---
title: "Best time tracking apps for accountants and CPA firms in 2026"
id: "59805"
type: "post"
slug: "best-time-tracking-apps-for-accountants"
published_at: "2026-09-11T13:35:25+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-09-11T13:42:19+00:00"
url: "https://www.timecamp.com/blog/best-time-tracking-apps-for-accountants/"
markdown_url: "https://www.timecamp.com/blog/best-time-tracking-apps-for-accountants.md"
excerpt: "The best time tracking app for an accounting firm depends on its billing model and workflow. Missed or late time entries can leave your CPA firm with unbilled work, weaker realization, and more manual effort before an invoice reaches the..."
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  - "free time tracking for accountants"
  - "task management for accountants"
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---

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/Best time tracking apps for accountants and CPA firms in 2026

# Best time tracking apps for accountants and CPA firms in 2026

- ![Image](https://www.timecamp.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/wojciech-piwowarski_avatar-32x32.jpg)Wojciech Piwowarski
- 
- September 11, 2026
- 
- 18 min read

![post image](https://www.timecamp.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/best-time-tracking-apps-for-accountants-header.jpg)

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**Contents** [hide](#)

[1 What is the best time tracking app for accountants and CPA firms?](#What_is_the_best_time_tracking_app_for_accountants_and_CPA_firms)

[2 The best time tracking and billing tools for accounting firms compared](#The_best_time_tracking_and_billing_tools_for_accounting_firms_compared)

[3 Why do accountants and CPA firms need dedicated time tracking in 2o26?](#Why_do_accountants_and_CPA_firms_need_dedicated_time_tracking_in_2o26)
[3.1 How much billable time do accounting firms lose to poor tracking?](#How_much_billable_time_do_accounting_firms_lose_to_poor_tracking)

[4 What to look for in time tracking software for accountants in 2026?](#What_to_look_for_in_time_tracking_software_for_accountants_in_2026)

[5 How did we evaluate these tools?](#How_did_we_evaluate_these_tools)

[6 TimeCamp: best for automatic billable-hour capture](#TimeCamp_best_for_automatic_billable-hour_capture)
[6.1 Why TimeCamp works for accounting firms?](#Why_TimeCamp_works_for_accounting_firms)

[6.2 Key features for accountants](#Key_features_for_accountants)

[6.3 TimeCamp Pricing](#TimeCamp_Pricing)
[6.3.1 What customers are saying?](#What_customers_are_saying)

[6.3.2 Why is TimeCamp on this list for accountants?](#Why_is_TimeCamp_on_this_list_for_accountants)

[6.3.3 TimeCamp Pros & Cons](#TimeCamp_Pros_Cons)

[7 Uku: best for all-in-one accounting practice management](#Uku_best_for_all-in-one_accounting_practice_management)
[7.1 Why Uku works for accounting firms](#Why_Uku_works_for_accounting_firms)

[7.2 Key features for accountants](#Key_features_for_accountants1)

[7.3 Pricing](#Pricing)
[7.3.1 What are users saying?](#What_are_users_saying)

[7.3.2 Why is Uku on this list for accountants?](#Why_is_Uku_on_this_list_for_accountants)

[7.3.3 Uku Pros & Cons](#Uku_Pros_Cons)

[8 Harvest: best for simple invoicing tied to QuickBooks Online and Xero](#Harvest_best_for_simple_invoicing_tied_to_QuickBooks_Online_and_Xero)
[8.1 Why Harvest works for accounting firms](#Why_Harvest_works_for_accounting_firms)

[8.2 Key features for accountants](#Key_features_for_accountants2)

[8.3 Pricing](#Pricing1)
[8.3.1 What are customers saying?](#What_are_customers_saying)

[8.3.2 Why is Harvest on this list for accountants?](#Why_is_Harvest_on_this_list_for_accountants)

[8.3.3 Harvest Pros & Cons](#Harvest_Pros_Cons)

[9 BigTime: best for larger firms with complex billing](#BigTime_best_for_larger_firms_with_complex_billing)
[9.1 Why BigTime works for accounting firms](#Why_BigTime_works_for_accounting_firms)

[9.2 Key features for accountants](#Key_features_for_accountants3)

[9.3 Pricing](#Pricing2)
[9.3.1 What are customers saying?](#What_are_customers_saying1)

[9.3.2 Why is BigTime on this list for accountants?](#Why_is_BigTime_on_this_list_for_accountants)

[9.3.3 BigTime Pros & Cons](#BigTime_Pros_Cons)

[10 QuickBooks Time: best for QuickBooks Online-centered firms](#QuickBooks_Time_best_for_QuickBooks_Online-centered_firms)
[10.1 Why QuickBooks Time works for accounting firms?](#Why_QuickBooks_Time_works_for_accounting_firms)

[10.2 Key features for accountants](#Key_features_for_accountants4)

[10.3 Pricing](#Pricing3)
[10.3.1 What are customers saying?](#What_are_customers_saying2)

[10.3.2 Why is QuickBooks Time on this list for accountants?](#Why_is_QuickBooks_Time_on_this_list_for_accountants)

[10.3.3 QuickBooks Time Pros & Cons](#QuickBooks_Time_Pros_Cons)

[11 Toggl Track: best for lightweight tracking and reporting](#Toggl_Track_best_for_lightweight_tracking_and_reporting)
[11.1 Why Toggl Track works for accounting firms?](#Why_Toggl_Track_works_for_accounting_firms)

