Best Time Tracking Software for Remote Teams

Managing a remote team without visibility into how time is spent is like flying blind. Time tracking software has become essential infrastructure for distributed teams, enabling accurate billing, fair compensation, productivity insights, and accountability without micromanagement.

The best time tracking tools for remote teams go beyond simple timers. They integrate with project management, automate payroll, provide productivity metrics, and work seamlessly across time zones. We’ve evaluated the leading solutions to help you find the right fit for your distributed workforce.

Top Time Tracking Software for Remote Teams

1. Hubstaff – Best for Global Distributed Teams

Hubstaff is the complete workforce management solution trusted by over 95,000 teams across 180+ countries. Built specifically for today’s flexible, global workforce, Hubstaff combines automated time tracking with productivity metrics, project management, and seamless payroll integration.

What makes Hubstaff stand out is its comprehensive approach. Rather than just tracking hours, it provides actionable insights into how work gets done. Teams can see productivity patterns, identify bottlenecks, and optimize workflows, all while maintaining the trust and autonomy that remote workers value. The automated payroll feature is particularly valuable for agencies and companies paying contractors across multiple countries.

Key Features:

• Automated time tracking with optional screenshots
• GPS location tracking for field teams
• Productivity metrics and activity levels
• Integrated project management
• Automated payroll in multiple currencies
• Detailed timesheets and reporting
• Integration with 30+ tools (Asana, Trello, Jira, etc.)
• Desktop, web, and mobile apps

Pricing: Free plan for one user. Starter at $4.99/user/month, Grow at $7.50/user/month, Team at $10/user/month.

Best For: Outsourcing agencies, virtual assistant firms, consultants, and scaling tech companies managing distributed teams across multiple time zones.

2. Toggl Track – Best for Simple Time Tracking

Toggl Track offers a clean, user-friendly interface that makes time tracking painless. Its one-click timer and intuitive design make it popular with freelancers and small teams who want simplicity without sacrificing functionality.

Key Features:

• One-click time tracking
• Browser extensions and mobile apps
• Project and client organization
• Visual reports and dashboards
• Calendar integration

Pricing: Free for up to 5 users. Starter at $9/user/month.

Best For: Freelancers and small teams wanting simple, elegant time tracking.

3. Clockify – Best Free Option

Clockify provides a genuinely free time tracking solution with unlimited users and unlimited tracking. It’s become popular with teams and freelancers who need basic time tracking without per-user costs.

Key Features:

• Unlimited free tracking
• Timesheet and calendar views
• Project time budgeting
• Team scheduling
• Basic reporting

Pricing: Free forever plan. Pro at $7.99/user/month for advanced features.

Best For: Budget-conscious teams needing basic time tracking.

4. Time Doctor – Best for Detailed Monitoring

Time Doctor provides comprehensive employee monitoring with screenshots, website tracking, and detailed productivity reports. It’s designed for organizations that need granular visibility into how work time is spent.

Key Features:

• Automatic screenshots
• Website and app usage tracking
• Distraction alerts
• Payroll integration
• Client login access

Pricing: Basic at $7/user/month, Standard at $10/user/month.

Best For: Companies requiring detailed employee activity monitoring.

5. Harvest – Best for Invoicing Integration

Harvest combines time tracking with invoicing and expense tracking. It’s particularly popular with agencies and consultancies that bill clients based on tracked hours.

Key Features:

• Time tracking to invoicing workflow
• Expense tracking
• Project budgets and forecasting
• Team capacity planning
• Payment processing integration

Pricing: Free for 1 user/2 projects. Pro at $10.80/user/month.

Best For: Service businesses that invoice clients based on hours worked.

6. TimeCamp – Best for Automatic Tracking

TimeCamp uses automatic time tracking based on keywords and applications. The software runs in the background, categorizing time spent on different projects without requiring manual timer starts and stops.

Key Features:

• Automatic time capture
• Keyword-based project assignment
• Attendance tracking
• Productivity analysis
• Invoice generation

Pricing: Free for unlimited users with basic features. Starter at $3.99/user/month.

Best For: Users who forget to start timers and want automatic tracking.

7. DeskTime – Best for Productivity Analysis

DeskTime focuses on productivity analysis, automatically categorizing applications and websites as productive, unproductive, or neutral. This helps teams understand work patterns and optimize productivity.

Key Features:

• Automatic productivity tracking
• URL and app monitoring
• Project tracking
• Offline time tracking
• Pomodoro timer

Pricing: Free for 1 user. Pro at $7/user/month.

Best For: Teams wanting deep productivity insights and work pattern analysis.

8. Everhour – Best for Project Management Integration

Everhour integrates directly into project management tools like Asana, Trello, and Basecamp. Track time without leaving your existing workflow, with timers appearing right inside your project boards.

Key Features:

• Native PM tool integrations
• Budget tracking per project
• Team scheduling
• Detailed reporting
• Invoicing features

Pricing: Free for up to 5 users. Team at $8.50/user/month.

