Time Tracking Software for Freelancers (2026): 9 Tools

Freelancers lose money in small gaps: the ten-minute call you didn't log, the revision round you forgot to bill. A time tracker closes those gaps, but only if it's easy enough that you use it every day.

The nine tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order. I read each one's own website this week, as of Oct 2026. If you run a team rather than work solo, my wider round-up of time tracking software covers the bigger names.

Time trackers for freelancers side by side

I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the page names a free plan, free use or free to start. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the page I read named neither, so check the tool's own site before you sign up.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Apploye	Time tracker	Freelancers managing a few contractors	Trial only
Kimai	Open source time tracker	Self-hosting or using the cloud version	Yes
Lucen Track (formerly Timeneye)	Time tracker	Freelancers working in Microsoft 365	Not stated
My Hours	Time tracker	Solo work or teams of up to 5	Yes
Paymo	Time tracking and projects	Tracking, projects and invoicing together	Not stated
solidtime	Open source time tracker	Open source tracking	Yes
Tick	Time and project tracker	Keeping projects profitable	Trial only
Timing	Automatic Mac tracker	Automatic tracking on a Mac	Trial only
TrackingTime	Time tracker	Retainers and billing	Yes

Nine time trackers that suit freelance work

Apploye

Best for: Independents who manage a few contractors and want productivity and performance tracking, with a free trial and GDPR and HIPAA compliance named on its site.

Kimai

Best for: Technical freelancers who'd like an open source time tracker they can self-host, or use as a cloud service if they'd rather skip the setup.

Lucen Track (formerly Timeneye)

Best for: Anyone who works in Microsoft 365 and wants to track time and bill the work, from the tool that used to be called Timeneye.

My Hours

Best for: Solo freelancers and tiny teams tracking projects and tasks, since the site says it's free for teams of up to five users.

Paymo

Best for: Freelancers who want time tracking, project management and invoicing in one tool, so their hours and invoices sit in the same place.

solidtime

Best for: Anyone who prefers open source software, with a time tracker built for teams that still suits you if you're the only person on it.

Tick

Best for: Freelancers on fixed-fee projects who need to see whether a job is still profitable, with a 30-day free trial and no credit card.

Timing

Best for: Mac users who forget to start timers, since it tracks your time automatically and keeps manual timers optional, with a 30-day free trial.

TrackingTime

Best for: Independents on retainers who need time tracking and billing together, with a free plan available and no credit card required to start.

Which time tracker for which job

• You want to start free: My Hours, Kimai or solidtime.
• You forget to press start: Timing, if you're on a Mac.
• You want to bill from the same tool: Paymo or TrackingTime.
• You work on fixed fees: Tick.
• You work inside Microsoft 365: Lucen Track.

One tool I left off: HourStack's home page now says it has joined ClickUp, so it isn't on this list.

For more leads, see apps for finding local clients.

Track hours that end up on an invoice

A timer on its own doesn't bring the money in. The weak spot for freelancers is the gap between the hours you track and the invoice you send. If your tracker doesn't invoice, make sure it exports cleanly to whatever you bill from, and match the two every week.

My guide to choosing the right time tracking tool goes into more detail on what to look for before you commit.

A UK tax point to set your tracker around

GOV.UK says the tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April, and that from the 2024 to 2025 tax year, cash basis is the default method of accounting for self-employed records (GOV.UK, read 28 Oct 2026).

So if you're a UK freelancer, set your reports to run 6 April to 5 April, so your hours, invoices and payments line up with the year you file for. In the US, the IRS has its own self-employed tax center, and anywhere else, check your tax year with your local tax office or accountant.

Sorting out meeting times with clients? See group scheduling tools.

Four habits that make time tracking pay

1. Track for a full week before you choose, so you see what you usually forget to log.
2. Set up clients and projects first, so every entry lands in the right place.
3. Round to the same unit every time and say so in your terms.
4. Compare tracked hours with what you quoted at the end of every project.

Do you make time tracking, invoicing or project tools for freelancers? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice on choosing a time tracker

Pick the tracker you'll use every day, not the one with the most features. If you forget timers, go automatic. If you bill by the hour, choose a tool that invoices or exports cleanly. Start on a free plan or trial and give it two full weeks before you decide. Harvest is a familiar name for this job, and Harvest alternatives for tracking hours sets other trackers beside it.

Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.

Related: writing for us on freelance.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time tracking software for freelancers?

The one you'll use every day that links your hours to clients and invoices. Free plans, automatic tracking and invoicing are the three things to compare.

Is there free time tracking software for freelancers?

Yes. Several tools here name a free plan or are open source, as of Oct 2026, including one that says it's free for teams of up to five users.

Can time tracking software create invoices?

Some can. At least one tool on this list combines time tracking with project management and invoicing, and another covers retainers and billing.

Is there automatic time tracking for Mac?

Yes. One tool on this list is an automatic Mac time tracker, with manual timers optional.

When does the UK tax year start for freelancers?

GOV.UK says the tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April, so set your time and invoice reports to match it.