13 Best Agency Time Tracking Software Solutions

In today’s fast-paced digital world, agencies are constantly seeking for ways to optimize productivity and improve their project management.

One essential tool that has gained significant popularity is agency time tracking software. This software enables agencies to effectively monitor and manage their team’s time, enhance project planning, and boost overall productivity. Time tracking software is especially important for agencies charging hourly rates since they bill their clients based on hours worked.

In this blog post, we will explore the concept of agency time tracking software, its importance for agencies, and provide an overview of some popular agency tools available in the market.

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. The purpose of agency time tracking is to accurately measure and manage the utilization of resources, allocate costs, evaluate productivity, and improve project management and billing processes.

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.

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 business and have the insights needed to make data-driven decisions. It’s a tool meant to encompass all business aspects and help you run a profitable agency.

Time tracking with Productive was made to be easy. There’s a built-in time tracker that you can start once you get to work on a certain task. Once you stop the timer, your time is automatically transferred to you timesheets which allows you to see the actual time spent working on projects. You can also do your time entries manually at the end of the day. Productive also lets you differentiate between billable and non-billable time.

You can easily track employee time and get all the important information on billable utilization and time spent working on projects. With data backing you up, you can easily see which projects are profitable and which might need to be scrapped.

With Productive’s Project Management feature you can manage daily tasks and complex projects from start to finish. You can have unlimited projects open, break them up into individual tasks or to-dos that can then be assigned to people that need to do them. 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 set up workflows to track the project lifecycle and make sure you deliver client projects on time.

Stay on top of your project budgets with Productive’s Budgeting feature. You can keep track of each project budget or do a deep dive into your agency’s financial indicators. With budget tracking you’ll be able to forecast any budget overruns and keep your costs down.

With the Reporting feature you can create customizable reports that give insights into your agency’s overall business health. Make reports on time spent on projects to see billable utilization or see profits for a specific project. You can choose who can have access to reports, share project-related reports with those who were involved with the project, or share profit reports with your stakeholders.

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.

Additional features include: Sales, Docs and Billing.

Integrations include: QuickBooks, Xero, Slack, Jira, Hubspot, Google calendar integration and more.

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 software designed specifically for agencies and freelancers. With Harvest, agencies can easily track time, create detailed reports, and streamline their billing process.

Core 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.

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 Timedoctor alternatives too).

Core 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.

Core 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.

Core 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 tracking 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 software that offers agencies an array of features to monitor and optimize their workflow, including time tracking, task management, and invoicing.

Core 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 employee monitoring software that provides agencies with tools to track time, monitor productivity, and manage remote teams effectively.

Core Features:

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

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.

Core 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.

Core Features:

Paymo is an all-in-one solution for those looking for a 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 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.

Core 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.

TSheets is a time tracking and employee scheduling 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.

Tmetric is a time tracking and productivity management tool 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.

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 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 you agency’s needs. You might be looking for a tool that can create weekly timesheets, help track employee time or 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.

You can track your consulting hours by using a time tracking system or software. 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

There are numerous software options available to track staff hours. Some popular ones include Productive, Harvest, 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.

There are different types of time sheets commonly used:

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. 

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

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.

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.

In the specialized field of architecture, effective budgeting, resource planning, and reporting are essential for project success. Productive.io emerges as the premier solution for architectural firms, offering a comprehensive set of features that go beyond mere time tracking. The platform excels in budget management, allowing firms to allocate resources efficiently and monitor expenditures in real-time. Its resource planning capabilities enable architects to assign tasks and resources optimally, ensuring that projects stay on schedule. Additionally, Productive.io’s robust reporting features provide valuable insights into project performance and financial metrics, making it easier for firms to make data-driven decisions. All in all, Productive.io is an indispensable tool for architectural firms aiming to streamline their operations and achieve project excellence.