The 11 Top Time Tracking Apps for Mac

Mac time tracking apps are much more than basic timers. They’re powerful business apps that help you get more done and make more money.

Small businesses, freelancers, and consultants use these apps to track the time by project and client. This makes billing more accurate and saves precious time. Most good time trackers can automate invoicing, streamline payroll, make administrative work easier, and help you manage finances.

There are a lot of options — and some are better than others. Which one is right for you?

We collected the 11 best time tracking apps for Mac to help you find exactly what you need.

Table of contents

1. Hubstaff
2. Timely
3. Tyme
4. Timing
5. Klokki
6. Workpuls
7. Time Sink
8. Timelime
9. Caato Time Tracker
10. Klok
11. Fanurio

1. Hubstaff

Hubstaff’s Mac time tracker app is a powerful tool that helps your team track time by task or client so you can track time spent on each project.

It only takes one click to start and stop the timer, but that means you can still forget. Luckily, you can set up automated reminders and idle timeout for more accurate time keeping on your Mac.

You can also see reporting data in real time from a central dashboard. Set project budgets so you get an alert when your team is approaching the hours or budget limit. Dig into time reports and export them as Excel or CSV files.

Advanced Features

Detailed time tracking data makes it easier to manage client work. When you and your team track time to a client’s project, you can automatically generate and deploy invoices right from the dashboard.

You can strengthen Hubstaff through powerful payroll integrations with Gusto, PayPal, and more. When your team tracks hours, the app automatically fills out accurate timesheets for your approval. An integration takes that feature further by automatically sending payment information to your existing software so you can automate payroll.

With Hubstaff Desk, you’ll have the proof of work features for managing remote teams including optional screenshots, and the ability to see what websites and apps were used while working on a Mac. Activity rates are calculated based on how frequently employees use their keyboard and mouse while the Mac desktop timer is running.

What makes it different

What sets Hubstaff apart is its versatility and advanced features that can cut down on admin time. Whether you manage in-office, remote, or field teams, Hubstaff has a winning combination of features like:

• Automated time tracking
• Invoicing and payroll
• Expense tracking
• Time off requests
• Timesheet approvals
• Idle detection
• Billable hours
• Calendar integration 
• Rule-based time tracking
• Time management 
• Unlimited projects

Who it’s for

Hubstaff tracks more than just your work hours. It’s easy to use, but it’s wide range of features make it a popular choice amongst business owners, managers, remote team members, and anyone working on a computer.

With a versatile dashboard, Hubstaff gives managers a clear view of how their team is performing — but employees can see all of this information, too. They can set goals, see project progress, and have time tracking data at their disposal when seeking a raise or promotion.

What users have to say about it

“We have used Hubstaff for 4 years to track our remote staff and have no reason to change to another provider. It is well established in our business processes and we upgrade plans as we add more team members. Onboarding new team members is very, very smooth.”Michael G.

Information Technology and Services (GetApp)

“We are very satisfied with the overall product. The customer service is very prompt and friendly. That’s the best part of it. The interface is also beautifully designed.”Shaan R.

Information Technology and Services (GetApp)

Pricing

Hubstaff offers a free plan that’s limited to a single user. Paid plans include:

• Hubstaff Desk – Starter $7 per user per month, Pro $10 per user per month, and Enterprise (Contact for customized plan)
• Hubstaff Time – Starter $7 per user per month, Pro $10 per user per month, and Enterprise (Contact for customized plan)

You can also combine Desk & Field for a plan that covers in-office and field teams.

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2. Timely

Timely tracks your time automatically and then generates timesheets based on time entries. Like Hubstaff, you can set budgets for each of your projects. Timely will notify you when you’re at risk of going over.

Timely’s dashboard allows you to keep an eye on employee work hours, overtime, and costs. You can assign tasks and reallocate resources using a drag-and-drop interface.

The calendar view provides visual insight into your time usage. Each project is color-coded, so you can easily see what you’re working on each day, week, or month.

Basic Features

• Automatic time tracking
• Resource planning
• Team calendar
• Reports
• Calendar Integration

What makes it different

What sets Timely apart is simple time tracking software combined with more privacy. Users can decide what data is available to their employer. This is a good feature for teams that ask their employees to use their personal equipment. With Timely, they’ll feel more in control and comfortable with what they’re sharing.

