Kimai - Open Source time-tracker Kimai
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Best open source

toggl track alternative

Kimai is the #1 open-source time-tracking alternative for toggl track. Learn how Kimai measures up to toggl track, so you can choose the right solution for your business.

Kimai vs toggl track: Which time tracking software fits your team best in 2026?

Kimai is the #1 open-source time-tracking solution designed for teams and businesses seeking flexibility and control over their time tracking infrastructure. Discover why more than 7500 companies worldwide trust Kimai for their time tracking needs and find out how it compares to toggl track’s offerings. Whether you’re evaluating a new time tracking app, analyzing toggl track pricing options, or planning a toggl track migration, Kimai provides a compelling alternative with superior features and cost savings.

Choosing the right time tracking software can make a huge difference in productivity, transparency, and billing accuracy of a freelancer, an agency, or a business owner managing a big team.

Reporting feature

When selecting a time tracking tool, most users consider:

  • Features: Does it cover everything from tracking and reporting to invoicing and project management?
  • Price: Is it affordable (or even free) for the size of your team?
  • Flexibility: Can it adapt to your current workflow, integrations, and tech stack?
  • Accessibility: Does it support both desktop and mobile platforms, and can it be self-hosted or cloud-based?
  • Scalability: Will it still fit your needs as your business grows?

The year 2026 also brings focus on data privacy, automation, and team transparency in time management tools. At the same time the market offers a range of solutions for every use case, from solopreneurs to large enterprise teams, and you can always find the solution that best fits your needs.

Let’s explore the best time tracking tools for 2026 and see how Kimai compares with Toggl Track — two popular choices among professionals and successful teams worldwide.

Kimai features most used

Not all time tracking tools are created equal. The best solutions for agencies offer a specialized set of features to streamline your workflows.

Features

JSON API

Featuring an extensive JSON API for reading and writing data, so external apps and custom tools can communicate with Kimai.

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Customer Portal

Share client and project statistics and timesheets with anyone using a secret URL, optionally password protected.

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Teams

Teams connects users into logical groups, like departments. Limit access to data by assigning customers and projects to your teams.

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SAML

Log in and register users with SAML via your existing SSO identity provider, like Google Workspace, Authentik or Azure Active Directory.

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Invoicing

Configurable invoice templates, options for entry grouping, configurable invoice numbers, and multiple formats like PDF and DOCX.

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Reports and analyses

Analysis of recorded times by users, customers, projects, activities, tags, time periods and more.

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Toggl Track: {make-sure-it’s}-free time tracking

Toggl Track is one of the most well-known names in the time tracking category. It offers individuals and small teams a user-friendly interface and quick setup. However, its pricing structure can become restrictive as your team grows.

Pros of Toggl:

  • Simple, minimalist interface
  • Cloud-based system — no setup or hosting needed
  • Integrations with many project management tools

Cons of Toggl:

  • The free plan limited to five users (according to Toggle Track’s official website as of October 2025)
  • Advanced reporting, team management, and billing features require paid plans starting from 9 Euro per user monthly
  • No self-hosted option available — data stored on Toggl’s servers

Toggl Track is a solid entry-level tool, but as soon as your team scales, you might hit feature walls or sharp price increases that make open-source alternatives like Kimai more attractive.

Kimai vs. Toggl quick comparison

Feature Kimai (On-Premise) Toggl Track
Pricing Free Free (limited), Paid from ~€9/user/month
Hosting Self-hosted Cloud only
Users Unlimited Up to 5 (free plan)
Invoicing ✅ Built-in ❌ Only with integrations
Customization High (plugins, API) Limited
Data privacy Full control (self-hosted) Managed by Toggl

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a time tracking solution that grows with you, Kimai is more than just a Toggl alternative — it’s a complete open-source ecosystem for time management, reporting, and invoicing.

✅ No user limits
✅ No subscription fees
✅ No compromises on privacy or flexibility

👉 Start with Kimai Cloud or On-Premise version, both for free — and see why teams around the world are choosing Kimai.

Migration from toggl to Kimai

If you are currently using toggl, but looking for a GDPR-compliant or just a cheaper alternative, then Kimai might be the right tool for you.

Kimai has an CSV importer, that allows to transfer your toggl data. All you have to do is export the data like this:

Exporting timesheet with toggl track

Please read the importer documentation to find out more.

What users say about Kimai

At Kimai, we've designed our time tracking platform to meet the needs of agencies, teams, and freelancers. Our intuitive interface and powerful features help companies like yours work smarter and more profitably. You can now “listen” to the reviews of the real users.

