Choose Timesheet if
- You want entries that exist because you created them.
- You do not want application and document activity recorded.
- You need offline mobile and watch tracking.
- You want breaks, overtime, and absence workflows.
Timely Alternative
Looking for a Timely Alternative?
Use Timesheet for active project timers, invoices, expenses, exports, and reports when you want a clear work record.
Free 30-day trial
No credit card required
Easy Migration
Better Value
More features, less cost
Easy Switch
Switch in minutes
Quick verdict
Timesheet or Timely: which one should you choose?
Timely records your activity in the background and drafts timesheet entries for you to review. Timesheet keeps tracking explicit: you start the timer, or a rule you configured starts it. The choice is really about whether you want a draft to correct or a record you created, and about how comfortable you are with background capture.
Choose Timely if
- You routinely forget to start a timer.
- Reconstructing the day from memory is your real problem.
- You want AI to propose entries from captured activity.
- Automatic capture is worth the background recording to you.
| Product | Starting price | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Timesheet Basic | $0 | One user on mobile, with unlimited projects and Excel and CSV export. Cloud sync and web access require a paid plan. |
| Timesheet Pro | $10 per user/month | Adds web access, invoices, team features, API access, and the Chronis AI assistant. |
| Timely entry plan | $9 per user/month | Starter, annual price, with user and project limits. |
How this comparison was prepared
- We compared the public plan tables and help documentation for both products.
- We separated free features from capabilities that require a paid plan.
- We compared the daily capture workflow, not only the total number of features.
Pricing and features last verified: .
Why Switch from Timely?
See where Timesheet differs on tracking, reporting, automation, and price.
You Start the Timer
Entries exist because you created them, not because an algorithm proposed them for review.
No Background Recording
Nothing captures your application and document activity in the background to build a draft day.
Mobile and Watch Capture
Start and stop from iOS, Android, Apple Watch, and Wear OS, including offline.
Automation You Configure
Use NFC tags, Wi-Fi networks, and geofences, so the rules are ones you set explicitly.
From Timer to Invoice
Produce PDF invoices with rates and expenses directly from the tracked hours.
Breaks, Overtime, and Absences
Handle working-time limits, pauses, and leave in the same product.
Timesheet vs. Timely
Compare features, pricing, mobile tracking, automation, and reporting.
| Feature | Timesheet | Timely |
|---|---|---|
| Explicit start and stop timers | Included | Included |
| Native timer on phone and watch | Included | Mobile only |
| Offline mobile tracking | Included | Limited |
| NFC, Wi-Fi, and geofence automation | Included | Not included |
| PDF invoice generation | Included | Limited |
| Break and pause tracking | Included | Not included |
| Absence requests and approvals | Included | Not included |
| Working-time limits and overtime rules | Included | Not included |
| Automatic activity capture | Not included | Included |
| AI-drafted timesheet suggestions | Chronis assistant | Included |
| Free plan | Included | Not included |
| Team capacity and utilisation views | Reports | Included |
Move your time tracking to Timesheet
If Timely no longer fits your work, Timesheet covers the core migration steps:
- Export your Timely history before the trial ends
- Recreate the clients and projects you bill
- Track one week manually and compare it with the drafts
- Decide whether automatic capture was doing useful work
- Use the 30-day trial to test invoices and reports
- Keep the export as your historical archive
3 Easy Steps
1
Sign Up for Free
Create your account in less than 30 seconds.
2
Set Up Projects
Create your projects and invite your team.
3
Start Tracking
Start tracking time immediately - on any device.
30-day free trial
No credit card required
Loved by Thousands Worldwide
See what our users have to say about Timesheet.
"We've used Timesheet for 4 years at our company. It saves time and makes it easier to track activities across many team members and allocate time and expenses to projects. My favourites:+ Easy to use calendar interface. + Excel export and analytics+ Responsive and helpful support."
David Sommer
"I've been using it for 1.5 years with great satisfaction. The app allows me to keep track of exactly what I'm spending my time on (I work as a freelancer) and to have a comprehensive and accurate view of my activity, month after month."
Noé Thys
Freelancer
"Used this app for over two years now. It's excellent. Easy to use. The layout is clean and user friendly. The developer keeps updating and improving it regularly. I like it so much that I donated 5Euro to buy him a beer in the "donate" option. Try it, you'll love it"
Tommy Thorn
Developer
"I've been using the free version for my business for years, and I love it. Before I discovered it, I was a mess. It helps me keep track of tons of projects at once, and I can quickly and easily switch between projects."
Karynne Moses
Designer
"I've been using this app for about 7 years now. I rely on it and it's been reliable and frequently improved. A great app. Highly recommended for time tracking as a contractor, multiple projects at once etc."
Brian Davis
Freelancer
"Works perfectly. The timer feature isn't something I use all of the features on, but it is nice to not have to remember when I arrived at my client. Developer is responsive to feedback!"
Brandon Knitter
Developer
App Store4.4
based on reviews
Google Play4.5
from 13,317 ratings
Timesheet vs Timely: frequently asked questions
Straight answers based on the current plans and published product documentation.
No. Timesheet does not watch which applications or documents you use. Entries come from timers you start, rules you set for NFC, Wi-Fi, or location, or entries you add afterwards.
It captures more raw signal, but the entry still has to be reviewed and assigned before it can be billed. Whether that is less work than starting a timer depends on how varied your day is.
Timesheet, by design. There is no background capture of application or document activity, so there is no activity log to secure, review, or explain to a works council.
Yes. If you routinely forget to start timers and reconstructing the day from memory is the real problem, automatic capture solves something Timesheet does not attempt.
Decide Whether You Want Drafts or a Record
Track a week explicitly in Timesheet and compare it against what automatic capture proposed.