Time tracking across multiple devices and on the web couldn’t be simpler, whether you want to press the Start and Stop buttons as you go through your day or fill in blocks of time manually. . Your time can be divided into different projects and have different tags attached, allowing you to see which blocks of time involve which work or non-work activities.

Once you have created some statistics, there are many useful reports that you can use to get a breakdown of how you spend your time. There is also a standard calendar view. The app makes many of its features available for free, but you can choose to pay ($5 a month and up) to get more customization options and features, such as the ability to split times and add breaks.

Timelines

Timelines can categorize your day for you.David Nield

Timelines worth a look for your time tracking solution, as long as you’re using an iPhone or iPad—it’s not available on Android or the desktop. If you want to log time using an Apple mobile device, then you will find it a flexible, intuitive option, which mostly remains basic in terms of features but everything is good this.

All you have to do to get started is tap on Add Timeline button: Your “timelines” can be social, work, relax, study, or whatever you want. Then you just start and stop the timers as needed, and the app will give you reports as you go. You can also set goals for how much of something (like exercise) you want to log in a day, a week, or a month.

The app quickly builds a comprehensive picture of how you spend your time, without overwhelming you with different screens and features. You can get started with Timelines for free, with additional features—such as multi-device syncing, long-term trend reporting, and unlimited time tracking categories—available for $4 per month.

Simple Time Tracker

Simple Time Tracker isn’t complicated—but it has a lot to offer.David Nield

Having talked about an app that is exclusive to iPhones and iPads, it’s only fair that we talk about an app that you can only get on Android. Simple Time Trackeras its name suggests, tries to be as non-evasive as possible when it comes to monitoring where your time goes. You can start and stop time slots with one tap, and everything in the app is well organized.

There is a lot to dig here beyond the basics. Different activities (such as reading or playing games) can also be divided into different categories (such as work or leisure) and customized with their own colors and icons. You can set goals for yourself to meet certain time thresholds and get real-time reports on how the hours of your day are being spent.

The app works really well in the way that it allows you to choose how simple or detailed your time tracking is. You can drill down to individual days and times if you want, or stick to a broader view. Perhaps best of all, the app is completely open source and free to use, although I recommend sending a donation to the developer if you find the app helpful.