[11.2 Key features for accountants](#Key_features_for_accountants5)

[11.3 Pricing](#Pricing4)
[11.3.1 What are customers saying?](#What_are_customers_saying3)

[11.3.2 Why is Toggl Track on this list for accountants?](#Why_is_Toggl_Track_on_this_list_for_accountants)

[11.3.3 Toggl Track Pros & Cons](#Toggl_Track_Pros_Cons)

[12 Clockify: best budget option for small accounting teams](#Clockify_best_budget_option_for_small_accounting_teams)
[12.1 Why Clockify works for accounting firms?](#Why_Clockify_works_for_accounting_firms)

[12.2 Key features for accountants](#Key_features_for_accountants6)

[12.3 Pricing](#Pricing5)
[12.3.1 What are customers saying?](#What_are_customers_saying4)

[12.3.2 Why is Clockify on this list for accountants?](#Why_is_Clockify_on_this_list_for_accountants)

[12.3.3 Clockify Pros & Cons](#Clockify_Pros_Cons)

[13 Financial Cents: best for combining accounting workflow and time tracking](#Financial_Cents_best_for_combining_accounting_workflow_and_time_tracking)
[13.1 Why Financial Cents works for accounting firms?](#Why_Financial_Cents_works_for_accounting_firms)

[13.2 Key features for accountants](#Key_features_for_accountants7)

[13.3 Pricing](#Pricing6)
[13.3.1 What are customers saying?](#What_are_customers_saying5)

[13.3.2 Why is Financial Cents on this list for accountants?](#Why_is_Financial_Cents_on_this_list_for_accountants)

[13.3.3 Financial Cents Pros & Cons](#Financial_Cents_Pros_Cons)

[14 Frequently asked questions](#Frequently_asked_questions)
[14.1 What is the best free time tracking app for accountants?](#What_is_the_best_free_time_tracking_app_for_accountants)

[14.2 Which time trackers integrate with QuickBooks Online and Xero?](#Which_time_trackers_integrate_with_QuickBooks_Online_and_Xero)

[14.3 What time tracking software works best for bookkeepers?](#What_time_tracking_software_works_best_for_bookkeepers)

[14.4 How does time tracking improve a firm’s realization rate?](#How_does_time_tracking_improve_a_firms_realization_rate)

[14.5 Does hourly vs. fixed-fee billing change which tool you need?](#Does_hourly_vs_fixed-fee_billing_change_which_tool_you_need)

[14.6 Is employee monitoring necessary for accounting firms?](#Is_employee_monitoring_necessary_for_accounting_firms)

[15 Which time tracking tool should your CPA firm choose?](#Which_time_tracking_tool_should_your_CPA_firm_choose)
[15.1 Automate time capture](#Automate_time_capture)

**The best time tracking app for an accounting firm depends on its billing model and workflow.** Missed or late time entries can leave your CPA firm with unbilled work, weaker realization, and more manual effort before an invoice reaches the client. **Uku** works best when time tracking needs to sit inside all-in-one practice management, and **TimeCamp focuses on automatic billable-hour capture**. **[Harvest](https://www.timecamp.com/blog/harvest-pricing/)
 offers a simple time-to-invoice flow** with QuickBooks Online and Xero; **BigTime serves larger professional services firms** with more complex billing needs.

The comparison also covers **[QuickBooks Time](https://www.timecamp.com/blog/what-is-quickbooks-time/)
 for firms centered on the Intuit ecosystem**, **[Toggl Track](https://www.timecamp.com/blog/what-is-toggl-track/)
 for lightweight tracking and reporting**, **[Clockify](https://www.timecamp.com/blog/what-is-clockify/)
 for budget-conscious teams,**and**Financial Cents for workflow management with built-in time tracking.**

**We selected the tools based on how they capture client hours, handle invoicing**, and **connect with accounting systems,** **with plans and prices verified against vendor sources** in 2026.

| How do we review software in TimeCamp? A human is behind every word posted here. We value our users’ time and trust, so you can be sure our team (Ola, Wojtek, Kasia, Iza, Robert, and others) spent real hours testing the apps, and then researching, briefing, and writing this article. Our editorial team has 10+ years of experience writing SaaS content, including testing and using a variety of tools daily. Our writers are also app users, so we write our recommendations based on what we would read as potential clients. Our main rule is “do not cover without a source.”We also revisit and update our articles to cover notable changes to the app’s features or pricing (at least quarterly). Read more → How do we create content and review software in TimeCamp? Happy reading! |
| --- |

## What is the best time tracking app for accountants and CPA firms?

The **best time tracking software for accountants depends on how the firm bills clients and manages work**. Some teams need client, task, and billing workflows in one system; others care more about **automatic time capture, invoicing, or connections with the accounting software** they already use.

| The tools below are listed in no particular order. Each addresses a different time tracking or billing need. Uku: An all-in-one option for practice management, time tracking, and billing. TimeCamp: Focused on automatic billable-hour capture. Harvest: A simple route from tracked time to invoicing in QuickBooks Online or Xero. BigTime: Built for larger firms with more complex professional services billing. QuickBooks Time: A natural choice for firms already centered on QuickBooks Online. Toggl Track: Lightweight time tracking with straightforward reporting. Clockify: A budget-friendly option for small accounting teams. Financial Cents: Accounting workflow management with built-in time tracking. |
| --- |

## The best time tracking and billing tools for accounting firms compared

**Time and billing software for CPA firms** ranges from accounting workflow systems to focused time tracking tools. These options differ in how they capture hours, move them through the billing process, and connect with the software firms use for accounting and invoicing. Those differences can affect billing accuracy and the amount of manual work required.

