Timesheet software all sounds the same from a features page — log hours, get approvals, run reports. The differences show up once you're actually using it: whether approvals move fast or sit in someone's inbox for a week, whether reporting takes seconds or requires exporting to Excel first, and whether it's priced for a 5-person team or built for a 500-person enterprise from the start.
We compared five platforms that come up constantly in this space, looking specifically at how each handles day-to-day use rather than just what's listed on the pricing page.
1. OfficePortal
Best for: teams that want timesheets wired into attendance and payroll, not running as a separate tool
OfficePortal's timesheet module ties directly into the rest of its HR platform — if someone's marked present through attendance but never submits a timesheet, that gap surfaces automatically instead of requiring a manual cross-check. Time can be logged daily or weekly, against specific tasks and project boards, with a start/stop timer for teams that want precise tracking rather than end-of-week estimates.
Key features:
- Start/stop timer with task and board-level logging
- Multi-level approval workflow with automatic escalation if a manager doesn't respond in time
- Billable vs. non-billable hour separation at the point of entry
- Attendance-timesheet gap detection
- Mobile app for Android and iOS
- Instant reporting by team, project, or period
Pricing: Free for up to 5 users, permanently. Paid plans start around $4/user/month beyond that.
Why it's here: Most timesheet tools handle logging and approval well but leave payroll and attendance as separate systems someone has to reconcile manually. OfficePortal closes that loop, and the free tier has no time limit — a real advantage over tools that cap trials at 14 days.
See the full OfficePortal timesheet feature set →
2. Zoho People
Best for: teams already using other Zoho products who want timesheets in the same ecosystem
Zoho People's timesheet functionality sits inside its broader HR suite, which makes sense for businesses already running Zoho CRM, Zoho Projects, or other tools in that family. Weekly timesheet views and approval workflows are available, though some of the more granular features come as add-ons rather than being included by default.
Key features: Daily and weekly entry, project-linked time logging, integration with other Zoho apps, customizable approval chains.
Pricing: Around $75/month depending on tier and add-ons selected.
Worth knowing: Several timesheet-specific features that come standard elsewhere are sold as add-ons here, so the effective cost can run higher than the headline price suggests once you scope out what you actually need.
3. greytHR
Best for: mid-sized Indian businesses that want payroll and compliance handled alongside timesheets
greytHR has built a strong following among Indian SMBs specifically because it pairs timesheet and attendance tracking with statutory compliance features — PF, ESI, and other India-specific payroll requirements handled natively rather than bolted on.
Key features: Attendance-linked timesheets, statutory compliance tools, payroll processing, employee self-service portal.
Pricing: Around $42/month for base plans, scaling with employee count.
Worth knowing: The compliance-first design is a strength for its core market but less relevant if you're operating outside India, where those specific features don't apply.
4. Keka
Best for: growing companies that want a polished, modern interface across HR and timesheets
Keka positions itself as a modern alternative to older HRMS platforms, with a timesheet module that's part of a broader people-management suite covering performance, payroll, and recruitment. The interface is a genuine differentiator — cleaner and more intuitive than several older competitors.
Key features: Project-based time tracking, approval workflows, performance management integration, payroll sync.
Pricing: Starts around $84/month.
Worth knowing: It's priced and positioned more for mid-market companies than very small teams, and there's no free tier to test the timesheet features specifically before committing.
5. Toggl Track
Best for: freelancers, consultants, and small teams that want a dedicated, lightweight time tracker without a full HR suite
Toggl Track skips HR entirely and focuses on the timer itself — one click to start tracking, clean reporting by project or client, and integrations with dozens of project management tools. It's a common pick for teams that already have HR software elsewhere and just need a clean, simple timer layered on top.
Key features: One-click timer, project and client tagging, detailed reporting, calendar integration for auto-tracking suggestions.
Pricing: Free plan for up to 5 users; paid plans start around $9/user/month.
Worth knowing: It's a pure time tracker, not a timesheet approval or payroll system — you'll still need something else if you want built-in approval workflows or attendance tracking.
How to choose between them
If you want timesheets connected to attendance and payroll without paying for three separate tools, OfficePortal's free tier is the easiest starting point. If you're already deep in the Zoho ecosystem, Zoho People keeps everything in one place. Indian businesses juggling statutory compliance will likely find greytHR's built-in handling worth the cost. Companies that want a more modern interface across the whole HR stack tend to land on Keka. And if you just need a clean, dedicated timer without any HR overhead, Toggl Track does that one thing very well.
Conclusion
Every platform on this list can log hours and generate a report — that part of the job is table stakes. What actually separates them is what happens to that data afterward: whether it flows into payroll and attendance automatically, or whether someone's still reconciling it by hand every month.
OfficePortal is built around that connection specifically — the same platform that tracks time also handles attendance and payroll, with a free tier that covers up to 5 users indefinitely.
Try OfficePortal's timesheet software free →
Reference Pages
Computer Employee Monitoring Software for Employees: The 2026 Guide
Top 5 Best Employee Monitoring Software in 2026
Employee Management Software: Features, Benefits & How to Choose
10 Employee Retention Strategies That Actually Work in 2026
Free Attendance Tracking Software for Small Business (2026)
