Most of us have been asked about our favorite foods, colors, and animals since we were in elementary school. You may have an immediate answer to each one of them, or maybe you don’t — maybe instead you have a shortlist of all the best options. 

When it comes to the best time management software, we may obviously know who we’d pick as our favorite. But we also put together a list of the top time management software choices so you can pick the best option for your needs.

Before we give you our list, let’s cover the basics of time management software.

Time management software explained

Time management software is a type of program that helps businesses and individuals master their management of day-to-day activities. It works to boost productivity by providing reminders, tracking tasks and activities, assigning deadlines, analyzing progress reports, and simplifying communication between users. 

Time management software can be applied to almost any type of organization or situation, including small businesses, large corporations, freelance professionals, or even students. With the right tool in place, you can easily tailor the program’s features to better suit your needs.

In relation to the time management software vendor landscape, there are a variety of different products on the market that offer high-quality services designed for organizations ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. It’s important for business owners and managers to determine which program best meets their requirements before investing in one particular tool over another. 

How do you make the right choice in time tracking software?

With so many different types of time management software available in the market, it can be difficult to choose which one is best for your specific needs. 

The first step in choosing a time management software is to assess your needs and goals. Different time tracking applications are tailored for different tasks — simpler programs might focus only on hour tracking and employee monitoring, while more comprehensive programs might incorporate project management tools like file sharing, invoicing, expense reporting, scheduling, budget forecasting, etc. 

Some products allow you to track multiple tasks and run concurrently so you can better keep track of billable hours. Once you have identified your needs and goals, it will be easier to select the most suitable product from the range of options available.

What are the different types of time management software?

There are various types of time management software available, each with its own unique features and capabilities. The most popular solutions can be downloaded as a cloud-based online solution or live on your mobile device as an app.

Essential features such as task management, timekeeping programs, timesheets, time recording, and automatic trackers make up the core functionality of most of these solutions. Depending on how advanced you need it to be, users have the option to choose from both free versions that meet basic needs or paid options with additional features. 

Time management software can help your business hone its project management strategy by providing estimates and tracking the progress of tasks in an easy-to-use interface to make sure everyone is aware of their responsibilities. It also allows users to monitor the amount of time they spend away from distractions so they can focus more effectively on the work tasks at hand.

Time management software is increasingly essential for organizations of all sizes. Such programs give users visibility and control over their daily operations, allowing them to efficiently manage tasks and measure progress. Common features include analytics, APIs, attendance tracking, batch permissions, and access control, and billing/invoicing. These features are designed to help users monitor important information in real-time and create automated processes.

The top time management apps for 2023 

Time management is an essential skill when it comes to running a business, department, or other managerial duties. And as more people work virtually, managing time efficiently becomes even more important. To help with your team’s daily routine, the best time management apps provide tools that allow users to track how they spend their time and prioritize tasks effectively.

Most of these apps offer features for tracking things like billable hours, Internet use, and the amount of time dedicated to each individual project. This is incredibly useful for freelancers who need to create accurate invoices for their clients. 

Time management apps can also be used to gain a better understanding of how employees are spending their day so they can effectively assign tasks and manage workloads. With a good time management app in hand, individuals as well as teams can improve their efficiency and productivity in the long run.

Harvest

Our personal favorite, Harvest is a time tracking app that allows users to easily record the amount of time they spend on each project. It accurately records hours and minutes, giving users the ability to make sure they are meeting their deadlines and staying productive. 

The app also provides powerful reporting tools, allowing users to track their progress over time and make any necessary changes in order to stay within budget. This software is perfect for those who want to be able to monitor their progress and ensure that they don't fall behind.

Harvest works alongside your existing apps. You can begin your Harvest journey and it will integrate with the apps you’re already using. And naturally, we are partial to the Harvest time tracking software.

