Best Time Tracking Software for Startups and SMEs

Best Time Tracking Software for Startups and SMEs

Best Time Tracking Software for Startups and SMEs

The old way of time tracking ➡ ️ no system is in place, and employees are asked to enter their log-in/log-out records manually. Result? 

Incorrect inputs, no syncing between payroll and time tracking, unnecessary hassle during salary calculation and using spreadsheets to make things worse. 

The new way of time tracking ➡️ using one of the best time management tools. 

But which features should you look for in a time management tool? Which is the best time-tracking software for your organisation? 

We will answer all these questions in this article.

Essential Features to Look Out for in the Best Time Tracking Software

Essential Features to Look Out for in the Best Time Tracking Software

Essential Features to Look Out for in the Best Time Tracking Software

If an employee loses 15 minutes daily, it translates to over 60 hours of lost productivity per year/employee. That’s precisely why you need time-tracking software - to prevent time theft, and its resultant costs and manage your projects better. However, finding the right time tracker for your business is challenging.

To simplify things, here’s a list of the features (for HR professionals and employees) you must look for in a time-tracking tool

Features for HR

  • Automated and accurate tracking of work hours, including multiple clock-in and clock-out (start/stop)

  • Automatic and manual time entry and regularisation methods to adjust time gaps, if required

  • Detailed reports on average time spent on tasks and projects, productivity reports, weekly timesheet reports, etc.

  • Integration with payroll/ accounting, HR, communication, and project management systems

  • Executive dashboards highlighting critical metrics like average time spent, quarterly client billing, employee overtime, etc.

Features for Employees

  • Timesheets to check and confirm logged hours before submission

  • Mobile app or mobile-responsive browser to track time and create entries on the go

  • Integration with personal calendars for time entry and scheduling

  • Target time setting for specific tasks or projects to improve productivity

  • Automated clock in/out functionality

  • Employee dashboards to track hours worked, overtime, absence/leaves, monthly/weekly attendance, etc

List of the Best Time Tracking Software for Small Business

List of the Best Time Tracking Software for Small Business

List of the Best Time Tracking Software for Small Business

  • Craze

  • Desktime

  • Clockify

  • TMetric

  • Hubstaff

  • Harvest

  • RescueTime

  • Toggl

  • Clicktime

  • Replicon

Quick Comparison of Top Three Time Tracking Software

Quick Comparison of Top Three Time Tracking Software

Quick Comparison of Top Three Time Tracking Software

Tool name:

Craze

  • Pros: Effortless time tracking within the desktop or mobile browser

  • Cons: No mobile app as of now, but the web app makes up for it

  • Ideal for: Startups and SMEs with a team of less than 100 employees looking for affordable pricing without feature lock-ins

  • Starting price: ₹80/person/month

Clockify

  • Pros: Time tracking and detailed reports like summary time reports

  • Cons: Limited task functionality and too many features on the dashboard

  • Ideal for: Small to large enterprises looking for advanced time-tracking features and reporting capabilities

  • Starting price: $4.99 seat/month

Toggl Track

  • Pros: Intuitive tool and reporting capabilities

  • Cons: Distracting popups and complex analytics

  • Ideal for: Small to large businesses looking for basic time-tracking features

  • Starting price: $10/user/ month

10 Best Employee Time Tracking Software

10 Best Employee Time Tracking Software

10 Best Employee Time Tracking Software

Here, we have shortlisted the best time-tracking software for small businesses. Before selecting anyone, look closely at its features, use cases, pricing plans, and pros and cons (collected from review platforms like G2 and Capterra)

  1. Craze

craze

Craze is the newest player on the block but its seamless time-tracking and automatic syncing with payroll and leave management make it our top choice. Designed for SMEs and startups, Craze’s time-tracking software addresses the challenge all startups struggle with using spreadsheets to track attendance.

With Craze, replace your spreadsheets with browser-based software. It simplifies clocking in and out activities and corrects time tracking flows. Employees can self-serve to provide attendance without involving HR teams

craze attendance clock in

Craze helps you create accurate timesheets, highlighting critical metrics like hours worked, leaves, work days, etc. With a quick search in your centralised employee database, you can download an employee’s specific timesheet for a specific time.

craze attendance timeline

Craze also integrates with your payroll and leaves software to calculate salaries accurately and reduces the hassle of manual payroll calculation.

