Free Time Tracking Apps for Companies, Freelancers & Contractors
Ryan Tanner
Product Marketing Specialist
Aug 6, 2026
Ryan Tanner
Aug 6, 2026
17 min read
Tracking work hours shouldn't feel complicated, especially when teams, freelancers, and contractors need quick clarity on where their time goes. The good news is there are plenty of free tools that make this simple. Many of these tools are built with intuitive interfaces and real-time syncing capabilities typically delivered by a professional mobile app development company. This guide breaks down the top options worth trying, including popular picks like Clockify, Toggl Track and Harvest. If you're looking for a free time tracking app that's easy to use and helps you stay organised without extra cost, this list will point you in the right direction:
Key takeaways: Top 5 free time tracking app
1. Lark: Best free time tracking app for unified team workflows
2. Clockify: Best free team time tracker with unlimited logging
3. Toggl Track: Best free time tracking app for freelancers and creatives
4. Harvest: Best free time tracker for client billing and small projects
5. TMetric: Best free agency time tracking app with one-click invoicing
6. Hubstaff: Best free mobile time tracking app with GPS for field teams
7. Jibble: Best free employee time tracker with face ID and attendance.
Free time tracking apps at a glance
A quick snapshot helps you compare the free option of each time tracking app without digging through every feature. This table gives you a clear view of what each tool offers, so you can pick the one that fits your workflow.
Information source: Official vendor sites
Update time: 2025-11-29
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 a free time tracking app?
A free time tracking app is a simple tool that helps you record work hours, tasks or project time without paying for a subscription. The best free time tracking app makes it easy to track hours, manage projects and review reports with no extra setup. Many teams also look for an employee time tracking app free option so they can monitor productivity, keep timesheets automated, accurate and stay organised without adding new costs.
Why teams need free time tracking tools today
Free time tracking tools have become essential for teams that want clear, reliable hours without adding extra costs. Here's why more businesses now rely on them every day.
- Accuracy for distributed teams: Remote and hybrid setups make it harder to know how long tasks actually take. A free employee time tracking app gives everyone a simple place to log hours, so managers can rely on accurate data instead of guesswork.
- Support for part-time or shift teams: When schedules vary from week to week, a flexible tool keeps everything organised. A free tracker helps part-time and shift teams record hours without using complicated spreadsheets or manual logs.
- Contractor accountability: Businesses want to ensure contractors are billing fairly for the time they spend on projects. A free time tracking app for freelancers helps create transparent logs, making reviews and payments smoother for both sides.
- Real-time task-level clarity: Teams work faster when they know where time is going. Real-time tracking shows which tasks need attention, which ones are slowing down and where workload management should be adjusted.
- Avoiding spreadsheet-based mistakes: Manual entries often lead to errors in totals, dates or project codes. Using a digital tracker reduces mistakes and keeps all records in one place, so reviews and reports are more reliable.
11 best free time tracking apps for employees and teams
Finding the right free time tracking app for employees can make everyday work smoother and more organised. This list highlights the top tools that help teams log hours, track tasks, and stay on top of projects without paying a subscription.
1. Lark: Best free time tracking app for unified team workflows
Lark stands out because it doesn't just track hours; it connects time, communication, and workflows in one smooth system. Teams can log work hours, manage tasks, share files, and run projects without jumping between different apps. This makes it easier to understand how work is progressing in real time while keeping everyone on the same page. For teams that want a free time tracking solution that supports collaboration, transparency, and organised workflows, Lark offers a well-rounded experience that feels simple to use from day one.
Central attendance rules that match your workforce structure
Lark's Admin Console gives organizations fine-grained control over how attendance is captured across teams. Admins can set work hours, break rules, shift rotations, clock-in methods, geolocation or Wi-Fi validation, and separate configurations for departments with different schedules. Because these policies sit at the organizational level, time tracking remains consistent whether employees are desk-based, hybrid, or fully field staff. Admins can also tailor attendance report fields—selecting exactly which data points appear in exports—to ensure timesheet data aligns with payroll, client billing, or compliance requirements.
