Independently reviewed by Soletrader Tools · Last updated: · Affiliate disclosure

Best Time Tracking & HR Software for UK Sole Traders 2026

Home › Time tracking & HR

Best time tracking & HR software for UK sole traders 2026

Whether you bill by the hour or want to understand where your time actually goes, a time tracking tool reveals the truth about your working hours — and makes invoicing hourly clients completely accurate.

UK-focusedFree plans includedUpdated April 2026
On this page
  1. Quick picks
  2. Reviews
  3. Comparison table
  4. FAQ

Quick picks

Best overall
Toggl Track
The most popular time tracker for freelancers. Start timing with one click, categorise by client and project, and export professional reports.
Free up to 5 users · Starter from £9/mo
Try Toggl free →
Best with invoicing
Harvest
Time tracking that flows directly into invoices. Track hours on a project, then generate a client invoice from those hours in one click.
Free (1 user, 2 projects) · Pro from £10.80/mo
Try Harvest free →
Best free option
Clockify
Unlimited time tracking for free — no user limit, no project limit. The most generous free tier of any time tracking tool.
Free plan · Basic from £3.99/mo
Try Clockify free →
Best receipt capture
Dext
Photograph receipts on your phone and Dext automatically extracts the data and pushes it to your accounting software — FreeAgent, Xero or QuickBooks.
From £15/mo · 14-day trial
Try Dext →

Reviews

Toggl Track
9.0/10
Free planOne-click timerReportingCalendar view

Toggl Track is the freelancer’s time tracker of choice. The interface is stripped back and intuitive — start a timer with one click, tag it to a client and project, and stop it when you’re done. The free plan includes unlimited time entries, projects and clients for up to 5 users, making it ideal for sole traders.

Pros
  • Free plan supports up to 5 users unlimited tracking
  • Browser extension for one-click tracking anywhere
  • Automatic idle detection — reminds you to log time
  • Calendar timeline view for reviewing the week
  • Exportable client reports
Cons
  • Advanced reporting needs paid plan
  • Billing rate management behind paid tier
  • No invoicing built in (use with FreeAgent or Harvest)
Pricing: Free (up to 5 users) · Starter from £9/month · Revenue share commission
Harvest
8.5/10
Free limited planInvoice from hoursProject budgetsExpense tracking

Harvest is the best time tracker if you bill clients by the hour and need to invoice directly from tracked time. Set hourly rates per client or project, track time, then hit “Create Invoice” and Harvest generates a professional itemised invoice from your hours. It integrates with Xero, QuickBooks and FreeAgent.

Pros
  • Create invoices directly from tracked time
  • Set hourly rates per client and project
  • Project budget warnings before overrun
  • Expense tracking alongside time
  • Integrates with major accounting software
Cons
  • Free plan limited to 1 user and 2 projects
  • More expensive than Toggl on paid tier
  • Interface dated compared to rivals
Pricing: Free (1 user, 2 projects) · Pro from £10.80/month · 10% recurring commission
Clockify
8.4/10
Free unlimitedNo user limitNo project limitReports

Clockify offers the most generous free plan in time tracking — unlimited users, unlimited projects, unlimited time entries, forever. For a sole trader who just needs to track hours accurately, it’s hard to justify paying for anything else. Reports and team features are limited on the free plan but the core tracking is excellent.

Pros
  • Completely free for unlimited users and projects
  • Web, mobile and desktop apps included
  • Solid reporting on free plan
  • Good browser extension for in-page tracking
  • Active development with regular features
Cons
  • Some team management features require paid plan
  • Interface less polished than Toggl
  • Invoicing only on paid plans
Pricing: Free plan · Basic from £3.99/month · Referral programme

Comparison table

ToolPriceFree planInvoice from timeProject budgetsAccounting syncBest for
Toggl TrackFree / £9Yes (5 users)NoNoYesSimple tracking
HarvestFree (limited) / £10.80Yes (1 user)YesYesYesHourly billing
ClockifyFree / £3.99Yes (unlimited)PaidPaidYesFree tracking
DextFrom £15NoN/AN/AYes (receipts)Receipt capture

Frequently asked questions

Do I need time tracking software as a sole trader?
If you charge clients by the hour, time tracking software is essential for accurate invoicing and protecting yourself in any billing disputes. If you charge fixed fees, time tracking helps you understand whether those fees are profitable — most sole traders are shocked to discover how long projects actually take.
What’s the best free time tracker for freelancers?
Clockify is completely free with no user or project limits. Toggl Track’s free plan is slightly more polished and supports up to 5 users. Both are excellent starting points.
Can I invoice clients directly from my time tracking tool?
Harvest does this best — set hourly rates, track time, then generate an invoice from your logged hours with one click. Toggl Track and Clockify integrate with accounting and invoicing tools like FreeAgent and Xero that can then generate invoices.
What is Dext and do I need it?
Dext (formerly Receipt Bank) is a receipt capture tool — you photograph receipts with your phone and Dext automatically extracts supplier, amount and date, then pushes the data to your accounting software. It’s particularly useful for sole traders with many small expenses like fuel, materials or tools.