Time management.
We all know it’s important, but not every blogger does it.
In this post, we’ll discuss the top 5 tools that will help you take control of your time, productivity, and success.
Let’s begin.
Best Time Tracking Apps To Measure Productivity
1. TMetric
TMetric is my new favorite time tracking and project management tool.
It’s designed for businesses, teams, and bloggers who care about time efficiency.
How to use TMetric
Unlike a lot of time tracking tools, TMetric brings the whole shebang when it comes to productivity.
Apart from time tracking, it can help you with anything – from client management all the way to invoicing.
The first order of business is to create your first official TMetric workspace. This ensures you’re all set up and ready to go as soon as you arrive at your dashboard.
You can use TMetric solely as a browser-based tool. But in my opinion, the best way to use it is through their desktop app.
This allows you to take advantage of TMetric’s time tracking features without opening your web browser.
Upon logging in to your dashboard, you’ll gain immediate access to the time tracker.
Just click the ‘Start Timer’ button and you’re off.
Just be sure to create your project first by going to ‘Projects’ under “Manage” and clicking ‘New Project.’
Creating projects with TMetric lets you specify details like your hourly rate, client, budget, and work type. If you’re working with others, you can also assign members to the project team.
Once done, you’ll be able to select your project when adding tasks to your time tracker.
You can add tasks to help you identify where your team’s productivity hours are going.
Simply click ‘New Task’ from the plus menu and fill in the required details.
For better efficiency, you can create pre-defined tasks from the “My Tasks” page.
There, you can set due dates, estimate completion times, write task descriptions, track activities, and mark tasks as completed.
Looks cool, right?
Perhaps the most impressive thing about TMetric is how easy it is to get everything prepped up. You have the app’s simple, no-nonsense design to thank for that.
What I like about TMetric
- Browser extension – TMetric makes it easy to integrate time tracking into your workflow using their browser extension. This also lets you use timer buttons in calendar apps like Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar.
- Mobile app – Track your tasks and stay productive on the go using TMetric’s mobile app. This is available for both iOS and Android devices.
- Automate invoicing – TMetric is capable of creating accurate invoices within a few clicks. All you have to do is specify the billing time range, client, and project – TMetric will do the rest.
- More third-party integrations – TMetric also features third-party integrations that will help further streamline your workflow. The supported services are Redmine, Quickbooks, GitLab, and Jira Software.
- Closely monitor productivity – With TMetric, you can track inactivity through automatic screenshots and idle time detection. You can also configure the app to capture the team member’s activity levels and open apps.
How much does it cost?
TMetric has a free version with all the basic time tracking and project management features.
To access premium features, the “Professional” plan costs only $5 per month or $48 per year. The most expensive plan, which starts at $7 per month, unlocks advanced features like screenshot capturing and payroll management.
Click here to check out TMetric.
2. Clockify
Before using TMetric, I was one of the millions who use Clockify for my time tracking needs.
Clockify is one of the leading time tracking software for teams, entrepreneurs, and professionals. The main reason for this is their generous free plan, which features unlimited users and unlimited hours tracked.
How to use Clockify
Clockify’s time tracking interface is as straightforward as it gets.
You can create projects, specify tasks, use the timer, and more – all in one place.
To create projects, you only need to enter the project’s name and client. You may also set a color and the visibility setting for the project.
If you’re using a paid subscription, Clockify also lets you use templates to quickly set up projects.
As you use the timer, Clockify keeps a record of your weekly and daily totals.
You can find all the details just below the timer.
Want to make time tracking an integral part of your daily workflow?
You can do so with the help of the browser extension, desktop app, or mobile app.
Just like the web interface, Clockify apps make sure the time tracking experience is as smooth and distraction-free as possible.
What I like about Clockify
- Awesome user experience – Clockify’s interface design is undoubtedly among the best in terms of usability. Not just the browser-based platform, but also the browser extension, mobile app, and desktop app.
- GPS tracking – The GPS tracking feature can tell where your team members are during hours of productivity. For this to work, a member has to download the mobile app with location services enabled.
- Loads of integrations – One of Clockify’s strengths is its impressive library of third-party integrations. It supports a range of services, including automation tools, accounting software, and project management apps.
- Calendar view – Get a bird’s-eye view of your team’s productivity via Clockify’s calendar view. Spot the main causes of procrastination and address bottlenecks in your productivity.
- Create custom project templates – With Clockify, you can create and save custom templates for similar projects in the future. Bloggers can use this for tasks like content creation, guest posting, page design, and so on.
How much does it cost?
If Clockify’s free plan isn’t enough, the “Basic” plan with administration features will cost you $4.99 per month.
Clockify’s pricing goes all the way up to $14.99 monthly for security features like Single Sign-On and a custom subdomain.
3. Toggl
Toggl is another popular time tracking tool with a vast user base.
Apart from time tracking and project management, it can also help businesses level up their hiring process.
How to use Toggl
To make full use of Toggl’s features, you must first create a project.
You can do this by clicking ‘New project’ from the “Projects” page.
