If there’s one thing professionals never seem to have enough of, it’s time. And yet, most of us still try to “manage” it with sticky notes, spreadsheets, or just keeping it all in our heads until something slips.
That’s why time management software isn’t just another buzzword; it’s the difference between running your day and watching your day run you.
Over the years, I’ve tested everything from minimalist apps that promise zen-like focus to enterprise-grade platforms that track every billable second.
What separates the winners from the wannabes isn’t just features; it’s how seamlessly the software fits into your actual workflow.
In this buying guide, I’ll share my honest comparison based on my personal experience, industry experts’ recommendations, and research on software review services like G2 and Capterra to help you pick the right tool.
What Is Time Management Software?
Time management software is a digital tool designed to help individuals and teams organize tasks, allocate time efficiently, and reduce wasted effort. Instead of juggling sticky notes, spreadsheets, or memory, it centralizes planning into one structured system.
These tools often include features like task scheduling, reminders, project tracking, collaboration, and reporting. The goal is not just to “track time” but to improve productivity by giving clear visibility into what needs to be done, by whom, and by when.
For example, imagine a marketing team preparing a campaign, with time management software, the manager assigns tasks (copywriting, design, approvals) to different team members, sets deadlines, and tracks progress on a dashboard.
Let me show you how DeepSeas simplifies communication by organizing client groups and saving time with time management software:
10 Best, Top-Rated Free Time Management Software
Different tools offer unique features and approaches, allowing you to find one that perfectly matches your personal workflow and project needs.
Here’s a quick summary of my top 10 time management tools:
1. ProProfs Project
Best for planning, collaborating & delivering projects on time
One of the best time management software, owing to its simple yet powerful interface, ProProfs Project offers comprehensive features for time tracking, project monitoring, and more. Creating a project dashboard with tasks and subtasks is a breeze, thanks to its easy onboarding and navigation.
I love that the tool lets me keep an eye on due dates, task dependencies, and priorities all in one dashboard. Plus, there are handy project views like Gantt, Kanban, and Calendar to track progress in real-time.
The best part? ProProfs Project provides data-driven reports that give me insights into time usage, project profitability, and comments. You’ll discover six types of time reports, each categorizing time entries differently, such as by project, task, user, or individual time entries.
Pros:
- Its time tracking capabilities enable you to track accurate time spent on a task, so you can track productivity and create reliable invoices within the tool
- Ready-to-use templates for project scheduling, sales planning, and event planning to get started with project execution within minutes
- Ease of collaboration with team members using task comments and threaded replies
- Real-time alerts and notifications for project updates
- Task prioritization and dependencies to streamline workflows.
Cons:
- A 15-day trial period might not provide enough time to fully explore all of its features
- More integration features can be incorporated into the platform.
G2 Rating:
4.4/5
Pricing:
A forever-free plan for small teams. Paid plans start at $39.97/month/unlimited users.
User Review:
“The best thing about this project tool is that we can manage multiple tasks in one place. We’ve tracked task timelines through its intuitive dashboard and easily get to know who is working on what and how far they have progressed on the overall deliverable of the project.” — Teodora L. via G2

2. Clockify
Best for real-time activity tracking

Clockify is a user-friendly time tracking software. It simplifies tracking time with a one-click timer, making it easy to record your activities accurately.
Using this tool, I could organize my team’s work into projects and tasks, which helped me track time for each activity. Clockify also offered detailed reports and analytics for real-time insights into my team’s time usage.
Plus, it integrates seamlessly with popular productivity tools like Asana and Jira. Such integrations make your workflow smoother by linking Clockify with your preferred productivity apps, boosting teamwork and productivity.
And even when you’re on the move, Clockify has your back with its mobile apps for iOS and Android.
Pros:
- It generates reports that show time entries, project progress, and individual/team performance
- You can generate timesheets based on tracked time, which can be submitted for approval
- Alerts when a project reaches its budget or estimated limit
- Real-time forecasting to monitor how your project is progressing.
Cons:
- Limited reporting options
- Lack of advanced project management features, like forecasting and alerts, in the basic plan.
G2 Rating:
4.5/5
User Review:
“Clockify is the best time and attendance software for businesses with hybrid teams (on-site and remote employees). The cloud-based dashboard can be accessed from any computer or mobile device, and it has several project- and task-tracking features.” — Jessica Elliott via Business News Daily
Pricing:
Offers a free plan. Paid plans start at $5.49/user/month.
3. Toggl Track
Best for simple timers & detailed time reports

