Softwr

Project Management · head to head

Paymo vs RescueTime

Paymo logo

Paymo

Project Management

Work & project management for teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
RescueTime logo

RescueTime

Technology

Take back control of your time

From
$12/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Paymo has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Paymo every advertised price rises after 3 months, with Plus going from $10.90 to $15.90 per user and Pro from $16.90 to $23.90; RescueTime no free tier since 2023, making it costly for individual experimentation
  • They diverge on capability: Paymo covers Task management, RescueTime covers Automatic time tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Paymo and RescueTime actually diverge.

Attributes where Paymo and RescueTime differ
AttributePaymoRescueTime
Starting priceFree$12/month
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, DesktopWindows, macOS, Android, Web
CategoryProject ManagementTechnology
Founded20082006

Identical on both: 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 Paymo

  • Task management
  • Time tracking
  • Invoicing
  • Gantt charts
  • Resource scheduling
  • Google Workspace
  • SSL encryption
  • Web support

Only in RescueTime

  • Automatic time tracking
  • Productivity scoring
  • Detailed categorization
  • FocusTime blocking
  • Goal setting
  • Alerts & notifications
  • Offline time entry
  • API access

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Zapier

What people use each for

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

Paymo

  • Time tracking for freelancersnot RescueTime
  • Project management for small teamsnot RescueTime
  • Invoice generation and client managementnot RescueTime

RescueTime

  • Personal productivity trackingnot Paymo
  • Time auditnot Paymo
  • Focus improvementnot Paymo
  • Work-life balancenot Paymo
  • Team productivity analysisnot Paymo

Where each one falls short

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

Paymo

  • Every advertised price rises after 3 months, with Plus going from $10.90 to $15.90 per user and Pro from $16.90 to $23.90
  • The free plan allows 1 user, 1 client and 2 projects
  • The Solo plan is still capped at 3 clients and 5 projects
  • Gantt charts, task dependencies and scheduling require the Plus plan
  • Integrations are excluded from both the free and Solo plans

RescueTime

  • No free tier since 2023, making it costly for individual experimentation
  • Limited iOS support compared to competitors that offer full mobile app access
  • Requires integration via categories and rules rather than direct app detection on some platforms

Pricing, plan by plan

Paymo

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 user
    • unlimited time tracking
    • unlimited invoices
  • Solo$5.9/month
    • 1 user
    • flat rate/retainer projects
    • 3 clients
  • Plus$10.9/month
    • unlimited users
    • spreadsheet view
    • recurring tasks
  • Pro$16.9/month
    • unlimited users
    • Gantt charts
    • task dependencies

RescueTime

$12/month
  • Standard$12/month
    • Automatic time tracking
    • Focus Time
    • Idle time monitoring
  • Team$6/month
    • All Standard features
    • Team analytics
    • Cross-device tracking

Which should you pick?

Choose Paymo if

  • You need task management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
  • You also want time tracking.
Paymo review

Choose RescueTime if

  • You need automatic time tracking.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want productivity scoring.
RescueTime review

Questions people ask

Is Paymo or RescueTime better?
Neither clearly leads. Paymo starts at Free and RescueTime at $12/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Paymo or RescueTime?
Paymo has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Paymo and $12/month for RescueTime.
Does Paymo or RescueTime run on more platforms?
Paymo runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop. RescueTime runs on Windows, macOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Paymo for free?
Yes. Paymo has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. RescueTime starts at $12/month.
What is Paymo best used for?
Paymo is most often used for time tracking for freelancers, project management for small teams, invoice generation and client management. Of those, time tracking for freelancers and project management for small teams are not what RescueTime is typically brought in for.
What can Paymo do that RescueTime cannot?
Paymo covers Task management, Time tracking, Invoicing, Gantt charts. RescueTime covers Automatic time tracking, Productivity scoring, Detailed categorization, FocusTime blocking. Both handle Slack, Zapier.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Paymo: What is the storage limit by plan?

Free: 1GB, Solo: 5GB, Plus: 50GB, Pro: 500GB.

Source
RescueTime: Does RescueTime still have a free tier?

No. RescueTime discontinued its free tier in 2023. The service now requires a paid subscription starting at $12 per month or $78 per year.

Source
Paymo: Can I use Paymo with multiple users on the Free plan?

No, Free and Solo plans are limited to 1 user only. You need Plus or Pro for multiple users.

Source
RescueTime: What platforms does RescueTime support?

RescueTime supports Windows, macOS, Android, and web. iOS support is limited to passive features like calendar sync and mobile summary emails.

Source
Paymo: What happens after the promotional pricing period ends?

Regular prices apply: Solo $9.90/month, Plus $15.90/user/month, Pro $23.90/user/month.

Source
RescueTime: What are the key productivity features in RescueTime?

RescueTime offers automatic time tracking, Focus Time for blocking distractions, idle time monitoring, goal-setting with reminders, and in 2026 adds AI-Based Focus Sessions with real-time alerts to detect poor focus patterns.

Source
Paymo: Is there a discount for annual billing?

Yes, annual payment offers up to 40% discount compared to monthly billing.

Source
RescueTime: Is there a team plan for RescueTime?

Yes. The team plan costs $6 per user per month when billed annually, with a minimum of 3 users required.

Source
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