Best Agency Time Tracking Software in 2024

Agency time tracking software helps monitor and manage time, enhances project planning, and boosts overall productivity.

Join us as we explore the best tools for time tracking and their key features and benefits.

Productive is an all-in-one agency management tool.

It combines a number of powerful features that include: time tracking, project management, billing, reporting, budgeting, resource planning, sales and docs.

With Productive, you’ll gain a 360-degree view of your agency’s operations and the insights needed to make data-driven decisions.

You can track billable hours, manage budget burn, handle client billing, and get custom, detailed insights on all of the above.

Let’s explore Productive’s key features in more detail:

Time Tracking was made to be easy with Productive.

There’s a built-in time tracker that you can start from your tasks. Once you stop the timer, your time is automatically transferred to your timesheets, depicting actual hours spent working on projects.

There’s also a desktop widget if you want to stop switching through various tabs to find your timer.

Alternatively, there’s also manual entry, and you can even pin specific entries to help you create them more easily.

Project managers can differentiate between billable and non-billable time, approve entries all at once or individually, and lock timesheets for editing at a certain time to ensure data accuracy.

Finally, if you use the Resource Planning module, you can also turn on automatic time tracking, which automatically creates time entries that match your resource bookings.

Productive also has a Google Calendar integration, which can be used to turn calendar events into time entries that are associated with particular clients.

Productive also includes integrated Time Off Management. You can assign various categories of time off across specific employees or departments and handle requests through the platform.

Employees can also get an overview of all their time off categories and allocated days used vs. remaining to be used, with a file sharing option.

Productive includes various HRIS integrations, including BambooHR, CharlieHR, Personio, Breathe, SAP SuccessFactors, and more.

Stay on top of your project budgets with Productive’s Budgeting feature. You can build and manage budgets of various types, including fixed-price, time & materials, recurring, and hybrid.

Monitor real-time insights into budget burn and forecast your budget overruns (as well as profit margins and revenue) based on employee cost rates, scheduling, and tracked time.

There’s also overhead and expense management for actionable insights into profitability.

With Billing, you can pull budgeting data to invoice billable hours or remaining budget amounts, send invoices from the platform, and track your payments. Productive also has a built-in Xero and QuickBooks integration.

With Productive’s Project Management feature, you can manage and collaborate on daily tasks and complex projects from start to finish. You can open unlimited projects and break them up into individual tasks or to-dos that can then be assigned to people.

Project views can be switched up according to preference, including Kanban, Gantt, Calendar, List, Workload, and more.

All of the project-related communication can be done in the comments, so you can be sure nothing is lost along the way. You can also set up no-code Automations to make your workflows more efficient.

With the Resource Planning feature, you can see who can take on more work and who might be overbooked.

This makes future project planning a lot easier, you can plan your capacity ahead of time and take into account vacations and time off. Team leaders can easily see who’s available for projects, as well as visualize and forecast utilization for improved strategic planning.

With the Reporting feature, you can create flexible reports that give insights into your agency’s overall business health. They can be built from templates or completely from scratch.

This includes reports such as:

To share your reports, you can build custom dashboards and manage user access, or set up automatic sending (to Slack or email) with Productive’s Pulse.

Additional features include: Sales CRM, Docs, Client Portal, Revenue Recognition, Purchase Orders

You can go for a free 14-day free trial before you decide to check out a paid plan.

Harvest is a comprehensive time tracking and invoicing solution designed specifically for agencies and freelancers. With Harvest, agencies can easily create detailed reports and streamline their billing process.

Key features:

Users like Harvest’s robust reporting capabilities that help agencies gain insights into project performance. It also offers integrations with third-party tools that enhance the overall workflow efficiency. Some users said that Harvest lacks advanced project management features compared to some other tools in the market, so you might want to consider some Harvest forecast alternatives.

Time Doctor is a solid time tracking and productivity management tool that allows agencies to monitor their team’s activities, track time spent on tasks, and analyze productivity levels (read our take on Time Doctor alternatives too).

Key features:

Time Doctor has advanced monitoring features that ensure transparency and accountability within the team. It also has productivity reports help identify areas for improvement. Some customers voiced their concerns that the extensive monitoring capabilities might raise privacy concerns for some team members.

Everhour is a user-friendly time tracking tool that seamlessly integrates with various project management platforms. It enables agencies to track time, estimate project budgets, and manage team schedules effectively.

Key features:

Everhour has an easy-to-use interface that makes it convenient for agencies to adopt and implement. It also has a robust budgeting feature that helps agencies keep projects on track and avoid cost overruns. Users said that Everhour has limited reporting options compared to some other tools in the market.

Clockify is a free time-tracking software that offers agencies basic time tracking functionality and enables them to analyze project progress, track billable hours, and manage timesheets.

Key features:

Clockify has a free version available, making it a cost-effective solution for small agencies with limited budgets. It also has a clean and user-friendly interface for easy time entry management and reporting. Some users said that it has limited advanced features compared to some other paid tools. The free version has certain limitations on the number of users and projects.

Timecamp is a comprehensive time tracking and project management solution that offers agencies an array of features to monitor and optimize their workflow, including time tracking, task management, and invoicing.

Key features:

Timecamp offers a wide range of features that cover time tracking, project management, and invoicing needs. But at the same time the extensive feature set may require some time for new users to fully understand and utilize.

Hubstaff is a robust time tracking and freelancer tracking solution that provides agencies with tools to track time, monitor productivity, and manage remote teams effectively.

Key features:

Hubstaff offers advanced employee monitoring features ensure productivity and accountability. It also has GPS tracking that helps agencies manage remote teams and their attendance. The high level of monitoring team time may create trust issues.

