Paymo vs Harvest: Complete Comparison (2026)

Paymo vs Harvest: which one actually runs your entire business?

Both handle time tracking and invoicing: logging hours, billing clients, and keeping projects financially visible. But once a client relationship grows past a single project, most users end up reaching for other apps... because neither has proposals, contracts, a client portal, or any of the other necessary features to truly run an entire workflow from one place.

Paymo covers time tracking, Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and basic invoicing in one app, but there's no proposal builder, no contract signing, and no branded client portal where clients can review progress on their own.

Harvest tracks time and produces invoices with Stripe and PayPal integration, but there's no project management beyond budget tracking, no proposals, no contracts, and integrations with Asana or Trello still mean running two separate apps.

Plutio handles time tracking and invoicing, then connects it to the rest of the workflow. Tracked time feeds directly into invoices, proposals auto-create projects with task boards, and clients log into a branded portal to check progress on their own. Skip the comparison and try Plutio free.

Last updated March 2026

4.6

Quick comparison (TLDR)

Paymo combines time tracking with project management tools including Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and task dependencies. The free plan covers one user, and paid plans start at $9.9/user/month. Paymo adds basic invoicing but has no proposal builder, no contract signing, and no client-facing portal where clients can see project progress.

Harvest covers time tracking and invoicing with expense tracking and project budget alerts built in. The free plan covers one user and two active projects. Harvest connects with Stripe and PayPal and integrates with Asana and Trello, but the tool has no project management features of its own, no proposals, and no contracts.

Key differences at a glance

Project management: Paymo includes Kanban boards, Gantt charts, task dependencies, and project templates. Harvest has no task management and tracks only budget and hours per project.
Time tracking depth: Both track hours against projects. Paymo links time to specific tasks. Harvest links time to projects and clients and adds expense tracking.
Invoicing: Both generate invoices from tracked time. Harvest adds expense reimbursement billing and budget-based invoice alerts. Paymo has more invoice customization options.
Pricing model: Paymo charges per user starting at $9.9/user/month. Harvest charges per user at $12/user/month for the Pro plan. Both add cost as your team grows.
Integrations: Harvest integrates with Asana, Trello, and Basecamp so teams can track time inside their PM tool. Paymo handles PM natively and has fewer third-party integrations.
Client communication: Neither tool has a client portal, proposal builder, or contract signing. Both stop at invoicing.

The verdict? Paymo works if you need time tracking and project management in one app without paying for a separate PM tool. Harvest works if you already use Asana or Trello and want a focused time tracker that connects to those tools. If you need one app that handles proposals, contracts, time tracking, project management, invoicing, and a client portal, Plutio covers everything for $19/month.

Tired of stitching tools together?

One branded platform. Time tracking to invoice.

Proposals, contracts, Kanban boards, time tracking, invoicing, and white-labeled client portals. All connected for $19/month.

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Plutio - Your entire business, one login away

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4.4/5 Rating

4.6/5 Rating

4.7/5 Rating

User experience and setup

How long does it take to track your first hour and send your first invoice?

Paymo

Multi-tool setup with a learning curve. Paymo takes a few hours to configure because it covers more ground than a simple time tracker. The interface includes project views, task boards, a Gantt chart, a team scheduler, and time sheets. First-time users often spend time navigating between views before the workflow clicks. Once set up, the desktop timer app for Mac and Windows makes passive time capture straightforward.

Desktop timer app for Mac and Windows
Mobile app for iOS and Android
Multiple project views (Kanban, Gantt, list)
Steeper setup than a dedicated time tracker
Interface can feel busy for solo users

Harvest

Fast to start, intentionally focused. Harvest setup takes under an hour for most users. The interface covers time tracking, invoicing, and expense tracking. There's a browser extension for one-click timers, a mobile app, and integrations that let you start a timer from inside Asana or Trello. Harvest keeps its scope narrow, which means it does not grow with you when project complexity increases.

Browser extension for instant timer start
Mobile app for iOS and Android
Integrates directly with Asana, Trello, and Basecamp
No project management features built in
Free plan limits to 2 active projects

Time tracking

How do both tools capture billable hours and connect them to client billing?

Paymo

Task-level time tracking with multiple capture methods. Paymo tracks time against specific tasks within projects, which means invoices can show clients exactly what work was done at which rate. The desktop app runs a passive timer that auto-fills time entries. Manual bulk entry covers offline work. The time sheet view gives a weekly overview across all projects.

Task-level time entries
Desktop passive timer
Manual and bulk time entry
Weekly time sheet view
No expense tracking

Harvest

Project-level time tracking with expense capture. Harvest tracks time at the project and client level and adds expense tracking that most time tools skip. Budget alerts notify you when a project approaches its hour or dollar limit, which prevents undercharging on fixed-price work. The browser extension and integrations with Asana and Trello let users start timers without leaving their PM tool.

Project and client-level time tracking
Expense tracking with receipt photos
Budget alerts for hours and dollars
Browser extension and integrations
No task-level time breakdown
No passive desktop timer

Project management

What happens to project delivery once the work actually starts?

Paymo

Built-in Kanban, Gantt, and task dependencies. Paymo covers more project management ground than most time trackers. Kanban boards organize tasks by status. Gantt charts show project timelines with drag-and-drop rescheduling. Task dependencies let you mark which work must finish before the next task starts. Project templates save setup time for repeating project types. All of this sits inside the same app as the time tracker and invoicing tools.

Kanban boards with custom columns
Gantt charts with drag-and-drop
Task dependencies
Project templates
Gantt only on Small Office and Business plans
No client-facing project view

Harvest

Harvest has no project management features. Harvest tracks budget, hours, and expenses per project, but there are no tasks, boards, timelines, or any way to organize the actual work. Teams that use Harvest for time tracking manage projects in Asana, Trello, or Basecamp, then use Harvest's integrations to log time from those tools. Two logins, two interfaces, and manually kept-in-sync project context follow.

Budget and hour tracking per project
Integrates with Asana, Trello, Basecamp
No tasks or boards
No Gantt or timeline views
No task dependencies
No project templates

Invoicing

How do both tools turn tracked time and expenses into client invoices?