Craze best features

  • Easy time tracking within an all-in-one admin dashboard

  • Quick access to employees’ work schedules and downloading time sheets as and when required

  • Highly configurable to add your tailored leave policies

  • Employee-friendly leave settings and a self-serve portal for employees to mark their clock-in and out records

  • Regularisation requests for clock-in and clock-out

  • Geo-tagging option to restrict clock-in and clock-out locations

  • Downloadable timesheets

  • Loss of Pay or Overtime pay configurations

  • Auto sync with payroll to calculate customised salary components for employees and contractors

craze signup

Pros

  • Configurable and scalable solution that helps growing companies add new features and policies to their time tracking system on the go

  • 24/7 genuine support from subject matter experts to help your HR team with their queries

  • Transparent pricing, no minimum commitments or hidden charges

  • Quick account set-up and fast onboarding, and you need only half-day to get your account up and running

testimonials

Cons

  • Craze doesn’t have a mobile application yet, but the web app makes up for it

Ideal for: Startups and SMEs with less than 100 employees looking for an affordable time tracking software that doesn’t gate features

Pricing

  • Growth: Explicitly designed for startups, this plan is perfect for teams of any size and costs only ₹40 /month per person for all advanced HR features such as a centralised employee database, reporting, document management, etc. For time tracking features, you need to pay an additional ₹40 /month per person

  • Custom: This plan is perfect for enterprises with 100+ employee teams and specific use cases. Craze creates custom plans and features for these companies and follows a custom pricing structure

  1. DeskTime

desktime

DeskTime is an automatic time tracker that starts when your computer is switched on and stops when you shut down. The time-tracking tool updates work progress, informing who’s doing what and when.

DeskTime best features

  • View the team’s real-time work hours data at any time for appraisal and workload distribution

  • Time tracking stops if the system stays idle for more than 3 minutes with automatic break detection

  • Add offline time automatically or manually with admin approval

Pros

  • It helps track productivity hours

  • Easy to implement and integrate with existing tools

Cons

  • The task timer doesn't track tasks if the system is idle and then logs the end of the task, creating time gaps. These gaps need manual entry and adjustments

  • The software refreshes every 5 minutes if the user is not on the system

Ideal for: SMEs looking for basic automatic time-tracking without custom integrations or extra features

Pricing

  • DeskTime Lite: ₹0 for one user only with access to automatic time tracking, idle time, and web timer. No access to offline, calendar, and private time

  • Pro: ₹400/ user/month with no access to integrations and APIs

  • Premium: ₹560/ user/month with feature lock-ins

  • Enterprise: ₹1120/ user/month with access to all features

  1. Clockify

The third on our list is Clockify, which helps track employee productivity and work hours across projects. It is one of the best time-tracking software that offers reporting capabilities for monitoring the time spent on each app, task, and project.

clockify

Clockify best features

  • Auto tracker to track the time spent across websites and apps, record activities, and create entries from records

  • Timesheets to categorise and log the time spent on different tasks

  • Set up kiosks for specific employees and clock in with a PIN code from shared devices

Pros

  • Time tracking by project and tasks helps record time spent on each

  • Detailed reports like summary time reports, weekly timesheet reports, forecast progress, project status, etc,

Cons

  • Limited adding task functionality

  • There are too many small features that make the dashboard confusing

Ideal for: Small to large enterprises looking for advanced time-tracking features and reporting capabilities

Pricing

  • Free: $0 with access to auto-tracker, Pomodoro timer, timesheet, and other features

  • Basic: $4.99 per seat/month with no access to time off, lock time, rounding, customisation kiosk, and invoicing features

  • Pro: $9.99 per seat/month with feature lock-ins

  • Enterprise: $14.99 per seat/month with access to custom sub-domain, control accounts, SSO, and audit log

  • CAKE.com Bundle: $15.99 per seat/month with access to all features and apps in the CAKE.com suite

  1. TMetric

tmetric

TMetric simplifies time tracking, allowing users to monitor time spent across apps and websites. The tool automatically tracks time on tasks, creates entries, and generates time reports.

TMetric best features

  • Automatic time tracking on tasks and projects to capture billable hours with automated break detection

  • Offline feature to track time without internet connectivity

  • Detailed reports, including task summary, team summary, activity summary reports, etc.

