Toggl vs Tsheets: Time Tracking Showdown

In the realm of time management, two names often surface in discussions among entrepreneurs and businesses: Toggl and Tsheets. This article provides an extensive comparison of these two popular time tracking tools. We delve into their features, pricing, and the situations where one might be a better choice over the other. Our aim is to provide you with a comprehensive guide to help you make an informed decision about which tool is the best fit for your business needs.

What is Toggl and what is Tsheets?

Toggl is a time tracking application that is designed to provide businesses and entrepreneurs with a simple and efficient way to manage their time. It offers features such as one-click timers, tracking reminders, and detailed reporting that can help users understand where their time is being spent. Toggl is known for its user-friendly interface and its ability to integrate with a wide range of other productivity tools.

Tsheets, on the other hand, is a comprehensive time tracking solution that is now part of Intuit’s product suite. It provides features such as employee scheduling, GPS tracking, and real-time reporting. Tsheets is particularly popular among businesses that need to track time for payroll and invoicing purposes. It also offers robust integration capabilities, particularly with other Intuit products like QuickBooks.

Key Differences Between Toggl and Tsheets

1. User Interface: Toggl is known for its minimalist and intuitive interface, while Tsheets offers a more detailed and feature-rich interface.
2. Pricing Structure: Toggl offers a free tier and paid plans that are generally more affordable than Tsheets, which does not have a free tier and has pricing that can be higher depending on the number of users.
3. Integration Capabilities: While both tools offer integrations with other software, Tsheets has a particular strength in integrating with other Intuit products.
4. Focus: Toggl is primarily focused on time tracking and improving productivity, while Tsheets offers more comprehensive features for employee scheduling and payroll.
5. GPS Tracking: Tsheets offers GPS tracking, a feature that is not available in Toggl.
6. Reporting: Toggl offers more visual and customizable reports compared to Tsheets.

Key Similarities Between Toggl and Tsheets

1. Time Tracking: Both Toggl and Tsheets offer robust time tracking features, allowing users to accurately log their hours.
2. Reporting: Both tools provide detailed reports that can help businesses understand where their time is being spent.
3. Online Access: Both Toggl and Tsheets are cloud-based solutions that can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.
4. Mobile Apps: Both tools offer mobile applications, allowing users to track their time on the go.
5. Integrations: Both Toggl and Tsheets offer the ability to integrate with other productivity and business tools.
6. Support: Both tools offer support to their users through various channels including email, live chat, and online resources.

Key Feature Comparison of Toggl and Tsheets

1. Time Tracking: Both Toggl and Tsheets offer robust time tracking features. Toggl provides one-click timers and tracking reminders, while Tsheets offers on-the-go time tracking through its QuickBooks Workforce app.
2. Reporting: Toggl and Tsheets both provide detailed reporting features. Toggl’s reports are more visual and customizable, while Tsheets offers customizable reports that can provide valuable business insights for predicting job costs, planning for payroll, and boosting profitability.
3. Integrations: Toggl boasts over 100+ integrations with tools your team already uses, from Asana to Zapier, Jira, Salesforce, and more. Tsheets, on the other hand, seamlessly syncs time tracking data to your accounting or payroll for more efficient payroll and invoicing.
4. User Interface: Toggl is known for its simple and intuitive interface, making it easy for teams to adopt. Tsheets offers a more detailed interface and provides multiple ways to track time, including online, through a mobile app, and via a Time Kiosk on a tablet.
5. Employee Management: Tsheets offers a geofencing feature that reminds your team to clock in or out when they enter or leave a job site. Toggl, on the other hand, empowers teams with knowledge rather than micromanaging them, making it a tool designed for employee buy-in.
6. Pricing: Toggl offers a free tier and affordable paid plans, while Tsheets does not have a free tier and its pricing can be higher depending on the number of users.
7. Focus: Toggl is primarily focused on time tracking and improving productivity, while Tsheets offers more comprehensive features for employee scheduling and payroll.

Pros of Toggl Over Tsheets

1. User Interface: Toggl’s interface is minimalist and intuitive, making it easy for teams to adopt and use.
2. Pricing: Toggl offers a free tier and its paid plans are generally more affordable than Tsheets, making it a cost-effective choice for many businesses.
3. Focus on Productivity: Toggl is primarily focused on time tracking and improving productivity, which can be beneficial for businesses looking to optimize their time management.
4. Visual Reporting: Toggl offers more visual and customizable reports, allowing businesses to easily understand and analyze their time tracking data.
5. No GPS Tracking: Unlike Tsheets, Toggl does not offer GPS tracking, which can be seen as a pro for businesses that prioritize privacy and do not require location tracking.

