Most people who say "I should track my time" never start because they assume it takes setup, training, or a coffee. It doesn't. From the moment you open the app store to the moment your timer is running, you're looking at about 60 seconds.
This is the literal walkthrough: download, one project, one tap. That's the whole job.
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30-day free trial. No credit card required.
What You'll Need
A phone (Android or iOS) or a browser. No credit card, no account wizard, no team setup.
Step 1: Download the App (15 seconds)
Android: Open Google Play, search for "Timesheet Time Tracker", tap Install.
iOS: Open the App Store, search for "Timesheet", tap Get.
The mobile apps are free on the Basic plan, work fully offline, and only need an account when you want to sync.
If you'd rather start in a browser, the web app at my.timesheet.io is part of the Pro plan, which comes with a 30-day free trial (no credit card). After the trial, your account falls back to Basic.
Step 2: Create a Project (20 seconds)
A project is just a label for the work you're about to time. It can be a client ("Acme Corp"), a personal thing ("Apartment Renovation"), or a job you'll do once and delete tomorrow.
- Tap the Projects tab
- Tap +
- Type a name
- Tap Save
Hourly rates, tags, colors and custom settings can all come later. You don't need them to start.
Step 3: Start the Timer (5 seconds)
- Go to the Home screen
- Pick your project from the dropdown
- Tap START
That's it. The timer is running. Your screen can lock, you can switch apps, you can put the phone in your pocket. The timer keeps going.
Step 4: Pause, Stop, or Edit
While the timer runs you can:
- PAUSE to take a break without ending the task
- STOP to save the entry
- Tap the running task to add notes, change the project, or fix the start time
A persistent notification on Android and a Live Activity on iOS give you those controls without opening the app.
A Few Things That Make Day Two Easier
Use the Notification or Live Activity
Starting and stopping from the lock screen is the difference between actually tracking and "I'll do it later". On Android, the notification is permanent while the timer runs. On iOS, the Live Activity shows on the lock screen and Dynamic Island.
Don't Aim for a Perfect Log
Forgot to start the timer? Create the entry manually with the real start and end. Started the wrong project? Switch it on the running task. The point of an app is that retroactive fixes are one tap, not a spreadsheet rewrite.
Start with One or Two Projects
You can subdivide later. New users who create twelve projects on day one usually delete most of them by week two. Start coarse, get specific when the data tells you to.
Let It Run in the Background
On Android, grant the background-activity (battery) permission when asked. Without it, Android can pause the timer when the phone sleeps for long stretches, and the next entry you save will be short. On iOS, the Live Activity keeps the timer visible and running in the background; no extra permission prompt is involved.
What Happens to Your Data
On the free Basic plan, everything stays on your device, with automatic local backups. Plus adds automatic cloud backup and sync between your phones and tablets. Pro adds the web app on top.
Either way, you own the data. CSV and Excel exports are available on every plan, including Basic. PDF invoices and reports are a Pro feature.
Common Questions
Can I track multiple projects? Yes, unlimited projects on every plan, including the free Basic one.
What if I forget to stop the timer? Open the running task and adjust the end time. Or stop it now, then edit the duration on the entry.
Is there a desktop version? Yes. The web app at my.timesheet.io is part of the Pro plan, with a 30-day free trial. The free Basic plan and the Plus plan are mobile only.
Do I need a credit card to try the web app? No. The 30-day Pro trial doesn't require one. If you don't subscribe afterwards, your account drops to Basic.
Does it work offline? The mobile apps work fully offline on every plan. Entries sync when you reconnect (on Plus and Pro).
Summary
You just learned how to:
- Download Timesheet on Android, iOS, or the web
- Create your first project
- Start, pause, and stop the timer
- Edit entries when you mess up (you will, that's fine)
Total time: under a minute.
What to Do Tomorrow
Once you've tracked one day, the next questions write themselves. Three places to go:
- Organize work with projects and tags when one project becomes ten
- Set up automation so the timer starts itself at the office or job site
- Read your statistics to see where the day actually went