Hubstaff \u2013 Time Tracking Review & Pricing 2026
Our in-depth Hubstaff review covers pricing, features, and user experience for this leading time tracking and workforce management platform. Discover how Hubstaff's GPS tracking, activity monitoring, project budgeting, and built-in payroll compare to Toggl, Clockify, and Time Doctor. Ideal for remote teams, field service companies, and agencies that need accountability without micromanagement.
Hubstaff has carved out a strong position as the go-to time tracking platform for remote and field teams that need more than a simple timer. Its combination of GPS tracking, activity monitoring, project budgets, and built-in payroll creates a comprehensive workforce management tool at a competitive price point. The monitoring features are powerful but require thoughtful implementation — transparency with employees about what is tracked and why is essential. While the interface could use a refresh and the lower tiers limit support options, Hubstaff delivers strong value for teams that need accountability features alongside time tracking.
Hubstaff Pricing Plans
Starter
Basic time tracking
- Time tracking
- Limited screenshots
- Activity levels
- One integration
- Basic reports
- 24-hour support
- Single organization
- Web and desktop apps
Grow
Time tracking + management
- Everything in Starter
- Unlimited screenshots
- GPS tracking
- App and URL tracking
- Project budgets
- Payroll
- Custom reports
- Unlimited integrations
Team
Advanced workforce management
- Everything in Grow
- Task management
- Idle timeout
- Expense tracking
- Team scheduling
- Client invoicing
- Team insights
- Priority support
Enterprise
Full enterprise solution
- Everything in Team
- SOC 2 compliance
- HIPAA compliance
- Dedicated account manager
- Custom onboarding
- Higher limits
- VIP support
- Custom contracts
Available Add-Ons
- Hubstaff Tasks (project management): Included in Team+
- Hubstaff Desk (desktop monitoring): Included in all plans
- GPS location tracking: Included in Grow+
- Automated payroll: Included in Grow+
Hubstaff Pros and Cons
Pros
- Comprehensive time tracking with automatic screenshots, activity levels, app tracking, and URL monitoring
- GPS and geofencing track field worker locations and automate clock-in/out at job sites
- Built-in payroll processes payments automatically based on tracked hours, rates, and pay periods
- Project budgeting tracks time and costs against budgets with alerts when approaching limits
- Strong remote team management features including activity monitoring, idle detection, and productivity insights
- 30+ integrations with project management (Asana, Trello, Jira), accounting (QuickBooks, FreshBooks), and payroll tools
- Affordable pricing starting at $4.99/user/month with a functional free trial
Cons
- Screenshot monitoring and activity tracking raise employee privacy concerns — transparency about usage is essential
- Activity level tracking (keyboard/mouse activity) is a crude measure of productivity that penalizes deep thinkers and readers
- Desktop app is required for full functionality — web-only tracking has limited features
- User interface feels dated compared to newer time tracking tools like Toggl or Clockify
- Customer support on lower tiers is limited; priority support requires Team plan or above
- No built-in employee scheduling — requires separate tool or Deputy/When I Work integration
How Hubstaff Compares
We compared Hubstaff against three popular alternatives: Toggl, Clockify, and Time Doctor. For a broader overview, see our complete time tracking comparison guide.
| Metric | Hubstaff | Toggl | Clockify | Time Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 7.5 | 9.0 | 8.5 | 7.0 |
| Value for Money | 8.0 | 8.0 | 9.5 | 7.5 |
| Customer Support | 7.5 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.0 |
| Functionality | 8.5 | 7.5 | 7.0 | 8.5 |
| Remote Monitoring | 9.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Hubstaff | Toggl | Clockify | Time Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Time Tracking Clock in/out, timers, manual entries | ||||
Screenshots Automatic screen captures during work | ||||
Activity Monitoring Keyboard/mouse activity level tracking | ||||
GPS Tracking Location tracking for field workers | Basic | |||
Project Budgets Time and cost tracking against budgets | Paid | |||
Built-in Payroll Automated payroll based on tracked hours | ||||
Invoicing Client invoicing from tracked time | ||||
Scheduling Employee shift and schedule management | Team+ | |||
Idle Detection Detects and handles idle time | ||||
Free Plan Free tier available |
What Users Say About Hubstaff
Hubstaff holds a 4.3/5 rating on G2 based on 500+ reviews and 4.6/5 on Capterra. Users consistently praise its time tracking accuracy and built-in payroll capabilities.
“Hubstaff solved our remote team accountability challenge. The GPS tracking for our field technicians and activity monitoring for our developers gives us visibility without micromanaging.”
“The built-in payroll is the killer feature. Track time, approve timesheets, process payroll — all in one system. No more exports and imports between three different tools.”
“Powerful tool but the screenshot feature made some team members uncomfortable. We turned it off and use activity levels and project budgets instead — still very effective.”
Detailed Hubstaff Review
Who Is Hubstaff Best For?
Remote teams, field service companies, agencies, and freelancers who need time tracking with accountability features. Ideal for organizations that manage distributed workers (10-500) and need GPS tracking, activity monitoring, or project budgeting. Not ideal for organizations that prioritize employee trust over monitoring, or in-office teams where basic time clocks suffice. For teams focused on building trust-based cultures, our employee experience guide offers alternative approaches to productivity management.
Time Tracking and Monitoring
The desktop app tracks time with optional screenshots (configurable frequency), app/URL usage, and keyboard/mouse activity levels. The mobile app adds GPS tracking and geofencing for field workers, automatically clocking employees in and out when they arrive at or leave designated job sites. Important: be transparent about monitoring — employees should know what is tracked and why. According to SHRM, clear communication about monitoring tools increases employee trust and adoption. For broader guidance on time management practices, see our time and attendance management guide and our time tracking software comparison.
Project Management and Budgets
Track time against projects and tasks with budget limits and alerts that notify managers when approaching spending thresholds. Client-facing teams can generate invoices directly from tracked time, streamlining the billing process. Integrations with Asana, Trello, and Jira keep project data synced across tools, so teams can track time without leaving their preferred project management platform. For organizations managing distributed teams, our remote work guide covers best practices for productivity and collaboration across time zones.
Payroll and Compliance
Built-in payroll processes payments via bank transfer or PayPal based on tracked hours and configured rates. Supports multiple currencies for international teams, making it a strong choice for agencies and companies with global contractors. The automated payroll eliminates manual exports between time tracking and payment systems. For organizations managing international payroll, see our payroll management guide and international HR guide for compliance considerations across jurisdictions. Organizations subject to regulatory requirements should also review our HR compliance guide.
Final Verdict: Is Hubstaff Right for You?
Hubstaff earns a 7.7/10 as the best time tracking platform for remote and field teams that need accountability features. Built-in payroll and GPS tracking differentiate it from simpler alternatives, but monitoring features require thoughtful implementation. Be transparent with your team about what is tracked, and Hubstaff becomes a powerful tool for productivity and project management. Compare it with alternatives in our time tracking software comparison.