Timely
Timely is an automatic time tracking platform that records activity across apps and websites, uses AI to categorize time, and helps teams build accurate timesheets, budgets, and reports, with a Starter plan priced at $11 per user per month billed monthly.
Overview
Timely is designed to reduce the friction of time tracking by capturing work activity automatically and turning it into accurate timesheets and project reports. On its pricing page, Timely highlights automatic time tracking, AI based categorization, project health monitoring, and reporting for billable hours, plus tracking across thousands of apps and websites. Plans are organized by team size and management needs, with Starter listed at $11 per user per month billed monthly and a lower effective rate when billed yearly.
Higher plans add more automation and administrative features such as integrations with project management and accounting tools, team management, budgets, costs, and planning for teams. In practice, the product is most valuable when you treat time tracking as an operations system rather than a compliance chore: define project structures, set budget rules, and align reporting cadence with invoicing and delivery reviews. Start by onboarding a small group, tuning categorization rules, and agreeing on what counts as billable versus non billable work.
Then roll out across teams with consistent naming and client structures so reports stay clean. For privacy and adoption, be transparent about what is captured and who can see details, and configure access so sensitive activity is protected. When implemented carefully, Timely can improve utilization, reduce missed billable hours, and provide a clearer view of project margins and capacity without relying on manual timers.
Key features
- Automatic time tracking: Capture time from apps and websites automatically to reduce manual timers and omissions
- AI categorization: Use AI to categorize time and speed up timesheet completion for weekly submissions
- Project health monitoring: Monitor project status and progress to keep budgets and delivery on track
- Accurate billable reporting: Improve billing accuracy by surfacing time that is often missed in manual logs
- API access: Pricing highlights API access to connect Timely data into your reporting and workflows
- Integrations on higher plans: Premium highlights syncing with project tools and accounting tools for end to end operations
Best for
- Agency billing: Capture work across tools and turn it into accurate invoices with fewer missed billable hours
- Consulting utilization: Track utilization rates and capacity by role to support staffing and forecasting
- Project budget control: Monitor budgets and costs to prevent overruns and improve margin visibility
- Timesheet compliance: Reduce the weekly burden with automatic capture and AI categorization for teams
- Delivery reviews: Use project health signals to spot risk early and adjust scope or resourcing
- Ops reporting: Export time and cost data into BI or finance workflows using API access and structured projects
Capabilities
Automatic capture
Timely focuses on automatic time tracking across many apps and websites. This reduces forgotten entries, but you should set clear project mapping rules so captured activity translates into reliable reporting and invoicing.
AI categorization
AI categorization helps turn raw activity into structured timesheets. Tune categories during the first weeks, create a shared taxonomy, and review exceptions so teams do not misclassify billable work.
Project health reporting
Timely highlights project health monitoring and billable reporting. Use dashboards in weekly delivery reviews, set budget thresholds, and tie reports to decisions on scope, staffing, and client communication.
API and integrations
The pricing page lists API access and higher tier integrations with project and accounting tools. Validate your required connectors, confirm permission models, and test exports to ensure finance reporting stays consistent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the starting price for Timely?
Timely lists Starter at $11 per user per month billed monthly on the pricing page. It also shows a lower per user rate when billed yearly, so choose billing cadence based on cash flow and commitment needs.
How does Timely capture time automatically?
Timely tracks time across apps and websites and then helps categorize it into projects. For adoption, define which projects exist, how activities map to them, and who can edit entries so timesheets remain consistent and auditable.
Is Timely suitable for client billing and audits?
It can support billing accuracy by surfacing work that might be missed in manual logs. For audit readiness, enforce review workflows, keep consistent naming, and export reports regularly so you have a clear record of time allocation decisions.
What integrations and API options are available?
Timely lists API access and indicates higher plans can sync work with project management tools and integrate with accounting tools. During evaluation confirm the exact tools you need, field mappings, and how permissions control exports.
How does Timely compare to manual timers?
Manual timers rely on memory and discipline, which often leads to underreported billable time. Timely emphasizes automatic capture and AI categorization, so compare by accuracy, adoption rate, privacy controls, and reporting usefulness for margins.
