Time tracking software is a type of computer software that records time spent on tasks. This category of software can enable users to run billing reports, and prepare invoices for clients.
The deployment of this software offers a new level of productivity to organizations, as it provides management with information on what time is spent by employees on different activities such as projects and tasks. This can help to measure productivity over time. This software is commonly used by professionals that charge clients by the hour such as accountants, solicitors, and freelancers. The generation of automatic invoices with minimal or no data entry removes the inconvenience of billing and invoicing clients, and improves efficiency.
A fairly wide range of free Linux time tracking tools are available. This article identifies our favourite tools. We’ve restricted our selection to GUI software. There’s a separate Group Test for console based time tracking software.
Our verdict is captured in a legendary LinuxLinks-style ratings chart. Only free and open source software is eligible for inclusion here.
Let’s explore the 16 time tracking applications at hand. Click the links in the table below to learn all about each program.
| Time Tracking | |
|---|---|
| Time Cop | Billed as a time tracking app that respects your privacy |
| Project Hamster | Time tracking applet for the GNOME desktop environment |
| Task Coach | Designed to deal with composite tasks |
| TimeSlotTracker | Java based time tracking tool |
| dotProject | Web-based, multi-user, multi-language project management application |
| Toggl Desktop | Toggl time tracking client |
| KTimetracker | Todo management and time tracking application |
| Kapow | Punch clock program designed to track time |
| Timetrack | Simple timetrack app for GNOME |
| Rachota | Designed for personal timetracking of projects |
| Baralga | Simple and lightweight time tracking |
| TimeIT | Unobtrusive time tracker |
| dxtime | Small program for time tracking using wxWidgets, wxSQLite, and SQLIte3 |
| Kimai | Web based software that tracks work time, and classifies it |
| Khronos | Simple tool to let you track the time spent on a task |
| Charm | Cross-platform software for professionals |
This article has been revamped in line with our recent announcement.
 Read our complete collection of recommended free and open source software. Our curated compilation covers all categories of software. The software collection forms part of our series of informative articles for Linux enthusiasts. There are hundreds of in-depth reviews, open source alternatives to proprietary software from large corporations like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. There are also fun things to try, hardware, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. |
Some time trackers (like KTimeTracker) have a very useful feature: virtual-desktop-related time-tracking. That way, you can use a virtual desktop for each group of tasks, and automatically track how much time you spend on each group of tasks :-).
For example, one good idea is having:
– One virtual desktop for working.
– One virtual desktop for reading the news.
– One virtual desktop for studying.
– One virtual desktop for leisure time.
That way, you can keep the time you spend working, or reading the news, etc. easily (without having to start/stop tasks throughout the whole day!).
For example, every virtual desktop can have its web browser, file manager, etc. so you can work without minding (all day long) if your web browser is on one page (or another) in order to track the time.