Paymo

Time-to-invoice with customizable templates. Paymo generates invoices from logged time and allows customization of invoice templates, tax rates, and payment terms. Invoices can be sent directly from the app, and clients pay through a payment link. The invoicing covers the basics well, but there's no expense billing, no recurring invoice automation, and no estimate or proposal stage before the invoice.

Invoice generation from tracked time
Customizable invoice templates
Tax rate configuration
No expense billing on invoices
No recurring invoices
No estimates or proposals

Harvest

Time and expense invoicing with payment integration. Harvest invoices pull in tracked hours and logged expenses so clients see a single line-itemized document covering both. Stripe and PayPal integration allows online payment without a third-party invoicing tool. The invoicing is simple but covers what most hourly-billing freelancers need. Harvest also has basic recurring invoice support, which Paymo lacks.

Time and expense billing on one invoice
Stripe and PayPal integration
Basic recurring invoices
No invoice template customization
No estimates or proposals
No contracts or e-signatures

Team collaboration

How do both tools handle multiple people working across shared projects?

Paymo

Per-user pricing with team scheduling tools. Paymo includes a team scheduler that shows who is working on what across the week, which helps avoid overloading team members. Task assignments, comments, and file attachments live inside projects. Guest access is limited, and the per-user pricing means costs grow as headcount grows. Small Office and Business plans add more team capacity and guest access options.

Team workload scheduler
Task assignments and comments
File attachments on tasks
Per-user pricing adds up with team growth
Limited guest access on lower plans

Harvest

Per-user pricing with manager-level reporting. Harvest shows a team-level time report that lets managers see who logged what hours across projects. Capacity tracking indicates whether team members have room for additional work based on weekly hour targets. The tool has no task assignments, no in-app comments, and no shared project documents, so project context lives in a separate PM tool and Harvest only tracks the hours logged against it.

Team-level time reports
Capacity tracking by team member
No task assignments or comments
No file sharing within the tool
Per-user pricing at $12/user/month

Reporting and financial data

What financial and project data do both tools surface for billing and planning decisions?

Paymo

Project cost reports across time and billing. Paymo generates reports that show time logged per project, per task, and per team member. Revenue-per-project reports compare hours logged against project budgets and invoice amounts, giving a view of which clients and project types cover their costs. Reports can be exported as PDF or CSV. The reporting covers project financials but not business-wide revenue trends.

Time reports by project, task, and user
Revenue-per-project reports
PDF and CSV export
No business-level revenue dashboards
No client lifetime value tracking

Harvest

Budget-focused reports with expense visibility. Harvest reports show time and cost across projects with a focus on budget health. The uninvoiced time report shows hours that have been tracked but not yet billed, so revenue does not slip through without a manual check. Expense reports feed directly into invoices. Reports can be filtered by client, project, team member, or date range and exported as CSV. The reporting is financial rather than operational.

Uninvoiced time tracking reports
Budget vs. actual reports
Expense reports by project and client
CSV export
No task-level time breakdown in reports
No revenue-per-project view across project types

Client communication and portal

How do clients stay informed about project progress without emailing you?

Paymo

No client portal or client-facing communication tools. Paymo has no client-facing portal, no proposal builder, and no contract signing. Clients receive invoices and pay through a payment link, but they cannot log in to see project progress, approve deliverables, or review documents. For businesses that want clients involved in their projects, a separate communication tool fills this gap. (Some platforms like Plutio include a branded client portal on every plan.)

Invoice delivery with payment link
No client portal
No proposal builder
No contract or e-signature
No branded communication tools

Harvest

No client portal or onboarding workflow. Harvest has no client portal, no proposal stage, and no contract signing. Clients receive invoices and can pay online through Stripe or PayPal, but that is the extent of client-facing functionality. Businesses that need to propose, contract, and onboard clients before the work starts manage those steps through separate tools and use Harvest only once the billable hours begin.

Invoice delivery and online payment
No client portal
No proposal builder
No contract or e-signature
No project visibility for clients

Skip the comparison?

Get proposals, projects, and billing in one app

Paymo and Harvest both stop at invoicing. Plutio covers the full workflow: proposals, contracts, project management, time tracking, invoicing, and white-labeled client portals.

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4.6/5 Rating

4.7/5 Rating

Paymo vs Harvest pricing breakdown

Both tools use per-user pricing, which means costs grow as your team grows. At full-featured access, a team of three pays $48-72/month across either tool, and that covers only time tracking and invoicing.

Paymo Pricing (2026)

Free: 1 user, 5 clients, 200MB storage. Includes time tracking and basic task management. Invoicing covers basic billing only.
Starter: $9.9/user/month (annual). Unlimited projects, 5GB storage, basic invoicing, time tracking, and Kanban boards.
Small Office: $15.9/user/month (annual). Adds Gantt charts, task dependencies, project templates, and guest access for clients.
Business: $23.9/user/month (annual). Adds priority support, advanced reporting, and team scheduling features. A team of 3 pays $71.70/month.

Harvest Pricing (2026)

Free: 1 user, 2 active projects. Time tracking and invoicing included. No team features.
Pro: $12/user/month (annual) or $14/user/month (monthly). Unlimited projects, team features, expense tracking, and all integrations. A team of 3 pays $36/month.

The real cost: what users actually pay

Neither tool handles the full client workflow, so most users add at least one or two more tools once billing starts growing. A typical stack built around either Paymo or Harvest looks something like this:

Proposals and contracts: PandaDoc or HelloSign ($15-25/month)
Client portal: Copilot or a custom portal setup ($25-50/month)
Project management (Harvest users): Asana or Trello ($0-25/month)
Recurring invoicing: FreshBooks or QuickBooks ($17-30/month)

A complete stack easily runs $60-120/month on top of Paymo or Harvest itself. All-in-one platforms like Plutio start at $19/month flat with no per-user fees.