When I started to identify a time reporting software for our medium size enterprise (~30 people distributed all over United States and Canada) in the software service industry for onsite and remote services, I had several programs in my mind. In my specification I had the following things to be covered

  • Customer related time reporting
  • Project related time reporting
  • Time approval
  • Various hierarchies in user and access levels
  • Open data interface for potential interfaces to other software packages (such as various payroll software packages for Canada and US, ERP for invoicing)
  • Time budget for hourly packages
  • Time reporting to customers with time budget
  • The data is mine and I always want to have access to it
  • I would like to create plugins if I need to add features that do not yet exist

I continued my search but always came back to Kevin Papst’s time reporting software Kimai. So I installed it on a shared host. I continued to set up a few users and imported a few customers, projects and finally understood how activities are to be set up (global and local). This is a feature that surprised me even more. Well implemented! I finally rolled it out to a small group and then the entire team. The time reporting is now fully implemented within 2 months from first idea to fully operational.

Then the demands grow with the possibilities: I purchased a few plugins and these were installed as simple as the main software. Then, when I had even more requests that I didn’t find an answer by plugins, I reached out to the developer Kevin asking for help with changing a report and he simply answered to consider this for the entire software, not just a module for me. It may be within some of the next releases.

In summary, Kimai is a flexible time reporting package with active code, modern, responsive and fast user interface and a fast responding support.

Thanks, Kevin, for this nice software package!

Frank
Frank
Roptec GmbH

We started using self-hosted Kimai - and it works perfectly! We especially like integration with Google Workspace, which is very convenient.

Karol Antczak
Trusted Software Services

I love how I can combine time tracking, expense tracking, and invoicing into one app without features hidden behind nagging subscriptions. I can click one button to invoice my clients now! Seriously a godsend. Also, the clean UI is well thought-out and simple to learn. Highly recommend this one!

Isaac Mailach
Isaac Mailach
Freelancer

I have been using Kimai cloud for more than 1 year, and I am very satisfied about it ! It became easier for me to send monthly reports to my clients and to track my time spent on the projects I’m working on. Thank you very much !

Nathanaël
Developer

We have been using KIMAI for many years, previously self-hosted at an internet provider, and for some time now in the cloud. The data model fits our business field perfectly, in which we bill certain projects based on effort and others at a fixed price (budgeted). Both billing models are supported by KIMAI. For budgeted projects, we keep track of the respective consumption of time and costs in relation to the budget (burndown). For time-and-materials projects, we export all billable hours along with the stored hourly rates monthly or quarterly as a basis for the invoices, which we create with another invoicing/accounting software.

In addition to what I consider a very practical data model and the logical structure, the cloud solution is also very well designed in terms of look and feel, modern and intuitive to use. I find everything where I expect it to be. Numerous small features, such as hiding columns or the filter options, make work easier. In addition, a great deal is configurable, so I am not forced to adapt my processes to KIMAI; instead, I can adapt KIMAI to my needs.

Support responds very quickly. I have also been able to submit several suggestions that were actually implemented promptly. I have not yet experienced such implementation strength with any other provider of cloud solutions.

Out of conviction and free of charge, I have shown KIMAI to befriended business partners from completely different industries, recommended it to them, and supported them in setting it up.

From my point of view, an absolute recommendation, very professional and well thought out. You can tell from the software its maturity and from the manufacturer the experience in this field.

J. Setzer
bizzworxx data expert

We recently made the switch from Toggl to a self-hosted Kimai. As a TYPO3 agency, open source, data sovereignty, and full control over the software were essential to us. We wanted to decide ourselves when to enable specific features and have the freedom to implement our own customizations. The migration of data from Toggl to Kimai was smooth, and our team quickly adapted to the interface, which resembles Toggl but offers more advanced options—especially for reporting and analytics.

Stefan Schütt
Stefan Schütt
Pagemachine AG

We have been using Kimai for two years now to track the time spent on each phase of our projects and to bill our clients for the hours worked. The software is comprehensive, intuitive, and fully meets our needs. In addition to this, Kevin has always been helpful and attentive to our needs!

Alessandro Pollastri
Alessandro Pollastri
Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII

The best software for time tracking for freelancers and small businesses. We have been using it for 16 years, first as a local installation, then in the cloud version. It works without any problems or interruptions. Top software, top support! Unique recommendation.

Armin Bittner
Armin Bittner
HCM+ GmbH

I don’t need to write much: Great software, friendly and fast support!

Ulrich Eckermann
ipm intranet projekt management gmbh

Just a great app that is used in our company. It does not require a lot of resources on the server, has a great interface and a lot of features that are so necessary in everyday work.

