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Trying to track employee hours using Excel spreadsheets, paper timesheets, or biometric scanners is often a waste of time and exposes your company to various data security and privacy issues.
So how can you keep track of employee time securely and efficiently?
In this article, we’ll highlight the top tools for tracking employee hours—so you can find the ideal platform to do everything from monitoring your team’s work to automating timesheets and payroll processing.
What we’ll cover
Should you keep it simple or adopt an app with all the bells and whistles? Any time tracking tool you choose should do more than just record hours. It should give you actionable visibility while preserving employee trust.
1. Manager-friendly features: To track employee hours seamlessly, you need an app that automates much of the process. Look for a tool that automatically starts and stops tracking and that prompts employees to focus when they appear to be idle.
2. Employee-friendly settings: To get employees on board, you need a platform that doesn’t feel intrusive or compromise privacy. Choose an app that doesn’t track keystrokes and that allows employees to protect sensitive information.
3. Multi-device support: Whether your team operates in the field, works from home, or takes a hybrid approach, you need a tool they can use anywhere. Seek out an app that works across desktop, laptop, tablet, and mobile devices.
4. Time-saving integrations: Don’t let your time tracking data get stuck in an app. Prioritize a time tracking tool that integrates with the other platforms you use—so you can bill clients and process payroll faster.
5. Productivity tips: Data is great, but actionable information can help your employees work smarter. Make sure you choose an app that automatically alerts you to issues and recommends tips to make your team more productive.
With these must-have elements in mind, let’s look at the top 10 employee time tracking apps. We’ll start with our own, Time Doctor:
1. Time Doctor
Time Doctor is a workforce analytics platform that empowers managers with the visibility to lead with trust, not control. Mid-market companies and growing SMBs use it to gain real-time visibility into work, support employee well-being, and continuously improve productivity across remote, hybrid, and in-office teams.
With Time Doctor, you can:
- Track how long employees spend on tasks and projects with accurate, down-to-the-second time tracking
- Give managers clear, real-time visibility into work patterns without hovering or micromanaging
- Surface productivity, focus, and work-life balance trends to prevent burnout and capacity issues
- Generate audit-ready timesheets and automate payroll and client billing
- Empower employees with transparency into their own time data so they can self-manage and improve
Time Doctor also has a mobile app that supports on-the-go time tracking and productivity insights for Android devices.
Key features
Here are some of Time Doctor’s best features:
A. Time tracking
Time Doctor is a workforce analytics platform that gives you flexible time tracking so employees can record their hours in a way that fits how they work. The platform captures work activity in real time and transforms it into clear visibility for teams, helping leaders understand how work happens while keeping the experience simple for employees.
In manual/interactive mode, employees simply open the app, select their current task, and start the timer. Time Doctor runs in the background and tracks the apps and websites used during work. When they’re finished or want to take a break, they can stop the timer with a single click.
In automatic mode, Time Doctor can start tracking time when employees turn on or log into their work devices. This mode helps improve accuracy and reduces the need for manual edits or forgotten time entries.
Both modes are designed to provide clear visibility for managers and employees while minimizing disruption to the workday.
B. Idle time tracking
Time Doctor measures idle time (periods without keyboard or mouse activity) to help teams understand focus patterns and potential productivity blockers.
- Idle time is measured in idle seconds and idle minutes
- You can configure when idle time should start counting and set limits that make sense for different roles
Instead of silently recording behavior, Time Doctor can display a gentle idle time pop-up when someone has been inactive for too long—nudging them to either refocus or take a break. This helps reduce unintentional time drift and supports more accurate timesheets.
This design helps organizations balance accountability with privacy and trust.Moreover, you can set how long the timer can run without any activity. Once it reaches the limit, the tracker automatically stops tracking time and displays an idle time pop-up. This pop-up alerts employees to focus on their tasks.
Note: Time Doctor is not a keylogger. It only tracks if any keys were pressed; it doesn’t record any keystrokes or mouse clicks.
Want to stop employees from wasting time at work?
Check out our guide on how to avoid common time-wasters at work.
C. Productivity reports
Time Doctor tracks several data points related to employees activity. You can access a wide range of reports generated in real-time.
Here’s a quick look at these reports :
- Activity summary report: See active seconds, minutes, unproductive, manual, and mobile time for each employee over a selected time period.
- Attendance report: See if an employee is present, absent, partially absent, or late in real-time.
- Hours tracked report: View the total number of hours tracked by employees for any date range.
- Projects & tasks report: See the time spent on projects as well as individual tasks.
- Timeline report: Look at the time spent on tasks and breaks in a day or the whole week.
