Clockify
Clockify offers full time tracking for unlimited users completely free, then layers billable rates and admin features into paid tiers starting at $3.99 — the lowest cost of entry in the category by a wide margin. Essential in this category.
The take
What is Clockify?
Clockify is a time-tracking app that reports over 10 million users across more than 100 countries as of 2024. Its defining feature is a free tier that supports unlimited users with no time cap — the most generous free plan in the category. Founded in 2017 by COING, Clockify built its position by giving away full team time tracking and charging only for billing and admin features.
Clockify is the core pick for budget-conscious teams in the 80/20 of time-tracking tools we cover. Where Toggl caps its free tier at five users and Harvest at one, Clockify lets an entire company track time at no cost. Paid tiers then add billable rates, advanced reports, and controls.
How does Clockify work?
Clockify works by recording time entries under projects and tasks, either with a one-click timer or manual timesheet entry, then rolling those entries into reports. It runs across web, desktop, mobile, and a browser extension, syncing in real time. Paid tiers attach billable rates and budgets for client work.
Timers and timesheets
You track time two ways: start a one-click timer when a task begins, or fill in a weekly timesheet grid in bulk. The timer runs on desktop and mobile, and the browser extension embeds a start button into tools like Asana, Jira, and GitHub. Timesheet view suits people who reconstruct their week on Friday rather than tracking live.
Billable rates and reporting
On paid tiers, each project and member carries a billable rate, so Clockify calculates billable amounts and project budgets automatically. Detailed, summary, and weekly reports export to PDF, CSV, and Excel for invoicing or review. The free tier tracks time and runs basic reports but withholds billable rates — client-billing teams need the $3.99 Basic tier.
Kiosk mode and integrations
Kiosk mode turns a shared tablet into a clock-in station for on-site and shift teams who enter a PIN to punch in. Clockify integrates with Jira and GitHub for starting timers from task cards, and with QuickBooks for syncing billable data into accounting. Zapier connects it to thousands of other apps.
How does Clockify compare to Toggl and Harvest?
Clockify wins on price and free-tier scope. Toggl wins on interface polish and one-click speed. Harvest wins on invoicing and profitability reporting. All three are manual timers, so the choice comes down to budget versus billing depth. The table shows the trade-offs.
| Attribute | Clockify | Toggl | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Unlimited users | 5 users, unlimited | 1 user, 2 projects |
| Best for | Free team tracking | Freelance logging | Agency billing |
| Billable rates | Paid tier | Paid tier | All paid tiers |
| Built-in invoicing | Basic (paid) | No | Yes (best in class) |
| Online payments | No | No | Stripe, PayPal |
| Kiosk mode | Yes | No | No |
| Interface polish | Dense | Cleanest | Clean |
| Starting price | $3.99/user/month | $9/user/month | $11/user/month |
| 80/20 verdict | Pick when budget is zero | Pick for freelancers | Pick for invoicing |
“Clockify wins on math: unlimited free users and a $3.99 paid tier make it the default when budget is the constraint, even though Toggl feels nicer to use day to day,” said Maya Chen, Productivity Editor at tools8020.
Who uses Clockify in 2026?
Startups and budget-conscious agencies use Clockify to track an entire team’s hours without paying per seat. Freelancers use the $3.99 Basic tier to add billable rates without Harvest’s higher cost. On-site and shift-based teams — retail, warehouses, field crews — use kiosk mode to clock in from a shared device.
The common profile is a team where cost beats polish. A 30-person startup tracks every member free on Clockify and only upgrades the admins who need reporting. Teams that want a smoother daily experience often choose Toggl instead, and teams that bill clients directly lean toward Harvest for its invoicing.
What are common mistakes with Clockify?
Most Clockify issues come from misreading what the free tier includes or leaving monitoring features on.
- Expecting billable rates for free: The free tier excludes billable rates. Client-billing teams must upgrade to the $3.99 Basic tier or higher.
- Treating it as full invoicing: Clockify’s invoicing is basic and lacks payment collection. For Stripe and PayPal payments, use Harvest.
- Leaving screenshots on: Optional screenshot tracking raises privacy concerns. Disclose it before enabling, or leave it off.
- Skipping project setup: Time logged against no project produces useless reports. Set up your project structure before the first week.
