Harvest vs Toggl: Which Time Tracking Tool is Better?

Keeping track of time is crucial for individuals and businesses alike, as it allows us to measure productivity, improve efficiency, and accurately bill clients. 

With many timeboxing and time-tracking tools available on the market, it can be challenging to determine which one best suits your needs. However, two popular contenders that frequently appear in such discussions are Harvest and Toggl. 

These tools have their own basic time-tracking features and benefits, making them stand out from the competition. So today, we will compare Harvest vs Toggl to help you decide which would better suit your time-tracking requirements.

Brief Overview: Harvest vs Toggl

First, I’ll give you a quick overview of Harvest and Toggl:

Harvest

Harvest is a comprehensive time-tracking and invoicing tool designed to help teams of all sizes monitor their work hours efficiently. It integrates seamlessly with various project management and accounting software, offering detailed time reports, invoicing capabilities, and project budget alerts to streamline workflows and financial management.

Key Selling Points:

• Easy time tracking and invoicing
• Seamless integration with popular productivity tools
• Comprehensive reporting for insightful project and team management
• Expense tracking and billable hours feature
• User-friendly interface with excellent customer support

Toggl

Toggl is a simple productivity tool with automatic time-tracking features and provides great reporting and analytics. It’s ideal for teams that want to understand exactly where their time goes to improve productivity.

Key Selling Points:

• One-click time tracking across multiple platforms
• Detailed reporting for enhanced productivity analysis
• Flexible project and team management features
• Easy-to-use interface with a focus on user experience
• Integrates with a wide range of tools and services

Quick Verdict: Harvest vs Toggl

Harvest provides a holistic view of your projects, combining time tracking with invoicing and financial insights. It’s not merely about recording hours; it’s about understanding their profitability.

With time-tracking features that allow for detailed reporting, invoicing, and budget management, Harvest is the go-to tool for businesses that must closely monitor their project health and finances.

Toggl shines in its user-centric design, emphasizing ease of use and minimalistic interaction to reduce the overhead of time tracking. Ideal for freelancers and teams prioritizing speed and simplicity, Toggl offers efficient time tracking without the complexity, focusing on core functionalities accessible across various devices.

Product Overview: Harvest vs Toggl

What is it?

Harvest is a comprehensive time-tracking and invoicing tool designed to simplify the lives of freelancers and teams. It helps you track time, bill clients, and manage projects efficiently, all in one place.

Toggl is a straightforward, user-friendly time-tracking tool focusing on simplicity and ease of use. It’s built to help you track how much time you spend on tasks across different projects and platforms.

Who is it for?

Harvest is perfect if you’re one of the project managers running a team or managing multiple projects and need an all-in-one solution for time tracking, invoicing, and expense management. It’s geared towards professionals looking for a comprehensive tool to streamline their workflow.

Toggl is ideal for freelancers, consultants, and small teams who need a simple yet powerful time-tracking tool. If you value a clutter-free interface and the flexibility to track time across various tasks and projects, Toggl is for you.

What makes it special?

Harvest sets itself apart with its integrated invoicing and project management features. It’s not just about tracking time; it’s about turning that time into actionable insights and invoices. This makes it incredibly valuable for teams managing every project aspect from one platform.

Toggl stands out due to its emphasis on simplicity and user experience. It offers robust reporting tools that make it easy to analyze your productivity and optimize your time. Plus, its cross-platform support ensures you can track time wherever you work.

What does it do?

Harvest helps you track time spent on tasks, manage projects, invoice clients, and keep tabs on expenses. Its detailed reports give insights into your team’s productivity and project progress, helping you make informed decisions.

Toggl provides a straightforward way to track time across different tasks and projects. It offers detailed reports and analytics to help you understand how you spend your time and where you can improve efficiency.

Quick Comparison: Harvest vs Toggl

Key Features	Harvest	Toggl
#1) Pricing		Winner
#2) Free Plan		Winner
#3) Design & Functionality	Tie	Tie
#4) Time Tracking Tools		Winner
#5) Project Management Tools	Winner
#6) Team Management	Winner
#7) Reporting		Winner
#8) Productivity Tools		Winner
#9) Integrations		Winner
#10) AI & Automation		Winner
Overall		Winner

Feature Comparison: Harvest vs Toggl

Let’s compare the features of these time-tracking tools so you can make the right decision for you and your business.

