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.

1

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.

2

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.

3

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.

Hubstaff vs TrackingTime

What Is Non-Intrusive Time Tracking?

Unlike monitoring-heavy tools like Hubstaff, TrackingTime gives teams the power to track hours with full transparency and trust—without resorting to intrusive practices. See how TrackingTime offers privacy-first time tracking without invasive surveillance tools.

Hubstaff

  • Automatic screenshots & webcam capture
  • Tracks mouse & keyboard activity
  • Focus on monitoring and control
  • Micromanagement can hurt trust & morale
  • Limited collaboration
  • Limited team PTO or attendance tools

TrackingTime

  • Privacy-first time tracking — no screenshots
  • No mouse or keyboard surveillance
  • Built-in task + project tracking
  • Supports team autonomy and trust
  • Focus on productivity, clarity, and collaboration
  • Full PTO + attendance tracking

TrackingTime lets you manage time efficiently while respecting privacy — no intrusive features, just clear, productive workflows.

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.

icons management
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.

team icon
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.

STARTER time cards icon

All-in-one task management and time reporting for unlimited users. Includes AutoTrack, work schedules, and unlimited projects to help your team stay organized, collaborate, and report time with ease.

PRO crown icon

Manage attendance, customize data, sync calendars, analyze profit and costs. Gain full control over time tracking and budgeting with powerful features like calendar integrations, custom roles, and detailed timesheet audits.

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BUSINESS dashboard icon

Secure, scalable operations with SSO, audit logs, and concierge onboarding. Streamline enterprise workflows with guaranteed uptime, custom compliance terms, and expert-led onboarding for large teams.

Try the only free time tracker built for growing teams—unlimited users, unlimited tasks, and no hidden costs.

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ALL-IN-ONE SOLUTION

A Comprehensive Solution to Replace Hubstaff

Unlimited users,
even on our free plan!

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Focus on business growth while we handle the rest

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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.

What is non-intrusive time tracking?

TrackingTime offers productivity-focused time tracking without invasive monitoring features like screenshots or activity surveillance, helping teams track work while respecting privacy.