Accurate time tracking might help a virtual assistant with consumer invoicing, mission administration, productiveness tracking, and extra.
But there are lots of time tracking instruments available in the market, and chances are you’ll need assistance to decide on one which fits your necessities.
In this text, we’ll discover the 12 finest time tracking software for virtual assistants, their options, pricing, and buyer scores. We’ll additionally clarify find out how to choose an acceptable time tracking software and the advantages of time tracking.
Let’s get began.
12 finest time tracking software for virtual assistants
A virtual assistant is a distant worker who might help a enterprise proprietor or supervisor with their day by day administrative duties, in any other case managed by an in-house govt assistant.
The virtual assistant service record contains the next:
- Scheduling conferences.
- Email advertising and administration.
- Social media administration.
- Accounts administration.
- Content creation for digital advertising, and so forth.
Check out our associated put up on virtual assistants, what they do, and find out how to rent them.
Due to their distant location, utilizing handbook spreadsheets to trace a virtual assistant’s work hours or attendance is probably not correct or environment friendly.
Fortunately, you’ll be able to log time with on-line time tracking instruments.
Let’s take a look at the 12 in style time tracking instruments for a virtual assistant:
1. Time Doctor
Time Doctor is a time tracking and worker productiveness administration software that helps virtual assistants simply report their distant work hours.
Used by small companies like Thrive Market in addition to giant enterprises like Ericsson, it automates a number of repetitive duties like recording time entries, managing initiatives and duties, and so forth.
Time Doctor helps Windows, macOS, and Linux working techniques and provides a cell utility for Android cell gadgets.
Let’s take an in depth take a look at some extra Time Doctor options.
Key options
Here are a number of useful options of Time Doctor:
A. Interactive and silent time tracking
Time Doctor has an interactive and silent time tracking characteristic that permits you to report your work hours conveniently.
Here’s how you should utilize the handbook (interactive) mode:
- Add a brand new activity or choose a pre-existing activity to trace time.
- Click Start once you begin work and Stop once you’re accomplished or want a break.
If manually turning your tracker on and off each time you begin or pause work is a problem, you’ll be able to go along with Time Doctor’s silent (automated) tracking characteristic.
It robotically begins tracking time once you swap your pc on. And because it has no interface, it runs within the background with out interrupting your workflow.
B. Idle time tracking
Time Doctor’s inbuilt idle time tracking characteristic tracks unproductive hours by checking for keyboard and mouse exercise.
If it detects no mouse or keyboard exercise for a predetermined time, it sends you a pop-up, nudging you to restart work. If you don’t reply to the pop-up alert, the software assumes you’re not working and stops tracking time.
Note: Time Doctor isn’t a keylogger. It doesn’t report keystrokes or mouse actions however solely detects them.
C. Offline time tracking
Offline time tracking enables you to monitor your time even with out a functioning web connection.
Once the web connectivity will get restored, the tracked time and the screenshots sync to your account robotically.
D. Screencasts
Time Doctor takes screenshots of customers’ pc screens at a set frequency.
The screencasts characteristic provides 3 totally different settings:
- Screenshot: Takes screenshots inside a specified time interval.
- Video: Captures video that’s divided into 3-minute intervals.
- Off: No screenshots or video.
Note: The screenshots will be blurred or deleted in the event that they comprise delicate knowledge like private data to guard your privateness.
E. Project and activity administration
Time Doctor provides an efficient mission and activity administration performance to streamline the work.
Managers can create a mother or father mission and divide it into easy duties. This permits them to trace time spent on every activity individually.
They may use the characteristic to view vital mission data, like:
- Total time spent.
- Productivity ranges of the staff.
- Productivity of particular person virtual assistants.
F. Work scheduling
Work scheduling permits managers and admins to:
- Add or edit a number of shifts at a time.
- Add the minimal work hours per shift.
- Customize the work schedule in accordance with worker availability.
After it has been activated, work schedules seem within the settings menu and the attendance report.
G. Productivity scores
Time Doctor’s productiveness score characteristic helps employers monitor how virtual assistants spend their working hours. Based on their relevance to the workflow, they’ll categorize apps and web sites as follows:
- Productive.