Toggl Track makes tracking time easy. You can start and stop timers, enter time manually, and organize them with projects and tags.
Detailed reports show your time usage, with options to view by day, week, month, or a custom date range. They reveal key data like total hours worked, billable hours, and productivity trends. Moreover, Toggl identifies idle time gaps, ensuring precise task-hour tracking.
It also offers a Pomodoro timer that helps me boost my team’s focus and productivity. It does this by structuring the team’s work into timed intervals, followed by short breaks, helping them maintain a productive rhythm throughout their tasks.
Pros:
- Project forecasts and analysis help gain valuable insights and improve decision-making
- Accurate time tracking by locking time entries and adding time for team members
- Ability to monitor and analyze personal desktop activity for efficient time management
- Time tracking audits for precise accountability and transparency.
Cons:
- User interface can be overwhelming for beginners
- Integration limitations with popular CRM and helpdesk platforms.
G2 Rating:
4.6/5
User Review:
“Easy, friendly time tracking (and more) tool. I use it every day! Toggl Track has made me a lot of money by informing me of just how much time I actually spend on a project.” — Bill via Capterra
Pricing:
Offers a free plan. Paid plans start at $9/user/team.
4. Asana
Best for strategic project planning

Asana is an ideal time tracking software for small businesses. It lets you create tasks, set due dates, and prioritize them. You can also add details and attach files to tasks to stay organized. This keeps you on top of your tasks and deadlines.
I appreciate how seamlessly Asana syncs with Google Calendar. While using Asana’s Free plan, this integration enabled me to view tasks and events together, making it easier to plan my team’s time efficiently.
With Asana, you can break down complex tasks into smaller subtasks, track time using its built-in timer, and get notifications through email, mobile alerts, or right within Asana.
Pros:
- It is a free time management software, enabling easy time tracking
- The ‘My Tasks’ feature in Asana provides a personalized view of all your assigned tasks across different projects.
- Ability to set reminders and receive notifications for upcoming deadlines, task assignments, or changes made to tasks.
- A visual representation of your project’s schedule with ‘The Timeline’ view.
Cons:
- Lacks advanced project and time tracking features, such as task templates and reporting
- It’s not the best choice for big projects and complex tasks with lots of dependencies.
G2 Rating:
4.4/5
User Review:
“I have been using Asana for a month almost now, since the day I started am recommending to my team members to use as i can communicate with them and follow up on the status of the task, all on one tool.” — Nikhil via Capterra
Pricing:
Offers a free plan. Paid plans start at $10.99/user/month.
5. ClickUp
Best for generating detailed reports

ClickUp is a popular tool for mastering time. Its powerful task manager lets you easily create, assign, prioritize, and track your tasks. You can organize your tasks in lists, boards, or calendars.
With its time tracking features, I could start and stop timers, jot down time manually, and whip up reports to see where my team’s time goes and how productive team members are.
And guess what? It’s not just about tasks. This tool for time management allowed me to collaborate seamlessly on documents with shared docs, and the real-time chat keeps communication quick and efficient.
Pros:
- Interactive whiteboards that let you organize and visualize tasks effectively
- A comprehensive goal management system that lets you set and track goals, manage portfolios, and drive results
- Set custom capacity in workload management for optimized team productivity.
Cons:
- ClickUp’s dashboard may be overwhelming for basic needs
- Its reporting capabilities can be enhanced.
G2 Rating:
4.7/5
User Review:
“Friendly UI with all the required features to collaborate with teams, manage and align the tasks with deadlines and track the performance any time.” — Sukh via Capterra
Pricing:
Offers a free plan. Paid plans start at $7/user/month.
6. TimeCamp
Best for time tracking & easy attendance, project profitability analysis, and precise billing

