Event crews bill by the hour, venues charge by the hour, and a planner who guesses either number loses money on both sides. The best time tracking software for event planners below was ranked on price, crew fit and reporting, so the pick at the end is a working choice rather than a guess.
Every tool in this guide was judged on what it does for event planners, not on how long its feature list runs. Price matters, but so does the time it takes to learn the time tracking software, and both are weighed in the notes that follow.
Use the table to narrow the field to two or three names, then test those time tracking software options on one real job before paying. The rest of this guide walks through the costs, the mistakes to avoid, and the first week with a new time tracking software.
Quick jump
- Best Time Tracking Software For Event Planners Compared Side by Side
- What Time Tracking Software Costs Event Planners in 2026
- The 15 Time Tracking Tools, One by One
- Best Pick by Job
- How to Choose the Right Time Tracking Software for Event Planners
- Time Tracking Mistakes That Cost Event Planners Time and Money
- Your First Week With a New Time Tracking Tool
- How to Keep Time Tracking Costs Down for Event Planners
- How We Verified Every Time Tracking Software Price
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Habits That Keep Your Time Tracking Working for Event Planners
- The Time Tracking Software Most Event Planners Should Pick
Best Time Tracking Software For Event Planners Compared Side by Side
The table below puts the best time tracking software for event planners side by side, so the trade-offs are visible before any single review is read. Price, free tier and best fit sit in one row per time tracking software, which makes the shortlist easy to narrow for event planners.
The table is the fastest route to a shortlist of two or three time tracking software options. Pick the rows that match your budget and your workload, then read those time tracking software reviews in full before testing anything.
| Tool | Best for | Free tier | Paid from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toggl Track | simple timer-based tracking for event crews | Free plan for up to 5 users | $10 a month per user on annual billing |
| Clockify | unlimited free tracking for large event teams | Free plan with unlimited users and projects | $3.99 a month per user on annual billing |
| Harvest | time tracking tied to event invoicing | Free plan for 1 user and 2 projects | See the vendor site for current pricing |
| Hubstaff | GPS and activity tracking for on-site event staff | Free trial with no free plan | Paid plans on the vendor website |
| Time Doctor | productivity reporting across event teams | Free trial with no free plan | Vendor site lists current paid plans |
| RescueTime | automatic tracking of planning work | Free plan with basic automatic tracking | Paid plans published on the vendor site |
| Everhour | tracking inside Asana and Trello boards | Free plan for up to 5 users | Paid plans listed on the vendor site |
| Timely | automatic timesheets for busy event planners | Free trial with no free plan | Paid tiers on the vendor site |
| TrackingTime | visual timelines for multi-event planners | Free plan for up to 3 users | See the vendor site for current pricing |
| Paymo | time tracking plus event project budgets | Free plan for up to 3 users | Paid plans on the vendor website |
| Tick | simple budget tracking per event | Free plan for 1 project | Vendor site lists current paid plans |
| DeskTime | office-based event planning teams | Free trial with no free plan | Paid plans published on the vendor site |
| Monitask | small event teams on a tight budget | Free trial with no free plan | Paid plans listed on the vendor site |
| actiTIME | leave and overtime tracking for event crews | Free plan for up to 3 users | Paid tiers on the vendor site |
| TimeCamp | automatic tracking with invoicing for event agencies | Free plan for unlimited users | See the vendor site for current pricing |
What Time Tracking Software Costs Event Planners in 2026
The best time tracking software for event planners in this guide span free plans, modest subscriptions and per-piece pricing, so the yearly bill depends on how often the tool is used rather than on the headline price alone. Event planners who use the time tracking software weekly pay a different total from those who open it once a month.
Free tiers cover real time tracking software work in most of these tools, but the caps are the hidden cost, because a watermark or an export limit can force a paid plan at the worst moment. Check what the free tier of a time tracking software actually allows before building a workflow on it.
Budget for the time tracking software and for the time it takes to learn it, because an hour of learning is an hour away from the job. A time tracking software that is quick to learn often costs less in total than a cheaper one that needs a weekend of setup.
