Head to head

Hubstaff vs Time Doctor

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 Doctor

$7/user/mo 14 day free trial

Remote productivity tracker with screenshots and activity, from $7/user/mo on the Basic annual plan ($80 per user per year).

Where Time Doctor fits

  • Distributed and remote ops teams that want screenshot proof of work
  • Agencies that export approved hours into payroll
  • Hybrid companies comparing office vs remote productivity on Premium
  • Buyers who want a 14-day trial with no credit card

At a glance

DetailHubstaffTime Doctor
Starting price$5/user/mo$7/user/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trial14 day free trial14 day free trial
MCP server✓Yes–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underTime & attendanceTime & attendance
Capterra4.5 from 1,613 reviews4.5 from 548 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

Time Doctor

Stands out: Premium adds Benchmarks AI against 250,000+ users plus Unusual Activity AI for mouse jiggler detection, and Open API access sits only on Premium.

Watch out: Basic has no payroll, no web and app usage reports, and no integrations. Those start on Standard at $14/user/mo month-to-month or $140 per user per year.

Not the right fit for

  • Hourly restaurants that need Fair Workweek shift rosters
  • Teams that will not accept screenshots or activity monitoring

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

Time Doctor

  • 14-day trial with no credit card, and printed Basic, Standard, and Premium rates
  • Time Doctor AI is included in every plan, not gated to Enterprise
  • Premium Open API plus Benchmarks AI against 250,000+ users
  • Basic omits payroll, integrations, and web/app usage reports
  • Open API access is Premium-only
  • Screenshot and activity monitoring will not fit every culture

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

Time Doctor

$7/user/mo

Basic is $80 per user per year ($6.67/user/mo) or $8 month-to-month. Standard is $140 per year ($11.67/user/mo) or $14 month-to-month. Premium is $200 per year ($16.67/user/mo) or $20 month-to-month. Enterprise is custom. Software Cost Insights is $3/user/mo. Native HRIS or payroll integrations are $200 per integration per month. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Hubstaff cheaper than Time Doctor?
Hubstaff starts lower, at $5/user/mo against $7/user/mo for Time Doctor. 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 Time Doctor for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Hubstaff offers a 14 day free trial. Time Doctor offers a 14 day free trial.
Does Hubstaff or Time Doctor 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?