Six Top Time Tracking Tools for Project Management Teams

Monitoring how team members spend their time represents a critical element of effective project management. Automated time tracking systems eliminate manual data entry while providing visibility into resource allocation and project progress. Selecting the right platform requires balancing time tracking capabilities with broader project management features.

This guide examines six leading solutions, comparing their pricing structures, core functionality, integrations and suitability for different organizational needs. Each platform takes a distinct approach to time tracking, from specialized tools designed primarily for freelancers to enterprise-grade systems built for managing multiple complex initiatives.

Top project management time tracking software comparison

Wrike: Best for complex projects

Wrike delivers a comprehensive project management platform with integrated time tracking functionality that captures detailed information about task-level effort. The time tracking component provides managers with complete visibility into resource utilization across initiatives. Time management capabilities ship with Business and Enterprise tier subscriptions. Key advantages include automatic work hour logging, online invoice generation and timesheet administration.

Pricing

• Free: Unlimited users
• Team: $10.00 per user per month, billed annually
• Business: $25 per user per month, billed annually
• Enterprise: Custom pricing available upon request
• Pinnacle: Custom pricing available upon request

Standout features

• Wrike Lock cloud-based security tool provides additional data encryption
• Two-way synchronization with external software platforms
• Reporting and business intelligence capabilities for detailed analysis
• Budgeting and resource management functionality

Top integrations

• Google Drive
• Zoom
• Miro
• Microsoft OneDrive
• Tableau
• Slack
• Dropbox

Pros

• Responsive customer support team
• Free tier accommodates unlimited users
• Strong security infrastructure
• Custom branding available on Business plan and higher

Cons

• Limited customization capabilities
• Data import requires navigating numerous parameters
• Storage capped at under 15 GB across all plans except Pinnacle

Wrike stands out as a fully-featured project management solution that bundles time tracking alongside resource planning, budgeting and reporting tools. Organizations managing intricate projects with sufficient budget for premium tiers will find Wrike a compelling option.

ClickUp: Best for customization

ClickUp includes native time tracking across all paid subscription tiers, starting at just $7 monthly. The platform enables teams to document actual time invested in tasks while establishing time allocations. Users can assign time estimates to any task and distribute hours across team members. These estimates help teams understand workload expectations for individual tasks and subtasks.

Pricing

• Free: Unlimited users
• Unlimited: $7 per user per month if billed annually, or $10 per user per month if billed month-to-month
• Business: $12 per user per month if billed annually, or $19 per user per month if billed month-to-month
• Enterprise: Contact sales for custom pricing
• ClickUp AI: $5 per person per month add-on to any paid plan

Standout features

• ClickApps enable complete workspace customization to optimize workflows
• Fifteen distinct work views including calendar, Gantt and timeline formats
• Unlimited custom views, storage and project spaces on paid tiers
• Built-in video recording and chat messaging functionality

Top integrations

• Slack
• Webhooks
• Google Drive
• Outlook
• Microsoft Teams
• Zoom
• Hubspot
• Toggl

Pros

• Time tracking included on all paid plans
• Free tier delivers substantial feature set
• Intuitive and well-structured user interface
• Unlimited storage in higher-tier subscriptions

Cons

• Significant learning curve for new users
• Customization options may overwhelm some teams
• Custom user roles and permissions restricted to Enterprise plan

ClickUp differentiates itself by including native time tracking on all paid tiers rather than reserving it for premium subscriptions. Starting at $7 monthly when billed annually, the platform combines affordability with extensive customization and flexibility, making it adaptable across diverse teams and departments.

Smartsheet: Best for spreadsheet users

Smartsheet's resource management add-on unlocks a suite of time tracking capabilities including predictive timesheets, real-time budget monitoring, actual versus planned hour comparisons and mobile time tracking. The spreadsheet-style interface appeals to users comfortable with traditional spreadsheet applications. Beyond time tracking, Smartsheet incorporates analytics, reporting, data security and team collaboration features expected from leading project management platforms.

Pricing

• Free plan: No cost
• Pro: $9 per user per month billed annually, or $12 per user billed monthly
• Business: $19 per user per month billed annually, or $24 per user billed monthly
• Enterprise: Custom pricing available

Standout features

• Predictive timesheets simplify work tracking and hour adjustments
• Mobile app enables time entry from any location
• Project dashboard consolidates information in a single interface
• Collaboration tools encourage team coordination

Top integrations

• Slack
• Microsoft Teams
• Webex
• Power BI
• Adobe Creative Cloud
• Tableau
• Okta
• Jira

Pros

• Powerful automation capabilities
• Excellent flexibility with unlimited custom fields and sheets
• Over 350 templates available
• Spreadsheet-based design familiar to Excel users

Cons

• Time tracking requires purchasing the Resource Management add-on
• Free account limited to single user
• Autosave operates on a delayed schedule rather than in real-time

Smartsheet appeals to Excel-familiar users seeking traditionally-designed project management software. While it delivers advanced project management capabilities, accessing time tracking requires purchasing the optional Resource Management module.

Teamwork: Best for collaboration

Teamwork delivers robust time tracking functionality designed to maintain schedules, handle invoicing and budgeting, and leverage resources for maximum efficiency. The My Timesheets interface features straightforward design with minimal learning requirements. Time tracking tools allow rapid review of time data across entire projects or detailed examination of specific tasks. Teams can compare estimated, logged and actual hours for any project.

