Tracking work hours accurately is essential for businesses, especially as remote work continues to rise. Studies show that 89% of employees waste at least some time at work daily, making it crucial for businesses to implement effective time management solutions. Time Doctor and Chrometa are the two leading options in this space. However, choosing the best between them depends on your specific needs.
Time Doctor is best suited for companies that need detailed employee monitoring and productivity analytics, making it a great fit for remote teams, agencies, and enterprises that want to minimize distractions and improve accountability. On the other hand, Chrometa is ideal for professionals and businesses handling multiple projects and clients, as it offers seamless automated work tagging—without requiring manual input, making it a strong choice for freelancers, consultants, and legal firms.
This comprehensive Time Doctor vs Chrometa guide provides an in-depth comparison, analyzing their features, tracking capabilities, pricing, and overall performance.
Time Doctor Vs Chrometa: At A Glance
Features
Time Doctor
Chrometa
Time Tracking
Manual start/stop timers, screenshots, and productivity alerts
Fully automatic tracking with AI-based time allocation; no manual input is required
Inactivity Detection
Detects idle time and sends real-time alerts to keep users engaged
Stops tracking after inactivity and prompts users to log ‘Away Time’ later
Real-Time Activity Monitoring
Tracks apps, websites, and software usage with detailed productivity insights
Tracks app and website usage but focuses on categorizing billable vs non-billable hours
Integrations
60+ integrations (only available on Standard, Premium, and Enterprise plans)
50+ integrations available across all plans, covering a wider range of industries
Pricing
Starts at $8/user/month along with a 14-day free trial
Starts at $19/user/month along with a 30-day free trial
What Is Time Doctor?
Time Doctor software is a time-tracking and productivity management platform designed to help businesses optimize workforce productivity. Over 280,000 companies rely on it for automated time tracking, employee monitoring, and project tracking.
Organizations that use this system to track productivity see significant improvements in efficiency, security, and workflow management. Dentistry Support is one such company that leveraged Time Doctor’s automated tracking and monitoring tools to streamline operations, resulting in an 85% increase in employee efficiency.
That kind of impact makes it a valuable solution for businesses with remote teams, strict compliance needs, and a focus on streamlined operations.
Standout Features Of Time Doctor
Screenshots And Screen Recording: This system can take periodic screenshots of employees' screens, documenting what they are working on at any time, for accountability and understanding how time is spent
Manual Time Tracking Option: It allows users to manually start and stop a timer to track their work, giving more control over what gets recorded in real time
Distraction Notifications: This feature alerts employees when they have been inactive for a certain period, prompting them to refocus on their tasks
Work-Life Balance Reporting: It offers a dashboard specifically designed to analyze employee behavior related to work-life balance, helping management to identify individuals at risk of burnout and promote employee well-being
Pros And Cons Of Time Doctor
Pros
It allows users to edit tracked time to account for offline work, such as in-person meetings or fieldwork
Employees get reminders to track the time when they are inactive
It takes random screenshots at set intervals to track project progress efficiently
Cons
No built-in billing option, forcing HR to manually assess pay based on recorded hours
Some users feel that its webcam monitoring invades personal privacy and should not be included
What Is Chrometa?
Chrometa is an automatic time-tracking software designed for professionals and businesses that need to track billable hours without manual input. It runs in the background, capturing time spent on different applications, emails, websites, and documents without requiring the user to start and stop a timer.
This software is widely used by lawyers, consultants, freelancers, and teams who need precise time records for billing, invoicing, and productivity analysis. Regarding security and compliance, Chrometa uses Amazon Web Service (AWS) data centers certified under ISO 27001 and FISMA. This keeps user data safe while meeting strict security requirements.
Standout Features Of Chrometa
Automatic Idle Time Tracking: It automatically detects idle time when a user is away from their computer and prompts them to categorize that time upon their return
Project Budget And Time Overrun Alerts: This feature enables users to monitor project time and budgets closely, providing alerts when projects are at risk of exceeding their allocated budget or time
Mobile Call Tracking: This system includes the ability to track phone calls on Android devices, capturing time spent on calls as part of the overall time-tracking process
Automatic Time Allocation: Chrometa can automatically categorize time spent on tasks based on keywords, email addresses, and phone numbers, generating timesheets for projects and clients without requiring user intervention
Pros And Cons Of Chrometa
Pros
Even if users forget to start a timer, the system automatically logs when work begins
A pop-up notification reminds team members to log their time after a period of inactivity
Employees can set specific keywords that automatically tag tasks and generate timesheet
Cons
Its iPhone app requires employees to manually start and stop call tracking, which is a bit inconvenient
Users cannot choose how time is rounded, as Chrometa automatically rounds up, which could lead to overcharging clients
Time Doctor Vs Chrometa: Key Feature Comparison
Time Tracking
Time Doctor uses active time tracking, allowing employees to start and stop timers manually or automatically. It also provides real-time monitoring, screenshots, and alerts to enhance productivity tracking. This level of control makes it a strong choice for businesses that need detailed oversight of their team’s work habits.
Chrometa, on the other hand, is fully passive. It automatically captures time spent on documents, apps, and websites without requiring manual input—ideal for professionals who prefer less interruption. While this is convenient, Chrometa lacks real-time activity tracking (such as screenshots and app usage monitoring). Businesses that require detailed productivity insights may find it limiting.
