TLDR (Summary)
The best time tracking software for developers is Plutio ($19/month).
Standalone timers track hours but don't connect to projects or billing. Plutio time tracking links to tasks, clients, and automatic invoicing... so tracked hours become accurate bills without manual reconciliation.
Developers get project timers, task-level tracking, revenue reports, and automatic invoice generation. See which projects and clients are most profitable.
Developers using connected time tracking recover unbilled through automatic project and task linking.
For additional strategies, read our freelance time tracking guide.
What is time tracking software for developers?
time tracking software for developers is software that logs billable hours, connects time to projects and tasks, tracks against budgets, and converts to invoices.
The distinction matters: stopwatch apps measure duration, spreadsheets store data, but time tracking software manages the entire capture-to-billing workflow. Developer-focused time tracking handles the context that makes logged hours billable.
What developer time tracking actually does
Core functions include starting/stopping timers for active work, logging time with descriptions that explain what was done, associating time with projects and tasks, tracking hours against budgets, and converting tracked time directly to invoice line items.
Basic tracking vs connected tracking
time tracking software and a time tracker track time but require manual export and recreation when invoicing. Connected platforms like Plutio link time to the projects and clients that give context, supporting direct invoice generation without data transformation.
What makes developer time tracking different
Development work spans multiple projects daily, often with context that matters for billing: which feature, what type of work, whether it is billable or internal. Time tracking for developers must capture this context without adding admin work to every entry.
When time tracking connects to projects and invoicing, the billing process handles itself. Logged hours become revenue without the reconciliation that normally makes billing tedious.
Why developers need time tracking software
Developers billing for their time lose significant revenue when tracking is incomplete or disconnected from billing.
The revenue leakage problem
Developers who track time from memory at the end of the day or week miss hours. Research suggests 10-20% lost to reconstruction errors. At $100+/hour, incomplete tracking costs thousands monthly.
The budget visibility problem
How many hours remain in this fixed-bid project? Is the retainer client approaching their monthly limit? Without real-time budget tracking, projects run over before anyone notices. Connected time tracking provides visibility before problems develop.
The billing accuracy problem
Clients expect invoices to reflect actual work performed. Vague time entries ("development work - 8 hours") raise questions. Detailed tracking that documents what was done supports every line item with verifiable context.
The revenue analysis problem
Which clients are profitable? Which project types take longer than estimated? Without time data connected to revenue, these questions cannot be answered. Time tracking supports analysis that improves future pricing and estimation.
The contractor coordination problem
Developers working with contractors need visibility into their time. Without shared tracking, contractor hours are black boxes until invoices arrive.
Time tracking captures the revenue developers earn. Connected tracking that flows to invoicing keeps all billable work becomes actual revenue.
Time tracking features developers need
The essential time tracking features for developers capture every billable hour while connecting to the invoice workflow that generates revenue.
Core time tracking features
- One-click timers: Start/stop timers from tasks with single click.
- Manual entry: Log time after the fact with descriptions.
- Project association: Link time entries to specific projects and clients.
- Task-level tracking: Log time against specific tasks for granular visibility.
- Running timer visibility: See active timer from anywhere in the platform.
- Descriptions: Document what was done for billing transparency.
Developer-specific features
- Multiple rate support: Different rates for different clients or work types.
- Budget tracking: See hours used against project or retainer limits.
- Billable/non-billable: Mark entries as billable or internal.
- Rounding options: Round to nearest increment for billing.
Platform features that multiply value
- Time-to-invoice conversion: Select entries and generate invoice line items.
- Reports: Daily, weekly, or client-based time reports.
- Team visibility: See contractor time on shared projects.
- Mobile tracking: Log time from phone when away from desk.
The deciding factor for developers is invoicing connection. Time tracking that converts directly to billing eliminates the gap where revenue typically leaks.
time tracking software pricing for developers
time tracking software for developers typically costs $0-15 per user/month for separate tools, with integrated platforms providing complete functionality at $19-199/month.
What developers typically pay for stacked tools
- Time tracking: time tracking software (free-$18/user), standalone timers ($12/user), a time tracker (free-$12/user)
- Project management: Jira ($7.75/user), a project app ($8-16/seat)
- Invoicing: Standard billing software ($17-55/month), accounting software ($30-200/month)
- CRM: a CRM (free-$45/month), Pipedrive ($14.90-99/month)
Combined, disconnected tools cost $50-100/month with manual data transfer between tracking and billing.
Plutio pricing (January 2026)
- Core: $19/month: Time tracking plus projects, invoicing, proposals, contracts, and client portals.
- Pro: $49/month: Unlimited clients, team features, advanced permissions.
- Max: $199/month: Unlimited team, advanced reporting, white-label portals.
