Free Project Management Software with Time Tracking and Reporting 2026

Time tracking and reporting are among the most requested features in project management software — and among the most commonly locked behind paid plans. Many free PM tools offer task management and basic collaboration, but relatively few include built-in time tracking, reporting dashboards, resource management, and team capacity planning at no cost. For small and medium-sized teams that need to understand where their time goes, who is overloaded, and how projects are progressing, finding a genuinely free tool with these capabilities can be a challenge.

In 2026, the landscape has shifted. Several platforms now offer surprisingly capable time tracking, reporting, and resource management features on their free tiers. In this guide, we compare ClickUp Free, Clockify, Paymo Free, Wrike Free, Teamwork Free, and OpenProject Free — six tools that combine project management with time tracking and reporting dashboards — across the features that matter most: time tracking depth, report customization, resource management, capacity planning, and overall value at the free level.

Quick Comparison: Time Tracking & Reporting Feature Matrix

Here is how the six platforms compare on time tracking, reporting, resource management, and capacity planning at the free level:

1. ClickUp Free — The Best All-in-One PM Tool with Time Tracking

ClickUp Free is the most comprehensive all-in-one project management tool at no cost, and its native time tracking and reporting features are a major reason why. While it is not primarily a time tracking tool, ClickUp's time tracking capabilities are deep enough to replace standalone timers for most small to medium teams.

Time Tracking Features on ClickUp Free

• Native timer and manual time entry — Every task in ClickUp has a built-in timer that starts and stops with a single click. You can also manually enter time for tasks retroactively. Time entries include descriptions, billable/non-billable labels, and tags for categorization.
• Time tracking per task and subtask — Log time at the task, subtask, or checklist item level. This granularity lets you track time against specific work items without complex project structures.
• Billable hours management — Mark time entries as billable or non-billable. ClickUp Free tracks total billable hours per project and per team member, useful for client projects and internal capacity tracking.
• Workload view for capacity planning — ClickUp's Workload view shows each team member's task load and time commitments across projects. You can see who is overallocated or underutilized at a glance. This is the best free resource management tool on this list.
• Sprint and dashboard reporting — ClickUp Free includes sprint reports (velocity, burndown) and customizable dashboards. Dashboards can display time tracked per team member, per project, per tag, or per date range.
• Project-level budget tracking — Set estimated hours per project and track actuals against estimates. ClickUp Free shows budget remaining and percentage used.

Limitations

• 100 MB total storage — Tight for teams that share many screenshots, design files, or document uploads. Use external storage integrations (Google Drive, Dropbox) to work around this.
• No timesheet approval workflow — ClickUp Free lacks a manager approval step for time entries. Team members submit time directly. For teams that need timesheet approval, Clockify or Paymo are better choices.
• Limited dashboard customization — While dashboards are available, customization options (chart types, data sources, filters) are restricted compared to paid plans. Basic use cases are covered; complex multi-project analytics are not.
• No project profitability reporting — You cannot set hourly rates and automatically calculate profit/loss per project on the free plan. Clockify and Paymo offer this.
• Gantt view limitations — The Gantt/timeline view on ClickUp Free is functional but restricted. Full dependency management and critical path analysis require a paid upgrade.

2. Clockify — The Best Dedicated Free Time Tracking Tool

Clockify is the most popular free time tracking tool in the world, and for good reason. Unlike the other tools on this list, Clockify is primarily a time tracking platform that also includes basic project management features. Its free tier is extraordinarily generous — unlimited users, unlimited time entries, and robust reporting — making it the go-to choice for teams that prioritize time tracking above all else.

Time Tracking Features on Clockify Free

• Unlimited time tracking — Start/stop timer, manual time entry, or timesheet-based entry. Log time against projects, tasks, tags, and clients. No limits on the number of time entries or the time range of historical data.
• Web timer, desktop app, mobile app, browser extension — Clockify is available on every platform. The browser extension integrates with 50+ PM tools (ClickUp, Asana, Trello, Jira, Linear, Notion) to start timers directly from tasks in those tools.
• Reporting dashboard — Summary report, detailed report, weekly report, and dashboard view. Filter by project, client, user, tag, date range, or billable status. Export to PDF, CSV, or Excel.
• Billable hours and rates — Set hourly rates per user or per project. Track billable vs. non-billable hours. Clockify Free calculates earnings and project cost automatically.
• Timesheet approval — Managers can review and approve or reject timesheets. This is a critical feature for teams that need accountability in time reporting — and one that ClickUp Free lacks.
• Budget tracking — Set hourly budgets per project. Clockify tracks budget usage in real time and sends alerts when a project approaches its budget limit.
• Up to 10 users — Clockify Free supports up to 10 users, which covers most small teams. Each user gets their own account with access to all workspace data.

