Softwr

Productivity · head to head

DeskTime vs Anvil

DeskTime logo

DeskTime

Productivity

Automatic computer activity tracking and productivity analytics

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Anvil logo

Anvil

Productivity

PDF workflow tools for developers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: DeskTime screenshots are excluded from the Pro plan and start at Premium; Anvil free and AI Pack plans restrict interactive signing to UI-only access
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DeskTime and Anvil actually diverge.

Attributes where DeskTime and Anvil differ
AttributeDeskTimeAnvil
PlatformsWeb, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows, LinuxWeb
Founded2013Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), 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
  • Mobile apps

Only in Anvil

Nothing recorded that DeskTime does not also cover.

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 Anvil
  • Measuring team productivity and idle timenot Anvil
  • Scheduling shifts and tracking absencesnot Anvil

Anvil

  • PDF automation for document workflowsnot DeskTime
  • E-signature solutions for legal documentsnot DeskTime
  • Data collection through mobile webformsnot DeskTime
  • Insurance and healthcare document processingnot DeskTime
  • Real estate and financial document automationnot 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

Anvil

  • Free and AI Pack plans restrict interactive signing to UI-only access
  • HIPAA compliance and embedded builders require Enterprise tier
  • No native Salesforce or HubSpot integrations, Zapier only

Pricing, plan by plan

DeskTime

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

Anvil

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 user seats
    • Unlimited templates
    • Unlimited submissions and e-sign packets
  • AI Pack$99/month
    • 5 user seats
    • API access to Document AI
    • 50-page Document AI limit
  • Product Pack$425/month
    • 5 user seats
    • All AI Pack features
    • White-labeling
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Unlimited user seats
    • White-label builders
    • Advanced security (HIPAA/BAA/DPA, SSO)

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 Anvil if

  • You want to start without paying.
Anvil review

Questions people ask

Is DeskTime or Anvil better?
Neither clearly leads. DeskTime starts at Free and Anvil at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DeskTime or Anvil?
DeskTime starts at Free and Anvil at Free.
Does DeskTime or Anvil run on more platforms?
DeskTime runs on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows, Linux. Anvil runs on Web.
Can I use DeskTime for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Anvil is typically brought in for.
What can DeskTime do that Anvil cannot?
DeskTime covers Automatic activity tracking, Application and website tracking, Daily reports, Weekly summaries.

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
Anvil: Does Anvil offer a free plan?

Yes, Anvil's free plan includes unlimited Etch e-signature packets (dashboard only), dashboard-only PDF filling with Document AI, 2,500 free credits for PDF generation, and 500 free PDF-filling API calls.

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
Anvil: What is the cheapest paid plan?

The AI Pack tier costs $99/month ($79/month annually) and includes 5 user seats, API access to Document AI features, and 50-page document tagging limit.

Source
DeskTime: How long is the DeskTime free trial?

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

Source
Anvil: What additional fees does Anvil charge?

Beyond subscription plans, Anvil charges usage-based fees: $0.10 per PDF fill/generation (2,500 included), $1.00 per workflow submission (25 included), and $1.50 per e-sign packet (25 included). Volume discounts up to 55% off are available.

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
Share

Related pages

More on DeskTime

More on Anvil

Keep looking

Other head to heads