Dimitro Pukalov
compacer GmbH

All your time-tracking needs in one platform

Time is money, and tracking it effectively has become a necessity for project-based teams. Kimai is a powerful time-tracker that's been the favorite of many businesses worldwide. But how does it stack up against toggl track? Dive into this comprehensive comparison to find out why businesses are choosing Kimai over toggl track

See the difference

Compare Kimai vs. toggl track: choose the options that make the most sense for your business.

Kimai
On-Premise

  • Open source software : 
  • Available on-premises : 
  • Available in the cloud : 
  • Server location :  Your choice
  • Max. customers :  Unlimited
  • Max. projects :  Unlimited
  • Max. activities :  Unlimited
  • JSON API : 
  • Invoicing : 
  • Data export : 
  • SAML : 
  • Support :  Forum (GitHub)
  • Backups : 
  • TLS Certificate :  Additional costs
  • Custom domain :  Additional costs
  • Automatic upgrades : 
  • Server maintenance : 
  • IP access restriction : 
  • Custom content :  Paid plugin
  • Audit trail logs :  Paid plugin
  • Custom fields :  Paid plugin
  • Expense management :  Paid plugin
  • Task planning :  Paid plugin
  • Translations :  Paid plugin
  • Working hours, vacation, sickness, public holidays :  Paid plugin
Install

Kimai
Cloud

  • Open source software : 
  • Available on-premises : 
  • Available in the cloud : 
  • Server location :  Hetzner Cloud
    Germany (Falkenstein)
  • Max. customers :  Unlimited
  • Max. projects :  Unlimited
  • Max. activities :  Unlimited
  • JSON API : 
  • Invoicing : 
  • Data export : 
  • SAML : 
  • Support :  Email, Forum
  • Backups :  Daily
  • TLS Certificate : 
  • Custom domain : 
  • Automatic upgrades : 
  • Server maintenance : 
  • IP access restriction : 
  • Custom content : 
  • Audit trail logs : 
  • Custom fields : 
  • Expense management : 
  • Task planning : 
  • Translations : 
  • Working hours, vacation, sickness, public holidays : 
Get started

toggl track

  • Open source software : 
  • Available on-premises : 
  • Available in the cloud : 
  • Server location :  USA
  • Max. customers :  Unlimited
  • Max. projects :  Unlimited
  • Max. activities :  Unlimited
  • JSON API : 
  • Invoicing : 
  • Data export : 
  • SAML : 
  • Support : 
  • Backups : 
  • TLS Certificate : 
  • Custom domain :  Additional costs
  • Automatic upgrades : 
  • Server maintenance : 
  • IP access restriction : 
  • Custom content : 
  • Audit trail logs : 
  • Custom fields : 
  • Expense management : 
  • Task planning : 
  • Translations : 
  • Working hours, vacation, sickness, public holidays : 
Open source software
Available on-premises
Available in the cloud
Server location
Your choice
Hetzner Cloud
Germany (Falkenstein)
USA
Max. customers
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Max. projects
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Max. activities
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
JSON API
Invoicing
Data export
SAML
Support
Forum (GitHub)
Email, Forum
Backups
Daily
TLS Certificate
Additional costs
Custom domain
Additional costs
Additional costs
Automatic upgrades
Server maintenance
IP access restriction
Custom content
Paid plugin
Audit trail logs
Paid plugin
Custom fields
Paid plugin
Expense management
Paid plugin
Task planning
Paid plugin
Translations
Paid plugin
Working hours, vacation, sickness, public holidays
Paid plugin

Please note that the above information were manually compiled on 2024-11-19 from the toggl track website. For the comparison, the best matching plans were chosen. Prices are subject to change. For the most current pricing, please visit the respective websites.

Kimai is open source

Kimai is #1 open-source time-tracking software, providing unparalleled transparency and flexibility. By choosing Kimai, you’re investing in a secure, cost-efficient solution with complete control over your data and the ability to customize it exactly as your team needs.

Self-host with complete control

Kimai offers a self-hosted edition that puts data privacy to the front. With on-premises deployment, you maintain complete control over your sensitive business information, ensure compliance with stringent data protection regulations, and achieve a level of security that's often challenging with cloud-only solutions. Plus, Kimai's API allows seamless integration with your existing tools and workflows.

EU-based data protection

If you decide to go with the cloud edition, you can be sure that your data is safe. With the headquarters located in Austria (EU), it is GDPR-compliant by default and all data is stored in Germany (Hetzner Cloud, Falkenstein). Learn more about our privacy-first approach

Conclusion

In today's digital age, data security is paramount. Kimai promises secure data protection and state-of-the-art encryption, ensuring that your business's sensitive information remains confidential.

Kimai offers a well-rounded solution that caters to a variety of workflows and use-cases for most project-based teams and companies. Its ease of use, integration capabilities, and commitment to data security and privacy make it a top choice for businesses seeking an efficient time-tracking software.

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