The ROI calculation for developers
- Revenue recovery: Capturing 15-25% more billable time at $100+/hour = significant monthly revenue
- Budget protection: Real-time visibility prevents project overruns
- Billing efficiency: Time-to-invoice conversion saves hours monthly
Time tracking ROI is straightforward: recovered revenue far exceeds subscription cost. Every missed hour costs more than a month of software.
Why Plutio is the best time tracking software for developers
Plutio handles time tracking as part of a complete platform where timers, project budgets, task associations, and invoicing connect rather than requiring manual export and data transformation between separate tools.
One-click timers from tasks
Start timing directly from any task with a single click. The timer runs visibly while you work, capturing the exact duration without requiring manual entry. Stop the timer when you finish and the entry automatically links to that task, project, and client. No copying task names into a separate time tracking app. No remembering to start your timer in a different tool. The timer lives where the work lives.
Automatic project and client connection
Every time entry automatically connects to its project and client. Track time on a client's feature development task and the hours appear in that project's time totals and the client's overall time reports. No manual tagging required. The connections exist because the tasks exist within projects that belong to clients. The automatic linking enables accurate revenue analysis without additional configuration.
Real-time budget tracking
Set hour budgets on projects and watch progress as time is logged. The budget display updates immediately when anyone tracks time. See exactly how many hours remain before reaching limits. For retainer clients with monthly hour allocations, track usage against their cap. Get visibility into budget status before projects run over instead of discovering overages at invoicing time.
Time-to-invoice conversion
Select billable time entries and convert them to invoice line items with one click. Descriptions, hours, and rates transfer automatically. The invoice shows exactly what was done and how long it took. No manual reconciliation between time tracking exports and invoicing software. The time you tracked becomes the invoice you send without data transformation steps where errors typically occur.
Multiple billing rates
Configure different hourly rates per client, project, or work type. Time entries calculate correct values automatically based on these rate configurations. A client paying $150/hour for architecture work and $100/hour for setup gets correctly calculated invoices without manual rate lookup for each entry. Rate consistency happens automatically.
Billable vs non-billable separation
Mark entries as billable client work or internal non-billable time. Reports separate both types clearly. See how much time goes to revenue-generating work versus internal operations. Billable vs non-billable separation helps improve time allocation and identify when administrative overhead grows too large relative to billable work.
Detailed time reports
Generate reports by day, week, project, client, or team member. See where time actually goes versus where you thought it went. Identify which clients consume more time than their revenue justifies. Spot projects trending over budget while there's still time to course-correct. Reports transform raw time data into specific business intelligence.
Team and contractor time visibility
Add contractors with time tracking access to shared projects. See their logged hours alongside your own. Set permissions to control what contractors can view. No black-box contractor time that surprises you at invoicing. Team-wide time visibility enables accurate project status assessment and coordinated delivery.
Mobile time tracking
iOS and Android apps provide full timer functionality. Start and stop timers from your phone when working away from your desk. Log time entries manually while commuting. Review tracked time and running timers from anywhere. Mobile access keeps no billable time gets lost because you were not at your computer.
Client portal time visibility
Configure what time information clients see through their portals. Options range from summary views showing total hours used to detailed breakdowns of every entry. Retainer clients can see their remaining monthly hours without asking. Budget transparency builds trust and reduces status inquiry messages that interrupt development work.
Rounding configuration
Set rounding increments (6 minutes, 15 minutes, etc.) and methods (up, down, nearest) that match your billing practices. Rounding applies automatically to entries for invoicing while preserving exact times for internal tracking. Maintain billing consistency without manual time adjustments on each entry.
Everything connects automatically. Start a timer from a task and the resulting invoice line item includes the task description, calculated at the correct rate for that client, attached to a project with budget visibility. Time tracking becomes a workflow step rather than a separate tool requiring data export and import.
How to set up time tracking in Plutio
Setting up time tracking in Plutio takes 15-30 minutes, with Plutio ready for immediate use after basic configuration.
Step 1: Configure billing rates (10 mins)
- Set default hourly rate for your work
- Configure client-specific rates as needed
- Set project rates that override defaults
Step 2: Set rounding preferences (5 mins)
- Choose rounding increment (6 minutes, 15 minutes, etc.)
- Set whether to round up, down, or nearest
- Decide if rounding applies globally or per client
Step 3: Configure billable defaults (5 mins)
- Set whether new entries default to billable or non-billable
- Configure project-level billable settings
Step 4: Set up project budgets (10 mins)
- Enter budget limits for fixed-bid projects
- Configure retainer hour limits
- Set alert thresholds for budget warnings
Step 5: Build the habit
Time tracking requires consistent practice. Keep the timer visible. Log time immediately rather than later. Review entries daily until capturing becomes automatic.
