🧾 Best Time Tracking Software for Accounting Firms in 2025
Efficient time tracking is critical for accounting firms juggling multiple clients, billing cycles, and compliance requirements. Whether you’re a solo CPA or managing a large accounting practice, using time tracking software for accounting firms can help you:
- Monitor billable hours accurately
- Streamline client invoicing
- Improve productivity and profitability
- Maintain regulatory compliance
In this guide, we’ll compare the top time tracking tools for accountants and show you how they support workflows unique to accounting and tax professionals.
📌 Why Do Accounting Firms Need Time Tracking Software?
Accounting firms operate on hourly billing, retainer contracts, or fixed-fee engagements. Without precise time tracking, you:
- Risk underbilling or overbilling clients
- Lack visibility into team productivity
- Can’t measure profit margins per client or service
- Face challenges in justifying billed hours during audits
A good accounting time tracking software solves these problems while saving your team time.
✅ Key Features to Look For
| ⚙️ Feature | 💡 Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Billable Hour Tracking | Log time by client, task, or service to ensure precise billing and project accountability. |
| Integration with Accounting Tools | Sync with QuickBooks, Xero, or FreshBooks to eliminate double entry and speed up reporting. |
| Invoicing | Generate accurate invoices directly from your timesheet data with minimal effort. |
| Team Management | Assign work, monitor timesheets, and track utilization across your team in real time. |
| Audit Trail | Maintain a reliable, time-stamped record of all tracked activity for compliance checks. |
| Mobile & Desktop Apps | Track time on the go or from your workstation—perfect for remote and hybrid teams. |
🏆 Top Time Tracking Tools for Accountants
Everhour– Best for small to mid-sized accounting teams
- Built-in time tracker + seamless integrations (QuickBooks, Xero, Asana)
- Custom reporting and tags by client or task
- Visual dashboards for workload, billability, and project budgeting
Harvest– Best for solo CPAs and consultants
- Simple time tracking with invoice generation
- Integrates with major accounting platforms
- Expense tracking for client reimbursements
Toggl Track– Best for firms focused on productivity insights
- Easy-to-use UI and browser-based timers
- Ideal for tracking billable vs. non-billable hours
- Powerful project and profitability analytics
Clockify– Best free option
- Unlimited users on free plan
- Tracks time by project, task, and client
- Timesheet approvals and role-based access
⚖️ Comparison Table
| 💻 Software | 🎯 Best For | 🆓 Free Plan | 🧾 Invoicing | 📊 Accounting Integrations | 💰 Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everhour | Small & mid-sized firms | Free plan | Built-in invoicing tools | Direct integration with QuickBooks and Xero | $8.50/user/month |
| Harvest | Solo CPAs | Yes, limited features | Professional invoicing capabilities | Compatible with major accounting tools | $11/user/month |
| Toggl Track | Productivity-focused firms | Yes, generous free tier | Supports invoice creation | Integrates via Zapier | $9/user/month |
| Clockify | Budget-conscious teams | Yes, fully free tier available | Available with paid plans | Native integrations with major platforms | Free, $3.99+/user/month for premium features |
🔍 Real-World Use Cases
| 💻 Software | 🎯 Best For | 🆓 Free Plan | 🧾 Invoicing | 📊 Accounting Integrations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everhour | Small & mid-sized firms | No | Yes | QuickBooks, Xero |
| Harvest | Solo CPAs | Yes | Yes | QuickBooks, Xero, more |
| Toggl Track | Productivity-focused firms | Yes | Yes | Via Zapier |
| Clockify | Budget-conscious teams | Yes | Yes (paid) | QuickBooks, Xero, others |
🧠 Final Thoughts
Choosing the right time tracking software for your accounting firm depends on your team size, billing structure, and software stack. Tools like Everhour or Harvest offer full integration with accounting platforms, while Toggl or Clockify are better for firms focused on insights and affordability.
To wrap up, selecting the right time tracking software is crucial for accounting firms to improve productivity, ensure accurate billing, and streamline operations. With features like seamless integrations, invoicing, and real-time tracking, tools like Everhour can help simplify your workflow and enhance team collaboration. Whether you’re managing billable hours or generating reports, Everhour offers a user-friendly solution that integrates directly with QuickBooks and Xero, making it a top choice for small to mid-sized firms.
And for a bit more levity, check out our taxes and accounting memes article!
Maria
A dedicated content enthusiast with extensive experience in international teams and projects of all sizes. Maria thrives on creativity and attention to detail, fueled by a love for fantasy novels, music, classic black-and-white films, and always finding ways to make things better.