Limitations

• Limited project management — Clockify is a time tracker first. Task management is basic — kanban boards, dependencies, and sprint planning are not available. Teams that need full PM capabilities will need a separate tool.
• No resource management — Unlike ClickUp and Paymo, Clockify Free has no workload view or capacity planning. You cannot see who is overallocated across projects.
• No Gantt or timeline view — Project scheduling and dependency visualization are absent. Clockify tells you where time went but does not help you plan the work.
• 10-user cap — While generous, teams of 11 or more must upgrade to the paid plan ($3.99/user/month).
• Basic interface — Clockify's UI is functional but not as polished as ClickUp or Paymo. Navigation between reports, projects, and timesheets can feel clunky.

3. Paymo Free — The Freelance and Agency Powerhouse

Paymo is a project management platform designed for small agencies, freelancers, and professional services teams. Its free tier focuses on the features that billing-based teams need most: task management, time tracking, resource scheduling, and profitability reporting. Paymo Free is more generous than most paid plans in the areas that matter for client work.

Time Tracking and Reporting Features on Paymo Free

• Timer and timesheet entry — Start/stop timer on any task with keyboard shortcuts. Enter time manually via timesheets. Add descriptions and categorize time as billable, non-billable, or overhead.
• Resource scheduling and capacity planning — Paymo Free includes a resource scheduling view where you can see team member availability, assign tasks based on capacity, and identify overallocation. This is the best free capacity planning tool on this list alongside ClickUp's Workload view.
• Profitability reports — Set hourly rates per user or role. Paymo calculates revenue, cost, and profit per project automatically. The Dashboard shows profit margins across all active projects.
• Budget vs. actual tracking — Set project budgets in hours or dollars. Track actual time and cost against budget in real time. Visual indicators show budget health (green/yellow/red).
• Timesheet approval — Managers review and approve timesheets before they are finalized. Approved timesheets feed into reports and invoices.
• Gantt chart — Paymo Free includes a Gantt view for project scheduling. Drag tasks on the timeline, set dependencies, and assign resources. This is a rare find on a free plan.
• Up to 10 users — Paymo Free supports up to 10 users with 1 GB of storage. The 10-user cap is generous enough for most small agencies.
• Client portal — Share project status, task lists, and files with clients through a branded client portal. Clients can view progress without needing a Paymo account.

Limitations

• Limited to 10 users — Teams of 11+ must upgrade to the paid plan ($5.90/user/month).
• 1 GB storage — Generous compared to ClickUp's 100 MB, but file-heavy teams (design, video) may need external storage.
• No free integrations — Paymo Free does not include native integrations with Slack, Google Drive, or Zapier. These require paid plans. Teams relying on integrations may find this restrictive.
• No mobile timer — While Paymo has a mobile app, the timer functionality is basic compared to Clockify's mobile experience.
• Less polished UI than ClickUp — Paymo's interface is functional but feels dated compared to ClickUp's modern design. Navigation is heavier, with more clicks needed for common tasks.

4. Wrike Free — Enterprise-Grade PM with Basic Time Tracking

Wrike is a powerful project management platform that typically targets mid-market and enterprise teams. Its free tier includes robust task management, multiple project views, and a free Gantt chart. However, time tracking is notably absent — Wrike Free requires an integration (Harvest, Toggl) for time logging. For teams that already use a separate time tracking tool, Wrike Free's project management capabilities are excellent.

PM and Reporting Features on Wrike Free

• Task management with custom workflows — Create tasks with custom statuses, assignees, due dates, and priorities. Wrike's workflow engine is structured and repeatable — useful for teams that follow defined processes.
• Interactive Gantt chart — Wrike Free includes a full interactive Gantt chart with drag-to-adjust dates, dependency lines, and task bars. This is the best free Gantt chart on the market among PM tools.
• Multiple project views — List view, Kanban board, Table view, and Calendar view. Switch between views to suit different team member preferences without losing data context.
• Request forms — Create custom intake forms that auto-create tasks. Useful for client request management and bug reporting.
• Basic reporting — Wrike Free includes a basic dashboard showing task status, overdue tasks, and workload distribution. Reports are limited compared to ClickUp or Paymo, but adequate for small teams.
• 2 GB storage — Generous storage for a free plan. Enough for most small teams' document and asset needs.