- **Uku**and**Financial Cents** combine time tracking with client workflows, recurring tasks, and billing.
- **TimeCamp, Harvest, Toggl Track,**and**Clockify** concentrate on time capture and invoicing.
- **BigTime** adds more advanced billing controls for larger firms,
- **QuickBooks Time** is built around the QuickBooks Online ecosystem.

**For this comparison, automatic tracking means background capture that creates or suggests time entries**. A standard start-and-stop timer doesn’t qualify.

| Tool | Best for | G2 / Capterra | Free plan | Starting paid price | Automatic tracking | Invoicing / billable | QuickBooks Online / Xero |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Uku | Accounting workflow + billing | 4.7 / 4.8 | No | $19/mo, Solo, annual | No | Built-in billing and billable time | Yes / Yes |
| TimeCamp | Automatic billable-hour capture | 4.7 / 4.7 | Yes, unlimited users | $3.99/user/mo, annual | Yes | Invoicing from Starter; billable time from Premium; billable rates from Ultimate | Yes / Yes |
| Harvest | Simple time-to-invoice workflow | 4.3 / 4.6 | Yes, 1 seat and 2 projects | $9/seat/mo, annual | No | Invoicing from tracked hours and expenses | Yes / Yes |
| BigTime | Larger firms with complex billing systems | 4.5 / 4.6 | No | $20/user/mo | No | Invoicing from approved time and expenses | Yes / Yes |
| QuickBooks Time | QuickBooks Online-centered firms | 4.5 / 4.7 | No | $20 base + $10/user/mo; QBO required | No | Tracked hours feed invoicing through QuickBooks Online | QBO required / Yes |
| Toggl Track | Lightweight tracking and reporting | 4.6 / 4.7 | Yes, up to 5 users | $9/license/mo | Yes | PDF invoicing; billable rates from Starter | Yes / browser extension |
| Clockify | Budget option for small accounting firms | 4.5 / 4.8 | Yes, up to 5 users | $3.99/seat/mo, annual | Yes | Billable rates from Basic; invoicing from Standard | Yes / Xero add-on |
| Financial Cents | Workflow and task management | 4.7 / 4.8 | No | $19/mo, Solo, annual | No | Built-in invoicing and billable time | Yes / Zapier on Scale |

**Prices are shown in U.S. dollars at current public list rates**. Temporary introductory discounts aren’t included, and annual billing is marked where it applies.

Integration methods are shown directly in the table when they affect the workflow, such as Toggl Track’s browser extension, Clockify’s Xero add-on, or Financial Cents’ Zapier connection.

## Why do accountants and CPA firms need dedicated time tracking in 2o26?

[Accounting firms](https://www.timecamp.com/blog/how-accounting-firms-track-billable-hours/)
 need dedicated time tracking because unrecorded client work:

- creates revenue leakage,
- distorts engagement profitability,
- weakens the data used for future pricing.

Problems also arise **when staff reconstruct calls, emails, reviews, and short client tasks at the end of the week.**

| CPACharge recommends daily submission reminders to reduce this kind of end-of-week reconstruction. |
| --- |

Hourly and fixed-fee firms feel the impact differently.

Hourly firms can lose billable revenue when work goes unrecorded. **Fixed-fee firms still need accurate time data to know whether a $2,000 monthly bookkeeping engagement takes the 10 hours assumed in the fee or regularly consumes 16.** As you realize, without reliable records, **an engagement can become underpriced long before the next pricing review**.

Realization rate gives firms another way to measure the impact. It shows how much of the value tied to completed work ultimately turns into billed or collected revenue. Industry survey data has placed realization in the mid-80s for some firm segments, but benchmarks vary by firm size, service mix, and pricing model.

| Financial Cents places a healthy range for small and mid-sized accounting firms at roughly 85% to 95%. |
| --- |

### How much billable time do accounting firms lose to poor tracking?

| Vendor guides frequently cite estimates that firms lose 15% to 25% of billable hours because of poor time tracking. |
| --- |

Some also claim that **[time billing software](https://www.timecamp.com/time-billing-app/)
 can recover up to 25% of lost billable hours.** These figures come from time tracking vendors rather than an accounting-industry benchmark, so they are better treated as directional estimates than a universal measure for CPA firms.

Accounting-specific data gives firms a firmer reference point.

| Financial Cents’ 2024 Accounting Firms Revenue Report found average revenue of $741,166 for firms with 6 to 10 employees and $1,093,330 for firms with 11 to 20 employees. |
| --- |

Applied to those revenue figures, **a five-percentage-point realization gap represents roughly $37,000 to $55,000 in annual revenue**, illustrating how even a modest decline can materially affect a firm.

**Accurate time tracking also gives your clients clearer records of the work behind an invoice**. Detailed entries can enhance client satisfaction by making charges easier to understand and reducing room for billing disputes. Clear scopes, consistent billing rules, and useful invoice descriptions still play their part, so better time records are one piece of the client relationship.

