Tim vs TimeScribe
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Tim
Menu bar time tracker for Mac with reports and invoicing
Where they differ
- Tim starts at $12.99 per year, or $24.99 one-time (Pro, US Mac App Store). TimeScribe is free.
- Only TimeScribe lists a Windows app.
- Tim can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- TimeScribe is open source, according to its own site.
- Tim also covers invoicing.
At a glance
| Tim | TimeScribe | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | $12.99 per year, or $24.99 one-time (Pro, US Mac App Store) | Free |
| Free plan | Free version with most features, limited to 3 tasks and 6 tags. It has no automatic backups or data import and shows upgrade prompts and ads for the maker's other apps. | Completely free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license. The vendor's FAQ says there are no hidden costs, no subscriptions and no restrictions. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Neat Software Co. | TimeScribe |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | timescribe.app |
| Checked | Oct 6, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Tim
- Mac users who want a timer that lives in the menu bar
- Freelancers who invoice clients from their tracked hours
- People who want time data kept on their own Mac with no account
TimeScribe
- Individuals who have to record working hours, breaks and overtime
- Freelancers who want free tracking with exports for invoices
- People who do not want an account or their time data in the cloud
Worth knowing
Tim
- Tim is for Mac only, and the Mac App Store listing says the current version requires macOS 15 or later.
- The free version stops at 3 tasks and 6 tags and shows upgrade prompts.
- Data stays on the device it was recorded on; moving it to another Mac means importing a backup, which needs Pro.
- The website does not state the price of the direct-download Pro version; the listed prices are from the US Mac App Store.
TimeScribe
- It is built for individual users; the vendor's FAQ recommends other tools for teams.
- All data is stored locally on the device, without a cloud or an account.
- There are apps for macOS and Windows only; no Linux, mobile or web version is listed.
- Help and feature requests go through GitHub issues and discussions.
Key features
Tim
- Menu bar timer
- The running time shows in the menu bar and the timer is controlled with keyboard shortcuts. Idle detection asks what to do with the time when you return.
- Tasks, groups and tags
- Tasks and their time records can be created and edited freely, grouped or tagged, and archived when they should stay on file but out of the main list and menu bar.
- Charts and filters
- Charts give a visual breakdown of hours, averages and revenue, and any view can be filtered by date range, by tag or by both.
- Invoicing
- Invoices are created from tracked time. Tim calculates totals from hourly rates, applies tax and payment terms, and exports a PDF to send to the client.
- Exports and backups
- Data exports to CSV, JSON, PDF or iCal, and a full export doubles as a backup. Pro adds automatic backups at a set interval and importing data on another Mac.
- Automation
- AppleScript, Shortcuts actions, Spotlight, deep links and x-callback-url can start and stop the timer and create tasks or records. A command-line export is possible through osascript.
TimeScribe
- Timer in the menu bar
- Work and break tracking starts, pauses and stops with one click, and the timer can be controlled from the menu bar, including switching between projects.
- Time balance and overtime
- Day and week views show work patterns and whether you are ahead of or behind your hours, so overtime and missed time are visible at a glance.
- Projects and hourly rates
- Time is tracked per project with descriptions, and an optional hourly rate produces billing calculations for client work.
- Absences and holidays
- Vacation and sick days are planned and recorded separately from work, and public holidays can be included in the overview.
- App activity and automatic start
- Optional app tracking, off by default, shows which apps were used and sorts work from distractions. The timer can start and pause by itself based on screen time and idle status.
- Exports, shortcuts and deep links
- Times export as PDF, Excel or CSV. Custom keyboard shortcuts and timescribe:// links let tools such as Shortcuts, Alfred, Raycast or AutoHotkey start and stop the timer.
Plans
Tim
Free$0
Most of Tim's features with up to 3 tasks and 6 tags, without automatic backups or data import.
Pro: Monthly$4.99
per month, US Mac App Store in-app purchase
Unlimited tasks and tags, automatic backups, importing and transferring data, and no ads or upgrade prompts.
Pro: Yearly$12.99
per year, US Mac App Store in-app purchase
The same Pro features paid once a year.
Pro: Lifetime$24.99
one-time, US Mac App Store in-app purchase
Pro as a single purchase. Pro is also sold as a direct download from the website, where the price appears at checkout.
TimeScribe
Free$0
Every feature on macOS and Windows, with no account, no premium plan and no paywall.
Ways to pay less
Tim
- Lifetime license
Pro: Lifetime one-time purchase
The US Mac App Store lists Pro: Lifetime at $24.99, a one-time alternative to the monthly and yearly subscriptions.
- Annual discount
Yearly Pro costs far less than monthly
The US Mac App Store lists Pro at $12.99 a year against $4.99 a month. Twelve monthly payments come to $59.88, so the yearly plan costs about 78% less.
- Education
Student discount through Student App Centre
Tim's help page says students can get a discount code from Student App Centre, which verifies student status. The amount is not stated.
TimeScribe
No public discounts listed.