The verdict: Harvest's Pro plan is cheaper per user for teams who already use a separate PM tool. Paymo's Small Office plan makes sense for teams that need Gantt charts and don't want to pay for a separate project management tool. Both leave proposals, contracts, and client portals to be handled elsewhere.

Which tool is better for your business type?

The core trade-off between Paymo and Harvest comes down to scope: Paymo covers time tracking and project management together, while Harvest stays focused on time tracking with invoicing and relies on integrations for everything else.

Solo freelancers who bill hourly

Harvest's free plan covers one user with two active projects, which works for a freelancer with one or two ongoing clients. Paymo's free plan also covers one user but adds Kanban boards and basic task management. Both produce invoices from tracked time. Harvest pulls in expenses too. For a freelancer who bills purely by the hour with simple project needs, Harvest's simplicity reduces the setup time. Paymo's free tier adds PM overhead that solo users often don't need.

Small teams with multiple active projects

Paymo's Kanban boards and Gantt charts become relevant when a team runs several concurrent projects with dependencies. Harvest-only teams managing projects in Asana or Trello deal with two logins and manually keeping context in sync. Paymo puts task tracking and time tracking in the same app, so hours attach to the specific task rather than just the project. For teams with 3-10 people running deadline-driven projects, Paymo's Small Office plan at $15.9/user/month covers more ground than Harvest at $12/user/month.

Agencies using Asana, Trello, or Basecamp

Harvest's native integrations with Asana, Trello, and Basecamp let team members start timers from inside their PM tool without switching tabs. For agencies already invested in one of those platforms, adding Harvest for time tracking costs $12/user/month and does not disrupt existing workflows. Switching to Paymo would mean migrating projects and retraining the team on a new PM tool, which may not justify the cost savings.

Service businesses that need client-facing workflows

Both tools stop before the client interaction. Proposals, contracts, onboarding questionnaires, and client portals all require additional tools. For a business where the client relationship starts before work begins, neither Paymo nor Harvest handles the intake phase. Platforms that cover proposals through to invoicing, like Plutio, avoid the multi-tool setup entirely.

International freelancers and contractors

Harvest accepts payment through Stripe and PayPal, which covers most international invoicing scenarios. Paymo also supports international payments, but currency and payment options depend on the plan. Both tools operate in multiple currencies. Neither has built-in local tax compliance for non-US jurisdictions beyond basic tax rate fields.

What both tools are missing

Paymo and Harvest both cover the time tracking and invoicing phase. But once a client asks for a proposal, signs a contract, or wants to see how their project is going, most users reach for a second or third app.

No proposals or contracts

Neither tool has a proposal builder or contract signing. Sending a proposal means drafting a document in Google Docs or Word, emailing it, and waiting for a reply outside the app. Contract signing requires a separate tool like PandaDoc, HelloSign, or DocuSign. Every new client means a manual handoff between tools before work even starts and before the time tracker turns on.

No client portal

Clients who want to see project progress, review deliverables, or check invoice history have no place to log in with either tool. Project updates happen through email or a separate communication platform. For businesses that position client transparency as part of their service, the absence of a portal means building a workaround using Notion, a shared Google Drive folder, or a separate client portal tool. (Platforms like Plutio include a white-labeled client portal on every plan.)

No recurring billing or subscription management

Paymo has no recurring invoice support. Harvest has basic recurring invoices but no subscription management or auto-pay setup. Retainer-based businesses that charge the same amount every month still need to manually generate or approve invoices, or use a separate billing tool like Stripe Billing or FreshBooks for the recurring charge logic.

No integrated communication

Neither tool has an inbox, a client messaging thread, or any structured way to keep project communication in the same place as the billable hours. Messages stay in email, and there's no connection between what a client asked for and the time entry that addresses it. Finding that context later means searching email and cross-referencing time logs manually.

Team permissions are limited on lower plans

Paymo's guest access for clients only appears on the Small Office plan at $15.9/user/month and above. Harvest's team roles are limited to administrator and regular user. Neither tool has granular permissions for contractors, part-time team members, or clients who should see only certain projects.

What users do when neither tool is enough

When Paymo or Harvest cannot handle the full client workflow, users take one of two paths: assemble a multi-tool stack that covers the gaps, or switch to a single platform that runs the entire workflow.

The typical workaround stack

Most users end up assembling something like this:

Paymo or Harvest for time tracking and invoicing ($10-24/user/month)
Asana, Trello, or Monday.com (Harvest users) for project management ($0-25/month)
PandaDoc or HelloSign for proposals and contracts ($15-25/month)
Copilot or Notion for client portal or project updates ($10-25/month)
FreshBooks or QuickBooks for recurring invoicing ($17-30/month)

The total reaches $50-120/month for a solo freelancer, plus 4-5 separate logins and manual data transfer at every handoff.

The hidden cost: time spent on handoffs

Each tool handoff takes 5-10 minutes: copying project details from the proposal into the PM tool, transferring the time log into the invoice, updating the client on progress through email. Across 10 active clients, those handoffs add up to 2-4 hours every month that goes into admin rather than billable work.

The one-platform alternative

All-in-one platforms cover proposals, project management, time tracking, invoicing, and client portals under one login. The trade-off is learning a new system and migrating existing data. For teams that have already assembled a multi-tool stack, the migration cost is usually a focused week of setup against months of reduced overhead.

What one platform looks like in practice

If you are curious: Plutio is one platform that covers the complete workflow. Proposals auto-create projects, tracked time feeds into invoices, and clients access progress through a branded portal at your domain. The comparison table below shows exactly where Plutio fills the gaps that Paymo and Harvest leave open. The goal is not to push you toward Plutio specifically, but to show what a unified workflow can look like.

Final verdict: Paymo vs Harvest

Paymo and Harvest both solve the time tracking and invoicing problem. The differences emerge in how much project management you need alongside those features.

Paymo trade-offs:

Covers time tracking, Kanban boards, and Gantt charts in one app, but per-user pricing means a team of 5 pays $79.50-$119.50/month for project management that still has no proposals or client portal
Desktop passive timer captures hours without manual effort, but the full feature set requires navigating more screens than a pure time tracker
Project templates reduce setup time for repeating work, but Gantt charts and task dependencies only unlock on the $15.9/user/month plan and above
Has basic invoicing, but no recurring invoices, no proposals, and no e-signature for contracts

But know that: Paymo costs more as the team grows and still requires separate tools for proposals, contracts, and client-facing communication.

