Best Time Tracking Software with Client Billing

Introduction

Managing billable hours and invoicing clients accurately can make or break your service business's profitability. Without the right system in place, you risk revenue leakage from unbilled time, client disputes over charges, and countless hours spent on administrative tasks that could be better spent on billable work.

Time tracking software with integrated client billing capabilities solves this challenge by automatically capturing work hours, organizing them by client and project, and transforming that data into professional invoices. The right solution streamlines your entire billing workflow—from the moment you start a timer to when you receive payment—while providing the transparency clients expect and the financial insights you need to run your business effectively.

We evaluated seven time tracking and billing platforms based on their ease of use, invoicing features, reporting capabilities, integration options, and overall value. This roundup will help you identify which solution aligns with your business needs, whether you're a solo freelancer, a small agency, or a growing consultancy managing multiple client accounts.

How to Choose the Right Time Tracking Software with Client Billing

Start by evaluating billing flexibility. Look for software that supports your pricing model—whether hourly rates, project-based fees, or retainers. The ability to set different rates per client, project, or team member prevents manual calculation errors.

Invoicing capabilities matter significantly. Solutions that generate invoices directly from tracked time eliminate double-entry work. Prioritize platforms offering customizable invoice templates, multiple currency support, and automated recurring billing if you have retainer clients.

Consider integration depth with your existing tools. Software that connects with your accounting platform (QuickBooks, Xero) and project management tools reduces data silos and reconciliation headaches.

Reporting granularity determines how well you can analyze profitability. Seek detailed breakdowns by client, project, and team member to identify which work is actually profitable.

Common pitfalls to avoid:

Choosing overly complex enterprise solutions when you need simple time-to-invoice workflows
Overlooking mobile access if your team works on-site with clients
Ignoring user limits that could force expensive upgrades as you grow

For team size considerations:

Solopreneurs and freelancers benefit most from straightforward interfaces with quick invoice generation
Small agencies (5-20 people) need role-based permissions and project-level tracking
Larger teams require approval workflows, budget monitoring, and capacity planning features

Test the actual time entry and invoicing workflow during trials—this daily interaction point reveals usability issues that feature lists won't.

Harvest

Harvest stands out as a comprehensive solution that bridges time tracking and client billing in a single platform. It enables professional teams to capture billable hours across browser, desktop, and mobile devices, then seamlessly convert that tracked time into polished invoices without manual data entry. The platform's strength lies in its integrated approach—combining time capture, profitability analysis, and invoice generation with payment processing capabilities.

What distinguishes Harvest in this category is its focus on project profitability metrics and utilization tracking, helping teams ensure their billable work remains financially viable. The platform integrates with major accounting systems including Stripe, QuickBooks Online, Xero, and Deel, making it particularly valuable for teams that need their time tracking data to flow directly into existing financial workflows. For professional services firms, agencies, and consulting teams that bill by the hour and need visibility into project margins, Harvest offers a mature toolset that handles the complete billing cycle from time capture through payment collection.

Best for: Teams billing clients by hours

Pricing: Free plan at $0/month for 1 seat; Teams plan starting at $9/seat/month ($108/year); Enterprise plan starting at $14/seat/month ($168/year)

Key features:

Time tracking across browser, desktop, and mobile devices with one-click timers and timesheets
Invoicing and payment processing to convert tracked hours into client bills
Profitability and utilization metrics to keep projects profitable
Accounting and payment integrations with Stripe, QuickBooks Online, Xero, and Deel
Timesheet approvals to ensure accuracy before invoicing
Custom reports and exports for financial analysis

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Toggl Track

Toggl Track positions itself as a versatile time tracking solution with a strong emphasis on capturing every billable minute across multiple work contexts. The platform operates seamlessly across web, desktop, and mobile interfaces, and extends its reach through a browser extension that integrates with over 100 third-party tools. This broad integration capability means teams can track time without leaving their existing workflow applications.

The platform's approach to client billing centers on billable rates and custom profitability reporting, giving freelancers and agencies detailed visibility into revenue performance. Toggl Track includes calendar integrations with Google and Outlook, allowing users to visualize their tracked time alongside scheduled commitments. The timesheet approval functionality helps ensure data accuracy before invoices are generated. For freelancers working across multiple client projects or agencies managing diverse teams, Toggl Track delivers the flexibility to track time in varied contexts while maintaining the data accuracy needed for confident client billing.

Best for: Freelancers and teams billing clients

Pricing: Free plan ($0), Starter ($9/user/month), Premium ($18/user/month), Enterprise (custom pricing)

Key features:

Time tracking across web, desktop, and mobile
Billable rates and accurate billing features
Custom revenue and profitability analysis reports
Integration with 100+ tools via browser extension
Calendar view with Google & Outlook Calendar integrations
Timesheet approvals and data accuracy features

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FreshBooks

FreshBooks differentiates itself by offering an all-in-one business management approach rather than standalone time tracking. The platform combines time capture with invoicing, expense tracking, payment processing, and financial reporting in a unified system designed specifically for small business workflows. This integrated structure means tracked hours flow directly into customizable invoices without switching between separate applications.