- Unproductive.
- Neutral.
- Unrated.
For instance, a digital advertising virtual assistant could have to make use of social media websites like LinkedIn or Facebook for advertising campaigns. So these web sites will be labeled as productive.
H. Productivity reviews
The software generates a number of in-depth productiveness reviews primarily based in your tracked work hours. These reviews offer you a greater concept of your productiveness patterns.
Let’s take a look at the totally different reviews Time Doctor generates:
- Activity abstract report: Displays your lively, unproductive, handbook, and cell gadget time for a specific interval.
- Timeline report: Lets you view how lengthy you spend working and on breaks.
- Hours tracked report: Shows your whole hours tracked throughout a particular date vary.
- Internet connectivity report: Shows the time you spent offline and the way a lot % it’s of the full tracked time for the day.
- Attendance report: Lets your supervisor know in the event you had been current, absent, partially absent, or late for your work shift. It’s solely accessible with the work scheduling characteristic turned on.
- Projects & duties report: Displays the time you spend engaged on totally different duties and initiatives.
- Web & app utilization report: Lists the websites and purposes you employ throughout work hours and the time you spend on every.
I. Payroll administration
Time Doctor automates the payroll primarily based on billable hours and billing charges.
Employers can combine the software with in style cost gateways like Gusto, ADP, Paypal, and Wise to pay a distant worker immediately.
Also, it permits employers so as to add pay charges for every virtual assistant and specify the cost foreign money.
J. Chrome extension and integrations
Time Doctor’s Chrome extension integrates with a number of premium instruments. Here are a few of them:
Time Doctor Chrome extension additionally integrates with Google Workspace so virtual assistants can monitor the time they spend engaged on any Google doc or sheet.
Pricing
Time Doctor provides a free 14-day trial plan (no bank card required). Its paid plans begin at $7/consumer per thirty days.
Customer scores
Capterra: 4.5/5 (460+ critiques)
G2: 4.4/5 (320+ critiques)
2. Toggl Track
Toggl Track is a time tracking software that may assist a virtual assistant with duties like reporting and invoicing.
Key options
- Lets you monitor time by its cell app, desktop app, net app, or browser extension.
- Automatically tracks the web site or app you employ for greater than 10 seconds.
- Allows you to trace time whereas engaged on a Google doc and streamlines scheduling by Google Calendar integration.
- Lets you pin time entries to the highest of the Timer web page for straightforward accessibility.
Pricing
Toggl Track provides a free model for as much as 5 customers. Its paid plans begin at $10/consumer per thirty days.
Customer scores
Capterra: 4.7/5 (2100+ critiques)
G2: 4.6/5 (1510+ critiques)
3. Harvest
Harvest is an easy time tracking and reporting app which helps with invoices and funds. It’s an intuitive software that may assist virtual assistants simply monitor time for their distant work.
Key options
- Lets you simply monitor time with desktop and cell apps.
- Helps distribute work evenly amongst staff members by capability reporting.
- Allows a virtual assistant to set reminders to trace time.
- Lets you overview previous mission knowledge and estimate the scope and expenditure of future initiatives.
Pricing
Harvest provides a free plan for single customers. Its paid plans begin at $12/consumer per thirty days.
Customer scores
Capterra: 4.5/5 (520+ critiques)
G2: 4.3/5 (770+ critiques)
4. Clockify
Clockify is a time tracker that distinguishes billable time from non-billable time and generates exact invoices.
Key options
- Helps you monitor time utilizing a easy begin/cease timer and helps handbook entry.
- Allows you to submit timesheets and set reminders after they’re due.
- Shows productiveness traits and shows how your time will get divided between totally different initiatives and duties.
- Lets you combine the software with Asana, Jira, and Trello and sync knowledge through API & Webhooks.
Pricing
Clockify provides a free plan. Its paid plans begin at $4.99/consumer per thirty days.
Customer scores
Capterra: 4.7/5 (4340+ critiques)
G2: 4.5/5 (130+ critiques)
5. MyHours
MyHours is a time tracking software that helps arrange initiatives and monitor bills. You may coordinate duties and create detailed reviews for shoppers.