The 15 Time Tracking Tools, One by One
The 15 time tracking software options below are reviewed in the same order as the table, with what each one does, what it costs, and where it falls short for event planners. The best time tracking software for event planners list starts with the strongest all-round pick.
1. Toggl Track. Best for simple timer-based tracking for event crews
Toggl Track runs a one-click timer that event staff can start from a phone, a browser, or a desktop app without a training session. Toggl Track suits event planners who need simple timer-based tracking for event crews, and the first setup takes minutes rather than an afternoon.
The free plan for up to 5 users from Toggl Track covers a first real time tracking software job. Paid starts at $10 a month per user on annual billing for time tracking software work.
The free plan caps reporting depth, so a planner who needs client-ready breakdowns by venue will hit the ceiling fast. Run one real job through Toggl Track before committing, and see whether the limit actually bites.
2. Clockify. Best for unlimited free tracking for large event teams
Clockify lets an event planner track unlimited projects and team members on the free plan, which suits festivals with rotating crews. For event planners who need unlimited free tracking for large event teams, Clockify keeps the daily workflow short and the results easy to read.
Starting on the free plan with unlimited users and projects from Clockify shows event planners what it does well. Paid starts at $3.99 a month per user on annual billing for time tracking software work.
Advanced scheduling and approval workflows sit behind paid tiers, so a planner who needs sign-off chains must pay. For event planners who lean on Clockify every week, check that limit before paying.
3. Harvest. Best for time tracking tied to event invoicing
Harvest pairs time entries with invoices, so an event planner can turn crew hours into a client bill without exporting to another app. Event planners who need time tracking tied to event invoicing will find Harvest quick to learn, with the main controls visible from the start.
With the free plan for 1 user and 2 projects from Harvest, event planners can run a genuine time tracking software job before spending. Harvest lists paid plans on the vendor site, so confirm the price before you pay for time tracking software work.
The free plan allows only one user and two projects, which rules it out for a planner running several events at once. Harvest still earns its place for event planners who need time tracking tied to event invoicing.
4. Hubstaff. Best for GPS and activity tracking for on-site event staff
Hubstaff records GPS locations and activity levels, which helps an event planner confirm that floor staff were at the venue when they said they were. Hubstaff suits event planners who need GPS and activity tracking for on-site event staff, and the first setup takes minutes rather than an afternoon.
The free trial with no free plan from Hubstaff covers a first real time tracking software job. Hubstaff lists paid plans on the vendor site, so confirm the price before you pay for time tracking software work.
Staff can see the monitoring as intrusive, so a planner needs a clear policy before switching it on. Run one real job through Hubstaff before committing, and see whether the limit actually bites.
5. Time Doctor. Best for productivity reporting across event teams
Time Doctor reports on apps and websites used during tracked hours, which gives an event planner a clear view of where preparation time goes. For event planners who need productivity reporting across event teams, Time Doctor keeps the daily workflow short and the results easy to read.
Starting on the free trial with no free plan from Time Doctor shows event planners what it does well. Time Doctor lists paid plans on the vendor site, so confirm the price before you pay for time tracking software work.
The monitoring depth can feel heavy for short-term event crews, so it fits permanent teams better than weekend staff. For event planners who lean on Time Doctor every week, check that limit before paying.
6. RescueTime. Best for automatic tracking of planning work
RescueTime runs in the background and sorts planning work automatically, so an event planner gets a time log without starting a timer. Event planners who need automatic tracking of planning work will find RescueTime quick to learn, with the main controls visible from the start.
With the free plan with basic automatic tracking from RescueTime, event planners can run a genuine time tracking software job before spending. RescueTime lists paid plans on the vendor site, so confirm the price before you pay for time tracking software work.
It tracks computer work only, so hours spent on venue walkthroughs and supplier calls never appear. RescueTime still earns its place for event planners who need automatic tracking of planning work.
7. Everhour. Best for tracking inside Asana and Trello boards
Everhour lives inside Asana, Trello, and similar boards, so an event planner tracks time on the same task list the team already uses. Everhour suits event planners who need tracking inside Asana and Trello boards, and the first setup takes minutes rather than an afternoon.
