What is Hubstaff? 2026 Features, Pricing & Limits 

Hubstaff is a cloud time tracking and workforce management platform from Netsoft Holdings, LLC. It’s used by remote, hybrid, and field teams to track hours, activity levels, optional screenshots, workforce analytics, GPS tools, invoicing, and payroll. Paid plans start at $4.99 per seat per month with annual billing.

Key Takeaways about Hubstaff in 2026 Hubstaff combines time tracking with activity data, optional screenshots, workforce analytics, and proof-of-work tools. It tracks keyboard and mouse activity, but it does not record what employees type or capture video or webcam footage. Paid plans start at $4.99 per seat/month annually; Starter, Grow, and Team have a two-seat minimum. G2 and Capterra ratings are strong, while Trustpilot is notably lower and includes billing and support complaints.

 

 

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What is Hubstaff and who is it built for in 2026?

Hubstaff is a cloud-based platform for time tracking and workforce management. It’s run by Netsoft Holdings, LLC, and was founded in 2012 by Dave Nevogt and Jared Brown. The company started out fully remote and now has more than 140,000 users worldwide.

Category	Details
Provider	Hubstaff (Netsoft Holdings, LLC); founded in 2012 as a fully remote company
Product type	Time tracking + workforce management/monitoring
Core features	Time tracking, activity levels, apps/URLs, screenshots, Hubstaff Insights, GPS, budgets, invoicing, payroll
Pricing	Starter $4.99, Grow $7.50, Team $10, Enterprise $25 per seat/month annually
Seat minimum	2 on Starter, Grow, and Team
Free access	14-day trial, no credit card; no permanent Free plan was offered in our signup
Add-ons	Insights, Silent app, Tasks, More Screenshots, Data retention, Locations
Time capture	Desktop, web, and mobile timers; automatic tracking policies on higher tiers; GPS tools
Employee monitoring	Activity levels, apps/URLs, screenshots; no keystroke logging or video/webcam recording
Screenshots	Frequency, blur, or off; lower-tier caps
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and browser extensions
Compliance	GDPR, SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA
Ratings	G2 4.4/5 (2,309 Hubstaff reviews); Capterra 4.5/5 (1,613); Trustpilot 2.0/5 (493)
Best for	Teams wanting proof of work, analytics, or field tracking
Less suitable for	Teams wanting time and profitability without prominent activity monitoring

 

Hubstaff starts with time tracking, then adds monitoring and admin tools around it. You can track time by project or task, see activity levels, monitor apps and URLs, and turn screenshots on if you want them. Hubstaff Insights gives you a closer look at work patterns. There are also tools for budgets, invoicing, payroll, and GPS tracking for field teams.

There’s a built-in project management tool too. Hubstaff Tasks uses Kanban boards and timeline views, so it’s useful for keeping simple projects organized. 

It’s not really trying to replace a full project management platform, though.

 

It makes the most sense for teams that need to track both hours and productivity, especially remote and hybrid teams, agencies, BPOs, software companies, and field operations.

Agencies can use screenshots to track contractor hours, while field businesses might use GPS and geofenced job sites.

Hubstaff does not track individual keystrokes or record video or webcam feeds, and organizations can adjust monitoring settings as needed.

How does Hubstaff work in 2026?

1. Open a desktop, mobile, or web timer and choose a project or task.
2. Start tracking. Field teams can also use mobile location tools and job sites.
3. During desktop tracking, Hubstaff can record activity levels and, if enabled, apps, URLs, and screenshots. The web timer records time without those desktop activity signals.
4. Hours worked and activity flow into timesheets, reports, and Hubstaff Insights where available, and tracked time can also be split into billable and non-billable hours before it moves into invoicing or payroll workflows.
5. Tracked work hours can feed budgets, invoices, approvals, payments, and payroll, with businesses able to process payments through providers such as PayPal and Gusto. Payroll is not fully built in because taxes are not calculated inside the platform.

The desktop timer is simple to use: starting or stopping a session takes one click.

What does Hubstaff do well, and where does it fall short?

Hubstaff works well for teams that need detailed proof of work, but in 2026 some features come with tradeoffs around cost and team fit.

Hubstaff Strengths	Hubstaff Limitations
Simple timer and detailed timesheets	Activity scores need context
Screenshots and proof of work	Monitoring may feel intrusive
Budgets, invoicing, payroll, approvals	Lower tiers rely on add-ons
GPS and field tools	Add-ons raise the real cost
Strong G2/Capterra ratings	Some app sluggishness; weaker Trustpilot feedback

 

Capterra reviewer Osama A., a full-stack developer in government administration and 2+ year user, wrote on January 24, 2026 that Hubstaff was: “easy to use and helps track time accurately.” He also reported occasional app sluggishness.

On January 8, 2026, Capterra reviewer Junaid E., a verified LinkedIn user and hospitality manager at an 11–50-person company, said screenshots could feel “intrusive if not managed carefully.”

