After testing +10 time tracking apps in the past few months, I came across discussions labeling Time Doctor as a form of “spyware” or surveillance software. So, I wanted to take a closer look and clean up the mess to see what the truth is about this time tracking app.

In this Time Doctor review, you’ll find my hands-on experience, key features, pricing, and an honest look at its pros and cons.

By the end, you’ll get your answers whether Time Doctor deserves the “spyware” label or is a time tracking app worth using.

Let’s dive in!

What is Time Doctor?

In short, Time Doctor is a time-tracking and productivity tool designed to help individuals and teams monitor how they spend their work hours. It offers features like automatic time tracking, screenshots, app usage tracking, computer screen monitoring, detailed reports, and payroll management.

Let’s see the features I tried in the course of my Time Doctor review!

Time Doctor key features

Below, I break down all the key features Time Doctor brings to the table!

Dashboard

Visually, Time Doctor does a great job of organizing data with charts, graphs, and color-coding, so even if you’re looking at dozens of metrics, you can navigate it quickly.

You can view it in two modes: Team Dashboard or User Dashboard. Both display plenty of information in a highly visual, organized way, making it easy to interpret.

The Team Dashboard offers valuable insights such as Top Projects, Who’s Working Now, Who Hasn’t Started Yet, Top Users, and even User Activity Levels based on keyboard and mouse activity.

On the other hand, the User Dashboard gives you a more individual breakdown, including Timelines, Hours Tracked, Idle Minutes, Productivity Percentages, and Top Used Websites & Applications.

One of my favorite touches is the Widgets option, which lets you choose exactly which data you want to see. This makes it easy to personalize the dashboard to focus on the metrics that matter most to you.

From the dashboard bar, you can easily export your data with one click. Right next to that, you’ll find a handy Time Zone display and a range of date filters.

My overall feeling was that Time Doctor’s dashboard strikes a solid balance between depth of data and clarity of presentation.

Benchmarks AI

I haven’t noticed this type of benchmarking feature in most other productivity tools I’ve tested, so it definitely gives Time Doctor an edge for teams and users who want more context around their productivity stats.

Time Doctor’s Benchmarks AI feature is designed to help you understand how your overall productivity ratings compare to others. It uses AI to match you with similar profiles or lets you benchmark against all profiles across the platform.

While simple at first glance, this tool can be particularly valuable for managers or individual users who want to spot productivity gaps or identify areas for improvement. By seeing where you stand against peers with similar work patterns, you can better set goals, track progress, and optimize workflows. 

Time tracking

Time tracking isn’t built into the web app, so you’ll need to use the desktop app instead. The web version is mainly for managing and analyzing the time data collected from the desktop and mobile apps.

The desktop app tracks time well, but that’s pretty much all it does. Its interface shows Dashboard, Screencasts, Edit Time, and Settings, though everything except Settings redirects you to the web app.

In Settings, you’ll find handy features like reminders to start tracking or automatically starting the timer.

The web app’s Edit Time section offers a clear, color-coded table showing Computer Time, Manual Time, Mobile Time, Break Time, and Leave Time. You can edit or create time entries directly from this section.

The mobile app is just as simple. It only tracks time, while other options link back to the website. I also noticed you can run timers on both desktop and mobile simultaneously, but they don’t sync.

Payroll

During my Time Doctor review, I found the Payroll feature refreshingly straightforward. The interface is clean and intuitive, with all key details displayed in a single table. Everything I needed was right there, without having to click through multiple screens.

You can set hourly budgets for each team member to keep payroll expenses under control. Time Doctor also makes it easy to track billable hours, ensuring accurate client invoicing and payroll calculations.

I especially like that the Manage payment methods button is right at the top, giving quick access to multiple payout options like PayPal Payouts, Wise, Payoneer MassPay, Gusto, ADP, and even Deel. Wise is highlighted as a cost-saving choice for international payments, which is great for global teams.

The fact that Time Doctor supports so many payment integrations in one place is a big plus, especially for remote teams.

You can also easily export payroll as a CSV or summary report, making it simple to share with accountants or plug into other systems.

Employee monitoring

Let’s go straight to the point: screen monitoring in Time Doctor can feel a bit intrusive.

It takes screenshots at set intervals and shows them in the Screencasts section of the web app, while monitoring keyboard and mouse activity. You can filter these by Low Activity or Identical to quickly spot unproductive or duplicate frames.