Next, head to the “Timer” page and select your project from the drop-down menu in the upper-right corner.
Lastly, type the task you’ll do in the “What are you working on?” field. Click the play button to start tracking your time.
A record of your activities will be saved on the timer page.
Take note that you can easily switch to the daily calendar and weekly calendar views from the ‘List view’ drop-down menu.
What I like about Toggl
- Compact desktop and mobile apps – Toggl’s minimal interface is preserved in their desktop and mobile app versions. Simply type in the task you’re working on, click the play button, and start working.
- Recurring tasks – You can save recurring tasks to simplify and consolidate your time tracking. Just bear in mind that this feature is only available with a paid plan.
- Organize time entries with tags – If you’re a free Toggl user, tags will be your primary means of organizing your tasks. I wish tags are color-coded to make your calendar more aesthetic, but that’s just a personal preference.
- Very straightforward time tracking – Toggl is hands down the cleanest and most straightforward time tracking tool on the web. It would be higher up in this list if only the free version grants access to essential features.
- Set time entry restrictions – You can easily set time entry restrictions on Toggl’s settings page. Your options include setting up required fields for new entries and locking past entries.
How much does it cost?
The paid version of Toggl starts at $9 per user per month. If you go with monthly billing, you can lower the price to only $8 per user per month.
4. RescueTime
As far as time tracking tools go, another favorite of mine would be RescueTime.
It is a different kind of time tracker designed to help you become more prudent with your time.
How to use RescueTime
The RescueTime experience kicks off with a short onboarding process.
Answer the questions as honestly as possible to tailor the tool to your specific needs.
RescueTime will also give you the option to download the desktop assistant from the get-go. This tool is in charge of analyzing your productivity patterns and helping you start “focus” sessions.
Once the assistant is installed, RescueTime will spend the next 12-24 hours tracking your activities. More specifically, it tracks the sites, apps, and tools you use as well as the distractions that affect your productivity.
Time tracking automatically starts according to your work schedule, which you can configure on the RescueTime website.
Within a few minutes, your time allocation during workdays will be logged on the “Activities” report page.
Eventually, RescueTime will have enough data to provide you with actionable tips on how to improve your time management habits.
But if you’d like to see real results now, you can start a “Focus session” using the desktop assistant.
Simply click the RescueTime icon from your taskbar or menu bar and click ‘Focus.’ You’ll then be able to set the amount of time you want to stay focused.
With your focus session running, RescueTime will actively block all apps and websites that distract you from work. This includes streaming services, game launchers, and social media.
What I like about RescueTime
- Could work in combination with other time trackers – You can say that RescueTime is a completely different tool from the time trackers we’ve covered thus far. If you have the budget, consider getting RescueTime along with another time tracking software to supercharge your productivity.
- Will dig deep to help improve your work habits – RescueTime’s main selling point is the desktop assistant, which allows it to provide actionable time management tips specifically for you. Apart from non-essential apps and sites, the assistant also tracks the time you spend on email services and messaging apps.
- The focus session feature is a game-changer – Being a time tracker while blocking distractions is the reason why RescueTime is on this list. It may not help you with billing and team management, but it definitely has a place in every professional’s toolbox.
How much does it cost?
RescueTime starts at $12 per month. If you choose annual billing, you have to pay $78 upfront – that’s $6.50 per month.
5. TimeCamp
TimeCamp is one of the lesser-known time tracking tools in the market.
But since it does its job rather well, I decided to bring it more attention.
How to use TimeCamp
TimeCamp is the kind of tool that hides truckloads of advanced features behind a clean, simple interface.
When creating a project, you’re not just giving it a name and description. You can also designate team members, specify a budget, and assign tags.
From there, you can jump straight to creating the tasks necessary to complete your project. Just look for your project from the list and click ‘Add task’ to proceed.
With your projects and tasks ready, you can now start tracking your time with TimeCamp.
Head to the timer page, add a new time entry, select your task, and click the ‘Start timer’ button.
What I like about TimeCamp
- Easy-to-use interface with a lot of depth – Despite the minimal and intuitive interface, TimeCamp has a lot going on under the hood. You can see for yourself by signing up for a free trial and browsing its seemingly simple menus.
- Computer usage statistics – If you’d like to know where your lost hours are going, use the desktop application to track your computer usage. This works by identifying the apps and sites you access as well as calculating the time you spend on them.
- Track your revenues – TimeCamp has a built-in budget and income tracker. It can also help you manage your invoices along with billable and non-billable hours.
- Keep tracking with the browser extension and mobile app – Of course, having a mobile app and browser extension is always a plus for a time tracker. TimeCamp’s mobile app may not be the best, but it gets the job done.
How much does it cost?
TimeCamp has a free version with all the basic project management and time tracking features. For advanced features like billing and management roles, you need to pay at least $7 per user per month.
Conclusion
What did you think of this list?
Found something you’d like to try?
Keep in mind that all of the tools above come with free trials. Give them a shot and let me know what you think in the comments below!
Also, don’t hesitate to ask a question or leave suggestions.
Thanks!