They say that time is money and that’s never more true than when you’re freelancing for a client.
Freelancing offers flexibility and freedom but with that comes the challenge of managing your time effectively.
For freelancers, especially those working on a Mac, finding the right tools to balance time tracking, project management, productivity, and invoicing is essential.
Not only do you need to stay on top of your hours, but you also need to juggle multiple projects, maintain your productivity, and ensure you’re billing clients accurately.
That’s where time tracking apps come in.
These apps not only help you track the hours you work but many also integrate with other project management tools and invoicing software to help you focus on you’re actual work.
Whether you’re looking for a simple timer, an automatic time tracker, or a fully-featured tool that handles invoicing, here we’ve looked at a whole range of Mac compatible options for different needs and budgets.
Table of Contents
Do Macs Have a Time Tracking App?
macOS has a “Screen Time” feature similar to iPhones but it’s not suitable for work time tracking. It’s simply for monitoring how much time you’re spending using a particular app.
What Makes a Good Time Tracker For Macs?
The best time trackers eliminate guessing how much time you’ve spent and provide a transparent way for both you and your client to monitor work.
Among the things we looked for in the best time tracking apps for macOS were:
- Apps that were easy to stop and start
- Ideally with a Mac desktop app
- Ability to manually log work where necessary
- Categorizing the type of work tracked
- Easy to share or export the time tracked with clients
| App | Automatic Tracking | Invoicing & Billing | Team Collaboration | Price |
|---|
| Toggl Track | No | No | Yes | Free for basic tracking. $10/user/month |
| Timing | Yes | No | No | $9/month |
| Harvest | No | Yes | Yes | $11/user/month |
| Clockify | No | No | Yes | Free/Plans start at $3.99/month |
| Buddy Punch | Yes | Yes | Yes | Starts at $4.49/m |
| Timely | Yes (AI-based) | Yes | Yes | $9/user/month |
| Hurdlr | No | Yes | No | Free/$10/month |
| Tyme | No | No | Yes | $3.75/month |
| Daily | No | No | No | $5.99/month |
| WorkingHours | Yes | No | No | Free/$9.99 one time purchase for Pro |
1. Toggl Track
Simple, Intuitive Time Tracking
When it comes to time tracking for freelancing on a Mac, Toggl Track is an excellent app because it keeps things nice and simple.
Its interface is intuitive, so you can easily log time without fuss.
Toggl works across your devices so even if you use it on your Mac, you can still log time worked on your iPhone or iPad.
Plus, it has offline tracking, so you can log hours even if you’re not connected to the internet.
Key Features:
- Cross-platform syncing (Mac, iPhone, web)
- Detailed reports that help you analyze your work habits
- Integration with popular tools like Trello, Asana, and Slack
- Offline tracking, which is great if you’re working remotely without Wi-Fi
- Can be enhanced with the Timery app for triggering your most used timers
What we liked the most: Toggl is ideal if you work on multiple projects or juggle several clients because it makes it easy to switch between tasks and see where your time is going.
Free version available: Yes, with premium options for more features.
Pricing: Free for basic tracking, $10/month for premium features.
2. Timing
Fully Automatic Time Tracking for Mac Desktops
Timing stands out as one of the best time tracking apps designed exclusively for Mac desktops.
Unlike manual timers like Toggl, Timing automatically tracks everything you do on your Mac.
It can differentiate between work apps, websites, and even the type of document you’re working on, giving you detailed insights into how you spend your time.
If you’re the kind of person who forgets to start and stop timers, Timing’s automatic tracking makes sure everything is logged.
The app records your activities in the background and then allows you to categorize your work at the end of the day.
Key Features:
- Automatic time tracking (no need to start timers)
- Detailed reports and insights into productivity
- Track time spent on specific documents and websites
- Privacy controls to exclude certain apps or activities from tracking
What we liked the most: Timing’s automatic tracking is perfect if you often jump between tasks or forget to hit “start” on a timer. It gives you a complete overview of your workday without extra effort.
Free version available: No, but it offers a 14-day free trial.
Pricing: Starts at $9/month
3. Harvest
Time Tracking with Built-In Invoicing
Harvest is another popular option for freelancers who need more than just time tracking.
In addition to tracking time, Harvest has built-in invoicing features, making it a great all-in-one solution for freelancers.
It also integrates with project management tools like Trello and Asana, so you can track time on specific tasks directly within those apps.
The ability to turn tracked hours into invoices without leaving the app is a huge time saver.
You can generate invoices, send them to clients, and even track payments, all from within the Harvest app.
Key Features:
- Track time, expenses, and create invoices
- Integrates with project management tools (Trello, Asana, etc.)
- Detailed time reports for individual clients or projects
- Syncs across Mac, iOS, and web platforms
What we liked the most: Harvest’s invoicing feature is perfect for freelancers who want one tool to process track hours, bill clients, and get paid.
Free version available: Yes, for up to 2 projects.
Pricing: Free for 2 projects; $11/month for unlimited projects and clients.
4. Clockify
Best Free Time Tracker
Clockify is a great option if you’re looking for a free time tracking tool that doesn’t impose limitations.
It’s completely free for individuals, with no limit on the number of projects or clients.
Clockify is web-based, but it also has a dedicated Mac app, which means you can track time offline as well.
One of the biggest draws for freelancers is that Clockify has a range of powerful reporting tools, even in the free version.
You can generate detailed reports of your hours worked and export them for invoicing.
