Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Toggl · 📊 analytics
Toggl vs Kimai
Open-source time tracking solution for businesses of all sizes. Manage projects, track billable hours, and generate insightful reports. Here is how Kimai ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Toggl ($35/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Kimai is a verified AGPL-3.0+-licensed open-source replacement for Toggl. Switching from Toggl ($35/mo) saves $420/yr per solo seat, or $2,100/yr for a 5-person team. Deployment: Runs on Self-host.
The catch: Kimai matches timesheets and billing well, but its native-client, offline-mobile, approval, integration, and zero-administration experience is less polished than Harvest's.
Toggl vs Kimai Specifications
facts verified 2026-11-07
| Dimension | Toggl (Paid) | Kimai (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $35 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $420 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $420) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $2,100 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $2,100) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $4,200 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $4,200) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source AGPL-3.0+ |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Self-host (your server) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | webself-hostedself-host, real ops |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 5.1k (active nov 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Toggl to Kimai
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
Kimai matches timesheets and billing well, but its native-client, offline-mobile, approval, integration, and zero-administration experience is less polished than Harvest's.
How to deploy Kimai
Official Docker Compose stack
What it takes to run
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.
Why fork Kimai instead of vibe-coding a Toggl clone?
Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for Toggl or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 7 battle-tested open-source alternatives like Super Productivity.
Toggl vs Kimai FAQ
Is Kimai a good free alternative to Toggl?+
Yes. Kimai is a verified open-source (AGPL-3.0+) replacement for Toggl. Open-source time tracking solution for businesses of all sizes. Manage projects, track billable hours, and generate insightful reports.
What is the catch when switching from Toggl to 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.
How much do you save switching from Toggl to Kimai?+
Toggl costs $35/mo ($420/yr) per seat, whereas Kimai is $0/mo. Switching saves $420/yr for a solo user, $2,100/yr for a 5-person team, and $4,200/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host Kimai instead of Toggl?+
Install: Official Docker Compose stack. Setup: A non-expert needs Docker, a domain and TLS, database and application secrets, email configuration, backups, upgrades, and optional plugins for some workflows.
