Costlocker vs Harvest (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Costlocker if

• Fits if you run an agency and want project profit next to the hours
• Makes sense if you only pay for the people who actually log time

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if you pay monthly, at $20 against $12 on a yearly plan
• Skip it if you are a freelancer, as one plan means no cheaper tier for light use
• Not for you if you need ready-made integrations, as only the API and Make.com are listed
• Watch out: it is aimed at agencies and may carry more than a small team needs

Pick Harvest if

• Fits if you run an agency or consultancy and bill clients for tracked hours
• Works for solo freelancers with one or two active projects, who can stay on the free plan

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if you're staying free with more than 2 projects or a second person
• Pricey if you need timesheet approvals, profitability reports or SAML SSO, which sit on Enterprise at $14 a seat
• Skip it if you want scheduling included, since Harvest Forecast is billed separately at $5 a person
• Watch out: $9 a seat is a starting price, and extra invoices, projects, clients and tasks are billed on use
• Not for you if you want automatic tracking or a Linux app, as neither is listed

Costlocker

• There is a single plan, so no free tier and no cheaper tier for light users.
• The $12 price needs yearly billing; monthly billing is $20 per active user.
• Integrations are limited to the API and Make.com; no native apps by name are listed.
• Aimed at agencies, so it may carry more than a freelancer needs.

Harvest

• The free plan is limited to 1 seat and 2 projects.
• Paid prices are shown as starting prices: the pricing page says additional invoices, projects, clients and tasks are billed based on use.
• Timesheet approvals, profitability reporting and SAML-based SSO need the Enterprise plan.
• No Linux desktop app is listed, and scheduling needs the separately billed Harvest Forecast.

Costlocker

Profitability insights

Compares projects, clients and teams on revenue against cost, so unprofitable work shows up and high-value clients stand out.

Time tracking

Logs billable and non-billable hours per project, with apps for Mac, Windows and iOS alongside the web app.

Cost and expense tracking

Records labor costs, subcontractors, overhead and other expenses next to the hours, not only time.

Budget control

Sets a budget per project and compares it with actual cost as work is logged, to catch overruns early.

Active-user billing

Only active users are billed. A deactivated user keeps their data, and unused prepaid time becomes credit on the next invoice.

API and Make.com

Connects to other tools through its developer API and through Make.com.

Harvest

Timers and timesheets

One-click timers, daily and weekly timesheets and calendar imports in the browser, desktop and mobile apps, with automated reminders to submit time.

Invoicing and online payments

Invoices are generated from the tracked time and expenses already in the account, and clients can pay them through the PayPal and Stripe integrations.

Expense tracking

Receipts and reimbursable costs are logged alongside time, so they can be added to the same client invoice.

Budgets and reports

Project budgets update as time is logged. Team capacity and utilization reports start on Teams, and profitability reporting is limited to Enterprise.

Approvals and audit trail

Enterprise adds timesheet approval before hours are billed, an activity log of every time entry and edit, and the option to require notes on entries.

Harvest Forecast

A companion scheduling and capacity planning tool that connects to Harvest. It is billed separately at $5 per person a month on annual billing.

Costlocker

• All-Inclusive Plan$12

  per active user / month, billed yearly ($20 billed monthly)

  One plan with unlimited projects and clients, desktop apps, API access and chat and email support.

Harvest

• Free$0

  1 seat and 2 projects, with time tracking, invoicing, expense tracking, project estimates and basic reports.

• Teams$9

  per seat / month, billed annually ($11 billed monthly)

  Unlimited seats, billable and cost rates, team capacity reporting, CSV import, and accounting and payment integrations. Listed as a starting price.

• Enterprise$14

  per seat / month, billed annually ($17.50 billed monthly)

  Adds unlimited custom reports, profitability reporting, timesheet approvals, an activity log, SAML-based SSO and required notes.

• Enterprise PlusCustom

  Adds custom integrations, product customization, a dedicated customer success manager, assisted data migration and white labelling.

Costlocker

• Annual discount

  40% off with yearly billing

  The pricing page states a 40% discount on the yearly plan compared with monthly billing.

Harvest

• Annual discount

  20% off when paying for the year up front

  Harvest's pricing FAQ states a 20% discount for yearly payment. Enterprise is listed at $14 per seat a month annually against $17.50 monthly, and Teams at $9 against $11.