# DeskTime vs Timely for time tracking software

DeskTime and Timely are closely matched for core workflows. Both support API access, zapier, manual time tracking, automatic time tracking, and desktop app. DeskTime has confirmed screenshots. Timely has confirmed gps tracking, project budgets, and timesheet approvals.

## Key decision points

- DeskTime has confirmed screenshots; screenshots is not yet confirmed for Timely.
- Timely has confirmed gps tracking; gps tracking is not yet confirmed for DeskTime.
- Timely has confirmed project budgets; project budgets is not yet confirmed for DeskTime.
- Timely has confirmed timesheet approvals; timesheet approvals is not yet confirmed for DeskTime.

## Choose DeskTime if…

- Choose DeskTime if confirmed screenshots matters to you; this detail is not yet confirmed for Timely.

## Choose Timely if…

- Choose Timely if confirmed gps tracking matters to you; this detail is not yet confirmed for DeskTime.
- Choose Timely if confirmed project budgets matters to you; this detail is not yet confirmed for DeskTime.
- Choose Timely if confirmed timesheet approvals matters to you; this detail is not yet confirmed for DeskTime.

## Features

| Feature | DeskTime | Timely |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Manual time tracking | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://desktime.com/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.timely.com/pricing/)) |
| Automatic time tracking | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://desktime.com/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.timely.com/)) |
| Screenshots | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://desktime.com/)) | Not confirmed |
| App tracking | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://desktime.com/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.timely.com/)) |
| Website tracking | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://desktime.com/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.timely.com/integrations/chrome-time-tracking/)) |
| Idle detection | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://desktime.com/pricing)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.timely.com/pricing/)) |
| GPS tracking | Not confirmed | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.timely.com/pricing/)) |
| Project budgets | Not confirmed | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.timely.com/pricing/)) |
| Billable rates | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://desktime.com/features/integrations/asana-time-tracking)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.timely.com/feature/billable-rates/)) |
| Invoices | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://desktime.com/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.timely.com/)) |
| Timesheet approvals | Not confirmed | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.timely.com/)) |
| Employee scheduling | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://desktime.com/)) | Not confirmed |
| PTO tracking | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://desktime.com/)) | Not confirmed |
| Reports | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://desktime.com/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.timely.com/)) |

## Platforms

| Feature | DeskTime | Timely |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Desktop app | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://desktime.com/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.timely.com/)) |
| Mobile app | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://desktime.com/pricing)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.timely.com/pricing/)) |
| Browser extension | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://desktime.com/pricing)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.timely.com/integrations/chrome-time-tracking/)) |

## Integrations

| Feature | DeskTime | Timely |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Payroll integrations | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://desktime.com/features/integrations)) | Not confirmed |

## Security and compliance

| Feature | DeskTime | Timely |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Privacy modes | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://desktime.com/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.timely.com/)) |

## Technical

| Feature | DeskTime | Timely |
| --- | --- | --- |
| API | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://desktime.com/features/integrations)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.timely.com/)) |
| Zapier | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://desktime.com/features/integrations)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.timely.com/integrations/)) |

## Evidence

- **DeskTime — Manual time tracking:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://desktime.com/. Evidence: “Manual and offline time tracking Track time manually and see when employees take breaks from working”
- **Timely — Manual time tracking:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.timely.com/pricing/. Evidence: “Manual timer”
- **DeskTime — Automatic time tracking:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://desktime.com/. Evidence: “Automatic time tracking Effortless time tracking with our desktop app”
- **Timely — Automatic time tracking:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.timely.com/. Evidence: “Automatic time tracking”
- **DeskTime — Desktop app:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://desktime.com/. Evidence: “Automatic time tracking Effortless time tracking with our desktop app”
- **Timely — Desktop app:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.timely.com/. Evidence: “desktop app”
- **DeskTime — Mobile app:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://desktime.com/pricing. Evidence: “Mobile time Android iOS”
- **Timely — Mobile app:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.timely.com/pricing/. Evidence: “Set a manual timer from your phone, tablet or computer.”
- **DeskTime — Browser extension:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://desktime.com/pricing. Evidence: “Web timer Track time manually from your browser”
- **Timely — Browser extension:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.timely.com/integrations/chrome-time-tracking/. Evidence: “Chrome”
- **DeskTime — Screenshots:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://desktime.com/. Evidence: “Screenshots Get proof-of-work in cases of questionable productivity or integrity”
- **DeskTime — App tracking:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://desktime.com/. Evidence: “URL & app tracking See what sites and apps your employees visit”
- **Timely — App tracking:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.timely.com/. Evidence: “track time spent in every web and desktop app automatically”
- **DeskTime — Website tracking:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://desktime.com/. Evidence: “URL & app tracking See what sites and apps your employees visit”
- **Timely — Website tracking:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.timely.com/integrations/chrome-time-tracking/. Evidence: “See all the time you spend on specific websites”
- **DeskTime — Idle detection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://desktime.com/pricing. Evidence: “Idle time See when employees take breaks from working”
- **Timely — Idle detection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.timely.com/pricing/. Evidence: “Idle detection”
- **Timely — GPS tracking:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.timely.com/pricing/. Evidence: “Location tracking”
- **Timely — Project budgets:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.timely.com/pricing/. Evidence: “Budgets”
- **DeskTime — Billable rates:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://desktime.com/features/integrations/asana-time-tracking. Evidence: “Add your team's hourly rates and DeskTime will automatically calculate how much each project costs”
- **Timely — Billable rates:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.timely.com/feature/billable-rates/. Evidence: “Billable rates”
- **DeskTime — Invoices:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://desktime.com/. Evidence: “Accurate payroll without manual time sheets Billable hours captured automatically for client invoicing”
- **Timely — Invoices:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.timely.com/. Evidence: “Invoices”
- **Timely — Timesheet approvals:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.timely.com/. Evidence: “One-click approve”
- **DeskTime — Employee scheduling:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://desktime.com/. Evidence: “Shift scheduling Plan and manage employee shifts in one place”
- **DeskTime — PTO tracking:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://desktime.com/. Evidence: “Absence calendar See who’s sick, on vacation, OOO and more”
- **DeskTime — Payroll integrations:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://desktime.com/features/integrations. Evidence: “Zapier Connect DeskTime to 9,000+ tools, including payroll, CRM, and accounting software.”
- **DeskTime — Reports:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://desktime.com/. Evidence: “Reports Get in-depth data about your team’s performance”
- **Timely — Reports:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.timely.com/. Evidence: “Reports”
- **DeskTime — Privacy modes:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://desktime.com/. Evidence: “Private time Let users take a break from tracking when needed”
- **Timely — Privacy modes:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.timely.com/. Evidence: “Private timelines. Only user-approved entries are shared.”
- **DeskTime — API:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://desktime.com/features/integrations. Evidence: “DeskTime API Build custom connections for high-volume or unique workflows.”
- **Timely — API:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.timely.com/. Evidence: “View API docs”
- **DeskTime — Zapier:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://desktime.com/features/integrations. Evidence: “Zapier Connect DeskTime to 9,000+ tools”
- **Timely — Zapier:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.timely.com/integrations/. Evidence: “Zapier”