- Custom export report: Customize the fields you’d like to include in one single report.
- Web and app usage report: View the time spent by an employee on each app and website during work hours.
You can quickly identify high performers with these reports and decide how you can help struggling employees.
D. Shifts and schedules
Managers can use Time Doctor’s Work Schedules feature to create and edit employee shifts.
Here’s what you can do with schedules:
- Save time by automating schedule creation and updates.
- Easily adjust schedules to ensure round-the-clock availability.
- Monitor and manage employee overtime.
E. Chrome extension and integrations
Time Doctor’s powerful Chrome Extension integrates with 60+ tools that include project management, helpdesk, accounting software, and more.
For example, Time Doctor integrates easily with tools like Asana and Jira.
You can even add time tracking to tasks you’ve created on tools like ClickUp. As a result, you can help your team avoid wasting time and work more efficiently.
F. Benchmark AI
Benchmarks AI helps you understand your team’s performance by comparing their work patterns to similar roles and workflows across Time Doctor’s extensive behavior-based dataset.
- See how your team’s productivity, idle time, and tool usage compare to similar users across thousands of organizations.
- Identify whether shifts in productive time reflect healthy focus, rising workload pressure, or early signs of burnout.
- Spot unusual activity and changes in behavior before they affect performance or well-being.
- Give managers clearer context during coaching by showing where teams fall across percentile rankings and behavior groups.
- Make smarter decisions on resourcing, planning, and workload balancing using AI-matched comparisons instead of generic industry averages.
G. Meeting insight
Meeting Insights helps you understand how meetings affect productivity, focus time, and engagement across your team.
- See total meeting hours, number of meetings, and which teams spend the highest or lowest percentage of their time in meetings.
- Measure meeting quality by tracking average duration, idle minutes per meeting, and idle time during meetings versus regular work hours.
- Identify low-value or ineffective meetings by spotting high idle time or unrelated app usage during calls.
- Compare meeting habits across groups to find overload, spot bottlenecks, or highlight teams that collaborate effectively.
- Decide which meetings to shorten, restructure, or move async using data instead of assumptions.
- Protect focus hours by understanding how recurring calls impact productive time and daily workflow.
- Support coaching and policy decisions with clear insights into meeting load, engagement patterns, and collaboration trends.
Pricing
Time Doctor has three affordable pricing plans, and you can quickly sign up for a 14-day free trial without a credit card.
Here’s an overview of the pricing plans:
- Basic: $6.67/user per month – offers time tracking + task management + activity tracking + unlimited screenshots.
- Standard: $10/user per month – includes “Basic” features + integrations + payroll and invoicing.
- Premium: $20/user per month – includes “Standard” features + executive dashboard + client login access.
User ratings
- G2: 4.4/5 (420+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (540+ reviews)
2. Connecteam
Connecteam is an online employee attendance tracker app. It also offers a customizable tracking app that enables business owners to manage their teams from anywhere.
Key features
- Time clock to track and manage employee work hours.
- Assign shifts, duplicate, drag-and-drop, or create templates with employee scheduling.
- Easily create tasks and add task descriptions, images, files, and more.
- Tax and labor compliance to monitor overtime shifts.
- Offers employee training software for onboarding new hires and routine training.
Pricing
Has a free plan for up to 10 users. Paid plans for this time clock app start at $29/month.
User ratings
- G2: 4.6/5 (3260+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (4460+ reviews)
3. When I Work
When I Work is a time clock and employee scheduling tool. Organizations can use this tool for timekeeping, tracking attendance, creating work schedules, and reviewing any timecard.
Key features
- Easy employee scheduling with a drag-and-drop interface.
- Ability to forecast labor costs.
- Supports applicant tracking and onboarding functionalities.
- Receive attendance data as soon as employees clock in or clock out.
- Mobile clock in with GPS location tracking for Android and iOS devices.
Pricing
Pricing plans for time and attendance tracking start at $2.50/user per month.
User ratings
- G2: 4.4/5 (340+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (1240+ reviews)
4. Toggl Track
Toggl Track is a cloud-based time tracking app that allows small businesses to manage the working hours of their teams.
It also offers useful task management and revenue tracking functionalities.
Key features
- Gain insights into team members with detailed reports.
- Track work time across the web, desktop, and mobile app or browser extension.
- Team dashboard to view each employee’s workload.
- Calendar integration to convert meetings into time entries on your mobile device.
- Integrates with more than 100 websites and apps.
Pricing
Free plan includes auto tracker, idle detection, and Pomodoro timer. Paid plans start at $10/user per month.
