The long-considered fashionable alternative in time-tracking now not fits your wants? Fear not! There are different higher options.
I examined Harvest for one month, and it left me lamenting functionalities that I needed had been higher.
Earlier than diving in, listed here are among the drawbacks I found through the trial, which made me search for Harvest options:
- There isn’t a go away monitoring function, which makes it exhausting for me to plan the staff’s workload round their PTO or tackle new writing tasks. In Harvest, I used to be capable of create a workaround to see when my staff of writers was off.
- Harvest was manually intensive, and each time my staff and I needed to monitor time, we needed to add the time entries manually. There was no choice to robotically monitor duties, which defeats the aim of a time-tracking app.
- It was exhausting to customise my reviews for purchasers, as these are fairly templated and in a primary model. I needed to export the information to different instruments to entry extra superior analytics.
- It’s fairly costly for what it affords when in comparison with different instruments of its type. There are instruments with comparable costs however extra superior options, reminiscent of Timeular.
The 5 Harvest options
| Instrument | Greatest For | Standout function | Key benefit vs. Harvest | Major limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timeular | Groups that want fashionable time monitoring with productiveness insights | AI-powered productiveness dashboard + bodily tracker | Computerized time monitoring + PTO administration | No limitation |
| Toggl Monitor | Customers on the lookout for easy, environment friendly monitoring | One-click cross-platform monitoring | Less complicated interface, higher usability | Restricted undertaking administration options |
| Clockify | Price range-conscious groups | Complete free plan | Extra detailed reporting at a decrease value | Privateness issues with monitoring options |
| RescueTime | Productiveness-focused people | Computerized productiveness scoring | Deep work sample insights | Restricted undertaking/shopper billing options |
| Hubstaff | Groups needing detailed oversight | Complete monitoring | Superior worker monitoring | Can influence staff belief and morale |
1. Timeular
Timeular tops this record as a Harvest different, because it’s the one time tracker that I discovered each easy to make use of and filled with helpful options for productiveness monitoring, and never solely.
I’ll reduce to the chase, and I’ll add right here the options that make Timeular surpass Harvest:
- Utilizing Timeular felt like utilizing a contemporary time monitoring instrument up to date to my wants as an entrepreneur, versus Harvest, which felt like utilizing an outdated accountability instrument.
- Timeular contains automated time-tracking and even made me overlook I used to be monitoring my work, because it did every part for me within the background, whereas Harvest made me monitor hours manually. With Timeular, all of the apps, web sites, and docs I used to be engaged on had been captured in my timesheet. All I needed to do was click on as soon as and settle for the time entry options.
- Timeular’s time-tracking strategies, even the handbook ones appeared extra intuitive to me in comparison with Harvest’s primarily handbook method.
- It made it straightforward for me to generate reviews for my purchasers that had been each customizable and detailed. Timeular’s time reporting system was sturdy throughout my take a look at and didn’t meet my wants in any respect.
- I used to be capable of monitor PTO and monitor time beyond regulation for my staff, so I might undertaking an knowledgeable capability planning round my staff’s well being and day without work.
- Timeular has a bodily 8-sided monitoring machine that some members of my staff beloved, because it makes time monitoring enjoyable and tangible.
All in all, Timeular is an apparent alternative for me because it has extra options, it’s extra intuitive, enjoyable, and easy to make use of, and at a smaller value than Harvest. Timeular’s pricing begins at $6.5 per consumer/month for people, whereas Harvest’s is $11 per consumer/month.
Different information about Timeular:
- It contains AI options, reminiscent of automated options that fill your timesheet primarily based in your calendar occasions.
- It makes use of AI to create a private productiveness dashboard, the place you possibly can see apps that aren’t productive in your workflow or whenever you’re at peak productiveness through the day, so you possibly can improve your work habits.
- It helps you keep on prime of budgets with automated notifications whenever you attain a sure finances restrict. You simply want so as to add the hourly finances on a shopper or undertaking, and as you’re employed, Timeular information what number of hours you’ve left.
- Crew collaboration is seamless, with shared folders, your staff can monitor time in a single place. So, if two staff members work on the identical undertaking, the information on the finish of the day will present the sum of the labored hours with out sharing timesheets.
- It contains +3000 app integrations: combine with instruments of alternative like Trello, Asana, and Google Calendar with Timeular for straightforward synchronization of duties and tasks. And, in case you use Zapier, you possibly can create automation by yourself. (ex: Xero time monitoring integration).
So, why is Timeular one of the best time Harvest different?
