Kimai vs TimeTagger

Kimai

• Teams that want to host their own time tracking data
• Freelancers and agencies invoicing clients from timesheets
• Organizations that need EU hosting and open-source code

TimeTagger

• Freelancers who want a low-cost tracker and PDF reports for clients
• People who prefer tagging entries to setting up projects
• Developers who want to self-host their time data or script it through an API

Kimai

• Cloud prices are in euros and exclude taxes; the pricing page lists no free cloud plan, only a 30-day trial.
• On Cloud Professional, kiosk mode, SAML single sign-on, a custom domain and IP access restriction are shown only with annual billing.
• Kimai runs in the browser; the mobile and desktop apps on its integrations page are made by third parties, and some are paid.
• Self-hosting needs SSH access to a server, and plugins such as expenses (99 €) are bought separately.

TimeTagger

• It is not in the App Store or Google Play; on phones it is installed as a web app from the browser.
• The hosted service has no free tier, and after a subscription lapses the app becomes read-only, though data can still be exported.
• Prices are set in euros; the vendor says buyers in most countries pay in their local currency.
• It is aimed at individuals: buying several subscriptions for a team is arranged by email.

Kimai

Project time tracking

Time is recorded against customers, projects and activities, with budgets and order numbers on projects. Every installation supports unlimited users with roles.

Invoicing

Invoices are created from timesheets with configurable templates and invoice numbers, grouping options for entries, and output formats such as PDF and DOCX.

Reports and exports

Recorded time is analyzed by user, customer, project, activity, tag and period. Timesheets export as XLSX, PDF, CSV or HTML, and exported records can be locked.

Teams and permissions

Teams group users into units such as departments. Assigning customers and projects to a team limits who can see and record time on them.

Login and security

Supports LDAP and SAML login through providers such as Google Workspace, Azure AD or Authentik, plus optional two-factor authentication with TOTP tokens.

JSON API and plugins

A JSON API reads and writes data for external apps. Plugins add functions such as expenses, task planning and a kiosk mode with barcode or RFID scanning.

TimeTagger

Interactive timeline

Records sit on a timeline that scrolls and zooms from a day to longer ranges. A record is created by dragging on the timeline and edited by dragging its start, its end or the whole block.

Tags instead of projects

Any word in a description that starts with # becomes a tag. Tags exist only through the records that use them, can be renamed in bulk, and filter the overview into a breakdown.

PDF and CSV reports

The report button builds a table for the selected period and tags. It saves as a PDF for billing clients or as CSV with durations in decimal hours for a spreadsheet.

Targets and Pomodoro

Targets can be set and progress followed against them, and a built-in Pomodoro mode structures work into focused sessions.

Installable and usable offline

TimeTagger is a progressive web app: it installs from the browser on Android, iOS and desktop, keeps working without a connection and syncs changes when back online.

Web API and command line

A documented web API and a separate CLI tool let records be read and timers started from scripts or a terminal. The source is on GitHub and can be run locally or self-hosted.

Kimai

• Self-hostedFree

  The open-source edition on your own server, installed with Docker or over SSH. Community support; some features are paid plugins.

• Cloud Standard€2.99

  per user / month, billed annually (€3.99 billed monthly)

  Hosted time tracking with billable hours, invoicing, data export, audit logs, the JSON API, 5 invoice templates and weekly backups.

• Cloud Professional€3.99

  per user / month, billed annually (€4.99 billed monthly)

  Adds working hour accounts, vacation and sick leave, expenses, custom fields, task management, a customer portal and daily backups.

TimeTagger

• Self-hostedFree

  The open-source app (GPLv3) on your own server. You handle hosting, updates, authentication and backups yourself.

• Basic plan€3

  per month, billed annually (€4 billed monthly), incl. VAT

  The hosted service at timetagger.app: no server to manage, an account that syncs across devices, and daily data backups.

• Lifetime plan€144

  one-time payment, incl. VAT

  The same as the basic plan, paid once and used indefinitely.

Kimai

• Annual discount

  20 to 25% off Kimai Cloud with annual billing

  Kimai's discount page says paid cloud plans cost 20 to 25% less when paid annually: Standard is €2.99 against €3.99 a month, and Professional €3.99 against €4.99.

• Nonprofit

  Discounted annual cloud plan for nonprofits

  Nonprofits, schools and clubs that register with an official email address and message support get a reduced annual cloud plan after a manual review.

TimeTagger

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime plan for €144

  The pricing section offers a Lifetime plan at €144, paid once, with the same service as the basic subscription.

• Annual discount

  €1 a month less with annual billing

  The basic plan is €3 a month when billed annually, the default. Monthly billing costs €1 more a month, which the vendor attributes to transaction costs.