Who it’s for

Timely’s stance against employee monitoring means it lacks proof of work features you might find from other tools on this list. Still, teams only looking to track hours and costs will love this app. Color-coded calendars, resource planning, and reporting features make it easy to visualize tracked hours and give users a clear picture of their day.

What users have to say about it

“We are using this for internal meetings and we are receiving great output. Cost-effective, easy to implement, manage, and reporting is great. Available on all platforms.”Navjot S.

Information Technology and Services (GetApp)

“Timely has a bit of a steep learning curve. You have to learn the UI & its feature set simply by exploring & sticking to the app before you can make use of its extensive feature set in a productive way. More help in getting people up to speed would be a nice addition.”Sven E.

Information Technology and Services (GetApp)

Pricing

Timely has a free 14-day trial you can use to test out the software. Paid plans include:

• Starter ($10/user/month)
• Premium ($18/user/month)
• Unlimited ($26/user/month)
• Unlimited+ (custom pricing)

3. Tyme

Tyme’s sleek, futuristic interface is beautiful and easy to use. Once you’re in, almost every action has a corresponding hotkey. In theory, you’d never have to touch your mouse to track time.

Tyme’s dashboard gives you an overview of your current clients and your most recent entries for each. Being able to get a bird’s-eye view of your work is definitely handy, but things can start to feel cluttered if you have more than two projects going at once.

Features

• Time tracking
• Can be exported as timesheets
• Workload overview
• Light and dark mode
• Reminders
• Calendar Integration

What makes it different

Tyme has a convenient feature that you won’t see on many other apps. You can set up a custom keyboard shortcut to launch the app with a single button. While it doesn’t run automatically, this feature is very convenient for people who want to make time tracking as simple as possible.

In addition to tracking time, you can also use Tyme to keep track of your mileage and business expenses.

Who it’s for

If you always forget to track your time, you’ll appreciate Tyme’s reminder feature. Simple time tracking, compatibility with multiple devices, and a mileage tracker for visiting clients make it great for freelancers.

What users have to say about it

“Solid and Gorgeous”Clearly well made and reliable the first time you put it to work. The sync is exceptional and the UI is really easy to work with let alone gorgeous.”

Kbizz12, Apple App Store

“VERY disappointing. NOT worth a subscription.”This app is not Toggl, and as a result, should be priced as such. I liked an earlier version because Tyme 2 was a one-time payment option, but now, with the change in payment structure, I can’t justify purchasing the new app. I’ll just switch to the superior app, Toggl, if I have to pay month-to-month. This is a VERY disappointing development.”

Ironic Middle Manager, Apple App Store

Pricing

• ​​Individual ($3.99/month)
• Team ($3.99/user/month)

4. Timing

Timing is automatic time tracking that runs in the background on your Mac. With Timing, you can make sure billable hours are tracked properly by dragging and dropping your activity into the right project. This goes for phone calls, calendar events, time spent on apps and websites, and more.

Timing also allows you to assign time to projects manually. You can then review the time entries in each category to learn how much time you spent on a specific task.

Features

• Automatic time tracking
• Activity tracking
• Document-based tracking
• Detailed reporting
• Call tracking

What makes it different

Unlike most of the other options on this list, Timing can learn your organization habits and organize your work for you. Start by dragging tasks into different folders. You no longer have to start and stop a timer; all of your activity is tracked and collected. This cuts down on admin time and helps you focus on completing your actual work — not wasting time organizing it.

Who it’s for

This is a good app for individuals or teams with a few employees that are looking to streamline billable hours tracking. It’s also good for teams who work across computers, mobile devices, and offline as you can add manual time entries and track activity on your Mac and other devices. It’s not our favorite for managing larger teams because you won’t have proof of work features to ensure work is completed on time.

What users have to say about it

“I do find it takes a good amount of time to set up the automation rules necessary to get the most value out of the product. I also must dedicate 20-30 min a week to review my time, group into tasks, and ensure things are accurate.”James B.