Key options
- Allows you to trace time on the undergo its net app or utilizing a devoted app for iPhone and Android cell gadgets.
- Enables you to set an hourly fee for every mission, activity, or staff member.
- Lets you assign a mission to a consumer and classify it as billable or non-billable.
- Lets you fast-track admin work by establishing templates.
Pricing
MyHours provides a free plan. Its paid plans begin at $7/consumer per thirty days.
Customer scores
Capterra: 4.8/5 (840+ critiques)
G2: 4.6/5 (200+ critiques)
6. RescueTime
RescueTime is a virtual assistant software that provides an automated time logging system. It might help virtual assistants achieve extra management over their time and enhance their productiveness.
Key options
- Tracks work hours and notifies you once you’re distracted.
- Generates time reviews that will help you determine which duties are time-consuming.
- Lets you start Focus Sessions to keep away from distractions like social media.
- Shows the way you’re spending time to enhance time administration.
Pricing
RescueTime provides free and paid options. Pricing is accessible on request.
Customer scores
Capterra: 4.6/5 (130+ critiques)
G2: 4.1/5 (80+ critiques)
7. Paymo
Paymo is a time tracking software that serves as a mission administration software, tracks time, and invoices shoppers. It additionally provides budgeting options to maintain your mission prices in verify.
Key options
- Automatically logs your time on initiatives and allows you to add notes to them.
- Offers a desktop widget that permits you to simply monitor time and provides a visible breakdown of your day’s actions.
- Lets you turn between day by day, weekly, and month-to-month timesheets simply.
- Offers a Kanban board view of your duties that will help you handle them successfully.
Pricing
Paymo provides a free plan for a single consumer. Its paid plans begin at $ 5.95/consumer per thirty days.
Customer scores
Capterra: 4.7/5 (430+ critiques)
G2: 4.6/5 (570+ critiques)
8. TimeCamp
TimeCamp can be utilized as a virtual assistant software that information billable hours and provides time reviews to gauge productiveness.
Key options
- Lets you flip the timer on and off with only a click on.
- Enables you to trace time by its desktop app or Chrome extension.
- Offers a graphic timesheet the place you’ll be able to simply add, modify, or delete time entries.
- Uses key phrases particular to duties and initiatives to robotically monitor time as you turn between them.
Pricing
TimeCamp provides a free plan. Its paid plans begin at $7/consumer per thirty days.
Customer scores
Capterra: 4.7/5 (570+ critiques)
G2: 4.6/5 (180+ critiques)
9. QuickBooks Time
QuickBooks Time helps simplify consumer invoicing and different actions by precisely tracking the time a virtual assistant takes to finish a activity.
Key options
- Lets you clock out and in with a 4 digits pin code.
- Offers GPS tracking performance for your distant groups.
- Generates payroll, mission, and worker wage and hour reviews.
- Automatically tracks mileage to reimburse journey bills.
Pricing
QuickBooks Time provides a free plan for 30 days. Its paid plans begin at $15/month for freelancers.
Customer scores
Capterra: 4.7/5 (6000+ critiques)
G2: 4.5/5 (1410+ critiques)
10. DeskTime
DeskTime is an automated time tracking software appropriate for groups and even a freelancer. It additionally provides attendance tracking and workflow administration options.
Key options
- Tracks time primarily based on doc titles, e-mail topic strains, chat group names, and so forth.
- Tracks offline billable time spent attending calls, conferences, and so forth.
- Offers a ‘Private Time’ characteristic that pauses all monitoring exercise when a consumer engages in non-work actions like social media shopping.
- Integrates with in style instruments like Trello and Google Calendar to make sure uninterrupted workflow.
Pricing
DeskTime provides a free plan. Its paid plans begin at $7/consumer per thirty days.
Customer scores
Capterra: 4.5/5 (470+ critiques)
G2: 4.6/5 (170+ critiques)
11. Hubstaff
Hubstaff is a virtual assistant software for time tracking, and workforce and mission administration. It additionally goals to handle in-house and distant groups effectively.
Key options
- Offers an automated timer that begins and stops primarily based on GPS areas.
