European Time Tracking Software compared
Time tracking software records hours worked, tracks project budgets and generates invoices from logged time. Agencies, freelancers and professional services firms buy it to replace spreadsheets, meet client reporting requirements and ensure accurate billing.
The main differences between tools are scope and deployment. Some focus on simple manual entry for solo users, while others add automatic tracking, hardware triggers or full work management. Deployment ranges from purely local apps to cloud services, with some offering self-hosted options for full data control.
In short
- Scoro and awork bundle project management, time tracking, invoicing and CRM for agencies that want one system instead of four.
- Memtime and Timeular automate time capture for consultants and field teams who forget to log hours manually.
- Clockodo, Kimai and solidtime give freelancers and small teams straightforward tracking with billing and budget controls.
- Toggl Track and timeBuzzer focus on frictionless one-click or hardware-based tracking for users who prioritise speed over depth.
Providers
All providers at a glance
| Provider | HQ | From | Rating | Free plan | EU hosting | Open source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| awork | 🇩🇪 DE | €6/user/mo | 4.5 / 5 · 1549 reviews | |||
| timeBuzzer | 🇩🇪 DE | 8 €/user/mo | 4.7 / 5 · 147 reviews | |||
| timr | 🇦🇹 AT | €8.00/user/mo | 4.6 / 5 · 190 reviews | |||
| Scoro | 🇪🇪 EE | €22.90/user/mo | 4.5 / 5 · 915 reviews | |||
| Kimai | 🇦🇹 AT | €29.99/yr | 4.4 / 5 · 81 reviews | |||
| Clockodo | 🇩🇪 DE | €4/user/mo | 4.7 / 5 · 1021 reviews | |||
| Timing | 🇩🇪 DE | On request | 4.8 / 5 · 142 reviews | |||
| Memtime | 🇩🇪 DE | $18/user/mo | 4.6 / 5 · 123 reviews | |||
| Teamwork | 🇮🇪 IE | $9.99/user/mo | 4.4 / 5 · 7594 reviews | |||
| solidtime | 🇦🇹 AT | €8/user/mo | – | |||
| Tyme | 🇩🇪 DE | €4.99/mo | 5.0 / 5 · 6 reviews | |||
| Toggl Track | 🇪🇪 EE | $9/user/mo | 4.6 / 5 · 4461 reviews | |||
| TimeStatement | 🇨🇭 CH | 3.50€/user/mo | 4.1 / 5 · 6 reviews | |||
| Quidlo Timesheets | 🇵🇱 PL | $3929/mo | 5.0 / 5 · 9 reviews |
What users care about in time tracking software
Recurring themes across the user reviews we collected for the tools on this page.
All-in-one workflows
Agencies value tools that merge time tracking with project management, budgeting and invoicing. Users criticise Scoro for a steep learning curve and Teamwork for performance lag with large workloads.
Automatic time capture
Consultants and field teams praise Memtime for fully automatic tracking and Timeular for its physical dial. Users note Memtime’s higher cost and Timeular’s Bluetooth connectivity issues.
Praised for this:Memtime
Onboarding and support
Users consistently praise awork, Scoro, Teamwork and timr for guided onboarding and responsive support. solidtime and Kimai are criticised for minimal or technical onboarding.
Mobile and offline use
Teams working on the move expect reliable mobile apps and offline functionality. Users criticise awork and Timeular for limited mobile features, and Memtime for no cross-device sync.
Praised for this:ClockodoToggl TracktimeBuzzer
Reporting and invoicing
Freelancers and SMEs need clear reports and direct invoice generation. Users praise solidtime and Clockodo for integrated billing, but criticise TimeStatement and Memtime for limited reporting.
Simplicity and speed
Users working with minimal overhead prefer Toggl Track and timeBuzzer for one-click or hardware-based tracking. Some note Toggl Track’s paid-tier jump for advanced features.
Praised for this:Toggl TracktimeBuzzer
What to look for
Tracking method
Decide between manual entry, automatic tracking or hardware-based triggers. Manual suits simple needs, while automatic or hardware options reduce friction for teams.
Integration depth
Check how well the tool connects with accounting, project management or invoicing systems. Deep integrations save time and reduce errors in billing workflows.
Deployment options
Evaluate cloud, on-premise or hybrid setups. Cloud offers accessibility, while on-premise or local-only options provide full data control.
Reporting and invoicing
Look for customizable reports and direct invoicing from tracked time. Strong reporting tools help justify billable hours to clients.
Frequently asked questions
What does time tracking software actually do?
It records hours worked on tasks or projects, often with start/stop timers or manual entry. The data can feed into reports, invoices or payroll, and some tools add budget tracking or automatic detection of active work.
Which time tracking tools have a free plan?
Solidtime, Kimai, Clockodo, timr, TimeStatement, Toggl Track and Teamwork all offer free plans. These range from limited-user tiers to fully functional open-source options like Kimai.
Which time tracking tools are open source?
Kimai and solidtime are open-source time tracking tools. Both are EU-hosted and offer self-hosting options for full data control.
How does Timing compare to Harvest?
Timing is macOS-only with automatic, on-device tracking and EU-hosted sync, while Harvest is a cross-platform tool with manual and timer-based entry. Timing integrates with ClickUp, Linear and Zoom, whereas Harvest focuses on invoicing and expense tracking.
Can I use timeBuzzer with Lexware or sevdesk?
Yes, timeBuzzer integrates directly with Lexware Office and sevdesk, along with bexio, MILKEE and GrandTotal. It also offers a hardware buzzer for one-press time tracking.
Does Clockodo support project budgets and absence planning?
Yes, Clockodo includes project budget tracking and absence planning features. It is also ISO 27001-certified and EU-hosted.
Is there a time tracking tool that works offline?
TimeStatement offers an offline mode for Swiss SMEs, with GDPR-compliant Swiss hosting. Memtime also works locally without cloud uploads for consultants.
Which time tracking tools integrate with Jira?
Timeular, Memtime and Toggl Track all integrate with Jira. Timeular also supports Trello and Asana, while Memtime covers Jira Cloud and Jira Server.
How do I migrate from Clockify to a European alternative?
Most European tools like solidtime or Kimai offer one-click imports from other time-tracking tools, including Clockify. Check the target tool’s import options and export your Clockify data in a compatible format first.
Which European time tracking tools are GDPR-compliant?
Solidtime, Timing, timeBuzzer, Kimai, Tyme, Memtime, Clockodo, timr, TimeStatement and Toggl Track are all GDPR-compliant with EU hosting. Quidlo Timesheets is not.