Computer Software

“Timing is like Screen Time that was introduced in iOS 12. I wonder if it will eventually be Sherlocked but for now, it is probably one of the best tools there is to help you understand what you are really spending the most time on your Mac. I hope that there will be better tracking that can be based on the contents of what you are working on in time to come.”Alfred L.

Tech Lead

Pricing

Timing offers a free 14-day trial you can use to see if it’s the right fit for you. Paid plans include:

• Professional ($8.40/user/month)
• Expert ($11.40/user/month)
• Connect ($16.90/user/month)

5. Klokki

Klokki allows you to track time automatically without having to start or stop a timer. To do this, just create rules for specific tasks and Klokki will take care of the rest.

The app can detect idle time and make sure it’s not included in your reports. This is helpful if you’re the type that forgets to stop the timer when you step away.

If you ever decide to switch over to a different app, Klokki gives you the option of exporting all your data in the form of a CSV file.

Features

• Rule-based time tracking
• Idle time detection
• Detailed reports
• Billable hours tracking

What makes it different

With other trackers, you have to select a task, start the timer, and track time. With Klokki, the timer starts as soon as you start working based on your rules.

When you create your to-do list for the week, you can drag files directly into Klokki. When you open them to begin working on them, you won’t have to remember to start your timer or change tasks — it’ll automatically start tracking for you.

Who it’s for

If you’re a freelancer or contractor, this is a good app to help you with tracking and billing. You can define hourly rates for your billable tasks and projects, making it easier to invoice clients.

What users have to say about it

“This was giving me exactly what I needed with project organization with my ADD. However, out of the blue, it stopped working. It stopped showing the clock moving. It started to crash whenever I would try to view reports. I tried to uninstall and reinstall, delete/archive things. Nothing.”Pkatai, Apple App Store

“Perfect! For me at least.

This is the best time tracking app I’ve found so far. It strikes the perfect balance of simple, and powerful. I’ve tried a number of different apps to track my time, and this is the one for me. Grateful this app exists!”Thisbinarylife, Apple App Store

Pricing

You can buy Klokki for a one-time fee of $30.

6. Workpuls

Workpuls is an employee monitoring solution that allows you to track which apps or websites you and your employees use. It can automatically map time to tasks and projects to eliminate manual time tracking errors. If you forget to start tracking, you can add time entries manually. You can also track paid or unpaid breaks and time off to get a complete picture of the workday.

Workpuls can also take screenshots at regular intervals. Other useful features include project budgets and forecasts.

Features

• Computer activity tracking
• Time tracking
• Scheduling and attendance
• Project budgeting
• Automatic time mapping

What makes it different

Workpuls has impressive proof of work features, but some might say they take the concept a little too far. The optional “stealth mode” allows you to monitor employees without the app appearing on their screen.

In stealth mode, users cannot see their own activity — but that’s not even the worst part. Micromanagers can monitor their employees’ every move without them ever knowing.

Who it’s for

This is a good choice for companies with remote employees and larger teams that work set schedules. It’s also convenient if your team works on many projects since they don’t have to remember to switch the timer.

What users have to say about it

“Very good. It lacks a few features but they price they advertise is the price you pay. No hidden cost written in size 2 font. Support was quick to reply. This is the service I decided to use.”Kimberly H.

Information Technology and Services

“We significantly improved our time management skills with this tool. Key to success is to have control over your time and its consumption proves again to be true.”Dimitrije I.

Marketing and Advertising

Pricing

Workpuls offers a free 7-day trial you can use to test out the software. Paid plans include:

• Employee monitoring ($8/user/month)
• Time tracking ($10/user/month)
• Automatic time mapping ($15/user/month)
• Enterprise (custom pricing)

7. Time Sink

​​Time Sink is an app created by Many Tricks that automatically tracks time spent in macOS apps so you can stay focused on your work.

With Time Sink, there’s no need to start and stop a timer. Like other tools on our list, Time Sink automatically runs in the background. That way, you can stay focused on your tasks.

Features

• Automatic time tracking
• Pools
• Reporting

What makes it different

Time Sink helps you sort your related projects into groups. You can drag- and- drop tasks that are similar to create Pools. This way, you won’t lose momentum when switching between various tasks on your to-do list.

