Best Time Tracking Software for Consultants: Stay Ahead with 11 Top Solutions

Time is not just money—it’s the very currency of productivity and success. That’s why choosing the best time tracking software for consultants and accounting firms is a strategic decision that can profoundly impact efficiency, accuracy, and ultimately, profitability. With the right time and billing software for consultants, professionals can streamline their workflow, capture billable hours with precision, and gain invaluable insights into resource allocation and project profitability.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the realm of time tracking software for accounting firms and consultants, exploring the top solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of these industries. Whether you’re a solo consultant or part of a large accounting firm, finding the perfect time tracker can revolutionize the way you manage your time, track billable hours, and optimize client billing processes. Let’s embark on a journey to discover the best tools that will elevate your consulting practice or accounting firm to new heights of efficiency and profitability.

Key Evaluation Criteria

⏱️ Ease of use: Look for consulting time tracking software with an intuitive interface that simplifies time tracking for consultants and accounting professionals.
💼 Features and functionality: Assess the range of features offered by each software, including time tracking, invoicing, expense management, and reporting capabilities.
📊 Integration capabilities: Check if the software integrates with other tools commonly used in the consulting and accounting industries, such as project management software, accounting systems, and CRM platforms.
💰 Cost-effectiveness: Consider the pricing structure and whether it offers value for money.
🔒 Security and compliance: Prioritize software that adheres to industry standards for data security and compliance, such as GDPR or HIPAA regulations.
📈 Scalability: Choose software that can grow with your consulting practice or accounting firm.

❗ Note: We do not accept paid entries for software recommendations, ensuring unbiased and impartial reviews for our audience.

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Everhour is the top time tracker for SMB teams, including software developers, marketers, designers, consultants, lawyers, you name it! Seamlessly integrating with popular PM tools, its user-friendly interface and customizable reports make it the ultimate time tracking solution. With dedicated support, our team is here to help you promptly and with a smile!

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Comparison Table

Tool	Pricing	Free Trial	Best Suited For
Everhour	Free plan Team plan: $8.50/user/month	Yes	Small teams, freelancers, agencies
Paymo	Free Starter: $11.95/user/month Small Office: $18.95/user/month Business: $24.95/user/month	Yes	Freelancers, small to medium-sized businesses
TimeCamp	Free Basic: $6.99/user/month Pro: $9.99/user/month Custom	Yes	Freelancers, small to large teams
Deputy	Scheduling: $3.50/user/month Time and Attendance: $3.50/user/month Premium: $4.90/user/month Enterprise: Custom pricing	Yes	Small to large businesses, remote teams
TrackingTime	Free Freelancer Plan: $8 per user Pro Plan: $5.75 per user Business Plan: $10 per user	Yes	Small to medium-sized businesses, freelancers
RescueTime	Free plan Premium: $12 per month or $78 per year	Yes	Individuals, remote workers, small teams
Hubstaff	Free $8-12 per user per month	Yes	Freelancers, remote teams, agencies
Timely	Starter: $9/user/month Premium: $16/user/month Unlimited: $22/user/month	Yes	Small to medium-sized businesses, freelancers
WebWork	Basic: $4.09/user/month (annual) Enterprise: Custom pricing	Yes	Remote teams, freelancers
Replicon	Starts at $6/month for Time and Attendance Product Suite	Yes	Enterprise-level organizations
Apploye	Standard: $2.50/user/month Elite: $3.50/user/month	Yes	Remote teams, freelancers, small to medium-sized businesses

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Why Do Consultants Need to Track Time

Consultant time tracking is the practice of recording and monitoring the hours spent by consultants on various tasks, projects, or client engagements. It involves accurately tracking billable and non-billable hours to measure productivity, assess project profitability, and invoice clients accordingly. Here’s why consulting time tracking is essential:

• Resource allocation: Time tracking helps consultants allocate resources efficiently by identifying how much time is spent on each task or project. This information allows them to prioritize activities and allocate resources where they are most needed.
• Project management: Time tracking enables consultants to monitor project progress and deadlines more effectively. By recording time against specific tasks or milestones, consultants can ensure that projects stay on schedule and meet client expectations.
• Client billing: Accurate time tracking is crucial for invoicing clients. Consultants can bill clients based on the hours worked, providing transparency and accountability in billing practices. Detailed time reports also help justify project costs to clients.
• Performance evaluation: Consulting time tracker provides valuable insights into consultant performance and productivity. By analyzing time data, consultants can identify areas for improvement, optimize workflow processes, and enhance overall efficiency.
• Cost control: Time tracking allows consultants to monitor project costs and identify potential cost overruns early on. By tracking billable hours and project expenses, consultants can make informed decisions to control costs and maximize profitability.
• Legal compliance: For consulting firms operating in industries with regulatory requirements, an accurate time tracker for consultants ensures compliance with labor laws and regulations. It provides documentation of hours worked, which may be necessary for legal or audit purposes.

