Kimai
Best open source
Clockin alternative
Kimai is the #1 open-source time-tracking alternative for Clockin. Learn how Kimai measures up to Clockin, so you can choose the right solution for your business.
Kimai vs Clockin: 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 7000 companies worldwide trust Kimai for their time tracking needs and find out how it compares to Clockin’s offerings. Whether you’re evaluating a new time tracking app, analyzing Clockin pricing options, or planning a Clockin 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.
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.
JSON API
Featuring an extensive JSON API for reading and writing data, so external apps and custom tools can communicate with Kimai.
Read moreCustomer Portal
Share client and project statistics and timesheets with anyone using a secret URL, optionally password protected.
Read moreTeams
Teams connects users into logical groups, like departments. Limit access to data by assigning customers and projects to your teams.
Read moreSAML
Log in and register users with SAML via your existing SSO identity provider, like Google Workspace, Authentik or Azure Active Directory.
Read moreInvoicing
Configurable invoice templates, options for entry grouping, configurable invoice numbers, and multiple formats like PDF and DOCX.
Read moreReports and analyses
Analysis of recorded times by users, customers, projects, activities, tags, time periods and more.
Read moreWhy you should choose Kimai over Clockin
Clockin has become a popular choice for German-speaking teams and field-based companies seeking robust time tracking capabilities. It offers a user-friendly interface with project management features and integrations with local accounting software. However, when evaluating Clockin pricing, considering Clockin migration costs, or looking for a better clocking app alternative, there are several important factors to consider. It’s cloud-only model, regional focus, and limited customization options may not suit globally distributed teams or organizations with specific privacy requirements.
Open source alternative with focus on privacy
Kimai stands out as a transparent, open-source alternative that puts control back in your hands. Built by developers who value transparency and data privacy, Kimai offers comparable features to Clockin at a fraction of the cost. Whether you choose to self-host your instance or use Kimai Cloud with servers located in Germany, you get data protection and GDPR compliance by default.
Unmatched flexibility across team structures
While Clockin excels in field-based and project-focused scenarios, Kimai provides a unified solution for diverse team structures: from remote workers and hybrid teams to on-site staff. Kimai’s comprehensive API and plugin ecosystem mean you can tailor the platform to your exact needs, whether you need custom integrations, specialized reporting, or unique workflows.
How to migrate from Clockin to Kimai
Switching from Clockin to Kimai is straightforward and painless. Many teams considering a Clockin migration discover that the process is faster and less disruptive than expected. We understand that your historical data matters, which is why we’ve built a robust CSV importer that lets you effortlessly transfer your time tracking records from your current clocking app (Clockin or any other system) to Kimai.
The Clockin migration to Kimai involves just a few simple steps:
- Export your Clockin data
- Prepare for Kimai Implementation: choose Kimai Cloud for immediate SaaS access or Kimai On-Premise for complete control over your infrastructure
- Import your data using Kimai’s CSV importer
- Onboard your team with our beginner-friendly video tutorials
For detailed step-by-step instructions, please refer to Kimai Docs.
Why Kimai is the better choice
Kimai is open source
Kimai is the #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. Unlike proprietary solutions, you can audit the code, contribute improvements, and never worry about sudden feature changes or price increases.
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.
Unlike Clockin, which operates exclusively in the cloud, Kimai gives you the flexibility to choose your deployment model - cloud or on-premise.
GDPR compliant, privacy-first approach
With Kimai made in Austria and hosted in Germany, your data is protected by design. This means GDPR compliance by default, not as an afterthought. You can be confident that your business data remains secure, private, and under strict European data protection standards. Learn more about our privacy-first approach
Global reach with local compliance
Kimai serves a global community with support for 30+ languages and flexible integrations. Whether your team is distributed across continents or requires specific regional compliance, Kimai adapts to your needs rather than forcing you into a regional solution.
Dive into this comprehensive comparison to find out why businesses are choosing Kimai over Clockin.
Frequently Asked Questions about switching from Clockin
How long does a Clockin migration take?
Most Clockin migration projects are completed within hours, not days. Once you export your data from Clockin, importing into Kimai takes just minutes. Your team can be productive on the new clocking app by the next business day.
How does Kimai pricing compare to Clockin pricing?
Kimai Cloud pricing is typically 50-70% lower than Clockin pricing for equivalent functionality. If you switch to Kimai’s self-hosted option, costs are even lower (essentially just server maintenance). Over a year, a Clockin migration to Kimai can save substantial amounts for teams of any size.
Can I keep using my Clockin account while piloting Kimai?
Absolutely. You can run Kimai as a pilot clocking app while maintaining your Clockin account. Once your team is comfortable with Kimai, you can complete the Clockin migration with confidence.
Final thoughts
Choosing the right time-tracking solution is crucial for your team’s productivity and your company’s data security. Clockin has been a popular choice for field teams and German-speaking organizations, but it comes with trade-offs: cloud-only limitations, vendor lock-in, and regional constraints.
Kimai offers a powerful, open-source alternative that doesn’t compromise on features while delivering superior flexibility, data control, and affordability. Whether you need a self-hosted solution for maximum control or Kimai Cloud with EU-based servers, you get a modern time-management platform built for the modern workplace. Make the switch today and experience open source time tracking!
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.
the best time tracking tool i used :) (and still do)
Paul Knulst
Senior Software EngineerKimai was my first foray into open-source software; my company tasked me with migrating an old Kimai plugin called Period Insert, which I eventually decided to publish. My experience has been very positive. I am impressed by Kimai’s ease of use and by how my small contribution to it has been used around the world. I am also grateful to Kevin for his open communication and assistance with publishing the plugin, which served as a warm introduction to the open-source community. Kimai is a model example of how open-source software can improve the lives of people, not just companies. I highly recommend it!
Alan Nguyen
Software DeveloperI’ve always preferred self-hosting services, but when I discovered Kimai, I saw the value in their free cloud plan. Wanting to support the developers (being a developer myself), I upgraded to the paid version, and it’s been worth every penny.
Recently, I made a mistake that almost wiped out all my data. Despite my plan not officially including support, Kimai’s team was there for me. They responded quickly and had my issue resolved within half an hour, saving me from a potential disaster.
As a freelancer, Kimai has become an essential tool for managing clients, projects, and tasks. It lets me track time accurately and create professional invoices effortlessly. For anyone looking to stay organized and efficient, I highly recommend Kimai.
Panagiotis Ntinis
Cyber FortressThe platform is very easy to use, has great access for our analytics with a comprehensive API and the development team are incredibly responsive and helpful. We looked at and tried an awful lot of timesheet software, and Kimai is head and shoulders above the competition.
Sam Pollock
IconalAll 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 Clockin? Dive into this comprehensive comparison to find out why businesses are choosing Kimai over Clockin
See the difference
Compare Kimai vs. Clockin: 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
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 :
Clockin
- Open source software :
- Available on-premises :
- Available in the cloud :
- Server location :
- 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 :
Germany (Falkenstein)
Please note that the above information were manually compiled on 2026-01-19 from the Clockin 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.
Clockin is a proprietary software, which includes a platform risk. Relying solely on a software vendor for code tweaks and feature implementations can feel and often is limiting.
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.
Unlike Clockin, which only operates in the cloud, Kimai gives you the flexibility to choose your deployment model.
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.