Who it’s for

Time Sink is great for people who are trying to increase their personal productivity and finish more of their independent tasks. Unfortunately, Time Sink lacks the team management and collaboration capabilities of other tools on this list.

What users have to say about it

“My use of this app is fairly simple—I just want something to keep track of how long I spend writing in Scrivener. I don’t use Scrivener’s word count feature to track sessions, but I never remember to timestamp the beginning and end of each session. Having Time Sink do this automatically is absolutely what I needed, and it also shows me how long I’ve been goofing off on the Internet instead of working. Thanks guys!”Dr.shoeshine, Apple App Store

“I mostly work within browsers and the app tracks only time spent per window and not per tab of the browser. Same for messengers, you can spend time communicating because of work or for fun – app doesn’t allow you to justify which chats took most of your time.”Hjcnbr_off, Apple App Store

Pricing

You can download Time Sink for a one-time fee of $5. This also includes free updates for a year.

8. Timelime

Timelime’s biggest benefit is its simplicity and affordability. The free time tracking app is great at showing you how you allocate your time on independent tasks. You’ll have access to basic time tracking, a calendar view, and task grouping features.

All the Features

• Time tracking app
• Time rounding
• Charts
• Calendar view
• Task grouping
• Dropbox synch
• Free plan

What makes it different

Timelime’s visualized charts make it easy to see hours broken down throughout the workday. The app is more lightweight than some of the others listed, which benefits those who just want a simple tracker.

Who it’s for

Timelime is great for freelancers, independent contractors, and even students who want to track how they’re spending their time. If you’re looking for collaboration and project management features, it’s probably best to go with a different tool on this list.

What users have to say about it

“It could be easier and more user-friendly, but this is the best NON SUBSCRIPTION BASED work timer app you can get for your mac. the most complete and the most professional that will keep your job needs as you want.”
A.Kinng, Apple App Store

Pricing

Timelime is free time tracker for both macOS and mobile. However, there are in-app upgrades that will cost you.

9. Caato Time Tracker

Caato’s time tracker is intuitive and reliable at an affordable price. You’ll have access to basic automattime tracking for free, but you’ll have to upgrade to the Pro version to manage multiple projects.

A clean interface makes it easy to sort by date and pull Excel and CSV reports. Manual edits help you fix time tracking errors. If you lose any data, great customer support and an Auto-Backup feature can help with data recovery.

Features

• Time tracking
• Status bar
• Manual time edits
• Exporting data
• Tracking multiple projects (Pro version)

What makes it different

Caato is pretty basic, but it’s been praised in App Store reviews for this user-friendly approach to time tracking. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to automate timesheet creations with integrations like you can with other apps.

Who it’s for

Caato’s simplicity makes it extremely valuable for designers, consultants, developers and others who need to keep track of their billable hours.

Having to pay to manage multiple projects makes it less enticing to larger teams, especially when apps have more robust reporting and project management features.

What users have to say about it

“I’ve been looking for a replacement for a freelance hourly time keeper I’ve been using since the 90s. That still works, but is 32-bit and won’t be useable for much longer with Apple’s relentless march towards 64-bit. That program’s developer has retired or gone out of business. After researching a number of time keepers, I’ve started up new projects with Caato’s Time Tracker Pro version, and have been using it for a few days now. It’s really easy to use and is unobtrusive. It fills most of the functions I need, but I do have a couple wish-list items.”Lorem ipsum forever, Apple App Store

Pricing

Caato is free, but you will need to make an in-app purchase and upgrade to the Pro version to manage multiple projects.

10. Klok

Klok tracks time across tasks and projects and gives you a visual overview of how you spend your workweek. Track the time you spend on the phone, answering emails, or making sales calls. You can then use this information to generate detailed timesheets and invoices that you can export to spreadsheets.

Features

• Time tracking
• Timesheets
• Invoices

What makes it different

Klok works from a downloaded console. Unlike other time tracking tools, it has a click-and-drag time entry method that lets you place time entries directly into your calendar. You can even import meetings from your calendar app and add those to your timesheets, as well.

