11 Best Time Billing Software Tools (Paid and Free) for 2025

Time billing software is used to track time spent on tasks or projects and convert those tracked hours into client invoices. 

If you’re stuck choosing between tons of different time tracking and billing software options, you’re in the right place.

This blog post will provide detailed comparisons of the best tools, including free options, and share practical tips on choosing and implementing time billing software. 

By the end, you’ll have all the information you need to find the right solution for your agency, company, or freelance work.

Productive brings together time tracking and billing into one cohesive platform.

This all-in-one management tool helps agencies and service-based businesses manage their operations more efficiently while staying profitable.

With its five key features, Productive will take care of all your time tracking and billing needs—from managing billable vs non billable hours, creating and sending invoices, to customizable project reporting.

Productive answers the question of “How to track billable hours?“. The tool has different time tracking options that suit various work styles. You can add your time logs daily, weekly, or through a calendar view. The desktop time tracker adds a real-time option for those who prefer precise, on-the-go tracking. 

You can also set up automatic time tracking by automatically converting bookings into time entries. 

You can track time on individual tasks, saving time spent on manually entering project and task details later.

You can also streamline the time tracking process with the Google Calendar integration that converts calendar events into time entries in Productive.

Project managers can approve time entries of the tracked hours individually or in bulk. They can also lock timesheets to remind team members to fill their work hours in time. 

Beyond just tracking hours, Productive integrates profitability insights directly into its reports. The tool shows you where your time is going and how it contributes to your bottom line.

Professional service billing is often complex and time-consuming. Productive makes it simple. You can generate invoices in just a couple of clicks. The platform provides complete financial visibility, showing you:

This clarity keeps you on top of your cash flow and enhances your expense management.

If you’re managing multiple subsidiaries with different currencies and tax rates, Productive’s invoicing tool makes it easy to manage all your finances. This key feature simplifies the project billing process, maintains accurate invoices and financial records. It also provides location-specific billing information to your clients.

The invoicing tool can automate invoicing and generate invoice drafts when specific conditions are met (e.g., spent budget). You can customize these invoices with your branding, or other invoice details.

If a client is late with payments, you can set up automated reminder sequences— say goodbye to manually chasing overdue invoices.

We’ll talk more about other integrations later. Regarding invoicing, Productive has integration capabilities with accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero.

Productive helps you stay on top of project budgets with tools designed for flexibility and complete visibility. You can set budgets based on fixed prices or hourly rates depending on your project’s needs.

For large, long-term projects, you can split budgets into separate phases, track progress, project cost, and send partial invoices as you complete each project phase. 

When budgets are near their limits, Productive highlights this in your reports, giving you the data you need to allocate resources and proactively communicate with clients. 

Recurring work is also simple to handle with Productive’s retainer management. Productive can automatically create budgets for each month according to your retainer agreement. When recurring budgets are ready for invoicing, Productive will notify you.

Productive goes beyond the basics of finance tracking. 

The platform can calculate billable hours, overhead costs and lets you add external expenses directly into your project cost calculations. These features provide a complete view of your financial health, project budgets, and forecasts (we’ll discuss forecasting later).

The Purchase Orders (PO) feature ties POs directly to expenses in your budgets. This feature is especially handy for forecasting expenses and maintaining precise financial records.

With real-time project profitability tracking, you’ll always know where your project stands financially. Whether you’re managing one project or a portfolio, Productive’s budgeting tools provide the clarity and control you need.

Productive’s reporting tools provide you with all the data you need in one place. Reports combine information on service rates, tracked time, and budget availability, giving you a clear picture of your operations. 

Productive’s report library has over 50 reporting templates from which to choose.  You can set up custom reports, make shareable reporting dashboards, or set up automatic report downloads directly to your inbox.

Real-time financial updates ensure you’re always aware of your organization’s health, and automated report delivery keeps stakeholders informed without extra effort.

Productive makes it easier to allocate work and manage your team’s capacity.

When you have a bird’s eye view of available resources, project cost and team capacity, you can effectively balance workloads so that every team member gets overburdened.

The resource planner has three main layouts (or perspectives): people, projects, and time off. This core feature also organizes your resources by client, project, or any other custom field.

Project resource management and planning are made simple with placeholders for future work or tentative bookings. Scheduling assignments in advance keeps everyone on the same page, helping your team stay on track and deliver on time.

Productive isn’t just about tracking time and billing— it simplifies how agencies work daily. 

Whether you’re running a professional service firm, marketing agency, or consultancy, it combines tools like project management, resource planning, and budgeting in one place. Forecasting helps you see profits for individual projects and predict your agency’s overall financial health.

