Timely vs WiseTime (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Timely if

• Fits if you bill by the hour and would rather approve a drafted timesheet than run timers
• Works for managers who follow project budgets and team capacity, from Premium up

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want a free plan, because a subscription is needed once the 14-day trial ends
• Tight if you're on Starter and growing, since it stops at 5 users and 20 projects, and Premium at 50 users
• Pricey if you need budgets or integrations, which start on Premium at $16 a user, or $20 billed monthly
• Watch out: Timely's handbook says the iOS and Android apps are no longer actively developed
• Not for you if you work on Linux or an older computer, as Memory needs macOS 14 or Windows 10 or later

Pick WiseTime if

• Fits if you bill by the matter and use Clio or a similar practice system
• Works for firms that don't want staff starting and stopping timers

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you aren't in legal or professional services, as the product is aimed at law firms
• Pricey if you can't tell: no price is published and Professional starts at 5 users
• Not for you if you use Android, since the phone app is iOS only
• Watch out: API access, single sign-on and custom connections are Enterprise, aimed at firms with over 50 users

Timely

• There is no free plan: a subscription is needed once the 14-day trial ends.
• Starter is capped at 5 users and 20 projects, and Premium at 50 users.
• Timely's handbook says the iOS and Android apps remain available but are no longer actively developed.
• Memory apps are offered for macOS 14 or later and Windows 10 or later; no Linux app is listed.

WiseTime

• No prices are published; pricing is quoted through a demo request.
• The Professional plan has a 5-user minimum, keeps data for up to 12 months and uses cloud connections only.
• The mobile app is iOS only, and the vendor's focus is legal timekeeping rather than general projects.
• API access, single sign-on and bespoke connections are Enterprise features, aimed at firms with over 50 users.

Timely

Memory tracker

The Memory app for Mac and Windows records your work automatically to a private timeline, so there are no timers to start and stop. A manual timer is also available.

AI timesheets

AI drafts a timesheet from the recorded activity and sorts it into projects, leaving the user to review and approve the entries.

Projects and budgets

A project dashboard shows team and budget activity as it happens, with billable rates and time or money budgets. Recurring budgets need Premium or Unlimited.

Planning and capacity

Premium lets managers plan work for their teams. Unlimited adds capacity management and reporting along with overtime and undertime tracking.

Reports and invoicing

Reports export as PDF, CSV or XLS and can be shared as live or snapshot links. Invoices are built from tracked time and can be sent to QuickBooks Online.

Tasks add-on

An optional add-on for assigning, scheduling and tracking progress on deliverables, available on any plan from $5 per person.

WiseTime

Automatic time capture

Records activity across desktop apps on Windows, Mac and Linux while the user works, with no timer to start or stop.

Matter detection

Matter IDs sync from the connected practice management system, and recorded activity is tagged against the matching matter.

AI-written narratives

Summarizes recorded activity into a description for the invoice, with preferences to adjust the style or translate it.

Private timeline

Recorded time stays private to the user until they review, edit or delete entries and post them. Rules can leave private tasks out.

Billing system connections

Cloud connections to systems such as Clio send posted time to the right client or case. Other systems need an Enterprise connection.

Team dashboard and reports

Managers see how well their team records time and can export PDF or CSV reports by person, period or tag.

Timely

• Starter$9

  per user / month, billed yearly ($11 billed monthly)

  Up to 5 users and 20 projects, with automatic time tracking, AI categorization, billable hour reports and API access.

• Premium$16

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

  Up to 50 users and unlimited projects. Adds project management and accounting integrations, team management, budgets and costs, and planning.

• Unlimited$22

  per user / month, billed yearly ($28 billed monthly)

  Unlimited users and projects. Adds capacity management and reporting, overtime and undertime, Azure user management and 50+ currencies.

• EnterpriseCustom

  All Unlimited features plus tailored onboarding, team training, monthly or quarterly reviews and priority support.

WiseTime

Pricing could not be confirmed. See wisetime.com.

Timely

• Annual discount

  Up to 22% off with yearly billing

  Timely's pricing page lists savings of up to 22% for a yearly subscription: Unlimited is $22 per user a month yearly against $28 monthly, and Starter is $9 against $11.

• Education

  Student discount on request

  The pricing FAQ offers student discounts through support chat or email to people with a valid student ID and student email address. No amount is stated.

WiseTime

No public discounts listed.