DeskTime vs TimeCamp vs TMetric

DeskTime, TimeCamp, and TMetric all automate the tedious parts of team time tracking, but they lead with different strengths. DeskTime is built around fully…

DeskTime

Freemium · From Free

Best for: Teams that want fully automatic, idle-aware tracking with a productivity score built in from day one

TimeCamp

freemium · From Free (paid plans from $2.99/user/month)

Best for: Budget-conscious teams that need a genuinely free plan with unlimited users before scaling into paid tiers

TMetric

freemium · From Free (up to 2 seats); paid plans from $7/user/month

Best for: Freelancers and agencies who want the timer embedded directly inside the 50+ web apps they already use

At a Glance

 DeskTimeTimeCampTMetric
Primary categoryTime TrackingTime TrackingTime Tracking
RatingNot documentedNot documentedNot documented
Pricing modelFreemiumfreemiumfreemium
Starting priceFreeFree (paid plans from $2.99/user/month)Free (up to 2 seats); paid plans from $7/user/month
Free planYesYesYes
Free trialYesYesYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Mac, WindowsWeb, Mac, WindowsWeb, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows
Team collaborationNot documentedNot documentedNot documented
AI featuresNot documentedYesNot documented
Public APIYesYesYes

Standout Differences

TimeCamp's free plan has no user limit

Unlike DeskTime (capped at one user) and TMetric (capped at two seats), TimeCamp's Free plan supports unlimited users and projects with core timesheet functionality at no cost.

TimeCamp, DeskTime, TMetric

DeskTime tracks and scores automatically

DeskTime starts and stops tracking based on computer activity without manual timers, then classifies app and URL usage into a productivity score, requiring minimal setup.

DeskTime

TMetric's timer lives inside your other apps

TMetric can be started from inside more than 50 popular web apps, so teams can log time without switching context, alongside calendar sync that suggests entries.

TMetric

Screenshot monitoring is gated on all three

Each tool offers optional screenshot capture for verification, but all three reserve it for a higher-priced tier: DeskTime's Premium, TimeCamp's Premium/Ultimate, and TMetric's Business plan.

DeskTime, TimeCamp, TMetric

Project budgets and invoicing are strongest in TimeCamp and TMetric

Both TimeCamp and TMetric build in project budgets, estimates, and client invoicing from their entry paid tiers, while DeskTime's automated invoicing ships without a dedicated budgeting layer.

TimeCamp, TMetric, DeskTime

Feature-by-Feature

Core Tracking

FeatureDeskTimeTimeCampTMetric
Automatic time trackingAvailableAvailableLimited
Productivity scoringAvailableNot documentedNot documented
Screenshot monitoringAvailableAvailableAvailable

Project and Billing

FeatureDeskTimeTimeCampTMetric
Project budgets and estimatesNot documentedAvailableAvailable
Client invoicingAvailableAvailableAvailable

Team Management

FeatureDeskTimeTimeCampTMetric
Free planLimitedAvailableLimited
Shift scheduling and absence trackingAvailableAvailableAvailable

Integrations

FeatureDeskTimeTimeCampTMetric
Cross-app embedded timerNot documentedNot documentedAvailable

Pricing Compared

Starting price reflects the lowest paid tier, not the full cost for every team size or usage level.

DeskTime

Free — $0 N/A
Pro — $7/user/month ($6.42 annual) Monthly or annual
Premium — $10/user/month Monthly or annual
Enterprise — Custom Annual contract

TimeCamp

Free — $0 forever
Starter — $3.99/user/month (annual) or $5.49/user/month (monthly) monthly or annual
Premium — $6.99/user/month (annual) or $9.99/user/month (monthly) monthly or annual
Ultimate — $9.99/user/month (annual) or $13.99/user/month (monthly) monthly or annual
Enterprise — Custom custom

TMetric

Free — $0 N/A (up to 2 seats)
Professional — $7/user/month Monthly or annual (annual saves up to 20%)
Business — $9/user/month Monthly or annual (annual saves up to 20%)
Enterprise — Custom Custom

Pros & Cons

DeskTime

Pros

  • Fully automatic tracking removes the need for employees to manually start and stop timers.
  • Built-in productivity scoring works out of the box with minimal configuration.
  • Free plan available for single users, making it accessible for freelancers.
  • Combines time tracking, scheduling, and invoicing in a single product.