You’ll also see how your team uses their time and if workloads need adjusting. These features work together to give you clear insights and help you stay on top of your operations without extra hassle.

Productive’s integrations work with a variety of tools that enhance your workflows. 

Productive also works with various HR, project management, and time tracking integrations that help you efficiently manage your team and resources.

These integrations reduce redundancy, so all your systems seamlessly work together.

As a bonus read, we suggest you check out our end-to-end agency management guide (it also comes as a free ebook).

Paymo is a versatile work management and timesheet software that supports small and medium-sized businesses.

The tool tracks time while combining project management, and invoicing into one platform, making it a practical choice for teams looking to streamline their workflows.

Paymo works with tools like Slack, Google Apps, Zapier, and QuickBooks. Paymo also has an Open API for custom integrations.

Paymo has a user-friendly interface that’s easy to navigate, especially for small teams. It combines multiple key features, which helps reduce the need for additional tools.

In terms of time tracking, Paymo lacks advanced features that larger organizations might require. Some users on Capterra noted that the interface can feel less intuitive when managing complex workflows. 

Harvest is a simple time tracking and invoicing tool that helps businesses (or freelancers) make time logs, track expenses, and generate invoices.

Harvest connects with external tools like Asana, Trello, and QuickBooks. The tool provides integrations with over 50 applications.

The timesheet software has an easy-to-use interface that’s simple for entire teams and freelancers to use. It also provides reporting features, making it easier to track performance and profitability.

Harvest has a few limitations to consider. The tool lacks advanced project management feature and complex time tracking (like billable and non-billable time, time analytics, or time breakdowns).

Additionally, while Harvest offers a separate forecasting tool called Forecast, you need to purchase it separately. According to some users, the Forecast tool doesn’t integrate seamlessly with the main app, which can disrupt workflow efficiency.

My Hours is a cloud-based tool for tracking online time tailored for small teams and freelancers that offers a user-friendly interface to monitor work hours across various projects and tasks.

My Hours supports integrations through Zapier, enabling connections with various apps.

The timesheet software has a intuitive and easy-to-use interface, making it quick to adopt. It also offers a comprehensive free plan well-suited for small teams and freelancers.

My Hours needs more advanced features compared to more robust project management tools. Some users on G2 have also mentioned that the mobile app provides limited functionality for billing, budgets, and integrations with apps like Asana.

Sage Intacct is a cloud-based financial management solution and invoicing tool for enterprise organizations. It specializes in automating complex accounting workflows, making it ideal for businesses with advanced financial and resource management needs.

Sage Intacct connects seamlessly with tools like Salesforce, Expensify, and ADP, ensuring smooth platform workflows.

Sage Intacct is highly scalable, making it an excellent choice for growing organizations. It also offers robust reporting features, providing detailed financial insights to support informed decision-making.

Sage Intacct comes at a higher cost than many competitors. Additionally, it requires expertise to leverage its advanced capabilities fully. Some users reported on G2 complained about the painful integration process.

Kantata comes at a higher cost than many competitors. Additionally, it requires expertise to leverage its advanced capabilities fully. Some users reported on G2 complained about the painful integration process.

Kantata works seamlessly with tools like Salesforce, Jira, HubSpot, and Slack, making it easy to connect workflows across platforms.

Kantata is a good solution for professional services businesses focused on resource allocation. Its workflows are highly customizable, making it adaptable to various project needs.

Some users on Capterra find the interface complex, particularly when first getting started. Other than the implementation difficulties, other users stated the interface was sluggish and that the tool lacked real-time reporting. The tool also doesn’t have automatic time tracking.

BigTime is a time tracking and billing solution designed for professional service firms. It combines expense tracking, resource management, and reporting to simplify operations and improve financial oversight.

BigTime integrates with QuickBooks, Salesforce, and Slack for seamless workflows.

BigTime features a user-friendly interface that simplifies onboarding, making it accessible for new users.

The tool also offers billing features and reporting tools specifically designed for professional service firms, ensuring accurate financial management.

Some users on G2 said that BigTime’s reporting options lack flexibility, which can limit customization for specific needs. The software can also be confusing initially, as some features are hidden until configured.

Additionally, the mobile app is basic compared to the desktop version, making it less practical for team members who need to check project statuses or log time on the go. 

Clockify is a free time tracking solution offering unlimited users and projects, perfect for small teams and freelancers.

Clocify seamlessly connects with tools like QuickBooks, Asana, and Slack to enhance workflow efficiency.