Who it’s for

This is a good app for solo entrepreneurs and small startup teams. If you work with temporary contractors or freelancers, Klok might not be a good fit. Each user will need an individual license and you’ll need to upgrade to Pro just to track time to the same projects.

What users have to say about it

“Klok offers both a Free and Pro version. But with the Pro version at only $19.99, it is well worth the price to be able to sync your projects with Google Calendar, one of the many features only available in the Pro version.”Brighthub.com

Pricing

Klok offers a limited version of its software that you can use for free. You can purchase the full version for a one-time fee of $19.99. Each new user needs a full license, but there are discounts if you purchase a multi-pack of 3 or more. Klok’s team console is $99.99 for a single license.

11. Fanurio

Fanurio is a very Mac-friendly app. It’s flexible when it comes to logging work — you can bill tasks in units or hours, add expenses, and log work trips. If you want to use Fanurio as a work timer, you can start and stop the timer in the app. For more convenience, use the drop-down in your menu bar or the icon in your dock icon menu.

The Fanurio badge in your dock icon menu will display how much time has elapsed since you started working. This keeps the tracker out of your way but visible so you can easily see how much time you’ve logged.

Features

• Time tracking
• Task and project management
• Expense tracking
• Invoicing

What makes it different

Fanurio can remind you to start, pause, or stop the timer based on your work patterns. If you’re on the move, you can use the trips feature to record distance and time traveled.

Who it’s for

Fanurio is a budget-friendly time tracking app for freelancers and small teams. Unfortunately, Fanurio is less convenient for larger teams.

$89 per user isn’t too bad if you could pay month-to-month. Unfortunately, you’re forced into paying for the full year. This can be frustrating for teams that have seasonal and freelance workers on their payroll.

What users have to say about it

“Fanurio is a time tracking and billing software application, highly appreciated by freelancers for its intuitive interface, flexible timer and ability to produce detailed invoices.”Accuratereviews.com

“I use Fanurio at work, and it’s one of the best products we use every day. It works very well especially keeping track of our work-related travels.”Philippe, Accuratereviews.com

Pricing

Fanurio offers two versions of its software:

• Standalone ($59)
• Server ($89 per user annually)

You can also purchase maintenance plans and other upgrades as needed.

Mac time tracking app reviews summary

Software	Features	Pricing
Hubstaff	Time tracking Timesheets Productivity tracking Geofencing Payroll management Invoicing GPS tracking Project budgeting Employee scheduling Detailed reports	Free plan Starter: $7 per user/month Premium: $10 per user/month Enterprise: Custom pricing
Timely	Automatic time tracking Resource planning Team calendar Reports	Starter: $10 per user/month Premium: $18 per user/month Unlimited: $26 per user/month Unlimited+: Custom pricing
Tyme	Time tracking Can be exported as timesheets Workload overview Light and dark mode Reminders Detailed reports	Individual: $3.99/month Team: $3.99 per user/month
Timing	Automatic time tracking Activity tracking Document-based tracking Detailed reporting	Professional: $8.40 per user/month Expert: $11.40 per user/month Connect: $16.90 per user/month
Klokki	Rule-based time tracking Idle time detection Detailed reports Billable hours tracking	$30 one-time fee
Workpuls	Computer activity tracking Time tracking Scheduling and attendance Project budgeting Automatic time mapping	Employee Monitoring: $8 per user/month Time Tracking: $10 per user/month Automatic Time Mapping: $15 per user/month Enterprise: Custom pricing
Time Sink	Automatic time tracking Pools Reporting	$5 one-time fee (includes free updates for 1 year)
Timelime	Time tracking Time rounding Charts Calendar view Task grouping Dropbox synch	Free (but includes in-app paid upgrades)
Caato Time Tracker	Time tracking Status bar Manual time edits Reporting Tracking multiple projects (Pro version)	Free (requires Pro version to manage multiple projects)
Klok	Time tracking Timesheets Invoices	Free Single user Klok Pro: $19.99 Klokwork Team Console: $99.99
Fanurio	Time tracking Task and project management Expense tracking Invoicing	Standalone: $59 Server: $89 per user annually

This post was originally published in January 2017. It was updated in February 2020, March 2021, January 2022, and again in September 2023.