HiveDesk vs Time Doctor (2026): which should you pick?

Pick HiveDesk if

• Fits if you manage remote staff and want screenshots and activity levels
• Works for agencies that invoice from tracked hours

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you use Android, as only an iPhone app is listed
• Tight if you want screenshots on a phone, which work only in the desktop app
• Not for you if you need many integrations, since only Asana is listed
• Watch out: the annual per-user price isn't shown

Pick Time Doctor if

• Fits if you manage a distributed or outsourced team and need records of hours worked
• Works for managers who want web and app usage reports and prepare payroll from tracked time

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want a free plan, because a paid plan follows the 14-day trial
• Pricey if you need integrations or usage reports, which start on Standard at $11.67 a user; the API and SSO wait for Premium at $16.70
• Tight if you're on Basic and need older records, since it keeps 3 months of history; Standard keeps 6 and Premium 2 years
• Watch out: the phone apps record work hours only, with no screenshots or app tracking, and the web app can't track time at all
• Not for you if you run Linux other than Ubuntu on Xorg, as that's the only Linux setup the app supports

HiveDesk

• Screenshots work only in the desktop app on Windows, Mac and Linux, not on the iPhone app.
• The mobile app is listed for iPhone only; no Android app is mentioned on the pricing page.
• The integrations page lists only Asana, with API access requested by contacting the vendor.
• The 20% annual saving is shown on a toggle, but the annual per-user price is not displayed.

Time Doctor

• The pricing page lists no free plan; a paid plan follows the 14-day trial.
• Tracking history is kept for 3 months on Basic and 6 months on Standard; 2 years needs Premium.
• The mobile apps record work hours but do not capture screenshots, apps or other phone activity.
• Time cannot be tracked in the web app itself, and the Linux desktop app supports Ubuntu on Xorg only.

HiveDesk

Automatic time tracking

The desktop app tracks time against projects and tasks, with manual entries and notes allowed, break tracking and a web app or Chrome extension as alternatives.

Screenshots and activity levels

Periodic screenshots plus keyboard and mouse activity levels, which the vendor says never record what is typed. Screenshots are not available on mobile.

Schedules, adherence and shrinkage

Shift scheduling with overtime slots, plus reports comparing check-ins against the shift and scheduled hours against hours worked.

Timesheets and approval

Tracked hours roll up into weekly timesheets by project and task that managers can edit, approve and export to PDF or Excel.

Leave and attendance

Leave policies, time-off requests with approval, public holiday lists, attendance tracking and overtime tracking for payroll.

Invoicing and cost tracking

Invoices can be generated from timesheet data with custom tax rates, and hourly cost rates give labor cost per task, project and client.

Time Doctor

Automatic or interactive tracking

The desktop app tracks time either silently in the background or under the user's control with tasks, online or offline. The web app is for dashboards, reports and settings only.

Screenshots and screen recording

Optional screenshots are part of every plan and can be configured per team. Video screen recording comes with Premium and is an add-on for Basic and Standard.

Web and app usage

From Standard, reports show which websites and apps time went to, with configurable productivity ratings and an activity summary for people and teams.

Attendance, schedules and payroll

Standard adds shift schedules, attendance, break and leave tracking, time approvals and payroll reports built from tracked hours.

Benchmarks AI and unusual activity

Benchmarks AI compares teams with matched peer groups, and the unusual activity report flags mouse jigglers and irregular keyboard input. Both are in Premium or sold as add-ons.

Integrations through the browser

From Standard, more than 60 integrations work through Chrome and Firefox extensions that add start and stop timer controls inside supported web apps.

HiveDesk

• HiveDesk$5

  per user / month, billed monthly

  The only plan: time tracking, activity monitoring, scheduling, attendance, leave, invoicing, projects, clients and reporting. Annual billing is listed at 20% less.

Time Doctor

• Basic$6.67

  per user / month, billed annually ($8 month-to-month)

  Automatic tracking, projects and tasks, timeline report, screenshots, online and offline tracking, and 3 months of history.

• Standard$11.67

  per user / month, billed annually ($14 month-to-month)

  Adds schedules, attendance, time approvals, web and app usage, productivity ratings, payroll, 60+ integrations and 6 months of history.

• Premium$16.70

  per user / month, billed annually ($20 month-to-month)

  Adds Benchmarks AI, unusual activity reports, video screen recording, open API access, SSO, client login and 2 years of history.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Every feature plus private cloud deployment, customizable BI dashboards, guided implementation and custom contract terms.

HiveDesk

• Annual discount

  20% off with annual billing

  The pricing page has a Monthly or Annual toggle labeled as saving 20%; it does not show the per-user annual figure.

Time Doctor

• Annual discount

  Two months free with annual billing

  Time Doctor's pricing FAQ says customers who pay annually receive two months free, a 16.6% discount on the monthly price: Basic is $80 per user a year against $8 a month.