TimeNTrack vs Timely
Timely's AI tracking is impressive — but it starts at $9/seat/month and has no invoicing. TimeNTrack gives freelancers time tracking and invoicing for a flat $9/month total.
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The honest verdict
Timely
A premium AI tracker that automatically captures everything you do — no manual entry needed. No built-in invoicing on any plan, and per-seat pricing compounds quickly.
TimeNTrack
Deliberate time tracking and professional invoicing in one tool — no background app, no per-seat pricing, and shareable client reports built in.
At a Glance
TimeNTrack
For freelancers
- Built-in professional invoicing
- Shareable invoice & report links for clients
- No desktop app or background process needed
- Retainer & recurring project management
- Flat $9/month — no per-seat pricing
Best for: Freelancers and independents who want time tracking + invoicing without paying for complexity they don't need.
Timely
For teams with complex tracking needs
- AI “Memory Tracker” — automatic time capture
- Captures apps, docs, meetings automatically
- Team capacity and utilisation dashboards
- Native mobile app (iOS & Android)
- Integrations with Asana, Jira, Salesforce
Best for: Teams who lose time on manual tracking and want AI to do it automatically. Requires a separate invoicing solution.
Where Timely Falls Short for Freelancers
Timely is impressive technology — but it was designed for teams, not the solo freelance workflow.
No invoicing, ever
Timely tracks your time beautifully but stops there. There's no way to turn tracked hours into an invoice — you need a completely separate tool like FreshBooks or Wave.
Premium pricing
Timely starts at $9/seat/month and rises quickly. For a freelancer with a small team, costs compound. TimeNTrack's $9/month flat rate covers everyone.
Requires a background app
Timely's AI tracking works by running a desktop app in the background. Privacy-conscious freelancers or those on managed devices may find this a dealbreaker.
Feature Comparison
A detailed look at how TimeNTrack and Timely compare across key categories.
Time Tracking
| Feature | TimeNTrack | Timely |
|---|---|---|
| Manual time entry | ||
| One-click timer | ||
| AI automatic time capture | ||
| Desktop activity tracking | ||
| Calendar integration | ||
| Mobile app | ||
| No background app required |
Invoicing & Billing
| Feature | TimeNTrack | Timely |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in invoicing | ||
| PDF invoice export | ||
| Shareable invoice links | ||
| Password-protected invoices | ||
| Retainer management | ||
| Multiple tax rates |
Project Management
| Feature | TimeNTrack | Timely |
|---|---|---|
| Project organisation | ||
| Client management | ||
| Project notes (rich text) | ||
| Budget tracking | ||
| Team capacity view |
Reporting & Analytics
| Feature | TimeNTrack | Timely |
|---|---|---|
| Detailed time reports | ||
| Shareable report links | ||
| Export to CSV/Excel | ||
| Profitability analysis | ||
| Team productivity reports |
Pricing Comparison
Timely's per-seat pricing can become significant once you add team members.
TimeNTrack Pricing
Bottom line: One flat price covers everything — time tracking, invoicing, retainers, and reports.
Timely Pricing
Note:Timely has no built-in invoicing on any plan. You'll need to subscribe to a separate invoicing tool, adding to your monthly cost.
Who Should Choose What?
Choose TimeNTrack if you...
- Are a freelancer or solo professional
- Need time tracking and invoicing in one tool
- Prefer to track time intentionally (not automatically)
- Don't want a background app monitoring your computer
- Want flat, predictable pricing
Choose Timely if you...
- Consistently forget to start/stop timers manually
- Have a team that resists manual time entry
- Already have a separate invoicing solution
- Need deep team capacity and utilisation reporting
- Are comfortable with a desktop app running in the background
Switching from Timely?
Moving to a manual-first workflow is simpler than it sounds.
What transfers easily
- • Export your time logs from Timely as CSV
- • Recreate your projects and clients in minutes
- • Historical data available for reference in Timely
What you gain immediately
- • Professional invoicing — built right in
- • Shareable invoice and report links for clients
- • No background app or privacy tradeoffs
- • Flat pricing — no per-seat surprises
- • Rich text notes on every project
Ready to try TimeNTrack?
14-day free trial. All features included. No credit card required.
Comparing More Options?
See how TimeNTrack compares to other popular time tracking tools.
Common Questions
Does Timely have any invoicing features?
No — Timely focuses entirely on time tracking and reporting. There is no invoicing functionality on any plan. You would need a separate tool like FreshBooks, Wave, or TimeNTrack to create and send invoices.
Is Timely's automatic tracking worth the price?
If your team genuinely loses hours to gaps in manual tracking, Timely's AI can recover significant revenue. For freelancers who prefer intentional, project-focused tracking, the automation adds cost without proportional benefit.
Can I import data from Timely?
You can export time entries from Timely as CSV. Setting up your clients and projects in TimeNTrack takes just a few minutes, and your historical data stays accessible in Timely.
Does TimeNTrack track time automatically like Timely?
TimeNTrack uses deliberate, manual time tracking — you start a timer or log time entries yourself. This is by design: intentional tracking leads to more accurate project attribution and keeps your data private without any background monitoring.
What is the best Timely alternative for freelancers?
For freelancers who need time tracking andinvoicing in one tool, TimeNTrack is the most focused alternative to Timely. It's significantly cheaper, requires no background app, and includes full invoicing that Timely completely lacks on every plan.
Is there a cheaper Timely alternative with built-in invoicing?
Yes — TimeNTrack. Timely starts at $9/seat/month and has no invoicing whatsoever. TimeNTrack is also $9/month but that covers your entire team at a flat rate and includes full invoicing, shareable client reports, and retainer management. The total cost of ownership is significantly lower.