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Calendars · head to head

Clockify vs SmartNews

Clockify logo

Clockify

Calendars

Free time tracker for teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SmartNews logo

SmartNews

News

Local news and breaking news from top sources

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Clockify the free plan stops at 5 users; SmartNews no specific pricing published for SmartNews+ subscription
  • They diverge on capability: Clockify covers Timer & manual time entry, SmartNews covers Machine learning curation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Clockify and SmartNews actually diverge.

Attributes where Clockify and SmartNews differ
AttributeClockifySmartNews
Pricing modelfreemiumfree
PlatformsWeb, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Browser-extensionIos, Android
CategoryCalendarsNews
Founded20172012

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 Clockify

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

Only in SmartNews

  • Machine learning curation
  • Smart Mode
  • Local news
  • Breaking alerts
  • Offline reading
  • Social sharing
  • News publishers
  • Ios support

What people use each for

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

Clockify

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

SmartNews

  • Daily newsnot Clockify
  • Local newsnot Clockify
  • Breaking newsnot Clockify
  • Quick readingnot Clockify

Where each one falls short

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

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

SmartNews

  • No specific pricing published for SmartNews+ subscription
  • Requires visiting separate product page for pricing details
  • Subscription service model described but not detailed with costs

Pricing, plan by plan

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

SmartNews

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Trending news
    • Local news
    • Smart Mode reading

Which should you pick?

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.
Clockify review

Choose SmartNews if

  • You need machine learning curation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android.
  • You also want smart mode.
SmartNews review

Questions people ask

Is Clockify or SmartNews better?
Neither clearly leads. Clockify starts at Free and SmartNews at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Clockify or SmartNews?
Clockify starts at Free and SmartNews at Free.
Does Clockify or SmartNews run on more platforms?
Clockify runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Browser-extension. SmartNews runs on Ios, Android.
Can I use Clockify for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Clockify best used for?
Clockify is most often used for employee time tracking, project time budgets, client billing, productivity analysis. Of those, employee time tracking and project time budgets are not what SmartNews is typically brought in for.
What can Clockify do that SmartNews cannot?
Clockify covers Timer & manual time entry, Timesheets, Calendar view, Projects & tasks. SmartNews covers Machine learning curation, Smart Mode, Local news, Breaking alerts.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
SmartNews: How much does SmartNews cost?

SmartNews does not publish specific subscription pricing on its main website. The vendor offers SmartNews+, described as a subscription service aggregating paid business news and coupons, but cost details must be found on the dedicated SmartNews+ product page.

Source
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
SmartNews: Does SmartNews offer a free tier?

SmartNews provides free access to curated news content. For additional business news and coupons, the vendor offers SmartNews+ as a paid subscription service. Pricing and trial details for SmartNews+ are available on the dedicated subscription product page.

Source
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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