Head to head

Hubstaff vs QuickBooks Time

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Hubstaff

$5/user/mo 14 day free trial

Time tracking with screenshots, GPS, and payroll hooks, plus a 1-seat free plan and paid seats from $5/user/mo.

Where Hubstaff fits

  • Remote agencies that need screenshots and client invoices
  • Field teams that add GPS Locations on Team or Enterprise
  • Desks that want MCP or API access to time data
  • Solo freelancers who can live on the 1-seat free plan

Time tracking for teams already on QuickBooks Online. Time Premium is $20/mo plus $10 per user, with one admin included.

Where QuickBooks Time fits

  • US small businesses already on QuickBooks Online
  • Field teams that need kiosk or GPS clock-in
  • Contractors tracking time to jobs and invoices
  • Teams that want time synced into QuickBooks Payroll

At a glance

DetailHubstaffQuickBooks Time
Starting price$5/user/mo$20/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trial14 day free trialNot on record
MCP server✓Yes–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underTime & attendanceTime & attendance
Capterra4.5 from 1,613 reviews4.7 from 7,023 reviews

Where they pull apart

Hubstaff

Stands out: First-party MCP server and a public REST API at developer.hubstaff.com, with a 14-day trial and no credit card.

Watch out: Starter caps screenshots and app/URL tracking at 500 per seat per month and allows only 5 clients. Grow allows one integration.

Not the right fit for

  • Restaurant Fair Workweek shift scheduling
  • Companies that refuse activity monitoring and screenshots

QuickBooks Time

Stands out: Timesheets, kiosk clock-ins, and GPS sit next to QuickBooks payroll and invoicing in the same Intuit account.

Watch out: A QuickBooks Online account is required. Per-user fees stack on the $20/mo Time Premium base, and Elite is $40/mo plus $12 per user.

Not the right fit for

  • Companies not willing to buy QuickBooks Online
  • Large orgs that want a standalone HRIS time clock

Pros and cons

Hubstaff

  • 1-seat free plan plus a 14-day trial with no credit card
  • First-party MCP server and documented REST API
  • GPS Locations and payroll inside the same product on Team and above
  • Starter screenshot and client caps are tight for agencies
  • Grow is limited to one integration
  • Paid plans have a 2-seat minimum

QuickBooks Time

  • $20/mo base with one admin included
  • Syncs time into QuickBooks payroll
  • Kiosk, GPS, and mobile clock-in
  • Requires a QuickBooks Online account
  • Per-user fees on top of the base
  • Cost rises fast with headcount

What each one costs

Hubstaff

$5/user/mo

A 1-seat free plan covers individual freelancers. Paid seats start around $5/user/mo. Small Business Essentials is $144/year for 3 paid seats plus a free owner seat, annual only, with no add-ons. Insights is $2.50/seat/mo on Starter and Grow. Locations is $3.33/seat/mo on Team and included on Enterprise. Starter caps screenshots at 500 per seat per month. Paid plans have a 2-seat minimum. 14-day trial, no credit card. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

QuickBooks Time

$20/mo

Time Premium is $20/mo plus $10 per user per month, with one admin included. Time Elite is $40/mo plus $12 per user. A 50 percent discount applies for the first three months. Workforce Premium and Elite add payroll and HR at $13 or $17 per employee per month on top of a higher base. A QuickBooks Online account is required. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Hubstaff cheaper than QuickBooks Time?
Hubstaff starts lower, at $5/user/mo against $20/mo for QuickBooks Time. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try Hubstaff or QuickBooks Time for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Hubstaff offers a 14 day free trial.
Does Hubstaff or QuickBooks Time have an MCP server?
Hubstaff ships a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 19 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?