Time tracking is the process of recording the time spent on a certain task. Many businesses require time tracking from their employees. Without any exception, designers have to have a tool that will help them collaborate with clients and team leaders or project managers effectively and deliver the best results.
A designer time tracker is an essential tool for designers who work remotely or are freelancers as it helps track work time accurately and efficiently. Also, it is vital for them to be able to measure their productivity so that they know whether they are working enough or too much.
Since designers work with different clients and projects, it is important for them to be able to work on several projects at once, and in this case, it’s crucial to keep track of time spent working on each project - this is where a time tracker comes along again.
If designers don’t track time, they may not see whether their time is being wasted or where they should put more effort. This may result in missing deadlines or feeling overwhelmed. So, a time tracker is also a perfect solution for well-being as it helps prevent burnout, achieve work-life balance, and avoid overwork.
Without further ado, let’s discuss the most popular time tracking apps that designers choose to track time, facilitate collaboration, manage projects, and take care of invoicing.
TMetric
For independent graphic artists and agencies, TMetric is a great time tracking system with options for task management and helpful dashboards. The real-time project and team workload tracking offered by TMetric doesn't interfere with your creative process. The app also aids in resource allocation and prevents burnout.
Key features include:
- Time tracking
- Team and personal dashboards
- 50+ integrations
- Billable rates and invoicing
- Time off management
Pricing: Free plan for teams of up to 5 users. The cost per user starts at $5 per month to add advanced capabilities to the designer workflow.
TrackingTime
For graphic designers, the app offers the ideal timesheets. It also enables designers to view a list of all ongoing and completed projects, determine the cost per hour worked, and produce helpful reports for billing.
Key features include:
- Timecards approval
- Budgeting
- Work schedules
- Timesheets audits
Pricing: Free plan for up to 3 users. Pro plan costs $5 per user /monthly.
actiTime
By automating cost calculations and invoice creation, actiTIME reduces the amount of time spent on administrative tasks and frees designers and managers to concentrate on the innovative side of the company.
Key features include:
- Billable and non-billable hours
- Invoicing
- Progress tracking
Pricing: actiTime Online costs 7$ per user if billed monthly, but it’s $6 for the annual subscription. Self-Hosted version is available at $120 per user.
My Hours
With the help of MyHours, you can simply coordinate your work, projects, and tasks, keep track of your hours and expenses, and produce flawless reports for sophisticated time analytics.
Key features include:
- Flexible hourly rates
- Client reporting
- Attendance tracking
- Costs tracking
Pricing: The app is free for individuals who start with time tracking, and it’s $6 per active user billed annually.
ClickTime
ClickTime allows managing teams and projects in addition to tracking time. Also, it supports options for logging project expenses as well as timesheets for straightforward billing processes.
Key features include:
- Resource management
- Time tracking
- Expense tracking
Pricing starts at $10 per user per month, and you can contact the ClickTime team to discuss the Enterprise plan.
Wrapping Up
When it comes to meeting deadlines, working with clients, and getting paid fairly, time tracking for graphic designers is crucial. Achieving a work-life balance, having a tool for efficient workflow management, and minimizing burnout thanks to monitoring work hours and avoiding overtime are additional major benefits of using time tracking software. And with the above-mentioned solutions, you'll be able to set healthy boundaries on your workload and working hours.
