TLDR (Summary)
The best time tracking software for copywriters is Plutio ($19/month).
Standalone timers track hours but don't connect to deliverables or billing. Plutio time tracking links to projects, clients, and automatic invoicing... so tracked hours show you what you're actually making per hour across different clients and deliverable types.
Copywriters get project timers, research time tracking, earnings reports, and automatic billing. See which clients and content types pay best for the time you put in.
Copywriters using connected time tracking understand what they're really making through automatic project linking, recovering unbilled hours.
For additional strategies, read our freelance time tracking guide.
What is time tracking software for copywriters?
Time tracking software for copywriters logs hours spent on deliverables and connects that time to specific projects, clients, and billing records.
The distinction matters: basic timers count hours, copywriter-focused time tracking connects those hours to the deliverables they support and the invoices they generate. The connection shows you what you're actually making beyond the quoted rate.
What copywriter time tracking actually does
Core functions include starting and stopping timers for work sessions, logging time against specific deliverables, categorizing time by activity type (research, drafting, revision), generating reports by client, deliverable type, or time period, and calculating what you make per hour from per-project payments. Advanced platforms connect tracked time directly to invoicing.
Standalone time tracking vs integrated platforms
Standalone tools like Toggl, Clockify, or Harvest handle timing as an isolated function. You track hours, generate reports, and manually transfer data to invoicing systems. Integrated platforms like Plutio connect time tracking with projects, CRM, and invoicing... so hours tracked automatically feed into billing and show what you're making.
What makes copywriter time tracking different
Copywriters often work on per-project or retainer rates rather than hourly billing, but time tracking remains essential for understanding what you're actually earning. A $1,500 landing page that takes 10 hours pays $150/hour. The same project taking 30 hours after four revision rounds pays $50/hour. Without tracking, there's no way to tell which clients and deliverable types pay well versus which ones eat your time through extra work without extra pay and revision spirals. Copywriters who track even for one month often discover that their most demanding clients are also their worst-paying when measured by effective hourly rate.
When time tracking connects to projects and invoicing, every hour logged shows you what you're earning. You see real numbers by client, by deliverable type, by revision round... so you know where projects expanding beyond original terms are eating into your margins.
Why copywriters need time tracking software
Copywriters working on per-project rates face a hidden problem: without time data, there's no way to know the true hourly rate earned on any given deliverable, and the per-project versus hourly debate stays unresolved without actual numbers.
True hourly rate stays invisible without tracking
An $800 landing page looks like a strong rate until time data reveals the actual hours invested. Client A's landing page takes 6 hours ($133/hour) while Client B's takes 20 hours after multiple revision rounds ($40/hour). Without tracking, these projects look identical on the invoice but pay 3x differently for the time invested. Freelancers who track time earn 20-30% more through better rate decisions informed by actual per-hour earnings data. The revelation that certain "good-paying" projects actually pay $35/hour when revision time is counted changes how copywriters price future work for those clients.
The per-project versus hourly debate needs data
Copywriters who charge per-project often wonder whether hourly billing would pay better. Without time data, the question is unanswerable. Tracking reveals that some deliverable types (like landing pages with clear briefs) pay well per-project, while others (like brand messaging frameworks with multiple stakeholders) would pay better hourly because the revision cycles are unpredictable. Time data settles the debate on a per-client, per-deliverable-type basis rather than as a blanket decision.
Expanding work stays invisible without time evidence
When a retainer client gradually adds deliverables beyond the agreed scope, time tracking reveals the expansion: month 1 the retainer took 20 hours, month 3 it takes 35 hours for the same rate. Time data provides evidence for "we need to adjust scope or pricing" conversations that gut feeling alone cannot support. Showing a client that their retainer now requires 75% more hours than month one creates a factual basis for renegotiation that feelings and frustration never provide.
Revision costs hide inside project fees
Each revision round costs time. Without tracking, copywriters don't know that Client X's projects average 1.5 revision rounds while Client Y averages 4.2 rounds. Time data shows that revision-heavy clients effectively pay 40-60% less per hour than the quoted rate suggests. Copywriters armed with revision time data can set clearer expectations in future contracts, specifying that additional rounds beyond the agreed number will be billed at a stated hourly rate.
Rate negotiations depend on historical data
When a client offers $600 for a project, context matters: what do similar deliverables actually take? Without historical time data, every rate negotiation happens from gut feel rather than evidence. Walking into a rate discussion with six months of data showing average hours per deliverable type gives copywriters a concrete foundation for pricing conversations that assumptions never provide.
Time tracking turns the invisible economics of per-project copywriting into visible data. Every logged hour reveals the true hourly rate, making rate decisions, scope discussions, and client selection evidence-based rather than assumption-driven.
Time tracking features copywriters need
The essential time tracking features for copywriters log hours while connecting to copy projects and showing you what you're making.
Core time tracking features
- Timer: Start/stop with one click. Timer runs while you work, logs automatically when you stop.
- Manual entry: Add time after the fact for sessions you forgot to track.
