Toggl Track vs Kimai
Toggl Track is simple time tracking for freelancers and teams with one-click timers and reporting, while Kimai is open-source time tracking application that you can self-host. The biggest difference up front: Kimai is free, while Toggl Track starts at $9/user/mo. Toggl Track is built for freelancers and small teams who need simple, accurate time tracking, whereas Kimai targets teams that want full control over their time tracking data via self-hosting.
At a glance
| Toggl Track | Kimai | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Freelancers and small teams who need simple, accurate time tracking | Teams that want full control over their time tracking data via self-hosting |
| Starting price | $9/user/mo | Free (self-hosted) |
| Free tier | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | — | ✓ |
| Free tier available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | — | ✓ |
| API | — | ✓ |
| Integrations | ✓ | — |
| Mobile app | ✓ | — |
| Multi-user | — | ✓ |
| Reporting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Self-hosting | — | ✓ |
| 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
Kimai
Strengths
- Completely free and open source — no per-user fees
- Self-hosted means you own your data entirely
- Supports multi-user with roles and permissions
- Active development community with regular updates
Weaknesses
- Requires self-hosting — not a cloud SaaS you can just sign up for
- Setup requires technical knowledge (PHP, MySQL)
- Mobile experience is web-based, no native app
- Fewer integrations than commercial alternatives
The bottom line
Pricing: Kimai is completely free (Free, open source, self-hosted), which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. Toggl Track starts at $9/user/mo, but Free for up to 5 users. That cost buys you a more polished or feature-rich experience, so it comes down to whether the extras justify the spend.
Feature gaps: Toggl Track offers Integrations and Mobile app that Kimai lacks. Kimai brings API, Multi-user and Self-hosting that Toggl Track does not have. Both share Reporting and Time tracking.
Open source: Kimai is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. Toggl Track is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.
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. Kimai's biggest strengths are: completely free and open source — no per-user fees. self-hosted means you own your data entirely.
Watch out for: With Toggl Track, users commonly note that limited project management features — it's purely time tracking. With Kimai, the main complaint is that requires self-hosting — not a cloud saas you can just sign up for.
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 Kimai if...
- Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams that want full control over their time tracking data via self-hosting
- Budget is a hard constraint — Kimai is free, Toggl Track is not
- You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code
- You specifically need API and Multi-user
- You care about self-hosted means you own your data entirely
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