Time tracking is essential for freelance writers. Whether you bill hourly or by the project, knowing exactly how long work takes helps you:
- Price your services accurately
- Identify unprofitable clients
- Improve your efficiency
- Provide detailed reports to clients
Here's a complete comparison of the best time tracking tools for writers.
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Free Plan | Paid Plan | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toggl Track | Yes (basic) | $9/user/month | Simplicity & power users |
| Harvest | 1 user, 2 projects | $12/user/month | Invoicing integration |
| Clockify | Unlimited (forever) | $3.99/user/month | Budget-conscious writers |
| FreshBooks | No | $19/month | All-in-one invoicing |
1. Toggl Track — Best Overall
Why it wins: Toggl Track is the perfect balance of simplicity and power. Start tracking with one click, get detailed reports when you need them.
Key features:
- One-click time tracking (start timer from browser, desktop, or mobile)
- Project and client tagging for easy organization
- Detailed reports by project, client, date range
- Pomodoro timer built-in
- Idle detection (asks if you want to keep tracking when you step away)
- Calendar view of your tracked time
- Integrates with 100+ tools (Asana, Trello, GitHub, etc.)
Pricing:
- Free: Unlimited tracking, basic reports, up to 5 team members
- Starter ($9/user/month): More advanced reports, project estimates, rounding
- Premium ($18/user/month): Everything in Starter + multi-currency, calculations, alerts
Best for: Most freelance writers. The free plan covers everything solo writers need.
2. Harvest — Best with Invoicing
Why it's different: Harvest combines time tracking with invoicing. Track time, then generate an invoice with one click. It's seamless.
Key features:
- Time tracking integrated with invoicing
- Automatic invoice generation from tracked hours
- Client approval workflow
- Expense tracking (snap receipts, categorize)
- Financial reports (profitability, accounts receivable)
- Detailed time reports with breakdown by task
Pricing:
- Free: 1 user, 2 projects, unlimited time tracking
- Pro ($12/user/month): Unlimited projects, recurring invoicing, expense tracking
- Premium ($49/user/month): Everything in Pro + approvals, advanced reporting
Best for: Writers who bill hourly and want seamless invoicing. If you already use Toggl, switching to Harvest for invoicing alone may not be worth it.
3. Clockify — Best Free Option
Why it's great: Clockify offers almost everything Toggl does, but completely free for unlimited users. It's open-source funded by a premium plan that most solo writers won't need.
Key features:
- Unlimited time tracking and users (forever free)
- Project and client tracking
- Detailed reports and charts
- Kiosk mode (for teams on shared devices)
- GPS tracking (for field work)
- Integrations with 80+ tools
Pricing:
- Free: Everything listed above, unlimited
- Plus ($3.99/user/month): Breakdown by billable hours, hourly rates, scheduling
- Premium ($7.99/user/month): Everything in Plus + admin controls, PTO tracking, audit logs
Best for: Budget-conscious writers who want powerful tracking without paying. The free plan is genuinely unlimited.
4. FreshBooks — Best All-in-One
Why it's included: FreshBooks is primarily invoicing software, but its built-in time tracking is excellent. If you're already using FreshBooks for invoices, you don't need a separate time tracker.
Key features:
- Time tracking integrated into invoicing workflow
- Start timer from desktop or mobile
- Automatically adds time to client invoices
- Project-level time tracking
- Detailed time reports
Pricing: $19/month for Lite plan (includes time tracking).
Best for: Writers already using FreshBooks. Don't buy it just for time tracking — Toggl or Clockify are better dedicated options.
Time Tracking Best Practices
1. Track Everything (At First)
When starting out, track every task, including:
- Research time
- Writing time
- Editing and revisions
- Email and client communication
- Admin tasks (invoicing, contracts)
This data helps you understand the real cost of projects.
2. Use Consistent Project Names
Keep your naming system consistent:
- Use client names as categories
- Project names should be specific (e.g., "Blog Post: [Topic]" or "Newsletter: [Month]")
- Use tags for content type (blog, email, social, etc.)
3. Review Your Data Weekly
Set aside 15 minutes weekly to review:
- Total hours worked
- Hours per client
- Projects that took longer than expected
- Untracked or forgotten time
4. Calculate Your Real Hourly Rate
Don't just divide monthly earnings by hours tracked. Calculate:
Real Rate = Total Earnings / (Tracked Hours + Admin Hours + Non-Billable Hours)
You'll be surprised at how much lower this is than your advertised rate.
5. Share Reports with Clients (When Appropriate)
Some clients request detailed time reports. Having clean data ready builds trust and justifies your rates.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Toggl Track if: You want the best balance of simplicity and features, and don't need invoicing built-in.
Choose Harvest if: You bill hourly and want seamless time-tracking-to-invoice workflow.
Choose Clockify if: You want powerful tracking forever free, or have a team of writers.
Choose FreshBooks if: You already use it for invoicing — don't add another tool.
My Recommendation
Start with Toggl Track (Free). It's the most intuitive, has excellent mobile apps, and the free plan covers everything solo writers need.
Track for 2-3 months. Once you have solid data, you'll know your patterns and can optimize your pricing and workflow. If you outgrow the free plan or need invoicing, consider upgrading to Harvest.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you sign up through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I personally use and trust.