TLDR (Summary)
Plutio is the strongest pick because the timer runs inside tasks, tracked hours become invoice line items in one click, and clients check project progress through a branded portal, all in the same platform where proposals and contracts already live. Toggl Track has the widest integration list but no invoicing on any plan, so tracked hours still need a separate billing app. Clockify offers the most on its free tier but locks invoicing behind $5.49/user/month.
Most freelance time trackers charge per seat and only handle the clock, so tracked hours still need to be moved into a separate invoicing app by hand. Below, 8 tools compared on invoicing connection, project management depth, and which ones get tracked hours onto an invoice without copying data between tools.
What makes a time tracker work for freelancers
A freelance time tracker needs to cover what happens once hours are logged, not just the logging itself. Freelancers billing hourly need tracked hours to reach an invoice without a copy-paste step in between. Freelancers on project rates still need time data to measure whether a project stayed within budget or quietly ate into margins.
Timer flexibility
Some days start with a clear task list and a running timer. Other days are a mix of client calls, deep work, and admin that gets reconstructed at the end of the week. The right tracker handles both: a one-click timer for focused sessions and manual entry for everything that slips through. For more on building a tracking habit, see our freelance time tracking guide.
Billable vs non-billable separation
Not every hour is billable. Admin, bookkeeping, marketing, and client communication all take time but don't appear on invoices. Separating billable from non-billable hours lets weekly reports show where paid work actually happens and where unpaid admin stacks up.
Time-to-invoice connection
The gap between logging time and sending an invoice is where revenue gets lost. Some trackers connect directly to invoicing, so a week of tracked time becomes an invoice without leaving the tool. Others require exporting a CSV, opening a separate tool, and manually rebuilding line items. The fewer steps between "hours tracked" and "invoice sent," the fewer billable hours fall through the cracks.
Pricing model
Per-seat pricing adds up fast. For a solo freelancer, $5-9/month is manageable. But the moment a contractor, VA, or project manager joins, the cost doubles or triples. Flat-rate tools charge one price regardless of team size, so adding a contractor doesn't change the bill.
All-in-one freelance platforms with time tracking
All-in-one platforms bundle time tracking with invoicing, project management, and client communication, so a logged week reaches an invoice without switching apps. The trade-off is that time tracking features are usually less specialized than dedicated trackers, and the starting price is higher because time tracking comes packaged with everything else.
Plutio ($19/month)
Best for: freelancers who need time tracking connected to proposals, projects, and invoices in one platform | Capterra: 4.6/5 | G2: 4.6/5
Plutio's timer runs inside projects and tasks, so every tracked minute stays tied to the deliverable it belongs to. Once a task is done, tracked hours become invoice line items in one click, no CSV exports, no copy-pasting into a separate billing tool. The same platform handles proposals that convert into projects, contracts that stay linked to scope, and a white-labeled client portal where clients check progress and pay invoices without emailing for updates. Flat-rate pricing ($19/month Core, $49/month Pro) means adding a contractor or VA doesn't increase the bill.
- Time logged on a task goes straight to an invoice, no exporting needed
- Every timer entry stays tied to its project, task, and client automatically
- Proposals convert to projects, keeping original scope linked to tracked time
- White-labeled client portal where clients view progress and pay invoices
- No free plan, 14-day trial gives full access
- Solo plan limits active clients to 9 (Pro removes the cap)
Moxie ($10/month)
Best for: freelancers who want time tracking bundled with CRM and invoicing at the lowest flat rate | Trustpilot: 4.8/5 (520 reviews)
Moxie (formerly Hectic) includes a timer and manual entry on all plans, and tracked time connects to invoicing. The Starter plan at $10/month covers CRM, basic project management, invoicing, and proposals. The Pro plan at $20/month adds a white-labeled client portal, workflow automation, and QuickBooks integration.
- Lowest flat-rate starting price at $10/month
- CRM, invoicing, and proposals included on Starter
- White-labeled portal on Pro ($20/month)
- Client portal requires Pro plan ($20/month), not included on Starter
- Limited presence on G2 and Capterra (most reviews on Trustpilot and AppSumo)
- Smaller integration ecosystem than Toggl Track or Harvest
FreshBooks ($17.10/month)
Best for: freelancers who bill hourly and need time tracking tied to double-entry accounting | Capterra: 4.5/5 (4,399 reviews) | G2: 4.5/5
FreshBooks is accounting software with built-in time tracking, not a time tracker that added accounting as an afterthought. The timer runs in the browser or mobile app, and a logged week populates an invoice automatically. Double-entry accounting, bank connections, expense tracking, and tax reports are all included. The Plus plan ($29.70/month) adds project management.
