Why should development teams track time?

Tracking time helps dev teams see where hours actually go, not just where they think they go. Time and expense tracking software reveals bottlenecks, protects deep work time, and provide detailed reports that make it easier to estimate future projects based on data.

What are the benefits of using time tracking software?

When you track time, you understand where time goes. When you understand where time goes, you know how well you’re spending it (or otherwise). Good developer time tracking software is accurate and unobtrusive. Time tracking apps also pair well with project management software and helps remote teams stay in sync without micromanaging.

How can we introduce time tracking without hurting morale?

Don’t treat your time tracking tool as surveillance. Be sure to express to your team that you plan to track time to streamline workflows, promote focus time, and improve time management — not spy on people. Give your team access to their own data, and use it to brainstorm ways to work together better. Also, integrate employee time tracking software with project management tools to show that your desire to track is more about aspiring to better task management than micromanaging employees.

What challenges do developers face when tracking time?

Context switching is very disruptive—it’s tough to keep track of time interruptions, and overlapping tasks are everywhere. Manual tracking often breaks down, which is why developers need tools that fit their workflow.

Streamline sprints with time tracking software for developers

Hubstaff’s time tracker is built for development teams and gives engineering leaders visibility into projects without disrupting deep work. Track hours on coding tasks, pull requests, and reviews, while automatically syncing that data into project budgets, payroll, and invoices.

G2 Leader Fall 2025

No credit card required

Time tracking

Effortless and automated time tracking

Hubstaff makes it easy for dev teams to track time for tasks and projects without interrupting deep work. Seamlessly convert time tracking data to detailed, itemized timesheets. There is no manual entry, no guesswork, just clean, usable data.

Productivity

Intuitive productivity tools

Hubstaff measures keyboard and mouse activity, tracks app and URL usage, and provides optional screenshots so you can spot bottlenecks, empower your team, and prevent burnout. Tweak settings to your liking, review productivity trends, and spot blockers with real-time data and reporting. Try Insights to optimize utilization, reduce meeting time, and spot unusual activity to refine and balance workloads.

Budgeting

Protect your bottom line with real-time budgeting

Tired of finding out a project went over budget after it’s too late? Hubstaff’s real-time cost tracking and automated reminders and budget alerts help you adjust project scope on the fly. Set limits, monitor project progress, and make adjustments to ensure projects are profitable.

Invoicing

Bill faster and more accurately

With Hubstaff, tracked time flows directly into detailed invoices, complete with custom branding, line items, and payment tracking. Choose the client, timeframe, and project to auto-generate what you need. Then, send invoices and accept payments in Hubstaff.

time tracking and invoicing for accountants

Payroll

One-click payments

Customize rates and pay frequencies and approve timesheets in just a few clicks to streamline payroll. Send payments directly from the time tracking app to salaried employees, freelancers, or international contractors across multiple platforms like Wise, Deel, PayPal, and Gusto.

Hubstaff time tracking app displayed on MacOS and iPhone alongside a G2 Spring 2024 Leader award badge

Seamless GitHub integration

Track time directly to GitHub issues and see how much effort goes into fixing bugs, reviewing code, or shipping features. Hubstaff helps you sync those tracked hours into timesheets, invoices, and payments. With the Insights add-on, you can access advanced metrics like throughput, time to merge, review turnaround, and even context switching.

How does developer time tracking work?

GitHub

Track time to GitHub issues and see review cycles, merges, and trends with the Insights integration.

See integration >

Jira

Use Hubstaff to track time against Jira issues that you are assigned to.

See integration >

PayPal

Automatically or manually pay your team through PayPal.

See integration >

ClickUp

Sync with Hubstaff and track time directly to ClickUp tasks, see work in progress, and add budgets.

See integration >

Slack

Get notified in Slack when time tracking starts and stops, and when tasks are completed.

See integration >

Salesforce

Track time spent on your assigned Salesforce tasks after integrating with Hubstaff.

See integration >

cost savings by eliminating wasted tasks

10% - 25%
Project savings

25%
Cost reduction from bad hires

We work in a lot of different industries, so I can’t always know what’s a 45-minute task and what’s a four-hour task. With tools like Hubstaff, you can tell. You then decide if a whole project should’ve taken 16 hours or if someone is just not the right fit.Solomon ThimothyOneIMS President

faster project completion

Bookkeeping reduced from
1 week to 1-2 days

Over 100% ROI
By improving productivity and visibility

My people need to document their work so that I can have visibility into what they did during the day. Using Hubstaff reduces the meeting time I needed and gives me clarity into what was done and what wasn’t.Brian DordevicDirector of Strategic Planning

reduction in check-in meeting time

10% - 25%
Increase in activity level

100% confidence
In running a remote operation

Without Hubstaff, I wouldn’t be confident in running a remote business. We used the platform from the first day we opened the office in India, so I knew it would give me the insights and confidence to commit to remote working.Ross CrawfordManaging Director

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1500 reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars from 1500 reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars from 1300 reviews

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Frequently asked questions

What do developers want to know

Don’t treat your time tracking tool as surveillance. Be sure to express to your team that you plan to track time to streamline workflows, promote focus time, and improve time management — not micromanage people.
Give your team access to their own data, and use it to brainstorm ways to work together better. Also, integrate employee time tracking software with project management tools to show that your desire to track is more about aspiring to better task management than micromanaging employees.

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Streamline sprints with time tracking software for developers