TimeTracker vs Clockify
The best self-hosted Clockify alternative: free, open source, with no subscription fees. Switch from Clockify and keep complete control of your data.
TimeTracker
$0/month
vs
Clockify Pro
$9.99+/user/mo
Use the free Clockify tier and you still hand over your data. With TimeTracker you keep both.
Clockify
Cloud-based time tracking. Free tier exists but limits features; paid plans required for teams.
- $9.99+/user/month for Pro
- Data stored in cloud
- Invoicing on paid plans only
TimeTracker
Self-hosted, open source. All features included, no recurring costs.
- Free, no per-user fees
- Data stays on your server
- Built-in invoicing & reports
| Feature | TimeTracker Winner | Clockify |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 / month | $9.99+/user/mo |
| Self-hosted | Cloud only | |
| Open source | Proprietary | |
| Built-in invoicing | Paid plans | |
| Persistent server-side timers | ||
| Unlimited users | Per-user pricing | |
| Switch today | Switch today — it's free | |
Snapshot — May 2026 (Clockify changes tiers frequently)
Why teams hit Clockify's admin & compliance walls
Clockify's free tier is generous for individuals, but growing shops often need forced timers, kiosk/GPS proof, granular approvals, or invoicing add-ons—each tied to a higher subscription. TimeTracker bundles comparable operational depth into one GPL codebase you host yourself.
| Operational need | Typical Clockify posture | TimeTracker posture |
|---|---|---|
| Forced / kiosk tracking | Higher tiers for kiosk & GPS-style controls | Self-hosted policies + browser access you control |
| Invoicing & exports | Often paywalled beyond basic PDFs | Invoices and PDFs ship with the OSS bundle |
| Data residency | Vendor cloud regions | Pick any region your Docker host already lives in |
3-year TCO snapshot
Quick sanity check for finance: multiply seats × monthly rate × 36 months. TimeTracker's license is $0; your ops budget is servers and maintenance.
| Team size (billable seats) | Years | Illustrative Clockify cost (~$10+/seat/mo) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | ~$120 |
| 1 | 3 | ~$360 |
| 1 | 5 | ~$600 |
| 5 | 1 | ~$600 |
| 5 | 3 | ~$1,800 |
| 5 | 5 | ~$3,000 |
| 10 | 1 | ~$1,200 |
| 10 | 3 | ~$3,600 |
| 10 | 5 | ~$6,000 |
| 25 | 1 | ~$3,000 |
| 25 | 3 | ~$9,000 |
| 25 | 5 | ~$15,000 |
Illustrative math only—verify current vendor pricing, discounts, and tax in your region. TimeTracker infrastructure cost (VPS, backups) is separate but typically far below multi-year SaaS TCO at 5+ seats.
Practical migration checklist
- Export time entries, clients, projects, and rate cards from Clockify (Clockify → Detailed report → export CSV; repeat per workspace if needed.).
- Stand up TimeTracker via Docker on staging; import or recreate structure—whichever is faster for your volume.
- Run parallel tracking for one payroll cycle; reconcile hours before you decommission the old system.
- Document URLs, API keys (if any), and backup cadence for your self-hosted instance.
Choose TimeTracker if…
- You want predictable cost at 5+ seats without haggling for discounts.
- Compliance or client contracts require data to stay in-house.
- You already run Docker for other internal tools.
- You need invoicing, reports, and audit trails in one codebase you can patch.
Still unsure? Try the live demo and read the full compare hub.
Ready to outgrow Clockify's free tier?
Switch today — it's free, your data stays on your server, and you'll never see a feature locked behind a paywall again.
All features unlocked · no paywalls · GPL-3.0 forever