Common setup mistakes to avoid
- Skipping rate configuration: Set rates before tracking to avoid per-entry configuration
- Overcomplicating: Start with simple tracking, add complexity as patterns emerge
- Ignoring budgets: Configure budgets for visibility that prevents overruns
Time tracking value grows with consistent use. The setup investment pays back through every captured hour that becomes billable revenue.
Time tracking templates for developers
Time tracking patterns help developers capture hours consistently while maintaining context for accurate billing.
Daily tracking workflow
- Start timer: Begin timer when starting each task
- Add descriptions: Note what specifically was done
- End of day review: Check entries for completeness before closing
- Categorize: make sure billable/non-billable is correct
Project structure for tracking
- Client projects: Separate projects per client for easy invoicing
- Task categories: Development, meetings, communication, planning
- Milestone tracking: Associate time with project phases
Common time categories for developers
- Development: Actual coding and setup
- Code review: Reviewing own or others' code
- Testing: Manual or automated testing
- Debugging: Issue investigation and fixing
- Documentation: Writing docs and comments
- Meetings: Client calls, standups, planning
- Research: Learning needed for project
Description proven methods
Write descriptions that clients understand: "Implemented user authentication with email/password" rather than "worked on auth". Specific descriptions support billing and serve as project documentation.
Consistent patterns make tracking automatic. Well-structured tracking keeps accurate billing while building documentation of work performed.
Client portals for developers: time visibility for clients
Client portals give development clients visibility into time tracked against their projects, supporting transparency and trust.
What clients see
Configure what time information clients access. Options range from summary only (total hours used) to full detail (every entry with descriptions). Choose the transparency level appropriate for each relationship.
Budget visibility
For retainer clients, show remaining hours in their monthly allocation. Clients see when they are approaching limits without requiring manual updates.
Invoice context
When invoices show time-based charges, portal access to underlying time data supports the billing. Clients can verify hours billed without requesting separate reports.
Trust building
Time transparency demonstrates accountability. Clients who see where hours go trust that billing is accurate. Transparency supports long-term relationships and referrals.
Reduced inquiries
When clients can check time usage themselves, they ask fewer questions about billing. Self-service access reduces the status inquiries that interrupt development work.
Time visibility through portals builds trust while reducing administrative burden. Clients get transparency while developers focus on the work that generates value.
How to migrate time tracking to Plutio
Migration from another time tracking software typically takes 3-5 hours of active work spread over a weekend, with the best time to switch being between projects rather than mid-delivery when you have active clients commitments.
Step 1: Export from your current tool
Most time tracking software provides CSV export for clients data and document archives. Here's what to export from common tools:
- time tracking software: Export clients and projects data from Settings or Reports. Download important documents manually.
- standalone timers: Export contacts and history from Reports section. Download transaction history for reference.
- a time tracker: Export clients list and projects data. Use the data export feature for complete records.
Step 2: Build templates in Plutio (2-3 hours)
Use your exported content as reference to create new templates. Start with the project type you use most frequently. Recreate 2-3 core templates initially rather than trying to migrate every document you've ever created. Focus on forward-looking workflows, not historical archives.
Step 3: Set up integrations (30 mins)
Connect payment processing (Stripe, PayPal), calendar sync (Google Calendar, Outlook), and accounting software (accounting software, Leading bookkeeping tools). Test each integration with a sample transaction to make sure data flows correctly before relying on it for real clients work.
Step 4: Import clients data (30 mins)
Upload your clients CSV to Plutio. Map fields appropriately (name, email, company, phone, address). For active clients with ongoing projects, create their records. For historical clients you may never work with again, consider whether import is necessary.
Step 5: Run parallel for new work
Use Plutio for all new clients engagements while keeping the old system active for projects already in progress. Running parallel avoids the complexity of migrating mid-project work and gives you time to learn the new system on fresh projects. As active projects on the old system complete, those clients transition to Plutio for future work.
Step 6: Phase out the old tool
Once all active projects on your old system complete (typically 30-60 days), cancel that subscription. Maintain read-only access to historical records if the tool allows, or export final archives before cancellation.
Common migration pitfalls to avoid
- Trying to migrate everything: Focus on active clients and forward-looking workflows. Historical data can remain in archives.
- Switching mid-project: Finish in-progress work on the old system. Start new clients on Plutio.
- Not testing integrations: Verify payment processing works with a real (small) transaction before relying on it.
- Skipping the learning curve: Use the first 2-3 projects as deliberate learning opportunities.
The investment in migration pays back in time saved on every future project, proposal, and clients interaction. Plan for a weekend of setup and a few weeks of adjustment, then benefit from simplified workflows going forward.