I found TimeCamp to be a streamlined time management and tracking solution built for individuals, teams, and project-based professionals. With its automatic and manual time tracking, timesheets, billing, invoicing, attendance monitoring, and productivity analytics, it’s a comprehensive toolkit that turns time into actionable insight.
User-friendly and accessible across desktop, web, and mobile, it boasts powerful reporting tools and integrations with 100+ platforms, making it ideal for businesses looking to centralize their workflow.
From boosting profitability through accurate billing to improving team visibility and efficiency, TimeCamp helps organizations transform time from a silent cost into a strategic asset.
Pros:
- Features like attendance and kiosk mode support remote and field work with streamlined time logging
- Intuitive and easy to use, ideal for teams with varying tech-savvy levels
- Rich reporting capabilities that aid in budgeting, invoicing, and productivity analysis.
Cons:
- The timer is limited to specific screens and is not accessible globally across the UI
- The mobile app is less polished and more cluttered compared to the desktop version.
G2 Rating:
4.7/5
User Review:
“The experience with TimeCamp has been so outstanding and we are pleased how TimeCamp is offering exactly what was promised. It has helped us gain more control over our work by evaluating how time is spent and this goes ahead to allowing us finish all our work before deadline dates and time.” — Alwanga via Capterra
Pricing:
Paid plans start at $1.49/user/month.
7. Todoist
Best for personal productivity

Todoist is a sleek and intuitive task management app that helps individuals and small teams stay organized and productive. It enables users to capture tasks using natural language, organize them into projects, set due dates, and assign priorities with a clean, distraction-free interface.
Supporting multiple views, like lists, boards, and calendars, Todoist effortlessly adapts to varied workflows and personal preferences. With powerful organizational tools like labels, filters, recurring tasks, and intelligent scheduling, Todoist supports long-term planning and day-to-day task execution.
Its robust cross-platform compatibility ensures seamless syncing across desktop, mobile, web, and even browser extensions—making it convenient for busy users, regardless of where they work. Designed for simplicity yet capable of advanced setup, Todoist scales from solo enthusiasts to small collaborative teams.
Pros:
- Exceptionally intuitive, with a low learning curve and fast onboarding experience
- Lightweight calendar and kanban-style views support different planning styles
- AI assistant (in paid plans) helps break down tasks and suggest schedules, adding intelligent automation.
Cons:
- Lacks built-in time tracking and requires third-party integrations for that functionality
- Project management features are limited, making it less ideal for complex workflows.
G2 Rating:
4.4/5
User Review:
“1st off – the Kudos feature is a great motivation boost. Secondly, I’m in love with its design. It also cheers you when you complete a task, which is a small thing, but it’s nice nonetheless. 3. It’s great for workflow organization.” — Deyan via Capterra
Pricing:
Paid plans start at $4/month/5 users.
8. TickTick
Best for organizing projects, personal tasks, or study plans

TickTick is an all-in-one productivity app that blends intuitive task management with thoughtful features like calendar views, habit tracking, and built-in Pomodoro timers. The app shines with its clean, visually engaging interface, which makes organizing both personal and professional tasks effortless, whether you’re on desktop, mobile, or syncing across platforms.
What sets TickTick apart is its versatility: smart lists, customizable filters, Kanban and timeline views, location-based reminders, and cross-device sync provide a dynamic yet streamlined way to organize your day. TickTick caters nicely to both busy freelancers and small teams without sacrificing simplicity for power.
A competitively priced premium tier enhances the experience with expanded lists, advanced reminders, Google Calendar two-way sync, customizable themes, and the ability to assign tasks and collaborate seamlessly.
Pros:
- Clean, intuitive design with multiple customizable views (calendar, Kanban, list, timeline)
- Built-in Pomodoro timer, habit tracker, and smart lists help boost focus and consistency
- Excellent cross-platform syncing across desktop, mobile, web, and extensions.
Cons:
- Customer support is limited—no live chat or phone support, slow responses via email
- Basic collaboration features may not meet advanced team requirements.
G2 Rating:
4.6/5
User Review:
“Digging this app! I like the habit tracking and countdown features. Those are what set this app apart from competitors like Todoist. The only feature that I wish was there but isn’t is automatic backups. Right now, as far as I know, you have to manually backup and save the file somewhere. Still a great app though!” — Anne Peng via Google Play
Pricing:
Offers a custom plan.
9. Wrike
Best for automating administrative workflows

