Is Hubstaff’s Invasive Monitoring Worth It?

Hubstaff Tracks Employee Activity — But at What Cost?

When it comes to building trust, managing teams, and fostering a healthy work culture, you might find yourself asking if Hubstaff’s surveillance-style tracking is really worth it.

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TIME TRACKING SOFTWARE

Hubstaff Works… Until Trust Breaks Down

Hubstaff promises productivity through detailed activity tracking — but for many teams, it feels more like surveillance than support. When trust is replaced with monitoring, performance and morale take a hit.

Invasive Monitoring Kills Morale

From screenshots and keystrokes to webcam captures, Hubstaff watches everything. This level of control can create stress, disengagement, and a culture of fear — not productivity.

No Way to Review Time Logged

Time logs go straight to reports without any approval flow. That means managers can’t verify hours, catch mistakes, or ensure accuracy before sending time to payroll or billing.

No Real Project or Task Management

Hubstaff tracks time, but not work. You can’t assign tasks, manage timelines, or track deliverables natively — meaning you’ll need to rely on additional tools to manage your team’s actual output.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

When Time Tracking Turns Into Surveillance

Hubstaff offers heavy surveillance tools — but many teams are looking for smarter, trust-based ways to manage time and work. Here’s how it compares to TrackingTime.

Hubstaff

Automatic screenshots & webcam capture
Tracks mouse & keyboard activity
Task or project management
Time entry approval workflow
Focus on control & activity
Limited team PTO or attendance tools
Can hurt trust & morale

TrackingTime

Privacy-first time tracking
No user surveillance
Built-in task + project tracking
Approve hours before reporting
Focus on clarity & collaboration
Full PTO + attendance tracking
Supports team autonomy

TIME TRACKER

What Makes Hubstaff Too Much for Most Teams

Monitoring every mouse move might sound like productivity — but in reality, it often erodes trust. Here’s where Hubstaff struggles to support modern, collaborative teams.

No Built-In Task Management

Hubstaff tracks time — but not work. There’s no way to assign tasks, organize projects, or track deliverables without using other tools.

No Approval Workflows

Time entries are recorded and reported automatically, without a manager review process. That leads to errors, time discrepancies, and billing confusion.

Surveillance Features Hurt Trust

Automatic screenshots, webcam tracking, and activity logging feel more like spying than support. Many teams find this invasive and demoralizing.

Lack of Collaboration Features

If you want PTO tracking, team overviews, or advanced reports, get ready to upgrade. Most essentials for managing a team come at an extra cost.

COMPREHENSIVE TIME TRACKING

What Makes TrackingTime the Better Choice for Teams

Unlike surveillance-based tools like Hubstaff, TrackingTime helps teams work transparently, stay aligned, and manage time without sacrificing trust or privacy.

Track Time Without Tracking People

TrackingTime gives you real-time and manual time tracking without screenshots, webcam access, or hidden activity logs. Your team stays productive — and protected. Instead of spying on employees, you get accurate time data tied to actual tasks, helping everyone stay aligned without compromising trust or team morale.

Manage Work Where It Happens

Assign tasks, set priorities, and keep track of project progress — all without leaving your time tracker. With built-in task and project management, your team can collaborate, stay focused, and log hours in the same place where work actually happens. No need for extra tools or disconnected workflows.

Approve and Align

Easily review and approve time entries, manage time-off requests, and track team attendance — all in one place. No need for separate HR tools or manual processes. With clear oversight and streamlined workflows, managers stay in sync with their teams while maintaining trust and transparency across the board.

All-In-One Solution for Efficient Teams

TrackingTime’s Pricing Plans: Flexible and Affordable

TrackingTime’s pricing is structured to fit a variety of team needs. From startups to enterprises, our plans are designed to offer flexibility, functionality, and affordability.

free

Ideal for individuals or small teams, this plan includes essential time-tracking and reporting features, plus access to integrations with popular tools like Asana and Slack at no additional cost.

pro

This plan unlocks advanced features such as custom reports, time rounding, budgeting tools, and project management capabilities, providing greater insights and control over team productivity and workflow.

business

Tailored for larger organizations, the Business plan includes all PRO features along with dedicated support, custom onboarding, and additional security options, ensuring robust time management for complex team structures.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to all your questions about our service and plans.

What is Hubstaff used for?

Hubstaff is a time tracking and workforce management tool known for its activity monitoring features, such as screenshots, keystroke tracking, and GPS tracking. It’s often used by businesses to oversee remote teams.

Is Hubstaff good for employee productivity?

Hubstaff may help some businesses track productivity, but its surveillance-based approach can lead to trust issues, decreased morale, and a culture of micromanagement, especially in collaborative or creative teams.

Does Hubstaff track your screen?

Yes. Hubstaff captures screenshots of employee screens at regular intervals, which can include webcam activity and app usage. These features can be seen as invasive by many users and teams.

Does Hubstaff offer task management?

Hubstaff includes very basic task features, but it lacks a robust built-in task or project management system. Most teams use it alongside other platforms to organize work.

Can you approve time entries in Hubstaff?

Hubstaff does not offer a native time approval workflow. Time is automatically logged and added to reports, which can lead to errors or inconsistencies without manager oversight.

Does Hubstaff track PTO and attendance?

Hubstaff includes limited PTO and attendance tracking features. More advanced leave and policy management typically requires integrations or upgraded plans.

Is there a time tracker without screenshots?

Yes. Many modern time tracking tools offer clean, non-invasive tracking without screenshots, webcam use, or keystroke monitoring. These tools focus on transparency and team autonomy instead of control.

What’s a good Hubstaff alternative for remote teams?

Remote teams often prefer time tracking tools that balance visibility with privacy. Look for alternatives that include project management, approval workflows, and real-time dashboards without invasive monitoring.

Why are teams switching away from Hubstaff?

Many teams leave Hubstaff due to its surveillance features, such as screenshots and activity tracking. These tools can damage morale and create distrust, especially in flexible or creative work environments.