Whereas each Harvest and Timeular are efficient time-tracking options, Timeularstands out because it contains automated time monitoring, extra sturdy reporting options, a cool bodily tracker, and permits its customers to trace day without work in addition to time beyond regulation. Furthermore, Timeular’s value is smaller than Haverst’s although Timeualr comes with extra added worth.
These options, mixed with its interesting pricing choices, make Timeular the good Harvest different for companies, groups, and people on the lookout for an correct, distinctive, and interesting time-tracking expertise that will increase productiveness.
2. Toggl Monitor
One of the crucial widespread time-tracking instruments available on the market, Toggl Monitor, was sturdy in my testing, that’s why I positioned it in second place.
Word that I’m speaking about Toggl Monitor, which has solely time-tracking options, whereas Toggl’s suite has different instruments and broader functionalities together with useful resource administration or undertaking administration software program.
Listed below are a few of my findings from this Harvest time monitoring different:
- After I used Toggl Monitor, it was simpler for me to give attention to time-tracking necessities because of its easier interface, whereas Harvest appeared cluttered with some options I not often used.
- The one-click timer in Toggl Monitor made time monitoring really feel easy, and I might simply change between duties with out dropping momentum.
- Switching between cellular and desktop was flawless in Toggl and allowed me to start out monitoring on my desktop and easily proceed on cellular with none hiccups.
- Toggl’s reporting system, although primary within the free plan, gave me clearer insights into my time utilization in comparison with Harvest’s difficult reporting construction. It helped me visualize staff productiveness as properly, and it merely made it straightforward for me to achieve insights to regulate staff administration and workload, too.
- Its browser extension built-in seamlessly with my different instruments, like Notion and Slack.
Different information about Toggl Monitor:
- The idle detection function robotically notifies you whenever you’re away, so you possibly can cease monitoring time.
- Its background monitoring functionality helps you seize time spent in numerous purposes with out handbook enter.
- The interface is clear and minimalist, making it straightforward for brand new customers to get began rapidly.
So, why is Toggl Monitor an excellent Harvest different?
Whereas Harvest is a strong time-tracking instrument, Toggl stands out with its simplicity, versatility, and reporting options.
Although it lacks a few of Harvest’s undertaking administration options, its simple method and decrease pricing make it a pretty different for freelancers and groups who prioritize easy, environment friendly time monitoring over advanced undertaking administration instruments.
3. Clockify
Clockify is a generally used time-tracking software program that gives time monitoring, timesheet administration, undertaking monitoring, and reporting. Attributable to its key options, Clockify is a dependable different to Desktime and different time trackers.
Listed below are my key findings from testing this Harvest different:
- The undertaking monitoring in Clockify was extra complete than Harvest’s and helped me monitor a number of content material writing deadlines and budgets in a single place.
- Its expense monitoring function made it simpler for me to handle client-related prices, as I might connect receipts on to time the entries, one thing I struggled with in Harvest.
- The free plan was surprisingly sturdy and supplied me extra options than Harvest’s paid primary tier, together with limitless tasks and customers.
- The reporting system was extra versatile than Harvest’s, although I discovered it took longer to grasp it due to its numerous customization choices.
- The time-tracking interface, whereas complete, felt much less intuitive than Harvest’s, and I wanted extra clicks to perform primary duties.
Different information about Clockify:
- The built-in scheduling function helps handle staff availability and workload distribution. Word that this function isn’t with limitless customers, which makes job administration more durable.
- Its timesheet approval system streamlines the assessment course of for managers or group admins.
- The kiosk function permits straightforward clock-in from shared gadgets, which is beneficial for workplace settings.
- You should utilize a number of time entry strategies, although largely handbook, in comparison with fashionable Harvest options like Timeular.
So, why is Clockify a viable Harvest different?
Whereas Harvest focuses on combining undertaking administration with time monitoring, Clockify affords a extra budget-friendly choice with complete time monitoring options. Nevertheless, it’s vital to notice that some customers would possibly discover the privateness issues round its worker monitoring options problematic, and the cellular app may be unreliable.
The principle benefit over Harvest is the beneficiant free plan and extra detailed reporting capabilities, making it a good selection for groups on a finances who want detailed time monitoring with out superior undertaking administration options.
💡 Professional tip: Clockify has its drawbacks, too, so in case you used it and also you’re not pleased, you would possibly wish to search for Clockify options.
4. RescueTime
One other instrument worthy to be talked about on the Harvest options record is RescueTime. It’s a time-tracking software program that focuses on serving to customers enhance their productiveness and remove distractions.
Listed below are my key findings from testing this Harvest different:
- The automated monitoring function run within the background and robotically tracked my time spent on totally different purposes, web sites, and duties. It supplied me an correct report of time spent on duties.