Trustpilot is harsher overall, with recent reviewers raising complaints about billing transparency and support (1.9/10, 490 reviews, as of September 2026). Karen, a user from the US, wrote on 27 September 2026, wrote there “Been working for hours and it’s not showing anything.”

How does Hubstaff time tracking work?

Hubstaff tracks time by project, task, or client across desktop, web, and mobile:

• On desktop, it can also collect activity data.
• The mobile app adds GPS tracking for teams that work in the field.

Tracked hours flow into timesheets and reports, and eligible plans can also use them for budgets, invoices, payroll, and approvals. Budget tracking allows teams to keep an eye on project costs, expenses, and labor costs, with alerts when spending gets too close to the limit.

Hubstaff also connects with tools like QuickBooks, Gusto, and Jira. Time and project data can then easily move into payroll, accounting, and project management workflows.

How does Hubstaff employee monitoring work?

Hubstaff activity levels are part of its employee monitoring features, tying keyboard and mouse input during tracked desktop time to productivity tracking rather than just raw percentages. They do not record the keys typed, and Hubstaff says it does not access webcams or record screen video.

Organizations can enable apps, URLs, screenshots, and idle-time rules, with app monitoring adding more visibility into employee activity and work patterns, while Hubstaff Insights adds unusual activity detection and can show unusual activity patterns and broader productivity insights from employee activity data. Settings can vary by user.

These monitoring features also support productivity monitoring by giving managers more context for employee productivity. Users can delete their own time blocks, which also removes the associated screenshots, activity, apps, and URLs.

TimeCamp takes a lighter approach to monitoring. It combines automatic time tracking with profitability and time billing tools; screenshots are off by default and only appear if an admin turns them on.

TimeCamp keeps monitoring optional

Want time tracking and billing without screenshots on by default?

Start for free

Does Hubstaff take screenshots, and how do they work?

Yes, if enabled. Hubstaff can take one, two, or three randomly timed screenshots per 10-minute block during desktop tracking. Administrators can disable screenshots or enable blur, which is applied on the device before upload.

• On Starter, you get up to 500 screenshots per user each month.
• Grow gives you 1,500,
• Team gets rid of the standard monthly limit.

Need more than that?

The More Screenshots add-on was $3 per seat per month. It lets Hubstaff take up to 10 screenshots every 10 minutes and can capture secondary monitors too.

 

One thing it doesn’t do is record continuous screen video or webcam footage.

What workforce analytics does Hubstaff offer?

Hubstaff Insights tracks things like utilization, focus time, meeting time, work-time classification, capacity, cost data, and productivity. It also flags unusual activity. You can export reports as CSV or PDF files, and set up automatic email delivery.

In your account, Hubstaff Insights is a $3 per seat per month add-on with the Starter trial. It is included with Team and Enterprise plans. However, there are no AI-powered analytics for predictive insights.

What are the pros and cons of Hubstaff?

The clearest strengths come from detailed tracking, while the biggest drawbacks are cost and fit.

Hubstaff Pros	Hubstaff Cons
Easy desktop time tracking	Activity scores can underrate low-input work
Screenshots and activity records for proof of work	Monitoring will not suit every team culture
Budgets, invoicing, payroll, approvals, and scheduling	Some features require higher plans or add-ons
GPS and geofencing for field teams	Add-ons raise the per-seat cost
Strong Capterra and G2 ratings	Trustpilot reviews include billing and support complaints

Who is Hubstaff for, and who should outgrow it?

Hubstaff is a strong fit for remote teams and distributed teams, especially when proof of work or field visibility is part of the job, but not every group or team member needs that level of oversight. 

Profile	Fit
Remote/hybrid or remote or distributed teams wanting proof of work	✓
Agency or BPO billing contractor hours	✓
Field team needing GPS/geofencing	✓
Team wanting time/profitability without prominent monitoring	–
Team that dislikes add-on pricing	– / price the full stack

When monitoring costs more trust than it provides

If screenshots and activity scores create friction without useful information, a lighter setup may fit better. Capterra reviews support treating this as a communication and fit issue rather than an inherent flaw.

When add-ons push up the real price

I highly recommend pricing the add-ons you actually need before choosing a tier, because core time tracking may look affordable at first, but extras can add complexity and increase the total cost. Insights, Tasks and Locations are not included across all lower plans, while extra screenshots and data retention can raise the cost further.

Hubstaff Tasks is another add-on for teams that need project management features beyond simple time tracking. Some advanced tools are only available in the more expensive plans or enterprise options.

When you only need time, profitability, and billing

Hubstaff can do this well, but if your team is more concerned about billable hours, costs, margins, and invoices, you may prefer monitoring in the background.

Choose Hubstaff when proof-of-work screenshots, activity visibility, or field tracking are useful. Reach for a lighter posture when the main job is time, profitability, and billing.