## What to look for in time tracking software for accountants in 2026?

**The best timesheet software for accounting firms** **needs to match how firms organize and bill engagements.** When comparing billing software for accountants, look for a system that organizes hours by engagement, applies billing rules, moves approved time into invoices, and provides useful profitability data.

- **Client, engagement, and task hierarchy.** Time should be assigned to the right client, engagement, and task, especially when one client uses bookkeeping, payroll, tax, and advisory services.
- **Billable and non-billable time.** Firms need to separate chargeable work from internal tasks and apply customizable billing rates when different employees, services, or engagements are billed at different prices.
- **Invoicing and payment workflow.** Check how approved hours become invoices and whether the software can automate invoicing, support recurring work, collect payments, and track payment status. Payment processing fees also deserve attention.
- **QuickBooks Online and Xero integration.** Confirm what data syncs with the accounting system. Good integrations reduce manual data entry, duplicate work, and opportunities for human error.
- **Timesheet approvals and audit-ready records.** Approval controls help firms review time before billing, and edit history makes changes easier to trace later.
- **Automatic time capture.** Automatic or suggested entries can recover short calls, emails, and other client work that staff may forget. It can also make time management easier during tax season.
- **Profitability and realization reporting.** Reports should compare recorded time with budgets, billing, and write-downs by client or engagement. For fixed-fee work, they can expose an engagement that regularly consumes more time than its fee allows.

Ease of adoption matters too. Training should show staff how to assign time, mark billable work, submit timesheets, and move approved entries into billing. Clear, workflow-specific onboarding can improve adoption and efficiency.

## How did we evaluate these tools?

We evaluated all eight tools against the same criteria, how they:

- organize time **by client and engagement**,
- handle **billable and non-billable work**,
- support **invoicing and approvals**,
- integrate with accounting software such as **QuickBooks Online and Xero**.

We also considered automatic time capture, reporting, and the ability to see how much time and money each engagement consumes.

**Pricing and plan details were checked directly on each vendor’s website in 2026.**

**G2 and Capterra ratings were reviewed separately,** since both scores and pricing can change over time. We also tested Uku and TimeCamp hands-on, focusing on how each tool moves from recording time against an engagement to reviewing entries and preparing them for billing.

| Each tool received a scenario-specific verdict based on the accounting workflow it handles best. Match the solution to your team’s specific needs! |
| --- |

## TimeCamp: best for automatic billable-hour capture

**TimeCamp combines automatic time tracking, timesheets, reporting, and invoicing.** It suits **accounting firms where short calls, research, emails, and other billable work can disappear** from manually completed timesheets.

![a screenshot of a hero section of a timecamp website](https://www.timecamp.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/timecamp-website-hero-2-scaled.jpeg)TimeCamp focuses on automatic time tracking, capturing the billable calls, emails, and short tasks that manual timesheets tend to miss. Author’s screenshot, September 2026.

### Why TimeCamp works for accounting firms?

**Keyword-based automatic time tracking reduces the need to remember every timer switch.** In our hands-on test, it worked especially well for short tasks spread across client documents, browser-based work, and follow-ups. Reviewing captured activity gave us a useful starting point for completing time entries.

Recorded time then feeds invoices and budgets, and profitability reporting helps firms review realization or reprice fixed-fee engagements.

### Key features for accountants

- **[Automatic time tracking](https://www.timecamp.com/time-tracking/automatic-time-tracking/) and [AI Time Tracker](https://www.timecamp.com/time-tracking/ai-time-tracker/) .** Background tracking captures activity for later review, and AI Time Tracker can suggest time entries.
- **Billing and invoicing.** Firms can invoice tracked time, configure tax rates, and send invoices by email, public link, or PDF.
- **Accounting integrations.**[TimeCamp connects with QuickBooks Online](https://www.timecamp.com/integrations/quickbooks-time-tracking/) and [Xero](https://www.timecamp.com/integrations/xero-time-tracking/) , including invoice export on eligible plans.
- **Profitability and billing controls.** Premium adds [budgets and estimates](https://www.timecamp.com/time-tracking/billing/) ; Ultimate adds billable rates, fixed-fee projects, [expenses](https://www.timecamp.com/time-tracking/expenses/) , and timesheet approvals.
- **Attendance.** Attendance tracking is available from Starter alongside client and project time.

### TimeCamp Pricing

TimeCamp offers a free plan with unlimited users and projects.

- **Starter costs $3.99 per user per month** billed annually and adds invoicing.
- **Premium costs $6.99** and adds billable time tracking, budgets, estimates, and QuickBooks Online/Xero invoice export.
- **Ultimate costs $9.99** and adds billable rates, expenses, fixed-fee projects, and approval workflows for submitted time.
- **Enterprise** comes with custom pricing; contact sales to discuss details.

#### What customers are saying?

**Independent ratings:** G2: 4.7/5. Capterra: 4.7/5.

| I love that TimeCamp has apps & website tracking to automate time entries. Aisha S., Operations Manager, G2, July 28, 2026. |
| --- |

#### **Why is TimeCamp on this list for accountants?**

Automatic tracking is available on the unlimited-user free plan, and **invoicing starts at only $3.99 per user per month with annual billing**. CPA firms can therefore **start capturing missed client work without a high software cost**.

