Kimai
Open-source time tracking for teams and freelancers
About Kimai
Kimai is a free and open-source time tracking application designed for freelancers, agencies, and organizations. It combines time tracking, expense management, and invoicing in one web-based tool, with support for unlimited users and self-hosting or cloud deployment.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Completely free and open-source with self-hosting option
- No user limits — scales from freelancers to large organizations
- Built-in invoicing eliminates need for separate billing software
- Strong data privacy with on-premise deployment
- Active development and extensive plugin ecosystem
- Cross-platform browser-based interface works on any device
Cons
- Visual reporting is limited — often requires exporting to Excel for analysis
- User interface can feel clunky compared to modern SaaS competitors
- Rigid customer/project/activity hierarchy may not suit all workflows
- Self-hosted setup requires technical knowledge (PHP, MySQL/MariaDB)
- No built-in sales or advanced expense tracking features
Key Features
Time Tracking
Track work time with start/stop timers or manual entry, with support for parallel time recordings
Expense Tracking
Log project expenses alongside time entries for complete cost visibility
Invoicing
Generate invoices from tracked time with configurable templates in PDF, DOCX, and other formats
Reporting & Exports
Detailed reports on time spent by user, customer, project, or activity with export to Excel and CSV
Multi-User & Roles
Unlimited users with customizable permission structures and role-based access control
API & Integrations
Extensive JSON API for external apps, custom integrations, and plugin-based extensibility
Self-Hosting
Full on-premise deployment option for complete data control and privacy
Multi-Language Support
Localized in over 30 languages with mobile-first responsive design
Two-Factor Authentication
Secure accounts with TOTP-based two-factor authentication
Pricing
- Unlimited users
- Full feature set
- Community support
- Plugin system
- Self-managed hosting
- Project tracking
- Billable/non-billable hours
- Invoicing
- Reports & exports
- Audit logs
- Email support
- Everything in Standard
- Advanced features
- Priority support
- For non-profits & selected industries
- Annual billing required
- Full cloud features
Best For
Freelancer Time Billing
Track billable hours per client and generate professional invoices directly from time entries
Agency Project Management
Monitor team time across multiple clients and projects with role-based access for managers and staff
Privacy-Conscious Organizations
Self-host time tracking to keep sensitive employee and client data fully under your control
Non-Profit Time Reporting
Track volunteer and staff hours for grant reporting at a fraction of commercial tool pricing
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