The free plan for up to 5 users from Everhour covers a first real time tracking software job. Everhour lists paid plans on the vendor site, so confirm the price before you pay for time tracking software work.
Its value drops sharply for planners who do not run their events in one of its supported project tools. Run one real job through Everhour before committing, and see whether the limit actually bites.
8. Timely. Best for automatic timesheets for busy event planners
Timely builds draft timesheets from calendars, emails, and app use, so an event planner reviews hours instead of typing them in. For event planners who need automatic timesheets for busy event planners, Timely keeps the daily workflow short and the results easy to read.
Starting on the free trial with no free plan from Timely shows event planners what it does well. Timely lists paid plans on the vendor site, so confirm the price before you pay for time tracking software work.
The automatic drafts need a weekly review, because a mislabelled meeting can quietly inflate a client invoice. For event planners who lean on Timely every week, check that limit before paying.
9. TrackingTime. Best for visual timelines for multi-event planners
TrackingTime shows each event as a visual timeline, which helps a planner see overlapping deadlines across several clients at a glance. Event planners who need visual timelines for multi-event planners will find TrackingTime quick to learn, with the main controls visible from the start.
With the free plan for up to 3 users from TrackingTime, event planners can run a genuine time tracking software job before spending. TrackingTime lists paid plans on the vendor site, so confirm the price before you pay for time tracking software work.
The free plan covers only three users, so a larger crew pushes a planner onto a paid tier quickly. TrackingTime still earns its place for event planners who need visual timelines for multi-event planners.
10. Paymo. Best for time tracking plus event project budgets
Paymo combines time tracking, task lists, and invoicing, so an event planner manages a whole event budget from one screen. Paymo suits event planners who need time tracking plus event project budgets, and the first setup takes minutes rather than an afternoon.
The free plan for up to 3 users from Paymo covers a first real time tracking software job. Paymo lists paid plans on the vendor site, so confirm the price before you pay for time tracking software work.
The interface carries more menus than a pure timer, so a planner who wants only tracking may find it heavy. Run one real job through Paymo before committing, and see whether the limit actually bites.
11. Tick. Best for simple budget tracking per event
Tick keeps the focus on hours against a budget, so an event planner sees at a glance whether a wedding or a conference is still inside its planned hours. For event planners who need simple budget tracking per event, Tick keeps the daily workflow short and the results easy to read.
Starting on the free plan for 1 project from Tick shows event planners what it does well. Tick lists paid plans on the vendor site, so confirm the price before you pay for time tracking software work.
The free plan allows a single project, which means a planner with several live events needs a paid tier. For event planners who lean on Tick every week, check that limit before paying.
12. DeskTime. Best for office-based event planning teams
DeskTime tracks application use and idle time for office teams, which suits event planners who do most preparation at a desk. Event planners who need office-based event planning teams will find DeskTime quick to learn, with the main controls visible from the start.
With the free trial with no free plan from DeskTime, event planners can run a genuine time tracking software job before spending. DeskTime lists paid plans on the vendor site, so confirm the price before you pay for time tracking software work.
It is built for office computers, so it adds little for planners who spend event days on their feet. DeskTime still earns its place for event planners who need office-based event planning teams.
13. Monitask. Best for small event teams on a tight budget
Monitask offers screenshots, activity levels, and timesheets at a low price, which appeals to small event teams watching every cost. Monitask suits event planners who need small event teams on a tight budget, and the first setup takes minutes rather than an afternoon.
The free trial with no free plan from Monitask covers a first real time tracking software job. Monitask lists paid plans on the vendor site, so confirm the price before you pay for time tracking software work.
The reporting is simpler than bigger rivals, so a planner who needs client-ready reports may outgrow it. Run one real job through Monitask before committing, and see whether the limit actually bites.
14. actiTIME. Best for leave and overtime tracking for event crews
actiTIME tracks hours, leave, and overtime together, so an event planner can staff a weekend event without double-booking tired crew. For event planners who need leave and overtime tracking for event crews, actiTIME keeps the daily workflow short and the results easy to read.
