In my Hubstaff in-depth review, I’m sharing the results of my analysis and evaluation from hands-on testing and experimentation. Before we dive in, if you’re just starting your search for the best time tracking tools, you should first check out my picks for the best time tracking software. Hubstaff is one of the top-rated task management tools out there, but to figure out if it's a good match for you, it's important to understand the software’s benefits and drawbacks.
My in-depth Hubstaff review will take you through everything you need to know to make a more informed decision—pros and cons, features and functionality, pricing, and more—to help you to better understand its capabilities and suitability for your needs.
Hubstaff Product Overview
Summary
Hubstaff is a software tool that combines time tracking, project management, employee productivity analysis, and employee monitoring. It primarily serves teams and businesses looking to streamline workflow and enhance efficiency. The software offers vital benefits such as improved time management and oversight, fostering a more productive work environment.
Hubstaff addresses pain points like time wastage, lack of transparency in remote work, and inefficient project tracking. Notable features include detailed time tracking, insightful productivity metrics, and robust reporting capabilities.
Pros
- Detailed Time Tracking: This feature offers precise time recording for tasks and projects. It allows managers and teams to understand where time is spent, enhancing accountability and productivity.
- Productive Analytics: Hubstaff provides in-depth productivity analytics. These insights help identify areas of high and low productivity, enabling targeted improvements.
- Robust Reporting: The software's comprehensive reporting tools allow for better decision-making. Detailed reports on time and project progress keep everyone informed and aligned.
Cons
- Limited Customization: Compared to other software, Hubstaff offers fewer customization options. This can be restrictive for businesses with unique workflow needs.
- Learning Curve: New users may find Hubstaff's interface and feature set overwhelming. This can slow down initial adoption and require additional training.
- Basic Project Management: While it includes project management features, they are not as advanced as dedicated project management tools. This might limit its utility for complex project tracking needs.
Expert Opinion
In my professional judgment, when comparing Hubstaff to other time tracking software, it stands out for its robust time tracking and detailed productivity analytics, making it a strong choice for teams focused on efficiency and transparency. However, its pricing structure, while competitive, may not suit all budgets, especially for smaller businesses. The functionality is comprehensive, yet this can lead to a steeper learning curve, which might challenge some users during onboarding. Support-wise, Hubstaff is reliable, but response times can vary.
The interface is clean and functional, although it lacks the high degree of customization that some alternatives offer. In terms of integrations, it performs well with popular tools, enhancing its utility. Hubstaff is best suited for medium to large teams that require detailed tracking and productivity insights.
Smaller teams or those needing advanced project management features might find it less aligned with their needs. Selecting the right tool depends heavily on specific business requirements and the value placed on detailed time and productivity tracking.
Hubstaff Deep Dive
Standout Functionality
- Advanced Employee Monitoring: Hubstaff offers a level of employee monitoring that goes beyond typical time-tracking software. It includes optional screenshots, app, and URL tracking, offering detailed insights into how work time is utilized.
- Geofencing Capabilities: Unique to Hubstaff is its geofencing feature, which automatically starts or stops tracking time when employees enter or leave a designated location. This is particularly useful for field or remote teams.
- In-Depth Productivity Metrics: Hubstaff provides more granular productivity metrics than many competitors. These metrics include activity levels based on keyboard and mouse usage, offering a nuanced view of employee productivity.
Product Specifications
- Manual Time Entry - Yes
- Automatic Time Tracking - Yes
- Billable & Non-Billable Hours - Yes
- Employee Database - Yes
- Invoice Management - Yes
- Mobile Access - Yes
- Offline Time Tracking - Yes
- Overtime Calculation - Yes
- Payroll Management - Yes
- Project Time Tracking - Yes
- Reporting/Analytics - Yes
- Time per Project Reporting - Yes
- User Access Controls - Yes
- Browser Extension - Yes
- Desktop Application - Yes
- Idle Time Monitoring - Yes
- Budgeting - Yes
- Expense Tracking - No
- Leave Tracking - No
- API Access - Yes
- Integration with Other Tools - Yes
- Multi-Language Support - No
- Real-time Monitoring - Yes
- Task Tracking - Yes
- Timesheet Management - Yes
Hubstaff Key Features
- Automatic Time Tracking: Hubstaff's automatic tracking starts and stops as you work, ensuring precise time records without manual input. This feature stands out for its accuracy and ease of use.
- Detailed Reporting: The software offers comprehensive reporting tools that provide insights into time spent on projects and tasks. These reports are more detailed than many competitors, aiding in better decision-making.