In terms of automation, Chrometa is more advanced. It uses AI to automatically allocate time to specific clients or projects based on keywords. This makes the process of time tracking more automated, reducing the need for manual entries. Time Doctor does not have this level of Automation, so tasks like time allocation must be done manually, although it does offer real-time insights into productivity.
For those who work offline, both platforms offer offline tracking. However, Chrometa works completely offline without any internet connection, while Time Doctor requires an internet connection for syncing data, although it tracks offline work too.
Winner: It's a tie. Time Doctor is ideal for businesses that need manual control and real-time monitoring, while Chrometa suits professionals who prefer a fully automated approach.
Inactivity Detection
Time Doctor not only detects idle time but also actively alerts users when they have been inactive for a certain period, prompting them to resume work or account for their time. This proactive approach helps maintain productivity by keeping users engaged with their tasks.
When Chrometa detects no activity from the mouse or keyboard for more than a specified period (default is 5 minutes), it stops tracking and counts this period as ‘Away Time.’ This adjustable threshold allows users to set a different duration before time is considered ‘Away.’ Additionally, it prompts users to log their away time upon returning, ensuring accurate time tracking.
This feature helps maintain precise records by accounting for periods of inactivity. However, unlike Time Doctor, Chrometa does not send real-time alerts—it simply asks employees to categorize that time later (e. g. , ‘meeting,’ ‘break,’ or ‘work-related’).
Winner: Time Doctor takes the lead here because it actively alerts users when idle, helping them stay engaged and accountable in real time.
Real-Time Activity Monitoring
Time Doctor logs which apps and websites employees visit and how long they spend on them. Employers can set alerts for time-wasting sites and track software usage. Chrometa also tracks app and website usage but focuses more on categorizing activities into billable and non-billable hours rather than flagging distractions.
For activity tracking, Time Doctor automatically counts any time spent on a website or app for less than 60 seconds as active. In contrast, Chrometa pauses time tracking if an employee does not move their mouse or press a key for more than 5 minutes. However, since this inactivity threshold is adjustable, users can manipulate the setting to extend the tracking limit, potentially leading to inaccurate time reports.
When it comes to workforce insights, Time Doctor offers detailed analytics that help employers monitor work patterns, detect overworking trends, and identify employees at risk of burnout. Meanwhile, Chrometa does provide insights into how employees spend their time, but it lacks built-in burnout detection and work-life balance reports like Time Doctor.
Winner: Time Doctor wins again for its real-time monitoring and detailed analytics.
Integrations
Time Doctor offers 60+ integrations, including Asana, GitHub, Gusto and Salesforce, only available in the Standard, Premium, and Enterprise plan and not included in the Basic plan. This means if you are on the Basic plan, you won't get access to integrations unless you upgrade.
Conversely, Chrometa provides 50+ integrations, including Xero, Quickbooks, Zendesk, and Trello in all plans, so no matter whichever plan you are on, you can connect it with other tools right away.
Another major difference is what kinds of integrations each tool focuses on. Time Doctor mainly integrates with project management, invoicing, CRM, help desk, and communication tools. In comparison, Chrometa offers a wider variety of integrations. In addition to project management and payments, it also connects with legal practice management, accounting, VoIP (for business calls), website marketing, online meetings, graphic design, and spreadsheets.
Winner: Chrometa wins this round because it offers integration across all plans and supports a wider range of industries beyond project management and invoicing.
Pricing
Time Doctor offers budget-friendly pricing options, all with a 14-day free trial. This allows users to try every feature without needing a credit card. The plans are as follows:
Basic – $8/user/month (does not include integrations)
Standard – $14/user/month
Premium – $20/user/month
Enterprise – Custom Pricing
Chrometa, on the other hand, is a higher-priced solution but offers a 30-day free trial with full access to all the features in your selected plan. It offers the following plans:
Standard – $19/user/month
Plus – $29/user/month
Premium – $49/user/month
Its Standard plan includes time tracking on up to six connected devices (laptops, desktops, and Android smartphones). This plan also stores data for 18 months, ensuring users can access their work history longer than many competitors.
Winner: Time Doctor wins this section for being the more budget-friendly option, offering essential features at a lower price point.
Final Verdict: Which One Wins?
With a score of 3:1 in favor of Time Doctor and one section ending in a tie, Time Doctor emerges as the stronger option overall for most business use cases. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs.
If you prioritize real-time monitoring, active time tracking, and workforce analytics to improve productivity, Time Doctor is the ideal solution. But, if you prefer passive, fully automated time tracking without interruptions, Chrometa is the better fit.
If neither software meets all your requirements, consider exploring alternatives like Hubstaff software for a combination of automated tracking and workforce management tools.
Sadia Tariq is a Technical Content Writer specializing in Human Resources Management Software. She believes that many businesses struggle to find software that fits their unique needs. Often, they assume a software is ineffective overall, not realizing it might work perfectly for another business due to differing requirements. Through her content, Sadia aims to bridge this gap by helping businesses identify the software that best suits their unique preferences and operational demands, empowering them to make informed and confident decisions.
Outside of work, Sadia enjoys painting and spending time with her three cats, along with caring for the many outdoor cats in her neighborhood.
