timely alternative
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.
Get startedwhy switch
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 Pro Plus. Timely gates branded and live reports behind its $22 Unlimited tier and offers no client login at all.
TrackingTime vs Timely
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.
| TrackingTime | Timely | |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0, unlimited users & projects | No free plan (14-day trial) |
| Entry paid | Starter $4.50 (annual) | Starter $9, 5 users, 20 projects (annual) |
| Mid | Pro $6.75 (annual) | Premium $16, 50 users (annual) |
| Advanced | Pro Plus $8.50 (annual) | Unlimited $22 (annual) |
| Top | Business $12 (annual) | Enterprise, custom |
| Task management | Included | +$5/user add-on |
TrackingTime vs Timely
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.
| TrackingTime | Timely | |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic time tracking | ✅ (AutoTrack) | ✅ (Memory + AutoSheet AI) |
| AI-drafted timesheets | Partial | ✅ (best-in-class) |
| Calendar & app integrations | ✅ | ✅ |
| Reminders / idle detection | ✅ | ✅ |
| No GPS / location tracking | ✅ | ✅ (GPS on all plans) |
TrackingTime vs Timely
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.
| TrackingTime | Timely | |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing | ✅ | Partial |
| Billable & cost rates | ✅ | ✅ |
| Profitability / margins | ✅ | ✅ |
| Project retainers | ✅ | ❌ |
| Expense tracking | ✅ | ❌ |
TrackingTime vs Timely
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.
| TrackingTime | Timely | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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.
| TrackingTime | Timely | |
|---|---|---|
| Time cards & attendance | ✅ | ❌ |
| PTO / time off + accrual | ✅ | ❌ |
| Timesheet approval workflow | ✅ | ❌ |
| Branded client reports | ✅ (Starter) | ✅ (Unlimited only) |
| Unlimited client users (login) | ✅ | ❌ (share links only) |
Honest take
We’d rather be honest than oversell. Timely’s price makes sense when automatic tracking is the only job that matters.
Memory and AutoSheet build the most hands-off, AI-drafted timesheet in the category, near-complete without anyone touching a timer, and if that’s the whole job, Timely does it beautifully.
Workspace and individual capacity, overtime and undertime tracking, at a premium price for teams that plan work down to that level of detail and are comfortable paying for it.
No need for invoicing depth, PTO, approvals or project management, just a timesheet that builds itself accurately, well automated and nothing more.
TESTIMONIALS
4.7/5 on G2 · 117 verified reviews · Recognized every season as High Performer and Momentum Leader in Project Management, Time Tracking, and Time & Attendance.
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