The platform's one-click timer works through both a dedicated app and Chrome extension, making time capture accessible regardless of where users are working. What sets FreshBooks apart for client billing is its comprehensive payment acceptance—clients can pay invoices through credit cards, ACH transfers, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, reducing friction in the payment collection process. The expense tracking and receipt scanning capabilities allow businesses to combine time-based charges with reimbursable expenses on a single invoice. For self-employed professionals and small business owners who need a complete business management solution rather than just time tracking, FreshBooks consolidates multiple functions into one platform.

Best for: Time tracking with client billing

Pricing: Lite: $6.90/month (70% off for 4 months, was $23.00); Plus: $12.90/month (70% off for 4 months, was $43.00); Premium: $21.00/month (70% off for 4 months, was $70.00). Team members available at $11/month per user.

Key features:

One-click timer and time tracking via app or Chrome extension
Automatic time-to-invoice conversion for client billing
Professional invoicing with customization options
Multiple payment options including credit cards, ACH, Apple Pay, and Google Pay
Expense tracking and receipt scanning
Financial and accounting reports

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Clockify

Clockify has gained traction as an accessible option that delivers robust time tracking and invoicing capabilities at a lower price point than many competitors, while also offering a genuinely functional free plan. The platform supports both timer-based and manual time entry methods, giving users flexibility in how they record billable hours across projects and clients.

For client billing specifically, Clockify includes native invoicing functionality with support for recurring invoices and customizable task rates, eliminating the need for separate billing software. The approval workflow feature ensures tracked time is reviewed before being converted into client invoices. Integration with QuickBooks allows businesses to sync their time and billing data with existing accounting systems. With millions of users, Clockify has proven its reliability at scale while maintaining an approachable feature set. For teams and businesses seeking a cost-effective solution that covers both time tracking and invoicing without sacrificing essential functionality, Clockify represents a practical choice that balances affordability with capability.

Best for: Teams needing time tracking and invoicing

Pricing: STANDARD plan: $5.49 USD per seat/month (billed annually) or $6.99/month (billed monthly). FREE plan available. PRO and ENTERPRISE plans also offered.

Key features:

Timer and manual time entry
Invoicing and recurring invoices
Project tracking
Time off management
Approval workflows
QuickBooks integration

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TimeCamp

TimeCamp positions itself as a comprehensive solution for businesses that need to connect time tracking directly to project profitability outcomes. The platform goes beyond basic time logging by incorporating AI-powered time records that automatically capture work patterns, reducing manual entry burden while maintaining accuracy for billing purposes. Its automated approval workflows and customizable processes make it particularly valuable for teams scaling operations who need to maintain compliance without adding administrative overhead.

The budget and estimates management features distinguish TimeCamp from simpler tracking tools, allowing managers to monitor project financial health in real-time rather than discovering overruns after the fact. The deep reporting capabilities provide granular visibility into where billable hours are being spent, which clients are most profitable, and where time leaks occur. For businesses that bill clients based on time and materials contracts, this level of insight directly impacts bottom-line profitability. The platform's integration capabilities ensure it can fit into existing tech stacks without requiring wholesale system changes.

Best for: Project profitability and client billing

Pricing: Starter: $3.99/mo per user (annual) or $5.49/mo (month-to-month); Premium: $6.99/mo per user (annual) or $9.99/mo (month-to-month); Ultimate: $9.99/mo per user (annual) or $13.99/mo (month-to-month)

Key features:

Billable time tracking and invoicing
Budget and estimates management
AI-powered time tracking
Customizable workflows and automated approvals
Deep reporting and data export
Integration capabilities

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Bonsai

Bonsai takes a holistic approach to client billing by positioning time tracking as one component within a complete business management ecosystem. Rather than forcing service businesses to stitch together separate tools for contracts, proposals, invoicing, and time tracking, Bonsai consolidates these functions into a unified platform. This integration proves particularly valuable when converting tracked time directly into invoices—the process flows seamlessly without manual data transfer or reconciliation between systems.

The client portal functionality adds a professional layer to billing relationships, allowing clients to review time entries, approve invoices, and access project documentation in one branded location. Bonsai's expense and income tracking extends beyond just billable hours to provide complete project P&L visibility, essential for service businesses managing complex client engagements. Integration with QuickBooks and Xero ensures financial data synchronizes with existing accounting systems, while Zapier connectivity opens possibilities for custom workflow automation. The platform scales from individual freelancers through enterprise teams, with the Elite tier accommodating agencies managing multiple clients simultaneously across team members.

Best for: Service businesses managing client billing

Pricing: Basic: $9/user/month (annually) or $15/user/month (monthly); Essentials: $19/user/month (annually) or $25/user/month (monthly); Premium: $29/user/month (annually); Elite: $49/user/month (annually, 3 users minimum)

Key features:

Time tracking
Invoices & Payments
Proposals & Contracts
Client Portal
Expense and Income tracking
Project insights and reporting

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Making Your Choice

Selecting the right time tracking software with client billing depends on your business size, invoicing complexity, and budget constraints. Consider starting with free trials to test features that matter most to your workflow—whether that's automated invoicing, detailed reporting, or team collaboration tools. The investment in proper time tracking pays dividends through accurate billing and improved productivity.