spunk.codes → Blog → Best Free Time Tracking Apps 2026
Best Free Time Tracking Apps for Freelancers in 2026
Updated February 27, 2026 · 10 min read
Freelancers who track their time earn 20% more than those who don't. Why? Because time tracking reveals which clients are profitable, which projects drain resources, and exactly how many billable hours you're actually working.
Why Freelancers Need Time Tracking
- Accurate invoicing: Bill clients for every minute worked, not estimates
- Profitability analysis: Know which clients and projects make you money
- Rate optimization: See your effective hourly rate (total earnings / total hours)
- Scope creep detection: Catch when projects take longer than quoted
- Tax deductions: Time logs support home office and business-use deductions
Best Free Time Tracking Tools
SPUNK.CODES Time Tracking Dashboard
Browser-based time tracker with live timer, manual entry, project breakdowns, and earnings calculator. No signup, no limits, runs entirely in your browser.
Best for: Freelancers who want zero-setup time tracking with instant earnings visibility. Your data stays private — nothing is uploaded.
- Live timer with start/stop
- Manual time entry for past work
- Per-project hourly rates
- Billable vs non-billable tracking
- Weekly bar charts and project breakdowns
- CSV export for client reports
Toggl Track (Free Tier)
Popular time tracker with a generous free tier. Works across desktop, mobile, and browser extension.
- 5 users on free tier
- Unlimited time tracking
- Basic reports
- 80+ app integrations
Clockify
Completely free time tracker with no limits on users or projects. Best for teams that need unlimited everything.
- Unlimited users and projects
- Timer and manual entry
- Reports and exports
- Available on all platforms
Harvest (Free Tier)
Time tracking with built-in invoicing. Free for 1 user, 2 projects. Good for freelancers with a small client base.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | SPUNK.CODES | Toggl | Clockify | Harvest |
|---|
| Price | Free forever | Free / $10/mo | Free / $4/mo | Free / $11/mo |
| Signup required | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Live timer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Billable hours | Yes | Paid only | Yes | Yes |
| Earnings calculator | Yes | Paid only | Paid only | Yes |
| CSV export | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Data privacy | 100% local | Cloud | Cloud | Cloud |
| Projects limit | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2 (free) |
How to Track Time Effectively
- Use the timer, not manual entry. Real-time tracking is 40% more accurate than filling in hours after the fact.
- Track everything. Including admin work, emails, and calls. You need to know where ALL your time goes.
- Create projects for each client. This lets you see per-client profitability at a glance.
- Review weekly. Every Friday, look at your hours. Are you spending time on the right things?
- Set hourly rate per project. Different clients pay different rates. Your tracker should reflect this.
Billable vs Non-Billable Hours
The average freelancer only bills 60-70% of their working hours. The rest goes to admin, marketing, and business development. Understanding this ratio is critical for setting rates.
| Activity | Billable? | Avg Hours/Week |
|---|
| Client work | Yes | 25-30 |
| Client communication | Often yes | 3-5 |
| Admin (invoicing, etc.) | No | 3-5 |
| Marketing/networking | No | 3-5 |
| Learning/development | No | 2-3 |
Pro Tips
- Round up to 15-minute increments. Industry standard. A 7-minute task gets billed as 15 minutes.
- Export reports for clients. Send time logs with invoices — clients trust transparent billing.
- Track non-work time too. Knowing when you take breaks helps optimize your productive hours.
- Calculate your effective rate monthly. Total income / total hours worked = your real hourly rate.
Track Your Hours for Free
Live timer, project tracking, earnings calculator. No signup. 100% private.
Open Time Tracker →
FAQ
How do I track time if I forget to start the timer?
Use manual entry to add time after the fact. Estimate the duration and add notes about what you did. It's not as accurate as live tracking, but better than not tracking at all.
Should I track time even if I charge flat rates?
Absolutely. Tracking time on flat-rate projects tells you your effective hourly rate. If a $5,000 project takes 200 hours, you're earning $25/hour — you might need to raise your rates.
What's a good billable hour ratio?
70-80% is excellent for freelancers. If you're below 60%, you're spending too much time on non-billable work. Automate admin tasks to increase your ratio.
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