#1) Pricing

Harvest Pro offers a pricing model to accommodate teams of any size, emphasizing scalability and comprehensive project management features. At $12 per seat per month, it provides unlimited access to seats and projects, catering to growing businesses and established teams looking for a robust time tracking and project management solution.

Toggl Track’s Starter Plan starts at $10 per user per month. It aims to provide small teams with a fast, efficient time-tracking solution without the burden of excessive overhead. It’s an affordable entry point for teams conscious of budget and looking for value.

When comparing the two, Toggl Track edges out slightly in terms of affordability for small teams or individuals just starting out. However, Harvest offers a broader range of features that may justify the higher cost per seat for businesses looking for a comprehensive project management tool.

Verdict: For pricing, Toggl Track offers a more accessible entry point for small teams, but the decision should also consider the feature set each platform provides.

#2) Free Plan

Harvest offers a free plan tailored for freelancers and solopreneurs. It allows one person to manage up to two projects. This plan is perfect if you’re working solo and juggling a couple of projects at a time. It provides basic time tracking and invoicing features without any cost.

Toggl Track presents a more generous free offering designed to cater to individual freelancers and small teams. Up to five people can use the platform simultaneously. It focuses on seamless time tracking and reporting, aiming to make productivity analysis accessible to everyone on the team.

When comparing the free plans of both tools, Toggl Track stands out due to its support for more people under the free tier. This makes it an excellent choice for small teams or groups of freelancers collaborating on projects. Accommodating up to 5 people for free provides significant value without any investment.

Verdict: Toggl Track offers better value for the free plan, especially for small teams or groups looking to manage their time effectively without incurring costs.

#3) Design & Functionality

Harvest boasts a clean, intuitive interface that makes tracking time, managing projects, and sending invoices easy. Its design is focused on ensuring that all features are accessible without overwhelming you, making it incredibly straightforward to navigate through different functionalities.

Toggl Track, on the other hand, emphasizes minimalism and ease of use in its design. With one-click time tracking at its core, Toggl offers a seamless experience across devices. The functionality is designed to reduce the effort it takes to track time, making it as effortless as possible.

Deciding which product excels in design and functionality depends on what you value most: a comprehensive suite of features or streamlined simplicity. Harvest offers a more feature-rich environment, which is beneficial if you’re looking for an all-in-one solution. In contrast, Toggl’s minimalist design is perfect if you want a no-frills, focused time-tracking experience.

Verdict: For design and functionality, it’s a tie. Choose Harvest if you’re after a robust tool that can handle multiple aspects of project management and time tracking. Opt for Toggl Track if you prefer a sleek, focused approach to time tracking without the extra complexity.

#4) Time Tracking Tools

Harvest’s time tracking is based on a simple start-and-stop timer. When you’re ready to work on a task, you hit start, and the timer begins. Switching tasks is just as easy, making it excellent for those who like minimal setup.  You can add notes and assign projects directly from the timer window.

Toggl also uses a timer system, but it offers more flexibility.  You have the same start/stop option but can manually enter time. Their timeline feature gives you a great visual representation of how your day is spent. If you need more granular control or want a graphical workday breakdown, Toggl has the advantage.

The Winner? Again, it depends on how you prefer to work. Harvest is a solid choice for fuss-free and reliable time tracking. If you want more control over time entries and detailed visuals, Toggl makes it easier to track your workday in a customized way.

Verdict: Toggl offers more flexibility for time-tracking tools.

#5) Project Management Tools

Harvest offers basic project management features. You can create projects, set budgets, and track time against those projects. It helps monitor project progress and stay within budget, especially for smaller projects. If you need in-depth task management or collaboration tools, you’ll likely want to pair Harvest with another app.

Toggl places less emphasis on traditional project management features. It has project tracking, but you won’t find features like task lists or Gantt charts.  Instead, it focuses on providing detailed data about how you spend time on those projects. If you primarily need to see where your hours go, Toggl’s reporting will be more valuable.

Harvest takes the lead regarding project management tools when comparing the two. Its integrated approach allows for detailed project oversight, from budgeting to invoicing, making it an ideal choice for teams that need a holistic view of their projects. Toggl Track’s simpler approach may suit teams looking primarily for time tracking with some level of project organization but still need to complete project management.

Verdict: Harvest offers a more robust and comprehensive solution for project management tools, making it the better choice for those needing detailed project management capabilities alongside time tracking.