Calendar-based work planning and availability management
Time blocking in the Lark Calendar helps you manage your schedule efficiently by creating calendar entries for each task and marking them as "Busy" so others can see your availability. You can set reminders to stay on track, adjust blocks as priorities change, and include all events—like lunch or personal time—to clearly separate work and personal hours.
Gantt timelines for client projects and delivery tracking
The Gantt View in Lark Base provides a clear visual timeline, with tasks arranged vertically and time horizontally. Tasks appear as editable time bars showing schedules and progress. You can display progress on the bars, apply colors for clarity, and group or filter tasks by category. Milestones can be added on specific dates, and the timeline can be viewed by week, month, quarter, or year for flexible project tracking.
Native filters and a history record for accurate logging
Lark Base helps teams track time by letting them create custom tables to log work hours, projects, and tasks. Flexible views and filters make it easy to see weekly, monthly, or project-specific hours. Edit history ensures transparency and accuracy of entries, while automation can send reminders or aggregate hours automatically. Collaborated with Lark's workspace, time tracking sits alongside tasks, chats, and docs, keeping everything connected and simple to manage.
Task ownership for accountable time tracking
Lark Tasks helps track time by letting you group tasks by start time, project, or assignee, so related work is easy to see. You can filter tasks by specific dates to focus on daily or weekly schedules. Tasks can also be sorted by start or due dates in chronological or reverse order, giving a clear timeline of work. With time fields built into each task, Lark Tasks makes it simple to organize, monitor, and plan your workload efficiently.
Messenger threads for real-time adjustments
When schedules change or clients request scope adjustments, discussions take place directly in Lark Messenger. Time-related clarifications can be linked to task records or timesheet entries to ensure revisions are documented. Pinned messages keep client approvals or plan updates visible, reducing billing disputes and missed revisions.
- 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. For more details, please contact sales.
- Pro plan: $12/user/month (billed annually) for up to 500 users. It includes everything in Basic 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 free team time tracker with unlimited logging
Clockify is a strong pick for teams seeking timesheet software for free small business 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 free time tracking app for freelancers and creatives
Toggl 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
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 project management 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 free time tracker for client billing and small projects
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:
- Free: 1 seat; 2 projects
- Pro: $11 per seat/month (unlimited seats & projects)
- Premium: Custom pricing with advanced reporting, approvals & SSO
5. TMetric: Best free agency time tracking app with one-click invoicing
TMetric is a time tracker built for service teams — agencies, consultancies, and client-facing businesses — that need to capture billable hours accurately, control project margins, and turn tracked time into invoices without manual work. It combines automated time tracking, project profitability reporting, billing, timesheets, and payroll in one platform, with a strong focus on reducing revenue leakage from unbilled hours.
Image source: tmetric.com
Key features:
- Real-time time tracking via web, desktop, browser extension, and mobile apps, plus offline tracking.
- Automatic invoice generation from tracked hours with billable rates applied automatically.
- Project budget tracking, profitability reports, and cost-vs-revenue analysis.
- Team timesheets with approval workflows and payroll-ready reports.
- Integrates with 50+ apps, including Jira, Asana, QuickBooks, Notion, Trello, and GitHub.
Strengths:
- Strong focus on billable-hour accuracy and project profitability, not just clock-in/clock-out tracking
- One-click invoicing straight from tracked time
- Wide integration library (50+ apps)
- Available across web, desktop, browser, and mobile
Limitations:
- More advanced features (billing, budgets, time off, screenshots) are locked behind paid tiers
- Free plan is capped at 2 seats
Pricing:
- Free: unlimited time tracking, clients, and projects for up to 2 seats.
- Professional: adds billable rates, project budgets, invoicing, and calendar sync (per-seat monthly pricing, 14-day free trial).
- Business: adds time off tracking, team timesheets, screenshot capturing, and advanced integrations like QuickBooks, Jira, and ClickUp (per-seat monthly pricing).
- Enterprise: custom pricing for large teams, with priority support and volume discounts.