Key Features:
- Free time tracking with unlimited projects
- In-depth reporting and export options
- Cross-platform syncing (web, Mac, iOS)
- Manual and automatic time tracking modes
What we liked the most: Clockify’s free tier is one of the best out there, especially if you’re just starting as a freelancer and need a no-cost solution that scales with your business.
Free version available: Yes, completely free with premium features available.
Pricing: Free for unlimited use, premium features start at $3.99/month.
5. Buddy Punch
Best for freelancers looking to scale-up
Buddy Punch is a powerful time tracking app designed to streamline attendance and payroll management for businesses of all sizes.
Although it’s designed for teams, it can be used by freelancers on the Starter Plan that want to scale-up their business.
With features like GPS tracking, facial recognition, and customizable punch rules, Buddy Punch focuses on maximizing employee efficiency.
The app offers detailed reports, integrates with payroll software for Macs, and simplifies scheduling for HR departments.
Key Features:
- GPS tracking and facial recognition for secure time punches
- Customizable punch rules and attendance policies
- Detailed reports for payroll and project management
- Integration with selected payroll software
- Scheduling features to optimize workforce management
- Easy-to-use interface for employees and managers alike
What we liked the most: Buddy Punch helps businesses reduce administrative overheads, paperwork and streamlines payroll processing.
Free version available: No, but offers a 14-day free trial.
Pricing: Starts at $4.49 per month.
6. Timely
AI-Powered Time Tracking
Timely takes a unique approach to time tracking by using AI to help freelancers track their work more accurately.
It automatically records everything you do, just like Timing, but it also uses AI to categorize your activities, saving you time and helping you stay focused.
The AI doesn’t always get it right but it learns from the corrections you make.
Timely’s AI assistant can even suggest improvements to the way you’re spending your time, to help you work more efficiently.
Key Features:
- Automatic time tracking powered by AI
- Smart categorization of tasks and projects
- Detailed reports to help freelancers optimize their work habits
- Syncs across Mac, iPhone, and iPad
What we liked the most: If you want to spend less time managing your time tracker, Timely’s AI-powered tracking does the heavy lifting for you, allowing you to focus on your work without interruptions.
Free version available: No, but offers a 14-day free trial.
Pricing: Starts at $10/month for freelancers.
7. Hurdlr
Best for tracking time and finances
Hurdlr is designed to help freelancers track both their time and finances more efficiently.
It not only tracks time spent on projects but also automatically logs business expenses, mileage, and income, making it a great all-in-one tool for self-employed professionals.
The app provides real-time tax estimates, so you always know how much you owe and can plan ahead.
Hurdlr also integrates with accounting software for Macs like QuickBooks and FreshBooks, making tax filing and invoicing easier.
Key Features:
- Automatic time tracking alongside expense and mileage tracking
- Real-time tax estimates to help freelancers budget
- Integration with accounting software for seamless invoicing
- Available on Mac, iPhone, and iPad
What we liked the most: If you want an app that tracks both your time and finances in one place, Hurdlr simplifies everything, reducing the need for multiple tools.
Free version available: Yes, with premium features available in paid plans.
Pricing: Free, Plans start at $10 per month.
8. Tyme
Best for all Apple devices
Tyme is a simple yet powerful time tracking app designed to help freelancers and small teams stay organized and efficient across all Apple devices.
It offers a clean, intuitive interface that makes tracking time effortless, whether you’re working on client projects or personal tasks.
Tyme provides insightful reports and visual timelines, helping you see where your time is going at a glance.
It also includes expense and mileage tracking, making it a great all-in-one solution for freelancers who need to manage their work-related costs.
Key Features:
- Intuitive time tracking with a visual timeline
- Project and task organization with detailed reporting
- Expense and mileage tracking for freelancers
- Syncs across Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch
What we liked the most: If you’re looking for a beautifully designed time tracker that looks great on all Apple devices, Tyme offers a seamless experience without unnecessary complexity.
Free version available: No, but offers a 14-day free trial.
Pricing: Starts at $3.75/month per user.
9. Daily
Daily is a lightweight and intuitive time tracking app that helps freelancers stay productive without the hassle of manual entry.
Unlike traditional timers, Daily uses smart reminders to ask what you’re working on, making it easy to log your time without interruptions.
It provides clear reports and insights, helping freelancers analyze their work habits and improve efficiency.
Daily’s minimalistic design ensures a distraction-free experience, keeping the focus on your work rather than managing a timer.
Key Features:
- Smart reminders for effortless time tracking
- Detailed reports to analyze work habits
- Simple and clean interface for minimal distractions
- Syncs across Mac and iPhone
What we liked the most: If you prefer a time tracker that doesn’t require manual input or running a timer constantly, Daily’s smart reminders offer a stress-free way to log your work.
Free version available: No, but offers a 7-day free trial.
Pricing: Starts at $5.99 per month.
10. Working Hours
Best for pomodoro technique integration
WorkingHours is an easy-to-use time tracking app designed to help professionals stay organized and focused throughout their day.
Unlike traditional time tracking tools, WorkingHours automatically tracks your work hours based on app and website usage, allowing you to stay on top of your time without manual input.
With detailed reports and analytics, it helps you evaluate your productivity and make improvements where needed.
Key Features:
- Automatic time tracking based on app and website usage
- Customizable Pomodoro timer
- In-depth reports and productivity analysis
- User-friendly interface for seamless navigation
- Syncs across Mac and iPhone
What we liked the most: For those who need accurate time tracking without manually starting or stopping timers, WorkingHours offers easy automatic tracking that saves time and increases efficiency. The pomodoro timer is also really useful.
Free version available: Yes, with limitations.
Pricing: Free, Pro version $9.99.
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