- Advanced Employee Monitoring: With features like optional screenshots and app usage tracking, Hubstaff provides an in-depth view of how work time is spent. This level of monitoring is more comprehensive than typical time tracking tools.
- Geofencing: This unique feature allows for time tracking to start or stop based on location, ideal for mobile or field teams. It sets Hubstaff apart in terms of utility for certain workforce types.
- Activity Levels Monitoring: Hubstaff offers a more nuanced approach to productivity by measuring activity levels based on keyboard and mouse usage. This distinct feature sets it apart from other time tracking software. tools.
- Billable & Non-Billable Hours Tracking: This feature allows for easy differentiation between billable and non-billable work, crucial for accurate client billing and internal time management.
- User Access Controls: Hubstaff provides robust user access control, allowing managers to set permissions and access for different team members, ensuring data security and appropriate access levels.
- Project Time Tracking: Its project time tracking feature allows users to allocate time to specific projects, providing clarity and accountability in project management.
- Payroll Management: Integrated payroll management simplifies the compensation process based on tracked hours, distinguishing it from other tools that require separate payroll systems.
- Idle Time Monitoring: This feature detects when users are inactive and offers the option to stop tracking time automatically, ensuring more accurate time records.
Ease Of Use
When evaluating Hubstaff for ease of use, I find that its interface, while comprehensive, can present challenges to new users. The tool offers a wide range of features to track time, manage work hours, and facilitate team management. However, this richness in functionality can make the dashboard and navigation seem overwhelming at first.
The onboarding process requires a commitment to learning, especially for those not familiar with such comprehensive tools. While Hubstaff organizes its features logically, the initial learning phase to fully utilize the software effectively can be more time-consuming than simpler time-tracking solutions.
Customer Support
In assessing Hubstaff's customer support, I note that they provide a range of support channels including documentation, webinars, live chat, and tutorials. These resources are generally helpful for understanding and using the software. However, there are instances where response times, particularly for more complex queries, can be slower than ideal.
Some users might find this delay frustrating, especially when dealing with urgent issues. While the quality of support is generally high, varying response times can impact the user experience.
Integrations
Hubstaff offers a range of native integrations with popular business tools and platforms, enhancing its functionality and user experience. These integrations include but are not limited to project management tools like Trello, Asana, and JIRA, accounting software such as QuickBooks, and communication tools like Slack. These integrations allow for seamless data sharing and workflow management, enabling users to track time directly within these platforms, sync tasks, and automate payroll processes.
Hubstaff also provides an API, which allows for custom integration with other tools and systems, catering to specific business needs and extending the platform's capabilities. Additionally, Hubstaff offers various add-ons to enhance its core functionality, such as GPS tracking for field teams and advanced reporting features.
Hubstaff Pricing
Hubstaff's pricing structure includes several tiers, catering to different sizes and types of teams. The pricing is competitive and in line with similar time-tracking tools, offering a balance between cost and features.
- Free Tier: $0/user/month. This free plan includes basic time tracking and limited screenshot storage, suitable for solo users or very small teams starting with time tracking.
- Basic Plan: $7/user/month. This plan offers simple time tracking, activity levels, and limited screenshots, ideal for small teams needing basic monitoring.
- Premium Plan: $10/user/month (min 2 seats). It includes advanced features like app and URL tracking, time off, and integrations, designed for teams needing more detailed insights and reporting.
- Enterprise Plan: $20/user/month (billed annually, min 5 seats). This plan is geared towards larger organizations, offering VIP support, higher-level security features, and unlimited job sites.
Additional costs to consider include optional add-ons like automated payroll, invoicing, and advanced geofencing, which may incur extra charges depending on the plan. There are no required base fees or one-time setup fees listed. Pricing and plan features can be subject to change, and users should consider their specific needs when selecting a plan.
Hubstaff Use Cases
Who Would Be A Good Fit For Hubstaff?
In my assessment, Hubstaff is a particularly good fit for remote teams that need detailed tracking of work hours and employee productivity. Its most loyal and avid customers are typically in industries where monitoring work time and productivity is crucial, such as IT, marketing, consulting, and field services. Small businesses find great value in Hubstaff, especially those managing teams across various locations.
The tool's detailed time tracking, employee monitoring, and project management features make it ideal for companies that prioritize transparency and efficiency in their workflow.
Who Would Be A Bad Fit For Hubstaff?
Conversely, Hubstaff might not be the best fit for organizations that prefer a more hands-off approach to employee management or have less emphasis on tracking every work detail. Companies in creative industries or those that value a high degree of autonomy and trust in their employees might find Hubstaff’s monitoring features too intrusive. Similarly, very large enterprises with complex project management needs might find the tool's project management features insufficient.