RescueTime is a time tracking and productivity management tool that helps agencies understand their team’s online habits, identify distractions, and optimize their focus on important tasks.

Key features:

RescueTime provides insightful reports and helps eliminate distractions and improve productivity. Some users said that is has limited project management features compared to other tools on the market.

Paymo is a comprehensive project management and time tracking tool that offers agencies a range of features, including task management, time tracking, team collaboration, and invoicing.

Key features:

Paymo is an all-in-one solution for those looking for project management and time tracking solutions. It offers seamless integration of time tracking data with project management features. The interface may feel overwhelming for new users due to the extensive feature set.

Wrike is a popular project management software solution that includes time tracking capabilities, enabling agencies to plan, track progress, and manage their projects efficiently. It’s a good choice for those working in the creative industry or media marketing.

Key features:

Wrike offers robust project management features combined with time tracking capabilities. The advanced reporting helps agencies gain insights into project performance and team productivity. The learning curve for new users might be steep due to the comprehensive feature set.

Find out more about Wrike and its key competitors: Wrike vs Trello, Wrike vs Asana, Wrike vs Airtable, Wrike vs Notion.

TSheets, now known as QuickBooks Time, is a timesheet software designed to help agencies efficiently manage their workforce, track time, and streamline payroll processes.

Key features:

The GPS tracking feature allows agencies to track employee location, particularly for field-based work. The seamless integration with payroll software simplifies the payroll process. The focus on employee scheduling may overshadow other project management features. Learn more about QuickBooks vs Netsuite.

Tmetric is a time tracking app that provides agencies with features to monitor time spent on tasks, analyze productivity, and generate detailed reports.

Key features:

The offline time tracking feature ensures accurate tracking even without an internet connection. Tmetric’s intuitive interface and seamless integration with other tools enhance usability. The lack of advanced project management features compared to some other tools in the market.

Toggl is a simple yet powerful time tracking software that offers agencies an easy way to track time, generate reports, and analyze project profitability.

Key Features:

Toggl has an intuitive and straightforward interface for effortless time tracking. The comprehensive reports provide valuable insights into project progress and profitability. Users say that the advanced project management features are relatively limited compared to some other tools.

Workamajig is described as a project management solution for creative agencies.

Key features:

Although Workamajig has a good range of features for delivering client projects successfully, including time tracking and budgeting, the user interface is usually an issue with users. Despite being geared towards creative agencies, a review states that: “The design is incredibly dull and made it hard to motivate a creative team to use the platform to track time” (Capterra).

For a more modern solution, check out some Workamajig alternatives.

Scoro is a comprehensive platform for managing billable rates and keeping track of time.

Key features:

Scoro is similar to Productive because it offers more robust tools for business growth. However, it lacks team collaboration in tasks, which means that you’ll need to use it alongside task management solutions. Scoro alternatives like Productive can do this in a single platform.

Agency time tracking refers to the process of recording and monitoring the time spent by employees or contractors within an agency on various tasks, projects, or client work. It involves tracking hours worked, tasks performed, and projects completed by individuals or teams in an agency setting, including software development companies, marketing businesses, consultancies, and production companies.

The purpose of agency time tracking is to:

Agency time tracking systems can be implemented through various methods, including manual timesheets, electronic spreadsheets, dedicated software applications, or integrated project management tools. Implementing time tracking tools makes it easier for managers to get reports on utilization rates, time spent working on projects and project profit.

Agency time tracking software has become an indispensable tool for modern agencies looking to maximize productivity, optimize project management, and ensure accurate billing.

The tools for agencies that we mentioned offer diverse features to cater to the specific needs of agencies. By using the right time tracking software, agencies can enhance efficiency, streamline workflow, and achieve greater success in their projects. Before you decide, you should asses your agency’s needs.

You might be looking for a tool that can create weekly timesheets, help track employee time, monitor employee productivity, or you might want a more comprehensive tool.

If you’re looking for an all-in-one agency management tool you should book a demo with Productive.

How do I track my consulting hours?

You can track your consulting hours by using a time tracking system. Choose a tool that allows you to log your hours, specify the tasks or projects you are working on, and provide any additional details or notes. This will help you accurately record and manage your consulting hours.

What software should I use to track staff hours?

There are numerous software options available to track staff hours. Some popular ones include Toggl, Harvest, TimeCamp, Hubstaff, and RescueTime. These tools provide features such as timesheet management, task tracking, project tracking, and reporting to help you monitor and manage your staff’s working hours effectively.

What are the 3 types of timesheets?

There are different types of time sheets commonly used:

What is the #1 timesheet app for IT companies?

There isn’t a definitive “#1” timesheet app for IT companies, as the best choice depends on your specific requirements and preferences. However, popular options for IT companies include Productive, Harvest, and Clockify. 

How do I choose the best time tracking software?

When choosing the best time tracking software, consider the following factors:

What is the best developer time tracking software?

For tracking time specifically geared towards developers, you can explore tools like Jira, GitHub, or GitLab, which provide built-in time tracking features. Additionally, tools like Productive, Harvest, and Clockify also offer developer-specific integrations and features.

What is the best time tracking software for remote workers?

Many time tracking software options are suitable for tracking remote employees’ hours. Some popular choices include Productive, Toggl, and Timecamp. These tools offer features like remote tracking, activity monitoring, and collaboration features to support efficient time tracking for remote teams.

What is the best time tracking software for architectural firms?

Productive is one of the best architecture project management software solutions, with a set of features that support time management, collaboration and communication, easier client feedback, budgeting, and more.