevent burnout. Modern time tracking and project management software makes this process seamless by combining time data with task timelines for smarter forecasting.
- Aligning staffing with sprint velocity: In agile teams, knowing true sprint velocity is essential. By using project management software time tracking, project managers can measure how much work is realistically completed in each cycle. This helps them assign the right number of people to a sprint, avoid over-commitment, and maintain predictable delivery patterns.
- Preventing silent scope creep: When project activities start taking more time than estimated, it's often a sign that scope has expanded quietly. Time tracking highlights these red flags early. With time tracking and project management software, managers can compare planned vs. actual hours and intervene before delays or budget overruns occur.
- Improving cost estimation accuracy: Historical time data is one of the most reliable assets for future budgeting. Time tracking tools reveal how much effort previous tasks required, helping managers estimate costs with far greater accuracy. When paired with project management software time tracking, teams can generate precise project quotes, avoid underpricing, and improve profitability.
- Enabling transparent accountability: Time tracking makes contributions visible across the entire team. Everyone knows who is working on what, how long tasks take, and where bottlenecks exist. This transparency fosters trust, enhances accountability, and supports performance evaluations. Integrated time tracking and project management software keeps all this information in one place, reducing confusion and improving team alignment.
Conclusion
Choosing the right project tracking system comes down to understanding how your team works, how you bill, and how accurately you need to capture every hour. A reliable time tracking software for project managers should simplify oversight, strengthen accountability, and adapt as your organization grows. With a modern, integrated platform like Lark, teams can streamline schedule management , improve workload visibility, and ensure every project stays on budget and on track. Let your tracking solution work with your workflow—not against it.
FAQs
Can project time tracking software replace manual timesheets entirely?
Yes. Modern project time tracking tools automate hour logging, approvals, and reporting, making manual timesheets unnecessary and reducing errors significantly.
How accurate is mobile-based time tracking for field teams?
Mobile time tracking is highly accurate when equipped with Geo Tagging, real-time syncing, and automated reminders, ensuring field teams log time consistently and correctly.
Do project time trackers help prevent resource burnout?
Absolutely. Time tracking platforms highlight workload imbalances, overtime trends, and capacity issues early, allowing managers to redistribute tasks before burnout occurs.
What metrics beyond hours should managers track for project performance?
In addition to hours, managers should monitor task progress, cycle times, utilization rates, budget vs. actual costs, and workload distribution to get a full picture of project health.
Can time tracking software predict future delivery risks?
Yes. By analyzing historical trends, logged hours, and current workload, time tracking tools can flag potential delays, capacity shortages, and budget overruns before they escalate.
Related reading
Table of contents
Start using Lark today
Manage all your work in one place
Boost team efficiency by 10x
Save up to 70% on software costs
Table of contents
Start using Lark today
Manage all your work in one place
Boost team efficiency by 10x
Save up to 70% on software costs
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