6. Hubstaff: Best free mobile time tracking app with GPS for field 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
7. Jibble: Best free employee time tracker with face ID and attendance
Jibble is a cloud-based time-tracking and attendance software designed for teams of all sizes that need simple, accurate, and free employee time-tracking. It allows employees to clock in and out via mobile devices, the web, or biometric devices, making it ideal for remote, office, and field teams. Jibble also tracks project time, provides payroll-ready timesheets, and generates productivity reports. Its emphasis on simplicity, accessibility, and free-tier availability makes it especially appealing to small businesses, startups, and growing teams.
Image source: jibble.com
Key features:
- Employees can log time from smartphones or desktops with GPS verification for remote or field workers.
- Track hours per project or client to monitor work progress and billing.
- Automated timesheets with manager approvals for payroll and compliance.
- Optional biometric or facial scan clock-ins for secure attendance tracking.
- Generate insights on employee attendance, project hours, and team productivity.
Pros:
- The free plan covers small teams and basic time tracking needs
- Supports mobile, web, and biometric clock-ins
- Project and client tracking suitable for billing and reporting
- Simple, user-friendly interface
Cons:
- Limited advanced HR or payroll features on the free plan
- Some integrations are only available in paid plans
Pricing:
- Free plan: Basic tracking features for up to 5 users
- Premium: $3.49 per user/month
- Ultimate: $6.99 per user/month
- Enterprise: $8.99 per user/month
8. TimeCamp: Best free automatic time tracking app for productivity insights
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
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
9. My Hours: Best free project-based time tracking app for solo users
MyHours is well-suited for users searching for screen time management apps that also support detailed work tracking. It lets teams organize hours by client, project, or task while offering clean reporting tools for workload analysis. Freelancers appreciate the flexibility in managing multiple projects at once, and teams gain visibility into how their time is allocated. Its combination of simplicity and structure makes it a dependable choice across different workflows.
Image source: myhours.com
Key features:
- Tracks time per project with structured logs for accuracy.
- Budget settings prevent overspending on clients or internal work.
- Flexible billing options adapt to hourly or fixed-fee arrangements.
- Team roles organize responsibilities and monitor workload distribution.
- Reports summarize hours, costs, and performance across projects.
Pros:
- Great for freelancers managing multiple clients simultaneously.
- Clean layout makes tracking effortless and intuitive.
- Strong reporting helps teams understand productivity and cost patterns.
- Works well for small agencies with client-based billing.
Cons:
- The free plan lacks many essential features for growing teams.
- Limited connections compared to larger time tracking tools.
Pricing:
- Free: $0/user/month (up to 5 users)
- Pro: $8/user/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
10. Kimai: Best free open-source time tracking system for unlimited users
Kimai is an open-source time tracking system built for teams that want full control without subscription costs. It supports unlimited users, which makes it a strong fit for growing teams and community projects. You can track tasks, projects and billable hours through a clean, no-frills interface. If you need flexibility, transparency and a tool you can host or customise, Kimai is a solid choice.
Image source: kimai.com
Key features:
- Field crews clock in/out with GPS-based location verification
- Track machine hours and link equipment time to jobs
- Assign time entries to specific jobs, cost codes, phases or equipment types, enabling detailed insights.
- Crews working in low-connectivity environments can still clock in/out offline and sync later.
- Supervisors can schedule crews, prompt shift start notifications.
Strengths:
- Very strong mobile-user interface and field adoption, making it easy for crews to actually use the system.
- Equipment tracking gives a rare dual focus: both labour hours and machine/equipment hours in one tool.
- Accurate job costing via cost codes and equipment + labour correlation helps improve project profitability.
- Free-forever plan available, good entry point for small crews or trial purposes.
Limitations:
- Some advanced features may require higher-tier plans or add-ons, costs can escalate.
- For large enterprise-level integration, the feature set may feel less extensive than heavy-duty platforms.
Pricing:
- Free plan: $0 per user/month.
