Pricing
freemium
Best For
Remote teams where managers need visibility into daily work patterns
Rating
7.8/10
Last Updated
Mar 2026
TL;DR
Hubstaff is the time tracker for managers who want proof, not promises. Screenshots every 1-10 minutes. App and URL tracking. Activity levels based on keyboard and mouse usage. GPS location tracking for field workers. It's polarizing — employees tend to hate it, managers tend to love the data. Over 95,000 businesses use it. Pricing starts at $4.99/user/month, with the full suite running $25/user/month.
What is Hubstaff?
The Monitoring-First Time Tracker
Hubstaff launched in 2012 in Indianapolis. The founders built it specifically for managing their own remote team. The core idea: if you can't see your team working, the software should see it for you. That philosophy shaped everything about Hubstaff. It's not a simple timer with reports. It's a workforce analytics platform that happens to track time.
What Monitoring Actually Looks Like
Random screenshots capture what's on screen every 1, 5, or 10 minutes (you choose the frequency). App tracking logs which applications employees use and for how long. URL tracking records which websites get visited. Activity levels measure keyboard and mouse input as a percentage. GPS tracking shows where field workers are in real time. Geofencing auto-starts timers when employees arrive at job sites.
Beyond Monitoring: The Full Suite
Hubstaff isn't just surveillance. Project budgets track cost against time. Automated payroll calculates pay from tracked hours and sends payments via Wise, Gusto, PayPal, or Bitwage. Scheduling lets you set shifts and availability. Invoicing generates client bills from tracked time. Habit tracking spots productivity patterns over weeks and months. The dashboard gives managers a real-time view of who's working on what.
The Employee Experience Problem
Let's be honest. Most employees dislike being monitored. Hubstaff tries to balance this — employees can see their own screenshots and delete specific ones (with manager notification). Activity levels reward focused work, not just being online. But the fundamental dynamic of "my employer is watching my screen" creates friction. Companies that implement it transparently with clear policies have better adoption than those that spring it on teams.
Pricing Breakdown
Time Free covers 1 user. Starter at $4.99/user/month gets time tracking and activity levels. Grow at $7.50/user/month adds app monitoring, auto payroll, and idle detection. Team at $10/user/month brings GPS tracking, scheduling, and geofencing. Enterprise at $25/user/month includes everything plus SOC 2 compliance and dedicated support.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Most comprehensive employee monitoring in the time tracking category — screenshots, apps, URLs, activity levels
- GPS tracking with geofencing auto-starts timers when field workers arrive at job sites
- Built-in payroll sends automated payments through Wise, Gusto, PayPal, and Bitwage
- Affordable entry at $4.99/user/month — full monitoring at $7.50/user/month
- Habit tracking spots long-term productivity patterns that daily reports miss
Cons
- Employee surveillance creates trust issues — many workers resent screenshot monitoring
- Activity levels based on keyboard/mouse input unfairly penalize thinking-heavy roles like design and strategy
- Interface feels cluttered with too many features competing for attention on the dashboard
- Minimum 2-user requirement on paid plans — solo freelancers are stuck with the limited free tier
- Screenshot and app data raise privacy concerns in jurisdictions with strict employee monitoring laws
Hubstaff Pricing
Starter
- Time tracking
- Activity levels
- Timesheets
- Limited screenshots
- Basic reporting
- 1 integration
Grow
- Everything in Starter
- App monitoring
- URL tracking
- Auto payroll
- Idle detection
- Unlimited screenshots
- Unlimited integrations
Team
- Everything in Grow
- GPS tracking
- Geofencing
- Scheduling
- Habit tracking
- Client invoicing
- Project budgets
Enterprise
- Everything in Team
- SOC 2 compliance
- HIPAA compliance
- Dedicated account manager
- Priority support
- Custom setup
- Advanced analytics
Pricing last verified: March 25, 2026
Who is Hubstaff Best For?
- Remote teams where managers need visibility into daily work patterns
- Field service companies needing GPS tracking and geofenced clock-in
- Outsourcing firms managing offshore contractors across time zones
- Companies that want automated payroll tied directly to tracked hours
Technical Details
The Bottom Line
Hubstaff scores 7.8/10. It stands out for most comprehensive employee monitoring in the time tracking category — screenshots, apps, urls, activity levels. Best suited for remote teams where managers need visibility into daily work patterns. Keep in mind that employee surveillance creates trust issues — many workers resent screenshot monitoring. There is a free plan to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on editorial analysis