- Generates a timesheet displaying a breakdown of workers’ work hours with respect to a consumer and mission.
- Tracks the URLs and apps accessed throughout work hours for worker monitoring.
- Gives you key productiveness insights by the Hubstaff dashboard.
Pricing
Hubstaff provides a free plan. Its paid plans begin at $7/consumer per thirty days for a minimal of two customers.
Customer scores
Capterra: 4.6/5 (1320+ critiques)
G2: 4.3 (400+ critiques)
12. TopTracker
TopTracker is a time tracking software appropriate for a small enterprise proprietor, entrepreneur, or virtual assistant. It provides a centralized dashboard to assist handle initiatives with ease.
Key options
- Offers hotkeys (shortcuts) to start out, cease, and handle time tracking.
- Takes screenshots of your monitor, which may then be used as proof of time-use for the shoppers.
- Generates real-time summaries of your productiveness primarily based on time tracked knowledge.
- Carries out cost processing through Payoneer, a trusted third-party cost supplier.
Pricing
TopTracker provides all its options for free.
Customer scores
Capterra: 4.6/5 (5+ critiques)
G2: N/A
Now that you already know the distinguished time tracking apps for virtual assistants, let’s discover ways to select one of the best one for your wants.
How to decide on the correct time tracker for virtual assistants?
Here are some things to remember whereas selecting a time tracker:
1. Device compatibility
Ensure the time tracking software can be utilized from all gadgets. This manner, you’ll be able to work from any gadget at your comfort.
For instance, select a time tracking software that can be utilized on each desktop and cell gadgets to conveniently swap between gadgets.
2. Availability of vital options
Analyze why you want a time tracking software and select a software that provides all the required options.
For instance, in the event you want superior time administration and monitoring options, buy a software providing idle time tracking, scheduling, URL tracking, and so forth.
3. Easy app integration
Subscribe to a software that provides app integration functionality with instruments you or your organization already use. This helps to avoid wasting time, keep away from confusion, and improve productiveness.
For instance, a time tracking software that integrates with in style instruments like Google Workspace will allow you to monitor time with out switching or downloading further apps – saving time and energy.
4. Budget-friendly plans
Understand the software’s pricing plans and determine one which most closely fits your price range and supplies the required virtual assistant service.
Now, let’s see how time tracking might help a distant worker like a virtual assistant.
6 key advantages of time tracking for virtual assistants
Here are a number of most important advantages of time tracking for virtual assistants:
1. Boosts focus
Time tracking might help you focus fully on one activity at a time, and consequently, cut back the chance of multitasking – which may improve productiveness.
2. Create an correct timeline
With detailed time-use knowledge, you’ll be able to precisely estimate mission timelines and set lifelike deadlines. This will aid you make well timed submissions.
3. Make sensible selections
Time tracking helps you make selections on budgets, useful resource allocation, and so forth. For instance, you’ll be able to spot time-consuming duties and determine whether or not to automate them or get educated on dealing with them effectively.
4. Track hidden duties
Time tracking might help you report actions like consumer conferences, activity planning, e-mail advertising, and so forth., which might be sometimes a part of a virtual assistant’s workflow. It’ll offer you extra correct knowledge in your whole work hours.
5. Establish transparency
Time tracking helps set up a clear workflow by particular person activity tracking and reporting. You can assess your productiveness and supply the consumer with a transparent account of the time you invested in a selected activity.
6. Ensure an correct payroll course of
Payroll software ensures an error-free billing course of when supplied with correct time tracked knowledge and billing charges. This manner, employers can conveniently generate invoices for each flat-priced and hourly-priced duties.
Wrapping up
Time tracking is important to the virtual assistant enterprise as it might guarantee correct consumer billing, environment friendly mission administration, and better productiveness.
But there are lots of virtual assistant instruments accessible available in the market, and you should purchase the correct tracker to take pleasure in the advantages of recording time.
You can undergo the record of instruments on this article to get a greater concept of their options. While all of the instruments supply nice time tracking capabilities, Time Doctor stands out with further options like idle time tracking, activity administration, payroll, and so forth.
Sign-up with Time Doctor’s 14-day free trial and expertise premium time tracking.