Wrike integrates time tracking directly into its project management suite, offering both timer-based and manual logging options to ensure every minute is captured accurately. Teams can start a live timer or enter hours manually, building reliable timesheets without needing external tools.
Managers get access to structured timelogs and timesheets that display work by task, project, or team member. These views simplify reporting, approval workflows, and resource allocation, making it easier to ensure projects stay on track and within budget.
Since it’s part of Wrike’s larger project management ecosystem, time tracking works seamlessly with dashboards, Gantt charts, and resource planning features. This creates a cohesive experience where productivity and accountability come together.
Pros:
- Built-in time tracking integrated with project management workflows
- Flexible options: live timer or manual entry
- Timesheet and timelog views provide clear oversight for managers.
Cons:
- Available only in higher-tier plans, limiting access for smaller teams
- Only one timer can run at a time, making task switching cumbersome.
G2 Rating:
4.2/5
User Review:
“Overall, Wrike is user-friendly and offers unparalleled administration and security options, intuitive task management tools and highly detailed reports. However, it’s not all rosy. Wrike’s customer service is close to the bottom of the barrel (unless you pay for extra support), and the needless add-ons tank Wrike’s value proposition.” — Brett Day via Forbes Reviews
Pricing:
Paid plans start at $10/user/month.
10. Harvest
Best for invoice creation capabilities