Pricing

• Free plan: No cost
• Starter: $5.99 per user per month, billed annually, or $8.99 per user billed monthly
• Deliver: $9.99 per user per month, billed annually, or $13.99 per user billed monthly
• Grow: $17.99 per user per month, billed annually, or $24.99 per user billed monthly
• Scale: Contact sales for custom pricing

Standout features

• Teamwork Chat enhances team collaboration
• Teamwork Spaces consolidates document management
• Client portal facilitates communication with external stakeholders
• Subtask and dependency features streamline task organization
• Multiple project views including Kanban and Gantt chart options

Top integrations

• HubSpot
• Microsoft Teams
• Slack
• Stripe
• Mailchimp
• Outlook
• Box
• DropBox

Pros

• Multiple visualization options for projects
• Accessible learning curve
• Integrated chat tool provides strong collaboration support
• Client portal and collaboration capabilities

Cons

• Free plan accommodates maximum 5 users
• Edits and modifications experience loading delays
• Company timesheets and time reminders require Grow plan upgrade

Teamwork distinguishes itself by offering time tracking and basic timesheet functionality across all plans, including the perpetually free option. The platform also provides multiple collaboration tools for internal and external communication, including a chat module and client portal, making it particularly valuable for teams working with external clients.

Clockify: Best for freelancers and small businesses

Clockify functions as a comprehensive time tracking platform, handling billable hour monitoring, project progress tracking, payroll management and employee productivity measurement. Operating as a cloud-based solution, it functions seamlessly across multiple devices. While lacking advanced project management capabilities, Clockify incorporates invoicing, reporting, budget management and other standard project management features.

Pricing

• Free plan: No cost
• Basic: $3.99 per user per month, billed annually, or $4.99 per user billed monthly
• Standard: $5.49 per user per month, billed annually, or $6.99 per user billed monthly
• Pro: $7.99 per user per month, billed annually, or $9.99 per user billed monthly
• Enterprise: $11.99 per user per month, billed annually, or $14.99 per user billed monthly

Standout features

• Kiosk setup allows employees to clock in and out
• Ability to log time for others and lock timesheets
• Unlimited time tracking available on all plans including free tier
• Automatic reminders to start and stop time tracking
• Custom billable rate configuration

Top integrations

• Evernote
• Google Calendar
• Asana
• Jira
• Trello
• Todoist
• Outlook
• Hubspot

Pros

• Unlimited users and projects across all subscription levels
• Helpful browser extension options
• Sophisticated time tracking functionality
• Clear and competitive pricing structure

Cons

• Reporting capabilities are basic
• PTO management requires paid plan upgrade
• Advanced project management features are absent

Clockify excels for organizations prioritizing time tracking over comprehensive project management functionality. It delivers some of the most advanced time tracking capabilities available, though this specialization means project management features remain less developed, making it unsuitable for managing intricate initiatives.

Microsoft Project: Best for experienced project teams

Microsoft Project provides an enterprise-level project management solution featuring exceptional time tracking tools. The platform enables tracking of task effort and progress toward project completion. Users can decompose large initiatives into smaller components, assign duration estimates and delegate work to colleagues with accompanying instructions.

Pricing

• Project Plan 1: $10 per user per month
• Project Plan 3: $30 per user per month
• Project Plan 5: $55 per user per month
• Project Standard 2021: $679.99 per license
• Project Professional 2021: $1,129.99 per license
• Project Server: Custom pricing available upon request

Standout features

• Priority and milestone configuration for task management
• Resource management to detect project bottlenecks
• Pre-built reports displaying progress and efficiency metrics
• Multiple project visualization options
• Interactive roadmap feature consolidating multiple projects into single view

Top integrations

• Microsoft Teams
• SharePoint
• OneDrive
• Excel
• Word
• Power BI

Pros

• Seamless compatibility with Microsoft product ecosystem
• Comprehensive scheduling and time tracking tools
• Resource management functionality included
• Advanced project planning and task management capabilities

Cons

• Integration options are limited
• Steep learning curve for new users
• Not appropriate for beginners or straightforward projects

Microsoft Project delivers some of the industry's most sophisticated project management capabilities alongside time tracking, positioning it well for managing multiple complex initiatives simultaneously. The platform integrates deeply within the Microsoft ecosystem, making it optimal for organizations already invested in Microsoft technologies.

Key features of project management time tracking software

Automated time tracking

Automated time tracking operates continuously in the background, allowing teams to concentrate on task completion. This functionality reduces manual timesheet administration. Most platforms also permit manual entry or modification of data, enabling correction of errors after recording.

Reporting and analytics

Reporting and analytics capabilities enable data interpretation and visualization. Organizations can examine team performance to identify productivity improvements or monitor project budgets to maintain schedule adherence.

Mobile app

Mobile applications provide flexibility for time entry from any location. They also enable users to monitor task progress and resource distribution while away from their desk.

Invoicing

Invoicing functionality tracks billable hours and can automate invoice generation to reduce administrative burden. Advanced options include invoice templates, recurring billing and automated payment reminders.

24/7 Support

Round-the-clock customer support ensures assistance is available whenever technical issues arise, providing confidence that vendor support can address problems immediately.

How to choose the best project management time tracking software?

Selecting appropriate time tracking software begins with evaluating organizational requirements. Identify primary pain points to clarify which specific problems require solving.

After defining core challenges, examine factors including organization size, current technology infrastructure, team experience levels and intended use cases. Some platforms emphasize time tracking while offering limited project management tools, while others provide comprehensive project management with basic time tracking functionality.

The optimal selection balances software capabilities against organizational needs. This guide provides a starting point, but thorough evaluation requires viewing complete product demonstrations and testing free versions to assess fit. This hands-on approach enables informed decisions about which platform best serves your organization.

Methodology

This compilation involved thorough research and comparative analysis. Dozens of platforms were evaluated using established criteria including pricing, user interface design, implementation ease, core functionality and distinctive advantages.

The selection process incorporated expert reviews, customer ratings and additional evaluation parameters. Detailed individual platform reviews provide deeper information about each solution.