Time tracking software helps consultants accurately track billable hours, understand how time is spent across clients, and invoice more effectively.
Consultants need time tracking tools that are simple to use, flexible across different projects, and reliable for client billing without adding extra admin work.
Below are the best time tracking software options for consultants, based on ease of use, reporting, and suitability for independent consultants and small consulting teams.
Best time tracking software for consultants (quick picks):
- Best overall time tracking software for consultants: Hubstaff
- Best time tracking software for solo consultants: Toggl Track
- Best time tracking software for small consulting teams: TimeCamp
- Best time tracking software for billable hours: QuickBooks Time
- Best budget-friendly time tracking software for consultants: Clockify
Best overall time tracking software for consultants
Hubstaff is a strong all-around time tracking tool for consultants who need reliable billable hour tracking, clear reporting, and visibility across multiple client projects without overcomplicating their workflow.
Hubstaff
Hubstaff works well as a “core” time tracking system for consultants because it focuses on accuracy, accountability, and reporting. It’s flexible enough for solo consultants but also scales cleanly for small teams working across multiple client engagements.
Why it works for consultants
- Accurate billable time tracking: Track time by client and project using timers or manual entries, helping ensure nothing billable gets missed.
- Clear reporting for clients and internal review: Built-in reports make it easy to review hours by client, project, or team member and support transparent billing conversations.
- Multiple ways to track time: Desktop, web, and mobile tracking options give flexibility depending on how you work.
Best for
- Consultants who want dependable time tracking with strong reporting
- Small consulting teams that need visibility into billable hours across clients
- Firms that want accuracy without adopting a full project management suite
Watch-outs
- Hubstaff includes optional productivity monitoring features that some consultants may choose to disable for a more trust-based workflow.
Best time tracking software for solo consultants
Toggl Track is well suited for solo consultants who want a simple, lightweight way to track time across clients and projects without adding unnecessary complexity.
Toggl Track
For solo consultants, the biggest risk is friction: if tracking is annoying, it won’t happen consistently. Toggl Track is a strong choice when you want fast capture and clean reporting across clients/projects—without turning time tracking into admin work. It supports detailed reports and exporting for billing and client-facing summaries.
Why it works for solo consultants
- Low-friction tracking: Quick timers and manual entries help you keep up even on busy days.
- Client-ready reporting: Built-in reporting makes it easier to summarize time by client, project, and work type.
- Flexible workflows: Works well when your day is split across multiple engagements.
Best for
- Independent consultants juggling multiple clients and wanting clean weekly/monthly reporting.
- Anyone who prefers simplicity and speed over built-in invoicing.
Watch-outs
- If you want invoicing built directly into the same product, Harvest (above) or a billing-focused tool may fit better.
Best time tracking software for small consulting teams
TimeCamp works well for small consulting teams that need shared time tracking, team-level reporting, and visibility into how time is spent across multiple client engagements.
TimeCamp
TimeCamp is a solid fit for small consulting teams when you want team visibility (who worked on what), billable vs. non-billable clarity, and billing support without building a complicated process. It’s positioned around reporting and project billing, including billable/non-billable tracking and invoicing workflows.
Why it works for small teams
- Team reporting and oversight: Helpful when you need consistent tracking across multiple consultants and projects.
- Billable vs. non-billable controls: Supports marking entries accordingly for internal vs client work separation.
- Billing support: Designed to support time tracking that ties into invoicing processes.
Best for
- 2–20 person consulting teams that need reporting consistency across multiple client engagements.
- Teams that want a time system that supports billing workflows (without living entirely inside accounting software).
Watch-outs
- As with many team tools, you’ll get the best results if you standardize naming conventions (client → project → work type) from day one.
Best time tracking software for billable hours
QuickBooks Time is a strong option for consultants who rely heavily on billable hours and want detailed time tracking that integrates closely with invoicing and payroll workflows.
QuickBooks Time
If your priority is billable-hours discipline and you already live in QuickBooks, QuickBooks Time is a practical choice because it’s built to connect project time with accounting workflows. Intuit positions it around tracking project time, comparing budgeted vs. actual hours, and improving billable time visibility, and there are documented workflows for getting billable time onto invoices.
Why it works for billable hours
- Strong path from time to invoice: Especially useful when invoicing and bookkeeping need to reconcile cleanly.
- Project oversight: Helpful for keeping engagements within scope by comparing planned vs actual time.
- Reduces “lost hours”: Less manual transfer between systems when your billing runs through QuickBooks.
Best for
- Consultants and small firms that invoice out of QuickBooks and want time tracking tightly linked to billing.
- Teams that need project-level visibility into time vs budget.
Watch-outs
- If you don’t use QuickBooks for invoicing/accounting, you may be paying for integration you won’t fully benefit from.
Best budget-friendly time tracking software for consultants
Clockify is a budget-friendly time tracking tool for consultants who want to track billable time, run basic reports, and manage multiple clients without paying for advanced features they don’t need.
Clockify
Clockify is a strong budget-friendly option because it covers the essentials that matter for consultants: billable rates, billable vs non-billable tracking, reporting, and invoicing support. Clockify explicitly supports setting hourly rates and creating invoices based on tracked time, and it provides features like billability controls and QuickBooks integration options.
Why it works on a budget
- Billable-rate support: Set rates and keep client billing aligned with tracked time.
- Invoice support from tracked time: Useful when you need a simple time→invoice workflow.
- Solid core tracking features: Timer, manual entry, and billable designation are built in.
Best for
- Consultants who want reliable time tracking and basic billing support without committing to a more expensive “all-in-one” suite.
- Small teams that need a standardized tracker quickly.
Watch-outs
- If you want a more polished invoicing experience or client payment handling inside the same product, Harvest may feel cleaner.
How to choose time tracking software as a consultant
When evaluating time tracking tools, consultants should prioritize:
- Accurate tracking of billable time
- Simple reporting for client invoicing
- Ease of use across devices
- Integration with invoicing or project tools
- Minimal setup and maintenance
If you’re tracking billable hours, you may also want to review our guide to the best invoicing software for consultants to streamline billing and payments.
For managing client work alongside time tracking, see our guide to the best project management software for consultants.
Frequently asked questions
Do consultants need time tracking software?
Time tracking software is helpful for consultants who bill by the hour or want better visibility into how their time is spent across clients and projects. It helps ensure accurate billing, supports workload planning, and reduces the risk of underbilling.
What is the best way for consultants to track billable hours?
The best way for consultants to track billable hours is by using a dedicated time tracking tool that allows hours to be logged by client and project. This approach makes it easier to review time entries, generate reports, and convert tracked hours into invoices.
Can time tracking software integrate with invoicing tools?
Yes. Many time tracking tools integrate with invoicing or accounting software, allowing consultants to automatically turn tracked hours into invoices. This integration helps streamline billing and reduces manual data entry.