User ratings
- G2: 4.6/5 (1570+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (2570+ reviews)
5. DeskTime
Desktime is a time tracking tool that helps boost employee productivity. It’s suitable for business owners to track employee time as well as for freelancers.
Key features
- Automated time tracking via the desktop app.
- Offers Pomodoro timer to help prevent employee burnout.
- Automatic screenshots to capture employees’ computer screens at random intervals.
- Supports offline and online time tracking.
- Easy integration with task management tools like Jira and Basecamp.
Pricing
Has a free limited plan. Paid plans start at $7/user per month.
User ratings
- G2: 4.5/5 (400+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (520+ reviews)
6. Hubstaff
Hubstaff is a simple time tracking solution that supports employee scheduling and payroll functionalities. It also offers mobile apps (Android and iOS) that enable teams to track time from anywhere.
Key features
- Record employee work hours with timesheets.
- Send shift reminders to employees if they are late.
- Employee monitoring to view work in progress in real-time.
- Records employee activity levels based on mouse and keyboard usage.
- Geofencing to automatically track work based on custom locations.
Read about Hubstaff vs Time Doctor comparison here.
Pricing
The free plan includes timesheets, activity levels, and limited screenshots. Paid plans for this timesheet app start from $5.83/user per month.
User ratings
- G2: 4.6/5 (1520+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (1580+ reviews)
7. TimeCamp
TimeCamp is a time management and tracking software suitable for teams as well as freelancers.
It also offers project management features to help you organize all your projects and tasks in one place.
Key features
- Automatic time tracking through calendar integration.
- Automate employee timesheet approvals and reminders.
- Project cost analysis for expense tracking and better resource management.
- Activity tracking to identify the tasks your employees spend most of their time on.
- GPS tracking using the Android or iOS mobile app.
Pricing
Has a free plan. Paid plans start at $1.49/user per month
User ratings
- G2: 4.7/5 (340+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (590+ reviews)
8. Clockify
Clockify is a simple time tracking software that allows employees to track work hours across different projects.
Key features
- Track time with a timer or manually log time entries on an employee timesheet.
- Set hourly rates and see team member activity.
- Categorize time by projects and mark time as billable.
- Export and download reports as PDF, CSV, or Excel sheets.
- Use Pomodoro timer for Mac and Chrome operating systems.
Pricing
Has a limited free plan. Paid plans for this employee hour tracking app start at $4.99/user per month.
User ratings
- G2: 4.5/5 (180+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.8/5 (9200+ reviews)
9. Everhour
Everhour is a web-based time tracking tool suitable for small teams. It’s an all-in-one time management software for budgeting, invoicing, and payroll.
Key features
- Employee schedules to see who’s available and assign tasks accordingly.
- Easily track work hours using clock-in, clock-out, and break buttons.
- Set project budgets to track progress in real-time.
- Central dashboard to view all time and expense data.
- Integrates with project management tools like Asana and ClickUp.
Pricing
Plans start at $8.50/user per month for five users. Offers a 14-day free trial (no credit card required).
User ratings
- G2: 4.7/5 (170+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (430+ reviews)
10. Timely
Timely is an automated time tracking and productivity tool. It can allocate time to specific tasks based on websites accessed, files worked on, software used, and more.
Key features
- Automatically record billable activity across apps and create timesheets.
- Customize employee timesheets, payroll, and more with personal branding and various designs.
- Monitor employee work hours, overtime, capacity, and workload in real-time.
- Drag-and-drop functionality for allocating tasks and visualizing project plans.
- Use Windows and Mac desktop apps as well as Android and iOS mobile apps.
Pricing
Plans start at $11/user per month for 50 projects and three teams with a 14-day free trial.
User ratings
- G2: 4.8/5 (470+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (700+ reviews)
Recent trends and statistics
- Remote work adoption: A Gallup survey found that 8 in 10 people are working hybrid or remotely., increasing the demand for reliable time tracking tools.
- Productivity gains: Companies using digital time tracking tools report a 20% increase in productivity due to more accurate tracking and better insights.
Integration capabilities
- Slack: Seamlessly track time spent on communication and collaboration.
- Trello: Integrate with task management to ensure projects stay on track.
- Zoom: Monitor time spent in meetings and calls for better time allocation.
User reviews and testimonials
- G2 reviews: “Time Doctor has transformed how we track productivity. Our team loves the non-intrusive tracking and detailed reports.”
- Capterra ratings: “Hubstaff’s geofencing feature is a game-changer for our field team. It’s accurate and easy to use.”
Common pain points addressed
- Accuracy: Digital tools reduce errors common in manual tracking.