Pros

  • Clean and intuitive interface for efficient time tracking

  • Activity screenshots to maintain transparency and accountability

Cons

  • The software crashes or bugs out, often causing issues with time-tracking

  • Advanced features like calendar integrations are lacking in the free version

Ideal for: SMEs looking to automate employee time-tracking with basic software

Pricing

  • A 30-day free trial is available on all plans

  • Free: $0 with no access to timesheets, Calendar integrations, task management, and more

  • Professional: $5/ month with time tracking features. No access to the time-off calendar and team dashboard

  • Business: $7/ month with access to all features

  1. Hubstaff

hubstaff

Hubstaff productivity tool that automates time-tracking processes and monitors employee productivity metrics. The tool unifies time-tracking, invoicing, and payroll, ensuring accuracy.

Hubstaff best features

  • Timesheets to track the time spent on projects and tasks and use the data for invoicing and payroll

  • Time and activity reports for insights into team productivity and project performance

  • Time clock app to track employee time and clock in and out from mobile devices

Pros

  • Automatic logging of hours spent on tasks

  • Report customisation to highlight metrics that matter to users

Cons

  • The tool considers the time spent on calls or meetings as idle time and doesn’t log it

  • Automatic screenshots may be distracting and uncomfortable for employees

Ideal for: SMEs with 50 or more employees looking for basic time-tracking automation

Pricing

  • Starter: $7 per seat/ month with at least two seats. It includes time tracking and a two-day email support SLA. No access to reports, integrations, and chat support

  • Grow: $9 per seat/ month with at least two seats, including one integration and a one-day email support SLA. No advanced features like unlimited screenshots, app and URL tracking, etc.

  • Team: $12 per seat/ month with at least two seats with no assigned account rep for support

  • Enterprise: $25 per seat/ month, billed annually with access to all features, assigned account rep, concierge setup, and two-hour email support SLA

  1. Harvest

harvest

Harvest simplifies time tracking across projects. It integrates time-tracking, reporting, and invoicing features to maintain team productivity and payroll accuracy.

Harvest best features

  • Custom reminders for teams for consistent time tracking

  • Visual reports to monitor time spent on projects, employee workload, and internal costs

  • Create and send invoices using employee time-tracking data and automatically copy invoices to the payroll/ accounting system

Pros

  • Detailed report breakdown of time spent on each activity and project, which helps in planning and resource allocation

  • The software is easy to use, functional, and flexible enough to meet business needs

Cons

  • The tool lacks advanced customisations and data analysis tools

  • The UI gets cluttered when managing many users

Ideal for: Small to large businesses looking for basic time-tracking functionalities

Pricing

  • Harvest: $0 with one seat and two projects

  • Harvest Pro: $12 per seat/ month with unlimited seats and projects

  1. RescueTime

rescuetime

The next on our list is RescueTime, an automatic time tracker that tracks time spent on websites and apps. The tool generates detailed reports on who spent time, where, and what hindered productivity.

RescueTime best features

  • Timesheets AI to track projects and ensure accuracy in billing

  • Real-time distraction alerts to keep users on track

  • RescueTime Assistant to check meeting schedules, alerts, and hourly tasks completed or in progress

Pros

  • It helps block distractions from mobiles and laptops during work hours

  • It helps set goals and track time spent on every app

Cons

  • Limited report types

  • Outdated UI

Ideal for: SMEs with 50+ employees looking for basic time-tracking automation

Pricing

Not available on the website

  1. Toggl Track

toggltrack

Toggl Track is one of the best time-tracking software for small businesses. The tool monitors billable hours, generates timesheet reports, and balances workload to improve productivity.

Toggl Track best features

  • Track employee time on multiple platforms, get time reports and export them to relevant users

  • Custom time-reporting system to generate timesheets, detailed time logs, and track project performance

  • Generate invoices for billable hours from real-time tracking reports to streamline invoicing

Pros

  • Clean and intuitive user interface

  • Detailed reports make client invoicing easy

Cons

  • There are many distracting pop-ups in the web tool

  • Sometimes, it is challenging to analyse the report data

Ideal for: Small to large businesses and freelancers/ solopreneurs looking for basic time-tracking features

Pricing

  • Free: $0 for up to 5 users with automated time tracking and other basic features

  • Starter: $10 per user/ month with custom reporting, time rounding for reports, etc. No access to time-tracking reminders, timesheets, and other features

  • Enterprise: Custom pricing with access to all features and customisable solutions

  1. ClickTime

clicktime

ClickTime is time and resource management software that simplifies time tracking and project management. The tool monitors employee time on projects and helps plan hours and set time goals.