The good thing is – it’s customizable. In Settings → Users, you can disable screenshots completely or choose how often they’re taken (every 3, 9, 15, or 30 minutes). There’s even a continuous video recording option if you need more detailed monitoring.

You can also blur screenshots for privacy and delete them if needed. Keep in mind that deleting a screenshot also removes the time logged during that period. There’s an inactivity timeout, too, which automatically stops tracking after a set idle time (or you can turn it off entirely).

Reports

The Reports feature gives you a clear, detailed view of productivity and work hours. Everything is well-organized, so it’s easy to find what you’re looking for. You can fully customize each report, which makes usage tracking and employee monitoring much more straightforward.

You’ll find different options like the Hours Tracked Report, App Usage Report, and Tasks Report. These are very useful for keeping an accurate record of time entries, seeing how employees spend their time, and tracking productivity across projects.

So, it offers a useful mix for project management, productivity, and task tracking.

Time Doctor also offers a Custom Export option, which I found especially useful. You can choose exactly which data points to include, such as tracked time, manual time, activity levels, productivity percentages, and more.

Reports can be exported in different time formats (hours & minutes, decimal, or digital) and even adjusted for each user’s time zone. This makes it easy to create tailored reports that match specific tracking and analysis needs.

You can also set up email notifications for any report, so you’re always in the loop without having to log in. You can choose the specific report you want, decide how often it’s sent, and even select the exact time for delivery.

This allows managers to keep an eye on employee activity and productivity trends through real-time tracking.

Time Doctor’s user interface

The user interface is clean, intuitive, and easy to navigate, even for first-time users. All key features are neatly organized in the dashboard, so you don’t waste time searching for them.

Time Doctor’s integrations

Time Doctor offers over 60 integrations, including Asana, Azure DevOps, Avaza, ADP, and others. The idea is to keep everything in one place so productivity tracking and employee monitoring feel seamless. There are also Chrome and Firefox extensions that should let you track time directly inside these apps.

In theory, this all sounds great. In practice, I had mixed results.

The Chrome extension didn’t work with Trello or Jira, two platforms I use daily and that should integrate effortlessly.

For some other tools, you’ll need to go through extra configuration steps, which made me wonder: if the integrations that are supposed to “just work” don’t, how reliable are the rest?

Time Doctor’s pricing

Now let’s take a closer look at the Time Doctor’s pricing plans.

Essentially, there are four pricing plans and two billing options. If you opt for paying annually, you’ll get a 17% discount.

Time Doctor offers a 14-day free trial, so you can test it and see if it’s worth the money.

Basic plan

The Basic plan costs $8 per user with the monthly billing. If you choose annual billing, you’ll get a discount and pay $6.70 per user each month.

This plan comes with automatic time tracking, projects and tasks reports, and a timeline report. You’ll also get screenshots and online/offline activity tracking.

Standard plan

The Standard plan is $11.70 per user a month with annual billing, and $17 with monthly billing option.

This plan includes more advanced features and provides all the management insights not available in the Basic plan.

Premium plan

When you sign up for the free trial, you get two weeks of unlimited access to all Premium plan features. These include all standard plan features, plus advanced reporting, company insights, and more.

This plan is $20 per user a month with monthly billing, or $16.70 with annual billing.

Enterprise plan

This plan is built for larger organizations that need advanced features and dedicated support. It offers VIP support, enterprise-grade security, and customizable tools.

The website doesn’t list a price for this plan, so you’ll need to contact the sales team directly for details.

Time Doctor customer support

During my Time Doctor review, I noticed that support can be a bit lacking. I even came across complaints on Reddit and Trustpilot about users struggling with customer service.

Honestly, the fact that the “Contact Us” button on their website doesn’t work really says a lot.

It seems that even a tool designed to help manage time efficiently can become a source of wasted time when support is this poor.

Time Doctor mobile app

When it comes to the mobile app, I had a bit of trouble with the Android version. I spent an entire day trying to download it without success and only managed to install it the next day. I’m not sure what caused the issue.

The iOS app, on the other hand, installed immediately without any problems.

The mobile app itself is very simple and, as I mentioned before, works much like the desktop version: it mainly tracks time and doesn’t offer much else. This simplicity actually makes the app very easy to use.