- Privacy & trust: Trust-first tools like Time Doctor avoid invasive practices such as keystroke logging and give employees visibility into their own data, helping you maintain transparency and buy-in.
- Visibility for leaders: Workforce analytics surface where time and effort are going, making it easier for HR, Operations, and business leaders to spot issues early and support teams effectively.
- Privacy concerns: Tools like Time Doctor respect employee privacy by avoiding keystroke logging.
- Integration issues: Most tools offer extensive integrations, making data flow seamless across platforms.
Wrapping up
Manual time tracking is a thing of the past. By adopting one of the top 10 digital time tracking tools, you can enhance
- Enhance productivity with better visibility into how work gets done
- Ensure accurate, compliant payroll and billing
- Support employees with healthier workloads and better work-life balance
- Make smarter decisions based on real-time workforce data
To get the most value, choose a time tracking solution that balances visibility with trust—one that gives managers the insights they need without turning into surveillance.
Time Doctor is built around that philosophy. It combines accurate time tracking with workforce analytics, privacy-first settings, and AI-enhanced insights, so you can:
- Lead with trust, backed by data
- Spot risks like burnout or bottlenecks before they escalate
- Empower teams to do their best work, wherever they are
If you’re looking for a way to track employee hours, improve productivity, and support a healthier, high-performing workforce, Time Doctor is a powerful place to start.
Get a demo of Time Doctor today and boost your employees’ productivity in no time!
Frequently asked questions(FAQs)
1. Why should I stop using spreadsheets or paper timesheets to track employee hours?
Manual methods like spreadsheets or paper timesheets are time-consuming, error-prone, and difficult to audit. They also make it harder to support remote and hybrid work. Modern time tracking tools automate data capture, reduce payroll errors, provide an audit trail, and give you real-time visibility into how work is happening across the organization.
2. Are employee time tracking apps intrusive or a form of surveillance?
They don’t have to be. The key is choosing a trust-first, privacy-aware tool and communicating clearly with employees. For example, Time Doctor does not use keylogging and allows you to configure what’s tracked, when it’s tracked, and who can see which data. When used transparently, time tracking becomes a way to improve workflows and work-life balance—not to spy on people.
3. Is it legal to track employee hours and activity?
In most regions, employers are allowed (and often required) to track work hours for payroll and compliance, especially for hourly or non-exempt workers. However, there may be specific legal requirements around consent, disclosure, and how data is stored or used. It’s important to:
• Inform employees about what’s being tracked and why
• Update policies and employee handbooks
• Consult with HR and legal teams to stay compliant with local labor and privacy laws
4. What’s the difference between manual and automatic time tracking?
• Manual/interactive tracking: Employees start and stop a timer when they begin or end a task. This gives them more control but relies on them remembering to track.
• Automatic tracking: Time tracking starts when an employee logs into or uses their work device. This reduces missed time and manual edits.
Tools like Time Doctor offer both options so you can choose the approach—or combination—that fits your teams and roles best.
5. How do I introduce a time tracking tool to my team without causing pushback?
A successful rollout is all about transparency and framing. Best practices include:
• Explaining the “why”: accuracy, fairness, better workload planning, and reduced burnout
• Being clear about what is and isn’t tracked (e.g., no keystrokes, privacy controls)
• Involving managers and team leads early so they can answer questions
• Starting with a pilot group and incorporating feedback before a wider rollout
• Position the tool as something that helps everyone—not just management.
6. Can time tracking tools help with burnout and work-life balance?
Yes. Modern platforms do more than log hours. They help you:
• Spot patterns of repeated overtime or late-night work
• Identify teams or individuals consistently over capacity
• Understand how much time is spent in meetings vs. focused work
Time Doctor, for instance, surfaces work patterns and trends that HR and Operations leaders can use to rebalance workloads and protect employee well-being.
7. Do time tracking apps integrate with payroll, HR, and project management tools?
Most leading tools offer integrations or exports that connect time data with the systems you already use. Time Doctor integrates with popular project management, helpdesk, and productivity tools, and supports payroll and invoicing workflows—so you don’t have to manually re-enter hours into multiple systems.
8. How much do employee time tracking apps typically cost?
Pricing varies by feature set, number of users, and deployment model, but most tools use a per-user, per-month subscription. For example, Time Doctor offers multiple plans starting at a low per-user monthly rate, with a 14-day free trial so you can test the platform before making a decision.
Carlo Borja is the Content Marketing Manager of Time Doctor, a workforce analytics software for distributed teams. He is a remote work advocate, a father and an avid coffee drinker.
