Kimai
Best open source
Zeitguru alternative
Kimai is the #1 open-source time-tracking alternative for Zeitguru. Learn how Kimai measures up to Zeitguru, so you can choose the right solution for your business.
Zeitguru
vs.
Kimai
Kimai vs Zeitguru: 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 5000 companies worldwide trust Kimai for their time tracking needs and find out how it compares to Zeitguru’s offerings. Whether you’re evaluating a new time tracking app, analyzing Zeitguru pricing options, or planning a Zeitguru 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 moreWhat 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.
Kimai runs on premise for us and is very reliable! I can only strongly recommend it. There is no better solution on the market!
Stefan Scherer
InhaberWe have been using Kimai for 7 years now and are completely satisfied. The product itself is great, the price is right and the support is simply fantastic. We can only recommend it to anyone who values quality and good service.
Rene Glaubert
Datenschutzbeauftragter für KMUWe have been using Kimai for many years, initially as a standalone solution on our own server, but for the past three years now in the kimai.cloud. With its structured layout, Kimai meets the time tracking requirements we have as an architecture firm and can flexibly map all of our processes, which is not possible with many time tracking systems. We remain impressed by its reliability, constant maintenance and improvement, and direct, personal service, combined with absolutely fair pricing. We can (and already have) highly recommend kimai.cloud!
Bela Schwier
GeschäftsführerThe 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
GeschäftsführerWe have been using Kimai in our electrical company for the past two years, and we are currently transitioning to a fully paperless process with Kimai only for managing timesheets. Our employees adapted quickly, as we developed a customized workflow tailored to our business needs. Thanks to Kimai, we’ve reduced the time spent processing timesheets for our 20 employees, as well as managing project reports (construction reports, work reports, daily customer reports), from around 10 hours per week to just 2 hours. We also underwent a payroll tax audit without any issues; the only requirement is the employee’s signature on the timesheet. The developer of Kimai is also very receptive to useful feature suggestions, which makes me co
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Christoph Empl
CEOI have been using Kimai for several years. First in a company as part of a project team. Later, when I started my own business on the side, I was looking for a simple time tracking tool and returned to Kimai. First self-installed, then in the cloud. For 3 euros in operating expenses per month, as a small part-time entrepreneur, I get exactly what I need: fast tracking, an overview of outstanding items, and lightning-fast billing with a clean timesheet. But even for huge projects with a large number of people, it remains clear, comprehensible, and easy for everyone to use. And the support, in the person of Kevin, responds quickly and comprehensively to everything you need. Many thanks for that!
Christoph van Bracht
GeschäftsführerAll 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 Zeitguru? Dive into this comprehensive comparison to find out why businesses are choosing Kimai over Zeitguru
See the difference
Compare Kimai vs. Zeitguru: 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 :
Zeitguru
- Open source software :
- Available on-premises :
- Available in the cloud :
- Server location :
- Max. customers :
- Max. projects :
- Max. activities :
- JSON API :
- Invoicing :
- Data export :
- SAML :
- Support :
- Backups :
- 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 :
Germany (Falkenstein)
Please note that the above information were manually compiled on 2026-02-24 from the Zeitguru 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.
Zeitguru 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 Zeitguru, 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.