Harvest
Time Tracking
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Open Source Time Tracking App

Harvest is not open-source but offers robust time tracking with integrations like GitHub and Trello, ensuring effective team collaboration.

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How much revenue is your team leaving on the table?

Most agencies run at 55-60% utilization. Even a small improvement means significant revenue. See what closing the gap looks like for your team.

Number of people who track billable time
$
Blended rate across roles (junior, senior, lead)
55%
Percentage of total hours that are billable. Industry average is 55-60%.
75%
A realistic target for service businesses is 70-80%.
Monthly revenue gap $0
Revenue at current utilization $0/mo
Revenue at target utilization $0/mo
Extra billable hours needed per person/day 0h
Annual revenue opportunity $0

Start tracking team utilization

Walk through the entire flow below. Start a timer, check your reports, and create a real invoice — all in three clicks.

Go ahead — start tracking!

One click and you're timing. Try it right here: start a timer, add an entry, edit the details. This is exactly how it feels in Harvest.

  • One-click timer from browser, desktop & mobile
  • Works inside Jira, Asana, Trello, GitHub & 50+ tools
  • Duration or start/end — your call
  • Day, week & calendar views to stay on top of it all
  • Friendly reminders so no hour gets left behind
Acme Corp
Website Redesign
Homepage layout revisions
1:24:09
Content Strategy
Blog calendar planning
1:30:00
SEO Audit
Technical audit report
0:45:00
Brand Guidelines
Color system documentation
2:15:00
Logo Concepts
Initial sketches round 1
1:00:00
Today's total 6:54:09

The Open-Source Advantage: Control and Transparency

Open-source time tracking apps offer unparalleled control and transparency, making them a preferred choice for privacy-conscious users. With these applications, users retain full data ownership, allowing them to store information locally or on their own servers, thereby eliminating reliance on third-party cloud providers. This means no vendor lock-in and the ability to maintain compliance with data sovereignty laws, such as GDPR and HIPAA, by keeping data under organizational control.

The transparency of open-source code further enhances security. Users can independently audit the software to ensure no unauthorized data collection occurs, providing peace of mind that personal and work information remains private. Additionally, open-source applications are typically free to use and distribute, with costs mainly associated with any necessary self-hosting infrastructure. This cost-effectiveness, combined with reduced risk of vendor discontinuation, makes open-source a viable long-term solution for time tracking.

Prioritizing Privacy: Safeguarding Your Time Data

Privacy is paramount in open-source time tracking, with many apps prioritizing local data storage to keep user activity information on the device. This practice prevents automatic uploads to the cloud, ensuring data security and user autonomy. Open-source solutions often avoid intrusive monitoring methods, such as desktop screenshots or keystroke logging, reinforcing user trust and control over their data.

For organizations, self-hosting open-source applications offers a significant advantage in meeting regional data protection regulations. By maintaining data locally, organizations can tailor data retention policies to align with specific compliance and privacy requirements. Users also enjoy autonomy over data sharing, deciding precisely what information is exported or shared, thus safeguarding their personal and professional data.

Essential Features and Functionality for Diverse Needs

Open-source time tracking solutions come equipped with essential features that cater to a wide range of professional needs. Core capabilities typically include start/stop timers, manual time entry, and robust project organization, which provide the foundation for effective time management. Advanced functionalities, such as invoicing, client management, and multi-currency support, are especially beneficial for freelancers and agencies.

Integration capabilities are another significant benefit, with open-source solutions often offering APIs and seamless integration with project management tools and issue trackers like Trello and GitHub. This extensibility allows users to customize their workflows and enhance productivity. Cross-platform compatibility ensures that these tools are accessible across web, desktop, and mobile environments, maintaining consistent time tracking for remote and hybrid workforces.

Community-Driven Development and Support

The strength of open-source time tracking apps lies in their community-driven development and support, which fosters continuous improvement and innovation. These projects thrive on the contributions of a global network of volunteers and developers who collaborate to enhance the software's features and security. Active development is often indicated by regular code commits and frequent releases, ensuring the software remains up-to-date with user needs.

Community support channels, such as online forums and chat platforms, provide users with a valuable resource for troubleshooting and customization advice. Users can also submit feature requests, which may be integrated into the project or developed by freelance contributors. This collaborative ecosystem not only enhances the software but also empowers users to tailor solutions to their specific requirements.

Track Time with Harvest

See how Harvest integrates with Trello for seamless time tracking and project management.

Harvest interface showing time tracking integration with Trello

Open Source Time Tracking App FAQs

  • Open-source time trackers offer complete data ownership and privacy, often at no cost, compared to commercial alternatives which may involve subscriptions and cloud-based storage. They provide transparency through accessible source code, allowing users to verify data handling practices.

  • Self-hosting typically requires setting up a server with adequate security measures, such as HTTPS configuration and regular software updates. Using Docker can simplify deployment, but it's crucial to manage backups and access controls effectively.

  • Yes, many open-source time trackers offer integration capabilities with popular project management tools like Trello and GitHub. These integrations help streamline workflows and enhance productivity by synchronizing tasks and time entries across platforms.

  • Harvest seamlessly integrates with Trello, allowing users to track time directly from Trello cards. This integration facilitates streamlined project management and accurate time tracking without switching between applications.

  • Open-source time trackers often include features like invoicing, client management, and multi-currency support, which are particularly beneficial for freelancers. These tools help manage projects and billable hours efficiently, supporting diverse client needs.

  • Community support for open-source software can be highly reliable, with active forums, chat platforms, and regular contributions from a global network of developers. Users often find solutions to issues and receive customization advice promptly.

  • Yes, Harvest supports multiple user roles and permissions, enhancing team collaboration by allowing administrators to set access levels and manage project visibility effectively.