TimeCamp

TimeCamp is an intuitive and versatile software solution that can provide immense value to any organization through effective team time tracking and reporting. This platform allows business owners and managers to track the billable hours of their employees, allowing them to accurately calculate their invoices. Additionally, Internet usage monitoring means admins can keep track of the efficiency and productivity of each individual on the team. This can be used in tandem with the attendance tracker to make sure everyone is clocking in at work on time each day.

The automated feature set provided by TimeCamp also enables users to maximize team productivity. It integrates project tracking with billing so that teams know precisely how much time they have devoted to every task throughout its duration. Even better is its ability to assign entries directly to a specific job or customer, facilitating policy compliance, accuracy, and precision within the workplace. 

Tmetric

Tmetric is a great way to track time, as well as project budgets, for freelancers and companies alike. Its intuitive and easy-to-use visual timeline allows you to easily monitor and control the activities throughout the day, giving you the insight that you need to turn those activities into billable hours. 

Tmetric has been used by tens of thousands of users, who’ve managed to clock in over nine million hours of tracked time - including time off, team management, and reporting. Not only that but it includes automated features like browser add-ons and compatibility with major operating systems, as well as support for different currencies which makes it perfect for businesses who need to keep an eye on their budgets. 

RescueTime

RescueTime is a great choice if you are looking for ways to improve productivity. The company promotes healthy habits, focusing on avoiding distractions and emphasizing a four-day workweek. 

It offers numerous features catering to different needs like setting goals and tracking time spent online, with alerts sent out when daily goals have been achieved. With RescueTime Lite, users can access some of the same features for free, including tracking time used on websites and receiving weekly email reports with insights and advice.

This product is a powerful tool that helps people stay focused while they work without overdoing it, yet remains incredibly lightweight and suited to any budget thanks to its generosity in offering basic features of the full version for free with RescueTime Lite. That said, it’s also important to note that their services are designed with health in mind too! 

Toggl

Time management can be challenging, especially during work hours when distractions abound. Toggl is a convenient and efficient tool that makes time tracking a breeze for both remote and in-office workers. Toggl allows users to set reminder alerts and detect idle periods, encouraging maximum productivity. 

What’s more, it provides cross-platform support, ensuring no time is lost whether you are on the desktop PC or your smartphone app. The data collected by the tracking system can easily be broken down into projects, clients, and tasks to get an insight into where most of the hours spent have been dedicated. 

This makes it easier to identify what activities bring a higher return on investment (ROI) and refrain from wasteful efforts that don’t generate any income. This information can prove invaluable in determining how best to manage resources and optimize profits while saving precious time and energy at the same time.

Todoist

Todoist is an ideal way to effectively manage work efficiently, ticking off items on a to-do list to get more done during the day. With Todoist's desktop and mobile app users are able to set both recurring events and essential one-off tasks that could be completed when needed, providing them with a schedule of jobs each morning so they can prioritize their work according to the timeline. Not only that but all tasks can be organized into ‘Projects’, making your ability to track them easier than ever before.

With simple navigation and user-friendliness, Todoist provides customers with much-needed flexibility along with added customization options such as multiple languages, tags, color coding, and reminders. These features make it easy for users to work smarter and faster without having to worry about time restraints or over-committing themselves. 

Todoist allows for collaboration among teams by connecting multiple accounts under one workspace in order to provide a better platform for communication. The ease of use makes it perfect for anyone wanting an efficient way of tackling tasks throughout their day. 

Chrometa

Chrometa software provides an innovative way to keep track of your time and workload. The program can capture the URL of web pages that you visit, emails that you send, and files that you work on automatically. 

This does away with worrying about precisely where the day has gone, as it records data in real time. Chrometa's tracking features go beyond most other solutions, such as mouse movements across Windows/macOS devices which can be useful for monitoring productivity but may worry some privacy advocates.

The program also comes with built-in money management tools to help optimize financial costs while keeping admin expenses low. It covers all the bases with a number of integrations that include services like QuickBooks, Xero, and Freshbooks. However, this doesn’t quite match up with the various other options available out there. 

