Qbserve vs Timing (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Qbserve if

• Fits if you are a freelancer on a Mac who wants hours filled in without a timer
• Makes sense if you want tracked data to stay on your own computer

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you use Windows or Linux, as it runs on macOS only
• Not for you if you want a team dashboard, because it tracks one person's own Mac
• Watch out: no price is shown before checkout, and a business needs one licence per seat
• Too light for client billing across a team, with invoice items made one person at a time

Pick Timing if

• Fits if you work on a Mac and want time recorded without starting timers
• Works for freelancers who bill clients from a record of the apps and documents they used

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you work on Windows or Linux, because the tracker runs only on macOS
• Pricey if you just want a timer, at $9 a month billed annually, $11 monthly, with no free plan
• Tight if you use more than one Mac, since Professional covers 1 and Expert 2
• Watch out: teams, the Web API, Zapier and MCP need Connect at $16 a user, and Professional has limited web app access
• Not for you if you want invoices from the tracker, as those go through GrandTotal

Qbserve

• The price is not shown on the product page; it appears only in the checkout, which could not be read.
• It runs on macOS only, and a business needs one license per seat.
• Personal licenses can be shared across five machines belonging to the owner or family.
• It tracks one person's own Mac; it is not a team dashboard.

Timing

• The tracker runs only on macOS; phones and other computers are limited to the web app.
• There is no free plan: a subscription is needed after the 30-day trial.
• Each seat covers a set number of personal Macs: 1 on Professional, 2 on Expert and 3 on Connect.
• Team features, the Web API, Zapier and MCP integration are limited to the Connect plan.

Qbserve

Automatic project tracking

Rules match strings in document paths or browser addresses to a project, and undetected time can be assigned in the timesheet at day's end.

Productivity scoring

Sites, apps and games are scored against a built-in list of over 8,100, with a productivity score in the menu bar and alerts at goals.

Timesheets and invoices

Timesheets show an activity summary, timeline and notes per hour, and invoice items are created from recorded time in 18 languages.

Local data storage

The vendor says all tracked data is stored on the Mac and never sent anywhere, with options to ignore private browser tabs or pause.

Exports and automation

Timesheets export to JSON and CSV on a schedule, and alerts connect to AppleScript, IFTTT and Zapier.

Timing

Automatic tracking

Records the apps, documents and websites used on the Mac without timers. Private and incognito browser tabs are discarded, and an exclusion list keeps chosen items out.

Timeline and rules

An interactive timeline shows the day's activity and lets you add offline time. Option-dragging an activity onto a project creates a rule that assigns similar work from then on.

Calls, meetings and Screen Time

Tracks time spent on phone calls, meetings and calendar events, prompts you when a video or voice call ends, and can import mobile app usage from Screen Time.

AI summaries and MCP

AI summaries group related activities and highlight the main topics of a day. The Connect plan adds MCP integration so an AI agent can work with your time data.

Reports for billing

Timesheets export as PDF, XLSX, CSV or HTML, with rounding and billing status tracking. A GrandTotal integration passes tracked time to that invoicing app.

Web app and teams

A web app syncs with the Mac app and can be installed on a phone to start and stop timers. On Connect, teams share projects and admins review members' times.

Qbserve

Pricing could not be confirmed. See qotoqot.com.

Timing

• Professional$9

  per month, billed annually ($11 billed monthly)

  1 Mac for one person. Automatic tracking, timers, basic reports for clients and limited web app access.

• Expert$11

  per month, billed annually ($14 billed monthly)

  2 Macs for one person. Adds filters, customizable reports and full web app access.

• Connect$16

  per user / month, billed annually ($20 billed monthly)

  3 Macs per user. Adds teams with shared projects, AI integration via MCP, the Web API, Zapier and two-way ClickUp, Linear and Clio sync.

Qbserve

• Education

  Student discount on request

  The support page says a student discount exists and tells students to contact the vendor. No amount is stated.

Timing

• Annual discount

  Save 18% or more with annual billing

  The pricing page labels annual billing "Save 18%": Professional is $9 a month billed annually against $11 monthly, and Expert is $11 against $14.

• Other savings

  Referral program: a free month each

  Subscribers get a personal referral link. When a new customer signs up through it, both receive an extra free month, up to six months of credit per calendar year.