Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Hubstaff · ⏳ time tracking
Hubstaff vs TimeTagger
A lean timeline, tags and PDF or CSV reports in one container; it is built for individuals, not payroll departments. Here is how TimeTagger ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Hubstaff ($7/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
TimeTagger
$0.00/mo · GPL-3.0
Hubstaff vs TimeTagger Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-10
| Dimension | Hubstaff (Paid) | TimeTagger (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $7 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $84 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $84) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $420 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $420) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $840 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $840) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source GPL-3.0 |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Local or hosted (your machine or their cloud) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | webself-hosteddocker to self-host |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 1.8k (active may 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Hubstaff to TimeTagger
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
TimeTagger is designed mainly for individual time logging and lacks Hubstaff’s team approvals, payroll, scheduling, and administrative controls.
How to deploy TimeTagger
Use the paid hosted service or run the free Docker Compose image or Python package on your own server
What it takes to run
Free use requires Docker or Python hosting, persistent storage, hashed credentials, and HTTPS through a reverse proxy
Where your data lives
Time records and settings live in TimeTagger's database files on a persistent self-hosted volume or its hosted service; the browser keeps an offline cache that later synchronizes
Why fork TimeTagger instead of vibe-coding a Hubstaff clone?
A consolation build is possible, but the paid product's decisive value sits outside a solo rebuild. For Hubstaff, track opt-in work time without screenshots, keystrokes, or hidden monitoring. The hard boundary is workforce tracking, payroll, gps, scheduling, reports, and compliance operations, plus ubiquitous capture, coaching, and team workflow.
Hubstaff vs TimeTagger FAQ
Is TimeTagger a good free alternative to Hubstaff?+
Yes. TimeTagger is a verified open-source (GPL-3.0) replacement for Hubstaff. A lean timeline, tags and PDF or CSV reports in one container; it is built for individuals, not payroll departments.
What is the catch when switching from Hubstaff to TimeTagger?+
TimeTagger is designed mainly for individual time logging and lacks Hubstaff’s team approvals, payroll, scheduling, and administrative controls.
How much do you save switching from Hubstaff to TimeTagger?+
Hubstaff costs $7/mo ($84/yr) per seat, whereas TimeTagger is $0/mo. Switching saves $84/yr for a solo user, $420/yr for a 5-person team, and $840/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host TimeTagger instead of Hubstaff?+
Install: Use the paid hosted service or run the free Docker Compose image or Python package on your own server. Setup: Free use requires Docker or Python hosting, persistent storage, hashed credentials, and HTTPS through a reverse proxy
