Professionals who track time with dedicated software recover an average of 20% more billable hours than those using spreadsheets or memory. For a solo consultant billing $150/hour, that’s a significant revenue difference each month — before accounting for the time saved on manual invoicing.
Picking the right tool isn’t obvious. Some are built for freelancers who want a simple timer and a PDF invoice. Others are designed for agencies managing dozens of projects across multiple clients, with billing rate hierarchies, budget alerts, and payroll exports built in.
This post reviews 10 billable hours trackers for 2026 — covering what each does well, where it falls short, who it’s actually built for, and what it costs.
What Is a Billable Hours Tracker?
A billable hours tracker is software that records the time spent on client work, assigns the appropriate billing rate, and converts logged hours into invoices. It separates billable time (work a client pays for) from non-billable time (internal meetings, admin tasks, unbilled revisions), giving you an accurate picture of both what to charge and where your team’s time actually goes.
Beyond simple time logging, most dedicated trackers include: multiple billing rates per project or client, invoice generation from logged time, budget tracking and alerts, and reports showing profitability by client, project, or team member.
Billable hours tracker vs. time tracker: A general time tracker records hours worked. A billable hours tracker goes further — it ties those hours to billing rates, generates client-facing invoices, and tells you whether a project made or lost money.
How to Choose a Billable Hours Tracker
Before committing to a tool, answer these five questions:
- Do you need invoicing built in? Some tools track time and stop there — you export the data and invoice separately. Others generate client-ready invoices directly from logged hours. If you bill clients regularly, built-in invoicing saves significant time.
- How complex are your billing rates? Simple use cases (one rate per client) work with almost any tool. If you need different rates per project, task type, or team member — or if you bill some work at a flat fee and some hourly — check whether the tool supports that before signing up.
- Is there a free plan, or do you need a trial? Several tools on this list offer free plans with real functionality (not just a 14-day trial). If budget is tight, start with those.
- Does your team work remotely? Remote and hybrid teams need integrations with Slack or Teams for notifications, mobile apps for on-the-go logging, and GPS or screenshot features if monitoring field staff.
- Do you need payroll or accounting integration? If billable hours data needs to flow into QuickBooks, Xero, or payroll software, verify the integration is native (not just a CSV export) before committing.
Best Billable Hours Trackers Compared
1. actiTIME — Best Billable Hours Tracker for Teams Needing Time Tracking, Budgeting, and Invoicing in One Place
Key features:
- Automated time tracking
- Custom billing rates
- Branded invoices
- Cost monitoring
- Visual charts and reports
- Integrations
- Mobile app
actiTIME is a powerful and user-friendly time tracking software that simplifies the way companies manage their billable and non-billable hours. It offers a wealth of handy features for project management, task tracking, and team performance analysis, which help to increase productivity and manage resources in a truly efficient way.
actiTIME has two separate rate systems that work together. Billing rates are assigned to types of work — you define work categories (Design, Development, Consulting, etc.), set a rate for each, and link tasks to the appropriate type. Time logged against any task
automatically picks up the correct billing rate and calculates the billable amount. No
manual math.
Separately, cost of work rates are set per employee — what it actually costs you
internally to employ that person per hour. These internal costs feed into the Profit/Loss
Report alongside billing amounts, so you can see at a glance whether a project made or
lost money, not just what you invoiced.
Invoices are generated directly from approved timesheet data — billable amounts, rates, and subtotals are pulled in automatically. You can adjust billing rates or add a client discount before sending, and the system recalculates everything. The final invoice downloads as a PDF and can sync to QuickBooks via integration.
Pros: User-friendly interface, customizable reports, project management features, integration options, mobile app.
Cons: May require some initial setup and configuration before use.
Best for: Teams that need time tracking, project budgeting, and client invoicing without paying premium per-user rates.
Pricing: Starting from $5 per user a month; free version available.
