7 Best Time Tracking Software for Professional Services Teams

Accurate time tracking is essential for professional services teams. Whether you're billing clients hourly, managing team productivity, or boosting project profitability, having the right time tracking tool can significantly enhance operations.

Modern time tracking software goes beyond logging hours. It offers real-time visibility, automates billing, and integrates seamlessly with your broader service delivery stack.

In this blog, we explore the 7 best time tracking software for service-based businesses, starting with CogniSaaS, and also highlight why timesheets matter and what makes CogniSaaS a standout solution for growing teams.

What Is Time Tracking?

Time tracking is the process of recording how much time individuals or teams spend on specific tasks, projects, or clients. It can be done manually, using spreadsheets, or with dedicated time tracking software that automates the process and integrates with project workflows.

Modern time tracking tools don’t just measure hours. They help optimize performance, improve client transparency, and ensure teams are aligned on project timelines and budgets.

Why Time Tracking Is Important for Services Teams

Time is your most valuable asset if you're in the business of selling expertise. Without proper tracking:

• Billable hours may go unrecorded, directly impacting revenue
• Project estimates become inaccurate, causing scope creep or overwork
• Resource allocation suffers, leading to burnout or underutilization
• Clients get vague invoices, increasing disputes, or delayed payments

Benefits of time tracking software include:

• Improved transparency and accountability
• Faster, more accurate invoicing
• Better decision-making with real-time data
• Increased profitability through utilization insights

What to Look for in the Best Time Tracking Software

When choosing time tracking software for your business, prioritize tools that offer:

• Ease of Use: Simple, intuitive interfaces your team will use
• Integrated Workflows: Links directly with project management, billing, and resource planning
• Flexible Tracking Methods: Manual entry, timers, mobile, and desktop options
• Billing Automation: Convert time data into invoices and revenue reports
• Analytics & Reporting: Real-time dashboards and customizable reports
• Integrations: Seamless connections with your existing tools like CRMs, ERPs, or communication apps

Now, let’s dive into the top options.

1. CogniSaaS – Best All-in-One PSA + Time Tracking Platform

CogniSaaS isn’t just a time tracking tool, it's a full Professional Services Automation (PSA) platform built for growing service delivery teams.

Why It Stands Out:

• Unified system for time tracking, billing, project management, resource allocation, and profitability insights
• Tailored dashboards for project managers, finance, and leadership
• End-to-end visibility from sales opportunity to project closure
• Mobile-friendly with automated reminders for time entry
• Real-time sync with payroll, accounting, and CRM tools

Key Time Tracking Features:

• Manual and timer-based time logs
• Role-based timesheet approvals
• Split time across multiple tasks/projects
• Billable vs. non-billable hour reporting
• Direct link between time, revenue, and resource utilization

Perfect For: Professional services teams needing visibility, automation, and scalable delivery

See CogniSaaS in action – Book a demo

2. Harvest – Best for Simple Time and Invoicing

Harvest is a lightweight time tracking tool with built-in invoicing and expense tracking.

Ideal for: Freelancers, small teams

Key Features:

• Manual and live timer tracking
• Built-in invoice generation
• Project budgeting and reporting
• Slack, Trello, and Asana integrations

3. Toggl Track – Best for Visual Time Management

Toggl offers a beautifully designed experience that’s ideal for creatives and consultants.

Suitable for: Design and marketing teams

Key Features:

• Timeline-based tracking
• Reports and dashboards
• Chrome and mobile apps
• Offline time logging

4. Clockify – Best Free Time Tracker

Clockify gives you core time tracking for unlimited users, even on its free plan.

Ideal for: Cost-conscious startups

Key Features:

• Unlimited projects and users
• Simple reports and timesheets
• Pomodoro timer and calendar view

5. Hubstaff – Best for Remote and Field Teams

Hubstaff blends time tracking with employee monitoring features.

Ideal for: Remote and hybrid workforces

Key Features:

• GPS and geofenced tracking
• Screenshots and productivity monitoring
• Automated payroll and invoicing

6. ClickTime – Best for Budget-Conscious Planning

ClickTime offers advanced project budgeting and resource utilization reporting.

Ideal for: Mid-size firms managing complex billing

Key Features:

• Time logging and budget alerts
• Forecasting and availability planning
• Timesheet approvals

7. Everhour – Best for Project Management Integration

Everhour embeds time tracking directly into popular PM tools.

Ideal for: Teams using Asana, Jira, or Trello

Key Features:

• In-app tracking inside PM platforms
• Live dashboards and billing
• Integrates with ClickUp, Basecamp

Why CogniSaaS Is the Go-To Choice for Time Tracking and More

CogniSaaS isn’t just another time tracking tool. It is a comprehensive platform built to streamline every aspect of service delivery from project planning to billing and profitability insights. It goes beyond logging hours to deliver real-time actionable intelligence that scales with your business.

What Sets CogniSaaS Apart

• Project Aware Time Tracking: Track time at a granular level by linking entries to specific project phases, tasks, clients, and milestones. This gives full context to every billable hour.
• Billing and Profitability Integration: Automatically convert time logs into invoices, link them to budgets, and get visibility into project-level margins and revenue recognition.
• Real Time Utilization and Capacity Metrics: See who is overbooked or underutilized. Optimize resource allocation with accurate insights into team availability and billability.
• Smart Time Approvals and Compliance Alerts: Automate the review process for timesheets, get reminders for missing entries, and maintain time tracking discipline without micromanagement.
• Customizable Dashboards and Reporting: Tailor real-time dashboards for different roles, whether you are a delivery head tracking KPIs or a finance lead reviewing margin reports.
• Scalable Architecture and Flexible Workflows: Whether you are a 20-person consultancy or a 500-plus team global agency, CogniSaaS adapts to your scale, complexity, and processes without a bloated setup.
• Seamless Tool Integrations for a Connected Workflow: CogniSaaS offers seamless integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, Aha, Teams, Slack, Jira, and more.

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Best Time Tracking Software

When evaluating time tracking tools, think beyond timers. You need a solution that:

• Fits into your team’s daily workflow
• Helps you get paid faster
• Delivers visibility into performance and profitability
• Integrates with the rest of your tech stack

If you’re a services business ready to scale with clarity and confidence, CogniSaaS is your go-to platform.

Book your personalized demo to see how CogniSaaS simplifies time tracking and much more.