| Hubstaff | Timely | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Time Tracking | Time Tracking |
| Best for | Managers overseeing distributed teams who need visibility and payroll support | Knowledge workers who want accurate time tracking without manually starting timers |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Paid plans from | $4.99 per seat / month (Starter) | $9 per user / month (Starter) |
| Platform | ||
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| Team size | Small team, Mid-size | Small team, Mid-size |
| Approach | Time tracking with optional screenshots, payroll, and budgets | Automatic, AI-assisted time capture across apps and calendars |
| Learning curve | Medium | Medium |
| AI features | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Slack, Zapier, GitHub | Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Zapier |
| Strengths |
|
|
Hubstaff vs Timely pricing
Hubstaff
- Starter$4.99 per seat / monthBilled annually, 2 seat minimum
- Grow$7.50 per seat / monthBilled annually, 2 seat minimum
- Team$10 per seat / monthBilled annually, 2 seat minimum
- Enterprise$25 per seat / monthBilled annually
Prices in USD, checked October 2026. Prices exclude VAT and local taxes unless stated. See current Hubstaff pricing →
Timely
- Starter$9 per user / monthBilled yearly, or $11 billed monthly; max 5 users
- Premium$16 per user / monthBilled yearly, or $20 billed monthly; max 50 users
- Unlimited$22 per user / monthBilled yearly, or $28 billed monthly; unlimited users
- EnterpriseCustom contact sales
Prices in USD, checked October 2026. Prices exclude VAT and local taxes unless stated. See current Timely pricing →
Strengths and trade-offs
Hubstaff
Where it stands out
Its remote team visibility and payroll support make it attractive for managers running fully distributed operations.
Trade-off to know
The monitoring features, like screenshots, can feel intrusive to team members.
Timely
Where it stands out
Its automatic, AI-assisted capture and privacy controls make it attractive for people who forget to track time manually.
Trade-off to know
It comes at premium pricing compared to simpler, manual time trackers.
Which one fits your team?
Choose Hubstaff if…
- You're managing a distributed team and need visibility plus built-in payroll support in one place
- You want project budgets tracked alongside time, even if that means monitoring features like screenshots
Choose Timely if…
- You or your team tend to forget to start and stop timers and want time captured automatically instead
- You care more about privacy-conscious, AI-assisted logging than manager-facing monitoring, and premium pricing isn't a dealbreaker
FAQ
What is the main difference between Hubstaff and Timely?
Both are paid time-tracking tools built for teams beyond casual, single-user tracking, but they take opposite approaches to capturing time. Hubstaff focuses on active monitoring and workforce visibility with payroll support, while Timely captures time automatically in the background using AI, trading some manager-facing oversight for a lighter touch on the people being tracked.
Do Hubstaff and Timely have a free plan?
Neither offers a permanent free plan, but a trial is usually available.
How much do Hubstaff and Timely cost?
Hubstaff's paid plans start at $4.99 per seat / month (Starter), while Timely's start at $9 per user / month (Starter). Billing period, team size, and taxes affect the final price, so check each vendor's pricing page before deciding.
Who is each tool best suited for?
Hubstaff fits managers overseeing distributed teams who need visibility and payroll support. Timely fits knowledge workers who want accurate time tracking without manually starting timers.