Cons

  • Screenshot capture and scheduling tools are gated behind the higher Premium tier.
  • Employee monitoring features like screenshots can raise privacy concerns among tracked staff.
  • Free tier is limited to a single user, so teams must move to a paid plan almost immediately.
  • Enterprise pricing is not publicly listed and requires contacting sales.

TimeCamp

Pros

  • Free plan supports unlimited users, unusually generous for the time tracking category
  • Paid tiers are significantly cheaper than many direct competitors
  • Combines time tracking with invoicing, budgeting, and attendance in one platform
  • Automatic, AI-assisted time tracking reduces manual timer management
  • Enterprise tier offers self-hosted deployment for data-sensitive organizations

Cons

  • Interface and reporting can feel less polished than higher-priced competitors like Toggl Track
  • Some advanced features (screenshots, SSO, custom roles) are locked behind the top Ultimate tier
  • Integration depth on lower tiers is limited compared to Premium and Ultimate plans
  • Automatic tracking accuracy depends on desktop app usage and can require manual correction
  • Company size and brand recognition are smaller than category leaders

TMetric

Pros

  • Generous free plan with unlimited projects and clients for up to two seats
  • Affordable per-seat pricing compared to many competing time trackers
  • Timer can be embedded inside dozens of other web apps for frictionless tracking
  • Strong budgeting and invoicing tools for freelancers and agencies
  • Backed by Devart, an established developer tools company with decades of experience

Cons

  • Interface and reporting feel more utilitarian than modern competitors like Toggl Track
  • Screenshot and activity monitoring are gated behind the higher Business tier
  • Fewer built-in integrations than larger time tracking platforms
  • Mobile app functionality is more limited than the desktop and web experience
  • Enterprise pricing is not published and requires contacting sales

Use Cases

Choose DeskTime: Teams that want fully automatic, idle-aware tracking with a productivity score built in from day one
Choose TimeCamp: Budget-conscious teams that need a genuinely free plan with unlimited users before scaling into paid tiers
Choose TMetric: Freelancers and agencies who want the timer embedded directly inside the 50+ web apps they already use

DeskTime

  • Remote team productivity monitoring — Distributed teams use DeskTime to automatically track work hours and understand productivity patterns without manual timesheets.
  • Freelance client billing — Freelancers use DeskTime's automatic tracking and invoicing to accurately bill clients for hours worked on specific projects.
  • Outsourced team verification — Companies working with outsourced or contractor teams use DeskTime's screenshot capture and productivity reports to verify billed work.

TimeCamp

  • Freelancer and small team time tracking — Freelancers and small teams use TimeCamp's free plan to track billable hours without per-seat cost.
  • Agency invoicing and budgeting — Agencies use TimeCamp to convert tracked billable hours directly into client invoices while monitoring project budgets.
  • Enterprise workforce attendance — Larger organizations use TimeCamp's attendance, time-off, and self-hosted Enterprise tier to manage distributed workforce compliance.

TMetric

  • Freelance Time and Billing Tracking — Freelancers track billable hours across multiple clients, set project budgets, and generate invoices directly from logged time.
  • Agency Team Time Management — Agencies use screenshots, activity monitoring, and team timesheets to track how staff time is spent across client projects.
  • Embedded Tracking Inside Existing Tools — Teams that already use Jira, ClickUp, or Redmine add TMetric's timer directly inside those apps to log time without switching tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which of DeskTime, TimeCamp, and TMetric has the most generous free plan?

TimeCamp, since its Free plan supports unlimited users and projects, while DeskTime's free tier is limited to a single user and TMetric's is capped at two seats.

Do I need to manually start a timer with DeskTime?

No. DeskTime tracks automatically based on computer activity, whereas TMetric's cross-app timer generally needs to be started, even though it is embedded inside other web apps.

Which tool is cheapest for a small team of five?

Based on published pricing, TimeCamp's paid tiers start lower (from around $3.99/user/month annually) than DeskTime's Pro plan ($7/user/month) or TMetric's Professional plan ($7/user/month).

Can I get screenshot monitoring on all three tools?

Yes, but each reserves it for a higher tier: DeskTime's Premium plan, TimeCamp's Premium and Ultimate plans, and TMetric's Business plan.

Which tool integrates the timer directly inside other web apps?

TMetric, which offers a timer overlay inside more than 50 popular web apps so teams can track time without leaving their existing workflow.

Read the full DeskTime review · Read the full TimeCamp review · Read the full TMetric review