Do you really know how you spend your time? When reflecting on a project you’ve just completed, did it truly take three hours, or was it closer to two, with an additional hour spent responding to emails? The only way to be certain is by using one of the eleven best Mac time tracking apps we’ve outlined below.
Selecting the right app depends on your needs, as each offers unique features. Some track activities automatically, monitoring which web pages and documents occupy the most time, while others allow for manual time logging. Certain apps cater specifically to freelancers and small businesses, while others are tailored to larger companies.
Why Use a Time Tracking App?
Whether you’re self-employed, managing a team, or leading a large organization, understanding how time is spent is vital for success.
The hours or days devoted to a project often influence how you set quotes and determine invoices. Without a Mac app to log working hours, you might underestimate the time required to complete tasks. Repeated errors like this can impact your bottom line.
Even if you don’t bill by the hour, a time tracking app can help gauge productivity and efficiency. It can also provide insights into team dynamics. For example, metrics can reveal disengaged team members, enabling you to address concerns proactively.
Benefits of Using a Time Tracking App
Why choose an app instead of a manual system like a clock or spreadsheet? While those methods work, apps offer distinct advantages:
Enhanced Accuracy
Apps, especially those with automatic tracking, provide precise records of your activities, running seamlessly in the background.Greater Reliability
Forgetting to log time in a spreadsheet can lead to undercharging or overcharging clients. With an app, you can easily reference past records for accurate invoicing.Insightful Reporting
Many apps offer detailed reports, highlighting trends that can help improve business strategies.Better Productivity
Tracking work hours allows you to identify distractions and optimize workflows. It also ensures you account for time spent on emails and other project-related tasks.
What to Look for in a Time Tracker
As you evaluate options, consider these key factors:
Automatic vs. Manual Tracking
Automatic trackers monitor your activities in the background, detecting switches between emails, documents, and meetings. Manual trackers require you to start and stop timers, which can be prone to errors if you forget or multitask. For most users, automatic tracking is more reliable and efficient.Mac-Specific Design
Choose apps developed specifically for macOS. Native Mac apps offer better design, functionality, and integration across Apple devices.Team Features
If you work in a team, ensure the app supports collaborative features. Not all apps are designed to accommodate group needs, so select one that aligns with your team’s size and workflow.
Ready to find the perfect app? Check out our list of the top Mac time tracking apps below.
1. Tyme
Tyme is a timer-based time tracking app with a user-friendly and intuitive interface. Its extensive range of keyboard shortcuts allows you to operate it efficiently without relying on your mouse. Mac users can quickly start timers, making it easy to log work hours. Tyme also offers detailed reporting options for reviewing your tracked data.
The comprehensive dashboard provides a clear overview of all your projects and tasks. As a native Mac app, Tyme syncs effortlessly across all Apple devices, ensuring a smooth workflow.
Advantages:
- Available on all Apple platforms, offering seamless integration for Mac users.
- Multiple export options, including PDF and integration with invoicing services.
- A team edition is available for collaborative work.
Disadvantages:
- No automatic time tracking—entries must be manually logged using the start-stop timer.
- The dashboard may feel cluttered with multiple active projects.
Pricing:
14-day free trial, then $4.99 per user/month, billed monthly.
2. Daily
Daily offers a unique approach to time tracking for macOS by using sampling instead of traditional automatic or manual tracking. At customizable intervals (defaulting to every 20 minutes), it prompts you to confirm what you’re working on. This method allows Daily to track your activities without needing to manually start or stop timers while also serving as a helpful reminder to stay focused.
Daily’s data can be viewed in detailed timesheets, which you can export for reporting or invoicing. It also supports keyboard shortcuts for quick control and uses cloud-based synchronization to keep your data accessible and secure across all devices.
Advantages:
- The sampling method keeps you focused and ensures consistent time tracking.
- Designed natively for macOS, offering seamless performance.
Disadvantages:
- Frequent prompts may feel distracting or intrusive to some users.
Pricing:
Free 7-day trial. Paid plans include $3.99/month, $29.99/year, or a one-time $59.99 lifetime license.
3. Orbit
Orbit is a time-tracking and invoicing app designed for Apple users, offering features like automatic idle detection, simple setup, and custom invoice creation. It’s ideal for freelancers or small teams who want an all-in-one solution for tracking work hours and generating invoices. Orbit automatically converts logged time into invoices, streamlining the billing process.
With apps available on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, Orbit makes it easy to track time on the go. If you prefer having time tracking and invoicing in one app, Orbit is a convenient option. However, it may not be ideal for users seeking advanced time-tracking tools.
Advantages:
- Compatible with Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch for seamless tracking across devices.
- Combines basic time tracking and invoicing, eliminating the need for multiple apps.
Disadvantages:
- Lacks advanced time-tracking features, offering only the basics.
- Slower development pace, with few recent feature updates.
Pricing:
$7.99 per month or $79.99 per year.
4. RescueTime
RescueTime is more than just a time-tracking app—it’s designed to help you build better habits, eliminate distractions, and boost productivity. By tracking how you spend your time across apps and websites, it provides insights into your work patterns and offers tools to help you stay focused.