ManicTime

If you’re looking for a time management app that won’t compromise your privacy, ManicTime is a great choice. It’s downloadable software that runs locally and keeps data local without accessing remote servers. Not only does it work on Windows, macOS, and even Linux computers, but Android users can also benefit from ManicTime. 

This time management app will keep track of the time you spend on any document or website without you having to think about it too much. Plus, if your workplace uses task-based systems like Github or Jira, ManicTime has got your back with easy integrations available.

ManicTime stands out among other competing apps because of its impressive features and exceptional level of privacy protection. Keeping data safe offline is something to consider when selecting the right solution for managing important information related to your business activities. Its use on mobile devices makes it more convenient for workers who conduct business via their phones and tablets. 

It also has the ability to provide detailed reports that can be used in decision-making and financial analysis by companies. All these are good reasons to buy ManicTime not just as an individual worker but also as an organization looking for an extra layer of protection when dealing with confidential data.

Google Calendar

Google Calendar is an online, iOS, and Android mobile app designed to make managing tasks, projects, and meetings on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis easier. It gives an overview of upcoming meetings, tasks, and other commitments in order to help users plan their activities more efficiently, and integrating with other productivity apps, it helps improve the overall workflow.

With Google Calendar, users receive an email at the beginning of every workday containing a clear overview of all upcoming tasks so they never miss out on any project they need to get done. The app also allows users to connect their calendars with services like ClickUp giving them even better insight into their workload. 

This makes it easier to understand deadlines on multiple projects while being taken so they don’t forget some important meeting or task. By combining various tools into one calendar service Google Calendar saves time planning and keeps users always updated and on top of their events—personal or professional ones.

Noisili

Noisili is an excellent tool for anyone seeking to accomplish things in peace and quiet. It offers a range of background sounds designed to help you stay focused and cut out distracting noises. To make it even easier, Noisli allows users to mix their preferred ambient background noise with different sound presets from various curated playlists. All of this is available on iOS, Google Play, and desktop systems, allowing users the flexibility to use it anytime and anywhere.

For many people, noisy workplaces can be immensely frustrating, and it can be difficult to maintain focus while working. With Noisli, noise problems can be eliminated quickly by opting for a suitable soundtrack that helps keep one's concentration levels high while also lifting one’s mood. 

The app features natural background noises as well as some calming music so that users can find the perfect environment in which they are able to work best and gain those much-needed productivity boosts.

Freedom

Freedom is a digital product designed to help users stay away from the Internet and maintain their focus and productivity. This tool is available for different platforms like Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, and Chrome.

At its core, Freedom helps users better manage their time by allowing them to block any website or app they deem distractive. Such features are quite useful for those who find it hard to concentrate on their tasks, thanks to websites such as Facebook or games that can take away hours from their day-to-day lives. 

Users are able to battle these distractions with Freedom which blocks an unlimited number of pages for up to eight hours at a time. This way users can be sure their productivity won’t be hindered by randomly browsing through the web.

Remember The Milk

Remember The Milk is an innovative task management web-based application created back in 2004. It helps people stay organized and productive by providing a platform to manage upcoming tasks both online and offline, from any device such as a computer, smartphone, or even via Google Assistant. 

This app has been used by more than 6 million people throughout the years and has become even more advanced in time, now providing users with the ability to import and export their data in JSON format for better archiving.

It can be accessed from various smartphones through Android and iOS systems, as well as on computers and Blackberry devices. Thanks to its easy-to-use interface requiring minimum effort for operation, this application allows one to keep track of deadlines and relevant activities no matter where they are at the moment. 

Remember The Milk also offers additional services such as alerts, categorization of tasks within list view, or calendar view sharing between multiple users. It’s all designed to help make your daily experience a whole lot easier.

In Conclusion

You have many great options to choose from when it comes to time tracking software. As you can probably guess, we highly recommend Harvest. And if you would like to know more about Harvest, too, please contact us. We’d love to show you how Harvest can improve your work-life balance and your bottom line. 

Why not see for yourself with a free trial from Harvest?