Kimai
Timesheets, rates, reports and invoices are all there; approvals need its free plugin and the server still needs an adult.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-08-11
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- AGPL-3.0+
- Hosting Model
- Self-host (your server)
- Platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- Installation
- Official Docker Compose stack
- Operational Setup
- A non-expert needs Docker, a domain and TLS, database and application secrets, email configuration, backups, upgrades, and optional plugins for some workflows.
- Where Your Data Lives
- Users, projects, activities, rates, and timesheets live in MySQL or MariaDB; plugins, configuration, and generated files live in persistent server volumes.
- The Catch / Trade-off
- Kimai matches timesheets and billing well, but its native-client, offline-mobile, approval, integration, and zero-administration experience is less polished than Harvest's.
Replaces 3 paid apps
up to $30/mo ($360/yr) in subscriptions
Kimai FAQ
Common questions
Is Kimai free and open source?+
Kimai is an open-source tool licensed under AGPL-3.0+ that runs on self-host. Timesheets, rates, reports and invoices are all there; approvals need its free plugin and the server still needs an adult.
What paid software does Kimai replace?+
Kimai serves as a free replacement for 3 paid SaaS applications: Harvest, Hubstaff, Toggl Track, saving up to $30/month ($360/year) in subscription bills.
How do you install and set up Kimai?+
Installation: Official Docker Compose stack. Setup notes: A non-expert needs Docker, a domain and TLS, database and application secrets, email configuration, backups, upgrades, and optional plugins for some workflows.
What is the catch or trade-off with Kimai?+
Kimai matches timesheets and billing well, but its native-client, offline-mobile, approval, integration, and zero-administration experience is less polished than Harvest's.