Best Free ActivTrak Alternatives for Project Managers (2025 Edition)

If you’re a project manager juggling multiple remote or hybrid teams, you’ve likely run into the limits of ActivTrak’s free tier: only 3 users, 30 days of data retention and aggressive screenshot capture that often breeds morale issues. All while your client projects demand precise billing reports.

That’s frustrating. You want insight into actual work, not invasive surveillance.

In this blog, we will look at the free (or freemium) time-tracking software for project managers.

We will also look at:

• Why Project Managers Are Ditching ActivTrak for Free Alternatives
• Top 5 Free ActivTrak Alternatives: Project Manager Breakdown

Why Project Managers Are Ditching ActivTrak for Free Alternatives

1. ActivTrak’s Free Plan Isn’t Built for Growing Projects

Project managers are abandoning older, surveillance-based systems such as ActivTrak as they navigate the demands of hybrid work, client billing and team autonomy.

While ActivTrak may appear suitable for simple oversight, its free plan lacks the scalability and depth needed for multi-client projects or remote team coordination.

The new preference is for free, privacy-respecting platforms that offer a better blend of accurate task tracking, ethical oversight and automation-first support for billing.

Here’s where it falls short for project managers:

• User Limitations : Capped at 3 users, which makes it unfit for mid-sized tech teams, agencies, or growing departments.
• Short-Term Data Access : Only 30 days of activity history which is useless for long-term billing audits or performance reviews.
• Intrusive Monitoring by Default : Auto-screenshots and minute-by-minute app tracking may look productive but often create employee discomfort and mistrust, especially in creative or client-facing roles.

2. ActivTrak’s Monitoring Hurts Team Trust and Productivity

Project management isn’t about micromanaging. It's about providing teams with tools that help them track their work meaningfully and stay aligned on outcomes. Yet ActivTrak leans heavily into top-down monitoring.

That trade-off comes at a cost. In fact, a 2025 study revealed that 62% of employees under intrusive monitoring tools felt “less trusted”, and 41% sought new jobs within 6 months.

Red Flags in Legacy Monitoring Platforms:

• Screenshots taken without user consent
• Private messaging and URL tracking without customization
• No employee dashboard to review or challenge data
• No ability to customize monitoring based on project or role

3. ActivTrak Lacks the Essential Features for Project Billing and Task Management

In project-based environments, project billing isn’t just about tracking time, It’s about project time tracking & billable utilization tied directly to deliverables, tasks, and phases.

Without this context, time logs become incomplete, and billing turns into an administrative guessing game.

What Project Managers Actually Need:

• Task/Subtask Tracking – For granular billing and accountability
• Offline Time Logging – Especially critical for travel or field teams
• Automated Project Reports – For client handoffs and retrospectives
• Billable Hour Mapping – So finance teams don’t guess at invoice amounts
• Tool Integrations – Asana, Trello, GitHub, Jira, and ClickUp
• Idle/Active Time Detection – For accuracy without micromanagement
• No-Code Timesheet Exports – For payroll or invoicing in one click
• Role-Based Access Controls – Ensuring data stays relevant and secure

Where ActivTrak Falls Short:

• No project or task breakdowns
• No offline tracking or caching
• No invoice-ready timesheets
• Rigid, static reporting formats

Top 5 Free ActivTrak Alternatives for Project Managers

Below is a side-by-side comparison of five leading free ActivTrak alternatives, chosen specifically for their strengths in project management:

1. Desklog – The Privacy-First Powerhouse for Project Billing

Brief Overview

Desklog is a free time and project tracking tool designed for both remote and hybrid teams.

It prioritizes privacy, automation, and task-level tracking, making it an excellent free ActivTrak alternative.

Key Features for Project Tracking

• Unlimited users/projects on the free plan
• Task & subtask tracking
• Offline time tracking with auto-sync
• App & URL tracking
• Idle time detection & customizable screenshots
• Automated billing reports tied to tasks
• Integrations: Jira, Asana, ClickUp.
• Role-based access & transparency controls

Why It’s a Strong ActivTrak Alternative

• No invasive monitoring
• Built-in billing + offline task tracking
• Fully scalable for agencies and growing teams

2. Clockify – Great for Simple Time Tracking & Invoicing

Clockify is one of the most popular free ActivTrak alternatives, offering unlimited timers, users, and projects.

It focuses on simplicity and invoicing, making it ideal for teams that need time-tracking without surveillance though it lacks deeper productivity analytics.

Key Features for Project Tracking

• Unlimited timers & users
• Task/project breakdowns
• Customizable reports
• Time estimates vs actuals
• Billable vs non-billable tagging
• Basic integrations: Asana, Trello, Slack

Why It’s a Good ActivTrak Alternative

Great for teams who need clean invoicing without the surveillance layer.

3. Toggl Track – Visual Time Tracking for Creative Projects

Toggl Track is a visually intuitive free ActivTrak alternative designed for creative teams and freelancers.

Its minimalist UI and timeline-based tracking prioritize time clarity over deep behavioral analytics, making it perfect for agile environments.

Key Features for Project Tracking

• Timeline view of tasks
• Pomodoro timer
• Project estimates + budgeting
• Task-based reporting
• Billable tagging
• Simple integrations: Trello, Notion, Asana

Why It’s a Good ActivTrak Alternative

• Non-invasive, project-focused, and transparent
• Best for managers in creative/marketing or design agencies

4. Traqq – AI-Powered, Ethics-First Monitoring

Traqq is a privacy-first free ActivTrak alternative that emphasizes ethical productivity tracking.

With AI-generated insights, offline support, and blurred or optional screenshots, it's a strong fit for small remote teams that prioritize transparency and trust.

Key Features for Project Tracking

• AI productivity scores
• App & website tracking
• Optional blurred screenshots
• Offline tracking
• Idle time & activity levels
• Usage breakdowns per app or domain

Why It’s a Good ActivTrak Alternative

• Avoids invasive screenshots
• Adds intelligent work pattern insights
• Best for managers in trust-first environments

5. Hubstaff – GPS & Activity Focus for Distributed Teams

Hubstaff is a free ActivTrak alternative widely used by field and distributed teams.

While it includes task and invoicing features, its reliance on screenshots and limited free plan make it better suited for solo freelancers or consultants.

Key Features for Project Tracking

• Tasks & to-do lists
• Activity levels (keyboard/mouse usage)
• GPS tracking (paid only)
• Limited offline support
• Screenshot capture
• Payroll and invoicing (paid tiers)

Why It’s a Good ActivTrak Alternative (for some)

• Useful if you're a solo remote worker

Conclusion

Switching from ActivTrak to a more modern, ethics-first time tracking tool is essential for any project-centered team that values transparency, accuracy, and trust.

The alternatives we’ve covered like Desklog, Clockify, Toggl Track, Traqq, and Hubstaff offer paths toward better project tracking without sacrificing privacy.

Among them, Desklog emerges as the standout choice: combining unlimited users, offline support, task-level billing, profitability insights and configurable privacy settings.

For project managers eager to reclaim control over billing, client trust and team harmony, now is the moment to explore these tools and make the switch.