8 Best Time Tracking Software for Contractors 2026

My Hours has the right mix of value, contractor-friendly tools, and user-friendliness. 

The intuitive interface makes it simple to track time, including billable hours, and link to specific projects and tasks.

The platform supports flexible project billing structures, whether you work with flat fees, time and materials, or other arrangements, and you can invoice clients directly from the platform according to your contract terms.

Time tracking is available via the mobile app (which works offline), the browser extensions, and the desktop app. All data is centralized and syncs instantly for a real-time view of time and resource allocation.

My Hours’ timesheets are also fully compliant with US labor laws, DCAA, and major privacy laws. Its timesheet approval workflows are solid and maintain accuracy, while the granular user permissions determine who can access different types of data.

Reports are highly detailed, giving you deep visibility into profitability, resource allocation, and other key metrics.

My Hours also lets you set project budgets and connect expenses to specific time logs, so you have clear insight into profitability.

While it’s not a full project management platform, it does support unlimited clients, projects, and tasks, and it connects effortlessly with your preferred PM tools.

BigTime was designed for professional services, so it’s a solid option for engineering or consulting contractors.

Time tracking works through both mobile and desktop, with autofill functionality and smart presets that help you complete timesheets faster than manual entry.

The AI time agent ensures hours are logged accurately. It pulls in your desktop activity and calendar entries, letting you review your entire day's work and submit it to your timesheet in just a couple of clicks.

BigTime also comes equipped with project scoping and quoting tools and AI-powered staffing recommendations, so you can plan projects with precision. There are also multiple project management tools and built-in client invoicing.

BigTime has several plans and add-on modules, which can make things confusing and potentially expensive, especially since pricing isn’t transparent.

But if you like AI-powered tools, BigTime continues to invest in this area. Besides AI time tracking and resource management, it’s due to release an AI expense agent and a project assistance agent very soon.

Replicon delivers substantial value for its price point. It’s stacked with features that let you track billable hours in real time, compare them against project deadlines, and even calculate gross pay for crews or subcontractors.

Where it really stands out is in multi-region work. If you take on projects across different states or countries, Replicon handles varying labor rules, currencies, and languages using its built-in rules engine. 

Scheduling and capacity planning also scale well for dispersed teams.

The platform includes useful extras like AI that turns conversations into time entries, GPS tracking for field teams, and facial-recognition clock-ins for job sites with rotating workers.

The approval workflow is clear and easy to navigate, which helps when clients or managers need to review and sign off on submitted hours.

The system is a bit feature-heavy, though, and not the simplest to learn. Still, it’s one of the few tools built with multi-jurisdiction projects in mind, making it worth the initial investment for contractors who work across different regions.

ClockShark gives contractors quick, one-tap time tracking through its mobile app, along with crew clock-ins and a kiosk mode that supports facial recognition. 

You can assign hours to specific clients or jobs in seconds, and switch task easily when moving between projects during the day.

GPS tracking and geofencing show where each crew member is in real time, helping you gauge productivity and confirm who was on which site.

Reporting isn’t available in the mobile app, but the desktop version offers detailed, drill-down insights into team activity.

You also get crew scheduling, time-off management, and solid job-costing tools. 

The built-in CRM is a useful feature, keeping client details organized and giving teams a space to discuss job updates in one place.

SmartBarrel was designed specifically for construction contractors and provides time tracking, attendance, and project oversight. 

Crews can record hours through the mobile app or kiosk mode, and teams with 10 or more workers can add portable, solar-powered time clock stations that function offline.

Geo-fencing is included, and AI-based facial recognition helps verify identities and prevent buddy punching. Timesheets are generated automatically based on clock-in data and any custom break or rounding rules you set.

Additional features include shift approvals, job management, productivity tracking, access control, and PPE verification to ensure workers meet safety requirements.

Pricing could be more transparent, but overall, SmartBarrel is a strong option for contractors managing large teams or multiple job sites.

Paymo’s standout feature is its automatic time tracking. It records the time you spend in different desktop apps and turns that activity into draft time entries. All you have to do is assign each entry to the right job or task, which is convenient if you tend to bounce between projects all day.

If you prefer traditional tracking, Paymo also offers a simple start/stop timer, manual time logs, and even a Pomodoro timer.

It covers billable hours, tracks expenses, and lets you link a payment gateway so you can invoice and get paid without switching tools.

You also get helpful extras like appointment scheduling, a built-in calendar, team planning, and Kanban boards for mapping out client work. The interface is clean and easy to navigate.

The main drawback is the lack of budgeting tools, which isn’t ideal for contractors who need tight control over job costs. But, for lightweight project management, Paymo is a great tool.

Clockify has long been the leading choice for contractors who need a genuinely useful free plan, and that reputation remains well-deserved today. 

You get unlimited users at no cost, and while the heavyweight project and costing tools are behind a paywall, the free version still offers some contractor-specific features that make it worthwhile.

For instance, you can track time (and billable rates) manually, with the automatic tracker, or use a Pomodoro timer if you like working in focused sprints. Idle time detection is handy on job days where interruptions are constant. 

You also get a calendar view, a simple clock-in/out kiosk for small crews, and basic team activity insights, all useful for maintaining oversight on resource allocation.

Paid upgrades offer team scheduling, attendance tracking, budgets and estimates, and a lot more. You can choose the plan that matches your current needs and upgrade as your business grows

Still the free tier remains strong enough for contractors who mainly need reliable billable time tracking and straightforward timesheets.

Harvest covers the essentials contractors need: a simple start/stop timer, manual time entry, and clear tracking of billable hours. The interface is clean and easy to master, even if you’re juggling managing contracts with different billing requirements.

Its biggest strength is invoicing. You can create branded, itemized invoices directly within the app and set automated payment reminders. Harvest also tracks which invoices are still open and connects with payment processors so clients can pay you directly.

You can log expenses on specific time entries and use basic project-costing features. We also like the project profitability report, which gives you precise visibility into how much money each contract actually generates.

Customer support isn’t ideal, though. Phone help must be scheduled, which isn’t great when urgent situations arise mid-contract.

Overall, we feel that Harvest suits contractors who want simple time tracking and invoicing in one place.