2. Accelo — Best for Service Businesses Managing Retainers and Recurring Client Work
Key features:
- Automated time tracking
- Invoice templates
- Payment reminders
- Payment processing
Accelo is built for the messiness of service business billing — retainers that reset monthly, projects billed at different rates, and clients who get a mix of fixed-fee and hourly work. Rather than retrofitting a simple time tracker, it’s designed from the
ground up for this complexity.
The billing system handles recurring payments, automated payment reminders, and online payment processing. The dashboard tracks outstanding invoices and overdue payments across all clients in one view — useful for agencies or consultancies managing ten or more active client accounts at once.
Billing is configurable down to the pricing tier, tax rate, and discount level. Bulk invoicing and templates reduce the admin overhead of clients who need recurring invoices in identical formats.
The trade-off is price and learning curve. Accelo is the most expensive tool on this list and takes longer to configure than simpler alternatives. For a two-person consultancy, that overhead is probably not worth it. For a 15-person agency with complex billing
arrangements, it is.
Pros: Comprehensive project management features, time tracking integration, invoicing capabilities, CRM functionality.
Cons: Complex interface for beginners, can be expensive for small teams or freelancers.
Best for: Service businesses managing client retainers, recurring projects, and multiple billing arrangements simultaneously.
Pricing: Starting from $24 per module and user a month (minimum 5 users).
3. Dovico — Best for Project-Oriented Teams with Complex Billing Rules
Key features:
- One-click timers
- Cost management
- Multiple currencies
- Scheduled reports
Dovico’s billing configuration is more granular than most tools on this list. You can set different billing rates for each team member, each task type, and override them on a project-by-project basis. For consulting firms where a senior partner’s billable rate is $300/hour and a junior analyst’s is $85/hour — and both work on the same project — this kind of control matters.
The billing reports are detailed enough to share directly with clients: hours per task, rate applied, and total — organized exactly as the invoice will read. That transparency tends to reduce billing disputes before they start.
Dovico also handles project budget tracking alongside time, so you can see in real time when a project is approaching its budget ceiling before you’ve already overrun it.
Pros: Customizable reports, project tracking, expense tracking, mobile app.
Cons: Limited invoicing features, lacks advanced project management capabilities.
Best for: Project-oriented companies that need custom billing rules per team member and per task, not just a flat hourly rate.
Pricing: Starting from $9 per user a month.
4. Timeular — Best for Freelancers Who Want Physical + Automatic Time Capture
Key features:
- Physical time tracking device
- One-click timers
- Budget tracking
- Accurate reports
Timeular is a cloud-based software that comes with a nifty little gadget for tracking time in a fun and intuitive way. Simply flip the device to switch between different activities and let Timeular handle the rest – it’s like having a personal time wizard in your pocket!
Thanks to Timeular’s smart time tracking system, you can record the exact time you spend on each project and task. Simply assign unique billing rates to each project or client, and you can quickly and easily generate invoices based on the hours you’ve logged. This means no more manual calculations or spreadsheets – just accurate billing, every time.
On top of that, with Timeular, you can set project-level budgets and track them in real time. This way, you’ll always know how much budget you have left and can make all the necessary adjustments to stay on track.
Pros: Unique physical device for tracking time, integration with digital apps, easy to switch between tasks.
Cons: Relies on physical device, limited reporting options, may not be suitable for field workers.
Best for: Innovative startups, freelancers, and independent consultants.
Pricing: Starting from $7.50 for the Personal plan, $11.70 for the Personal Pro plan, and $15.80 for the Team plan (per user a month).
5. Apploye — Best Billable Hours Tracker for Remote and Field Teams
Key features:
- Budget management
- Invoices with fixed fees
- Hourly billing
- Employee monitoring
Apploye is a powerful time tracking and employee monitoring software that ensures maximum productivity and efficiency in the workplace. With features like GPS tracking, website and app usage monitoring, and customized reports, Apploye is the perfect tool for managers who want to keep a close eye on their team’s activities.
With its robust and intuitive client billing system, Apploye makes sure that no penny goes unaccounted for.
For starters, it supports multiple billing rates, so you can easily track billable hours for different clients and projects. Then, you can easily create and send invoices to clients with just a few clicks.
