Alternatives
DeskTime alternatives
DeskTime is known for fully automatic tracking that starts with the computer, with productivity scores for apps and websites, for office and hybrid teams. If it is not the right fit for your team, here are 5 tools teams compare it with: what each costs, includes and does best.
Why teams look beyond DeskTime
- Screenshots: Premium plan and up
- Tracks offline, syncs later: Offline time is logged by hand
- Shift schedules and attendance: Shift scheduling on Premium and up
- Leave requests and approvals: Absence calendar on Premium and up
- API and webhooks: API; no webhooks listed
The alternatives
1.WorkDesk
- Price
- Per active employee, monthly or yearly, in your currency
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Free trial, no card needed
- Tracks automatically from sign-in, also offline
- Shifts, attendance, leave and payroll included
- Every employee sees what is recorded about them
2.Hubstaff
Timer-based tracking with screenshots and activity levels for remote teams and contractors, with built-in payments and payroll.
- Price
- From $4.99 per user / month billed annually ($7 monthly), two seats minimum
- Free plan
- Unclear: their FAQ says no, their help center describes one seat
- Free trial
- 14 days
- Apps for every desktop and phone
- Payments to contractors built in
- Suited to freelancers billed by the hour
3.Time Doctor
Workforce analytics and accountability for remote and outsourcing teams: screenshots, productivity ratings, attendance and payroll.
- Price
- From $6.67 per user / month billed annually ($8 monthly)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 14 days
- Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux
- Deep reporting for large remote teams
- Payroll integrations as add-ons
4.ActivTrak
Privacy-first workforce analytics and productivity insights for mid-size and large companies, rather than timesheets.
- Price
- From $10 per user / month, annual billing only
- Free plan
- Up to 3 users
- Free trial
- 14 days
- Strong analytics and benchmarks
- Free plan for small teams
- Runs on Windows, macOS and ChromeOS
5.Toggl Track
Simple timer-based time tracking for billable hours and projects, by design without employee monitoring.
- Price
- From $9 per user / month billed annually ($12 monthly)
- Free plan
- Up to 3 users
- Free trial
- 30 days
- Very simple timers
- Free plan for up to 3 users
- Apps for every device and browser
DeskTime and its alternatives, side by side
| Feature | WorkDesk | DeskTime | Hubstaff | Time Doctor | ActivTrak | Toggl Track |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Per active employee, monthly or yearly, in your currency | From $4.58 per user / month billed annually ($5 monthly) | From $4.99 per user / month billed annually ($7 monthly), two seats minimum | From $6.67 per user / month billed annually ($8 monthly) | From $10 per user / month, annual billing only | From $9 per user / month billed annually ($12 monthly) |
| Free plan | No | No | Unclear: their FAQ says no, their help center describes one seat | No | Up to 3 users | Up to 3 users |
| Free trial | Free trial, no card needed | 14 days | 14 days | 14 days | 14 days | 30 days |
| Automatic tracking, no timer to start | Yes Starts when the employee signs in | Yes All plans | Partly Timer by default; automatic tracking on Team and up | Yes All plans | Yes All plans | Partly Timer; optional rules start one |
| Live view of who is working now | Yes Status and current app for each person | Yes | Yes | Partly Dashboard widget; real-time alerts on Standard and up | Yes Paid plans | Not stated on their site |
| Apps and websites rated productive or not | Yes Your own categories | Yes All plans | Partly Productivity ratings need the Insights add-on | Partly Standard plan and up | Yes All plans | No |
| Screenshots | Yes Optional, blurring and retention you set | Partly Premium plan and up | Yes Limited per seat below the Team plan | Yes All plans | Partly Add-on | No |
| Tracks offline, syncs later | Yes Kept on the PC, synced when back online | Partly Offline time is logged by hand | Yes | Yes All plans | Yes | Partly Timer page only |
| Shift schedules and attendance | Yes | Partly Shift scheduling on Premium and up | Partly Team plan and up | Partly Standard plan and up | Partly Schedule adherence; no shift rostering | No |
| Leave requests and approvals | Yes With public holiday calendars | Partly Absence calendar on Premium and up | Partly Team plan and up | Partly Standard plan and up | Partly Time-off sync from your HR system, add-on | Partly Approvals need the Time Off add-on |
| Payroll from tracked hours | Yes With your own overtime rules | Not stated on their site Cost calculation only is listed | Yes Full on Team and up | Partly Standard plan and up | Not stated on their site | No Labor cost reports only |
| Kiosk check-in on a shared tablet | Yes | Not stated on their site | Not stated on their site | Not stated on their site | Not stated on their site | Not stated on their site |
| Employees see their own data | Yes Privacy center for every employee | Yes Personal dashboard and private time | Yes Own screenshots and activity | Yes Individual dashboard | Partly Personal insights on higher plans | Yes Personal reports |
| API and webhooks | Yes | Partly API; no webhooks listed | Partly Team plan and up | Partly API on Premium and up; no webhooks | Partly API is an add-on | Yes |
| Desktop apps | Partly Windows; macOS and Linux not yet | Yes Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile | Yes Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes Windows, macOS, ChromeOS | Yes Windows, macOS, web, mobile |
Competitor details are from each company’s own website, checked on October 24, 2026. Plans and prices change: check theirs before you decide. DeskTime, Hubstaff, Time Doctor, ActivTrak, Toggl Track are trademarks of their owners; WorkDesk is not affiliated with them.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best DeskTime alternatives?
Teams most often compare DeskTime with WorkDesk, Hubstaff, Time Doctor, ActivTrak and Toggl Track. WorkDesk suits teams who want automatic tracking with attendance, shifts, leave and payroll in one product.
Is there a free DeskTime alternative?
ActivTrak (up to 3 users) and Toggl Track (up to 3 users) have free plans for small teams. WorkDesk has no free plan, but its free trial has every feature and needs no card.
Can I move from DeskTime to WorkDesk?
Yes. Start the free trial, invite your team by e-mail and install the desktop app on each PC; tracking starts as soon as people sign in.