- More accounting depth than any other tool on this list (double-entry, bank feeds, tax reports)
- Time-to-invoice flow built into every plan
- 30-day free trial with full feature access
- Lite plan caps at 5 billable clients
- Project management requires Plus plan ($29.70/month)
- Additional team members cost $11/user/month on top of the base price
All three platforms connect logged time to invoices directly, but only Plutio includes full project management, proposals, contracts, and a white-labeled client portal at $19/month. FreshBooks covers more accounting ground but lacks project management on the base plan. Moxie starts at $10/month but puts the client portal behind the $20/month Pro tier.
Dedicated time tracking tools
Dedicated time trackers focus on one thing: measuring where hours go. The timer and reporting features typically offer more configuration than all-in-one platforms, but logged time still needs a separate tool for invoicing, project management, and client communication. The trade-off: deeper tracking now, more integration work later.
Toggl Track (Free / $9/user/month)
Best for: freelancers who want a dedicated timer with browser extension tracking across 100+ apps | Capterra: 4.7/5 (2,576 reviews) | G2: 4.6/5 (1,573 reviews)
Toggl Track has over 4,000 combined reviews on G2 and Capterra, more than any other standalone tracker on this list. The browser extension tracks time inside 100+ web apps without switching tabs. The free plan supports up to 5 users with basic reporting. Billable rates, project estimates, and revenue analysis unlock on Starter at $9/user/month. No native invoicing at any tier, so tracked hours have to go through an integration (FreshBooks, QuickBooks, or Xero) to become an invoice.
- Browser extension tracks time inside 100+ web apps automatically
- Free plan supports up to 5 users
- Detailed productivity and revenue reports on paid plans
- No native invoicing at any tier (requires third-party integration)
- Billable rates require Starter plan ($9/user/month)
- Per-seat pricing multiplies cost when adding team members
Clockify (Free / $3.99/user/month)
Best for: freelancers who need unlimited free time tracking with billable rates included | Capterra: 4.8/5 (9,161 reviews) | G2: 4.5/5
Clockify has the most generous free plan of any time tracker on this list: unlimited users, unlimited tracking, billable rates, Pomodoro timer, and idle detection, all at $0. Invoicing unlocks at Standard ($5.49/user/month). The free tier covers tracking well but not the billing that comes after, so freelancers who need tracked hours on an invoice will end up on a paid plan.
- Free plan includes unlimited users, billable rates, and idle detection
- Pomodoro timer built in for focused work sessions
- Invoicing available at Standard tier ($5.49/user/month)
- Free plan does not include invoicing, requires $5.49/user/month upgrade
- Project management is basic (separate Plaky tool for full PM)
- Per-seat pricing on all paid plans
Harvest (Free / $9/seat/month)
Best for: freelancers who want time-to-invoice without a full platform | Capterra: 4.6/5 (638 reviews) | G2: 4.3/5
Harvest centers on the gap between logging time and getting paid. The timer runs on web, desktop, and mobile, and a tracked week converts to a ready-to-send invoice without an export step. Project budgets track spending in real time. Stripe and PayPal handle payments from the invoice. The free plan covers 1 seat with 2 projects, which is enough for a freelancer managing one or two clients.
- Time-to-invoice flow on all plans including free
- Project budgets with real-time cost tracking
- Stripe and PayPal payment integration built in
- Free plan limited to 1 seat and 2 projects
- Per-seat pricing at $9/seat/month on Teams plan
- No project management beyond budgets and basic task tracking
Hubstaff ($4.99/user/month)
Best for: freelancers who need activity-level proof of work for client billing | Capterra: 4.6/5 (1,586 reviews) | G2: 4.5/5 (1,338 reviews)
Hubstaff tracks time alongside activity levels (mouse and keyboard usage), with optional screenshots and GPS tracking. For freelancers whose clients require proof of hours billed, the activity reports and screenshots serve as documentation. Invoicing unlocks on the Grow plan at $7.50/user/month. The monitoring features are built for team oversight, so solo freelancers who bill on trust may find the screenshots and activity scores unnecessary.
- Activity-level tracking provides proof of work for client billing
- GPS and geofencing for field-based freelance work
- Invoicing on Grow plan ($7.50/user/month)
- Monitoring features (screenshots, activity levels) designed for team oversight, not solo work
- Free plan limited to 1 user with basic tracking only
- Invoicing requires Grow plan or higher
TimeCamp (Free / $3.99/user/month)
Best for: freelancers who want automatic background tracking without starting a timer | Capterra: 4.7/5 (598 reviews) | G2: 4.7/5 (340 reviews)
TimeCamp runs in the background and monitors which apps and websites are in use, then assigns time to projects automatically, so freelancers don't have to remember to start a timer. Invoicing unlocks on Starter ($3.99/user/month), but billable time tracking requires Premium ($6.99/user/month). The automatic tracking covers desk-based work but loses accuracy with offline tasks and frequent context-switching.