For Mac users, RescueTime offers an overview of time spent on various activities, helping identify where improvements can be made. Its paid version even includes distraction-blocking features to support better focus.
Advantages:
- The free plan includes basic automatic time tracking.
- The premium version can block distracting websites and apps to help maintain focus.
Disadvantages:
- Focuses on general activity tracking, with limited project management and customization tools.
- Manual time entries are cumbersome and not well-integrated.
- No option to export tracked hours or generate invoices.
Pricing:
Free limited plan; premium plan at $9 per user/month.
5. Timely
Timely is an automatic time tracking tool that accurately records and analyzes your work by monitoring meetings, documents, web pages, and emails. While its AI-powered tracking is highly precise, reviewing generated reports is recommended to ensure tasks are correctly categorized.
Beyond time tracking, Timely offers project management features, allowing users to allocate tasks, manage budgets, and receive alerts when projects approach budget limits. This makes it a valuable tool for both individuals and teams.
Advantages:
- Compatible with macOS and other platforms.
- Includes project tracking and team management tools.
- Users have control over what data is shared with employers.
Disadvantages:
- The AI algorithm may occasionally misallocate tracked time.
Pricing:
14-day free trial. Plans are $8/user/month (Starter), $14/user/month (Premium), and $20/user/month (Unlimited) when billed annually.
6. Timemator
Timemator is an automatic time-tracking app for Mac that runs in the background, capturing how you spend your time without manual input. At the end of the day, you can easily review your activity log and assign tracked time to specific projects with just a few clicks.
Timemator also allows you to set custom rules to trigger timers automatically when you open certain files or launch specific apps, eliminating the need to remember to start or stop a timer.
Advantages:
- Combines traditional time tracking with automatic tracking.
- Allows grouping of tracked time by task, project, client, or any combination.
- Supports setting hourly rates and automatically calculating projected revenue.
Disadvantages:
- Available only for macOS and iOS; not suitable for teams using Windows or mixed platforms.
Pricing:
$7.99 one-time purchase for iOS and $39 one-time purchase for Mac (covers up to two devices).
7. Toggl
Toggl is a manual, timer-based time tracking app known for its simplicity and ease of use. It requires minimal input to start tracking—you can begin working right away and fill in project or client details later. Its clean, intuitive interface makes it accessible for users of all experience levels.
The Toggl Chrome extension integrates the timer button into many web apps, making it easy to start or stop tracking without switching tools. Its effective idle detection helps adjust time logs if you forget to stop the timer after stepping away.
Advantages:
- Excellent integration with various apps and tools for seamless workflow.
- Minimal setup required to start tracking tasks.
- Reliable idle detection for accurate time logs.
Disadvantages:
- The Mac app lacks user-friendliness compared to other versions.
- The automated time tracking feature is limited and can be cumbersome to use.
Pricing:
Free plan available. Paid plans include the Starter plan at $9/user/month and the Premium plan at $18/user/month. Enterprise pricing is available upon request.
8. Timing
Timing is a highly regarded Mac time-tracking app known for its powerful automation and seamless user experience. As a native macOS application, it automatically tracks every app, document, and website you use without requiring manual input. Timing quietly runs in the background, capturing detailed data while allowing you to assign activities to projects using customizable rules.
Its automation features include idle time detection, automatic call tracking (logging meeting time after calls end), and calendar integration for tracking appointments. Timing also stands out with its Screen Time integration, importing app usage data from iPhones and iPads for a complete overview of your work across devices.
For those who prefer more control, Timing offers manual start/stop timers and an intuitive visual timeline for editing entries. Its web app ensures that time tracking stays synced across devices, providing flexibility for users on the go.
Advantages:
- Fully automatic tracking of apps, documents, and websites.
- Advanced automation features: project assignment rules, call tracking, calendar integration, and idle detection.
- Manual tracking options with editable visual timelines.
- Screen Time integration for cross-device tracking.
- Privacy-conscious team tracking that shows project hours without revealing app or document usage.
Disadvantages:
- Higher price point compared to other time-tracking apps.
- No built-in invoicing, though it integrates with billing tools.
Pricing:
Free 30-day trial. Annual billing offers discounted rates:
- Professional: $8/month
- Expert: $10/month
- Connect: $14/month
Bonus – Screen Time
Screen Time is a built-in feature on all Mac devices designed to provide a general overview of how much time you spend on your device and which apps you use most. It helps users manage their digital habits by allowing them to schedule downtime and set app usage limits to reduce distractions.
However, as a professional time-tracking tool, Screen Time has significant limitations. Its data lacks the level of detail needed for tasks like project tracking, client billing, or invoicing. For example, it may show browser usage but won’t specify the websites or tasks you were working on.
Advantages:
- Pre-installed and free on all Apple devices.
- Provides a simple overview of daily app and device usage.
- Offers tools to set app limits and schedule downtime.
Disadvantages:
- Data can be unreliable and sometimes inaccurate.
- Poor syncing between devices, leading to inconsistent tracking.
- Lacks detailed tracking of specific tasks or activities.
Pricing:
Free and included by default on all Apple devices.