Self-employment seems simple: set your own hours, set your own rate, and just get to work, right? But it's not always like that. The frustrating part most people don't tell you about is time. It disappears faster than you think, and you end up scrambling at the end of the month, wondering where your billable hours went. That's why freelance time tracking is so helpful. It's also the only way to keep your invoices honest.
Not all tools are good, and not all freelancers need the same tools. That's the tricky part. You need to find tools that actually make your work less frustrating, not more.
Toggle Track
Toggl has been in the game forever. You've probably heard of it for more than five minutes. Tracking is a breeze with a single click, it works almost anywhere, and it doesn't feel like you're locked into the software.
You can color-code and tag projects, and the reports are impressive enough that your accountant won't be disappointed. Even the free version offers plenty of features, which is a plus, since most freelancers don't want to pay monthly for features they might forget about.
ClockPie
If you want everything for free, this is probably the best option. It has everything: unlimited clients, projects, time tracking, reports, and more. It's incredibly smooth, and while the interface doesn't claim to be anything special, it's still usable.
If you like that structure, you can use the Pomodoro timer. If you don't, you can ignore it. The calendar view is also useful, especially when Monday just passed and you're unsure of what to do.
Let's say you're juggling three clients, each handling different tasks. Clockify lets you stay on track even when you pause a timer and start another. You can tag each task, review your daily total, and identify where your time is being wasted. Plus, it's incredibly fast. You won't waste five minutes setting up a new item.
harvest
Harvest is your all-in-one companion. It handles time management, invoicing, expense management, and almost everything else. But it's not inconvenient. Frankly, I rarely find an app inconvenient when it tries to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
The downside? The free version limits you to two projects. If you only deal with one or two clients at a time, that's not a problem, but if your schedule is packed, you'll need the paid version. The ability to neatly convert tracked time into invoices that don't look like they were printed from a notepad is truly impressive.
timely
If you have a hard time remembering to start a timer, Timely basically tracks your activities. It monitors which apps you use, which files you access, and how long you stare at the screen. It sounds a bit creepy in theory, but it's actually really useful.
Simply view a timeline that visually displays your daily schedule and rename the time units to reflect your work. It's neither free nor perfect, but it's a truly useful feature for creators who often forget about their work hours.
Rize
Rize doesn't just measure time. It measures focus, such as how long you work without switching tabs or touching your phone. It also reports on context switching, a serious productivity killer that no one mentions.
It gently nagged me when I needed a break, but it didn't suddenly pop up. Some people might like it, others might not. It's the latest version and constantly being updated, but for those who already want to work nonstop, it seems fine. It's better , not just adding more hours.
Ever Hour
If you already use apps like Asana, Trello, or ClickUp, this feature is perfect. Everhour integrates seamlessly into these platforms, eliminating the need to switch between apps to set timers.
Reports are clean and can be labeled as desired. It's a bit odd that there's no mobile version, but if you don't save your work to a notebook anyway, it's fine. If recording your work time is more important, this feature is much more convenient.
Rescue Time
It's not a time tracker in the traditional sense. RescueTime monitors your activity and tells you how productive you are. Sometimes you might agree, and other times you might think, "Yeah, Spotify is work. I'm editing a podcast." Still, it's a useful feature.
This isn't about sending invoices to clients. It's about keeping your mind sharp. If you spend half your afternoon doomscrolling or refreshing emails every seven minutes, this app will point the finger at you. If you want to know not just where you spend your time, but how you actually spend it, it's worth a try. Think about it.
A few other names to know
Not everyone needs big, fancy tools. Here are a few more frequently mentioned tools.
- TopTracker – Free and designed for freelancers. While not premium, it's definitely effective.
- Hubstaff – Better suited for remote teams, but some solo freelancers prefer the screenshot feature.
- QuickBooks Time – If you already use QuickBooks for invoicing, this feature is ready to use.
Choose the right one for you
This is where everyone gets stuck: reading reviews, signing up for three apps, and then forgetting to actually use them.
So don't overthink it. Think about what's truly important to you.
- Did you forget to record the time?
- Should I issue invoices or just record working hours?
- Do you change tasks frequently during the day?
- Are you interested in integration?
Sometimes the simplest tool wins, because you can actually use it over and over again.
Honest advice? Start somewhere.
In fact, no app can break a bad habit. If you don't like keeping track of your time, anything will feel like a chore. But with the right app, it'll at least be less tiring. And once you get into a rhythm, you'll stop overspending and realize where your energy is being wasted.
If you don't like what you tried first, try a different one. There's no rule that says you have to stick with the same app forever. Just pick something you like now and start.