timely alternative

The Timely alternative for automated timesheets, at half the price.

Timely's Memory tracker and AutoSheet build a near-complete timesheet automatically, the best in the category. It's also the priciest: $9 to start, $22 at the top, task management billed separately, no free plan.

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why switch

Why teams choose TrackingTime over Timely.

Automation without the premium price. Automatic tracking, reminders and AI-assisted logging start at $4.50/user/mo, where Timely's cheapest plan is $9 and caps out at 5 users and 20 projects. A free plan that actually exists. Timely offers only a 14-day trial. TrackingTime's free plan supports unlimited users and unlimited projects, forever.

Task management included, not a $5 add-on. Timely charges an extra $5/user for its Tasks feature. TrackingTime includes task and project management from the Starter plan. A real operational back office. Invoicing, project retainers, expense tracking, PTO with accrual, time cards and a full approvals workflow, none of which Timely has.

Client access built in. Branded client reports from the Starter plan and unlimited external client logins on Business. Timely gates branded and live reports behind its $22 Unlimited tier and offers no client login at all.

location tracking

Automatic tracking built without location data.

Timely enables GPS on every plan. TrackingTime tracks time, not where someone is.

Timely

  • GPS location tracking enabled on every plan
  • Manager anomaly detection available for admins
  • Memory capture (activity data) stays private to the individual user

TrackingTime

  • No GPS or location tracking, on any plan
  • Automatic capture based on activity, not location
  • Reports focus on hours and tasks, not where they happened

TrackingTime vs Timely

Pricing

Timely is the premium option in the category, no free plan, and task management sold as a $5 add-on. TrackingTime costs less across every comparable tier, and task management is included rather than billed separately.

TrackingTimeTimely
Free$0, unlimited users & projectsNo free plan (14-day trial)
Entry paidStarter $4.50 (annual)Starter $9, 5 users, 20 projects (annual)
MidPro $6.50 (annual)Premium $16, 50 users (annual)
TopBusiness $10 (annual)Unlimited $22 (annual) · Enterprise, custom
Task managementIncluded+$5/user add-on

TrackingTime vs Timely

Automatic time tracking

This is Timely’s home turf, Memory and AutoSheet draft a near-complete timesheet automatically, the most hands-off option around. TrackingTime automates too, at half the price and without the GPS tracking Timely runs on every plan.

TrackingTimeTimely
Automatic time tracking✅ (AutoTrack)✅ (Memory + AutoSheet AI)
AI-drafted timesheetsPartial✅ (best-in-class)
Calendar & app integrations✅✅
Reminders / idle detection✅✅
No GPS / location tracking✅✅ (GPS on all plans)

TrackingTime vs Timely

Billing, retainers & expenses

Timely can create invoices and set budgets, but it stops there, no retainer management and no expense tracking. For agencies that bill on retainer or reinvoice costs, TrackingTime is a different class of tool.

TrackingTimeTimely
Invoicing✅Partial
Billable & cost rates✅✅
Profitability / margins✅✅
Project retainers✅❌
Expense tracking✅❌

TrackingTime vs Timely

Project & task management

Timely charges $5/user extra for its Tasks add-on and has no board or timeline view. TrackingTime includes a full project management surface, board, timeline, a company-wide view of every project, task comments and files, with tracking built in, from the Starter plan.

TrackingTimeTimely
Task list & assignments✅ (included)+$5 add-on
Board / Kanban view✅❌
Project timeline view✅❌
Company-wide project timeline✅Unlimited plan only
Task comments, to-dos & files✅❌

TrackingTime vs Timely

HR, approvals & client access

Beyond tracking, TrackingTime doubles as a lightweight back office, time cards, PTO with accrual, holidays, a full approvals workflow and unlimited external client logins. Timely has none of these, and reserves branded and live client reports for its top Unlimited tier.

TrackingTimeTimely
Time cards & attendance✅❌
PTO / time off + accrual✅❌
Timesheet approval workflow✅❌
Branded client reports✅ (Starter)✅ (Unlimited only)
Unlimited client users (login)✅❌ (share links only)

get started

Switch from Timely to affordable, automated tracking.

Sign up free, invite your whole team with no seat cap, and turn on automatic tracking in minutes, no credit card, no trial clock.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Is TrackingTime a good Timely alternative?

Yes. TrackingTime offers automatic time tracking, calendar sync, reminders and billable-rate tracking like Timely, and adds invoicing, retainers, PTO, approvals and built-in project management, at roughly half the price, with a free plan Timely doesn’t offer.

Is TrackingTime cheaper than Timely?

Significantly. TrackingTime starts at $4.50/user/mo vs Timely’s $9, and its top self-serve plan ($12) costs less than Timely’s mid-tier Premium ($16). Task management is included, where Timely charges an extra $5/user, and unlike Timely, TrackingTime has a free plan for unlimited users.

Does Timely have a free plan?

No. Timely offers a 14-day free trial but no free plan. TrackingTime’s free plan supports unlimited users and projects with core time tracking, task and project management, and basic reporting.