#6) Team Management

Harvest includes team management features that allow you to add team members, assign projects and tasks, and track hours across your team. You can also set hourly rates for team members, making calculating project costs and payroll easier. If you need streamlined team oversight, Harvest offers the essentials.

Toggl also has team management options.  You can invite team members, track their time, and generate reports based on their work.  It also offers a handy workspace view to see what everyone on your team is currently working on. If real-time visibility of team tasks is important, Toggl’s workspace view is helpful.

Regarding team management, the better choice depends on the level of detail and control you need. Harvest excels with its in-depth management tools and analytics, ideal for those who need to monitor and manage team activities closely. Toggl Track offers sufficient functionality for teams that prefer a more streamlined approach.

Verdict: For team management, Harvest provides a more comprehensive set of tools tailored for effective team oversight and resource management, making it the go-to choice for those prioritizing these aspects.

#7) Reporting

Harvest provides basic reporting that helps you understand where your time goes. You can generate reports by project, client, or team member and track those against budgets. The reports are simple to know if you need an overview of tracked time and expenses.

Toggl delivers more powerful and customizable reporting options. You can see detailed breakdowns of your time usage, including charts, graphs, and timelines.  If you need in-depth analysis to track productivity, pinpoint inefficient areas, or calculate intricate project costs, Toggl shines.

Toggl takes the lead here. Its reporting goes far beyond basic overviews, providing you with the data you need to analyze how your time is being spent.

Verdict: Toggl offers significantly more robust and actionable reporting insights.

#8) Productivity Tools

Harvest keeps its focus on time tracking and offers a few productivity-related features. It includes idle time detection, which can remind you to start tracking if you’ve been away from your computer. It also offers basic invoicing and expense tracking, streamlining your workflow.

Toggl Track, on the other hand, focuses primarily on time tracking to boost productivity. Features like the Pomodoro timer and idle detection help maintain focus and reduce time wastage. While it may not offer as broad a range of productivity tools as Harvest, Toggl’s offerings are highly effective for straightforward time management.

This round depends on your preferred productivity style. Toggl offers more if you would like a more integrated approach with the Pomodoro technique and find value in in-app integrations. Harvest suffices if you want the basics, like idle reminders and simple invoicing.

Verdict: For productivity tools, Toggl provides more options to increase your productivity.

#9) Integrations

Harvest integrates with many popular tools, including project management platforms like Basecamp and Trello and payment processors like Stripe and PayPal. This allows you to connect your time tracking to other aspects of your workflow. Harvest’s integrations may cover your needs if you heavily rely on a few core tools.

Toggl boasts a significantly more extensive integration library with over 100 supported apps.  You’ll find connections to tools for project management, sales, customer support, and more.  If you use tools across various work areas or like niche software, Toggl integrates with them.

Toggl takes the cake here with its vast array of integrations. It offers far more possibilities to connect your time tracking with other essential tools you use.

Verdict:  For integrations, Toggl provides unmatched versatility.

#10) AI & Automation

Harvest leverages automation in several features, such as recurring invoices and automatic reminders for timesheet submissions. This approach reduces the manual effort required to manage projects and finances, making your workflow more efficient. However, it doesn’t heavily focus on AI-driven insights or predictions.

Toggl Track incorporates AI elements to enhance its time-tracking and productivity features. One notable functionality is its ability to suggest time entries based on your habits and previous inputs. This AI-driven approach simplifies time tracking and helps ensure accuracy and consistency in your records.

Toggl Track has a slight edge when considering AI and automation capabilities due to its innovative use of AI to streamline and personalize the time-tracking process. Harvest’s automation features are handy for reducing repetitive tasks, but Toggl’s AI functionalities offer a more tailored experience that can adapt to your working style.

Verdict: Toggl Track leads AI and automation by offering innovative, AI-driven features that enhance user experience and efficiency in time tracking.

Final Thoughts on Harvest vs Toggl

Harvest and Toggl are excellent time-tracking software that cater to different needs. Harvest’s strength lies in its simplicity. If you value streamlined tracking, a clean interface, and basic invoicing, it’s a fantastic option.

However, Toggl Track consistently outperforms Harvest in most areas. Its robust reporting, productivity tools, integrations, and hints of automation make it a more robust choice. If you need an in-depth analysis of your time usage or want a tool that seamlessly connects to your existing workflow, Toggl Track is the way to go.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your priorities, but based on my experience, I confidently recommend Toggl Track for its feature-rich platform and focus on actionable data.