Limitations

• Only 5 free users — The hardest limitation. Wrike Free supports just 5 users. A 6-person team must upgrade to the Team plan ($9.80/user/month).
• No native time tracking — As noted above, time tracking requires a paid integration or external tool.
• No resource management — Workload view and capacity planning are not available on the free plan.
• No real-time collaboration — Unlike ClickUp and Notion, Wrike does not support simultaneous editing. Updates need a page refresh.
• Complex interface — Wrike is designed for enterprise PMOs. The interface has a steep learning curve — expect new team members to take 1–2 weeks to become fully productive.

5. Teamwork Free — Simple Timesheet-Based Time Tracking

Teamwork is a project management platform built for client-facing teams. Its free tier includes task management, basic time tracking via timesheets, and simple reporting. While not as feature-rich as ClickUp or Paymo, Teamwork Free is a solid choice for teams that need straightforward time tracking alongside basic project management.

Time Tracking Features on Teamwork Free

• Timesheet-based time entry — Log time against tasks using daily timesheets. Select date, project, task, and hours worked. Add descriptions for each entry.
• Billable hours tracking — Mark time entries as billable or non-billable. Teamwork Free tracks total billable hours per project and per user.
• Basic reporting — View time logged by person, project, or task. Reports are simple compared to Clockify or Paymo but cover the basics: total hours, billable hours, and time per project.
• Task management — Task lists, Kanban boards, milestones, and project templates. Gantt view is available (basic functionality).
• Milestone tracking — Set milestones with dates and track progress. Useful for client-facing projects with deliverable deadlines.
• Message board and discussions — Built-in project discussions reduce the need for a separate team communication tool.

Limitations

• Only 5 users — Teamwork Free caps team size at 5 users. Growing teams must upgrade ($10/user/month).
• 100 MB storage — Tight for file sharing. Use external storage integrations.
• Limited to 2 projects — Teamwork Free allows only 2 active projects. For teams managing multiple client engagements simultaneously, this is extremely restrictive.
• No timer-based tracking — Teamwork Free supports timesheet entry only, not start/stop timers. Users must log time manually after completing work, which can lead to tracking inaccuracies.
• No resource management — No workload view or capacity planning on the free plan.
• No timesheet approval — Unlike Clockify and Paymo, Teamwork Free does not include a manager approval workflow for time entries.

6. OpenProject Free — The Open Source Alternative with Cost Tracking

OpenProject is a powerful open-source project management platform that includes time tracking, cost reporting, and resource management. Its free self-hosted Community Edition is surprisingly capable, though it requires technical setup. For teams that want complete control over their data and unlimited users at no cost, OpenProject is the best choice.

Time Tracking and Reporting Features on OpenProject Free

• Spent time tracking — Log time against work packages (tasks) with start/end times or total hours. Categorize time by activity type (development, meeting, research, etc.).
• Cost reporting — OpenProject's cost module tracks labor costs (based on hourly rates) and unit costs (materials, expenses). Reports show cost per work package, per project, or across the portfolio.
• Budget management — Define project budgets and track actual spending against budget. OpenProject Free includes budget variance reports.
• Resource planning — Assign work packages to team members and set estimated hours. The resource planning view shows workload across projects.
• Capacity planning — Set team member availability (part-time, full-time, out of office). OpenProject calculates available capacity vs. assigned work.
• Gantt charts — Full Gantt chart with dependency management, baseline comparison, and critical path analysis. This is the most complete free Gantt available.
• Unlimited users — The self-hosted Community Edition has no user limits. You can onboard your entire organization at no cost, limited only by your server capacity.
• Self-hosted data control — All data stays on your server. No third-party data processing, no privacy concerns. Important for teams with compliance requirements (GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2).

Limitations

• Requires technical setup — OpenProject must be installed on a server (Linux, Docker, or Kubernetes). Installation takes 1–4 hours depending on infrastructure familiarity. There is no hosted free tier — you run it yourself.
• Dated interface — OpenProject's UI is functional but not as modern or intuitive as ClickUp or Clockify. The learning curve is steeper, especially for non-technical team members.
• No mobile app — OpenProject's mobile web experience is basic. There is no native iOS or Android app for the Community Edition. Time tracking on mobile is cumbersome.
• No timesheet approval — Unlike Clockify and Paymo, OpenProject Free does not include a manager approval workflow for time entries.
• Maintenance overhead — You are responsible for server maintenance, backups, updates, and security patches. This is a non-trivial commitment for a small team.
• Limited integrations — OpenProject Community Edition has fewer native integrations than commercial tools. Slack integration and API access are available but require configuration.

