- Head-to-head comparison
Timesheet
vs. Harvest
Timesheet vs Harvest: Which time tracking software is best in 2026?
Timesheet and Harvest both help businesses track employee working time, but they are designed for different business needs. Harvest is a popular time tracking platform built around project management, client invoicing, billing, and profitability reporting. Timesheet focuses on making employee time tracking as simple as possible by combining working hours, mileage tracking, expense registration, and timesheet approval in one intuitive platform.
If your organization wants employees to quickly register their working hours without a steep learning curve, Timesheet offers a streamlined workflow that is easy to implement. If your business bills clients by the hour, manages project budgets, and needs invoicing, Harvest offers a broader range of financial management tools.
This comparison reviews pricing, time tracking, reporting, project management, invoicing, and which platform is the best fit for your organization.
Timesheet is the best choice for businesses that value simplicity and fast time tracking
- Easy time tracking for employees
- Track working hours, mileage, and expenses
- Clear overview of employee timesheets
- Lightweight and easy to learn
- Built for payroll-friendly reporting
- Fast implementation with minimal training
How do Timesheet and Harvest compare on price?
Both Timesheet and Harvest help businesses track employee working time, but they focus on different workflows. Timesheet is designed for organizations that want a simple solution for tracking working hours, mileage, expenses, and employee timesheets. Harvest is built for service businesses that need time tracking combined with invoicing, client billing, expense management, and project budgeting.
Businesses looking for a simple employee time tracking platform can get started with Timesheet for free. Organizations that invoice clients and manage project finances may get more value from Harvest’s premium plans.
Timesheet vs. Harvest
Timesheet and Harvest both allow businesses to track employee working time, but they serve different purposes. Timesheet focuses on simplifying time tracking for employees by offering an intuitive interface for tracking working hours, mileage, and expenses, as well as approving timesheets.
| Feature | Timesheet | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Time tracking | ✓ Simple and fast | ✓ Timer and manual tracking |
| Employee timesheets | ✓ Easy overview | ✓ Timesheet management |
| Mileage tracking | ✓ Built in | Not a standard feature |
| Expense registration | ✓ Included | ✓ Expense tracking |
| Project tracking | Simple project overview | ✓ Advanced project budgets |
| Invoicing | Not included | ✓ Built-in invoicing |
| Reporting | Payroll-ready reports | ✓ Finance and project reports |
| Time approval | ✓ Approval flow | Basic approval flow |
| Integrations | Core workflows for businesses | ✓ Extensive accounting and project integrations |
| Ease of use | ✓ Very easy | ✓ Easy |
| Starting price | ✓ Free | ✓ Free plan available |
| Best suited for | ✓ Simple employee time tracking | Client invoicing and project management |
Advantages and disadvantages
Timesheet and Harvest are both strong time tracking platforms, but they are designed to solve different business challenges. Timesheet focuses on making employee time tracking as simple as possible by allowing businesses to track working hours, mileage, expenses, and employee timesheets through an intuitive interface. It is ideal for organizations that want to reduce administrative work and make payroll preparation easier.
Timesheet’s strengths
- Free to get started
- Simple time tracking for employees
- Track mileage and expenses
- Clear overview of working hours
- Time approval workflow
- Fast onboarding with minimal training
Harvest’s strengths
- Built-in invoicing
- Project budgeting and cost tracking
- Expense management
- Billable hours tracking
- Primarily designed for client-based businesses
- Advanced financial features may be unnecessary for businesses that only need employee time tracking
Find the right solution for your business
The choice between Timesheet and Harvest depends on how your business uses time tracking. Timesheet is designed for organizations that need a simple way to track employee working hours, mileage, expenses, and payroll-ready timesheets. Harvest is better suited for businesses that invoice clients, monitor project budgets, and analyze project profitability.
Small and medium-sized businesses
Need employees to quickly track working hours, approve timesheets, register mileage and expenses, and generate simple reports for payroll.
- Timesheet is built for this
Businesses focused on simple administration
Need an intuitive solution that employees can quickly learn without having to navigate complex project management features.
- Timesheet is the best fit
Organizations that manage payroll
Need accurate employee time tracking, approval workflows, and a clear overview of registered hours before payroll processing.
- Timesheet offers the simpler workflow
Agencies, consultants, and professional service businesses
Need to track billable hours, create invoices, monitor project budgets, and measure project profitability across multiple clients.
- Harvest may be the better choice
They switched from Harvest
“We save over DKK 6,000 a year, and setup took 10 minutes. I don’t understand why we waited so long.”
“Our developer spent 2 days setting up Harvest. I set up Timesheet myself in 5 minutes through the WordPress dashboard.”
“Danish support that actually replies in Danish – and on the same day. That alone makes it worth switching.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Timesheet better than Harvest?
It depends on your business requirements. Timesheet is the better choice for businesses that want simple employee time tracking, mileage tracking, expense registration, and payroll-ready timesheets. Harvest is better suited for organizations that require client invoicing, project budgeting, and billable hour management.
Can Timesheet track project hours?
Yes. Employees can track time against projects while also recording working hours, mileage, and expenses through a simple interface designed for everyday business use.
Does Harvest include invoicing?
Yes. Harvest includes built-in invoicing, allowing businesses to convert tracked billable hours and expenses into invoices. This is one of Harvest’s strongest features for agencies and professional service firms.
Which platform is easiest to use?
Timesheet is designed to make employee time tracking as simple as possible, allowing businesses to get started quickly with minimal training. Harvest includes additional financial management features that may require more configuration depending on how your business manages projects and billing.
Is Timesheet free?
Yes. Timesheet offers a free way to get started with employee time tracking. Harvest also offers a free plan with limitations, while advanced features such as invoicing, project budgeting, and extended reporting are available through paid subscriptions.