#### TimeCamp Pros & Cons

| Pros | Cons |
| --- | --- |
| Automatic time capture | Not full accounting practice management software |
| Unlimited-user free plan | Tax-return workflows, document management, and engagement stages need other systems |
| Invoicing | Billable rates and approval controls require Ultimate |
| Reporting |  |
| QuickBooks Online and Xero integrations |  |

**Best for:** Firms that want to capture billable hours automatically and reduce timesheet reconstruction.

**Not ideal if:** You need one system to run the entire accounting practice workflow.

See how top teams track profitabilityBook a short, focused call to see TimeCamp configured for your organization’s structure, approval flows, and reporting needs.

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## Uku: best for all-in-one accounting practice management

**Uku brings time tracking, billing, recurring engagements, and day-to-day accounting workflows into one system**. Accounting and bookkeeping firms can manage jobs, time entries, and invoices without piecing together separate tools.

![a screenshot of hero section of uku website](https://www.timecamp.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/uku-time-tracking-hero-screenshot-scaled.jpeg)Uku positions itself as all-in-one practice management, with time tracking and billing built for accounting and bookkeeping firms. Author’s screenshot, September 2026.

### Why Uku works for accounting firms

Uku follows the **client-and-engagement structure common in accounting work**. During our hands-on test, each time entry stayed connected to its client job and task, **keeping the context intact through billing**.

### Key features for accountants

- **Accounting-specific workflow management.** Recurring jobs, tasks, client records, and time tracking sit in the same system.
- **Time-to-invoice workflow.** Tracked hours feed billing with less manual data entry, and profitability data helps firms see how individual engagements perform against the time spent on them.
- **QuickBooks Online and Xero integrations.** Client and billing data can move between Uku and the accounting system.

### Pricing

**Uku has no ongoing free plan**, but offers a 14-day trial.

- **Solo** starts at $19 per month,
- **Team** at $38 per member,
- **Elite** at $48 per member with annual billing.

#### What are users saying?

**Independent ratings:** G2: 4.7/5. Capterra: 4.8/5.

| I really like that UKU is easy to use and very manageable day-to-day. Diana K., small-business reviewer, G2, Dec. 28, 2025. |
| --- |

#### **Why is Uku on this list for accountants?**

Uku combines recurring workflows, time tracking, and billing from $19 per month for solo firms, **covering more of the day-to-day accounting workflow** than general-purpose time trackers.

#### Uku Pros & Cons

| Pros | Cons |
| --- | --- |
| Accounting-specific workflows | Firms that only need basic time tracking and invoicing may pay for features they won’t use |
| Recurring engagements |  |
| Built-in billing |  |
| QuickBooks Online and Xero integrations |  |

**Best for:**Firms that want recurring workflows, time tracking, and billing connected in one system.

**Not ideal if:**You only need a low-cost way to track client hours.

## Harvest: best for simple invoicing tied to QuickBooks Online and Xero

Harvest combines time tracking, expense tracking, invoicing, and reporting in a simple workflow. It w**orks well for firms that want to record client hours and turn approved time entries into invoices** without adding client, task, and document management to the same system.

![hero section of harvest website for a blog post about best time tracking software for accountants](https://www.timecamp.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/harvest-website-hero-scaled.jpeg)Harvest keeps it simple: track time and expenses, then turn approved hours into client invoices. Author’s screenshot, September 2026.

### Why Harvest works for accounting firms

Tracked time and expenses can feed client billing directly, and project estimates help firms compare actual hours with planned work. QuickBooks Online and Xero integrations can copy invoices and payments into the firm’s accounting software, reducing manual entry.

### Key features for accountants

- **Time, expenses, and invoicing.** Billable hours and reimbursable expenses can move directly into client invoices.
- **Project estimates and reporting.** Firms can compare recorded time with expected hours and monitor work approaching its budget.
- **QuickBooks Online and Xero sync.** Harvest can copy invoices and payments into both systems, simplifying payment tracking.

### Pricing

**Harvest Free supports one seat and two projects.**

- **Teams starts at $9 per seat per month** with annual billing and adds unlimited seats plus accounting and payment integrations.
- **Enterprise starts at $14 per seat per month** annually and adds profitability reporting, approval of submitted hours, and an activity log.
- **Enterprise Plus** with custom pricing.

Both are billed under two models: **Flex** (including usage-based fees) or **Ultimate**.

→ Read more about the **2026 [changes in Harvest pricing](https://www.timecamp.com/blog/harvest-pricing/)
.**

#### What are customers saying?

**Independent ratings:** G2: 4.3/5. Capterra: 4.6/5.

| Harvest is easy to use, has a very simple UI, and performs very well. Frank C., CIO, G2, May 22, 2026. |
| --- |

#### **Why is Harvest on this list for accountants?**

**Harvest** Teams starts at $9 per seat per month (annually) and **combines time and billing software with invoicing plus QuickBooks Online and Xero integrations**.

