The 7 best project time tracking tools compared

Why “one” project time tracking solution for everyone does not exist

Before we get to the specific tools, you need to know this: project time tracking is done in completely different ways depending on the industry. There are two worlds that could hardly be more different: 

1. Mobile, „abstract“ tracking: This is about employees who are out and about a lot (for example on the job site or at the customer's) and book hours to projects or jobs without necessarily having a PC. Time tracking is a means to an end here: the data should be usable for billing and controlling. 
2. Project- and task-centred management: Here project management is what matters. Hours are booked to tasks and tickets – often by knowledge workers (agencies, consultants, IT) who structure their work in workflows. 

There are good tools for both worlds – but they solve different problems. That is why we first show you which solution fits which context, before we compare the tools in detail. 

The top project time tracking tools at a glance

A quick overview before we go into the details:

clockin – project time tracking for teams that work on the move

People who know project time tracking often think of stopwatches in the browser and Excel reports at the desk. clockin turns that model around: project hours are recorded where they arise – on the job site, at the customer's, right in the field. Every employee clocks in on the project directly in the app for as long as they are there. Out of that comes finished, complete project documentation – including photos, checklists and notes if you want them.

That sounds simple because it is. And that is exactly the decisive difference from desktop tools: clockin works because it is what your team needs. Take-up stays high and the data stays complete.

• Project time tracking via app: Employees book hours straight to projects and jobs – mobile, offline-capable, in two taps.
• Digital project file: Photos, sketches, checklists and notes can be stored directly on the job in an audit-proof way. That gives you complete project documentation at all times, which you can open straight in the app – on the job site just as easily as in the office.
• Project reporting at the touch of a button: How much time was booked to which project? Which jobs are running profitably and which are not? clockin gives you this overview with no manual effort, straight from the recorded project hours.
• Automatic invoicing: through direct integrations with sevDesk and Lexware Office, recorded project hours are turned into invoices with no intermediate step.
• Legally compliant working time tracking included: clockin meets the requirements of the German Working Hours Act (Arbeitszeitgesetz, ArbZG) and of the Federal Labour Court ruling (BAG-Urteil) – so you are on the safe side.

clockin is not a project management tool. There are no Gantt charts, no dependencies between tasks, no agile boards. That is not the point either. clockin solves one concrete problem: your team should be able to book hours to projects simply, reliably and without friction – right where the work is happening. 

clockin is the right choice if:

• Your team works on the move (job site, care, field service)
• You need project hours for billing – not for project management
• You do not have an IT department to roll out a complex tool
• Your employees only need a smartphone to get started

ZEP – the specialist for professional services

ZEP has been on the market for more than 20 years and is aimed above all at agencies, IT companies and consultancies. The focus is clearly on job costing and on linking time and project data for billing clients.

• Strengths: Detailed job costing, strong reporting and analytics functions, established integrations with accounting software, a high degree of configurability
• Weaknesses: Dated user interface, no native mobile app for use on the job site, steeper learning curve
• Price: from €9/user/month

ZEP suits service providers who need very detailed project reports and manage time as a billable unit. It is not intended for the skilled trades or construction. 

Clockodo – the benchmark for service providers

Clockodo is a straightforward German solution with good UX. The focus is on tracking time by project and by employee – clean, clear, solid. 

• Strengths: Very easy to use, good reporting functions, GDPR-compliant, made in Germany
• Weaknesses: No offline function in the app, no GPS tracking, no job site documentation
• Price: from €5/user/month

Clockodo is well suited to remote teams or digital service providers. For a mobile workforce without a desk, key functions are missing. 

Clockify – the standard for digital teams

Clockify is the best-known free time tracking tool in the world. It supports project time tracking, team reports and simple task management. 

• Strengths: Completely free for an unlimited number of users, good usability, strong integrations
• Weaknesses: No mobile offline use, no job site functions, no GPS time tracking, limited support on the free plan
• Price: from €0 (free), paid plans from €4.99/month

Clockify is ideal for remote teams and agencies on a small budget. For businesses with a mobile workforce, the necessary job site functionality is missing. 

Timr – the solution for frequent drivers

timr combines time tracking with a mileage log. That makes it a relevant solution for field service teams, service technicians and anyone who spends a lot of time in the car. 

• Strengths: Integrated mileage log, GPS tracking, project time tracking, good mobile app
• Weaknesses: No focus on job site documentation, no photos or checklists in projects, no direct invoicing integration
• Price: from €6/user/month

Timr is a sensible choice for companies with a lot of driving – as long as project documentation does not matter. 

HRworks – the all-in-one suite for HR professionals

HRworks is aimed at HR departments in small and mid-sized companies. Time tracking is one module among many here. 

• Strengths: Strong HR functions (vacation, absences, employee files), solid time tracking, good user administration
• Weaknesses: No project time tracking for mobile teams, no focus on construction or the skilled trades, fairly desktop-oriented
• Price: from €4/user/month

HRworks is well suited to companies with classic office work and HR requirements – but it is not a tool for mobile job site teams. 

Awork – the operating system for agencies

awork is a modern project management tool with built-in time tracking. It is aimed clearly at agencies, creative teams and digital service providers.

• Strengths: Modern UI, strong project management functions, good team collaboration, time tracking built in
• Weaknesses: No offline mode, no job site functions, no GPS time tracking, more expensive than many alternatives
• Price: from €10/user/month

awork suits digital teams that want project management and time tracking in one tool. For a mobile workforce on the job site it is not suitable. 

Conclusion: which tool fits you?

As you have seen, there is no tool that fits everyone. What matters is which world you work in.

If your team works on the move, on the job site or at the customer's: clockin is the clear recommendation here. No other solution in this list is so consistently built for mobile teams that want to book hours to jobs directly on site and bill them cleanly. 

If your team works at a desk and wants to track projects by task: Clockodo or awork are a better fit – depending on budget and complexity. 

If you want to combine travel time and project time tracking: timr is the most sensible choice. 

Tip: many of these tools offer a free trial. Use it before you buy – and always check whether the tool works in your team's real day-to-day work.