The best agency time tracking software

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While time tracking might not sound very exciting, it's a big deal for agencies. Getting a handle on how time is spent across projects and teams can improve how your team works.  

But taking time to manage multiple clients and coordinate a big team can be tricky. Besides keeping track of hours worked, time tracking software lets you optimize workflows, manage budgets, and increase productivity. Learn how to track and manage time with the best agency time tracking software on the market in 2024. 

In this guide, you’ll learn: 

What is agency time tracking software? 

Agency time tracking software is a tool designed to help agencies keep track of the time they spend on clients, projects, and tasks. Teams can track work hours to bill clients correctly, get better insight into productivity, and allocate resources more effectively. It's great for agencies that bill clients based on how much time they spend, so they don't underbill or overbill. 

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The benefits of using agency time tracking software   

Here are the top benefits of using time tracking software for agencies: 

  • Accurate billing: Ensure you’re billing clients for the exact hours worked—no more, no less. 

  • Boost productivity: Identify where time’s being wasted and adjust to improve efficiency. 

  • Better project management: Keep projects on schedule by tracking time spent on tasks. 

  • Prevent burnout: Manage workloads to keep your team balanced and avoid overwork. 

  • Simplified payroll: Easily track hours for smoother, hassle-free payroll. 

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6 Best time tracking tools for agencies

Time tracking software helps you keep track of hours and enables you to better manage your ongoing projects, giving you a clear picture of how your team is spending their time. We selected the tools below by looking at their features, user feedback, and reputation in the industry to ensure they fit the needs of creative professionals. Whether you're looking for simplicity, advanced reporting, or seamless integrations, here’s a quick overview of the top six tools and what they can do for you: 

1. Teamwork.com 

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Teamwork.com isn’t just a time tracking tool, it’s like having a full-on project management hub at your fingertips, specifically built for businesses who do client work. You get time tracking, project and resource management, and team collaboration all rolled into one easy-to-use platform. It’s especially handy for agencies that need everything in one spot. 

Here’s why agencies love tracking time with Teamwork.com: 

  • Easy time tracking: Teamwork.com takes the guesswork out of logging your hours, making it simple to keep track of how much time is spent on tasks and projects. 

  • Works with project management: Time tracking integrates smoothly with Teamwork.com’s project and resource management tools, so you can see how time logs connect to your active projects. 

  • Custom reports: Create detailed reports so you know who’s working on what and how time is being spent across projects and team members.  

  • Simple to use: The user-friendly interface means team members can quickly get up to speed and track their time without any hassle or frustration.  

  • Track your time on the go: With the mobile app, you can track time and manage projects from anywhere. 


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2. Harvest 

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Harvest is a popular time tracking and invoicing tool designed to help agencies, freelancers, and businesses keep tabs on their time and expenses. 

Most relevant features for agencies: 

  • Simple time tracking: Start and stop timers easily or log hours manually. 

  • Easy invoicing: Turn your tracked time into invoices in no time. It can also handle multiple currencies and payment options. 

  • In-depth reports: Get detailed insights on where your time goes. Perfect for budgeting and spotting what’s not working. 

  • Team management: Keep an eye on how your team’s time is spent, so you can manage resources and stay on top of projects and budget. 

  • Integrates smoothly: Connects with other tools and apps to keep everything synced, saving you from manual data entry. 

H3: 3. Clockify 

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Clockify is a popular time tracking software that helps agencies and teams track how their time is spent. It tracks hours and gives you insights on where that time is going. 

Most relevant features for agencies:

  • Free to use: Clockify’s free plan includes unlimited users and tracking, perfect for agencies who need to keep costs low. 

  • User-friendly: Its interface is intuitive, making it easy to start and stop timers or log time, so you can focus on work, not the tool. 

  • Detailed time reports: Get customizable reports to track billable hours, project costs, and productivity, helping you see where time goes and improve efficiency. 

  • Seamless integrations: Works smoothly with other tools, so it fits right into your current setup. 

  • Flexible tracking: Choose from manual entries, stopwatch timers, or mobile tracking to suit how you work from day to day. 

4. Tick 

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Tick is a straightforward yet powerful time tracking tool designed to help teams manage their projects more effectively. Agencies like it for its simplicity and efficiency, making it a favorite in the time tracking space. 

Most relevant features for agencies:

  • Budget tracking: Monitor project budgets and compare against time tracked. 

  • Time tracking: Easy time entry with a focus on project costs. 

  • Team dashboard: View project status and team performance at a glance. 

  • Straightforward: Useful for teams who need to be able to track both costs and time. 

H3: 5. TimeCamp 

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TimeCamp is a time tracking tool that goes beyond just keeping tabs on how many hours you work. It’s designed to record and analyze how time is spent across different tasks and projects. 