#### Harvest Pros & Cons

| Pros | Cons |
| --- | --- |
| Straightforward user interface | No background automatic capture like TimeCamp or Toggl Track |
| Built-in invoicing and expense tracking | Profitability reporting and timesheet approvals require Enterprise |
| QuickBooks Online and Xero integrations | Raw time entries don’t sync directly to QuickBooks Online |

**Best for:** Firms that want a simple route from tracked time to client invoicing.

**Not ideal if:** Automatic capture or accounting-specific client and engagement workflows are a priority.

**Compare [TimeCamp vs Harvest](https://www.timecamp.com/blog/timecamp-vs-harvest/)**

## BigTime: best for larger firms with complex billing

BigTime is a professional services automation software solution for larger CPA and professional services firms. It combines project management, time and expense tracking, invoicing, approvals, and financial reporting for teams with more complex billing requirements.

![a screenshot of hero section of bigtime software website](https://www.timecamp.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/bigtime-time-tracking-hero-screenshot-scaled.jpeg)BigTime is built as professional services automation for larger firms that need custom rates, budgets, and multi-level approvals.

### Why BigTime works for accounting firms

Approved time and expenses can flow into billing with custom rates, project budgets, and multi-level approvals. Two-way integrations with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Xero, and Sage Intacct reduce duplicate data entry between BigTime and the firm’s financial records.

### Key features for accountants

- **Time and expense management.** Staff can record client work and expenses against projects before billing.
- **Flexible billing controls.** BigTime supports custom rates, fixed-fee and recurring invoicing, project budgets, multi-level approvals, and reporting that gives firms a traceable record of billing activity.
- **Accounting-system sync.** BigTime supports two-way connections with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Xero, and Sage Intacct.

### Pricing

**BigTime has no free plan.**

- **Essentials** starts at $20 per user per month and includes time tracking, expenses, invoicing, payments, and QuickBooks integration.
- **Advanced** and **Premier** add deeper reporting, budgeting, and approval controls.

#### What are customers saying?

**Independent ratings:** G2: 4.5/5. Capterra: 4.6/5.

| I like that BigTime is accessible from anywhere, so I can record my time wherever I happen to be working. Denise M., Owner, G2, July 31, 2026. |
| --- |

#### Why is BigTime on this list for accountants?

Starting at $20 per user, **BigTime combines time, expenses, client billing, payments, and accounting integration** with deeper project management tools as firms grow.

#### **BigTime Pros & Cons**

| Pros | Cons |
| --- | --- |
| Flexible billing | The broader PSA feature set can be excessive for small firms that mainly need to record client hours |
| Expense management |  |
| Project budgets |  |
| Approvals |  |
| Broad accounting integrations |  |

**Best for:** Larger firms with complex billing and project-accounting requirements.

**Not ideal if:** Your practice needs a lightweight tracker with minimal setup.

## QuickBooks Time: best for QuickBooks Online-centered firms

**QuickBooks Time suits firms already using QuickBooks Online and related payroll software**. Teams can track billable hours and move approved time into accounting, payroll, and invoicing workflows inside the Intuit ecosystem.

![a screenshot of hero section of quickbooks time subpage](https://www.timecamp.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/quickbooks-time-tracking-hero-screenshot-scaled.jpeg)QuickBooks Time lives inside the Intuit ecosystem, where tracked hours feed accounting, payroll, and invoicing directly. Author’s screenshot, September 2026.

### Why QuickBooks Time works for accounting firms?

Direct combination of **QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Time** reduces re-entry before payroll or invoicing. Time Elite also compares project estimates with actual hours, helping firms see when an engagement consumes more time than planned.

### Key features for accountants

- **QuickBooks Online workflow.** Time data can feed accounting, payroll, and invoicing.
- **Project time tracking.** Firms can review recorded hours and job costs by project.
- **Estimates versus actuals.** Time Elite compares budgeted and recorded hours for project-level cost control.

### Pricing

QuickBooks Time has**no ongoing free plan.**

- **Time Premium costs $20 per month plus $10 per user**, with one administrator included.
- **Time Elite costs $40 per month plus $12 per user**.

An **active QuickBooks Online subscription is required.**

#### What are customers saying?

**Independent ratings:** G2: 4.5/5. Capterra: 4.7/5.

| Everything flows directly into payroll and accounting. Becky F., Customer Service Representative, G2, April 30, 2026. |
| --- |

#### **Why is QuickBooks Time on this list for accountants?**

QuickBooks Time keeps time data close to the billing, accounting, and payroll processes **of firms already using QuickBooks Online**.

#### QuickBooks Time Pros & Cons

| Pros | Cons |
| --- | --- |
| Direct QuickBooks Online workflow | Base fee plus per-user fees plus a required QuickBooks Online subscription |
| Project tracking | Doesn’t manage recurring accounting workflows, client documents, or engagement stages |
| Payroll and invoicing sync |  |

**Best for:**Firms already committed to QuickBooks Online.

**Not ideal if:**You don’t use QuickBooks Online or need client and engagement workflows in the same system.

**Compare [TimeCamp vs QuickBooks Time](https://www.timecamp.com/blog/timecamp-vs-quickbooks-time/)**

## Toggl Track: best for lightweight tracking and reporting

Toggl Track is a lightweight time tracking solution with timers, manual entries, automated activity capture, and reporting. It works well for accounting teams that want flexible time entry without a broader practice management system.

![a screenshot of hero section of toggl website](https://www.timecamp.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/toggl-hero-screenshot-scaled.jpeg)Toggl Track focuses on fast, flexible time tracking and clear reporting, without a full practice management layer. Author’s screenshot, September 2026.