- Ignoring the timesheet view: People who hate live timers abandon tracking; the weekly timesheet grid keeps reluctant trackers consistent.
How much does Clockify cost?
Clockify’s free tier covers unlimited users, projects, and time tracking with no cap — enough to run a whole team’s time logging at no cost. Paid tiers start at $3.99 per user per month for billable rates and add reporting, admin controls, and monitoring features as you climb. It is the cheapest entry point in the category by a wide margin.
| Plan | Price (annual) | Key inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Unlimited users, projects, and time tracking |
| Basic | $3.99/user/month | Billable rates, admin time editing |
| Standard | $5.49/user/month | Invoicing, timesheet approval, manager roles |
| Pro | $7.99/user/month | Forecasting, scheduling, custom fields |
| Enterprise | $11.99/user/month | SSO, audit log, custom subdomain |
Pricing verified at clockify.me/pricing as of 2026-05-26. Clockify adjusts tier features periodically — confirm what your plan includes before relying on a specific feature.
How we evaluated Clockify
Maya Chen tested Clockify across team time tracking, billable-rate setup, kiosk mode, and reporting against real project work in May 2026. We benchmarked its free-tier scope and paid pricing against Toggl and Harvest, the two other core trackers we cover.
See our evaluation methodology for the full scoring criteria. Clockify connects to Jira and Zapier for workflow automation, and to QuickBooks for accounting sync. For a wider view of lean tooling, see our solo founder stack guide.
Strengths & trade-offs
What earns the score
- Genuinely free for unlimited users — the most generous in the category
- Cheapest paid tiers start at $3.99/user/month
- Full feature set across web, desktop, mobile, and browser extension
- Kiosk mode suits on-site and shift-based teams
- Strong integrations with project and accounting tools
Where it falls short
- Free tier excludes billable rates and advanced reporting
- Interface is denser and less polished than Toggl's
- No built-in client invoicing — exports to accounting tools instead
- Optional screenshot tracking raises employee-monitoring concerns
- Advanced admin controls require the higher Enterprise tier
How it compares
| Tool | Score | Tier | From |
|---|---|---|---|
 Toggl Track | 93 | Essential | $9/user |
| 88 | Essential | $3.99/user | |
| 74 | Strong | $7/user | |
| 71 | Strong | $9/user |
Frequently asked questions
Is Clockify really free?
Yes. Clockify's free tier supports unlimited users, unlimited projects, and unlimited time tracking with no time cap — the most generous free plan in the category. It excludes billable rates, advanced reporting, and admin controls. Teams that only need to track and report hours can run on the free tier indefinitely without paying anything.
How does Clockify compare to Toggl?
Both are manual time trackers, but Clockify's free tier supports unlimited users while Toggl's caps at five. Toggl has a cleaner interface and a more polished browser extension. Clockify is cheaper on paid tiers, starting at $3.99 versus Toggl's $9. Choose Clockify for the largest free team; choose Toggl for the smoother day-to-day experience.
Does Clockify have invoicing?
Clockify includes basic invoicing on paid tiers, converting tracked billable hours into invoices, but it is lighter than Harvest's. There is no built-in online payment collection. For full invoicing with Stripe and PayPal payments, Harvest is stronger. Many Clockify teams instead export time data to QuickBooks or Xero for client billing.
What is Clockify kiosk mode?
Kiosk mode turns a shared device into a clock-in station where on-site or shift-based workers punch in and out without individual app logins. Each worker enters a PIN to start and stop their shift. This suits warehouses, retail, and field teams where staff share a tablet rather than each tracking time on a personal device.
Does Clockify track screenshots?
Clockify offers optional screenshot capture and activity tracking on higher tiers, intended for verifying remote work. It is off by default. Screenshot monitoring raises employee-privacy concerns, so disclose it before enabling it on a team. Most teams use Clockify purely for time and billing data and leave the monitoring features turned off.
When should you choose Harvest over Clockify?
Choose Harvest when invoicing and project profitability matter — it bills clients directly with online payments and reports margin against labor cost. Choose Clockify when budget is the priority, since it tracks unlimited users free and bills the lowest paid rate. Harvest is the billing-first tool; Clockify is the cost-first tool.
Other time tracking tools.