With Harvest, tracking my time on various tasks and projects became a breeze. It offers automatic timers and the flexibility to manually enter time, ensuring precise time tracking and effortless invoice creation.
Generating invoices is as simple as clicking a mouse; just export your employees’ timesheet entries. Also, the tool allowed me to enhance my team’s productivity by reviewing and approving submitted timesheets.
Plus, the software effortlessly tracks and attaches receipts to include expenses in client invoices. Harvest’s API also allows you to create custom integrations tailored to your business needs.
Pros:
- It supports various billing methods, including hourly rates, fixed fees, and project-based billing
- Harvest provides real-time budget tracking, alerts for budget thresholds, and notifications when projects are at risk of exceeding the allocated budget
- Automatic workflows to eliminate duplicate tasks.
Cons:
- The mobile app can be slow at times
- Lack built-in task dependency management.
G2 Rating:
4.3/5
User Review:
“For the price, It deliver on what it promise. Quite satisfied with ease of us to track time, we do not need to spend much time on training contractors to use it.” — Jean via Capterra
Pricing:
Offers a free plan. Paid plans start at $11/seat/month.
My Top 3 Time Management Software
For some reason, if you are still unsure about which software is the one for you. Let me give you my top 3 favorites.
#1 Pick: ProProfs Project
ProProfs Project stands out for its simplicity and scalability, making it perfect for both small teams and growing businesses.
With features like task automation, Gantt charts, invoicing, and built-in time tracking, it centralizes everything in one dashboard. Its AI-powered insights further help teams optimize workflows and spot bottlenecks before they become problems.
#2 Pick: Clockify
Clockify is a go-to for anyone needing a free yet powerful time tracker. It supports unlimited projects and users and offers detailed reports that track billable hours, productivity, and project costs.
With integrations across popular tools, it’s especially handy for freelancers and small businesses that need straightforward time logging and invoicing.
#3 Pick: TogglTrack
TogglTrack is loved for its clean interface and flexibility. It offers one-click timers, automated tracking, and customizable reports, making it easy to understand precisely where your time goes.
Teams gain visibility into workload distribution, while freelancers benefit from its exportable timesheets and billing-friendly reports.
How to Choose the Right Time Management Tool for Your Business?
Picking the right time management software isn’t just about flashy features—it’s about matching the tool to your team’s needs, workflows, and growth plans.
Here’s a quick table to help guide your decision:
Factor | What to Look For | Why It Matters |
---|---|---|
Ease of Use | Intuitive interface, minimal learning curve, drag-and-drop features | Ensures quick adoption by teams without wasting hours on training. |
Scalability | Ability to handle more projects, users, and integrations as your business grows | Prevents switching costs later and supports long-term use. |
Integration Options | Compatibility with tools like CRM, email, project management, or communication apps | Keeps workflows connected and avoids silos between different software. |
Customization | Adjustable workflows, templates, and reporting | Allows tailoring the tool to fit your unique business processes. |
Time Tracking | Automatic timers, manual entries, timesheets, billing features | Critical for tracking productivity and ensuring accurate client billing. |
Collaboration Tools | Shared dashboards, task comments, notifications, role-based access | Helps teams—especially remote ones—stay aligned and accountable. |
Security & Compliance | Data encryption, access controls, GDPR/industry compliance | Protects sensitive information and builds client trust. |
Pricing & ROI | Transparent pricing, free trial, measurable time/cost savings | Ensures the tool provides value relative to cost and delivers a real business ROI. |
Bonus: Free Trial Checklist
Choosing the right tool often comes down to what you discover during the trial phase. To make it easier, here’s a quick checklist you can use:
Criteria to Test in the First Week:
- Ease of onboarding (can your team get started without training?)
- Mobile usability (is the mobile app intuitive and reliable?)
- Reporting capabilities (does it generate the insights you need?)
- Integration support (does it connect with your CRM, help desk, or email tools?)
Scoring System (1–5 scale):
- Usability: Is the interface intuitive and straightforward?
- Speed: Does the tool run smoothly without delays?
- Cost-effectiveness: Do the features justify the pricing?
- Collaboration: Does it make teamwork easier, not harder?
- Customization: Can you adapt it to your processes without hassle?
Practical Steps to Get the Most from Your Time Management Tool
Investing in time management software is only half the battle; the real ROI comes when you set it up strategically and create habits around its use.
Here are some proven steps to maximize value:
1. Set Clear Roles & Task Dependencies
Assign ownership for each task and define dependencies upfront. This avoids duplication of effort and ensures that projects move smoothly from one stage to the next without bottlenecks.
2. Use Templates & Automation
Don’t reinvent the wheel for recurring projects. Build reusable templates and leverage automation (reminders, recurring tasks, invoice generation) to save hours of manual setup.
3. Track Time for Better Budget Control
Encourage your team to log hours for tasks. This not only helps in accurate client billing but also ensures you can track overruns and improve future estimates.
4. Encourage Team Contributions
A time management tool isn’t just for managers—it should foster accountability and collaboration. Encourage employees to update their tasks, share notes, and flag risks early.
5. Review Reports Weekly to Measure ROI
Use built-in analytics to review productivity, time allocation, and project progress. A weekly report highlights patterns, inefficiencies, and opportunities to optimize workload distribution.
Turn Chaos Into Clarity With the Right Time Management Tool
Finding the best time management software is about more than features—it’s about aligning the right tool with your workflows, priorities, and business goals. From tracking hours to streamlining projects, the right choice helps teams get more done with less stress.
By addressing common challenges like task switching, remote collaboration, and tracking ROI, these tools provide a structured path to better focus and efficiency. When chosen wisely, they can become true growth enablers rather than just another app on your list.
ProProfs Project simplifies time and task management with intuitive dashboards, detailed reports, and built-in AI that auto-generates tasks, updates timelines, and predicts project delays. It gives teams clarity, speed, and control—making productivity almost effortless.
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