Comparison · Time tracking
Best Time Tracking Apps for Consultants in 2026
Consultants need time tracking that travels with them, from client sites to coffee shops to home offices. The best time tracking apps work seamlessly across devices, start timers in one tap, and sync everything automatically. Here's our comparison of the top options for 2026.
Quick Recommendations
- Best Overall: Toggl Track, clean interface, excellent mobile apps, solid reporting
- Best Free Option: Clockify, unlimited users and projects at no cost
- Best for Invoicing: Harvest, seamless time-to-invoice workflow
- Best Calendar-Native: Malleable, a one-tap timer that lives next to your calendar
What We Evaluated
We tested each app across five criteria that matter most for consultants:
- Mobile Experience: iOS and Android app quality, offline capability, quick entry
- Timer Speed: Taps required to start tracking a specific project
- Calendar Integration: Ability to create entries from scheduled events
- Reporting: Client-ready reports for billing transparency
- Pricing: Value for solo consultants and small teams
App-by-App Comparison
Toggl Track
| iOS Rating | 4.7/5 |
| Android Rating | 4.5/5 |
| Free Tier | Yes (5 users) |
| Paid Plans | $10-20/user/mo |
Toggl Track sets the standard for mobile time tracking. One-tap timer starts, intuitive project switching, and offline support that syncs seamlessly. The mobile apps feel native rather than web wrappers, with smooth animations and responsive controls.
Calendar integration pulls scheduled events as suggested time entries, perfect for reconstructing days when you forgot to track. Reports are clean enough to share with clients directly.
Best for: Consultants who switch between projects frequently and need fast, reliable mobile tracking.
Clockify
| iOS Rating | 4.6/5 |
| Android Rating | 4.4/5 |
| Free Tier | Yes (unlimited) |
| Paid Plans | $4-14/user/mo |
Clockify's free tier is genuinely useful, unlimited users, unlimited projects, basic reporting. The mobile apps are functional if not exceptional, with occasional sync delays and a utilitarian interface.
The value proposition is clear: why pay for time tracking when Clockify covers the basics for free? The answer is advanced reporting, invoicing, and team features, but solo consultants may never need those.
Best for: Budget-conscious consultants who need functional tracking without subscription costs.
Harvest
| iOS Rating | 4.7/5 |
| Android Rating | 4.3/5 |
| Free Tier | Yes (1 user, 2 projects) |
| Paid Plans | $12/user/mo |
Harvest shines when you need to turn tracked time into invoices. The time-to-invoice workflow is seamless: track hours, review, convert to invoice, send. For consultants who bill hourly and want minimal friction between work and payment, this matters.
Mobile apps are solid with good offline support. The interface is clean but starting to show its age compared to newer competitors. Project budgeting helps monitor burn rates.
Best for: Consultants who invoice clients directly and want integrated billing without a separate invoicing tool.
Malleable
| Platform | Web + PWA |
| Calendar Sync | Google Calendar |
| Free Tier | Yes |
| Approach | Calendar-native |
Malleable takes a different approach: a one-tap timer and the Google Calendar you already run your day on live in the same place. Start a timer when you pick up a client's work, assign it to that client or bucket, and your tracked time sits right next to your schedule. No separate app to switch into.
For consultants whose days are filled with scheduled meetings, calls, and work blocks, that keeps tracking in the same view as everything else. Time is bucketed by client or project as you assign each timer.
Best for: Calendar-driven consultants who want their tracked time to live alongside the calendar they already run, rather than in a separate tracking tool.
Hours
| iOS Rating | 4.8/5 |
| Platform | iOS only |
| Apple Watch | Yes |
| Price | $8 one-time |
Hours is iOS-exclusive but beautifully designed. The timeline view shows your day visually, with drag-to-adjust time blocks. Apple Watch support means starting timers without touching your phone. iCloud sync keeps everything in the Apple ecosystem.
The one-time purchase model ($8) makes it economical long-term. Limited reporting and no invoicing, this is pure time capture, done exceptionally well.
Best for: Apple-ecosystem consultants who want beautiful design and don't need cross-platform sync.
Comparison Table
| App | Free Tier | Mobile | Invoicing | Calendar Sync |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toggl Track | 5 users | Excellent | Basic | Yes |
| Clockify | Unlimited | Good | Paid | Yes |
| Harvest | Limited | Good | Built-in | Yes |
| Malleable | Yes | PWA | Export | Native |
| Hours | No | iOS only | No | No |
Our Recommendation
For most consultants, Toggl Track offers the best balance of mobile experience, features, and price. Its free tier covers solo consultants, and paid plans remain reasonable as you grow.
If invoicing integration matters, Harvest eliminates the friction between tracking and billing. If your calendar drives your day, Malleable keeps a one-tap timer right next to it, so your tracked time lives where you already plan your work.
Budget-constrained? Start with Clockify, its free tier is genuinely capable. You can always upgrade later once time tracking habits are established.
Related Articles
Try calendar-first time tracking.
Malleable keeps a one-tap timer right next to your Google Calendar. Start it when you pick up a client's work, assign it to that client or bucket, and your tracked time sits beside the schedule you already run your day on. No separate app to switch into.