- Project linking: Attach time to specific deliverables. Time accumulates against projects automatically.
- Activity categories: Tag time as research, drafting, editing, or revising. See where time actually goes.
- Notes: Add context to time entries for future reference and billing documentation.
- Reports: See time by project, client, date range, or activity type.
Copywriter-specific time tracking features
- Earnings per client: See total hours and earnings per client relationship. Identify which clients pay best for your time.
- Hourly rate calculation: For per-project work, calculate what you make per hour from logged hours and payment amounts.
- Work expansion detection: Compare estimated versus actual time to identify when work expands beyond what was agreed.
- Revision time tracking: See how much time revision rounds consume per client to inform contract terms and pricing.
Platform features that multiply value
- Time-to-invoice in one click: Select tracked hours for a deliverable and generate a line-itemized invoice without copying numbers into a separate billing app.
- Per-client rate dashboard: Open any client profile and see total hours alongside total payments, revealing which retainers actually pay well and which eat time through revision spirals.
- Scope expansion alerts: When monthly hours for a retainer client climb past the previous month's total, automatic flags surface the trend before margins erode silently.
Time tracking that links hours to deliverables and invoicing shows copywriters what they're actually earning, not just how long they worked.
Time tracking software pricing for copywriters
Time tracking software for copywriters typically costs $0-20 per month for separate tools, with integrated platforms including time tracking as part of broader business management at $19-99/month.
What copywriters typically pay for stacked tools
- Time tracking: Toggl ($9-18/month), Harvest ($12/month), Clockify (free with limits)
- Project management: Trello ($5-10/month), Notion ($8-15/month)
- Invoicing: FreshBooks ($17-55/month), Wave (free)
- CRM: Spreadsheets or basic tools ($0-20/month)
Combined, this stack costs $30-100/month before counting time lost transferring data between disconnected systems.
Plutio pricing (February 2026)
- Core: $19/month: Time tracking plus projects, CRM, invoicing, scheduling, automations, and mobile apps.
- Pro: $49/month: Unlimited clients, team time tracking, advanced permissions.
- Max: $199/month: Unlimited team, advanced features, white-label portals.
The ROI calculation for copywriters
- Rate visibility: Identifying clients who don't pay well for your time supports rate renegotiation worth hundreds monthly
- Expanding work evidence: Time data supports conversations when retainer work expands beyond what was agreed
- Invoice accuracy: Reduces billing disputes and supports payment follow-up
Time tracking ROI comes through better rate decisions rather than just saved time. One successful rate negotiation or scope adjustment backed by time data can pay for months of subscription.
Why Plutio is the best time tracking for copywriters
Toggl knows you worked 6 hours today but has no idea which client those hours belong to or whether you've been paid for them. Plutio ties every logged minute to the deliverable, the client, and the invoice it feeds -- so tracked time becomes billing data, not just a number in a spreadsheet.
Deliverable-connected time tracking
Every timer links to a specific deliverable. Time accumulates against that project automatically. When the copy is approved, you see total hours alongside the payment, so you know exactly what you made per hour. Start a timer from a project page and time attaches to that deliverable. Stop and start multiple times throughout research, drafting, and revision phases, and all sessions add up. When the landing page project completes, view total hours invested alongside the $1,200 payment to calculate your true hourly rate.
Earnings per client
Click on any client and see total time tracked across all their deliverables alongside total earnings. The breakdown shows you which relationships pay well and which ones take more time than they're worth. Plutio calculates effective hourly rates automatically, showing that Client A pays $120/hour while Client B pays $40/hour for your time. Comparison helps copywriters identify patterns where deliverables expand without updated contracts and renegotiate rates with clients who consume more time than expected.
Detecting work that keeps growing
When a retainer client's monthly hours trend upward without rate increases, time data makes the creep visible. Month 1: 22 hours. Month 2: 28 hours. Month 3: 35 hours. Same rate. Time tracking provides the evidence for scope discussions that gut feeling alone cannot support. Sharing a report showing monthly hour increases alongside a flat retainer rate creates an objective starting point for the conversation.
Invoice from tracked time
For hourly work, convert tracked time to invoice line items with one click. Details populate automatically... no re-entering hours in a separate billing system. For retainer clients, monthly time summaries can attach to invoices as backup documentation that shows exactly how hours were allocated across different deliverables.
Mobile and browser tracking
Track time from iOS, Android, or browser extension. Start timers anywhere without switching to the main app.
Activity categorization
Tag time as research, drafting, editing, or revision. See where hours actually go across the copywriting process. Discover that revision rounds consume 40% of total project time for certain clients. Knowing exactly where time goes helps copywriters quote future projects more accurately and set client expectations about what each phase of the process involves.
Every tracked hour shows what you're earning. See real numbers by deliverable, client, and work type... all from one platform that connects time to the work it supports.
How to set up time tracking in Plutio
Setting up time tracking in Plutio takes 15-30 minutes for initial configuration, then seconds per day to use as part of normal workflow.