Best For: Teams heavily using Asana, Trello, or similar project tools.

9. RescueTime – Best for Personal Productivity

RescueTime runs passively in the background, tracking how you spend time on your computer. It’s designed for individuals who want to understand and improve their personal productivity patterns.

Key Features:

• Automatic background tracking
• Productivity scoring
• Focus time features
• Distraction blocking
• Weekly email reports

Pricing: Free version available. Premium at $12/month.

Best For: Individual contributors wanting personal productivity insights.

10. Paymo – Best for Small Agencies

Paymo combines project management, time tracking, and invoicing in one platform. It’s designed for small agencies and creative teams who want an all-in-one solution without enterprise complexity.

Key Features:

• Project management with Gantt charts
• Time tracking and timesheets
• Invoicing and estimates
• Resource scheduling
• Client portal

Pricing: Free for 1 user. Starter at $5.95/user/month.

Best For: Small agencies wanting project management and billing in one tool.

Time Tracking Software Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

What is time tracking software?

Time tracking software records how employees or contractors spend their work hours. Modern tools like Hubstaff go beyond simple timers to include productivity metrics, project assignment, automated payroll, and team management features, giving managers visibility while helping distributed teams stay organized and accountable.

Why do remote teams need time tracking?

Remote teams lack the natural visibility of office environments. Time tracking provides accountability without micromanagement, ensures accurate billing for client work, helps identify productivity issues before they become problems, and creates documentation for performance reviews. It also helps employees demonstrate their work to stakeholders.

How does Hubstaff handle multiple time zones?

Hubstaff is built for global teams. It automatically handles time zone conversions in reports, allows scheduling based on each team member’s local time, and processes payroll across different currencies and regions. With teams in 180+ countries using it, multi-timezone support is a core feature, not an afterthought.

Is employee monitoring legal?

Yes, in most jurisdictions, employers can monitor work devices and time during work hours with proper disclosure. Most countries require informing employees about monitoring practices. Tools like Hubstaff are transparent, employees see when tracking is active, which helps maintain trust while providing necessary oversight for distributed teams.

Do time tracking tools decrease employee trust?

Implementation matters more than the tool itself. When framed as accountability for accurate billing, productivity improvement, and fair compensation, time tracking is generally well-received. The key is transparency, employees should understand why tracking exists and how data is used. Many remote workers appreciate that tracked time proves their work value.

What’s the difference between active and passive tracking?

Active tracking requires users to start and stop timers manually. Passive tracking runs in the background, automatically logging computer activity. Hubstaff offers both, users can start timers for specific projects while the system automatically tracks activity levels and applications used during that time.

How do screenshots in time tracking work?

Optional screenshot features capture periodic images of employee screens during tracked time. Hubstaff allows configurable frequency and employees can delete sensitive screenshots. This feature is optional and works best for client billing proof or quality assurance rather than constant surveillance.

Can time tracking integrate with payroll?

Yes, tools like Hubstaff include built-in payroll features. Set hourly rates per team member, and the system automatically calculates pay based on tracked hours. Hubstaff can process payments directly via PayPal, Payoneer, or bank transfer, eliminating manual timesheet calculations and payment processing.

What reports do time tracking tools provide?

Comprehensive time tracking tools provide various reports: time by project/client, productivity trends, activity levels, attendance records, and budget vs. actual comparisons. Hubstaff offers customizable dashboards and scheduled report delivery, helping managers spot issues and demonstrate value to clients without manual data compilation.

How accurate is GPS tracking for field teams?

Modern GPS tracking in apps like Hubstaff is highly accurate, typically within a few meters. It’s valuable for field service, delivery, and sales teams where location verification matters. GPS tracking only activates during work hours and can be configured for geofencing, automatically starting/stopping tracking at job sites.

What’s the best tool for agencies billing clients?

Hubstaff excels for agencies because it combines time tracking with client-ready reports, project budgeting, and automated invoicing. You can share specific reports with clients to justify billing, set project budgets with alerts, and generate invoices based on tracked time. The multi-currency payroll also simplifies paying international contractors.

How do I get team buy-in for time tracking?

Focus on benefits for employees: accurate pay for hours worked, proof of work for recognition, and reduced administrative burden. Be transparent about what’s tracked and why. Start with basic features before enabling monitoring. Choose tools like Hubstaff that respect privacy while providing necessary oversight, and involve the team in implementation decisions.

Final Thoughts

Time tracking software has evolved from simple punch clocks to comprehensive workforce management platforms. For remote teams especially, the right tool provides the visibility needed to manage effectively while maintaining the flexibility that makes remote work attractive.

Hubstaff stands out for distributed teams because it’s built specifically for today’s global, flexible workforce. With 95,000+ teams across 180+ countries already using it, Hubstaff combines automated time tracking, productivity insights, and seamless payroll in one platform, helping teams work smarter rather than just tracking harder.

Related: Explore our guides on AI presentation tools and AI call routing software to optimize more of your business operations.