Most relevant features for agencies:

  • Automatic and manual tracking: Unlike some time tracking tools that rely solely on either automatic or manual entry, TimeCamp offers a combination of automatic and manual tracking. 

  • In-depth look at time: TimeCamp’s reporting is robust, providing in-depth insights into how time is spent. You can generate custom reports that help you analyze productivity, track billable hours, and forecast future time usage. 

  • Budget and expense tracking: A standout feature is its ability to track project budgets and expenses. This is particularly helpful to agencies and freelancers who need to keep an eye on project costs and how much money is being generated. 

H3: 6. Timely   

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With Timely, you don't have to manually enter your time on multiple applications and tasks: the tool tracks it all in real time. As a result, users don't have to worry about logging hours, making their time records more accurate. 

Most relevant features for agencies:

  • Automatic time tracking: Records time spent on tasks automatically, reducing manual work for the team. 

  • Data privacy focus: Timely prioritizes data privacy by keeping tracked time data secure and using it only for reporting and insights, not for monitoring employee activity.   

  • Memory-based tracking: It suggests projects and tasks based on your past activity, streamlining the tracking process and encouraging better time management. 

What should you look for in agency timesheet software?  

When searching for the right agency timesheet software, consider these key features to ensure the tool meets your agency’s requirements: 

  • Easy for everyone to use: Go for something that’s super easy to use. You don’t want your team to struggle with a complicated new system. A clean, straightforward design and interface makes it easier for everyone to get on board with time tracking. 

  • Integrates with your existing tech: Find software that works well with other tools you’re already using, like project management or CRM systems. This keeps everything in sync and cuts down on the need for manual updates or working outside the tools. 

  • Customizable tracking: Make sure the time tracking software lets you track different kinds of time—like billable hours, project phases, or breaks. This way, you can tailor it to how your agency works. 

  • Real-time reporting: Look for options that give you up-to-date reports and insights. Being able to see live data helps you stay on top of projects, manage budgets, and make quick decisions. 

  • Mobile access: If your team’s always on the move out on shoots, events, or client meetings, a good mobile app is a must-have. Make sure the software has a user-friendly app so your team can log their time from anywhere.  

  • Automated reminders: Choose software that sends automatic reminders for timesheet entries. This helps everyone remember to fill in their timesheets and keeps things accurate. 

7 Tips to help you decide which agency time tracking software to choose  

Choosing the right time tracking software for your agency doesn’t have to be complicated when you keep these tips in mind: 

  1. Budget: Start with your agency’s budget. Whether you want a free option or a premium tool, ensure it fits your price range while still providing the features and functions you need. 

  2. Invoicing: If invoicing is important, pick software that can turn tracked hours into invoices automatically. It’ll save you time and reduce errors. 

  3. Freelancer time tracking: Got freelancers or remote workers? Make sure the software can handle their time tracking and integrate it with your projects. 

  4. Costing: For client budget control, pick a tool that tracks time against project budgets so you don’t end up overspending. 

  5. Team productivity reports: Look for software that gives you detailed reports on how your team is doing. This helps spot issues and boost productivity. 

  6. Alerts: Automated reminders are handy for keeping track of timesheets and deadlines. Choose a tool with good alert features. 

  7. Recurring projects: If you have a lot of recurring projects, go for software that can easily manage and track ongoing tasks with features like templates.  

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Why choose Teamwork.com's agency time tracking software?  

Teamwork.com’s time tracking software is a dream for agencies that need an all-in-one platform for managing projects and tracking time. It’s super easy to use, has fantastic reporting, and plays well with other apps, making it a top pick. Having everything in one spot means you save time and keep your projects running smoothly. 

See how we compare with the competition. 

"I find that if you scribble something down on a piece of paper or in another tool, it inevitably gets lost. So we encourage everyone to keep their work in Teamwork.com, allocate responsibilities, and add due dates so it’s always there."

-Alison Leishman, Spitfire Inbound

Agency time tracking software FAQs

Which is the best time tracking software for agencies? 

Finding the best time tracking software depends on what you need, but Teamwork.com is a great pick (in our humble opinion). It’s user-friendly, and not only tracks time but also fits well into your existing tools. You can estimate, track and master your time for ultimate productivity. With Teamwork.com your work actually takes to manage resources and timelines. 

Does Teamwork.com integrate with other applications? 

Yes, Teamwork.com integrates with apps like Quickbooks, Google Drive, and Xero. It makes syncing your time tracking and project management a whole lot easier. 

Can I track project expenses and time in Teamwork.com? 

Absolutely! Teamwork.com lets you track both time and project expenses, so you get a full picture of your project's costs and budget. 

Can an admin add or edit hours for other people in agency time tracking software? 

Many agency time tracking tools allow admins to add or tweak hours for others. Teamwork.com is especially handy for keeping time logs accurate if anyone forgets to log their hours. 

Other resources for agencies:

 

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