Harvest trade-offs:

Works inside Asana, Trello, and Basecamp through native integrations, but that means paying for two tools and managing project context in two places
Expense tracking with receipt photos feeds directly into invoices, which Paymo lacks, making Harvest more useful for project-based work with reimbursable costs
Budget alerts notify you when a project approaches its limit, but there is no way to manage the actual tasks that are burning through that budget inside Harvest
Simpler pricing at $12/user/month covers everything, but that simplicity also means no project management, no proposals, and no contracts

But know that: Harvest only makes sense if you already have and plan to keep a separate project management tool. Harvest adds a second monthly cost and a second login on top of the PM tool already in use.

Consider switching to one platform if:

Proposals or contracts are part of your client onboarding and you want them connected to the project that follows
Clients ask for a place to check project status without emailing you
You are paying for a PM tool and a time tracking tool and want to reduce that to one subscription
Your invoices need to reflect both tracked time and expenses in a single branded document
Per-user pricing is adding up as your team grows past 3-4 people

But know that: Switching means migrating time logs, project history, and client records. For most teams, this takes a focused week of setup.

The bottom line: Paymo offers time tracking with built-in project management. Harvest offers time tracking with expense capture and deep integration into existing PM tools. Both cover time logging and invoicing well but stop there, leaving proposals, contracts, and client communication to separate apps. If your workflow already spans multiple tools, the comparison table below shows how all-in-one platforms like Plutio stack up against both.

Research & Sources

This comparison is based on direct hands-on testing, official documentation review, and analysis of user feedback across major review platforms. All data was verified in March 2026.

Research methodology

Each tool was evaluated through active trial accounts, official feature documentation, and analysis of 400+ user reviews across G2, Capterra, and GetApp. The focus was on limitations that appeared in 3-star and below reviews, where users share honest trade-offs rather than promotional assessments.

Platform ratings (March 2026)

Paymo: 4.6/5 on G2 (600+ reviews), praised for combining project management and time tracking, criticized for per-user pricing and limited client-facing features
Harvest: 4.3/5 on G2 (800+ reviews), praised for simplicity and integrations, criticized for lack of project management and limited free plan
Plutio: 4.6/5 on G2 (200+ reviews), praised for all-in-one coverage and white-labeling

Common user complaints (from 1-3 star reviews)

Paymo users frequently mention: per-user pricing that adds up quickly for small teams, no proposal or contract tools, client communication requires a separate app, and Gantt charts locked behind higher-tier plans.

Harvest users frequently mention: the free plan's 2-project limit feels restrictive for active freelancers, no built-in project management means paying for two tools, no proposal or contract features, and limited invoice customization.

Pricing sources (verified March 2026)

Feature verification

If you find any inaccuracies or outdated information, please let us know so we can investigate and update.

Paymo vs Harvest vs Plutio: full feature comparison

See how all three tools compare on project management, time tracking, invoicing, and client portals