- Automatic tracking reduces the need for manual timer starts
- Free plan includes unlimited users and projects
- Invoicing starts at Starter tier ($3.99/user/month)
- Billable time tracking requires Premium plan ($6.99/user/month)
- Automatic tracking accuracy drops with frequent context-switching
- Per-seat pricing on all paid plans
Toggl Track has the widest integration ecosystem but no invoicing at any tier. Clockify includes the most on its free tier. Harvest connects time to invoices on every plan but caps the free tier at 2 projects. Which specialist fits your workflow depends on whether invoicing needs to live in the same tool or a separate billing app works.
Feature comparison at a glance
All 8 tools compared side by side on solo pricing, free plans, invoicing, time-to-invoice connection, project management, and client portals.
| Tool | Price (solo) | Free plan | Invoicing | Time-to-invoice | Project mgmt | Client portal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plutio | $19/mo flat | No (14-day trial) | Included | Included | Full (boards, Gantt) | Included |
| Moxie | $10/mo flat | No (14-day trial) | Included | Included | Included | Pro ($20/mo) |
| FreshBooks | $17.10/mo flat | No (30-day trial) | Included | Included | Plus ($29.70/mo) | Invoice portal |
| Toggl Track | $9/user/mo | Yes (5 users) | No | No | Basic | No |
| Clockify | $3.99/user/mo | Yes (unlimited) | Standard ($5.49+) | Standard ($5.49+) | Basic | No |
| Harvest | $9/seat/mo | Yes (1 seat, 2 projects) | Included | Included | Basic | No |
| Hubstaff | $4.99/user/mo | Yes (1 user) | Grow ($7.50+) | Grow ($7.50+) | Basic | No |
| TimeCamp | $3.99/user/mo | Yes (unlimited) | Starter ($3.99+) | Premium ($6.99+) | Basic | No |
Plutio is the only tool on this list that includes time tracking, invoicing, full project management, proposals, contracts, and a client portal on every plan. Moxie covers some of this but locks the portal behind Pro ($20/month). Every other tool needs at least one extra app to get from tracked hours to paid invoice to client updates.
Picking the right freelance time tracker
Every tool on this list runs a timer. The difference is what happens next. The right pick depends on whether tracked hours end up on an invoice, a project dashboard, or a client portal directly, or need to be exported somewhere else first.
If the workflow only needs a timer and reports
Toggl Track and Clockify both cover standalone time tracking. Clockify's free plan includes more (unlimited users, billable rates), while Toggl Track's browser extension tracks time across more apps. Neither includes invoicing, so expect to pair them with FreshBooks, QuickBooks, or Xero for billing.
If tracked hours need to become invoices
Plutio, Harvest, and FreshBooks all route logged time directly to an invoice without a copy-paste step in between. Plutio covers the full workflow from proposals through project delivery to client portals, with time tracking and invoicing built in. FreshBooks adds double-entry accounting and expense tracking. Harvest is the narrowest option (timer plus invoicing, not much else). For a deeper look at the invoicing side, see our freelance invoicing guide.
If everything belongs in one platform
Plutio is the most complete option on this list, with time tracking, invoicing, proposals, contracts, project management, and a client portal included on every plan at $19/month (see the comparison table above). Moxie covers CRM and invoicing at $10/month but locks the client portal behind the $20/month Pro tier. Both use flat-rate pricing instead of per-seat billing.
If clients need proof of hours worked
Hubstaff's activity monitoring (screenshots, mouse and keyboard levels) provides documentation for clients who require verification beyond a simple timesheet. Proof of work matters most for hourly contracts where the client requests evidence alongside the invoice.
The most expensive mistake is choosing a time tracker that doesn't connect to invoicing. Tracked hours that sit in one tool while invoices live in another tend to leak billable work at the seams, not because the tracker failed, but because the copy-paste step between apps is easy to skip, especially on busy weeks.
Common time tracking mistakes freelancers make
The timer works. The billing workflow around the timer is where things break. Most time tracking problems for freelancers happen outside the tracker itself.
Paying for team pricing as a solo worker
Per-seat pricing makes sense for teams of 5 or 10. A solo freelancer on Toggl Starter pays $9/month, but adding one contractor doubles the cost to $18/month. Flat-rate tools keep the price fixed regardless of who needs access, which matters the moment the business grows beyond one person.
Tracking hours but not billing for them
Time gets tracked, reports get generated, and then the invoice goes out three days later from memory instead of the data. The longer the delay between tracking and invoicing, the more billable hours slip. Harvest, FreshBooks, and Plutio all carry logged hours onto an invoice automatically, which closes that delay.
Ignoring non-billable hours
Admin, emails, bookkeeping, and project setup are all real work that eats into the day. Freelancers who only track billable hours don't see where the rest of the time goes, which makes it harder to price future projects accurately or identify which clients cost the most in unpaid communication.
Choosing based on free plan instead of workflow fit
Clockify and TimeCamp both have generous free plans. But if the workflow requires invoicing from tracked time, the free plan becomes a $5.49-$6.99/month plan once the invoicing tier unlocks. Starting with the cheapest option and upgrading later often costs more in migration headaches than choosing the right tool from the start.
