All businesses need to make tracking work times simple and effective, and finding the appropriate tool to do so can be tricky. There are an almost endless number of software choices available to help businesses track hours, but it is critical to avoid the hassle of faulty software. For contractors, having an easy way to clock in and out and manage time on task can take business from good to better, and it is as simple as finding the right program to do the job. This list compiles the best time tracking software choices for contractors in businesses big and small to save you time and keep business on track.
Top 6 Best Time Tracking Software for Contractors
- Bonsai – Best time tracking software for invoicing clients
- Zoho Projects – Best time tracking software for sales integration
- Hubstaff – Best time tracking software for general management
- TMetric – Best time tracking software for simplicity
- VeriClock – Best time tracking software for geolocation
- Apploye – Best time tracking software for independent contractors
1. Bonsai – Best time tracking software for invoicing clients
Pricing Plan: Free trial of seven days. Paid plans range between $24 and $79 per month
Invoicing can be a headache when you don’t know how much time you put into a contractor project and what rate to set. However, you don’t have to worry about this at all with Bonsai. It is the perfect time-tracking tool that will help you invoice clients without any problems.
As soon as you open the tool, it will be a breeze to use, and you will figure it all out yourself. All the timesheets of the project will be in one place so that you can have easy access to them. Everything has been centralized for your ease and convenience.
You can see the hours that have been billed and how much the clients need to pay you. In the long run, this will help optimize your time tracking and invoicing process for a smooth experience. So, if you are tired of inaccurate time tracking, make sure you consider Bonsai as your top choice.
Key Features:
- Intuitive interface
- Mobile apps you can connect with
- Timesheets
- Project rates
- Smart invoicing
- Centralized timesheets and reports
- Real-time reporting of time and billable hours
Reasons To Use:
- Bonsai will take care of everything related to time tracking
- You can begin with a free trial to see if it is suitable for your business
- The interface is simple and easy to use
Reasons To Avoid:
- The Starter Plan doesn’t have all the features
2. Zoho Projects – Best time tracking software for sales integration
PRICING: Free limited plan, paid plans up to $10 per month
For anyone hoping to seamlessly integrate a better time tracking system with your existing sales and business management framework, Zoho Projects is a clear leader in integrations and overall business management. It is easy to get started with this software, especially with a 10-day free trial, and the free plan has just enough features to be worth testing for your business. You can easily integrate Google calendar, Microsoft tools, Slack messaging, and many other third-party tools, as well as the fleet of Zoho CRM and business apps. This software offers time tracking to manage billable and non-billable hours, create invoices, and manage current tasks and projects. For businesses already using Zoho products, this can be an extremely easy addition to daily productivity.
KEY FEATURES:
- Automatic time tracking
- Manager oversight and control
- Native timesheet and project reports
REASONS TO USE:
- Extensive integration options
- Easy user interface
- Built-in communication and collaboration tools
REASONS TO AVOID:
- The free plan can be limited
3. Hubstaff – Best time tracking software for general management
PRICING: Free plan available for a single user, multiple users will require a paid plan
In any business, it is critical to manage and track work time for payroll, billing, or HR tracking. The Hubstaff software can turn that process into a breeze, and at a relatively low cost. This software has an online and a mobile app option for easy time tracking, and automated task tracking to keep projects flowing smoothly. It is easy to watch job sites from afar to manage productivity and billable hours for any current projects, as well as quickly develop and share invoices and receipts for company work. This software also offers a 14-day money-back guarantee to give you a comfortable grace period to try the software in your specific business environment.
KEY FEATURES:
- Project and employee monitoring
- Payroll tracking
- Mobile time tracking app
REASONS TO USE:
- Easy online timesheets
- Convenient customer service
- GPS tracking to manage where employees are working
REASONS TO AVOID:
- There are reports of frequent system crashes which can disrupt workflow immensely
4. TMetric – Best time tracking software for simplicity
PRICING: Limited free plan, and upgraded plans priced by the number of users
The TMetric time tracking software is a surprisingly good option for businesses looking to simplify time management and keep projects on track. This software provides quick access to time tracking tools to clock in and out and make edits whenever necessary. It is easy to define billable and non billable hours in the app and make necessary reports. All plans offer an unlimited number of clients and projects to help manage any environment your business has to control and make sure you do not miss out on working hours. The free plan is limited for a larger business, but if you simply need a time tracking software, the free TMetric plan is a very easy to use option. The paid plans have upgrades for more intensive integrations and invoicing, however all levels of this software option are simple and sleek, and can be incredibly useful for contractors wanting to have a stronger time management app to make business run more smoothly all around.
KEY FEATURES:
- Automatic time tracking and attendance reports
- Unlimited number of clients and projects
- Tracking of billable and non billable hours
REASONS TO USE:
- Friendly user interface
- Easy access to time cards and personnel information
- Quick-start time tracking
REASONS TO AVOID:
- The free plan is extremely limited, so this software is better for larger teams that can pay for software upgrades
5. VeriClock – Best time tracking software for geolocation
PRICING: $10 per month account fee and $5 per month for each user
For contractors in a small business setting with multiple geographical project locations, the VeriClock software can be a useful tool to keep time tracking, scheduling, and payroll reporting all in one place. This software option is solely dedicated to time tracking, which means it does not allow for invoicing or billing, however it is possible to integrate with Quickbooks to connect more aspects of the tracking and billing process into one app. It is easy for employees to clock in wherever they are located, even when mobile data is limited. This is an especially useful tool for contractors working in multiple locations, or rural work sites with limited connectivity. It is easy to manage time on task, generate reports, and adjust for overtime or sick leave on the fly. If you are looking for a software option that gives you extensive time tracking options without too much fluff, the VeriClock software is an affordable choice with a significant fleet of native tools for the price point.
KEY FEATURES:
- Automatic time capture
- Overtime calculations
- GPS work time tracking
REASONS TO USE:
- Offline time tracking capabilities
- In-app scheduling
- Easy to clock in/out
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Tracking with this software is not entirely automated and can lead to human error when tracking a large number of employees
6. Apploye – Best time tracking software for independent contractors
PRICING: Single user plan for yearly users is $2 per month, and plans range up to $3.5 per user
In the case of independent contractors or small workforces, the Apploye software is a fantastic tool for time tracking, project management, and client invoicing, all at a small price point. This software offers a host of time management tools to create detailed reports of work time and billable hours to ensure you don’t miss out on any appropriate billing. It is easy to define schedules and manage project status with reporting features in the software, and all tools are accessible in both desktop and mobile formats. This software choice makes time tracking and billing a breeze for small companies or independent contractors looking for detailed time reporting and easy client communication.
KEY FEATURES:
- Time tracking and management
- Budgeting and project management
- Client invoicing
REASONS TO USE:
- Mobile app with full-suite access
- User-friendly interface
- Easy activity tracking and adjustment
REASONS TO AVOID:
- This software may not have enough features as your employee base grows
In a market dense with time tracking software options, both new and old, it is a confusing challenge to identify the best choice for your company. This list compiled the best choices for contractors in larger organizations and individual firms alike, for all time tracking needs.
References and Links:
- https://www.zoho.com/projects/zohoprojects-pricing.html
- https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-time-tracking-software
- https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/zoho-projects
- https://www.getapp.com/project-management-planning-software/a/hubstaff/reviews/
- https://hubstaff.com/pricing
- https://timeanalyticssoftware.com/top-10-time-tracking-software-for-contractors-in-2022/
- https://www.getapp.com/project-management-planning-software/a/tmetric/reviews/
- https://www.capterra.com/p/199624/Apploye/reviews/