Timely Review
Timely eliminates manual time tracking with AI Memory technology that automatically captures your work across apps and websites. The platform drafts accurate timesheets for you, saving teams 5+ hours per week while achieving 80%+ utilization rates. With 4.4/5 stars across G2, Capterra, and TrustRadius, it's trusted by consultancies and agencies managing billable hours.
Quick Intel
Pricing Breakdown
Timely offers tiered plans based on team size and feature needs, with all plans including automatic time tracking and AI-drafted timesheets. Monthly pricing shown below; annual plans save ~20%.
- Automatic time tracking
- AI timesheets
- 20 projects
- Max 5 users
- In-app support
- API access
- All Starter features
- Unlimited projects
- Max 50 users
- Sync with project management tools (Trello, Jira, Asana)
- Integrate with accounting tools
- Team management
- Manage budgets and costs
- Live project dashboards
- Capacity management
- All Premium features
- Unlimited projects
- Unlimited users
- Capacity management
- Overtime tracking
- Azure User Management
- 50+ currencies
- Premium customer success
- Lock billed hours
Annual plans save approximately 20% compared to monthly billing (Starter: $9/mo, Premium: $16/mo, Unlimited: $22/mo when billed annually).
Timely Time Savings Calculator
- 90% reduction in manual time entry based on Zagaran case study
- 5 hours/week saved per team member from eliminating timesheet overhead
- 400% ROI documented from capturing previously unbilled time
Feature Analysis
Timely excels at automatic tracking and timesheet generation, though it lacks built-in invoicing and has limited free options. Here's how key capabilities stack up:
Automatic Tracking
Memory AI captures 100% of work across devices without manual timers, with privacy-first architecture that keeps data local.
AI Timesheet Generation
NEW 2025: AI Timesheet Assistant with three drafting styles automatically categorizes activities.
Integrations
Connects with Asana, ClickUp, monday.com, Trello, Jira, and QuickBooks, though integration depth varies by tool.
Reporting & Analytics
Comprehensive utilization reports and project analytics help teams reach 80%+ billable time.
Invoicing
No native invoicing capability; requires QuickBooks integration or external billing tools.
The Honest Truth
Based on 695+ reviews across G2, Capterra, and TrustRadius, here's what users consistently highlight:
- Truly automatic tracking - Memory AI captures work across all apps and devices without manual timers, eliminating 5+ hours/week teams typically spend on time entry.
- Privacy-first design - All tracking data stays local on your device until you approve it, with granular controls over what gets shared with your team.
- Proven ROI - Case studies document 400% ROI, 80%+ utilization rates, and 20-30% productivity improvements for consultancies and agencies.
- AI-drafted timesheets - 2025 AI Timesheet Assistant offers three drafting styles and intelligent categorization, reducing manual timesheet corrections by 90%.
- No free tier - Starting at $11/month with only a 14-day trial means teams must commit financially to test the platform fully.
- Limited invoicing - No native invoicing capability requires QuickBooks integration or external billing tools, adding complexity for client billing.
- Learning curve for AI - Teams need time to train the AI on project categorization and build trust in automated timesheet drafts before relying on them.
Who Should Use This
Timely works best for teams tracking billable hours but isn't ideal for everyone:
Consulting teams tracking billable hours
Timely's automatic tracking helps consultancies achieve 80%+ billable time without manual entry, with proven results at firms like Zagaran.
Best FitCreative agencies managing clients
Agencies like Little Dot Studios use Timely to track work across 100+ projects simultaneously, ensuring accurate client billing.
Best FitProject managers needing utilization insights
Automatic tracking provides real-time visibility into how teams spend time, helping identify bottlenecks and optimize allocation.
Best FitRemote teams tracking distributed work
Cross-device sync and privacy controls make Timely workable for remote teams, though it lacks calendar optimization features.
Good FitBudget-conscious startups
With no free tier and $11/month minimum, Timely is expensive compared to free alternatives like Clockify for testing.
Not IdealFreelancers needing invoicing
Solo users who need integrated invoicing should consider Harvest or FreshBooks, as Timely requires external billing tools.
Not Idealvs. Competition
Timely competes in the AI productivity space but focuses specifically on automatic time tracking rather than calendar optimization:
My take: Timely wins for pure time tracking with its truly automatic approach, but Clockwise and Reclaim.ai are better if you need calendar optimization. Motion offers a hybrid but at higher cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Timely's automatic time tracking:
Final Verdict
The verdict: Best automatic time tracker for billable hours
Timely delivers on its promise of truly automatic time tracking, saving teams 5+ hours per week while achieving 80%+ utilization rates. The 2025 AI Timesheet Assistant makes it even more hands-off. At $11-28/month with no free tier, it's a premium solution that pays for itself quickly for consultancies and agencies. If you need automatic tracking without manual timers and can accept external invoicing tools, Timely is the strongest option available.
Try Timely FreeThis review contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.