PRICING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199	Harvest 38/199
Starting price	$19/month (Core plan)	$9.90/user/month (Starter, $5.90/user annual). Free plan available.	$9/seat/month (Teams, annual) or $10.80/seat/month (monthly). Free plan for 1 seat and 2 projects.
Free plan	No free plan (14-day trial available)	Free plan (unlimited users, 5 clients, 10 projects)	Free plan for 1 seat and up to 2 projects (unlimited time tracking and invoicing)
Trial period	14-day free trial	15-day free trial on paid plans	30-day free trial on Teams plan
PROJECT MANAGEMENT Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199	Harvest 38/199
Manage projects and tasks	Fully flexible project and task setup you can shape to your workflow	Full project management with List, Table, Board, Calendar, and Gantt views	Basic project and task structure for time and budget tracking only (no kanban, no Gantt, no dependencies)
Project roles and permissions	Control exactly who can view or edit each part of a project	Admin and member roles (no granular project-level permissions)	Admin and member roles only (no granular project-level permissions)
Multiple task boards	Unlimited boards to run parallel workflows in the same project	Single board per project with multiple views (List, Table, Board)	No board views (list-only task display)
Embeddable project boards	Live project boards embedded into client portals or websites	No embeddable project boards	No embeddable project boards
Sharable project boards	Read-only public links for sharing progress without risk	No shareable project boards	No shareable project boards
Project stages and milestones	Define custom project lifecycles for different types of work	Task statuses only (no formal milestones)	No project stages or milestones
Connected proposals, contracts, and invoices	Everything related stays connected to the project automatically	Estimates can be converted to invoices (no proposals or contracts)	Invoices link to tracked time (no proposals or contracts)
Custom project data fields	Track, sort, filter, and report on custom project data	Limited custom fields (Business plan only)	No custom project data fields
Kanban boards	Drag-and-drop tasks across customizable columns	Kanban board view available	No kanban boards
Table view	Bulk-edit tasks like a spreadsheet	Table view available	Basic list view for tasks (no advanced table features)
List view	Clean task lists with clear hierarchy	List view available	Default list view for tasks and projects
Calendar view	See tasks and deadlines on a calendar	Calendar view available	No calendar view for tasks
Gantt view	Plan work visually with task order and dependencies	Gantt chart view (Business plan)	No Gantt view
Subtasks	Break work down into multiple nested levels	Subtasks supported	Tasks within projects (no nested subtasks)
Email to task	Turn emails into tasks without manual copying	No email to task	No email-to-task feature
Task comments	Keep discussions tied directly to each task	Task comments with @mentions	Notes on time entries (no dedicated task comment threads)
Task attachments	Store files directly on the task they belong to	File attachments on tasks	No file attachments on tasks
Task priorities	Define priority levels that fit your workflow	Priority levels on tasks	No task priority levels
Task labels & color coding	Use unlimited labels to visually organize tasks	Tags and color coding on tasks	No task labels or color coding
Multiple task assignees	Assign tasks to one or multiple teammates	Multiple assignees per task	Single assignee per task
Task templates	Reuse task-level structures across projects	Project and task templates	No task or project templates
Task permissions	Control access at the individual task level	Basic permissions via project roles	No task-level permissions
Task dependencies	Prevent work from starting out of order	Task dependencies with Gantt view (Business plan)	No task dependencies
Recurring tasks	Automate repeating work with flexible schedules	Recurring tasks supported	No recurring tasks (recurring time entries only)
Custom task data fields	Add task-level fields for tracking custom details	Custom fields on tasks (Business plan only)	No custom task data fields
TIME TRACKING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199	Harvest 38/199
Time tracking system	Easily track time using timers or manual entries	Built-in time tracker with timer, manual entry, and desktop widget	Start/stop timer and manual time entry (browser extension, desktop, and mobile)
Task-level tracking	Log time directly against tasks and subtasks	Track time per task	Track time per task with start/stop timer and manual entry
Project-level tracking	See time spent per project and per client	Track time per project with budget tracking	Time and budget tracking per project with rollup reports and cost analysis
Billable time tracking	Clearly separate billable and non-billable time	Billable and non-billable time tracking	Billable and non-billable categorization with hourly rates per person or project
Billable time invoicing	Turn tracked time into invoices without extra steps	Convert tracked time to invoice line items	Auto-populate invoices from tracked billable time (core Harvest feature)
Timesheet reports	View detailed time reports by task, project, or client	Detailed timesheet reports with filtering and export	Detailed timesheet reports with filters by project, client, team member, and date range
Team timesheets	See how each team member tracks their time	Team timesheets with approval workflow	Team timesheet views with member-level breakdowns and capacity reporting
PROPOSALS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199	Harvest 38/199
Create and send proposals	Create proposals clients can review, approve, and sign in one flow	No proposal feature (estimates only)	Estimates/quotes only (not full proposals with contracts or e-signatures)
Drag-and-drop proposal builder	Create custom, branded proposals without layout limits or code	No proposal builder	No proposal builder
Reusable proposal templates	Reuse proven proposal layouts across clients	No proposal templates	No reusable proposal templates
Real-time proposal analytics	See exactly when proposals are opened and reviewed	No proposal analytics	No proposal analytics
Live messenger on proposals	Answer questions directly while clients review proposals	No proposals	No live messenger on proposals
Proposal flow automation	Move from proposal to contract, invoice, or booking automatically	No proposal automation	No proposal flow automation
Convert proposal to invoice	Create invoices directly from approved proposals	Convert estimate to invoice	No proposal-to-invoice conversion (estimates only)
Packages and add-ons	Offer upsells and add-ons directly inside proposals	No packages or add-ons	No packages or add-ons in proposals
Interactive pricing tables	Let clients choose options before approving	No interactive pricing tables	No interactive pricing tables
Dynamic data and variables	Auto-fill proposal content with client and project data	No dynamic data/variables	No dynamic data or variables in proposals
Expiration dates	Automatically expire proposals after a set date	No proposals	Expiration dates on estimates only (no proposals)
PDF Export	Download as branded PDFs	No proposals to export	PDF export available for invoices and estimates
Reusable content blocks	Create reusable proposal sections you can reuse on demand	No proposals	No reusable content blocks
Legally binding e-signatures	Collect secure electronic signatures on proposals	No e-signatures	No e-signatures
Custom proposal data fields	Create custom proposal data you can sort, filter, and report on	No proposals	No proposal custom data fields
CONTRACTS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199	Harvest 38/199
Create and sign contracts	Create, send, and sign contracts in one continuous flow	No contract feature	No contracts
Drag-and-drop contract builder	Create fully custom contracts with flexible layouts, no code or formatting limits	No contract builder	No drag-and-drop contract builder
Legally binding e-signatures	Collect secure signatures with audit trails and signer verification	No e-signatures	No e-signatures on contracts
Multi-signature / signees	Collect signatures from multiple people on the same contract	No contract feature	No multi-signature support
Reusable contract templates	Reuse contract structures to create new agreements faster	No contract templates	No contract templates
Auto-reminders automation	Automatically follow up until contracts are signed	No contract feature	No contract auto-reminders
Dynamic data/variables	Auto-fill contract content with client and project data	No contract feature	No dynamic data variables in contracts
Contract automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows the moment a contract is signed	No contract feature	No contract automation triggers
View notifications	See when contracts are opened and reviewed	No contract feature	No contract view notifications
PDF download with signature certificate	Download signed contracts with official proof of signature	No contract feature	No signed contract PDF download
Custom signer data fields	Collect structured signer information during signing	No contract feature	No custom signer data fields