- The productiveness scoring function gave me insights I by no means acquired from Harvest. With it, you monitor time spent on duties, after which RescueTime robotically categorizes your actions as productive or distracting primarily based on customizable guidelines.
- The detailed focus reviews helped me perceive my peak productiveness hours and focus patterns one thing utterly lacking from Harvest’s function set.
- Focus time and purpose setting proved helpful as they allowed me to set targets for productive time and block distracting web sites throughout designated focus classes.
Different information about RescueTime:
- Offline time logging which helps you to categorize your time spent away out of your pc.
- The good categorization system learns out of your work patterns over time.
- Privateness controls can help you pause monitoring or mark sure purposes as non-public.
So, why is RescueTime a unique type of Harvest different?
Each instruments are nice at primary time monitoring, RescueTime takes a totally totally different method by specializing in automated productiveness monitoring. It’s best for people and groups extra enthusiastic about understanding and bettering their work patterns than monitoring billable hours.
The principle benefit over Harvest is its hands-off method to time monitoring and deep productiveness insights, although it might not be appropriate for these needing project-specific time monitoring or shopper billing options.
💡 Professional tip: RescueTime isn’t adequate? Try our article on RescueTime options and opponents.
5. Hubstaff
Hubstaff is an employee-monitoring software program designed for distant groups. It affords a wide range of options, pricing choices, and benefits over Harvest, making it one of many aggressive Harvest options.
Listed below are my key findings from testing this Harvest different:
- The payroll integration helped me streamline cost processing primarily based on tracked time, one thing Harvest handles much less comprehensively.
- The undertaking budgeting instruments had been extra detailed than Harvest’s, with automated alerts for finances overruns.
- The GPS monitoring function supplied me location-based time monitoring that Harvest lacks, although this raised some privateness issues amongst my distant staff members, and I’m personally not the largest fan of geolocations.
- The automated screenshots offered proof of labor however made my staff uncomfortable, which is kind of totally different from Harvest’s trust-based method.
- The productiveness monitoring was extra in depth than Harvest’s, monitoring app utilization and exercise ranges, although some staff members discovered it overly intrusive.
Different information about Hubstaff:
- Scheduling and attendance monitoring simplifies time-off administration.
- Shopper invoicing is automated in Hubstass primarily based on tracked hours and charges.
- The cellular app permits discipline staff monitoring with geofencing.
So, why is Hubstaff a particular sort of Harvest different?
Whereas Harvest focuses on simple time monitoring so you possibly can handle tasks, Hubstaff supplies a extra surveillance-oriented method with in depth monitoring options. It’s higher fitted to organizations prioritizing detailed worker oversight over easy time monitoring.
The principle benefit over Harvest is its complete worker monitoring capabilities, although this comes at the price of potential privateness issues and staff belief points. It’s price contemplating whether or not such intensive oversight aligns together with your firm tradition earlier than making the change.
💡 Professional tip: If this app isn’t one of the best on your wants, learn our publish and discover 10 options to Hubstaff.
How ought to I select the best Harvest different?
Deciding on the best time-tracking instrument is pivotal on your staff’s productiveness and workflow. Listed below are the important thing components to think about:
- First, determine your main wants: Are you on the lookout for easy time monitoring, or do you want complete undertaking administration options? Do you want undertaking planning and in depth options to remain on prime of undertaking progress? Map your wants.
- Take into account your staff’s measurement and luxury stage with know-how. Some instruments, like Timeular, provide intuitive interfaces with each bodily and digital monitoring choices, whereas others, like Toggl Monitor, are purely digital. Which one would go well with them greatest? Do you want a plan that helps as much as 5 customers or extra?
- Privateness is one other pivotal issue: Whereas instruments like Hubstaff and Clockify have in depth monitoring capabilities, they could influence staff morale. The perfect time-tracking instruments typically don’t intrude on customers’ privateness; that’s why it’s greatest to think about one like Timeular.
- Price range additionally issues: Many options provide extra options than Harvest at a cheaper price level, so think about correctly which instrument provides sufficient worth to you and your group for the worth you pay.
Conclusion
Whereas Harvest has been extremely popular, it additionally has limitations. There are a number of options accessible that supply distinctive options and benefits. Time monitoring instruments like Timeular, Toggl, Clockify, RescueTime, and Hubstaff embody varied functionalities for various wants, from easy time monitoring to worker monitoring and undertaking administration integration.
Timeular is one of the best Harvest different for companies, groups, and small corporations who have to invoice their time. It’s additionally one of the best because of its simplicity, complete, detailed, and sharable reporting capacities, flexibility in pricing, and seamless integrations. This makes Timeular good for individuals who wish to optimize their time administration, improve productiveness, and enhance billable hours.
