19 rules in 6 groups, worth 100 points in all. They were set before any product was scored and apply the same way to all 12.
Version 1, published 8 Oct 2026
In short
Each rule is a yes-or-no fact, a list (such as the systems with an app) or a number with published thresholds, read from the vendor's own pages.
A fact the vendor does not publish earns nothing. A feature in beta or preview does not count.
The list follows the points. A tie goes to the lower price on "cheapest paid plan", then to the name.
Time trackers for freelancers and small teams, with client and project hours. Must run on Windows, as an app or in the browser. Project management suites, payroll, attendance clocks and tools sold mainly for employee monitoring are left out. A feature counts if it is on any plan with a public per-user price, free or paid; plans sold only by quote do not count.
Systems 18 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
Apps
An official app of each kind on the vendor's download or product page, generally available. Each one earns 2 points.
12
Browser extension
An official browser extension with a timer, listed on the vendor's site or in the Chrome Web Store or Edge Add-ons under the vendor's name.
3
Tracks time offline
The vendor's pages or help center say a desktop or mobile app keeps tracking with no internet connection and syncs the time later.
3
Tracking 12 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
Idle detection
The vendor's pages say an app or extension detects when you stop working and asks whether to keep or discard the idle time.
7
Automatic activity log
An official feature records the apps, files or sites you use on your own computer to help you fill in a timesheet. A manual timer alone does not count.
5
Billing 23 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
Timesheet approval
Timesheets can be submitted for approval and a manager can approve or reject them inside the product.
6
Invoices from tracked time
You can create an invoice from tracked hours inside the product. Sending hours to another invoicing app does not count.
8
Billable rates
You can set hourly billable rates by project, client or person and see billable amounts in reports.
6
Project budgets and alerts
You can set a time or money budget on a project and the vendor's pages say the product sends a warning or alert when it is nearly used up. A budget display without an alert does not count.
3
Reports and links 14 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
Report export formats
The vendor's pages say a time report can be exported in each format. Each one earns 1 point.
3
Scheduled reports by email
A report can be set to arrive by email on a schedule.
2
Public API
The vendor publishes API documentation that anyone can read, and the API works for time entries.
3
Named integrations
The vendor's integrations page lists the tool by name as an integration that works without Zapier or Make. Entries marked legacy, deprecated or unsupported do not count. A listing that does not mention Zapier counts. Each one earns 1 point.
6
Security 11 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
Single sign-on (SAML)
The vendor names SAML single sign-on, or SSO through an identity provider such as Okta, Microsoft Entra ID or OneLogin, on a plan with a public per-user price. Sign in with Google or Microsoft does not count.
3
SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001
The vendor names a SOC 2 Type II report or an ISO/IEC 27001 certification for this product or the company running it. SOC 2 Type I, and a report held only by a hosting provider, do not count.
5
Two-factor sign-in
The vendor's help pages describe two-factor authentication for user accounts on at least one plan.
3
Price 22 points
Rule
What it takes
Points
Free plan
A free plan, not a trial, that records time with no time limit on the plan. A free tier the vendor presents as a named plan counts, however limited (for example a Lite plan).
7
Users on the free plan
The most people who can use the free plan together in one workspace, from the vendor's pricing table. If the vendor's pages disagree, use the lower number. 5 or more earns 3 points, 2 to 4 earns 1. A single-user free plan or none earns 0.
3
Cheapest paid plan
The cheapest paid plan with a public price, for one user (or the smallest team the plan allows, divided by its seats), in US dollars a month, billed yearly, at its regular price. If the vendor offers no yearly billing, use the monthly price. A product with no paid plan counts as $0. $4 or less earns 12 points, $6 or less 9, $8 or less 6, $10 or less 3.