Toggl Track vs Hubstaff
Toggl Track is simple time tracking for freelancers and teams with one-click timers and reporting, while Hubstaff is time tracking with screenshots, GPS tracking, and employee monitoring for remote teams. Hubstaff comes in cheaper, but price alone does not tell the full story. Toggl Track is built for freelancers and small teams who need simple, accurate time tracking, whereas Hubstaff targets remote teams and agencies that need accountability and proof of work.
At a glance
| Toggl Track | Hubstaff | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Freelancers and small teams who need simple, accurate time tracking | Remote teams and agencies that need accountability and proof of work |
| Starting price | $9/user/mo | $4.99/user/mo |
| Free tier | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | — | — |
| Free tier available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | — | — |
| GPS tracking | — | ✓ |
| Integrations | ✓ | — |
| Invoicing | — | ✓ |
| Mobile app | ✓ | — |
| Payroll | — | ✓ |
| Reporting | ✓ | — |
| Screenshots | — | ✓ |
| Time tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
Toggl Track
Strengths
- Extremely easy to use — one-click timer with minimal friction
- Generous free tier for up to 5 users
- Works across every platform and integrates with most tools
- Clean, exportable reports for client billing
Weaknesses
- Limited project management features — it's purely time tracking
- Reporting gets expensive at scale ($18/user for advanced reports)
- No built-in invoicing — you need a separate tool
- Mobile app can be unreliable with background tracking
Hubstaff
Strengths
- Activity monitoring provides accountability for remote teams
- Built-in payroll and invoicing saves additional tool costs
- GPS tracking for field teams and mobile workers
- Affordable starting price at $4.99/user
Weaknesses
- Screenshot monitoring can feel invasive to employees
- Activity tracking can create a surveillance culture
- Desktop app required for full monitoring features
- Can be seen as a trust issue by team members
The bottom line
Pricing: Both tools offer free tiers, so you can test each before committing. Toggl Track's free plan: Free for up to 5 users. Hubstaff's free plan: Free for 1 user. When you outgrow the free tier, Hubstaff is the cheaper option at $4.99/user/mo vs. $9/user/mo for Toggl Track — roughly 80% less.
Feature gaps: Toggl Track offers Integrations, Mobile app and Reporting that Hubstaff lacks. Hubstaff brings GPS tracking, Invoicing and Payroll that Toggl Track does not have. Both share Time tracking.
Where each tool shines: Toggl Track's biggest strengths are: extremely easy to use — one-click timer with minimal friction. generous free tier for up to 5 users. Hubstaff's biggest strengths are: activity monitoring provides accountability for remote teams. built-in payroll and invoicing saves additional tool costs.
Watch out for: With Toggl Track, users commonly note that limited project management features — it's purely time tracking. With Hubstaff, the main complaint is that screenshot monitoring can feel invasive to employees.
Choose Toggl Track if...
- You need a tool built for freelancers and small teams who need simple, accurate time tracking
- You specifically need Integrations and Mobile app
- You care about generous free tier for up to 5 users
- The free tier works for you: free for up to 5 users
Choose Hubstaff if...
- You need a tool built for remote teams and agencies that need accountability and proof of work
- You want to save on per-user costs — Hubstaff is $4.01/user/mo cheaper
- You specifically need GPS tracking and Invoicing
- You care about built-in payroll and invoicing saves additional tool costs
- The free tier works for you: free for 1 user
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