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11 Time Tracking Tools for Consultants

Everhour

Everhour is a work hours tracker and a timesheet app designed to streamline time management and project tracking for consultants and small teams. With its intuitive interface and robust features, Everhour empowers consultants to accurately track billable hours (and Everhour is among the best billable hours trackers), monitor project progress and team attendance, and optimize resource allocation.

Best features for consultants

• Flexible time tracking: Log billable and non-billable hours across client projects and administrative tasks easily. Customize time entries with tags and descriptions for detailed reporting.
• Project budgeting and tracking: Set project budgets, track actual time against estimates, and monitor project profitability in real-time. Receive notifications when nearing budget limits to avoid cost overruns.
• Comprehensive reporting: Generate detailed reports on time spent, project progress, and team productivity to analyze billable hours and project milestones. Export reports in various formats for client invoicing and internal analysis.
• Integration with project management tools: Integrate with popular project management platforms like Asana, Basecamp, Notion, and Jira for streamlined workflow and data synchronization.
• Invoicing and billing: Create professional invoices based on tracked time and expenses directly within Everhour. Customize invoice templates, set hourly rates, and track invoice status for efficient billing processes.
• Timesheets and approvals: Easily create and manage timesheets for each project, providing a comprehensive overview of hours worked by team members.
• Resource planning: Plan and allocate resources effectively with visual resource scheduling. Assign tasks to team members, track availability, and adjust schedules in real-time to optimize project timelines and workload distribution.

Best suited for

Small consulting teams and individual consultants looking for an intuitive time tracking solution to optimize project efficiency and resource management.

Pricing

• Free plan.
• Team plan: $8.50 per user per month.

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Paymo

Paymo is a comprehensive time tracking and project management platform that simplifies time tracking, project management, and invoicing processes, allowing consultants to focus on delivering high-quality services to clients.

Best features for consultants

• Multi-platform time tracking: Track time on tasks and projects from anywhere using Paymo’s desktop, web, and mobile apps. Capture billable hours accurately whether working in the office or on the go.
• Task management: Organize tasks, set deadlines, and assign responsibilities to team members within the intuitive task management interface. Prioritize tasks, create task dependencies, and track task progress in real-time.
• Timesheet and invoicing software: Create professional invoices based on tracked time and expenses directly within Paymo. Customize invoice templates, set billing rates, and track invoice status to ensure timely payment from clients.
• Client portal: Provide clients with access to a dedicated client portal where they can view project progress, review invoices, and communicate with the consulting team. Enhance transparency and collaboration with clients throughout the project lifecycle.

Best suited for

Independent consultants and small consulting firms seeking an all-in-one solution for time tracking, project management, and invoicing.

Pricing

• Free plan.
• Small Office plan: $11.95 per user per month.
• Business plan: $18.95 per user per month.
• Custom Enterprise.

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Timecamp

TimeCamp offers a robust consultant time tracker that can streamline project management and enhance productivity for consultants and accounting firms.

Best features for consultants

• Time tracking: Ensure precise time tracking with TimeCamp, facilitating effortless clock-in and clock-out, whether done manually or through automated tracking.
• Deep work analysis: TimeCamp’s deep work analysis feature provides consultants with insights into their work patterns, helping them identify distractions and optimize work routines for improved productivity.
• Automatic Pomodoro timer: Consultants can utilize TimeCamp’s automatic Pomodoro timer to encourage focused work intervals, track breaks, and enhance time discipline for a more efficient work environment.
• Activity tracking and categorization: With granular activity tracking, consultants can categorize work activities with precision, enhancing productivity and task management.

Best suited for

Consultants, accounting firms, and freelance professionals seeking comprehensive time tracking solutions to optimize project management and improve productivity.

Pricing

• Free plan available with basic features.
• Basic: $6.99 per user per month.
• Pro: $9.99 per user per month.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing available for larger teams with advanced needs.

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Deputy

Deputy is a billable hours software that gets the complexities of managing employee schedules and tracking their time, making it an ideal tool for consultants seeking efficient workforce management solutions.

Best features for consultants

• Time tracking: Ensure precise time tracking with Deputy, enabling consultants to monitor hours worked by themselves and their team members effortlessly.
• Scheduling: Create and manage employee schedules with ease using Deputy’s intuitive scheduling tools, optimizing scheduling to meet project deadlines and client demands.
• Communication: Facilitate seamless communication between consultants and their team members through Deputy’s built-in messaging and notification features.
• Compliance: Ensure adherence to labor laws and regulations with features like overtime tracking, break management, and compliance reporting.

