Time tracking software for lawyers helps law firms accurately record billable hours, reduce revenue leakage, and streamline legal billing. Attorneys often work across emails, calls, meetings, documents, and court preparation and without proper time tracking, many billable minutes are lost.
In this guide, we review the best time tracking software for lawyers in 2026, focusing on tools that support legal workflows, hourly billing, case-based tracking, and detailed reporting for law firms of all sizes.
What to Look for in Time Tracking Software for Lawyers
When comparing time tracking software for lawyers, the differences that matter are rarely obvious on feature lists. Most tools can record hours. The real distinction is how well the software fits legal billing practices and how much time it saves or costs over a billing cycle.
Matter Structure and Time Allocation
Pay attention to how time is structured internally. Software that treats legal work as generic projects often creates friction when time must be split across multiple matters for the same client. Matter-level tracking, separate narratives, and independent billing rules per matter reduce cleanup before billing.
Time Capture vs. Time Reconstruction
Some tools rely almost entirely on manual timers, others assist with reconstructing time after the fact. The practical difference shows up at month-end: fewer gaps, fewer write-downs, and less guesswork. Reviewing how missed time is surfaced is more important than how the timer looks.
Billing Logic and Rate Control
Look closely at how billing rates are applied and adjusted. Multiple rates per client, role-based pricing, non-billable categories, and write-offs should be part of the core logic, not workarounds. Software that handles these cleanly usually requires less pre-billing correction.
Pre-Billing Review Workflow
The ability to review, edit, and approve time before invoicing is where many tools fall short. Pay attention to how easily entries can be adjusted without breaking reporting or audit trails, especially in environments with partner review or shared matters.
Reporting Format and Export Quality
Reports should reflect how time is actually reviewed and billed, not just how it is tracked. Matter summaries, detailed narratives, and clean exports matter more than dashboards when invoices are prepared or questioned by clients.
Practical Daily Use
Adoption shows up in consistency. Software that allows quick entries, supports mobile use, and does not interrupt legal work tends to produce more complete timesheets over time. Friction here almost always turns into lost billable time later.
Top 10 Time Tracking Software for Lawyers
The table below compares time tracking software for lawyers based on how well each tool fits legal billing workflows and how it is priced relative to other solutions on the market. The focus is on practical differences that affect time capture, pre-billing review, and overall cost, rather than feature volume or marketing claims. If you want to learn more about how each tool works in practice, keep reading for a detailed breakdown.
1. actiTIME
Key features:
- Automatic and offline time tracking
- Mobile app
- Powerful reporting
- Billing and payroll
Why it works for lawyers: actiTIME is strong where billing discipline matters. It handles billable vs non-billable time cleanly, supports matter-level reporting through projects, and offers detailed pre-billing reports that make write-downs and reviews predictable rather than reactive.
actiTIME lawyer time tracking used by firms that bill by the hour and require consistent, reviewable time records across multiple timekeepers. It is typically used to record work by client and matter, separate billable and non-billable time, and produce detailed timesheets that can be reviewed before billing. The system is often adopted by firms that want more control over time data and reporting rather than automated case management.
The platform supports structured time tracking with the following capabilities:
- A neat, navigable timesheet with full project scopes and deadlines
- A process dedicated to approving or rejecting timesheets, ensuring that all hours are properly recorded before payroll
- Access to timesheets of any employees, granting you the ability to confirm stats and hours across projects and staff members
- Personal time-track reminders to prompt you and your staff to be vigilant in their time tracking
When compared with legal practice time tracking solutions, actiTIME stands out for its significantly lower cost while maintaining robust capabilities.
We reduced payroll processing to 45 minutes per week
actiTIME is very robust, integrated well into your business process, and most importantly, helps you focus on your business instead of monkeying around with technology. actiTIME has reduced our payroll processing from 4-6 hours per week to 45 minutes per week.
2. Amberlo
Key features:
- Legal calendaring
- Contact management
- Expense tracking
- Billing
Why it works for lawyers: Amberlo combines time tracking with matter and contact management so that entries flow directly into billing and reporting. Seamless transitions between clients and matters reduce reconstruction work and improve accuracy in billable records.
Amberlo is a comprehensive lawyer time tracking solution for managing pretty much every aspect of performance in legal firms. It includes handy features for document management and email management that help to keep information-sharing in check and make the communication process more streamlined and organized. It lets you convert time tracking results into accurate invoices and robust performance reports, so it’s easy to bill clients and see how productive and efficient your overall processes are.
As a software tool for legal practitioners, Amberlo also contains some helpful industry-specific features. They are matter management, legal calendaring, and rates management.
3. OfficeTime
Key features:
- Flexible setup
- Billing
- Reminders
- Mobile app
Why it works for lawyers: A straightforward, device-agnostic tracking solution that fits lawyers who want minimal setup and consistent timers across desktop, mobile, and wearables. The simplicity helps reduce missed entries on the go.
OfficeTime is another time tracking software for lawyers platform meant to be used on a variety of devices. In fact, you can even get stats right on your smartwatch!
They provide some perks for using their software, such as no monthly fees (instead, they utilize a one-time fee), guaranteed satisfaction, and a desirable UX experience. Of course, you’ll have to see for yourself if it works for you, but they boast to be a top contender.
As with any time trackers on this list, make sure to check out testimonials and see what other users have to say. Reading others’ reviews is an excellent way to gauge a product’s worth.
