Softwr

Productivity · head to head

DeskTime vs Time Doctor

DeskTime logo

DeskTime

Productivity

Automatic computer activity tracking and productivity analytics

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Time Doctor logo

Time Doctor

Productivity

Employee time tracking and productivity monitoring

From
$3/addon
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only DeskTime has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: DeskTime screenshots are excluded from the Pro plan and start at Premium; Time Doctor specific plan prices not published on pricing page, must contact sales
  • They diverge on capability: DeskTime covers Automatic activity tracking, Time Doctor covers Time tracking with timer.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DeskTime and Time Doctor actually diverge.

Attributes where DeskTime and Time Doctor differ
AttributeDeskTimeTime Doctor
Starting priceFree$3/addon
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows, LinuxWeb, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows
Founded20132011

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Productivity).

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 DeskTime

  • Automatic activity tracking
  • Application and website tracking
  • Daily reports
  • Weekly summaries
  • Privacy-first design
  • Detailed analytics
  • Goal setting

Only in Time Doctor

  • Time tracking with timer
  • Activity monitoring
  • Screenshots
  • GPS tracking
  • Webcam monitoring
  • Reports and invoicing
  • Team management

Both cover

  • Mobile apps

What people use each for

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

DeskTime

  • Automatic time tracking of desktop app and website usagenot Time Doctor
  • Measuring team productivity and idle timenot Time Doctor
  • Scheduling shifts and tracking absencesnot Time Doctor

Time Doctor

  • Employee time tracking and productivity monitoringnot DeskTime
  • Remote and hybrid team managementnot DeskTime
  • Workforce analytics for resource optimizationnot DeskTime
  • Payroll integration for enterprisesnot DeskTime

Where each one falls short

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

DeskTime

  • Screenshots are excluded from the Pro plan and start at Premium
  • Integrations and API access require the Premium plan
  • Shift scheduling requires the Premium plan
  • Enterprise is aimed at 200+ users and is priced by quote with no published rate
  • The advertised $6.42 and $9.17 per user rates require annual billing; monthly billing costs more
  • The trial lasts 14 days

Time Doctor

  • Specific plan prices not published on pricing page, must contact sales
  • Software Cost Insights add-on costs $3 per user per month
  • Historical data retention limited to 3 months on Basic tier
  • No pricing transparency for video recording and benchmarks add-ons

Pricing, plan by plan

DeskTime

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Activity tracking
    • Basic reports
    • Weekly emails
  • Pro$9/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Advanced reports
    • Detailed analytics

Time Doctor

$3/addon
  • Basic$null/month
    • Automatic tracking
    • Projects and tasks management
    • Screenshots
  • Standard$null/month
    • Everything in Basic
    • Schedules
    • Attendance
  • Premium$null/month
    • Everything in Standard
    • AI benchmarks
    • Video recording
  • Enterprise$null/month
    • All features
    • Private cloud
    • Customizable dashboards

Which should you pick?

Choose DeskTime if

  • You need automatic activity tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows, Linux.
  • You also want application and website tracking.
DeskTime review

Choose Time Doctor if

  • You need time tracking with timer.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows.
  • You also want activity monitoring.
Time Doctor review

Questions people ask

Is DeskTime or Time Doctor better?
Neither clearly leads. DeskTime starts at Free and Time Doctor at $3/addon, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DeskTime or Time Doctor?
DeskTime has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for DeskTime and $3/addon for Time Doctor.
Does DeskTime or Time Doctor run on more platforms?
DeskTime runs on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows, Linux. Time Doctor runs on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows.
Can I use DeskTime for free?
Yes. DeskTime has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Time Doctor starts at $3/addon.
What is DeskTime best used for?
DeskTime is most often used for automatic time tracking of desktop app and website usage, measuring team productivity and idle time, scheduling shifts and tracking absences. Of those, automatic time tracking of desktop app and website usage and measuring team productivity and idle time are not what Time Doctor is typically brought in for.
What can DeskTime do that Time Doctor cannot?
DeskTime covers Automatic activity tracking, Application and website tracking, Daily reports, Weekly summaries. Time Doctor covers Time tracking with timer, Activity monitoring, Screenshots, GPS tracking. Both handle Mobile apps.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

DeskTime: What are DeskTime's subscription tiers?

DeskTime offers Pro at $6.42/user/month (annual billing) for small teams and startups, Premium at $9.17/user/month (marked Most Popular) for hybrid and growing teams, and Enterprise with custom pricing for 200+ users.

Source
Time Doctor: Is there a free trial for Time Doctor?

Yes, Time Doctor offers two weeks of free access to all Premium plan features without requiring a credit card.

Source
DeskTime: What features differentiate the Premium tier from Pro?

Premium adds screenshots, integrations & API, and shift scheduling compared to Pro's document title tracking and calendar integrations.

Source
Time Doctor: What are Time Doctor's add-on costs?

Software Cost Insights costs $3 per user per month. HRIS and Payroll integrations each cost $200 per integration. Benchmarks AI, Meeting Insights, and Video Recording pricing is not listed.

Source
DeskTime: How long is the DeskTime free trial?

DeskTime offers a 14-day free trial. No credit card is required to start.

Source
Time Doctor: How long does Time Doctor retain employee data?

Data retention varies by plan: Basic tier retains 3 months of historical data, while Premium and Enterprise tiers retain 2 years.

Source
DeskTime: What billing options does DeskTime offer?

DeskTime offers monthly or annual billing. Annual subscriptions include one complimentary month compared to monthly plan pricing. You can pay by credit card or PayPal.

Source
Time Doctor: Does Time Doctor offer annual billing discounts?

Yes, customers who pay annually receive two months free, equivalent to a 16.6% discount on the subscription cost.

Source
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