Best suited for

Consultants who manage teams of employees and contractors and require a comprehensive solution for scheduling, time tracking, and communication.

Pricing

• Scheduling: $3.50 per user per month.
• Time and Attendance: $3.50 per user per month.
• Premium: $4.90 per user per month.
• Enterprise: Customized pricing available for larger organizations with advanced needs.

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TrackingTime

TrackingTime is a dynamic and intuitive time-tracking and project management solution crafted to boost efficiency for consultants and their teams. With a robust array of features, it empowers users to seamlessly monitor and oversee their time, assignments, and projects across various platforms, streamlining workflow and maximizing productivity.

Best features for consultants

• Automatic time tracking: Tracking time with TrackingTime is made effortless with its automatic tracking feature, ensuring accurate time records without manual input.
• Idle time detection: The platform includes idle time detection, distinguishing between active and idle work periods, providing insights into productivity levels and time utilization.
• Project-based time tracking: Consultants can allocate work hours to specific projects, providing a detailed breakdown of time spent on individual tasks and enhancing project management and resource allocation.
• Cross-platform compatibility: TrackingTime seamlessly integrates across multiple platforms, allowing consultants to access and manage their time, tasks, and projects from anywhere, ensuring flexibility and convenience.

Best suited for

Small consulting teams, freelancers, and individuals seeking a user-friendly time tracking and project management solution to improve productivity and effectively manage their workload.

Pricing

• Free plan available for up to three users.
• Freelancer Plan: $8 per user/month when billed monthly.
• Pro Plan: $5.75 per user/month when billed monthly.
• Business Plan: $10 per user/month when billed monthly.

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RescueTime

RescueTime is time tracking and billing software for consultants that helps individuals and teams improve productivity and focus by tracking time spent on various tasks and activities throughout the day. 

Best features for consultants

• Automatic time tracking: RescueTime automatically tracks time spent on different websites, applications, and tasks in the background, providing users with an accurate breakdown of their daily activities without manual input.
• FocusTime: The FocusTime feature allows consultants to block distracting websites and applications during specified periods, helping them maintain focus and productivity during work hours.
• Goal setting and alerts: Users can set productivity goals and receive alerts when they exceed or fall short of their targets, enabling them to stay on track and make adjustments as needed to meet their objectives.
• Detailed productivity reports and insights: RescueTime generates detailed reports and insights on productivity trends, time usage patterns, and daily habits, allowing consultants to identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions to optimize their workflow.

Best suited for

Consultants and professionals who want to gain better control over their time management, improve productivity, and achieve work-life balance. It is particularly well-suited for individuals who work remotely or have flexible schedules.

Pricing

• Free plan.
• Premium: $12 per month or $78 per year.

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Hubstaff

Hubstaff is a complete time tracking and productivity management solution tailored to assist consultants and teams in monitoring their time, tracking work activities, and enhancing productivity. Through its diverse features and integrations, Hubstaff simplifies time tracking, project management, and payroll processes, leading to heightened efficiency and profitability for consultants.

Best features for consultants

• Time tracking with screenshots: Hubstaff offers time tracking with optional screenshots, allowing consultants to monitor their work activities and track billable hours accurately. Screenshots provide visual evidence of work progress and ensure accountability for remote teams.
• Activity monitoring: The activity monitoring feature captures user activity levels and tracks keyboard and mouse movements, providing insights into work patterns and productivity trends. Consultants can use this data to identify distractions, optimize workflow, and improve time management.
• Online timesheets: Hubstaff generates online timesheets that record time spent on different projects and tasks, facilitating accurate billing, client invoicing, and payroll processing. Timesheets can be customized and exported for reporting and analysis purposes.
• GPS tracking: For consultants working on-site or in the field, Hubstaff offers GPS tracking functionality that records employee locations and movement in real-time. This feature is particularly useful for tracking billable hours for client visits, travel time, and project-related activities.

Best suited for

Remote teams and distributed work environments, as it provides visibility and transparency into employee productivity regardless of location.

Pricing

• Free plan available for up to 3 users.
• Additional packages for teams starting from $8-12 per user per month, depending on the number of users.

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Timely

Timely is a sophisticated time tracking solution for consultants and small teams as it helps to efficiently manage their time and improve productivity.