4. CosmoLex
Key features:
- Legal practice management
- Accounting compliance
- Payment management
- Billing
Why it works for lawyers: CosmoLex embeds time tracking into a full law-centric practice platform with accounting and trust compliance, so billable hours sit right alongside accounting records without extra reconciliation.
ComsoLex is another great platform for the law niche, as it was created with lawyers in mind. From case management to running a law office, to retainer accounting, you’ll find several ways of tracking your time with this high-quality software.
CosmoLex has various categories dedicated to law, such as legal practice management, law office accounting, legal billing and payments, and more. Lawyers are in a niche industry deserving of its own products, and CosmoLex delivers in that regard.
5. Clio
Key features:
- Case info management
- Billing and payments
- Software integrations
- Task management
Why it works for lawyers: Clio’s tight integration of time, tasks, and billing means time entries don’t get lost in handoffs — they flow directly into invoices and matter histories, which eases the administrative burden on attorneys and staff.
Since the global shift to working from home, many lawyers began to run their offices from inside their houses. Clio promises to work with remote employees to make running a firm easy and convenient as if you were in the office.
Clio gives the tools to organize your contacts, manage your caseload, and generate bills (getting you paid faster). All in all, it’s a great way to track time and get paid what you deserve.
6. MyCase
Key features:
- Case management
- Lead management
- Billing
- Integrations
Why it works for lawyers: Time entries originate inside matters and cases, so there’s less later cleanup and fewer unbilled minutes. Its positioning as a legal practice platform helps keep time capture and billing aligned.
With a name like MyCase, you’ll know that this program is designated for lawyers and attorneys.
Managing a heavy caseload isn’t always easy. The creators of MyCase know that – so they’ve created this platform for organizing and reporting on your tasks in a financially-accurate way. You’ll find simple and straightforward ways to track your time.
No matter what your expertise, we’re all in the business of making money. Any incorrectly-recorded tasks can harm the bottom line! With that being said, MyCase can surely provide major financial and productivity-related advantages you seek.
7. Time59
Key features:
- Invoicing
- Expense tracking
- Trust accounting
- Payment collection
Why it works for lawyers: Focused on billing for small and solo firms, Time59 combines straightforward time capture with invoicing and trust accounting features, making it a compact option for lawyers who prioritize getting paid accurately and quickly.
Time59 is an ideal lawyer time tracking software for small or solo law firms. Their main focus is billing, which means you’ll get paid on time and accurately to boot.
Of course, although billing is of the utmost importance, it’s essential to find a well-rounded platform that gets you more bang for your buck – like the services provided at actiTIME.
8. MyBilledTime
Key features:
- Intuitive interface
- Mobile access
- Straightforward reports
- Billing
Why it works for lawyers: Quick entry from phones reduces entry friction for busy lawyers. It’s lightweight and straightforward, which helps ensure time gets logged even when lawyers aren’t at a desk.
This service is a tad different from the others, taking its primary shape in a phone application.
It’s simple and straightforward lawyer time tracking software, prompting lawyers to track their time through their mobile devices, which then regurgitates charts perfect for those visual folks. Since you’ll likely always have a cellphone on you, it’s certainly a convenient app – but MyBilledTime could leave you wanting more. However, it could be a nice supplement to the other platforms listed here.
9. Chrometa
Key features:
- Automated time tracking
- Productivity management
- Progress tracking
- Integrations
Why it works for lawyers: Runs silently in the background and auto-captures activities that might otherwise be missed, turning passive work (emails, docs, calls) into billable data without interrupting legal work.
Chrometa makes lawyer time tracking as effortless and distraction-free as can be. It runs silently in the background while you’re solving your tasks and keeps a precise record of hours spent on work.
Another valuable feature of this software is business metrics tracking. It lets you define your budgeting and billing goals, collect performance data and analyze how successful you are meeting the set objectives. In other words, Chrometa is of tremendous assistance in automating routine tasks, progress tracking, and business decision-making.
10. eBility
Key features:
- Payroll
- Billing
- Productivity management
- Scheduling
Why it works for lawyers: While not legal-specific, its broad device access and straightforward time plus billing features make it an option for lawyers who want cross-platform tracking without heavy setup.
eBility provides the working economy with another solid choice of lawyer time tracking. It is suitable for various industries: healthcare, engineering, retail, and of course, law. It allows users to track things like payroll, productivity, billing, and other important financial and time-related subjects.
If you’re on the go, access eBility from your tablet or smartphone. If you’re working from home, eBility is available from the desktop, too. Since lawyers tend to conduct business all over their neighborhoods, it’s crucial to have access no matter where you are.
Time Tracking Software for Lawyers Will Save You Valuable Time: It’s a No-Brainer!
There aren’t too many utilitarian ways to leverage your career path as a lawyer. That’s why you need to take support wherever you can get it. In this case, you’ve got ways to optimize your time, reach deadlines, manage multiple cases, and still come out on time.
Of all the great time trackers here, which will you choose?
Consider giving actiTIME a try first, as we can guarantee an intelligent, user-friendly, data-driven experience – in other words, only the best for you, a server of your community. Click here to try it for free: a fully-functional, 30-day trial that helps you customize your workflow, communicate with your staff, and track your tasks and hours. We look forward to helping you make your job easier!
