Timely alternative
A simpler Timely alternative for teams
Timely is automatic time tracking that records activity and suggests timesheet entries. Hourtick focuses on the core — a Mac menu bar timer, tasks, timesheets, approvals and billable reports — free for your whole team.
Why teams look for a Timely alternative
- Teams of more than 5 need Premium at $16–$20 per user
- Automatic capture isn't a fit for teams that prefer explicit timers
- Tasks cost extra
Where Timely shines
- Automatic activity capture
- AI-drafted timesheets
- Budgets and planning on Premium
Where Hourtick is different
Timely drafts timesheets from what it records on your computer. In Hourtick, your own AI assistant proposes the missing entries from your tasks and day in Hourtick, and logs only what you approve. Nothing records your screen.
Hourtick vs Timely at a glance
| Criteria | Hourtick | Timely |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free for unlimited people with 500 MB of usage a month. $29/month for 5 GB. Every feature on both plans, no per-seat fees. | Starter $9, Premium $16, Unlimited $22 per user/month billed yearly ($11 / $20 / $28 monthly). Starter stops at 5 users and 20 projects; Tasks is a paid add-on. |
| Team of 10, per month | $0 on Free · $29 on Pro (5 GB) | $160–$200 (Premium; Starter stops at 5 users) |
| Free plan | Unlimited people, every feature, 500 MB of usage a month | Free trial, no free plan |
| Task board and list | Board and list, assignees, chat, files, checklists. Every plan | No built-in task board |
| Built-in timer | Mac menu bar and web, offline. Every plan | Yes |
| Timesheet approvals | Included | See their site |
| Mac menu bar timer | Native menu bar timer with live time | See their site |
| Screenshots / activity monitoring | None — no screenshots or activity tracking | Automatic activity capture that drafts timesheets |
| Best for | Teams that want tasks and time tracking together, simple enough to use every day, free for everyone. | People who prefer reviewing auto-captured activity over starting timers. |
Timely pricing from their pricing page, checked September 2026.
Timely pricing in 2026
| Plan | Per person/month, billed yearly | Billed monthly | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $9 | $11 | Automatic tracking, AI timesheets, billable hours. Up to 5 users and 20 projects |
| Premium | $16 | $20 | Team management, budgets and costs, planning, project and accounting integrations. Up to 50 users |
| Unlimited | $22 | $28 | Capacity reporting, overtime, unlimited users |
| Enterprise | Custom | — | Tailored onboarding, training and priority support |
- Tasks is an add-on from $5 per person per month.
- Yearly billing saves up to 22%.
- A team of 10, per month: $160–$200 (Premium; Starter stops at 5 users).
- Hourtick: Free for unlimited people with 500 MB of usage a month. $29/month for 5 GB. Every feature on both plans, no per-seat fees.
From Timely's pricing page, checked September 29, 2026. Prices change; check theirs before you buy.
Switching in an afternoon
- Sign up free and add your clients and projects (task types are created for you).
- Mark which task types are billable and set project rates and budgets.
- Invite the team with a link — every plan includes unlimited people.
- Install the Mac menu bar app and track your first hour.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hourtick cheaper than Timely?
For a team of 10, Timely lists $160–$200 (Premium; Starter stops at 5 users) per month on the relevant plan (September 2026). Hourtick is free for unlimited people with 500 MB of usage a month, or $29/month for 5 GB.
How much does Timely cost?
Starter $9, Premium $16, Unlimited $22 per user/month billed yearly ($11 / $20 / $28 monthly). Starter stops at 5 users and 20 projects; Tasks is a paid add-on. (Timely's pricing page, September 2026.)
Can I import my Timely data?
There's no one-click import yet. Most teams recreate clients and projects in a few minutes (an admin's AI assistant can do it over Hourtick's MCP server), start tracking from a clean date, and keep Timely's exports as the record of past hours.
When should I stay with Timely?
If you rely on automatic activity capture, Timely may still be the better fit.
Keep comparing
Track your first hour in a minute.
Free for your whole team, forever. $29/month when you need 5 GB.