- Standard: $3.47/month (annual), basic time tracking for small teams
- Professional: $4.63/month (annual), adds advanced features like reporting and project management
11. ClockShark: Best free contractor time tracking app with job-site GPS
ClockShark is an all-in-one construction time tracking software that combines time tracking, crew scheduling, and job costing into a single, easy-to-use platform. It's built for construction, field service, and trade businesses that need a simple way to track hours, assign shifts, and keep everyone aligned. With its drag-and-drop scheduling interface and GPS-powered mobile time clock, ClockShark helps teams eliminate confusion and improve coordination between the field and office.
Image source: clockshark.com
Key features:
- Quickly create, adjust, and share schedules with crews via the web or mobile app.
- Automatically records location-based time entries for accurate attendance and accountability.
- Tag hours to specific projects or tasks for detailed labor costs.
- Send shift updates, notes, and reminders directly within the app.
- Syncs with QuickBooks, ADP, and other payroll systems to streamline pay runs.
Strengths:
- Intuitive scheduling interface ideal for construction supervisors
- Combines time tracking, job costing, and scheduling in one tool
- Reliable GPS verification for field accountability
- Easy integration with payroll and accounting platforms
Limitations:
- Reporting tools are less advanced than enterprise-level options
- Occasional sync delays between mobile and web apps
Pricing:
- Standard: $40/month base + $9/user/month — for time & attendance, GPS tracking, scheduling, job/task tracking, and basic job‑costing.
- Pro: $60/month base + $11/user/month — adds PTO/time‑off tracking, multi‑department support, advanced job‑costing, clock‑out questions, etc.
How to pick the right free time tracking app
Choosing the right time tracking tool depends on how your team works and what you need to measure. Here's a simple breakdown to help different groups find the best fit.
- Agencies: Agencies often juggle several clients at once, so they need a tracker that handles billable hours, clean reports and quick invoicing. Tools like Lark, Clockify and Toggl Track work well here, especially if your team wants smooth reporting across devices.
- Construction: Construction teams need a time tracker software that works well on mobile, supports field staff and logs shift-based hours. GPS tagging and job-site notes help supervisors see where time is spent without manual chasing.
- Remote teams: Distributed teams rely on real-time visibility. Lark is useful here since it combines tracking with communication and tasks, while tools like Harvest or Toggl Track help teams sync work across devices and stay aligned through the cloud.
- HR and payroll teams: For payroll-heavy teams, accuracy is key. Lark, Jibble and TimeCamp offer dependable timesheets, approval workflows and clean exports that reduce manual errors during salary calculation processing.
- Freelancers: Freelancers need simple timers, quick reporting and an easy way to track billable vs non-billable hours. Lark works well for freelancers who want tasks and time in one place, while Clockify and Harvest offer lightweight, flexible tracking.
- Early-stage founders: Founders need a tool that helps them understand where time actually goes across product, marketing and operations. Lark, Harvest and Toggle Track are solid options for spotting bottlenecks, planning workloads and staying organised without adding extra cost.
Conclusion
A good time tracking tool removes guesswork, keeps teams organised and makes reporting smoother for everyone. Whether you're managing employees, freelancers or distributed teams, the right app helps you stay on top of hours without adding new costs. Even a free time tracking app for contractors can bring more clarity to billing and project timelines. With options like Lark and other reliable tools in the mix, it's easier than ever to choose a solution that fits your workflow and keeps your data accurate every day.
FAQs
Can free time tracking apps support unlimited users?
Some free tools allow unlimited users, while others cap the number of seats. Always check the plan details because user limits vary widely across platforms.
Do free plans include project-level reports?
Many free plans offer basic project reports, but advanced dashboards or detailed analytics may require a paid upgrade. Still, most free versions cover the essentials.
How accurate are mobile time trackers for field workers?
Mobile time trackers are usually quite accurate, especially when they include GPS tagging or automated timers. They help field workers log hours without returning to a desk.
Are free time tracking apps suitable for payroll processing?
Free time tracking apps can support basic payroll needs by exporting timesheets or summaries. For full payroll automation, you may need integrations or features available in paid tiers.
What's the difference between time tracking and attendance tracking?
Time tracking records how long tasks or projects take. Attendance tracking focuses on clock-in, clock-out times and overall presence. Some tools combine both, but they serve different purposes.
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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