time tracking

A question to all freelancers/consultants out there: What application do you use to track your time? Any good recommendation? Thanks!

25 Comments leave a comment below

  1. wouldnt Sam have the perfect answer for this?

  2. Actually, this listing at LifeHacker may be better:

    http://www.lifehacker.com/software/time-tracker/

  3. “On The Job” by Stunt software is a neat little app ~
    http://www.stuntsoftware.com/OnTheJob/

  4. Actually – tried software and ended up keeping track with pen and paper. 15 minute intervals. (.25/.5/.75/1). Works for me.

  5. Warning – this is a shameless plug.

    Tick (http://www.tickspot.com) will help you track your time and hit your budgets. Currently in private preview, but it will be open as a free public preview within a few days.

  6. Maybe 37signals’ basecamp (http://basecamphq.com/?referrer=berndgoldschmidt) is for you? (Be aware! I may earn something if you use this link)
    Time tracking is only available in the “bigger” plans, but basecamp is a great collaboration tool.

  7. Here’s another good one http://www.punchytime.com/. Not only tracks time, but also shows you were you are making and/or losing money.

  8. I tried a few things… iBiz, Quickbooks has time sheets (which I use fir billing, but not day-to-day) and a few other web based things… but in the end, I get back to a well laid out printed time sheet that I have right here in front of my keyboard… when I switch tasks, I write it down.
    I’ll email it to ya, even throw yer logo on there if you want to check it out!

  9. I use On The Job. It lets you have multiple projects with a nice timer that is visible in the dock. The best part is that it prints out an invoice with your hourly rate x’s your hours. I love it.

    http://www.stuntsoftware.com/OnTheJob/

  10. I haven’t had a chance to really play with it, but there’s a new time-tracking web app called 88 Miles – http://www.88miles.net – that’s simple time tracking and nothing else. Their approach is to keep things uncluttered and not add invoicing and other whistles, which I dig as a philosophy.

  11. I use my sent mailbox and sort by a particular client. Then I guage the heaviness of replies. This “paper trail” gives me a rough framework for the day, time and deliverables.

    So I add up hours that way.

    It’s a completely horrible way to do it, but I’m spacey.

  12. i suggest the opensource alternative to basecamp: activecollab (it needs a shared hosting account with php5 and mysql, it’s easy to install)
    http://heartscripts.colr.net/go/2006/07/05/activecollab-free-basecamp-alternative/

  13. I use the very technically advanced Notepad. Time tracking is more about discipline than it is a fancy software system.

  14. THANK YOU all for your input! Great to see the variety out there in time tracking apps! Still haven’t decided yet which one I will go with in the end! Much, much appreciated! – Swissmiss

  15. Is anyone worked on adding Time Tracking to ActiveCollab? Its a very nice tool but loosing to Basecamp now as they are planing pro and lite versions.

    Dont know when the development will be done for Time TRacker.

  16. Hi Isaac,

    Another option is Fanurio. It is a desktop application designed for freelancers. It can do basic project management, time tracking and invoicing.

    http://www.fanuriotimetracking.com

    Cheers,
    Cosmina

  17. Intervals: time tracking and task management.
    http://www.myintervals.com/

  18. I use Replicon timekeeping software for time tracking.

  19. swissmiss, did you decide on a time tracking system in the end. I’m searching for a good one at the mo (graphic/web designer and mommy blogger)

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