Cons of Toggl Compared to Tsheets

1. Lack of Comprehensive Features: Tsheets offers more comprehensive features for employee scheduling and payroll, which Toggl does not have.
2. No GPS Tracking: While this can be seen as a pro for some businesses, the lack of GPS tracking in Toggl can be a disadvantage for businesses that need to track employee locations for certain jobs.
3. Limited Integrations: While Toggl does offer integrations with other software, Tsheets has a particular strength in integrating with other Intuit products, which can be beneficial for businesses already using Intuit’s suite of products.
4. No Free Tier: Unlike Tsheets, Toggl does not offer a free tier, which can be a disadvantage for small businesses or freelancers on a tight budget.
5. Less Detailed Interface: While Toggl’s minimalist interface can be seen as a pro, it can also be a con for businesses that prefer a more detailed and feature-rich interface like the one Tsheets offers.

Pros of Tsheets Over Toggl

1. Comprehensive Features: Tsheets offers more comprehensive features for employee scheduling and payroll, which Toggl does not have.
2. GPS Tracking: Tsheets offers GPS tracking, a feature that is not available in Toggl. This can be beneficial for businesses that need to track employee locations for certain jobs.
3. Integrations: Tsheets has a particular strength in integrating with other Intuit products, which can be beneficial for businesses already using Intuit’s suite of products.
4. Detailed Interface: Tsheets offers a more detailed and feature-rich interface than Toggl, which can be preferred by businesses that need more comprehensive features.
5. Geofencing: Tsheets offers a geofencing feature that reminds your team to clock in or out when they enter or leave a job site, a feature not available in Toggl.

Cons of Tsheets Compared to Toggl

1. Pricing: Tsheets does not offer a free tier and its pricing can be higher than Toggl’s, depending on the number of users.
2. User Interface: While Tsheets’ detailed interface can be a pro for some businesses, it can also be a con for businesses that prefer a minimalist and intuitive interface like the one Toggl offers.
3. Focus on Productivity: Toggl is primarily focused on time tracking and improving productivity, which can be beneficial for businesses looking to optimize their time management. Tsheets, while offering time tracking, also includes other features that may not be necessary for all businesses.
4. Visual Reporting: Toggl offers more visual and customizable reports, allowing businesses to easily understand and analyze their time tracking data. Tsheets’ reporting, while detailed, may not be as visually appealing or customizable.
5. Privacy Concerns: The GPS tracking feature in Tsheets, while beneficial for some businesses, may raise privacy concerns for others. Toggl does not offer GPS tracking, which can be seen as a pro for businesses that prioritize privacy.

Situations When Toggl is Better Than Tsheets

1. Budget Constraints: If a business is on a tight budget, Toggl’s free tier and more affordable paid plans can be a better choice than Tsheets.
2. Focus on Productivity: For businesses primarily looking to improve productivity and optimize time management, Toggl’s focus on these areas can make it a better choice.
3. Preference for Simplicity: If a business prefers a minimalist and intuitive interface, Toggl would be a better choice due to its user-friendly design.
4. Visual Reporting Needs: Businesses that prefer visual and customizable reports for easy understanding and analysis of their time tracking data would find Toggl more suitable.
5. Privacy Concerns: For businesses that prioritize privacy and do not require location tracking, Toggl, which does not offer GPS tracking, would be a better choice.

Situations When Tsheets is Better Than Toggl

1. Need for Comprehensive Features: Businesses that require more comprehensive features for employee scheduling and payroll would find Tsheets more suitable.
2. Location Tracking: If a business needs to track employee locations for certain jobs, Tsheets, which offers GPS tracking, would be a better choice.
3. Use of Intuit Products: Businesses already using Intuit’s suite of products would benefit from Tsheets’ strength in integrating with these products.
4. Preference for Detailed Interface: Businesses that prefer a more detailed and feature-rich interface would find Tsheets more suitable.
5. Geofencing Needs: If a business needs a geofencing feature that reminds the team to clock in or out when they enter or leave a job site, Tsheets would be a better choice.

Toggl vs Tsheets Summary

In conclusion, both Toggl and Tsheets offer robust time tracking solutions, but they cater to slightly different needs and preferences. Toggl’s simplicity and focus on productivity make it an excellent choice for businesses looking for a straightforward, intuitive time tracking tool. On the other hand, Tsheets’ comprehensive features and strong integration with other Intuit products make it a powerful tool for businesses that require more detailed employee scheduling and payroll features. Ultimately, the choice between Toggl and Tsheets will depend on your specific business needs, preferences, and budget.