Detailed Feature Comparison: Time Tracking Depth

Time Entry Methods

Clockify offers the most time entry methods: web timer, desktop app, mobile app, browser extension, and manual entry. Its browser extension integrates with 50+ PM tools — start a timer from any ClickUp, Asana, or Trello task without switching windows. For teams that need maximum flexibility in how they log time, Clockify is the clear winner. ClickUp Free is the only tool on this list with a built-in Pomodoro / focus timer, which is a nice bonus for teams that use time-boxing techniques.

Reporting and Dashboard Depth

Clockify offers the most comprehensive reporting with scheduled email reports and multiple export formats. Paymo Free excels at profitability reporting for client-facing teams. ClickUp Free has the most flexible dashboard widgets if you need to combine time data with task progress, sprint velocity, and workload charts.

Resource Management and Capacity Planning

Resource management — knowing who is working on what and whether they have bandwidth for more work — is a critical capability that most free PM tools lack. Here is how the tools compare:

ClickUp Free and Paymo Free are the only tools on this list with meaningful resource management features at no cost. ClickUp's Workload view is intuitive — team members are displayed as bars showing their assigned hours vs. capacity. Paymo's resource scheduling is more detailed with per-day availability grids and role-based capacity planning. OpenProject Free provides workable resource planning if you have the technical setup, though the interface is less user-friendly.

Choosing the Right Tool for Your Team Profile

Step-by-Step: Setting Up Time Tracking and Reporting

Step 1: Define Your Time Tracking Categories

Before configuring any tool, decide how your team categorizes time. Common categories: Billable hours (client work), Non-billable hours (internal meetings, admin, training), Overhead (company-wide activities). Create tags or fields for each category. Consistency in categorization is essential for accurate reporting.

Step 2: Choose Your Time Entry Method

Decide whether your team will use a start/stop timer (real-time tracking) or daily timesheets (retrospective logging). Real-time tracking (Clockify, ClickUp timer) is more accurate but requires discipline to start/stop consistently. Timesheets (Teamwork, Paymo) work better for teams that prefer to log time at the end of the day. Many teams use both: timer for focused work sessions, timesheets for meetings and ad-hoc tasks.

Step 3: Set Up Your Reporting Dashboard

In your chosen tool, configure a reporting dashboard with the metrics that matter most to your team: total hours per project, billable vs. non-billable split, hours per team member, budget utilization, and overdue tasks. Add a workload or capacity view (ClickUp Workload, Paymo Resource Schedule) to monitor team bandwidth.

Step 4: Integrate with Your Calendar

Connect your time tracking tool with Google Calendar or Outlook Calendar. This enables automatic time logging for meetings (blocked time) and helps team members see their scheduled time vs. tracked time. Clockify's calendar integration is the most seamless at the free tier.

Step 5: Establish Team Time Tracking Conventions

Set clear expectations: "Log time at least once per day. All time entries must have a description. Billable entries must specify the client project. Review and submit timesheets by end of day Friday." Without consistent conventions, your time data will be unreliable and your reports misleading.

Step 6: Review Reports Weekly

Schedule a weekly 15-minute review of the reporting dashboard. Look for: team members logging significantly more or fewer hours than expected, projects tracking over budget, billable vs. non-billable ratio trends, and capacity bottlenecks. Use these insights to adjust assignments, budgets, and sprint commitments for the following week.

Final Thoughts

The days when free project management software meant sacrificing time tracking and reporting are over. In 2026, ClickUp Free, Clockify, Paymo Free, and OpenProject Free all offer genuinely useful time tracking, reporting dashboards, resource management, and capacity planning capabilities at no cost. Each tool excels in a different niche — ClickUp for all-in-one PM + tracking, Clockify for dedicated time tracking with approval workflows, Paymo for agency profitability and resource scheduling, and OpenProject for self-hosted cost management with unlimited users.

Our top recommendations by priority:

• Most teams should start with ClickUp Free for the best balance of PM features, native time tracking, workload-based capacity planning, and customizable dashboards — all with unlimited users.
• If time tracking depth is your primary need (with timesheet approval, billable rate tracking, and export reports), choose Clockify Free and pair it with a free PM tool for task management.
• If you run a small agency or consultancy that bills clients by the hour, Paymo Free offers the best free resource scheduling, budget tracking, and profitability reporting.
• If you have technical resources and need unlimited users with data control, self-host OpenProject Free for the most comprehensive free PM + cost tracking platform.

The best time tracking tool is the one your team actually uses. Prioritize simplicity and consistency over feature depth. A team that logs 5 simple time entries per day produces more useful data than a team that uses a complex tool for one week and then abandons it. Start simple, track consistently, review weekly, and iterate — your reporting accuracy will improve naturally over time.