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Productivity · head to head

Alfred vs Clockify

Alfred logo

Alfred

Productivity

Mac launcher and automation tool sold as a one-time Powerpack licence rather than a subscription

From
Free
Rated
-
Clockify logo

Clockify

Calendars

Free time tracker for teams

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Alfred there is no official built in AI assistant, so anything AI related depends on a community workflow calling an external API key you supply yourself.; Clockify the free plan stops at 5 users
  • They diverge on capability: Alfred covers Workflows, Clockify covers Timer & manual time entry.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Alfred and Clockify actually diverge.

Attributes where Alfred and Clockify differ
AttributeAlfredClockify
Pricing modelOne-time purchasefreemium
PlatformsMacWeb, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Browser-extension
CategoryProductivityCalendars
FoundedUnknown2017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Alfred

  • Workflows
  • Clipboard history
  • Snippets
  • File actions
  • Universal actions
  • Theming

Only in Clockify

  • Timer & manual time entry
  • Timesheets
  • Calendar view
  • Projects & tasks
  • Reports & analytics
  • Team dashboard
  • Kiosk mode
  • Offline mode

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Alfred

  • A developer who wants to trigger scripts, run shell commands and search files from one hotkey without a subscriptionnot Clockify
  • A writer who wants text snippets and clipboard history and does not want built in AInot Clockify
  • A long time Alfred user with a large personal library of custom workflows built up over yearsnot Clockify
  • A user who prefers paying once per major version over a recurring monthly chargenot Clockify

Clockify

  • Employee time trackingnot Alfred
  • Project time budgetsnot Alfred
  • Client billingnot Alfred
  • Productivity analysisnot Alfred
  • Payroll calculationnot Alfred

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Alfred

  • There is no official built in AI assistant, so anything AI related depends on a community workflow calling an external API key you supply yourself.
  • The workflow format is older XML and script filters, which is less approachable for a beginner than a modern extension store with typed APIs.
  • It is Mac only, so a user who splits time between Mac and Windows needs a second tool on the other machine.
  • The free tier is quite limited, with no workflows or clipboard history, so most serious users end up paying for the Powerpack anyway.
  • Because upgrades to a new major version are a separate purchase for Single Licence holders, users who skip the Mega Supporter tier can face a further one-time charge every few years.

Clockify

  • The free plan stops at 5 users
  • Free accounts are throttled to 30 API requests per hour and 3 webhooks
  • Reporting on the free plan only covers a 1 month range
  • Invoicing needs Standard at $5.49 per seat per month and GPS tracking needs Pro at $7.99
  • SSO, SCIM provisioning, a custom subdomain and the audit log are Enterprise only at $11.99 per seat per month

Pricing, plan by plan

Alfred

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic app and file launching
    • Web searches and system commands
    • No workflows or clipboard history
  • Powerpack Single Licence$34/one-time
    • 1 user on up to 2 Macs
    • Workflows, clipboard history and snippets
    • Free updates within the same major version
  • Powerpack Mega Supporter$59/one-time
    • 1 user on up to 4 Macs
    • Free upgrades to all future major versions
    • Early access to betas

Clockify

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited time tracking
    • Up to 5 users
    • Timer, timesheet, auto-tracker, calendar
  • Basic$4.99/month
    • All Free features
    • Kiosk access, bulk editing, project templates
    • Time import/export
  • Standard$6.99/month
    • All Basic features
    • Invoicing, time-off management, approvals
    • QuickBooks integration, overtime tracking
  • Pro$9.99/month
    • All Standard features
    • Scheduling, forecasting, expenses, GPS tracking
    • Custom fields, labor cost analysis, budgeting

Which should you pick?

Choose Alfred if

  • You need workflows.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want clipboard history.

Choose Clockify if

  • You need timer & manual time entry.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Browser-extension.
  • You also want timesheets.

Questions people ask

Is Alfred or Clockify better?
Neither clearly leads. Alfred starts at Free and Clockify at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Alfred or Clockify?
Alfred starts at Free and Clockify at Free.
Does Alfred or Clockify run on more platforms?
Alfred runs on Mac. Clockify runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Browser-extension.
Can I use Alfred for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Alfred best used for?
Alfred is most often used for a developer who wants to trigger scripts, run shell commands and search files from one hotkey without a subscription, a writer who wants text snippets and clipboard history and does not want built in ai, a long time alfred user with a large personal library of custom workflows built up over years, a user who prefers paying once per major version over a recurring monthly charge. Of those, a developer who wants to trigger scripts, run shell commands and search files from one hotkey without a subscription and a writer who wants text snippets and clipboard history and does not want built in ai are not what Clockify is typically brought in for.
What can Alfred do that Clockify cannot?
Alfred covers Workflows, Clipboard history, Snippets, File actions. Clockify covers Timer & manual time entry, Timesheets, Calendar view, Projects & tasks.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Alfred: Is Alfred a subscription?

No. The Powerpack is a one-time purchase per major version, or a one-time Mega Supporter purchase that includes all future major version upgrades.

Clockify: How much does Clockify cost?

Clockify Free is free for up to 5 users with unlimited time tracking. Paid plans per-seat per-month are Basic $4.99, Standard $6.99, Pro $9.99, and Enterprise $14.99 (monthly). Annual billing offers 20% discount.

Source
Alfred: Does Alfred replace Spotlight?

It can. Alfred can take over the system-wide hotkey and generally returns results faster with more configurable behaviour than Spotlight.

Clockify: Can I use Clockify for free?

Yes, Clockify Free offers unlimited time tracking, timer, timesheet, auto-tracker, calendar, and reports for up to 5 users.

Source
Alfred: Does Alfred have AI features?

Not officially built in. Some community workflows add AI chat or completion by calling an external API with a key you provide.

Clockify: How much savings do I get with annual billing?

Annual billing saves 20% versus monthly. For example, Basic is $3.99/seat annually ($47.88/year) versus $4.99/seat monthly ($59.88/year).

Source
Clockify: What is the most expensive Clockify plan?

Enterprise plan is $14.99/seat/month (monthly) or $11.99/seat/month (annual) and includes SSO, custom subdomain, SCIM provisioning, audit logs, and account controls.

Source
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