How does the Hubstaff screenshot feature work across different setups?

Hubstaff captures screenshots across different platforms. Here's how it works for each (https://hubstaff.com/productivity-monitoring/privacy-first-employee-monitoring) : Desktop Apps (Windows, macOS, Linux) The desktop app supports full screenshot functionality. With it, you can: * Capture activity across multiple monitors (as long as they're connected). * Track detailed work activity to evaluate productivity. * Take screenshots at 10-minute intervals (customizable). * Blur or turn off screenshots to protect privacy. The browser extension does not support screenshots, but tracks app and URL activity while the timer is running. The Hubstaff mobile app (iOS & Android) also lacks screenshot capability, as It prioritizes GPS tracking (https://hubstaff.com/gps-time-tracking) and geofencing for managing field teams.

How often does Hubstaff take screenshots?

Hubstaff takes optional screenshots at customizable intervals (it can take up to three screenshots every 10 minutes). You can configure how frequently they're captured on a per-user basis, blur them, or turn them off altogether.

What is actually tracked as part of Hubstaff screenshot activity?

Hubstaff is a leading time tracking tool that also captures productivity data, including app usage, URL visits, and screenshots, at regular intervals. For a broader view of how these signals fit together, see Hubstaff’s productivity monitoring approach (https://hubstaff.com/productivity-monitoring) — it never logs keystrokes. When a time tracking session is active, the screenshot feature captures the entire screen, including: * Open applications, websites, and documents * Any visible personal or work-related content * All connected monitors (if using multiple displays) Each screenshot includes: * The screenshot capture time * The project or task being tracked * Activity level (based on keyboard and mouse movement) * Apps and URLs accessed during that time block Important: Hubstaff is not intended to be used as a surveillance tool (https://hubstaff.com/blog/employee-surveillance-vs-productivity-monitoring/) , as it tracks general activity but does not record individual keystrokes or specific mouse clicks.

Does Hubstaff take screenshots of both screens?

Yes, Hubstaff takes screenshots and can do so across multiple screens, as long as they are connected and in use. To view them, simply hover over any screenshot and click "View Screens" to see all displays captured during that time interval.

Is there a free trial of the Hubstaff time tracker with screenshots?

Yes, Hubstaff offers a free 14-day trial (https://hubstaff.com/signup) with full access to time tracking with screenshot features. You can sign up without a credit card and cancel at any time.

Can we control how long screenshots are retained?

Hubstaff's screenshot tracking includes consent, retention, and access controls built for regulated industries. The length of time screenshots are retained in Hubstaff depends on your subscription plan’s data retention policy (https://support.hubstaff.com/data-retention-comparison/) . You can download up to 6 months of screenshots, the maximum retention period allowed by your plan. Once screenshots are deleted, they cannot be recovered, so it’s a good idea to download any copies you want to keep before they’re removed.

Time tracking with screenshots that keep teams accountable and audit-ready

A reliable time tracker with screenshots that adds visual context to tracked time, helping teams stay transparent, audit-ready, and aligned on project progress.

Try Hubstaff for free

Book a demo

No credit card required

|Available for: Apple logo

Hubstaff time tracker with screenshots dashboard view

A time tracker with screenshots and
AI-powered productivity analytics

Track project progress, spot time-wasting activities, and verify logged hours with Hubstaff's time tracking software with customizable screenshots. That way, your team stays focused on tasks that matter and audit-ready as you scale.

Hubstaff time tracking app with project hours, start and stop timer, GPS job sites, daily hours graph, and download options

Accurate, automated employee time tracking

Hubstaff's intuitive, lightweight time tracking software makes it easy for users to track time to tasks and projects. Remote employees and their managers can view progress with real-time updates on hours worked, earnings, and more right from the dashboard.

Hubstaff productivity dashboard showing team activity, projects worked on, daily limits, and member activity metrics

Intuitive productivity monitoring with app and URL tracking

Gain visibility into employee productivity with live app and URL usage data. Hubstaff's productivity monitoring capabilities help 140,000+ companies worldwide identify bottlenecks and optimize workflows based on tool usage across projects. Try the Hubstaff Insights add-on to categorize productive and unproductive apps, meetings, and more.

Hubstaff time tracking dashboard with screenshot monitoring, activity benchmarks, and visual work progress insights

Screenshot tracking customized to your workflow

Hubstaff is built around transparency, giving you the flexibility to configure screenshot monitoring to align with your organization’s policies and compliance needs. Set screenshot frequency by role, enable irreversible blur, or disable screenshots entirely.

Teams can also delete sensitive screenshots. With role-based permissions and governance controls, Hubstaff helps you maintain secure and transparent workflows. Plus, you have the flexibility to choose retention windows that fit your data policies.

Proof of work and privacy combined for growing teams

Implement screenshot tracking without compromising employee privacy. Capture screenshots only during an active tracking session, with full transparency so both managers and team members can see exactly what's been recorded.