Apploye makes sure that your invoices are professional-looking, accurate, and perfectly tailored to your client’s needs. You can customize invoices to fit your brand, while still including all the necessary information, such as client name, project details, and payment terms. You can even add your own logo or stamp to make it look legit.
Pros: Simplicity, time tracking with screenshots, activity monitoring, payroll management.
Cons: Limited reporting options may not be suitable for larger teams or complex projects.
Best for: Businesses with remote teams and field workforce.
Pricing: Starting from $2 for the Solo plan, and $2.5 per user a month for the Standard plan for teams.
6. Day.io — Best for Small Teams Combining Task Management and Time Tracking
Key features:
- Transparent reports
- QuickBooks integration
- Cost tracking
- Multiple currencies
Day.io is a handy productivity tool for modern-day professionals, combining the best features of a to-do list, calendar, and project management tool in one sleek interface. It takes the hassle out of organizing your schedule and ensuring that nothing falls through the cracks.
With Day.io, you can easily create tasks and assign billing rates to them to ensure accurate and consistent billing for your clients. You can also quickly and efficiently review and approve employee timesheets to rest assured that you only bill your clients for the work that was actually done. No more overbilling or underbilling – everything is crystal clear and accurate.
Pros: Minimalistic interface, quick time tracking, project and task management features.
Cons: Limited reporting capabilities, lacks advanced features like invoicing.
Best for: Small teams and uncomplicated projects.
Pricing: Free for up to 5 users; paid plans start at $5 per seat a month.
7. timegram — Best for Remote Teams That Hate Manual Time Entry
Key features:
- Automated invoicing
- Estimate tracking
- Productivity reports
- Alerts
This one is a simple app to track billable hours and employee activities that finally puts an end to the dreaded task of manual data collection. With its fully automated time tracking process, detailed reports, and simple interface, timegram makes counting your minutes a breeze.
We all want to get paid for every minute we work. And with timegram’s precision, you won’t accidentally forget a single task (and the money you deserve).
The system tracks every minute spent on work automatically and allows you to set billing rates for tasks. Then, with just a few clicks, timegram generates a super accurate invoice for your client – no more late nights spent hunched over your computer, struggling to create a professional-looking invoice.
Pros: Simple and intuitive interface, multiple timers for tracking multiple tasks simultaneously.
Cons: Limited reporting options, lacks advanced project management features.
Best for: Remote and hybrid teams where manual timer-starting is a recurring failure point.
Pricing: Use for free with limited data history and unlimited features or pay $8 per user a month / $72 per user a year.
8. Billable — Best for Remote Teams That Hate Manual Time Entry
Key features:
- One-click timers
- Reporting
- Desktop app for Mac
Billable is a simple time tracking solution created for those who value time and wish to make the most out of it. It contains a minimal number of features but includes all the most essential ones like automated timers and project reports.
Billable offers a no-brainer time tracking process and allows you to record time either by projects or clients:
- Simply create a project,
- Tag it as billable or non-billable,
- Start the timer when the work begins,
- Stop it when finished,
- Run a billing report to generate an accurate invoice,
- Export it to Excel if you wish.
That’s it!
Pros: Minimalist and easy-to-use interface, quick time tracking, export data to CSV or JSON format.
Cons: Lacks advanced features like project and taskmanagement.
Best for: Freelancers and agencies.
Pricing: Starting from $9 a month; free version available.
9. WebWork Time Tracker — Best for Remote Teams Needing Monitoring Alongside Billing
Key features:
- Employee monitoring
- Reports
- Invoicing
- Task management
WebWork Time Tracker is a cloud-based app designed to keep track of your employees’ work hours and improve productivity. It features real-time activity monitoring, GPS tracking, and comprehensive reporting, which make it a must-have for any business looking to stay in full control.
One of the best Web Work Time Tracker’s features is reporting. With just a few clicks, you can generate detailed reports on your billing amounts, broken down by client, project, or even by individual team members. This makes it easy to keep track of your billing and invoicing information and ensures that you’re always on top of your financials.