 

TimeCamp supports automatic time tracking, budgets, billing rates, margins, and invoicing while leaving screenshots off by default.

Need time and project financials without screenshots enabled by default?

Compare TimeCamp and Hubstaff →

How much does Hubstaff cost in 2026?

Plan	Annual/seat/mo	Monthly	Main scope
Starter	$4.99	$7	Time/activity, limited screenshots/apps/URLs, invoices
Grow	$7.50	$9	Adds Tasks, budgets, expenses, reporting
Team	$10	$12	Adds Insights, unlimited standard screenshots/apps/URLs, payroll, scheduling, approvals
Enterprise	$25	Annual only	Adds Locations, Silent app, SSO/SCIM, provisioning, compliance support

 

Hubstaff’s annual plans start at $4.99 per seat per month for Starter, $7.50 for Grow, $10 for Team, and $25 for Enterprise.

Starter, Grow, and Team require at least two seats, so the lowest annual Starter subscription costs $9.98 per month.

 

During testing in September 2026, the billing screen listed Insights, Silent app, Tasks, and More Screenshots at $3 per seat per month. Data retention started at $2 per seat per month, while Locations started at $4 per seat per month. Some of these features are included in higher-tier plans.

Hubstaff also offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. I couldn’t find any sign of a permanent Free plan during signup in September 2026.

Frequently asked questions about Hubstaff

Is Hubstaff free?

Hubstaff currently offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card. A permanent Free plan is not currently offered during signup.

Does Hubstaff log keystrokes?

No. Hubstaff measures keyboard and mouse activity during tracked time but does not record the keys typed.

Does Hubstaff take screenshots?

Yes, if enabled. Administrators can select one, two, or three screenshots per 10-minute period. They can also enable blur, or turn screenshots off.

Does Hubstaff track you after you stop the timer?

Not with the standard desktop app. It records activity only while tracked time is running. Hubstaff also offers a separate Silent app for company-owned devices with background tracking policies.

How much does Hubstaff cost?

Starter begins at $4.99 per seat/month annually with a two-seat minimum. Grow starts at $7.50, Team at $10, and Enterprise at $25 before optional add-ons.

Does Hubstaff offer payroll and invoicing?

Yes. The Starter plan includes client invoicing. The Team plan adds features like payments, automated payroll, scheduling, attendance, and timesheet approvals. Tracked hours can be sent to payment workflows using integrations with several payment providers, but Hubstaff does not have its own payroll engine and does not calculate taxes.

Does Hubstaff have GPS tracking?

Yes, Hubstaff offers GPS tracking, which is useful for a job site workflow and mobile oversight. Locations provides mobile location tracking, geofenced job sites, jobs, and work orders, and the Hubstaff mobile app is where the mobile app features for location tracking and geofenced attendance are most relevant for field teams. It is included with Enterprise and available as an add-on on eligible lower tiers.

Is Hubstaff intrusive for employees?

It depends on the setup. Screenshots and activity scores are configurable, and reviewers say they can feel intrusive when not managed carefully.

Bottom line: Is Hubstaff the right choice?

Hubstaff is a good option for remote, hybrid, and field teams that want proof-of-work screenshots, activity analytics, or location tools. Its easy timer feeds budgets, invoices, approvals, scheduling, and payroll.

Teams that do not need prominent monitoring may get less value from the activity layer, while add-ons raise the final price. TimeCamp keeps screenshots optional and off by default for teams focused on automatic time tracking, profitability, and billing.

Switch to TimeCamp

Track time, budgets, and billable hours with screenshots off by default, all in one tool.

Get started free

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Sources (as of September 2026):

https://hubstaff.com/pricing
https://hubstaff.com/hubstaff-pricing-guide
https://hubstaff.com/about
https://hubstaff.com/privacy
https://hubstaff.com/insights
https://hubstaff.com/workforce-analytics/
https://support.hubstaff.com/activity-tracking-overview/
https://support.hubstaff.com/change-screenshot-frequency/
https://support.hubstaff.com/screenshot-blur/
https://support.hubstaff.com/can-activity-be-deleted/
https://support.hubstaff.com/hubstaff-add-ons/
https://support.hubstaff.com/hubstaff-locations-add-on/
https://support.hubstaff.com/job-sites/
https://www.g2.com/sellers/hubstaff
https://www.capterra.com/p/132376/Hubstaff/reviews/
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/hubstaff.com
https://www.timecamp.com/how-we-review-software/
https://www.timecamp.com/blog/timecamp-vs-hubstaff/

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Markdown

Diana Bocco Diana Bocco is a freelance writer and SaaS content manager covering productivity, marketing, and business software. Her work has appeared in National Geographic, USA Today, Inc., Business Insider, and other publications, and she regularly tests the tools she writes about. She has been freelancing for more than 15 years and knows firsthand how quickly tracked hours, deadlines, and client work can pile up.

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