My experience with Time Doctor

Overall, Time Doctor is a solid time-tracking tool. It delivers on its promise of detailed analytics, clear reporting, and straightforward payroll management.

While I found the interface clean and easy to navigate, some aspects, like customer support issues, occasional technical glitches, and limited admin controls over monitoring settings, can make it feel more invasive than necessary.

So, does it deserve the “spyware” label?

Not entirely. While its employee monitoring features can be intense if left at their default settings, they can also be adjusted to suit your team’s comfort level.

For teams that value transparency, data-driven insights, and features like billable hours tracking and the ability to set hourly budgets, Time Doctor can still be a practical choice, as long as you’re willing to fine-tune it to avoid crossing into surveillance territory.

Pros and cons I found during my Time Doctor review

Now, let’s take a look at the pros and cons I found in the course of my Time Doctor review.

Pros of Time Doctor

First of all, Time Doctor is very easy to use. Both the desktop and mobile apps are very simple and intuitive.

Secondly, the web app provides a lot of detailed insights. Thanks to its clear and visually organized interface, you can quickly understand all the data.

Moreover, Time Doctor offers extensive reporting features. You can access all the information you need quickly, which is great for tracking productivity and managing teams.

Furthermore, the dashboard is highly customizable, letting you focus on the metrics that matter most. The payroll feature is also convenient, with multiple payout options like PayPal, Wise, Payoneer, and Gusto.

Lastly, Time Doctor supports over 60 integrations, including popular tools like Asana, Jira, and Azure DevOps, making it easier to incorporate into existing workflows.

Cons of Time Doctor

My first concern is about customer support. They should definitely work on that.

In addition, there are some technical issues. The Chrome extension doesn’t always work with certain apps, and the Android app can be difficult to download.

Furthermore, admins have limited control over feature settings, which makes it harder to adjust the software’s invasiveness compared to competitors like Hubstaff.

Lastly, Time Doctor does not offer a free version, only a trial.

Time Doctor alternatives

If, after reading this review, you feel that Time Doctor might not be the ideal solution for your needs, here are some other time-tracking apps that could be a better fit:

• Rize: It is an AI-powered time tracker that has helped me a lot with focus and building more sustainable working habits. Works great for solo entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals.
• ClockShark: It is a cloud-based time-tracking and employee scheduling software built for field service businesses with crews working outside the office.
• Clockify: A time tracking app with an extensive feature set that offers a mobile, desktop, and web app for users.
• Toggl Track: It is a user-friendly time-tracking app that offers desktop and mobile apps and a web version as well. It’s particularly useful when managing teams.
• Harvest: A popular time-tracking app with massive invoicing and reporting capabilities.
• Hubstaff: A time-tracking and productivity-monitoring app with in-depth reporting features.

Wrap-up: Time Doctor review

Overall, Time Doctor works well for organizations that value detailed reports, monitoring, and payroll features. On the other hand, it has customer support issues, and default settings might feel invasive. Nevertheless, this can be changed based on the team’s comfort level.

As always, I will update this Time Doctor review over time so you guys have up-to-date information about this productivity monitoring tool.

Why you can trust our reviews

At thebusinessdive.com, our team tests, reviews, and compares hundreds of productivity apps every year — from project management tools to note-taking apps. We dive deep into real-world use cases to help you find the right tools that actually improve your workflow, not just add noise.

Our mission? No fluff, no shortcuts—just honest, hands-on insights from productivity pros.

Have a question or suggestion? I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out anytime at aronkantor@thebusinessdive.com.

Frequently asked questions

Is Time Doctor safe to use?

Time Doctor is generally safe to use, with strong security measures like data encryption and secure user authentication. That said, companies should still make sure they follow privacy regulations and be transparent with employees about tracking practices, since the tool’s monitoring features can feel intrusive.

Can Time Doctor detect an IP address?

Yes. By doing so, Time Doctor helps distinguish between on-site and remote work.

Can I delete screenshots on Time Doctor?

Yes, but only if you have permission to edit tracked time. Keep in mind that deleting the screenshots also removes the associated time entries.

What does Time Doctor capture?

Time Doctor captures time spent on tasks, app and website usage, keyboard and mouse activity, and periodic screenshots. It also tracks location via IP addresses and records work hours for payroll and reporting purposes.

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