Starting on the free plan for up to 3 users from actiTIME shows event planners what it does well. actiTIME lists paid plans on the vendor site, so confirm the price before you pay for time tracking software work.
The design looks dated next to newer tools, and new users need a day to find their way around. For event planners who lean on actiTIME every week, check that limit before paying.
15. TimeCamp. Best for automatic tracking with invoicing for event agencies
TimeCamp tracks time automatically and turns it into invoices, which suits event agencies that bill many clients for planning hours. Event planners who need automatic tracking with invoicing for event agencies will find TimeCamp quick to learn, with the main controls visible from the start.
With the free plan for unlimited users from TimeCamp, event planners can run a genuine time tracking software job before spending. TimeCamp lists paid plans on the vendor site, so confirm the price before you pay for time tracking software work.
The automatic capture needs cleanup, because a venue visit logged as desk work can confuse a client report. TimeCamp still earns its place for event planners who need automatic tracking with invoicing for event agencies.
Best Pick by Job
The table below matches the pick to the job, so event planners can find their own situation and see the time tracking software that fits it. The reasons here are short, because the time tracking software reviews above already carry the full argument.
| Job / Need | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Event planners starting out | Toggl Track | It handles simple timer-based tracking cleanly and the free tier covers a first event. |
| Event planners on a tight budget | Clockify | It keeps unlimited free tracking simple, so the work gets done without a learning curve. |
| Event planners who need speed | Timely | It suits automatic timesheets best on price, ease and output together. |
| Event planners with a team to coordinate | Harvest | It covers invoicing beside tracking with the least setup of the tools in this guide. |
| Event planners who want the best reporting | Hubstaff | It makes on-site staff hours fast enough to verify in a busy event week. |
| Event planners ready to pay for quality | Paymo | It pairs budgets with tracking and exports that are ready to share at once. |
How to Choose the Right Time Tracking Software for Event Planners
Count the real workload first. The time tracking software decision starts with the job, not the feature list, because a time tracking software that fits one of the event planners may frustrate another. Write down the three tasks the time tracking software must handle every week, then check each candidate against that list before opening a pricing page.
Weigh the yearly cost, not the monthly headline. A time tracking software bought for its longest feature list often slows the day, while one bought for the single task that matters most pays for itself fast. Pick the time tracking software that does your main job cleanly and ignore the rest of the list.
Ask who else will use it. A time tracking software that exports in the format your clients need saves an hour a week, while one that exports in a format nobody accepts costs that hour back. Check the export list for the time tracking software before the price list.
Test the free tier on real work. A time tracking software that exports work cleanly lets event planners move later without losing anything, while one that locks the work in is a trap whatever the price promises. Ask how the work leaves the time tracking software before asking how it enters.
Time Tracking Mistakes That Cost Event Planners Time and Money
The best time tracking software for event planners choice fails most often when event planners buy before testing, because the paid tier locks in a tool that the free tier would have exposed as wrong. Pay only when a limit that actually bites blocks real time tracking software work, and cancel at once if the time tracking software is not used in the first month.
A second error is picking a time tracking software for its longest feature list rather than its fit for the daily job. Event planners who need one task done well should choose the time tracking software that does that task cleanly, because a long list of unused features is a cost, not a benefit, and it slows every working day.
A third error is ignoring the licence or the export rules of a time tracking software. Event planners who build a whole workflow on a time tracking software that cannot export the work discover the problem at the worst moment, when a client or a deadline needs the files. Read the export and licence terms for the time tracking software before the first real project depends on them.
Your First Week With a New Time Tracking Tool
The time tracking software decision proves itself in the first week on one real job, so pick a single task and run it from signup to finish. A time tracking software that survives a real deadline is worth keeping, and one that only works in a demo will show its limits quickly.
Keep the first project small and honest, because a small test reveals the setup time, the learning curve and the export quality of the time tracking software in one pass. Event planners who test small can switch to another time tracking software without losing a week of work, while a big first project makes switching painful.
