Time-Tracking Tools for Freelancers
As a freelance proofreader, you may need to charge by the hour. But to do this, you’ll need to keep track of how long you work on each job. And rather than sitting at your laptop with a stopwatch, it makes sense to find a time-tracking app that can do this for you! In this post, then, we look at three of the most popular time-tracking tools for freelancers.
1. Toggl
Toggl is one of the most widely used time-tracking tools around today, partly because it offers all the functions you could need at zero cost. Key features include:
- A one-click timer system so you can track time spent working
- The ability to track time spent on different projects for different clients
- Offline time-tracking that updates whenever you’re back online
- The ability to add blocks of time manually if you forgot to record something
- Automatic idle detection to autocorrect records if you leave it running
- Various reports and statistics to help you analyze your productivity
- Availability on various platforms, including Windows, Android, iOs, macOS, and Linux
- Online availability for when you’re working on a different machine
And all this with the free membership! You can also sign up for Toggl’s paid tier for in-depth reports and extra features, but we find the free tier works fine for basic time tracking.
Reports in Toggl.
2. HourStack
HourStack is most notable for how it visualizes time: Rather than a list of entries, it uses “time blocks,” which you can resize to reflect how long a task will take. This makes it great for planning and scheduling, but it also offers a range of additional features such as:
- Tracking time across different projects and tasks
- Reports to help you understand how you’re using your time
- Labels and color coding to help you organize your work
- Availability on Android, iOS, and the web
The main downside is that HourStack doesn’t offer a free option, so you will have to subscribe. But at around $5.60 a month for a personal account, it may be worth the price!
3. RescueTime
RescueTime takes a different approach to time tracking. As well as letting you manually log your hours, the RescueTime app automatically tracks your activities. This means it knows which apps you use and for how long. But it can also tell you how long you’ve spent on social media or other websites, making it a great tool for self-analysis and optimizing your work!
As well as this, RescueTime’s free service offers a range of features, such as:
- The ability to set productivity goals and track your progress
- In-depth reports on your activity
- Availability both online and via apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux
And if you want in-depth reports, offline time tracking, and a built-in website blocker called FocusTime (ideal for the easily distracted), RescueTime offers an extra paid service.
The RescueTime dashboard.
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