ClickTime best features

  • Track employee hours, overtime, time off, and expenses to streamline approvals and reimbursements

  • Auto-save time entries and week view pages for record

  • Executive dashboards to view key metrics, like client billings, total monthly billable revenue, etc.

Pros

  • Auto-saves time entries so users don’t lose work

  • Easy to track time on projects and import data to billing systems like Quickbooks

Cons

  • The UI isn’t quick; it is difficult to find specific task-related items

  • The web version takes time to load when switching sheets or selecting options

Ideal for: SMEs looking for basic time-tracking automation and invoicing features

Pricing

  • Starter: $15 per user/month for up to 25 users with no access to time off management

  • Team: $19 per user/month for up to 200 users with feature lock-ins and no access to account manager

  • Premier: $31 per user/month for up to 200 users with no custom integrations

  • Enterprise: Custom pricing based on selected features

  1. Replicon

replicon

The final name on our list is Replicon, a unified time-tracking software for billing, project management, pay, and compliance. The tool automatically captures, analyses, and optimises employee time to improve productivity.

Replicon best features

  • Track real-time task progress and set targets for improved productivity

  • Generate compliant timesheets with built-in compliance and rules engine to comply with business policies

  • Dashboards to view key metrics, like client profitability, monthly billable clients, top projects by costs, etc.

Pros

  • Intuitive interface

  • Reliable customer support

Cons

  • Report customisation is complex

  • For admins, the backend processes and finding reports are complicated

Ideal for: Enterprises looking for project and resource management software with basic time-tracking features

Pricing

Project time tracking: It starts at $12/ month, with feature lock-ins and extra charges for TimeBill, ProjectTime, time off, etc.

How to Select the Best Time Management Tools?

How to Select the Best Time Management Tools?

How to Select the Best Time Management Tools?

Your time-tracking tool may have 10/10 features, but what if it has a cluttered interface?! Apart from features, there are certain ‘other aspects’ of software you must look for. Here’s a list.

  • How user-friendly is the interface? Opt for a clean and intuitive UI that reduces your training efforts

  • Is the time tracking accurate? Check if the tool provides precise time measurements to help with client billings

  • Is the tool value for money? Look for tools that offer advanced features and integrations at affordable prices. Also, check for feature lock-ins, minimum user commitments, and hidden charges 

  • What integrations does the software offer? Does it offer custom integrations? Look for tools that are compatible with your existing payroll and accounting systems

  • Is the tool scalable? Can it handle a larger workforce and more data volumes? Check if the software is flexible enough to accommodate growing business needs

  • What level of support is available? Do the support services change according to pricing plans? Look for a tool that offers 24/7 dedicated support regardless of your chosen plan

Conclusion

Conclusion

Conclusion

Appropriate time-tracking software helps HR teams monitor an employee’s working hours. It is a must for organisations with a diverse workforce, where most employees work from different time zones. 

Our list of best time-tracking software is in front of you. Make your choice wisely.

If you need our recommendation, we will be bold and say it: go for Craze. 

Yeah, it sounds biassed, but give us a chance to explain why Craze is the right fit for you: 

  • You are building a people operating system that handles HR, finance, and IT within a single dashboard 

  • You need a break from the existing time tracking tools that gate most of their features for expensive, premium plans 

  • You need a support team that cares enough to get back to your queries faster 

Craze does it all. Book a demo to see Craze in action:

craze signup

FAQs

FAQs

FAQs

What is the cost of time-tracking software in India?

Time tracking software in India ranges from free plans to ₹1,120 per user per month. Prices vary based on features, number of users, and whether it's for startups or larger enterprises.

Why should I implement a time tracking software?

Time tracking software helps prevent time theft, improves productivity, ensures accurate billing, simplifies payroll calculations, and provides insights into employee work patterns and project time allocation.

What are the key things to look for in time-tracking software?

Look for user-friendliness, accuracy, value for money, integrations with existing systems, scalability, and quality customer support. Also, consider the interface and whether it meets your specific business needs.

What features should I look for in time-tracking software?

Key features include automated time tracking, detailed reports, integration of payroll and project management systems, mobile accessibility, offline tracking, employee dashboards, and customisable timesheets.

Does time-tracking software offer built-in features for payroll and core HR?

Yes, time-tracking software like Craze has a strong core HR and built-in payroll software that syncs deeply in real time.

What are the different pricing models in time tracking software?

It is per-user-based. Some companies have feature gating and minimum users. Craze doesn't have restrictions and has transparent pricing.

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