Hubstaff also supports personal device tracking for standard teams and company-managed devices for teams that require greater consistency and governance. Maintain compliance as you scale with configurable data retention policies, SSO/SCIM, role-based access controls, and infrastructure that supports HIPAA, GDPR, and SOC 2 requirements. Hubstaff’s Trust Center combines the security and data governance needs of larger teams at scale.

Hubstaff payments report dashboard showing payment history, amounts, and details for team member payouts.

Reports you can customize and export

Track all work-related activities across your entire organization with customizable, detailed time reporting. Hubstaff offers over 20 reports, from timesheets and attendance tracking to payroll, invoicing, and project budgets.

Export reports as PDFs or spreadsheets and email them to key stakeholders directly from the app. This way, you can get a clear picture of how your remote team is using resources.

Hubstaff payroll dashboard showing team members, integrations, pay periods, rates, and payment status details

AI-powered unusual activity monitoring

Detect suspicious patterns like time theft, artificial activity, or low engagement with Hubstaff’s AI-powered unusual activity monitoring. Smart alerts surface unusual behavior such as inconsistent activity levels or low output, so you can act fast and make better decisions.

Collage of Hubstaff time tracking with screenshot blur, productivity tracking, and team collaboration features

How to use employee screenshot monitoring for your business

Have your team install Hubstaff
Get started by having your team install Hubstaff for Mac, Windows, or Linux. You can also track time spent on the web using the Chrome extension. From there, onboard your team to start tracking time.
Configure screenshot settings
Augment time tracking with screenshot capture capabilities to see exactly how work gets done. Hubstaff's time tracking software with customizable screenshot tracking helps you manage teams based on your management style or compliance needs. Adjust frequency, enable screenshot blur, or disable the feature altogether to track progress and identify time-wasting activities.
Track time to record screenshots
Once everything is set up, users can begin tracking time. Hubstaff's screenshot monitoring software runs in the background on the desktop, automatically capturing screenshots and logging time based on the settings you’ve applied. You'll get a detailed breakdown of hours by project, along with visual records for each team member.

Learn more about employee screenshot monitoring

The psychology of employee monitoring

Understand how effective employee monitoring is grounded in transparency, flexibility, and a focus on well-being — not fear-based micromanagement.

Psychology of monitoring

Ethical employee internet activity monitoring

Discover how to effectively monitor employee internet activity without resorting to micromanagement.

Ethical monitoring tips

Compare Hubstaff with Jibble

Explore how Hubstaff compares to Jibble in time tracking, monitoring features, reporting depth, and cost control to find the right solution for your team.

Hubstaff vs. Jibble

Compare Hubstaff with Time Doctor

Compare Hubstaff and Time Doctor to see how screenshot tracking, productivity insights, and payment workflows differ — and which platform fits your team best.

Hubstaff vs. Time Doctor

Configurable screenshot tracking

Learn how to adjust screenshot frequency, blur sensitive data, and give teams more control over what’s captured.

Screenshot configuration options

What is employee monitoring

Learn how monitoring can improve productivity, minimize distractions, and improve transparency without overstepping privacy boundaries.

Discover employee monitoring

Frequently asked questions

Your screenshot monitoring questions, answered

Hubstaff captures screenshots across different platforms. Here's how it works for each:
Desktop Apps (Windows, macOS, Linux) The desktop app supports full screenshot functionality.
With it, you can:
- Capture activity across multiple monitors (as long as they're connected).
- Track detailed work activity to evaluate productivity.
- Take screenshots at 10-minute intervals (customizable).
- Blur or turn off screenshots to protect privacy.
The browser extension does not support screenshots, but tracks app and URL activity while the timer is running. The Hubstaff mobile app (iOS & Android) also lacks screenshot capability, as It prioritizes GPS tracking and geofencing for managing field teams.
Hubstaff is a leading time tracking tool that also captures productivity data, including app usage, URL visits, and screenshots, at regular intervals. For a broader view of how these signals fit together, see Hubstaff’s productivity monitoring approach — it never logs keystrokes.
When a time tracking session is active, the screenshot feature captures the entire screen, including:
- Open applications, websites, and documents
- Any visible personal or work-related content
- All connected monitors (if using multiple displays)
Each screenshot includes:
- The screenshot capture time
- The project or task being tracked
- Activity level (based on keyboard and mouse movement)
- Apps and URLs accessed during that time block
Important: Hubstaff is not intended to be used as a surveillance tool, as it tracks general activity but does not record individual keystrokes or specific mouse clicks.
Hubstaff's screenshot tracking includes consent, retention, and access controls built for regulated industries. The length of time screenshots are retained in Hubstaff depends on your subscription plan’s data retention policy. You can download up to 6 months of screenshots, the maximum retention period allowed by your plan. Once screenshots are deleted, they cannot be recovered, so it’s a good idea to download any copies you want to keep before they’re removed.

Start a free 14-day trial, or schedule a personalized demo to see how Hubstaff brings clarity, transparency, and compliance to work records.

Try Hubstaff now

Get a guided demo