Custom contract data fields	Create custom contract data you can sort, filter, and report on	No contract feature	No custom contract data fields
INVOICES & PAYMENTS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199	Harvest 38/199
Create invoices and get paid	Send invoices and collect payments in one connected flow	Create and send invoices with online payments	Create and send invoices from tracked time with Stripe and PayPal payment collection
Fully branded invoices	Match invoices to your brand with custom logos, colors, and layout	Branded invoices with logo and company details	Branded invoices with logo and custom colors
Drag and drop invoice builder	Create custom invoice layouts visually without formatting limits	Template-based invoice creation (no drag-and-drop)	No drag-and-drop invoice builder (template-based)
Customizable line items	Edit pricing, quantities, descriptions, and structure freely	Customizable line items	Customizable line items with services catalog
Item or invoice discounts	Apply discounts at the item or full invoice level	Discounts on invoices	Discounts supported on invoices
Customizable taxes	Create tax rules that match your location and use case	Customizable tax rates	Custom tax rates supported on invoices
ACH payments	Accept bank transfers for lower-fee payments	No ACH payments	ACH bank transfers via Stripe integration
Stripe integration	Accept credit and debit cards instantly	No Stripe integration	Native Stripe integration for invoice payments
Square integration	Collect in-person payments when needed	No Square integration	No Square integration
PayPal integration	Let clients pay using PayPal	PayPal integration available	Native PayPal integration for invoice payments
Flexible partial payments	Collect deposits and split payments across milestones	Partial payments supported	No partial payment support
Payment plans	Break invoices into scheduled installments	No payment plans	No payment plans or installment schedules
Automated recurring invoices	Automatically send invoices on a recurring schedule	Recurring invoices	Automated recurring invoices with flexible frequency options
Subscription management	Manage ongoing client subscriptions and billing	No subscription management	No subscription management
Automated payment reminders	Follow up automatically until invoices are paid	Automated payment reminders	Automated payment reminders for overdue invoices
Reusable invoice templates	Reuse invoice layouts without rebuilding each time	Reusable invoice templates	Reusable invoice templates available
Multiple currency support	Bill clients globally in their local currency	Multiple currency support	Multiple currency support on invoices
Invoice automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows when invoices are sent or paid	No invoice automation triggers	No invoice automation triggers
View notifications	See when invoices are opened and paid	No invoice view notifications	Email notifications when invoices are viewed and paid
Built-in expense tracking	Track project-related costs alongside invoices	Built-in expense tracking with receipt scanning	Built-in expense tracking with receipt photos and reimbursements
Invoice deposits	Collect upfront payments before work starts	No invoice deposits	No invoice deposit support
Auto-invoice billable time	Turn tracked time into invoices automatically	Auto-invoice tracked billable time	Core feature — auto-populate invoices from tracked billable time
Custom invoice data fields	Create custom invoice data you can sort, filter, and report on	No custom invoice data fields	No custom invoice data fields
INBOX Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199	Harvest 38/199
Centralized unified inbox	Manage email, chat, and messages from one shared inbox	No unified inbox	No unified inbox
Full email integration	Connect and manage all your email accounts in one place	No email integration	No email integration
Embeddable live chat	Add real-time chat to your website and client portals	No live chat	No embeddable live chat
Instant direct messages	Message teammates privately without leaving your workspace	No direct messaging	No direct messaging
Contextual project conversations	Keep conversations tied directly to the project they belong to	Task comments only (no dedicated project conversations)	No project conversations
Team channels	Create shared spaces for team-wide discussions	No team channels	No team channels
Customized channels	Organize channels by team, topic, or workflow	No channels	No customized channels
@mentions	Notify teammates instantly inside conversations	@mentions in task comments	No @mentions
Message read receipts	See when messages are read	No messaging	No message read receipts
File sharing in chat	Share files directly inside conversations	No chat (file attachments in task comments only)	No file sharing in chat
Shared email inbox	Collaborate on incoming emails as a team	No shared email inbox	No shared email inbox
Inbox mobile app	Access and respond to messages on mobile	No inbox feature	No inbox mobile app
Email reply to inbox	Reply from your email client and keep conversations synced	No inbox feature	No email reply to inbox
FILES Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199	Harvest 38/199
Store and manage files	Keep all client and project files in one organized place	File management with proofing and approval	No built-in file storage
Advanced folder organization	Organize files by project, client, or structure you choose	Project-based file organization	No folder organization
Folder permissions	Control who can view or edit folders	Project-level access controls	No folder permissions
People folders	Group files by person when needed	No people-specific folders	No people folders
Project folders	Keep files scoped to each project	Files organized by project	No project file folders
In-app previews	Preview files instantly without downloading	In-app file previews with proofing tools	No in-app file previews
Custom file data fields	Capture file metadata you can sort and filter	No custom file data fields	No custom file data fields
Built-in documents	Create and edit documents directly inside Plutio	No built-in document editor	No built-in document editor
Comments on files and docs	Leave comments directly on files and documents	Comments on files with visual proofing annotations	No file comments
Bulk file actions	Move, tag, or manage many files at once	Basic bulk actions	No bulk file actions
Files search & filter	Find files quickly using search and filters	Basic file search	No file search or filter
External cloud sync	Sync files with Google Drive or Dropbox	Google Drive and OneDrive integration	No external cloud sync
Secure sharing controls	Restrict access with permissions or passwords	Project-based sharing controls	No secure sharing controls
File sharing links	Share files externally with controlled access	Share files via project links	No file sharing links
SCHEDULING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199	Harvest 38/199
Schedule meetings	Let clients book meetings directly without back-and-forth emails	Resource scheduling for team bookings (not client booking)	No scheduling or booking feature
Branded booking page	Build a fully branded, customizable booking system using a drag-and-drop editor	No public booking page	No booking pages
Advanced availability management	Define flexible availability rules applied automatically to bookings	Resource scheduling with availability view (team-focused)	No availability management
Automatic buffer times	Add buffer time automatically between meetings	No buffer times	No buffer times
Multiple meeting types	Create unlimited booking types with different rules and setups	No meeting types	No meeting types
Calendar sync (Google/Outlook)	Two-way calendar sync that stays up to date automatically	Google Calendar sync	No scheduling or calendar sync
Customizable booking confirmations	Fully customizable confirmation pages with no layout or branding limits	No booking confirmations	No booking confirmations
Redirect after booking	Send bookers anywhere after scheduling, not just a fixed thank-you page	No booking page	No booking redirects
Booking automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows the moment a meeting is booked	No booking automation	No booking automation
Smart meeting reminders	Send automatic reminders without manual follow-ups	Task deadline reminders	No meeting reminders
Automatic timezone detection	Handle timezones automatically without manual adjustments	No timezone detection for bookings	No scheduling feature
Paid appointments (Stripe/PayPal)	Collect payments during booking without extra steps	No paid appointments	No paid appointments
Custom booking forms	Build booking forms with full control over questions and layout	No booking forms	No booking forms
Minimum notice / daily booking limits	Set booking limits to control lead time and daily volume	No booking limits	No booking limits
Rescheduling and cancellation controls	Define flexible rules for rescheduling and cancellations	No rescheduling controls	No rescheduling or cancellation controls
AUTOMATION Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199	Harvest 38/199
Automated workflows builder	Build advanced workflows visually without code or rigid templates	No automation builder	No automation builder