At the end of the week, decide whether the paid tier of the time tracking software is needed at all. If the free plan covered the time tracking software work, keep the money, and if a limit blocked a real task, pay for one month and reassess before renewing.
How to Keep Time Tracking Costs Down for Event Planners
The time tracking software bill stays small when event planners treat the tool as something to earn its keep, not a subscription to collect. Most readers of this guide can run the time tracking software work on a free plan for months, and the tips below keep the paid bill low when the time to pay finally comes.
Event planners should use the free tier of Toggl Track until a limit bites. Event planners who pay on day one often pay for capacity that is never used, so keep the time tracking software free until a real limit blocks a real job.
Event planners should pay monthly for Clockify before paying yearly. A yearly plan looks cheaper per month, but it is a gamble before the tool has earned a place in the routine, so switch to yearly only when the time tracking software has proved itself on real work.
Run one time tracking software, not three. Event planners who collect subscriptions for the same job pay three times for one result, so pick the strongest time tracking software and cancel the rest.
Share one Timely seat across the team where the licence allows it. Event planners who buy a Timely seat per person before checking the sharing rules waste money on logins nobody opens.
Set a calendar reminder before the Paymo trial ends. Event planners who let a trial roll into a paid plan pay for a time tracking software they never chose, so decide on day six, not day thirty.
How We Verified Every Time Tracking Software Price
The best time tracking software for event planners prices in this guide were checked against the vendor pricing pages and current comparison pages, and the tools were compared on the same basis. Where a price could not be verified, the guide says so plainly instead of printing a number, because event planners who sign up for a time tracking software expecting one price deserve to know before entering a card.
The tools were judged on real work for event planners, not on a feature checklist, so a time tracking software that produces a clean result a beginner can repeat scored well here whatever its speed. A time tracking software that only shines in a demo lost ground to one that survives a busy working week.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate does event time tracking need to be?
Within five minutes per shift is enough for most event invoices, because clients argue over hours, not minutes. Toggl Track and Clockify both round entries cleanly, so pick the one your crew will actually start and stop on time.
Can a small event team track time for free?
Yes, Clockify and TimeCamp both offer free plans with unlimited users, and Toggl Track covers five users free. Test the free tier on one real event first, then pay only when a reporting limit blocks a job you actually run.
Should event staff track time on their own phones?
Own phones work well when the timer takes one tap and the crew trusts the policy. Hubstaff adds GPS proof for on-site staff, while Toggl Track keeps it simple with a plain timer that nobody resents opening.
How do I bill a client for planning hours?
Log hours against the client event, export the report, and attach it to the invoice so the client sees the work behind the number. Harvest turns hours into invoices directly, which removes the export step entirely.
What should an event planner check before paying for a tracking tool?
Check the free user limit, the reporting depth, and whether the paid plan removes limits from old projects as well as new ones. Clockify and Toggl Track both make those limits clear on their pricing pages, so confirm the terms there before entering a card.
Habits That Keep Your Time Tracking Working for Event Planners
Keep a short note after each use of the time tracking software, because the record of what worked and what did not is what makes the next job faster. The best time tracking software for event planners choice stays good only when the notes say so, and a note written in a minute saves an hour next month.
Review the time tracking software once a quarter and remove the files, templates and settings that are no longer used. Event planners who let clutter build up pay for storage and seats that nobody needs, while a clean time tracking software workspace keeps the work fast and the bill low.
Teach one other person how the time tracking software works, because a shared skill outlasts a single user and the teaching itself reveals the gaps in the setup. Event planners who can explain the time tracking software workflow in five minutes understand it well enough to trust it.
The Time Tracking Software Most Event Planners Should Pick
The best time tracking software for event planners answer for most readers of this guide is Toggl Track, because it fits the widest range of jobs in this list at a fair price. Pair Toggl Track with a free trial or a free tier on real time tracking software work, and the combination covers the first month without waste.
Start this week, on a real job, and judge the time tracking software by whether it makes the work easier rather than busier. The time tracking software should serve event planners, not the other way round, and the pick in this guide is the one that does that most reliably.