Step 1: Configure activity categories (10 mins)
- Research: Brand research, competitor analysis, audience study
- Drafting: Active copywriting
- Editing: Self-editing and polishing before submission
- Revisions: Client-requested changes
- Communication: Client calls, emails, feedback review
- Admin: Invoicing, project management, other non-writing work
Step 2: Set up quick-start (5 mins)
Configure preferred starting point for timers: from project list, global timer widget, or mobile app shortcut. Starting timers directly from project pages ensures time attaches to the correct deliverable immediately.
Step 3: Install mobile and browser tools (10 mins)
Download the iOS or Android app. Install the browser extension. Both sync automatically with your main account, so time tracked from any device appears in the same unified view.
Step 4: Build the tracking habit
Start timers when beginning work on a deliverable. Stop timers when switching to different projects or taking breaks. Review weekly to check all significant work time is captured. The habit becomes automatic after 2-3 weeks of daily use. Treat the timer like a switch: work starts, timer starts; work stops, timer stops. No need to overthink categorization or note-taking in the beginning.
Common setup mistakes to avoid
- Over-categorizing: Start with 5-6 activity types. Add more only when useful patterns emerge that warrant finer tracking.
- Skipping mobile: Mobile tracking captures work done away from desk.
- Batch entry only: Real-time tracking is more accurate than remembering later.
Start simple: timer on when working, timer off when stopping. Categories and analysis come after the basic habit is established.
Time tracking templates for copywriters
Time tracking templates help copywriters standardize how they categorize and analyze time for consistent data that reveals meaningful patterns.
Activity category template
- Research: Brand study, competitor review, audience analysis
- Drafting: First draft copywriting
- Self-editing: Your own revisions before submission
- Client revisions: Changes requested after submission
- Communication: Client calls, feedback review, status updates
- Admin: Invoicing, project setup, scheduling
Weekly review template
- Total hours tracked this week
- Breakdown by client
- Breakdown by activity type
- Revision hours as percentage of total
- Any missed tracking to add
Monthly earnings template
- Total hours by client
- Total earnings by client
- Effective hourly rate by client
- Comparison to your target rate
- Clients below target (flag for scope discussion)
Expanding work detection template
- Monthly hours per retainer client (3-month trend)
- Hours increasing without rate increase?
- Revision rounds per deliverable (average)
- Clients exceeding revision limits
Templates create consistent analysis that reveals patterns over time. Standard categories and regular review build the dataset that informs rate decisions and scope discussions.
Client portals for copywriters: share time tracking with clients
Client portals provide clients a branded destination to view time logged against their work, supporting transparency and billing verification.
Time visibility for hourly work
For hourly or retainer arrangements, clients can see time logged against their deliverables. Transparency reduces billing disputes and supports trust in the relationship. Because Plutio portals run on your own custom domain with your logo, fonts, and colors - and absolutely no third-party branding visible - time reports feel like they come from your own system. Clients never see another company's name when reviewing hours you tracked for their project.
Project progress context
Time data provides clients context on project progress. Combined with status updates, they can see that a deliverable is 60% through estimated hours rather than just "in progress."
Configurable visibility
Control what clients see: full time details, summary only, or no time visibility. Different relationships may warrant different transparency levels. Per-project clients may not need time visibility while retainer clients benefit from seeing how their monthly hours are allocated across different deliverable types.
Invoice backup
When invoices include time-based line items, clients can verify against portal-visible time records. Reduces billing questions and speeds payment approval because clients can confirm the work backing each invoice line item before processing payment.
Portal time visibility builds trust through transparency. Clients see the work backing invoices, reducing disputes and supporting professional relationships.
How to migrate time tracking to Plutio
Migrating time tracking from Toggl, Harvest, or another tool takes 30-60 minutes of configuration, with historical data optionally exported for reference.
Step 1: Export historical data
Export time records from current tool in CSV format. Documentation serves as a reference archive for historical rate analysis rather than an import target.
Step 2: Configure Plutio time tracking (20 mins)
- Create activity categories matching your workflow
- Set up quick-start preferences
- Configure mobile and browser tools
Step 3: Start fresh tracking
Begin tracking in Plutio from a clean date. New time logs connect to Plutio projects and feed invoicing directly. Starting fresh with connected data gives cleaner reports than importing historical records from a disconnected timer.
Step 4: Link to existing projects
For current in-progress work, create project records and begin tracking against them immediately.
What about historical time data?
Historical time data typically doesn't need to import. Keep exports as reference. New analysis of what you're earning builds on fresh, connected data. After 30 days of project-linked tracking, the reports become meaningful enough to inform real business decisions about pricing and client selection.
Parallel operation
You may run both tools briefly for comfort. But connected tracking in Plutio provides value that isolated time logs don't, so switching fully makes the benefits available immediately.
Within 30 days of project-linked tracking, you see actual hourly rates per client and per deliverable type. Real rate data turns pricing conversations from gut feeling into evidence-backed discussions that clients take seriously.