Teams looking for highly customizable interfaces and workflows might also be disappointed, as Hubstaff offers limited customization options compared to some other tools in the market. In summary, businesses that value simplicity and trust-based management or need advanced project management capabilities might not find Hubstaff aligning well with their operational ethos or requirements.
Hubstaff FAQs
Can Hubstaff integrate with PayPal for payments?
Yes, Hubstaff integrates with PayPal, allowing for seamless payments based on tracked time and pay rates.
Is there a Hubstaff mobile app available for Android and IOS devices?
Yes, Hubstaff offers a mobile app for both Android and IOS platforms, enabling time tracking and employee activity monitoring on the go.
Does Hubstaff support Linux, in addition to Windows and Mac?
Yes, Hubstaff provides a desktop app for Linux, along with versions for Windows and Mac, ensuring broad compatibility for various operating systems.
Can Hubstaff track GPS location for mobile or field teams?
Yes, Hubstaff's GPS location feature allows for tracking the location of employees, particularly useful for teams that work remotely or in the field.
Does Hubstaff offer notifications for tracking time and tasks?
Yes, Hubstaff has a notifications system that alerts users about various activities, including time tracking milestones and task updates.
Can Hubstaff help in setting different pay rates for different team members or projects?
Yes, Hubstaff allows for setting up different pay rates for individuals or projects, making it easy to manage financial aspects of team productivity.
Is there a Chrome extension available for Hubstaff?
Yes, Hubstaff offers a Chrome extension, which adds to its user-friendly experience by allowing users to track time directly from their browser.
Can Hubstaff be used to monitor employee activity and improve SEO teams' productivity?
Absolutely, Hubstaff's employee activity monitoring features and time tracker can be effectively used to enhance the productivity of SEO teams, along with various other types of teams.
Hubstaff Company Overview & History
Hubstaff is a company that specializes in workforce management and time tracking solutions, catering primarily to businesses with remote employees and teams that require precise project budget management. The company's software is used by businesses of all sizes in various industries.
Hubstaff is a privately owned company, co-founded by Dave Nevogt and Jared Brown. Its headquarters are located in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. While there are no widely publicized notable employees, board members, or advisors, the company's success is largely attributed to its co-founders' vision and leadership.
The company's mission statement focuses on providing a flexible, efficient tracking app that helps teams work better together, no matter where they are located. Since its inception in 2012, Hubstaff has achieved several milestones, including a rapidly growing user base, expansion of its feature set, and the introduction of new integrations to enhance its software's capabilities.
Hubstaff Summary: The Bottom Line
In my analysis, Hubstaff stands out in the realm of time tracking and project management software. Its unique proposition lies in its detailed tracking capabilities, especially for remote employees, and its robust approach to managing project budgets. Hubstaff offers a level of detail and employee oversight that is not commonly found in similar tools, making it particularly good for teams where transparency and accountability are crucial.
Among its most noteworthy features are its advanced employee monitoring, including optional screenshots and activity level tracking, and its comprehensive reporting tools. These features provide deep insights into team productivity and project progress, setting Hubstaff apart from many other time tracking solutions. The software's user-friendly interface and broad range of integrations further enhance its appeal, making it a strong contender in the field of workforce management software.
Alternatives to Hubstaff
- Time Doctor: Time Doctor is a strong alternative for businesses that need detailed insights into employee productivity with real-time tracking and distraction alerts, making it better suited for environments where maintaining focus is a priority.
- Toggl Track: Toggl Track stands out for its user-friendly interface and flexibility. It's particularly good for freelancers and smaller teams who need a straightforward, easy-to-use time tracking solution without extensive monitoring features.
- RescueTime: RescueTime is ideal for individuals and teams who want to improve productivity by automatically tracking time spent on applications and websites, offering more of a self-management focus compared to Hubstaff's team-oriented approach.
Summary
In this review, I've provided an in-depth look at Hubstaff, examining its features, pricing, ease of use, customer support, and more. Hubstaff is a robust solution for businesses seeking detailed time tracking, employee monitoring, and project management, It is beneficial for teams managing remote employees and strict project budgets. Its standout features, like advanced monitoring, comprehensive reporting, and geofencing capabilities, make it a top choice in its category.
However, for those needing simpler solutions or different features, alternatives like Time Doctor, Toggl Track, and RescueTime might be more suitable. I encourage potential users to consider their specific needs and preferences when choosing the right tool. Feel free to share your experiences or ask questions in the comments to help others in their decision-making process.