Trigger-based workflows	Start workflows from real events across projects, clients, and payments	No trigger-based workflows	No trigger-based workflows
Schedule-based workflows	Run workflows on schedules you control, not fixed intervals	No schedule-based workflows	No scheduled workflows
Multi-step workflows	Chain multiple actions into one continuous automation	No multi-step workflows	No multi-step workflows
True/False branching	Create conditional paths instead of one-size-fits-all flows	No branching logic	No conditional branching
Delay-based actions	Add precise timing between steps, down to minutes or days	No delay-based actions	No delay-based actions
Create & update records	Create, update, or move records automatically across the system	No automated record creation	No record automation
Move & duplicate records	Reorganize work automatically without manual cleanup	No automated move/duplicate	No duplicate actions
Delete & archive records	Automatically archive or remove records based on rules	No automated delete/archive	No delete automation
API calls (webhooks)	Trigger or receive real-time events from external systems	API available (REST API)	REST API and webhooks available
Send emails	Send automated emails tied to real workflow events	No automated email sending	Automated invoice and reminder emails
Post comments	Add notes or comments automatically where work happens	No automated comment posting	No comment automation
Complete automation logs	See exactly what ran, when, and why	No automation logs	No automation logs
Auto-fill data/variables	Pass data between steps dynamically without manual mapping	No auto-fill variables	No auto-fill variables
Cross-entity connections	Run workflows that span projects, tasks, proposals, invoices, and more	Time entries linked to projects and invoices	No cross-entity automation
FORMS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199	Harvest 38/199
Create branded forms	Build fully branded forms that match your workflow and client experience	No form builder	No form builder
Drag-and-drop form builder	Design forms visually with full layout control, no code required	No form builder	No visual form builder
Reusable form templates	Reuse form structures without rebuilding from scratch	No form templates	No form templates
Custom form data fields	Collect structured data you can sort, filter, and report on	No forms	No custom form fields
Smart conditional logic	Show or hide fields based on responses, not static forms	No forms	No conditional logic
Instant email notifications	Get notified immediately when forms are submitted	No forms	No form notifications
Form automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows when a form is submitted	No forms	No form automation
Embed forms	Embed forms anywhere without layout restrictions	No forms	No embeddable forms
Advanced field preferences	Control required, hidden, and default field behavior	No forms	No advanced field preferences
Comprehensive field types	Collect text, files, dates, selections, and more	No forms	No form field types
Form signature field	Collect legally binding signatures directly inside forms	No forms	No signature field on forms
File upload fields	Accept file uploads as part of form submissions	No forms	No form file uploads
Redirect after submission	Send submitters to a custom next step, not a fixed thank-you page	No forms	No form redirects
CRM Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199	Harvest 38/199
Manage clients and leads	Manage contacts and companies in one connected system	Client list for invoicing (no lead management)	Basic client and contact list (no CRM pipeline or lead tracking)
Full company management	Track organizations, not just individual contacts	Client companies for billing only	No company management
Custom contact data fields	Collect and manage structured contact data you define	No custom contact fields	No custom contact fields
Complete activity timeline	See every interaction with a client in one place	No activity timeline	No activity timeline
Contacts labeling and grouping	Organize contacts flexibly without rigid pipelines	Client categories	No contact labeling or grouping
WIKI Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199	Harvest 38/199
Comprehensive knowledge base	Create an internal wiki for processes, docs, and guides	No knowledge base or wiki	No knowledge base
Beautiful rich text pages	Write structured, formatted content without complexity	No wiki pages	No rich text pages
Unlimited nested pages	Build deep knowledge hierarchies without limits	No wiki pages	No nested pages
Granular page permissions	Control exactly who can view or edit each page	No wiki pages	No page permissions
DASHBOARDS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199	Harvest 38/199
Custom dashboards and pages	Build dashboards around what matters to you, not fixed metrics	Basic project dashboard with summary views	Basic project and time reporting dashboard (not customizable)
Drag-and-drop dashboard builder	Design dashboards visually with full layout control	No dashboard builder	No drag-and-drop dashboard builder
Charts widget	Visualize data with customizable charts	Basic project progress charts	Charts in time and budget reports only
Metrics widget	Track key numbers without manual reporting	Basic time and budget metrics	Time and budget metrics in reports only
Goals widget	Monitor progress toward defined goals	No goals widget	No goals widget
Notes widget	Add contextual notes directly to dashboards	No notes widget	No notes widget
Calendar widget	View upcoming events alongside work and metrics	No calendar widget on dashboard	No calendar widget
Financial widgets	Track revenue and expenses in the same view	Basic invoice and expense summaries	Revenue, expense, and invoice reporting but no custom dashboard widgets
BRANDING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199	Harvest 38/199
White-label and branding	Run the entire platform under your brand	No white-label branding	No white-labeling
Custom interface theme	Apply your brand colors across the system	No custom interface theme	No interface theming
Stylesheet customization	Fine-tune styling beyond basic theming	No stylesheet customization	No CSS customization
Custom login/signup pages	Use branded authentication pages instead of generic screens	No custom login pages	No custom login pages
Email branding	Send all system emails with your branding	No email branding customization	Logo and branding on invoice emails
Custom brand fonts	Use your own fonts throughout the platform	No custom fonts	No custom fonts
Custom brand logos	Replace all platform logos with your own	Custom logo on invoices	Logo upload on invoices and branded documents
Custom domain name	Run everything on your own domain	No custom domain	No custom domain
Custom email SMTP	Send emails from your own email infrastructure	No custom SMTP	No custom SMTP
Full workspace embedding	Embed Plutio directly into your website or product	No workspace embedding	No workspace embedding
CUSTOMIZATION Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199	Harvest 38/199
Flexible workspace setup	Shape the platform to match how your business works	Workspace organized by projects	Workspaces, projects, tasks, and clients only (no flexible hierarchy)
Main menu editor	Add, remove, or reorder navigation items freely	No menu editor	Fixed menu
User-based menus	Show different navigation for different roles	No user-based menus	Fixed menus for all users
Custom user roles	Create role types beyond preset permissions	Fixed roles (Admin, User)	Admin and member roles only
Advanced user permissions	Control access at a granular level	Basic role-based permissions	Project-level permissions only (admin and member roles)
SSO / OAuth	Support enterprise-grade single sign-on	Google sign-in	No SSO on Teams plan (Enterprise only)
INTEGRATIONS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199	Harvest 38/199
Connect with other tools	Integrate with external systems without lock-in	Zapier, Slack, Google Calendar, QuickBooks, and more	50+ native integrations including Asana, Trello, Jira, Slack, QuickBooks, Xero, Basecamp, and more
Zapier integration	Connect to thousands of apps without custom code	Zapier integration	Full Zapier integration
Make.com integration	Build advanced automation scenarios visually	No Make.com integration	Make.com integration supported
Pabbly Connect	Connect services without usage-based limits	Pabbly Connect integration	Possible via API
Full REST API access	Build custom integrations with full system access	REST API available	Full REST API available
Incoming & outgoing webhooks	Send and receive real-time events	Webhooks via Zapier	Incoming and outgoing webhooks supported
PLATFORM Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Paymo 53/199	Harvest 38/199
Mobile apps	Access your business from native mobile apps	Native iOS and Android apps	iOS and Android apps with timer and time tracking
iOS app	Full-featured iPhone app	Native iOS app	Full iOS app available
Android app	Full-featured Android app	Native Android app	Full Android app available
Mac desktop app	Native macOS app for desktop workflows	Desktop widget for time tracking	Mac menubar app and browser extension (no full standalone desktop app)
Windows desktop app	Native Windows app for desktop workflows	Desktop widget for time tracking	Windows menubar app and browser extension (no full standalone desktop app)