### Why Toggl Track works for accounting firms?

Automated tracking can capture background activity for later conversion into time entries, which helps when work is split across multiple clients. Starter adds billable rates and project estimates for basic billing and budget control.

### Key features for accountants

- **Flexible time capture.** Timer, manual, calendar-based, and automated tracking support different working habits.
- **Billable rates and budget alerts.** Starter adds billing rates, project estimates, and alerts.
- **Reporting and integrations.** Toggl Track offers a native QuickBooks Online invoice integration; Xero is available through the browser extension.

### Pricing

Toggl Track is free for up to five users.

- **Starter costs $9 per license per month** and adds billable rates, project estimates, alerts, and revenue reporting.
- **Premium starts at $14 per license per month** for the first annual term and adds profitability analysis, fixed-fee projects, and approval of submitted time.

#### What are customers saying?

**Independent ratings:** G2: 4.6/5. Capterra: 4.7/5.

| The reports are strong as well, giving you a clear, visual view of where your time is going. Mariana V., Marketing, G2, April 16, 2026. |
| --- |

#### **Why is Toggl Track on this list for accountants?**

Free access for up to five users and **$9-per-user Starter pricing make Toggl Track an accessible option for small firms** **that need accurate tracking**, billable rates, and reporting.

#### **Toggl Track Pros & Cons**

| Pros | Cons |
| --- | --- |
| Flexible time entry | Accounting workflows are lighter than Uku or Financial Cents |
| Automatic capture | Xero integration isn’t as deep as QuickBooks Online |
| Clear reports |  |
| Useful billing controls |  |

**Best for:** Teams that want lightweight time tracking and reporting.

**Not ideal if:** You need accounting-specific workflow management or deeper client billing controls.

**Compare [TimeCamp vs Toggl Track](https://www.timecamp.com/blog/timecamp-vs-toggl/)**

## Clockify: best budget option for small accounting teams

Clockify offers broad time tracking functionality at a low entry price. Its free plan covers up to five users, making it a practical choice for small accounting teams that want to start with basic tracking and add billing controls later.

![a screenshot of a hero section of Clockify website](https://www.timecamp.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/clockify-website-hero-scaled.jpeg)Clockify offers broad time tracking for free, with billing controls a small firm can add on paid plans later. Author’s screenshot, September 2026.

### Why Clockify works for accounting firms?

Auto Tracker records app and website activity for later conversion into time entries, helping staff fill gaps left by manual tracking. Paid plans add billable rates, recurring invoices, approvals, expenses, and project budgets.

### Key features for accountants

- **Multiple ways to track time.** Timer, timesheets, Auto Tracker, calendar, mobile, and offline tracking cover different work settings. For accounting professionals working at client locations, mobile and offline access can be crucial for on-site audits when a reliable connection isn’t available.
- **Billing workflow.** Basic adds billable rates; Standard adds invoicing, recurring invoices, timesheet approvals, and QuickBooks Online integration.
- **Profitability controls.** Pro adds expense tracking, budgets, estimates, labor costs, forecasting, and budget alerts.

### Pricing

Clockify Free **supports up to five users.**

- Basic starts at $3.99 per seat per month billed annually,
- Standard at $5.49, Pro at $7.99, and includes invoicing and approval of submitted time.
- Enterprise at $11.99.

#### What are customers saying?

**Independent ratings:** G2: 4.5/5. Capterra: 4.8/5.

| I use Clockify for tracking task hours to bill clients and find it incredibly easy to use. Varun R., G2, April 29, 2026. |
| --- |

#### **Why is Clockify on this list for accountants?**

Basic already includes billable rates at $3.99 per user per month annually, and Standard adds invoicing, recurring invoices, approvals, and QuickBooks Online integration at a relatively low price.

#### Clockify Pros & Cons

| Pros | Cons |
| --- | --- |
| Low starting price | Billing features are spread across several plans |
| Useful free plan | Lacks accounting-specific client engagement and practice management workflows |
| Automatic activity capture |  |
| Flexible paid tiers |  |

**Best for:** Small teams that want affordable time tracking with room to add billing features.

**Not ideal if:** You want accounting workflow, client management, and time and billing in one specialized system.

**Compare [TimeCamp vs Clockify](https://www.timecamp.com/blog/timecamp-vs-clockify/)**

## Financial Cents: best for combining accounting workflow and time tracking

**Financial Cents brings client workflows, time tracking, and billing together** for accounting, bookkeeping, and tax firms. Recurring engagements, tasks, documents, and invoices can all be managed in the same system.

![a screenshot of hero section of financial cents website](https://www.timecamp.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/financial-cents-hero-screenshot-scaled.jpeg)Financial Cents is built around accounting workflows, bringing recurring engagements, client work, and time tracking together. Author’s screenshots, September 2026.

### Why Financial Cents works for accounting firms?

Recurring workflows organize bookkeeping, payroll, tax, and other repeatable engagements. Time entries connect with invoicing and budgets, reducing the need to move billing data between separate business systems. QuickBooks Online integration keeps invoices and accounting records connected.

### Key features for accountants

- **Practice and client management.** Workflow automation, client requests, a portal, CRM, and document management cover work beyond timesheets.
- **Time tracking and billing.** Firms can track client work, create invoices, and automate recurring billing.
- **Accounting integrations.** Invoices and payments can sync with QuickBooks Online; Xero is available through Zapier on Scale.

