Best Toggl alternatives for freelancers
Toggl is the standard for pure time tracking, but most freelancers track time to bill it. Tools that close that loop — track → invoice — beat Toggl on workflow.
TL;DR
You only track time and…
→ Toggl or Clockify
You want time tracking +…
→ Harvest or Kinako
You need the full freelance…
→ Kinako
About Toggl Track
Toggl Track is excellent at one job: capturing time. The friction is that time has to leave Toggl to become an invoice. For freelancers, this often means exporting CSVs, copy-pasting into a separate billing tool, and managing two subscriptions.
Where Toggl Track shines
- Polished, low-friction time-tracking UX (desktop, mobile, browser extensions)
- Reliable timer that just works
- Deep reporting and analytics on time data
- Pomodoro and idle detection
- Auto-tracking from app/website activity (paid)
Why people look for alternatives
- Time data is stranded — getting it into an invoice requires manual export or paid integrations
- Billable rates and project budgets only at Premium ($18/mo)
- Pure tracking — no help with the surrounding workflow
- Adds another monthly subscription to the freelance stack
Feature comparison
Toggl Track vs. the top alternatives — side by side.
| Feature | kinako.us | toggl | Clockify | Harvest | HoneyBook |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time tracking | |||||
| Billable rates | Premium only | ||||
| Time → invoice in one click | |||||
| Invoicing included | |||||
| Contracts + proposals | |||||
| Free plan | Up to 5 users | 1 client, 2 projects | |||
| Price for 1 user | $29/mo all-in | Free–$18/mo | Free–$4+/mo | Free–$12/mo | $32/mo all-in |
The best Toggl Track alternatives
Detailed breakdown of each option.
kinako.
This is usOne tool to run your entire freelance business
Free · Pro from $29/mo
Free plan available
Best for: Solo freelancers who want everything in one place — invoicing, contracts, proposals, client portal, expenses, and project tracking — without paying for five tools
Pros
- All-in-one workflow at $29/mo — replaces a $60–90/mo stack
- Online Stripe payments out of the box
- Contracts with e-signatures included at all paid tiers
- Expense tracking + revenue dashboard
- Free plan available (3 clients/projects/invoices)
- Clean, modern UI — no setup overwhelm
- Recurring invoices + automated payment reminders
- Time tracking and public booking pages built in
Cons
- Newer product — smaller community and fewer tutorials than HoneyBook or Dubsado
- Booking pages don't sync with Google/Outlook calendars yet
- No team/multi-user accounts yet
HoneyBook
Client management platform for creative professionals
From $16/mo
Best for: Wedding photographers, event planners, and creative agencies who need polished proposals, automation workflows, and a recognizable brand in the industry
Pros
- Large, established community with extensive tutorials and templates
- Powerful automation workflows (e.g., auto-send contract when inquiry form is filled)
- Polished proposal and contract builder
- Built-in scheduling (Calendly alternative)
- Strong mobile app
Cons
- Expensive: full features require $32/mo plan
- No free plan — 7-day trial only
- No expense tracking
- Limited project management depth
- US and Canada only
- Can feel overkill for solo freelancers with simple needs
Clockify
Free time tracking with team features
Free · Pro from $4/mo
Free plan available
Best for: Anyone who wants Toggl-grade tracking for free
Pros
- Generous free tier covering most freelancer needs
- Strong reporting
- Multi-platform clients
Cons
- Same loop problem — time still has to leave the tool to be invoiced
- UI is a bit denser than Toggl
Harvest
Time tracking and invoicing combined
Free · Pro $12/mo
Free plan available
Best for: Solo freelancers who want time → invoice in the same tool
Pros
- Time entries flow directly into invoices
- Solid invoicing built in
- Stripe and PayPal integrations
- Strong reporting
Cons
- Pricier than tracker-only options when you scale
- No proposal or contract features
- Less powerful tracking than Toggl Premium
Which one should you pick?
The honest answer: it depends on how you work.
Both are excellent at pure tracking; Clockify is free, Toggl Premium has the most features.
Both close the time → invoice loop. Kinako adds proposals, contracts, and client portal on top.
Time tracking is one of many features at the same $29/mo price.
Track time. Then bill it. In the same tool.
Kinako tracks billable hours and converts them to invoices in one click. AI polishes line items before sending. $29/mo all-in.
Free plan · No credit card required