Clockify has a clean user interface, making it accessible for teams and freelancers. Its free plan for unlimited users includes the core features (like automatic time tracking), making it an excellent choice for users on a budget.

Complex features (like invoice creation) require subscriptions to paid plans. Additionally, some users on Capterra reported limited offline capabilities, which can be a drawback for those needing to track time without an internet connection.

Toggl Track is a sleek and intuitive time tracking tool with a free plan for individuals and teams.

Toggl Track offers integrations with over 100 tools, such as Asana, Trello, and Slack. Features browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

Toggl Track has a highly intuitive interface, simplifying time tracking for individuals and teams. It can be effective for monitoring productivity and identifying areas for improvement.

The tool has limited invoicing capabilities, and the free plan lacks advanced analytics in higher-tier options. Some users on G2 have also reported issues with time tracking accuracy and difficulty correcting entries.

TimeCamp is a free timesheet software that provides basic invoicing and productivity analysis. It is an excellent option for freelancers, startups, and remote teams looking to optimize their workflows without incurring costs.

TimeCamp integrates with project management and accounting tools like Trello, Asana, and QuickBooks. You can integrate the tool with over 50 applications.

TimeCamp offers a free plan with many useful core features, making it ideal for those just starting. It’s excellent for remote teams needing simple time and employee productivity tracking.

Time Camp’s basic invoicing features may not meet complex billing needs. Advanced features like detailed reporting and productivity metrics require a paid plan. Some users on G2 reported issues with time tracking accuracy and difficulty correcting entries.

Scoro is a business management software that blends project management, CRM, billing, and reporting in one platform.

The tool is used mainly by professional services and creative agencies aiming to streamline their operations and gain better control over their workflows.

Scoro integrates with tools like Xero, QuickBooks, and Zapier. The tool also has an Open API for custom integrations.

Scoro has comprehensive tools for business management solution offers highly customizable features.

According to some users on G2, sometimes, the software is very hard to understand, especially for new users.

Choosing time billing software starts with understanding and matching your needs to a tool that aligns with your business goals and workflows.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make the right choice:

Different businesses have unique needs. Here’s how to match timesheet software to your specific use case:

Most software offers free trials or demos. Use these to test how well a tool fits into your workflows. Focus on ease of use, how quickly your team can adapt, and whether the features meet your needs.

This hands-on experience is the best way to make an informed decision.

Implementing time billing software starts with a clear plan to set up the tool, onboard your team, integrate it with existing systems, and track success metrics.

Let’s break down the implementation in five steps:

Begin with configuring the software to match your business needs:

Team onboarding is usually the most tricky part of the implementation process. Successful implementation depends on your team’s ability to adopt the software.

Here’s what you can do to make onboarding easier for your team:

Double-check the integrations. The chosen software needs to work seamlessly with the tools you already use:

Plan ahead to sidestep potential roadblocks:

Measure the effectiveness of the software during the initial phase to ensure it’s delivering value:

The best practices for using time billing software are accurately tracking hours, categorizing tasks, and separating billable from non-billable time. You should also analyze these reports for insights and leverage automation to simplify your workflows. 

Here are our strategies that help maximize the time billing software’s potential:

Time billing software helps businesses track time and manage billing, making operations smoother, more efficient, and more profitable.

With the right approach, time billing software helps you work smarter, not harder, ensuring you stay on top of projects and finances.

If you’re interested in an all-in-one tool for time tracking and billing, book a demo with Productive.

1. How can time billing software help freelancers?
Time billing software helps freelancers track billable and non-billable time, manage expenses, and generate invoices quickly. The software ensures accurate billing and saves time on administrative tasks.

2. Can time billing software integrate with accounting tools?
Yes, most tools integrate with popular accounting software like QuickBooks, Xero, and FreshBooks, streamlining financial workflows and reducing manual data entry.

3. Is time tracking necessary for invoicing?
No. But while time tracking isn’t mandatory, it ensures accurate invoicing by linking logged hours directly to billing. Precise time tracking minimizes disputes and improves transparency and overall client relationships.

4. Are there any community-recommended tools for startups?
Communities often recommend tools like Productive, Harvest, and Clockify for their ease of use and scalability, making them great for startups.

5. What does time tracking software cost?
Pricing varies widely. Free plans are available for basic features, while premium plans range from $3 to $20+ per user/month, depending on functionality.

6. What are the benefits of time tracking software?
Time tracking software improves billing accuracy, helps monitor team productivity, streamlines invoicing, and provides insights into project profitability and time management.