### Pricing

Financial Cents has no permanent free plan, but offers a 14-day trial.

- **Solo costs $19 per month** with annual billing for one user,
- **Team**costs **$49 per user,**and**Scale costs $69 per user per month**.

#### What are customers saying?

**Independent ratings:** G2: 4.7/5. Capterra: 4.8/5.

| Financial Cents is, by far, the best practice management software I’ve used for a small accounting/bookkeeping firm. Stephen L., Bookkeeper, G2, May 4, 2026. |
| --- |

#### **Why is Financial Cents on this list for accountants?**

Financial Cents combines time and billing with recurring workflows, client communication, documents, and QuickBooks Online, making it a strong accounting-specific alternative to Uku.

#### **Financial Cents Pros & Cons**

| Pros | Cons |
| --- | --- |
| Accounting-specific workflows | Multi-user pricing starts at $49 per user per month annually |
| Recurring work, client portal, document management | Profitability reports and the Zapier route to Xero require Scale |
| Time tracking and billing |  |
| QuickBooks Online integration |  |

**Best for:** CPA firms that want accounting workflows and time tracking connected in one system.

**Not ideal if:**You need a low-cost multi-user tracker or a native Xero integration.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the best free time tracking app for accountants?

TimeCamp offers the broadest free team plan in this comparison, with unlimited users and projects. Harvest Free supports one user and two projects; Toggl Track and Clockify support up to five users. Paid plans are needed for features such as advanced billing, approvals, or profitability reporting.

### Which time trackers integrate with QuickBooks Online and Xero?

Uku, TimeCamp, Harvest, BigTime, and Clockify connect with both QuickBooks Online and Xero. Toggl Track connects natively to QuickBooks Online and supports Xero through its browser extension; Financial Cents connects directly to QuickBooks Online and reaches Xero through Zapier. QuickBooks Time requires an active QuickBooks Online subscription.

### What time tracking software works best for bookkeepers?

Uku and Financial Cents work well for bookkeepers who want recurring workflows, client management, time tracking, and billing in one system. TimeCamp is a better choice when those workflows already exist, and the main need is automated capture of billable activity that might otherwise go unrecorded.

### How does time tracking improve a firm’s realization rate?

Accurate time tracking exposes missed billable hours, write-downs, scope creep, and fixed-fee engagements that consume too much time. It doesn’t fix realization by itself, but it gives firms better data for pricing and billing decisions; Financial Cents places a healthy range for small and mid-sized firms at roughly 85% to 95%.

### Does hourly vs. fixed-fee billing change which tool you need?

Yes. Hourly firms need accurate time records, flexible rates, and a clear route from approved hours to invoices. Fixed-fee firms benefit more from project budgets and profitability reporting that show when an engagement is consuming more time than planned.

### Is employee monitoring necessary for accounting firms?

No. Accurate billing doesn’t require continuous employee monitoring. Client and engagement coding, automated time capture, approvals, and regular review provide the data most firms need; TimeCamp screenshots are optional, off by default, and controlled by the administrator.

## Which time tracking tool should your CPA firm choose?

Choose **Uku** or **Financial Cents** if recurring engagements, tasks, documents, and billing need to stay in one workflow. **TimeCamp** makes more sense when the priority is automatic capture of work that might otherwise go unrecorded, and **Harvest** offers a straightforward route from recorded hours to invoices.

**BigTime** is aimed at larger firms with complex rates, budgets, and approval requirements. **QuickBooks Time** is the logical option for teams already centered on QuickBooks Online. **Toggl Track** and **Clockify** are good choices for firms that want flexible tracking and reporting without adding a specialized accounting workflow platform.

##### Automate time capture

And reclaim 30% of billable time thanks to timely submissions with TimeCamp.

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**Sources:**

financial-cents.com/resources/articles/realization-rate-for-accounting-firms  
 cpacharge.com/resources/  
 TimeCamp: https://www.timecamp.com/pricing/   
 Uku: https://getuku.com/pricing/   
 Harvest: https://www.getharvest.com/pricing   
 BigTime: https://www.bigtime.net/pricing/   
 QuickBooks Time: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/time-tracking/pricing/   
 Toggl Track: https://toggl.com/track/pricing/   
 Clockify: https://clockify.me/pricing   
 Financial Cents: https://financial-cents.com/pricing/  
 g2.com/products/timecamp/reviews/timecamp-review-13178931  
 g2.com/products/uku/reviews/uku-review-11923831  
 g2.com/products/harvest/reviews/harvest-review-12862022  
 g2.com/products/bigtime/reviews/bigtime-review-13191689  
 g2.com/products/quickbooks-time/reviews/quickbooks-time-review-12642173  
 g2.com/products/toggl/reviews/toggl-review-12640228  
 g2.com/products/clockify/reviews/clockify-review-12714736  
 g2.com/products/financial-cents/reviews  
 g2.com/products/financial-cents/reviews/financial-cents-review-12747009

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**Wojciech Piwowarski**Wojciech Piwowarski is an author covering time tracking, business operations, and productivity. He specializes in turning complex topics such as workflow efficiency, profitability, and performance measurement into clear, practical insights. His experience comes from years of working with SaaS, B2B, and operational content built for decision-makers and professional teams. His work focuses on the role time data plays in better processes, sharper decisions, and stronger business performance.

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