Comparison
Hourtick vs Timely
Timely: Automatic time tracking that records activity and suggests timesheet entries. Hourtick: a Mac menu bar timer, tasks, timesheets, approvals and billable reports, free for your whole team.
| 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. |
Prices from each vendor's pricing page where verified (September 2026). “See their site” means we couldn't verify it.
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.
Timely: strengths and trade-offs
- + Automatic activity capture
- + AI-drafted timesheets
- + Budgets and planning on Premium
- − 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
The verdict
Pick Timely if you need automatic activity capture. Pick Hourtick if you want the core of time tracking done beautifully — free for the whole team, with a price that never grows with headcount.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hourtick cheaper than Timely?
For 10 people, Timely lists $160–$200 (Premium; Starter stops at 5 users) per month; Hourtick is free for the whole team, or $29/month for 5 GB of usage a month.
Does Hourtick do everything Timely does?
No. Timely offers automatic activity capture, ai-drafted timesheets, budgets and planning on premium. Hourtick focuses on simple, correct time tracking, tasks, approvals and billable reporting.
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.)
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Free for your whole team, forever. $29/month when you need 5 GB.