But of course, when it comes to financial data, security is key. That’s why WebWork Time Tracker has a range of user permissions to access financial data. You can control who has access to your billing information, and make sure that only the people who need to see it can view it.
Pros: User-friendly interface, detailed reports, screenshots and activity monitoring, invoicing capabilities.
Cons: Limited free version may require some initial setup and configuration.
Best for: Remote and hybrid teams.
Pricing: Starting from $4 dollars a month.
10. Billable Hours Tracker by Snappii — Best for Remote Teams Needing Monitoring Alongside Billing
Key features:
- Mobile app
- Simple time tracking
- Invoicing
- Data export
This one is an ingenious billable hours tracker app that helps you manage your time and bill clients accurately. With features like time tracking, invoicing, report generation, and data export, it’s the perfect tool for busy professionals who want to get paid what they’re worth while keeping things organized and easy.
Billable Hours Tracker has a built-in invoicing feature that allows you to generate professional-looking invoices in line with your preferred parameters. Then, you can send them to clients directly from the app or export them to PDF first.
The app also features a simple report on revenue statistics. But probably the best thing about it is that is fully customizable. You can tailor the invoicing form precisely to your needs and create a truly smooth client billing experience for yourself.
Pros: Mobile app for on-the-go tracking, customizable reports, export data to Excel or PDF format.
Cons: Limited features compared to more comprehensive tools, may not suit complex projects.
Best for: Freelancers, contractors, and other professionals who are always on the go.
Pricing: Starting from $17.00 a month for a private app and $250 for a public app.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a billable hours tracker?
A billable hours tracker is software that records the time spent on client work, assigns billing rates to that time, and converts it into invoices. It separates billable time (work a client pays for) from non-billable time (internal admin, unbilled revisions), giving you accurate data for both client invoicing and project profitability analysis.
What is the best free billable hours tracker?
actiTIME offers the most complete free plan on this list — up to 3 users with full access to billing rates, project budgets, and invoicing features, with no time limit. Timeular also has a free tier, though billing features require a paid plan. Most other tools on this list offer free trials (14 days) rather than permanent free plans.
What is the difference between billable and non-billable hours?
Billable hours are time spent directly on client work that you charge the client for — project execution, client calls, deliverable reviews. Non-billable hours are time that doesn’t appear on a client invoice: internal meetings, admin tasks, new business pitches, training, or time written off as a goodwill gesture. Most billing software lets you tag time as billable or non-billable at the task or project level.
Can I track billable hours on mobile?
Yes. Most tools on this list — including actiTIME, Apploye, WebWork Time Tracker, and Billable Hours Tracker by Snappii — offer iOS and Android apps. Snappii’s tracker is mobile-only. actiTIME’s mobile app covers time logging and leave requests but has fewer billing configuration options than the web version.
Which billable hours tracker works with QuickBooks?
actiTIME, Accelo, and Dovico all offer QuickBooks integration, allowing billable time data to flow directly into your accounting workflow. Apploye also supports QuickBooks export. If QuickBooks integration is a hard requirement, verify the integration is native (real-time sync) rather than a CSV export before committing to a tool.
How do I calculate billable hours?
Billable hours are calculated by multiplying the time logged on client work by the applicable billing rate. For example: 6.5 hours logged on a project at $150/hour = $975 billable. A billable hours tracker automates this — you set the rate, log the time, and the software calculates and formats the invoice. The key is logging time consistently, ideally in real time rather than reconstructing it at day’s end.
Conclusion
We’ve rounded up the 10 best billable hours trackers to help you invoice clients seamlessly and stay profitable. However, for a more feature-rich experience, automated workflows, in-depth reports, and smooth project tracking, we recommend giving actiTIME a try.
With its user-friendly interface and powerful tools, actiTIME is the perfect solution for any business striving to streamline its billing and invoicing processes.
Don’t let bad time management lead to decreased profits – sign up for a free actiTIME trial today!