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Paymo vs Harvest FAQ

Is Paymo or Harvest better for freelancers?

Harvest suits freelancers who already use a separate PM tool like Asana or Trello and want to add time tracking with invoicing. The free plan covers one user with two projects. Paymo suits freelancers who want time tracking and basic project management in one app without a second subscription. Paymo's free tier includes Kanban boards, which Harvest lacks entirely.

Does Harvest have project management features?

No. Harvest tracks time, expenses, and budgets against projects but has no tasks, boards, timelines, or task dependencies. Teams that need project management alongside Harvest use it with Asana, Trello, or Basecamp, which integrate natively. Paymo includes Kanban boards and Gantt charts in the same app as its time tracker.

Which is easier to set up, Paymo or Harvest?

Harvest setup takes under an hour for most users. The interface is focused: add clients, create projects, start tracking time. Paymo takes longer because it covers project management, Gantt charts, and team scheduling alongside time tracking. Users configuring Paymo for the first time typically spend a few hours mapping out their project structure before the setup clicks into place.

Can I white-label Paymo or Harvest?

Neither tool offers white-labeling or custom domain client portals. Clients interact with Paymo or Harvest branded payment pages and invoice emails. For businesses where brand consistency matters throughout the client experience, platforms like Plutio support custom domains and full white-labeling on every plan.

How much does Paymo cost vs Harvest?

Paymo Starter costs $9.9/user/month (annual). Small Office, which adds Gantt charts and task dependencies, costs $15.9/user/month. Harvest Pro costs $12/user/month (annual) for unlimited projects and team features. For a solo freelancer, Paymo Starter is cheaper. For a team of three, Paymo Small Office ($47.70/month) costs more than Harvest Pro ($36/month), but covers project management that Harvest does not.

Does Paymo have expense tracking?

Paymo has basic expense tracking on paid plans, but it does not match Harvest's expense features. Harvest allows receipt photo capture, expense categorization, and expense billing directly on invoices alongside tracked time. For project-based work with significant reimbursable costs, Harvest handles expenses more thoroughly than Paymo.

Do Paymo and Harvest have proposal or contract tools?

No. Neither Paymo nor Harvest has a proposal builder or contract signing. Both tools start at time tracking. Sending a proposal means drafting it outside the app in a separate tool, and signing a contract requires something like PandaDoc or HelloSign. Platforms that cover proposals through to invoicing, like Plutio, avoid that gap.

Which integrations does Harvest have that Paymo doesn't?

Harvest integrates natively with Asana, Trello, Basecamp, and several other project management tools, letting users start timers from inside those apps. Paymo handles project management internally and has fewer third-party PM integrations. Both connect to Stripe and PayPal for invoice payments. Harvest also integrates with QuickBooks and Xero for accounting, which Paymo does not cover natively.

Can I migrate from Paymo to Harvest or vice versa?

Both tools allow data export via CSV for time entries, projects, and clients. Migration is manual: export time logs from one tool, reformat as needed, and import into the other. Project history and task structure in Paymo do not map directly to Harvest's project model since Harvest has no tasks. Expect a few hours of data cleanup depending on how many projects and time entries you have.

What if neither Paymo nor Harvest fits my workflow?

If you need proposals, contracts, a client portal, or a complete project lifecycle in one app, both Paymo and Harvest leave those gaps. All-in-one platforms cover the complete workflow from proposal to payment. Plutio is one example that handles proposals, contracts, project management, time tracking, invoicing, and client portals for $19/month with no per-user fees.

Does Paymo have a Gantt chart?

Yes, but only on the Small Office plan at $15.9/user/month and the Business plan at $23.9/user/month. The Starter plan at $9.9/user/month includes Kanban boards and task lists but not Gantt charts. Harvest has no Gantt chart or any visual project timeline. If Gantt charts are a requirement, Paymo Small Office or a dedicated PM tool is the only path with either of these products.

Which tool handles team time tracking better, Paymo or Harvest?

Both track team hours, but differently. Paymo shows time per task, per project, and per team member with a workload scheduler that highlights overloaded staff. Harvest shows hours per project and per person with capacity tracking based on weekly hour targets. For teams that want to see which specific tasks are consuming hours, Paymo's task-level tracking gives more granularity. For teams that want to see if staff have capacity for more work, Harvest's capacity view is more direct.

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