Best features for consultants

• Automatic time tracking: Timely offers automatic time tracking functionality, eliminating the need for manual entry and ensuring accurate recording of billable hours.
• Project-based tracking: Users can allocate time to specific projects and tasks, providing a clear overview of where time is spent and allowing for more accurate project estimates.
• Team collaboration: Timely facilitates collaboration among team members by enabling them to share project timelines, allocate resources, and communicate seamlessly within the platform.
• Insights and analytics: With detailed reports and analytics, Timely allows consultants to gain valuable insights into their work habits, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions to optimize their productivity.

Best suited for

Consultants, freelancers, and small teams seeking an intuitive and comprehensive time tracker to enhance efficiency and productivity.

Pricing

• Starter Plan: $9 per user/per month.
• Premium Plan: $16 per user/per month.
• Unlimited Plan: $22 per user/per month.

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WebWork

With a focus on enhancing productivity and transparency in remote work environments, WebWork offers a range of features to monitor working hours, track productivity, and manage tasks efficiently. Whether you’re a consultant leading a remote team or part of a distributed workforce, WebWork provides the tools needed to streamline work processes and ensure optimal performance, no matter where your team members are located.

Best features for consultants

• Time tracking: WebWork automatically starts tracking time whenever team members begin work, providing detailed reports without the need for manual intervention.
• 4 screenshot modes: WebWork offers 4 screenshot modes to ensure transparency and ease of management in remote work processes. These modes allow you to stay informed about project progress and team work processes. The Blurred mode ensures privacy when needed.
• Productivity tracking: Addressing concerns about remote employee productivity, WebWork provides productivity reports by tracking app and website usage, keyboard and mouse activity, and generating detailed reports for analysis.

Best suited for

Consultants and remote teams looking for an efficient time-tracking and employee-monitoring solution to manage remote work processes effectively.

Pricing

• Basic: $4.09 per user/month if paid annually, and $4.99 if paid monthly.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing available for large teams.

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Replicon

Replicon is a leading enterprise-level time tracking solution designed to streamline time management and enhance productivity within large organizations. With its user-centric approach, Replicon offers efficient and accurate time-tracking features tailored to the needs of enterprise environments, making it an invaluable asset for businesses seeking comprehensive time management solutions.

Best features for consultants

• Automated time entry: Replicon simplifies time entry with smart options, ensuring streamlined and accurate recording of work hours for consultants and teams.
• Comprehensive project analytics: Navigate through detailed project analytics effortlessly with Replicon, allowing consultants to filter time entries by projects and gain insights for strategic decision-making.
• Reporting tools: Replicon provides intuitive reporting tools that generate detailed reports on task completion, project progress, and team efficiency, empowering consultants to make informed choices based on precise project data.
• Seamless workflow integration: Replicon seamlessly integrates into workflows, offering a user-friendly experience for both employees and administrators, enhancing collaboration and efficiency.

Best suited for

Consultants, project managers, and teams operating within enterprise environments who require robust time tracking, project analytics, and reporting capabilities to streamline operations and improve productivity.

Pricing

Replicon’s pricing starts at $6/month for the Time and Attendance Product Suite, with customized pricing options available for additional features and functionalities.

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Apploye

Apploye is a dynamic time-tracking and productivity management tool designed to empower consultants and small businesses with robust features for efficient project management and team collaboration. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive suite of tools, Apploye enables consultants to streamline time tracking, task management, and client billing processes, facilitating enhanced productivity and project success.

Best features for consultants

• Schedules: Google Calendar-like scheduling for teams, enabling task assignment and job scheduling for efficient team coordination.
• Visual time data displays: Apploye offers insightful reports presented visually, allowing consultants to analyze time data effectively on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
• GPS tracking: With GPS tracking functionality, consultants can monitor employee locations during job assignments, ensuring accurate billable hours for payroll processing.
• Pomodoro timer: Apploye incorporates the Pomodoro timer feature, leveraging the popular time management technique to enhance productivity and focus among employees.

Best suited for

Consultants, freelancers, and small to medium-sized businesses seeking a comprehensive time tracking and productivity management solution to optimize workflow efficiency, streamline project management, and enhance client billing processes.

Pricing

• Standard: $2.5 per user/month
• Elite: $3.5 per user/month

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Best Time Tracking Software for Consultants: Conclusion

In the context of consultant time tracking software, consultants and small businesses seek solutions that accurately capture billable hours, streamline project management, and boost productivity. Everhour, Paymo, and TimeCamp offer versatile features tailored to these needs, from seamless integration to robust reporting functionalities. Additionally, WebWork and Apploye cater to the growing trend of remote work, providing specialized tools for monitoring remote teams.

With various pricing plans available, consultants can find a solution that meets their budget without sacrificing essential features. Ultimately, these tools help set up time tracking for agencies and empower consultants to optimize workflows, improve productivity, and achieve business objectives efficiently in today’s competitive environment.